I graduated from Hastings
College of the Law in 1988 with a Juris Doctor degree; I received a Moot Court brief award and was active in the Environmental
Law Society and in student government.
I graduated cum
laude from Occidental College in 1984 (no, I didn’t know Obama) with a BA, having majored in Rhetoric and minored in
Philosophy and English, and having worked as an instructor to Wards of the Court.
WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND?
Law Office of J. Michael Pisias; San Francisco; 2001-2009
Civil litigation practice concerning surety, contract analysis, and construction
law. - Represented both corporations and individuals in complex
multi-party cases, including those concerning public works.
- Lead counsel for administrative hearings, mediations,
arbitrations, motion hearings, court trials, jury trials, and appeals.
- Performed advice work, risk analysis, motion
writing, brief writing, administrative applications.
- Reviewed and prepared competitive bidding processes and drafted
complex contractual agreements; reviewed RFQs, RFPs, RFIs, change orders, and work orders.
- Cases often involved surety
performance and payment bonds; contract analysis of coverage issues; construction management issues; construction requirements;
private construction litigation; and review and analysis of regulatory/legislative requirements. Required constant client
contact.
- Responsible for all litigation direction and execution, and management of case scheduling.
- Practice
in California state and federal courts.
Law Office of Timothy Jaress; San Francisco; 1990 to 2000
Civil litigation practice concerning plaintiff-oriented environmental and commercial
matters. - Lead counsel for mediations, arbitrations,
jury trials, and appeals.
- Extensive involvement in complex large-scale environmental actions.
Organized largenumbers of co-counsel and acted as recording secretary for Executive Committee of counsel.
- Performed field interviews and researched legal, factual, and technical issues.
- In
charge of the firm's hiring and administration of team of attorneys and paralegals.
- Created
databases for input and analysis of data regarding thousands of plaintiffs; prepared reports for administrators and courts.
- Independently developed and controlled client files from initial interviews through all steps in the litigation
process.
Center for Auto Safety; Washington D.C.; 1989 to 1990
- Researched legal issues and assembled data regarding various safety
regulations.
Judicial Extern for Federal Judge Robert M. Takasugi
in the Central District of Calfornia.
WHAT ARE YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS?
- Long-time San Francisco Superior Court Judge Pro Tem, conducting settlement
conferences and trials in small claims appeals.
-
Member of the American Bar Association Comm. on Environment, Energy, and Resources.
- Vice President of the San Francisco Electric Vehicle Association.
- Officer and Director of the Planning Association of the Richmond (San Francisco’s largest neighborhood organization).
- Active member of numerous San Francisco neighborhood organizations,
including Coalition to Save Ocean Beach, Friends of Sutro Park, and Friends of Lands End.
