Board of Directors
Shannon Stein
Goodwin Brown Gross & Lovelace LLP
SDCBF President
Ms. Shannon Stein
Goodwin, Brown, Gross and Lovelace LLP Partner Shannon Stein practices in the areas of probate and trust administration - including disputed matters, conservatorships, and estate planning. A San Diego native, Shannon returned to the area for law school at California Western School of Law. Beginning in law school, Shannon has focused exclusively in the area of trusts and estates. Shannon has served as chair for the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate section of the San Diego County Bar Association, and is a member of the Bench Bar Committee. Beginning in 2019, Shannon has served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the San Diego County Bar.
Anne Beaumont
Office of County Counsel
SDCBF Vice President
Ms. Anne Beaumont
Anne Beaumont is a senior counsel with the firm's Environment, Energy & Resources practice. She has extensive experience representing clients in environmental, regulatory and litigation matters involving natural resources, tribal issues, telecommunications, land use and the siting and defense of large-scale infrastructure and energy projects.
Infrastructure Development and Natural Resources: Anne represents utilities, energy developers, and others in the development of cutting-edge energy and infrastructure projects. She has been involved in landmark transmission line and renewable energy projects in California and the Southwest.
Anne regularly represents clients before federal and state agencies, including the California Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, California State and Regional Water Boards and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She advises clients on compliance with federal and state environmental statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), federal and California Endangered Species Acts (ESA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA),Clean Water Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Federal Aviation Act, and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Administrative Proceedings and Enforcement Actions: Anne has extensive knowledge in administrative proceedings (including evidentiary and rule-making proceedings) and enforcement actions. These proceedings often relate to large-scale infrastructure project applications before state and federal agencies, complex telecommunications proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission and enforcement actions brought by federal and state agencies. In these administrative proceedings, Anne frequently works closely with expert witnesses, conducts discovery and prepares witness examinations, briefings and comments.
Complex Civil Litigation and Appeals: Anne also has substantial experience in complex civil litigation and appeals, representing clients in both state and federal court. Her litigation matters cover a wide range of topics, including environmental issues, natural resources, telecommunications, tribal matters and employment law. Her appellate experience includes challenges to federal and state approvals of infrastructure and energy projects and appeals from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Pro Bono: Anne maintains an active pro bono practice, representing clients in immigration court hearings and appeals regarding asylum and cancellation of removal. Her pro bono experience includes first-chairing a number of complicated immigration issues, including those raising issues of first impression. In addition to immigration matters, Anne’s pro bono work includes counseling nonprofits on a wide range of legal issues, including regulations governing nonprofit fundraising and National Park Service regulations.
Scott Schindler
JLL
SDCBF CFO
Mr. Scott Schindler
Scott Schindler is an Executive Vice President with JLL’s San Diego Tenant Representative Team. He has spent almost a decade representing occupiers of commercial real estate in a brokerage capacity, as well as 5 years as a private practice real estate attorney. His clients have included a wide range of companies from law firms and breweries to tech start-ups and non-profits. Scott's business and legal acumen empowers him to provide superior representation through an acute attention to detail.
As a native San Diegan, he is uniquely positioned to provide creative solutions for office placement throughout the County. Scott’s areas of expertise include lease acquisitions, lease renewals, early lease restructures, property acquisitions, creative location solutions, and tenant improvements. His representation has a focus on both law firms and creative companies.
Prior to joining JLL, Scott was the Vice President of a local Tenant Representation firm, The Irving Group. His time spent practicing law included representing owners and occupiers of real estate in La Jolla, California, with the established business and real estate law firm, Blanchard, Krasner & French.
Ruth Spillane
Fragomen Worldwide
SDCBF Secretary
Ms. Ruth Spillane
Ruth is a Senior Associate with Fragomen’s San Diego office and currently manages a Fortune 500 global telecommunications company and smaller-sized industry leaders, providing strategic guidance related to immigration policy decisions. Ruth advises on all aspects of business immigration law, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residency, strategic compliance, contingent workforce solutions, and immigration support for corporate restructuring. Ruth is also a volunteer attorney for the Casa Cornelia Law Center where she assists with the preparation of VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) petitions for victims of domestic violence and U visa petitions to provide temporary immigration benefits to victims of qualifying criminal activity.
Deborah Dixon Esq
The Dixon Firm, APC
SDCBF Past President
Ms. Deborah Dixon Esq
Deborah Dixon is the managing partner of The Dixon Firm. Her practice focuses on class and mass actions relating to defective products and fraud. Deborah also concentrates her practice on employee gender discrimination and harassment actions, as well as employee claims relating to pay disparity. She has been appointed by federal and state courts as lead class counsel in several class actions, as well as a member of plaintiff’s leadership counsel in a multi-district litigation.
Deborah has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year from 2017 through 2024, the Top 50 Super Lawyer from 2022 through 2024 and Top 25 Women Super Lawyer from 2021 through 2024, as well as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2015 and 2016. Deborah was recognized as Top Women Lawyer by Daily Journal, a designation only 100 women in California receive each year. In 2024, Deborah was selected to receive the “Service to the Community” award by the San Diego County Bar Association. In 2023, Deborah was recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as “Top 100 Leaders in Law.”
Whitney Blackhurst
Best Best & Krieger LLP
SDCBF Director
Ms. Whitney Blackhurst
Whitney Blackhurst is a highly qualified and experienced attorney who has been admitted to the State Bar of California, the United States District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California. She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the Kern County Bar Association, and the Lawyers Club of San Diego.
With over 7 years of legal experience, Whitney has a diverse background in complex litigation cases, including public works, inverse condemnation, tort, real property, and land use. She has represented both public and private clients in all phases of litigation, including alternative dispute resolution, trials, and appeals. She also has extensive experience in drafting various forms of legal documents, including complaints, motions, and settlement agreements. She has also participated in trial preparation, including drafting opening and closing statements and preparing witnesses.
Whitney received her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law with a magna cum laude distinction, ranking in the top 4.8% of her class. She was an Associate Writer and Editor for the California Western Law Review and International Law Journal and received multiple academic awards, including the Creative Problem-Solving Scholarship, Academic Merit Scholarship, and Judge Arthur E. Wallace Scholarship.
Devra Davis
Attorney-At-Law
SDCBF Director
Devra Davis
Goodwin, Brown, Gross and Lovelace LLP Partner Shannon Stein practices in the areas of probate and trust administration - including disputed matters, conservatorships, and estate planning. A San Diego native, Shannon returned to the area for law school at California Western School of Law. Beginning in law school, Shannon has focused exclusively in the area of trusts and estates. Shannon has served as chair for the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate section of the San Diego County Bar Association, and is a member of the Bench Bar Committee. Beginning in 2019, Shannon has served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the San Diego County Bar.
Elidia Dostal
Vanst Law LLP
SDCBF Director
Ms. Elidia Dostal
Elidia C. Dostal has two decades of experience as a trusted legal advisor to corporations and entrepreneurs at all stages of their business. From business formations to employment matters to commercial leases and environmental compliance, Elidia guides her clients through business operations and transactions with an eye toward mitigating the risk of litigation, compliance issues, and regulatory fines. A graduate of Yale Law School and a veteran of Latham & Watkins LLP, Elidia has served clients from a wide array of industries, from retail and real estate to biotech and professional sports.
Elidia serves business clients who understand the importance of involving an attorney at the front end of business transactions and compliance issues to avoid the high cost of litigation or regulatory fines. Elidia brings an expert understanding of the importance of thinking ahead to avoid potential future liabilities.
Elidia provides outside general counsel services — helping clients large and small who need a trusted counselor to advise on business legal matters. She drafts contracts, negotiates commercial leases, helps with mergers and exit planning, and strives to ensure the businesses and entrepreneurs she represents have exceptional legal counsel so they are able to focus on their bottom line.
Prior to joining Vanst Law LLP, Elidia practiced for seven years as a transactional and litigation associate at Latham & Watkins LLP, one of the world’s international law firms, and served as Associate General Counsel Secondment for the San Diego Padres. Elidia successfully ran a solo firm for eight years, advising clients on compliance with Federal and California law, including environmental compliance, employment law, and real estate matters.
A graduate of Yale Law School, Elidia was an editor of the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism and co-host of Law Talk Community Radio.
Prior to law school, she served as a tax auditor for the Franchise Tax Board. Her career as an accountant and tax auditor provides a valuable perspective that informs her legal analysis and enables her to understand the demands of business while mitigating risk.
Active in civic engagement, Elidia’s public service includes having served on the board of KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy and as a mentor to high school students from the Crawford Academy of Law and Justice.
After an extensive vetting process, Elidia was selected in 2020 to serve on both the County of Diego Independent Redistricting Commission, and the City of Chula Vista Redistricting Commission where she was elected Vice Chair. The Commissions are responsible for drawing equitable district lines for San Diego County Supervisors and Chula Vista City Councilmembers in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
Brian Funk Esq
Law office of Brian P. Funk
SDCBF Director
Mr. Brian Funk Esq
SDCBF Attorney Brian P. Funk defends people and organizations that government agencies are investigating and prosecuting, and also provides Personal Injury representation. He is admitted in State, Federal, and the United States Supreme Court. He has received numerous awards, including being named San Diego Superlawyer each year from 2007 – 2021, and being listed on Avvo.com as “Superb.”
For more than 30 years, Mr. Funk has practiced extensively in personal injury and criminal law, defending a wide range of clients from both the United States and Mexico. He possesses a depth of experience gained from handling thousands of cases in both federal and state court and is committed to using this expertise to work tirelessly and aggressively help his clients reach the most favorable outcome.
Mr. Funk is a leader in his practice areas. He was President of the Criminal Defense Bar; Director of the American Inns of Court, has served on the San Diego County Bar Association, and was President of the San Diego County Bar Foundation, which is dedicated to providing legal services to those in need.
All consultations are completely confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege. For more information regarding our practice and how we can help you, contact the Law Office of San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Brian P. Funk today.
Sara Gediman
Noonan Lance
SDCBF Director
Gail King
Ms. King is a 38-year banking veteran with 18 years at Torrey Pines Bank, where she is the Senior VP specializing in serving law firms and those involved in serving the legal community.
Gail King
California Bank & Trust
SDCBF Director
Gail King
Ms. King is a 38-year banking veteran with 18 years at Torrey Pines Bank, where she is the Senior VP specializing in serving law firms and those involved in serving the legal community.
Jessica Lees
Lees Law
SDCBF Director
Ms. Yvonne Ricardo
Goodwin, Brown, Gross and Lovelace LLP Partner Shannon Stein practices in the areas of probate and trust administration - including disputed matters, conservatorships, and estate planning. A San Diego native, Shannon returned to the area for law school at California Western School of Law. Beginning in law school, Shannon has focused exclusively in the area of trusts and estates. Shannon has served as chair for the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate section of the San Diego County Bar Association, and is a member of the Bench Bar Committee. Beginning in 2019, Shannon has served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the San Diego County Bar.
Lana Manganiello
Law Firm Business Development Consultant
SDCBF Director
Mrs. Lana Manganiello
Lana J. Manganiello is the Managing Director with Equinox Strategy Partners, providing lawyers and firms with strategic counsel to increase market visibility and drive revenue. She facilitates business development training and coaching programs that promote belonging, connection and relationship building.
Suzy Marinkovich
Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
SDCBF Director
Ms. Suzy Marinkovich
Alana McMains
Law Office of Alana McMains
SDCBF Director
Ms. Alana McMains
Alana McMains is an experienced trial attorney who handles federal and state criminal cases, as well as representing victims of sexual assault, harassment, and employment discrimination. Alana graduated cum laude from Northwestern University School of Law in 2011. After graduation, she served as a law clerk to a federal district court judge, the Honorable A. Richard Caputo. She then returned to her hometown of San Diego to work as a trial attorney with the Federal Defenders of San Diego. Alana spent seven years defending indigent criminal defendants, primarily charged with drug and immigration crimes.
Alejandro Moreno
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
SDCBF Director
Mr. Alejandro Moreno
Alejandro (“Alex”) Moreno is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's San Diego office and the firm’s 2021 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow. Alex practices general business and commercial litigation in state and federal courts. He is also experienced in private dispute resolution and arbitration, including FINRA arbitration, and has succeeded on behalf of his clients after full arbitration and brokered favorable pre-arbitration settlements.
Alex also handles appeals in the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit. He represents clients in the banking and finance, mortgage, cannabis, hospitality, technology and telecommunications, restaurant and franchise, energy and extraction, and healthcare industries. He defends consumer class actions, securities litigation and shareholder derivative suits, cross-border litigation, and litigation for high-net-worth individuals and companies with a need for Spanish speaking counsel.
He has prevailed as named counsel in complex securities fraud class actions under Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934 and has defended derivative claims involving California, Nevada, and Delaware corporations. He is also experienced in the law of receivership and has managed the legal affairs of businesses placed into receivership.
Start-up companies turn to Alex to formalize their corporate governance, set up effective employee equity compensation plans, and analyze potential conflicts of interest to help them ramp up to Series A funding.
Alex lived for two decades in Mexico and Spain and applies his familiarity with Latin American culture to successfully solve legal disputes for Latin American clients. For example, he has successfully resolved labor disputes involving primarily Spanish speaking workforces.
He has also led and organized fact gathering investigations for U.S. companies with factories in Latin America.
A prolific writer, Alex regularly contributes to various legal blogs discussing developments in the law affecting public companies, issuers of securities, banking and finance regulations, the enforceability of arbitration agreements and class action waivers, and companies with business in Latin America. As part of his pro bono work, Alex has successfully resolved guardianship and immigration matters. He also regularly advises charities and public interest groups on regulatory and dispute resolution matters.
Christina Morgan
Buchalter
SDCBF Director
Mr. Alejandro Moreno
Alejandro (“Alex”) Moreno is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's San Diego office and the firm’s 2021 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow. Alex practices general business and commercial litigation in state and federal courts. He is also experienced in private dispute resolution and arbitration, including FINRA arbitration, and has succeeded on behalf of his clients after full arbitration and brokered favorable pre-arbitration settlements.
Alex also handles appeals in the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit. He represents clients in the banking and finance, mortgage, cannabis, hospitality, technology and telecommunications, restaurant and franchise, energy and extraction, and healthcare industries. He defends consumer class actions, securities litigation and shareholder derivative suits, cross-border litigation, and litigation for high-net-worth individuals and companies with a need for Spanish speaking counsel.
He has prevailed as named counsel in complex securities fraud class actions under Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934 and has defended derivative claims involving California, Nevada, and Delaware corporations. He is also experienced in the law of receivership and has managed the legal affairs of businesses placed into receivership.
Start-up companies turn to Alex to formalize their corporate governance, set up effective employee equity compensation plans, and analyze potential conflicts of interest to help them ramp up to Series A funding.
Alex lived for two decades in Mexico and Spain and applies his familiarity with Latin American culture to successfully solve legal disputes for Latin American clients. For example, he has successfully resolved labor disputes involving primarily Spanish speaking workforces.
He has also led and organized fact gathering investigations for U.S. companies with factories in Latin America.
A prolific writer, Alex regularly contributes to various legal blogs discussing developments in the law affecting public companies, issuers of securities, banking and finance regulations, the enforceability of arbitration agreements and class action waivers, and companies with business in Latin America. As part of his pro bono work, Alex has successfully resolved guardianship and immigration matters. He also regularly advises charities and public interest groups on regulatory and dispute resolution matters.
Kyle Overs
Johnston Kinney & Zulaica
SDCBF Director
Mr. Kyle Overs
Kyle Overs is a Senior Attorney at Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica LLP. Kyle has extensive experience with trust and estate litigation, administration, and probate matters throughout California. He represents trustees, administrators, and beneficiaries in contested and uncontested matters from onset through trial. Kyle also handles general litigation matters, with prior clients ranging from individuals to limited liability companies to Fortune 500 companies.
Kyle is a member of the State Bar of California and the San Diego County Bar Association. He has been repeatedly recognized as BestLawyers’ Ones to Watch and SuperLawyers’ Rising Stars since 2018. He earned his B.S. from Wake Forest University, and his J.D. from the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law.
Kyle contributes to the community through his volunteer work as a board member of the San Diego County Bar Foundation and is also a recipient of the State Bar of California’s Wiley M. Manual Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services and the Outstanding Service Award from the Legal Aid Society of San Diego.
Stephanie Reynolds
Fisher & Phillips LLP
SDCBF Director
Ms. Stephanie Reynolds
Stephanie Reynolds is a highly accomplished attorney with extensive experience in representing both employees and employers in all aspects of employment law. As a partner at Fisher & Phillips, LLP, she represents employers in litigation involving sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage-and-hour claims. She also provides counsel to employers on compliance with state and federal laws, employee discipline and terminations, and protecting proprietary information.
Before joining Fisher & Phillips, Stephanie was a partner at Berger, Williams & Reynolds, LLP where she represented employees and employers in various employment law cases, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, retaliation, discrimination, and wage-and-hour claims. She has an impressive record of legal achievements, including obtaining multi-million-dollar settlements for her clients and successfully defending companies against claims.
Some of her notable achievements include obtaining a multi-million-dollar settlement for a class of restaurant workers against a defendant for illegal tip pooling and unlawful business practices and obtaining a 7-figure settlement on behalf of a class of nearly 1,000 workers.
Stephanie holds a Juris Doctor degree from Western New England College School of Law (now Western New England University School of Law) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is a member of several professional organizations and is recognized as a Top Woman Lawyer by the Daily Journal, and Super Lawyer from 2018-2022.
Andrew Schouten
Wright, L’Estrange & Ergastolo
SDCBF Director
Mr. Andrew Schouten
Andrew Schouten represents private and public entities in business and complex civil litigation, with a focus on antitrust, competition, securities and regulatory matters. He advocates on behalf of clients in both state and federal court, and has considerable experience in complex procedural matters, including extraordinary writs and class action defense.
Andrew provides strategic counsel and develops cost-efficient and effective solutions for his clients and is often asked to partner with out-of-state law firms to serve as local counsel. He began his legal career as a clerk for the Honorable Dana M. Sabraw, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of California. He earned his Juris Doctor with Great Distinction from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, and was admitted to the Order of the Coif, an honor society for law school graduates.
During law school, he served as an extern for Justice Fred K. Morrison (ret.), of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District and as the Chief Articles Editor for the McGeorge Law Review, where he published three student comments.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Stanislaus. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the San Diego County Bar Foundation, he also serves on the McGeorge School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Andrew is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all state and federal district courts in California. He is a member of the California Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, Antitrust Section, and the Federal Bar Association. and the San Diego County Bar Association. He is a former member of the Louis M. Welsh and J. Clifford Wallace Chapters of the American Inns of Court. The child of U.S. Foreign Service Officers, Andrew is fluent in Spanish, and grew up in Latin America, the Middle East, and the Philippines.
Pat Swan
Jones Day
SDCBF Director
Mr. Edward Patrick Swan Jr. (Pat)
With more than 40 years of experience as a trial lawyer, Pat Swan has been recognized dozens of times for his representation of clients in commercial litigation and white collar matters. Pat has handled complicated commercial cases, including business disputes, antitrust, copyright, unfair business practice, trade secrets, securities fraud, and products liability. He also has been responsible for the defense of nationwide class actions and criminal investigations and prosecutions. Pat served as a federal criminal prosecutor for more than seven years and has substantial grand jury and jury trial experience.
As lead counsel, Pat has tried to conclusion numerous civil and criminal cases. He has also successfully litigated and resolved significant matters involving alleged insider trading, attempted monopolization, health care fraud, breach of contract, and consumer class actions. He is currently handling several complicated commercial disputes and defending several ongoing government investigations involving allegations of civil and/or criminal wrongdoing.
Pat serves on the board and is the past president of the San Diego County Bar Foundation. He also serves on the board and the Executive Committee of Pro Kids | The First Tee of San Diego, on the Executive Committee of The Legacy Foundation, and on the board of Voices for Children. He is his Firm's pro bono coordinator in San Diego and devotes time annually to pro bono activities. In addition, Pat is an active member of various local, state, and national legal and bar organizations. Pat is currently on the advisory board of Best Lawyers®.
Cassandra Thorson
Thorson Law Group
SDCBF Director
Mrs. Cassandra Thorson
Joe Villasenor Esq
University of San Diego School of Law
SDCBF Director
Mr. Joe Villasenor Esq
Justin Witzmann
Globus Medical
SDCBF Director
Justin Witzmann
Justin Witzmann is Director, Legal Affairs at Globus Medical – a U.S. based medical device manufacturer committed to providing innovative technologies and industry-leading clinical support to help surgeons and healthcare providers deliver better patient care around the globe. At Globus, Justin is primarily responsible for managing global company litigation and related risk mitigation efforts. Prior to joining Globus (f.k.a. NuVasive), Justin was a civil litigator focusing primarily on commercial, professional liability, product liability and employment litigation.