AALRR Announces 2025 Partners

01.13.2025

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) is pleased to announce that six attorneys have been admitted to the Firm’s partnership.

Managing Partner James Baca congratulated all and said, “This is an impressive group of new partners. The Firm continues to flourish because of the talent it has been fortunate enough to attract and cultivate. Our future is bright. Congratulations to each of these individuals.”

New Partners

Sarkis Atoyan represents businesses and employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including wage and hour, wrongful discharge, discrimination/harassment, retaliation, and leaves of absence. Mr. Atoyan also has significant experience in the defense of wage and hour class actions and representative action lawsuits under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Nicolle Falcis represents K-12 school districts, community college districts, and special districts in numerous areas including governance, facilities, construction, finance and funding mechanisms, public contracting, environmental review, land use concerns, and litigation. Her practice also includes extensive experience in school/developer fees, the formation of community facilities districts, the California Public Records Act, and the Brown Act.

Jacqueline Hang represents K-12 school districts, community college districts, and county offices of education in all areas of general education law. Ms. Hang has significant experience conducting discrimination, harassment, and retaliation investigations, as well Title IX investigations involving serious sexual misconduct allegations. Ms. Hang advises districts on compliance issues with federal Title IX Regulations. She provides counsel for a full range of legal issues relating to charter schools, including operational compliance review and monitoring, student services, and personnel matters.

Melisa McKellar advises and represents private employers throughout California in various aspects of labor and employment law, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, discipline and termination, wage and hour, sick leave, breach of contract, and workplace investigations. Ms. McKellar represents her clients in state and federal court, arbitration, mediation, and before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Civil Rights Department, and the California Labor Commissioner’s Office.

Brooke Romero represents California school districts, county offices of education, private schools, and other educational agencies, in a variety of general education and labor and employment matters. Her areas of practice include labor relations, contract administration, certificated and classified employee discipline and dismissal matters, conflict of interest issues, and school board governance.

DeAnna Solina provides labor and employment services to education law clients throughout the state, particularly in the areas of disability and reasonable accommodations, leave requirements, wage and hour requirements, contracts, layoffs, employee evaluation and discipline, dismissal and termination proceedings, discrimination complaints, and investigations of employee misconduct.

About Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo             
With 45 years of unwavering commitment to client service, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (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. AALRR’s public sector clients include more than 450 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 250 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.

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