AALRR Announces 2022 Equity and Non-Equity Partners

01.07.2022

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) is pleased to announce that Sharon Ormond has been named an Equity Partner and six other attorneys have been promoted to Non-Equity Partner.

Managing Partner James Baca congratulated all and said, “These promotions are very well-deserved. These attorneys represent six of our seven practice groups, and their promotions illustrate our deep expertise across the firm.”

Sharon Ormond chairs the firm’s Associate Mentoring and Training Committee and is a member of the firm’s Higher Education, Title IX, Civil Rights, and Wage and Hour groups. She represents numerous Community College Districts and other California educational agencies in labor relations and personnel matters, and brings over two decades of experience to her handling of cases including employee discipline, reductions in force, unfair practice charges, contract grievances, and the investigation and defense of discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, retaliation, and free speech claims. Her practice also includes advice, counsel, and litigation in First Amendment, search and seizure and privacy rights, wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, disability accommodations, student discipline, and compliance with the Brown Act and the California Public Records Act.

Georgelle Cuevas regularly assists school districts, county offices of education, and community colleges in navigating the requirements of the Education Code, Public Records Act, the Brown Act, and conflict of interest laws. Ms. Cuevas is experienced in counseling and representing public and private sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including discrimination/harassment, wrongful termination, disability, reasonable accommodation, wage and hour requirements, leave requirements, discipline and dismissal.  She has significant experience conducting thorough and effective investigations concerning workplace issues and student complaints.

Scott Danforth represents California school districts, county offices of education, community college districts, and private businesses. His focus on education law includes employment, special education, premises liability, and negligence issues. He regularly litigates matters arising under the California Education Code, California Government Code, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other state and federal statutes.  In addition, Mr. Danforth has litigated cases involving alleged copyright infringement, zoning ordinance violations, and contract disputes. He has been defending public entities in litigation matters, including appeals, since 2008.

Suparna Jain represents school districts, community college districts, water districts, and other public entities, as well as some private clients in litigation and transactional matters. She has successfully made solo court appearances, attended and participated in off-site client meetings, served as the contact person for certain clients, and researched and drafted critical law and motion briefs for numerous cases.

Martin Li represents private sector employers in employment related issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful terminations, wage and hour litigation, and alleged civil rights violations. Mr. Li provides employers with practical solutions to difficult workplace issues. He helps his clients comply with a myriad of state and federal employment laws in order to minimize potential liability. If an audit, agency action, or lawsuit arises, Mr. Li applies years of litigation and trial experience to defend his clients and their employment practices.

Alefia Mithaiwala represents school districts and educational agencies in all matters, including administrative trials, federal appeals, resolution meetings, expulsion hearings, mediations, and responses to Office of Civil Rights complaints, California Department of Education compliance complaints, and Uniform complaints. She practices preventative law by consulting and training school staff on various IDEA, discipline, ADA and Section 504 matters, and was instrumental in creating the firm’s Section 504 and ADA Procedures Manual.

Sonia Salinas represents clients in a wide range of litigation matters, including wrongful discharge, race, gender, and disability discrimination/harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims (including class actions and FLSA collective actions), tort defense, intellectual property, trade secrets, and claims involving non-compete agreements. Ms. Salinas has a diverse client base, including public entities, multi-national corporations and banks, hospital systems, health care providers, nonprofit entities, small businesses and individuals.

About Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
With more than 40 years of unwavering commitment to client service, AALRR is one of California’s leading law firms. Our diverse team brings a seasoned perspective to California’s complex legal landscape for public and private entities, with particular strength in the areas of education, labor and employment, construction, complex litigation, corporate, taxation, and water. Our public sector clients include more than 400 K-12 school districts, community college districts and universities, as well as cities, counties, and special districts. We also represent diverse business entities, from small, family-run businesses to publicly traded corporations.  

At 215 lawyers and growing, AALRR has nine offices in Cerritos, Fresno, Irvine, Marin, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Riverside, Sacramento, and San Diego to serve our clients throughout California. For more information about AALRR, visit our website at:  www.aalrr.com.