Sandra L. "Sandy" McDonough

Partner Alexis S. Gutierrez is the Chair of HFM's Litigation Department, in addition to serving on the firm’s Executive and Management Committees. With over 20 years of first chair experience, Mr. Gutierrez provides business and employment counseling and complex commercial litigation support to public and private entities, and non-profit organizations. He enjoys Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating (“AV Preeminent”) for Legal Ability and General-Ethical Standards. ...

Johanna Schiavoni is certified as a specialist in appellate law by the State Bar of California and has nearly two decades of appellate experience. She has argued more than 40 cases in the state and federal appellate courts, and has been the principal brief-writer in at least 100. Johanna is a leader of state and local legal associations. She was the 2020 President of the San Diego County Bar Association, which serves nearly 10,000 members of the San Diego legal community. In 2023, Johanna was...

Robert A. Shields is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Robert A. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Robert A. Shields since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Robert A. Shields is held by other lawyers.

Debra represents municipalities, special districts, developers, and bondholders in connection with public finance issues, including out-of-court restructuring of community facilities districts and assessment district bonds, refunding/refinancing of public bonds, the purchase and sale of defaulted public securities, and the use of Chapter 9 proceedings to restructure public securities. She regularly handles issues involving adequate disclosure, indentures, fiscal agent agreements, and rate met...

Luis E. Lorenzana is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Luis E. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Luis E. Lorenzana since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Luis E. Lorenzana is held by other lawyers.

HFM Partner Susan Mercure specializes in representing high net worth clients in sophisticated estate planning and estate and trust administration. On the estate planning side, Ms. Mercure utilizes techniques to reduce the size of an estate for estate tax purposes and employs other techniques to accomplish the distribution goals of her clients. She effectively communicates technical concepts and is able to convey complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand. She also assists her client...

Craig R. McClellan is the first and only San Diego personal injury attorney selected for admission to the Inner Circle of Advocates, a prestigious invitation-only group of top plaintiff's attorneys, limited to 100 members nationwide. Mr. McClellan has obtained more than 130 verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars, and is a three-time recipient of the "Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award" from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for cases in which million and multi-million dollar ...

For over twenty years, Mr. Gibson has represented numerous types of clients, small and large, local and international, in all types of commercial disputes. Mr. Gibson’s direct approach as a business litigator and advisor has delivered successful results in commercial, construction and real estate disputes. His balanced practice includes representation of local, national and international companies, as well as individuals. Previously, he co-chaired the San Diego County Bar Association&rs...

Aaron M. Olsen is a partner at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, and a trial lawyer standing up for employees who have experienced retaliation, discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Aaron has resolved hundreds of individual labor and employment law cases on behalf of employees. He has recovered millions of dollars in damages. Notably, Aaron was on the trial team in a unique associational disability discrimination matter against Kaiser Permanente that resulted in one of the top 50 la...

Claudia P. Martorell is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Immigration Law. Claudia P. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Claudia P. Martorell since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Claudia P. Martorell is held by other lawyers.