Attorney Profiles

Partners

Nicholas Pastore
Born Auburn, New York, June 14, 1957; admitted to bar 1982, California. Education: Stanford University (B.A. 1979); University of Santa Clara (J.D. 1982). Member: Santa Clara County Bar Association; State Bar of California; Association of Defense Counsel, American Bar Association.
Practice Areas: Mediation, Business Litigation; Real Property Litigation; Probate Litigation; Civil Practice; Torts; Personal Injury Defense. Special Master/Disc. Referee Dispute Resolution Experience

J. Michael Fitzsimmons
Born San Francisco, California April 8, 1956; admitted to bar 1987, California. Education: University of California at Berkeley (B.A. 1979); University of Santa Clara (J.D. 1986). Member: Santa Clara County Bar Association; State Bar of California.
Practice Areas: Family Law, Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage Litigation; Civil Practice; Torts; Personal Injury Litigation, Business Litigation

Associates

Robert Zelenka
Born Glasgow, Montana, November 6, 1949; admitted to bar 1984, California; 1981, Idaho; 1979, Washington. Education: Montana State University (B.S. Business 1972); Gonzaga University School of Law (J.D. 1978); University of Florida (LL.M. Taxation 1982). Member: Santa Clara County Bar Association; Idaho Bar Association; Washington State Bar Association; State Bar of California. Co-author: "Tax Aspects of California Partnerships," 1985-1995; Supplement, California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Practice Areas: Tax and Estate Planning; Wills; Trusts and Trust Administration; Business Transactions; Corporations, Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies; Real Estate; Probate.

Kelly M. Laughrin
Born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, December 18, 1968; admitted to bar 1999, California. Education: California State University, Chico (B.S. International Relations 1992); University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D. 1999). Member: Santa Clara County Bar Association; State Bar of California; Family Law Section Member of Santa Clara County Bar Association.
Practice Areas: Family Law, Insurance Defense; Civil Practice; Personal Injury Litigation; Business Litigation.

Lisa Jeong Cummins
Born San Francisco, California, January 30, 1959; admitted to bar 1985, California. Education: Stanford University (B.A. Human Biology 1981); University of Santa Clara (J.D. 1984). Bar Admissions: State Bar of California, Federal Courts - Northern District of California, Eastern District of California, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court. Member: Asian Pacific Bar Association of the Silicon Valley (Board Member, Past Secretary); Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation of the State Bar of California (Commissioner 2002-present). Reported Cases: State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Superior Court (1989) 210 C.A.3d 604; Tomassi v. Scarff (2000) 85 C.A.4th 1053; Canter v. West Publishing Co., Inc. (N.D. Cal. 1999) 31 F. Supp.2d 1193.
Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage Litigation; Civil Practice; Torts; Personal Injury Defenses

Associates Of Counsel

C. Michael Smith
Born San Francisco, California, June 26, 1932; admitted to bar 1960, California. Education: University of Santa Clara (B.S. 1954); University of San Francisco (LL.B. 1959). Member: Santa Clara County Bar Association; American Bar Association; State Bar of California.
Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Products Liability; Business Litigation; Estate Contests; Civil Practice; Torts; Personal Injury Defense.

John R. Fitzsimmons, Jr.
Born Ames, Iowa, April 7, 1930; admitted to bar 1957, California. Education: Iowa State College (B.S. 1952); University of San Francisco (L.L.B. 1957). Member: Santa Clara County Bar Association; State Bar of California; Association of Defense Counsel. [Lt. U.S. Army 1952-1954].
Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; General Practice; Civil Practice; Torts; Personal Injury Defense.

Ralph E. Mendell
Born Dayton, Kentucky, December 8, 1927; admitted to bar 1966, California. Education: San Francisco Law School (LL.B. 1965). Member: Santa Clara County Bar Association; State Bar of California. Reported Cases: Fire Insurance Exchange v. Abbott, (1988) 204 CA 3d 1012; Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Haynes, (1990) 218 CA 3d 737; Sampson v. Krol, (1991) 235 CA 3d 1352; Hartford Casualty Insurance Co. v. Mid-Century Insurance Co., (1994) 26 CA 4th 1783.
Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage Litigation; Civil Practice; Torts; Personal Injury Defense.