Steven L. Smith

Valerie Bantner Peo focuses her practice on creditors’ rights and commercial litigation with significant experience at the trial and appellate levels in bankruptcy, federal and state court. She regularly represents financial institutions, including agribusiness lenders and alternative lenders, software licensors, commercial landlords and tenants, equipment lessors, officers and directors, companies in distress, and creditor committees and other fiduciaries.

Bruce Copeland is a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation practice, and former deputy department head for the firm’s entire Litigation practice. He represents and counsels a variety of businesses with respect to a variety of concerns, including advertising and labeling issues, false and misleading advertising, trade secrets, complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, litigation avoidance, and a broad range of areas in the food and beverage industry. My focus I...

Emile A. Davis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Emile A., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Emile A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David W. Herbst is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law. David W., who practices law in Redwood City, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jacobus D. Machalow is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Jacobus D., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jacobus D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Cheng is the chair and managing partner of Nixon Peabody’s China and Asia-Pacific practice. He is qualified in both the United States and Hong Kong. He focuses on cross-border transactions, litigations and investigations, advising on issues ranging from acquisitions, capital financing (initial public offering), intellectual property protection and disputes to fraud, FCPA and SEC investigations. He has a client portfolio from all over the world: United States, Middle East, Europe, ...

William I. Schwartz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Information Technology Law. William I., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shawn M. Christianson focuses her practice on insolvency, receiverships, and complex litigation with an emphasis on technology related issues. She represents financial institutions, secured and unsecured creditors, technology companies, receivers, and bankruptcy trustees. Her practice spans the state, federal and bankruptcy courts, as well as out of court proceedings and mediation. She argued, and prevailed at every level from the trial court through the Ninth Circuit, a seminal case on the t...

Kevin represents people who are injured, or are the survivors of someone who was killed, as a result of the negligence of another. He has more than 25 years’ experience in handling cases involving car accidents (including “rideshare” accidents), big rig and truck crashes, bicycle accidents, pedestrian injuries, construction site incidents, MUNI crashes and defective products. Recognized by his peers as one of the top trial lawyers in the state, Kevin is a hard-working attorn...

Myron Sugarman concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, deferred compensation, taxation of nonprofit and charitable institutions, and family and personal tax planning. His experience extends to all areas of federal and local taxation. Prior to entering private practice, Myron served in the Office of The Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army at the Pentagon. A former president of the San Francisco Tax Club, he is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the San ...