Seven AALRR Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers 2022 Top Northern California Lists

07.05.2022

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) is pleased to announce that seven of our attorneys have been named to Super Lawyers' 2022 Northern California lists of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

Our Northern California Super Lawyers for 2022 are Partner Rex Berry, who was named to the list for the twelfth time; Partner Laura Izon, who was named to the list for the fourteenth time; and Of Counsel Barry Hovis, who was named to the list for the sixteenth time.

Our Northern California Rising Stars for 2022 are Partner Georgelle Cuevas, Senior Associate Erika Rodine, Senior Associate Junn Paulino, and Senior Associate Angelo Villarreal, each of whom was named to the list for the first time. With only 2.5% of attorneys named as Rising Stars, these honorees are truly the best of the best.

Managing Partner Jim Baca remarked, “At AALRR, we truly believe that the depth of our legal talent is our greatest asset, and that is reflected in our attorneys regularly earning recognition such as this. We are honored to see our attorneys consistently recognized as Super Lawyers and as Rising Stars. Our attorneys provide outstanding value to their teams and clients, and this recognition is richly deserved.”

Rex Berry represents management-side clients in all matters of business and employment law, from discrimination claims to workplace investigations and beyond. He works closely with businesses and employers to avoid litigation where possible by addressing problems before they arise. Mr. Berry provides comprehensive review and recommendations on policies and practices relevant to his clientele, as well as advice, counsel, and training on a full range of employment-related issues included but not limited to harassment claims, privacy issues, disciplinary actions and employee terminations, and compliance with state and federal laws.

Laura Izon represents and guides a broad constituency of public and private sector clients with their labor and employment needs. Ms. Izon has worked in public sector law for over two decades and is widely recognized in the state for her outstanding work, particularly in the field of collective bargaining. Ms. Izon has unique abilities and a proven track record to improve fractured relationships between Labor and Management and close difficult contracts. In addition to collective bargaining, Ms. Izon has a robust advice and counsel practice advising her clients on employee discipline, leaves of absence, wage and hour issues, and employee handbooks and personnel policies. Ms. Izon is a trusted advisor who truly partners with her clients to understand their business, challenges, and needs.

Barry Hovis has tried over 40 cases to judge or jury and has handled multiple arbitrations. He has litigated cases involving all types of commercial disputes. His trial experience includes defense of claims of lender liability and breach of fiduciary duty against financial institutions, their officers and directors. He also represents these entities in regulatory proceedings. He has defended numerous class actions and unfair business practice claims. Mr. Hovis has tried claims involving corporate indemnification, employment and CERCLA.

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.

Erika Rodine represents Northern California educational agencies in all matters of the law. She provides insights and counsel in understandable, non-legalese terms, and she prioritizes clear communication at every step of her clients’ cases as they progress. Ms. Rodine’s experience includes conducting investigations for public school districts; litigating individual, representative, and class employment cases from inception to settlement; drafting and reviewing discovery requests and responses; and researching, drafting, and filing motions in both state and federal courts. In addition, she provides counsel for a full range of legal issues relating to charter schools, including operational compliance review and monitoring, complaint investigations, petitions and appeals, and operating agreements. In the realm of employment law, Ms. Rodine has worked on wage and hour matters as well as discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful termination cases.

Junn Paulino represents California School districts, county offices of education, and community college districts in all matters related to education law. Mr. Paulino litigates in matters involving employee discipline, student discipline, and education litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Paulino worked as a labor and employment litigation attorney, representing employees in various proceedings, including mediation, arbitration, trial and appeal.

Angelo Villarreal represents public and private entities in a wide array of labor and employment matters. He regularly provides advice and counsel and litigation services in the areas of wage and hour, retaliation, employment discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, leaves of absence, employee termination and discipline, and grievance issues.

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Northern California via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. The Northern California lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in Northern California Super Lawyers Top Lists.

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.