ARE YOU AN EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY?

Yes. I have practiced for over 20 years and conducted numerous jury and court trials and settled hundreds of cases in mediation or arbitration. I have won plaintiff jury awards up to $2,800,000 and I have saved defendant clients from trial claims in the millions of dollars.

DO YOU OFFER FREE CONSULTATIONS?

Yes: please contact me to set up a convenient time to discuss, in person or over the phone, questions you may have regarding your situation. There is no fee for the consultation.

WHAT ARE YOUR RATES?

Given my low overhead as a solo, I am able to provide services for a significantly lower fee than other law firms: my rate is generally $200/hour.

As a sole practitioner I am able to provide efficient, innovative, aggressive, and personal attention, while offering a rate that beats any other qualified firm.

WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND?

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 focused on contracts, environmental law, public policy, and mediation.

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, studied statistics, and 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, in state and federal courts.

- Performed advice work, risk analysis, motion and 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 bonds; contract analysis of coverage issues; construction management issues; construction requirements; private construction litigation; and review and analysis of regulatory/legislative requirements.

- 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 large numbers 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 interviews through entire litigation.

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 Golden Gate Electric Vehicle Association.

- Officer and Director of the Planning Association for 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.