about us
associates
Attorney - San Francisco
David Eligator earned his B.A. (1988) in Urban Studies from Brown University and his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1994) where he was admitted to the Honors Society. David focuses his practice on the representation of specialty subcontractors, general contractors, architects and engineers in contract, construction defect and professional liability and personal injury cases. David is admitted to practice in California, the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern and Central Districts of California, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a member of the American Bar Association (Forum on the Construction Industry and Litigation Sections); the State Bar of California (Litigation, Real Property Sections); and the Bar Association of San Francisco (Litigation Section). David also serves on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (SFCASA) and the Board of Trustees of the Hastings 1066 Foundation.
He has written and published several articles on construction-related topics:
- “The 2009 Amendments to Civil Code Section 2782: Limitations On Type I Indemnity in Residential Construction Projects,” Spring 2009.
- “The AIA’s Revisions To The A201 General Conditions: What You Need To Know For Your Next Construction Project – And Why You Need To Know It By June 2009,” Spring 2009.
- “A Subcontractor's Duty to Defend Under an Indemnification Provision,” Modern Contractor Solutions, September 2008 (co-author).
- “New Options in Form Contracts - A Comparison of the AIA and ConsensusDOCS General Conditions Documents,” Defense Comment, July 2008.
- “A New Era In Construction Form Documents,” Surety Claims Institute, June 2008 (co-author).
- “When Can a Prime Contractor on a Public Works Project Use a Different Subcontractor Than the One Listed in Its Bid,” California Real Estate Journal, January 2008.
- “Under California Statute, Only ‘Awarding Authority’ Has Power To Award Penalties,” Summer 2008.
- “Indemnity Clause Requires Defense As Soon As Suit Filed,” Fall 2008.
- “Can Change Order Relieve Prime Contractor From Using Listed Subcontractor?” Fall 2007.
Attorney - Los Angeles
Shawn Golan graduated with honors from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. From 2006 to 2009, Shawn attended Pepperdine University School of Law. As a student, Shawn was a member of the Pepperdine Trial Advocacy Team, where he competed in various trial competitions across the nation, including the NITA 2008 Tournament of Champions competition in Baltimore, Maryland. During law school, Shawn worked as a law clerk for Liz and Wendy in the prior firm, where he gained experience in all facets and phases of construction defect, personal injury and professional liability matters. As both a law student and licensed attorney, Shawn has gained extensive experience defending both corporate and individual clients in a wide variety of cases running the gamut of litigation areas. Shawn is licensed to practice in California, Arizona and Oregon.
Attorney - San Francisco
Leticia Gonzalez earned her B.S. in Accounting from the University of Denver in 1988. She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1995. Leti has extensive experience in construction defect, toxic tort and asbestos litigation. Since 1996, Leti has defended numerous companies, particularly subcontractors, in construction defect and premises and products liability cases. She is admitted to practice in all superior courts in California as well as the Eastern, Northern and Central Districts of California.
Attorney - San Diego
Douglas Jacobs graduated with distinction from Indiana University, in Bloomington, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Performance and Music Education in Instrumental and Vocal Music in 1996. In addition, he earned his Professional Clear Teaching Credential while attending the California State University, San Bernardino in 1999 and further extended his teaching expertise by adding Authorizations to teach both Language Arts and Social Science to his teaching credential. Thereafter, Mr. Jacobs spent six years as an educator in the California public schools, and was named to "Who's Who Among American Teachers." In 2005, Mr. Jacobs graduated from the California Western School of Law in San Diego, California, where he earned a J.D. He was named to the Dean's List and received the William L. Lynch Scholarship for academic excellence. Mr. Jacobs was admitted to the California State Bar in 2005. He is a member with the California Bar Association and the San Diego Defense Lawyers Association, and is admitted to practice law before all California state courts, United States District Court, Central District and Southern District. Mr. Jacobs has extensive civil litigation experience in personal injury and construction defect actions. In addition, he is experienced in special education law and advocacy, American Disabilities Act compliance, automobile and trucking cases, labor and employment issues, and public entity civil liability cases.
Attorney - San Diego / Las Vegas
Courtney Leverty earned her B.A. in Spanish from the University of Arizona in 1997. She graduated from California Western School of Law in 2001. After law school, Courtney served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Steven R. Kosach in the Second Judicial District Court in Reno, Nevada. Courtney is admitted to practice in all California and Nevada state courts, as well as the District Court for the State of Nevada, the Central District of California and the Southern District of California. She is a member of the Washoe County Bar Association and San Diego County Bar Association.
Attorney - San Diego
Jennifer Martinez received her B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington in 2002. She graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2005. During law school, Jennifer interned for the U.S. Attorneys office in the Civil Division and for the Honorable Thomas J. Whelan for the United States District Court, Southern District of California. Jennifer was also a Comments Editor for the San Diego Law Review. Jennifer was admitted to the California Bar in January of 2006 and is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association.
Attorney - Los Angeles
Sabrina Sanders earned her B.A. in Women’s and Cultural Studies, Studies in 2000 with honors and on the Dean’s List. She earned her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco in 2003. She graduated Cum Laude in the top 7% of her class and on the Dean’s List. While in law school, she earned the CALI Excellence in the Future Award in Writing and Research and in Real Property. Further, she was Associate Editor of Law Review Ninth Circuit Opinions, Staff Writer, 2001-2002. In addition, with respect to Moot Court, she won Best Appellate Brief, Golden Gate University Moot Court Competition and was a Moot Court Board Member. From January 2004, to May 2005, Sabrina worked as a Complex Litigation Research Attorney for Los Angeles County Superior Court, Coverage Division, Honorable Anthony J. Mohr, Los Angeles, CA. In 2006, she published “Pros and Cons of Enforcing Arbitration Provisions in Construction Defect Actions; West Coast Casualty”. Sabrina has a vast amount of arbitration and trial experience in each of the Skane Wilcox practice areas.
Attorney - San Diego
Michelle Schill has been awarded by The Daily Transcript as an outstanding San Diego County Young Attorney for 2011. She will be highlighted in the December 21st Young Attorneys 2011 special publication of The Daily Transcript, as well as online at SDDT.com. Michelle earned her B.A. in Political Science and minor in Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, from San Diego State University in 2004. She graduated from California Western School of Law in 2008. During law school, Michelle was honored on the Dean’s List and received Academic Achievement Awards in both Employment Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Attorney - San Diego
Kent Thaeler joins the firm with almost 15 years of experience in civil litigation, most of which has been focused on the prosecution of construction defects claims. He attended the University of California at San Diego before obtaining his J.D. from National University School of Law in 1991. While in law school he was nominated to the Student Honors Board by the Dean and received a Tuition Scholarship based on his high entrance test scores and upon the recommendation of United States Senator Jeff Bingaman of the State of New Mexico.
Attorney - Los Angeles
Michelle Watkins earned her B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001, where she was a Quilici Scholarship recipient. She earned her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2004. While in law school, Michelle was named to the Dean’s List, received a merit scholarship, served as a student editor of the Annual Survey of International and Comparative Law Journal and was a member of the Moot Court Board. Michelle was also selected as a teaching assistant for Real Property I, Legal Writing and Research and Appellate Advocacy. Michelle has extensive civil litigation experience in professional liability, personal injury, real estate, and construction defect actions.