News

In March, Gordon & Rees welcomed twenty-six new attorneys to our Alexandria, Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Westchester, and Wilmington offices. They join us as members of the Advertising & E-Commerce, Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors' Rights, Business Transactions, Commercial Litigation, Construction, Employment Law, Environmental/Toxic Tort, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Product & General Liability, and Professional Liability Defense Practice Groups.

Ann Marie joins the Chicago office as a member of the Environmental/Toxic Tort and Employment Law practice groups. She focuses her practice on defending manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in all aspects of environmental and toxic tort litigation. She began her legal career at a Chicago-based law firm where she specialized in complex, high-value construction litigation and arbitration. Ann Marie earned her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and her B.S. from Loyola University Chicago.

Wesley joins the Alexandria office as a member of the Commercial Litigation and Advertising & E-Commerce practice groups. He represents business and entrepreneurs who sell products and services online, including e-commerce retailers, technology companies, lead generators, advertising agencies, and related service providers. Wesley both advises clients and litigates on their behalf on a wide range of matters, including online advertising, regulatory compliance, business transactions, and consumer protection law, where he resolves, prosecutes, and defends against legal actions. Wesley earned his J.D. from William & Mary School of Law and his B.A. from The College of William & Mary.

Shira joins the Los Angeles office as a member of the Employment Law practice group. She represents and counsels employers of all sizes in a variety of employment law matters at both the state and federal level. She has experience defending employers in single-plaintiff and class action matters involving wage and hour claims and Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) actions. Additionally, Shira represents and defends employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other adverse employment actions. Shira earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ricardo joins the San Francisco office as a member of the Employment Law practice group. His practice focuses on representing employers in all phases of litigation. Prior to joining Gordon & Rees, Ricardo worked as a Deputy Public Defender in Santa Clara County, where he tried several cases to verdict and successfully argued pretrial motions before the court. Ricardo earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law and his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.

Christopher joins the Miami office as a member of the Environmental/Toxic Tort, Commercial Litigation, and Employment Law practice groups. His diverse practice includes professional liability, general liability, insurance defense, admiralty defense, third-party property, personal injury, condominium law, contracts, auto negligence, marine negligence, premises liability, wrongful death, real estate litigation, corporate law, medical malpractice, trucking, federal transportation, products liability, intellectual property, construction defect, toxic torts, governmental defense, and subrogation. Christopher has won numerous summary judgments and dismissals with prejudice and has saved his clients tens of millions of dollars in negotiated settlements. Christopher earned his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his B.A. from Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences.

Susan joins the Chicago office as a member of the Employment Law practice group. She has experience representing both public and private employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, civil rights and constitutional claims, including those brought pursuant to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 1983, the ADA, the FMLA, the ADEA, and similar state statutes. She is also experienced in training and counseling clients on a wide variety of employment-related issues, including Title IX compliance, anti-discrimination policies and procedures, discipline, work performance, leave policies, workplace accommodations, and best practices. Susan has experience representing clients at the administrative level, including at that IDHR and EEOC, at the district and circuit court levels, and at the appellate level. Susan earned her J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Iowa.

Terrence joins the Sacramento office as a member of the Commercial Litigation practice group. Terrence earned his J.D. from Boston College Law School and his B.A. from Santa Clara University.

Joseph joins the Wilmington office as a member of the Insurance practice group. Before joining Gordon & Rees, Joseph was a litigation association in the Philadelphia and Delaware offices of a regional defense firm, where he successfully argued and briefed numerous cases before state and federal trial and appellate courts in a wide array of areas, including Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Civil Rights, Professional Liability, General Liability, Employment Law, Construction Law, and Municipal Liability. Joseph earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and his B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University.

Anthony joins the Westchester office as a member of the Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Product & General Liability practice groups. He focuses on commercial litigation, lawyers’ professional liability and sports risk matters. His experience covers intellectual property, corporate, construction, insurance coverage and bad faith, environmental and employment practice liability issues. He regularly tries cases and argues appeals in the state and federal courts of Connecticut and New York. Before his legal career, Anthony worked as a commercial casualty underwriter and risk management consultant. Anthony earned his J.D. from Pace University School of Law and his B.B.A. from The College of Insurance.

Lara joins the Sacramento office as a member of the Commercial Litigation practice group. She is an experienced litigator representing clients in a diverse range of matters in state and federal court. She represents clients in a broad range of employment matters, represents clients in unlawful detainers, and helps her business clients navigate various commercial issues. She has successfully defended numerous cases at trial and in arbitration and has a strong track record in resolving complex matters in mediation. Lara earned her J.D. from Emory University School of Law and her B.S.B.A. from the University of San Francisco.

Eric joins the San Diego office as a member of the Employment Law practice group. He is an experienced litigator who focuses primarily on employment. His employment experience ranges from advising clients to defending them at trial. He has extensive experience working on discrimination, harassment, and other FEHA claims; Title VII allegations; FMLA and CFRA claims; class action litigation including wage and hour claims and PAGA; administrative hearings, and Department of Industrial Relations hearings among others. He also advises clients on compliance related to California and Federal labor laws, questions regarding employee matters, and drafting employee handbooks. Eric earned his J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and his A.B. from the University of California, Davis.

Jacob joins the Portland office as a member of the Commercial Litigation practice group. He is a litigator with experience in all aspects of state and federal civil litigation, including trials, appeals, mediations, and arbitrations. Jacob’s practice focuses on advising and representing clients in a wide variety of business and commercial disputes, and his multi-faceted perspective allows him to serve his clients' diverse and unique needs. Jacob earned his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law and his B.A. from Portland State University.

Tyler joins the Oakland office as a member of the Environmental/Toxic Tort practice group. He primarily handles matters involving chemical and asbestos exposure. Tyler earned his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law and his B.A. from San Francisco State University.

Myles joins the San Francisco office as a member of the Commercial Litigation practice group. He focuses on commercial litigation in trial and appellate courts, with an emphasis on claims involving financial services, product liability, consumer fraud, breach of contract and unfair business practices. Previously, Myles worked at several San Francisco and Oakland-based firms, where his litigation practice areas included the defense of general liability, construction, government contracts, employment matters, financial services, and appellate law. He has a comprehensive background in all aspects of the civil litigation process and has successfully drafted and argued dozens of motions and briefs. Myles earned his J.D. from U.C. Hastings College of the Law and his B.A. from Sonoma State University.

Christopher joins the Dallas office as a member of the Employment Law, Commercial Litigation, and Professional Liability Defense practice groups. He served a prestigious federal clerkship for United States District Judge William M. Acker, where he received behind-the-scenes training on our trial system in America. He also served as a Texas Assistant Attorney General in the Financial Litigation Division, where he was lead counsel on multiple Supreme Court cases and lead trial counsel for an enforcement action that resulted in over $100 million dollars being awarded to Texans. He has also spoken on whistleblowers, discrimination, employment law, police use of force (including excessive force), and ERISA preemption in addition to being cited as an authority on the subject of ERISA preemption in the Boston University Law Review. Christopher earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Kansas.

Annie joins the Dallas office as a member of the Business Transactions and Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors' Rights practice groups. She cultivated her interest in bankruptcy during a class at SMU taught by the Honorable Harlin D. Hale, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Texas. The following year, Annie worked for a creditors’ rights firm where she gained valuable experience representing creditors and trustees. Annie earned her J.D. from Southern Methodist University and her B.A. from Texas Tech University.

Abigail joins the Denver office as a member of the Professional Liability Defense practice group. Prior to joining Gordon & Rees, Abigail was a law clerk for Denver District Court Judge Morris B. Hoffman. While clerking, she worked on a wide variety of civil litigation cases. Abigail earned her J.D. from Tulane University Law School and her B.A. from Tulane University.

Tasia joins the Hartford office as a member of the Construction practice group. Her practice focuses on construction and surety law, business litigation, and the negotiation of all types of construction contracts. She counsels clients on issues surrounding all aspects of construction projects. Prior to joining the firm, Tasia's practice focused on intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark, and copyright infringement matters, contract disputes, trade dress, unfair competition and false advertising, and complex commercial disputes. Tasia earned her J.D. from Western New England University School of Law and her B.S. from The University of Connecticut.

Gizem joins the Dallas office as a member of the Employment Law and Commercial Litigation practice groups. She handles a wide variety of litigation matters for clients across the country at both the state and federal level, including complex commercial disputes, class actions, employment disputes, intellectual property disputes, and bankruptcy. Gizem earned her J.D. from Albany Law School and her B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Nina joins the San Diego office as a member of the Environmental/Toxic Tort practice group. Before joining Gordon & Rees, Nina practiced general civil litigation and maritime law. Nina earned her J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and her B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Anthony joins the Columbus office as a member of the Commercial Litigation practice group. He focuses his practice on a wide range of professional liability, employment, commercial real estate, products liability, and energy infrastructure. Prior to joining Gordon & Rees, Anthony was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Cuyahoga County handling a voluminous docket ranging from First Degree Felonies to Misdemeanors of the First Degree. He was a staff attorney for a large firm, assisting in e-Discovery matters. Anthony also counseled a nationwide Mortgage company on various areas of loan origination, employee matters, and other commercial matters. Anthony earned his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and his B.A. from Loyola University Maryland.

Nancy joins the Detroit office as a member of the Commercial Litigation and Employment Law practice groups. Prior to joining Gordon & Rees, Nancy worked at a Michigan-based law firm where she represented corporations and individuals in a wide variety of general negligence, premises liability, and personal injury disputes. Nancy earned her J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and her B.A. from Wayne State University.

Garrett joins the San Diego office as a member of the Employment Law practice group. Garrett is exerienced in representing both employers and employees in state and federal court in virtually every employment context, including FEHA/Title VII retaliation, whistleblower retaliation, race discrimination, gender discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, disability discrimination (and harassment due to these characteristics) and wage and hour issues. He also advises clients on employment handbooks and risk management efforts needed to avoid controversy. Garrett earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law and his B.A. from Point Loma Nazarene University.

Jeremy joins the Atlanta office as a member of the Employment Law practice group. He is an experienced litigator who has successfully represented corporations, partnerships, financial institutions, and individuals in state and federal courts across the country. Jeremy’s experience includes a wide variety of commercial litigation matters, including contract disputes, fraud, unfair competition, as well as securities litigation, construction litigation, employment law, defamation, and insurance coverage disputes. Jeremy earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Georgia.

Sarah joins the Hartford office as a member of the Product & General Liability and Environmental/Toxic Tort practice groups. She has extensive experience representing clients on environmental matters, including wetlands use and permitting issues, as well as significant experience defending energy companies in workplace exposure litigation. Sarah received a competitive position as an ORISE Research Fellow with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. She has focused much of her research into environmental law with an eye toward affecting public policy on a national scale. Sarah earned her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.

Zina joins the San Francisco office as a member of the Insurance practice group. Her practice focuses on insurance bad faith claims, life, health and disability claims, coverage issues, as well as welfare benefits plans concerning ERISA benefit claims. She also has experience in matters involving agent and broker sales practices, life settlement cases involving insurance carrier claims, regulator claims, viatical fraud claims, and breach of contract claims. Zina earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.