Education

J.D., Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

B.A., Duke University

Mark L. Lasser

Associate

Mark Lasser has been an attorney for nearly 30 years, including working for large law firms in the Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, and represented large clients such as Microsoft, Apple, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Chase, and Kodak. He has also managed his own firm for several years. He is admitted to practice law in California and Washington, D.C.

Mark’s legal experience includes complex civil litigation for both defendants and plaintiffs (including class actions, antitrust, real estate, and contract disputes), insurance defense, mergers and acquisitions, and business counseling (with a focus on antitrust and M&A issues).

Mark received his JD from Northwestern University School of Law, BA from Duke University, and was a visiting student at Brasenose College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Additionally, he is a former Fulbright research and teaching scholar to Albania. He has served as Chair of the International Human Rights Section of the San Francisco Bar Association and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Association of Northern California. Mark has also worked in international development and diplomacy for the U.S. State Department, and extensively in the Balkans (Albania, Kosovo, and N. Macedonia), Ukraine, and other countries. Mark’s interests include skiing, tennis and travel.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
Tahoe-Truckee Bar Association

Education

Paralegal Certificate, University of California, Los Angeles

B.A., California State University, Sacramento

Jasmine Tran

Paralegal

Jasmine joined the VL team in 2025 as a paralegal and is eager to begin her career in the legal profession. With a B.A. in English from CSU Sacramento and a paralegal certificate from UCLA Extension, she demonstrates both excellent communication skills and a commitment to legal excellence. Prior to VL, she worked for five years at a financial planning firm, where she obtained valuable skills in client relations, document management, and complex case coordination. She has a strong work ethic and desires to contribute to the success of VL.

Outside of work, Jasmine enjoys attending her weekly Bible study, spending quality time with loved ones, and testing out new recipes in the kitchen.

Education

J.D., Trinity Law School

B.A., Legal Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz

Assal Rezai

Associate



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]

Assal Rezai is a California attorney with a Juris Doctor from Trinity Law School. She furthered her legal expertise through advanced human rights training at the International Institute of Human Rights – René Cassin Foundation in Strasbourg, France, and pursued additional
international legal studies in France and the Netherlands.

Before her admission to the State Bar of California, Ms. Rezai gained extensive experience as a legal assistant, supporting attorneys across various practice areas. She brings a strong foundation in legal research, document preparation, case management, and client service.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California

Education

J.D., University of California College of the Law, San Francisco

University of California, Berkeley

Jason F. Schwarz

Associate



(925) 934-6102



Jason Schwarz’s practice spans across general and business litigation, real estate and business transactions, bankruptcy, and government contracting law. His experience includes personal injury, business disputes, and complex class action litigation

Jason is well-versed in real estate transactions, including purchase and sale, leasing, financing, and construction agreements. He advised a developer on all legal aspects of a San Francisco mixed-use project featuring a gourmet market and condominiums. He has also served as general counsel for a real estate investment firm, addressing issues of purchase and sale, leasing, employment law, OSHA and ADA compliance, and premises liability for resorts and multifamily properties.

Jason has worked on both sides of commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters, and brings over 10 years of federal government contracting experience. He has experience in pre-litigation, mediations, settlement negotiations, and trials, emphasizing client responsiveness and a strategic and diplomatic approach to expediting the resolution of legal matters.

Jason has served as Executive Director of Contra Costa Senior Legal Services in Concord, California, and as a board member for multiple nonprofits. He has consulted on commercial law and rule of law issues in countries such as Bulgaria, Egypt, Georgia, Haiti, Myanmar, Palestine and Serbia.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
United States Bankruptcy Court – Eastern District of California

Education

J.D., University of California Hastings, San Francisco

B.A. in Economics, University of California, Berkeley

Kevin B. Kevorkian

Of Counsel



(925) 934-6102

Kevin Kevorkian is an experienced attorney and has been practicing law for over 35 years. His practice as General Counsel includes over 12 years of experience at a leading restaurant franchisee and golf resort operator. Kevin’s expertise focuses on corporate governance, contract law, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Prior to joining the Firm, Kevin provided comprehensive legal services in general civil litigation, specializing in employment law, business litigation, disability rights, and personal injury matters. He is adept at managing complex legal issues, leading cross-functional teams, and advising executive leadership to minimize risk and drive strategic business decisions.

Professional Organizations

State Bar of California
American Bar Association
Contra Costa County Bar Association

Education

Paralegal Certificate, California State University

A.S. in Administration of Justice, Diablo Valley Community College

Camille Huerta

Paralegal



(925) 934-6102





[email protected]

Camille is a dedicated first year paralegal specializing in estate planning. She obtained her Paralegal Certification from California State University’s Paralegal Studies Program, where she developed a strong foundation in legal research, document preparation, and client relations.

Camille joined the Firm’s Estate Planning team where she assists clients in navigating the complexities of wills, trusts, and the probate processes. Her attention to detail ensures that all aspects of estate planning are meticulously handled, providing clients with peace of mind and confidence in their legal matters.

Camille prides herself on being extremely organized, a quick learner, and a team player. Her ambition and commitment to continuous improvement helps her achieve her professional goals.

Though Camille is early in her legal career, she is committed to growth within the field of estate planning, leveraging her skills to provide top-tier support to attorneys and clients. When Camille completes her studies at California State University, she aspires to attend Law School. In her free time, she enjoys traveling the world, reading, and going to the beach.

Education

J.D., University of California College of the Law, San Francisco

B.A., Washington State University, Cum Laude

Sheryl A. Traum

Senior Associate



(925) 934-6102





[email protected]

With over 30 years of experience, Sheryl Traum is a seasoned litigator, negotiator, and trial attorney. She earned the highest available A-V rating from the Martindale-Hubbell peer review process.

Sheryl concentrates her efforts on civil litigation in both California State Superior Courts and the United States District Court in Northern California, and often, though not exclusively, represents Defendants in high exposure cases. She has represented developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, material suppliers, manufacturers and land owners in numerous cases involving construction, design (including architecture and engineering), personal injuries, breach of contract, motor vehicle accidents (including trucking), and real property disputes (including trespass, nuisance, leases, boundaries, landslides, and trees).

Sheryl once used her knowledge of Civil Procedure to hail two English citizens into deposition in England to testify about a catastrophic car accident, leading to a favorable resolution for her client. She has successfully handled high exposure complex litigation (as well as smaller cases) through trial, including obtaining successful results as lead trial counsel in cases involving exposure as high as $100 Million.

In addition to focusing on performing the legal tasks required in cases she handles, Sheryl understands the importance of keeping clients apprised of case developments so they can make informed decisions about case handling. She is committed to deepening her negotiation skills to achieve favorable dispute resolutions for her clients. She has participated in over 150 hours of intensive negotiation and mediation training, as well as training to serve as a mediator to help parties resolve their disputes. Sheryl has also served as a “Judge Pro Tem” for Contra Costa Superior Court to assist with covering hearings when Judges were unavailable.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
United States District Court in the Northern District of California

Education

J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

B.A., San Francisco State University

Delara Doroodian

Associate

With over 15 years in law, Delara has experience in a range of areas from personal injury to complex trust matters. At VL, she has dedicated her practice to helping individuals and families with estate planning, trust administration, and trust litigation.

Delara prides herself on working closely with clients to create personalized estate plans that meet their unique needs. She enjoys simplifying complex legal issues, helping clients with planning for the future and navigate challenging trust matters with clarity and compassion.

Delara earned her B.A. in Political Science from San Francisco State University and her J.D. from UOP McGeorge School of Law.

She enjoys exercising and spending quality time with her husband and three children outside of work.

Van De Poel & Levy, LLP

Southern California Satellite Office

23801 Calabasas Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
Telephone: (844) 400-6585
Fax: (925) 934-6060

Education

B.S., Cornell University

Danette Leung

Paralegal

Danette is a paralegal professional with over 5 years of experience in the legal field. She graduated from Cornell University where she earned her degree in Biological Sciences. Danette’s passion as a paralegal, in conjunction with her organizational and communication skills, have allowed her to contribute to team efficiency and productivity, providing exceptional support to VL’s attorneys.

Danette started her legal career as a paralegal at a non-profit organization in San Francisco where she worked with low-income, Cantonese speaking individuals to obtain Domestic Violence Restraining Orders. She was passionate for the work and continued to hone her skills, gaining years of paralegal experience in the areas of personal injury, business disputes, and family law. Danette has since joined VL and especially enjoys being a part of the paralegal team, contributing to the success of VL.

In her spare time, Danette enjoys having discussions about her Christian faith, studying the Bible, reading and writing, and cooking for family and friends.

Education

B.A., University of California, Davis, English and Sociology, Asian American Studies

Janine M. Fiel-Cosse

Associate



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]

Janine has an extensive background in handling complex civil litigation. Before working at VLT, she worked for a decade as the supervising attorney of the discovery department at a prominent Bay Area civil litigation firm. Her responsibilities included single-handedly drafting hundreds of sets of discovery as well as reviewing each set of discovery drafted by her team before it went out the door. This attention to detail contributed to defeating motions for summary judgment, leading to significant settlements for clients.

With a diverse background in litigation, Janine has a proven track record of success in various areas of pre-trial litigation. Janine honed her skills drafting and responding to extensive sets of discovery, managing cases, defending expert and witness depositions, making court appearances, drafting and arguing motions, and advocating for her clients against opposing counsel. Clients working with Janine can expect personalized attention and clear communication. She is dedicated to ensuring clients understand legal procedures and promptly addressing any questions or concerns they may have.

During her time in law school, Janine interned with Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality, contributing to the development and passage of legislation benefiting diverse Asian American communities in California. Janine also volunteered in Sacramento for the prestigious Voluntary Legal Services Program and won the Wiley P. Manuel Pro Bono Legal Services award for her work. Her academic achievements during law school include receiving Witkin Awards in Torts and Civil Procedure, and serving as a teaching assistant for Evidence, reflecting her exceptional dedication to excellence.

Janine is a proud alumna of the University of California, Davis, where she earned bachelor of arts degrees in English and Sociology, with a minor in Asian American Studies. During her undergraduate years, she demonstrated her leadership abilities through her involvement in several student organizations, including serving as a student body elected senator for the Associated Students of UC Davis and earning many prestigious awards for her on-campus contributions. A Bay Area native, Janine enjoys spending her free time reading fiction, catching up on TV shows, and supporting her son in his various after-school activities while her husband serves in the US Air Force.

Education

J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law

University of California, Davis

Joseph Schultz

Of Counsel



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]

Joseph Schultz obtained his undergraduate degree in Political Science – Public Service from the University of California at Davis.

In his current Of Counsel role with the firm, Mr. Schultz focuses on the defense and consultation of architects, engineers and other design professionals, contractors, developers, and homeowners. He is also experienced in handling employment law matters, premises liability, personal injury defense, and general commercial litigation.

Mr. Schultz lives in the East Bay with his two children, and enjoys several outdoor-related activities and interests, including hiking/walking, skiing, biking, and traveling.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
Washington State Bar Association

Education

J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Michael LaMay

Of Counsel



(925) 934-6102





[email protected]

Michael LaMay’s practice focuses on trust and estate litigation, financial elder abuse litigation, contested conservatorship litigation, trust administration, and probate. He has over three decades of experience litigating difficult and contentious cases. Michael assists clients in all aspects of trust, estate, and conservatorship litigation matters, including practical counseling, settlement negotiations, mediation, and litigation through trial.

Michael is a member of the State Bar of California, State Bar of California Trusts and Estates Section, Contra Costa County Bar Association Elder Law Section -where he is a former Chair of the Board of Directors, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Section.

Michael has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer in Estate & Trust Litigation every year since 2014.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Super Lawyers

James H. Ghilotti

Education

B.S. St. Mary’s College of California in Economics and Business Administration, 2005
M.L.S., Empire College School of Law, 2014
J.D., Empire College School of Law, 2015

James H. Ghilotti

Associate

James Ghilotti is an experienced litigator and case negotiation specialist. He brings a wide array of expertise to each client interaction. He obtained his B.S. degree from St. Mary’s College in Economics and Business Administration. James has a Masters in Legal Studies and his J.D. from Empire College School of Law. James is licensed to practice in both state and federal courts in California.

James endeavors to provide each client with personal attention and fervent representation, suited for the unique circumstances of each case. James spends his time working primarily on high value injury, products liability, premises liability and transportation cases. James’ ability to decipher what really matters gives him a keen ability to navigate even the most complex matters.

During his time in law school, James worked as a law clerk at a large civil litigation firm working on all aspects of civil litigation from evaluating cases before filing, to litigation through appeal. During law school, James was a student member of Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and Sonoma County Bar Association. James holds his Occupational Safety and Health 30 certification and was previously a member of the safety team for a general contractor with a focus on risk minimization and safety process implementation.

In addition to providing advice and counsel to clients and businesses he volunteers his time with many local non-profit organizations. He currently serves as an officer of Sonoma Valley Little League and as Vice President of Sonoma Valley United, his children’s soccer league.

James values family and relationships as much as his own personal desire to help those in need. To him, they are one in the same. He is a proud husband and father of three boys and a coach of baseball, football, soccer, and basketball.

Premises Liability

Products Liability

Transportation Law

Education

J.D., University of California College of Law, San Francisco

B.A., University of California, Irvine, Social Science

Brian E. Colton

Of Counsel



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]

Brian Colton joined the firm in 2023 as a Senior Associate Attorney. His practice is focused on civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction defect litigation. Brian has litigated personal injury, premises liability, products liability, and habitability claims on behalf of defendants. He has also litigated workers compensation/property subrogation matters representing two large insurance companies, with whom he was previously employed as Staff Counsel. His practice covers all phases of civil litigation from pre-litigation negotiations to pleadings, law and motion, discovery, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, and trial.

Brian received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from the University of California, Irvine. He graduated from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and was admitted to the California Bar in 2001.

Professional Organizations

State Bar of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

Douglas K. Poulin

Senior Associate

Douglas Poulin is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on real estate litigation and complex business disputes. He has represented a variety of clients, including domestic corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, developers, real estate investors, landlords, property managers, tenants, apartment owners, and lenders.

In the realm of real estate litigation, Mr. Poulin has handled a wide range of cases involving breach of purchase and sale agreements, co-ownership disputes, commercial and residential landlord-tenant disputes, CC&Rs, boundary disputes, easements, excavation and soils, fraud and nondisclosure, residential rent control, commercial tenant disputes, neighbor disputes, franchisor-franchisee contracts, title insurance disputes, partition claims, and those involving construction defects and homeowners’ associations. He also litigates complex business disputes involving real property, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, and business and partnership disputes. Mr. Poulin is skilled in all aspects of litigation, including alternative dispute resolution, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, settlement, trial, and judgment enforcement proceedings. He has represented clients in federal and California state courts and has handled dozens of business litigation matters involving dispute resolution, arbitrations, and lawsuits relating to real estate and the sale of private companies.

In addition to litigation, Mr. Poulin also provides transaction assistance to sellers and buyers of commercial and residential real property at every stage of the transaction, conducts lease negotiations for commercial and residential landlords and tenants, provides counsel to property management companies, and assists clients with zoning and land use matters.

With his comprehensive knowledge and experience in real estate litigation and business disputes, Mr. Poulin is committed to providing high-quality legal services to his clients and achieving the best possible outcome in every case.

Real Estate Broker/Agent Malpractice

Business Disputes/Litigation

Douglas S. Saavedra

Education

University of California, Davis – Bachelor of Arts Degree

University of Copenhagen, Denmark – Study Abroad Law Exchange

University of California, Davis School of Law

Douglas S. Saavedra

Associate

Douglas S. Saavedra joined the firm on July 11, 2022 as an Associate Attorney. His practice areas include construction defect, personal injury, premises liability, public entity defense and represented clients in California State and Federal Courts.

Douglas received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2015, studied International Law at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark as a Study Abroad Law Exchange for one semester in 2019 and graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2020. He has been a member of the California State Bar since January 2021 and previously practiced in the Sacramento area.

Douglas enjoys a variety of outdoor activities as well as reading and movies.

Construction Law

Premises Liability

Education

J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law

B.A., Golden Gate University, Public Administration

Gary Berticevich

Of Counsel



(510) 520-4167





[email protected]

Gary Berticevich obtained his B.A. in Public Administration, cum laude, from Golden Gate University and his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Mr. Berticevich has over 30 years of experience representing primarily defense entities in construction defect and general liability matters. Mr. Berticevich joined the firm in November 2021, and has represented individuals and businesses at all stages of civil litigation, from pre-suit investigation, through pre-trial procedures and trial, and appeal. Many of the construction matters involved alleged defects in design and construction of residential and commercial properties with amounts in issue in the tens of millions of dollars. General and vehicle liability cases have involved catastrophic injury and death. Mr. Berticevich has tried several jury cases to verdict on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants, and has taken and defended hundreds of depositions.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
Voluntarily inactive member of The State Bar of Hawaii
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California and the District of Hawaii

Education

J.D., Santa Clara University, School of Law

University of California, Davis

Jonathan Heck

Partner



(925) 948-0596





[email protected]

Jonathan Heck’s practice includes representing developers, general contractors, specialty subcontractors, and professionals of all trades in all aspects of construction-related litigation, including contract disputes, complex and high exposure construction defect claims, and the prosecution of indemnity and subrogation claims on behalf of contractors and their insurers. Mr. Heck’s experience with construction defect claims includes production and custom single-family homes, multi-unit residential projects such as condominiums and apartments, and public and commercial buildings.

Mr. Heck’s construction practice also includes representation of both contractors and property owners in general construction matters including mechanic’s liens, surety and bond claims, delay claims, contract disputes, administrative claims, and contract preparation.

Mr. Heck also handles general liability matters including personal injury and products liability claims.

Mr. Heck’s practice covers all phases of civil litigation from pre-litigation proceedings and negotiations to law and motion, discovery, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, and trial.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California

Jenny Balestrieri

Director of Administration



(925) 274-7650





[email protected]



VCard

Virginia (Jenny) Balestrieri, Director of Administration is a professional with 14 years of human resource experience. For the last eighteen years she has held a management and support role with VL. Prior to joining VL, she was with the law firm of Strickland & Haapala in Oakland, CA for eight years. She has notable experience in human resource planning, performance management, federal and state law compliance, employment contracts (offer letters, ICA’s, various designations of employment) compensation, employee benefits and office management.

She holds a Business & Management Degree from Salisbury University. She has been a member with the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), previous member and served on the board for East Bay Legal Administrators Association (EALA), designation of certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRC1), and has developed a network of contacts in various areas in relation to VL business and the community.

Jenny Balestrieri enjoys serving her community by coordinating donations to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, CA. She supports Toys for Tots and One Warm Coat with donations from various supporters including VL during the holidays.

Education

J.D., University of California, Los Angeles

LLB, Wuhan University

Hua Jiang

Senior Associate



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]



VCard

Attorney Hua Jiang joined the firm in 2018. Hua specializes in construction litigation, general liability cases, and employment matters. She is experienced in handling a variety of cases on a day-to-day basis, including but not limited to, taking and defending depositions, drafting motions, making court appearances, attending mediations and arbitrations, and preparing for trials.

Hua has represented multinational companies and domestic enterprises in a wide range of cross-border disputes, including disputes arising from equity acquisitions and construction projects. Hua has represented owners, contractors, and design professionals in the drafting, negotiating and revision of contracts. She is experienced with mechanic’s liens, stop payment notices, bond claims, payment disputes and bid protests.

Hua is a graduate of UCLA Law School and Wuhan University. She is admitted to practice in all California state courts and United States District Court Northern District of California. Hua can read, write and speak Mandarin fluently.

In her spare time, Hua enjoys hiking and playing the violin.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Northern District

Education

J.D., University of California, Los Angeles

B.A., Antioch College

Victoria Townsend

Senior Associate



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]



VCard

Victoria (Vicky) Townsend joined the firm in September of 2018. Vicky’s practice focuses on the defense of personal injury cases and other tort claims and litigation.

Over the course of her legal career, Vicky has worked in private law firms as well as working as staff counsel for two major insurance companies. She has also served as a designated Special Investigations Unit attorney investigating and defending against suspected fraudulent claims. She has tried a number of cases to verdict.

Vicky graduated from Antioch College in 1980 and from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law in 1983. Vicky is also a certified horseback riding instructor, and has previously consulted in matters of equine safety and management.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
United States District Courts for the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law

B.A., University of California, Davis

Natalie V. Glavinovich

Partner



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]



VCard

Natalie Glavinovich represents clients in a variety of complex civil litigation matters including construction defect, land use, real estate and personal injury matters.

In addition to her litigation practice, Natalie advises solid waste refuse and recycling companies in risk management and general business interests.

Natalie’s combination of sector expertise and in-depth regional understanding provides a unique perspective to her practice.

During law school, Natalie worked as a law clerk for the California State Attorney General’s Office, Environmental Section, and gained valuable insight into California’s environmental regulatory system. She was a semi-finalist in the Environmental Moot Court competition, and was also awarded the Public Interest Law certificate for her extensive coursework in the environmental, water law, and land use areas.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
United States District Court of the Northern District of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
California Refuse and Recycling Counsel

Education

J.D., San Francisco Law School

B.A., University of California, Berkeley

David E. Beeby

Senior Associate



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]



VCard

David Beeby is an experienced litigator with a reputation for aggressive representation and strong trial advocacy. He has successfully represented and defended many clients in the arenas of construction-defect litigation, general business litigation, and personal injury. He has tried many cases to jury verdict and participated in hundreds of mediations and arbitrations.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
United States District Court (Northern District of California)
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Contra Costa County Bar Association

Education

LL.M., Golden Gate University School of Law

J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law

B.A., Mass Communication, University of Utah

Kelly A. Kilkenny

Partner



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]



VCard

Kelly A. Kilkenny practices in the area of trusts and estates, with an emphasis on estate planning and administration, including advanced estate and gift tax planning. She handles administration matters including probate estates and administration of trusts.

Kelly is also experienced in all phases of litigation through trial. She has represented numerous clients in civil litigation matters involving construction defect and personal injury defense.

Kelly is licensed to practice law in all courts within the State of California, and the United States District Court of the Northern District of California.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
Former Member, Board of Directors – Ability Now Bay Area, Oakland, California
Former Member, Board of Directors – Mary Valle Foundation, Oakland, California

Education

J.D., University of San Francisco, School of Law

B.S., University of California, Berkeley

Jay Van De Poel, Jr.

Partner | Co-Founder

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(925) 274-7643





[email protected]



VCard

John (Jay) Van De Poel, Jr. co-founded the firm in 2002 alongside David Levy, building upon their prior collaboration at the law office of Dale, Braden, and Hinchcliffe. Born into a legal family, Jay is the son of the late John Van De Poel, Sr., who was a litigator in the Bay Area, and a Superior Court judge.

Jay brings a wealth of litigation and practical experience to his cases. He has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell – an indication of the high level of skill, integrity and professional excellence he has attained during his years as an attorney.

Jay has tried numerous cases to verdict. He represents clients in a full range of litigation and civil matters, including catastrophic injuries, property, personal injury, construction defect, business litigation, professional liability and landlord/tenant cases. He has also acted as a private and court-appointed arbitrator and mediator.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
American Bar Association
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Member of the Association of Defense Counsel – Northern California, former member of the Board of Directors
International Association of Defense Counsel

Education

J.D., Whittier College, School of Law

B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara

David M. Levy

Partner | Co-Founder



(925) 934-6102



[email protected]



VCard

David Levy co-founded the firm in 2002 alongside Jay Van De Poel, Jr., with whom he had previously collaborated with in the Walnut Creek office of Dale, Braden, and Hinchcliffe. David practices in both our Northern and Southern California offices.

David is experienced in all areas of litigation and trial work, including construction defect, insurance recovery, personal injury defense, professional liability, general liability, risk management and business torts.

David’s active professional liability practice involves defending real estate brokers/agents, loan originators, funds control companies, and property managers from claims brought against them by real estate purchasers or third parties, and through the Department of Real Estate. David’s practice also includes significant experience in the handling of architects and engineers, testing agents, attorneys, tax preparers and CPAs, and insurance brokers among other specialty groups.

David and his team have considerable trial experience, including over 120 trial days within a two year period. A notable case includes David and his team representing an architect in a $30 million claim involving a high-end single family home in an exclusive neighborhood of San Francisco. As a result, they obtained a net $-0- award for their client as well as compensation for half of their defense, totaling a $19+ million award against the general contractor.

Another notable trial involved the defense of an engineering firm which had claims of delay and elder abuse from a 90 year old high end property owner in San Jose, one of the most expensive property regions in the country. In this case, the jury sided with David’s defense team for a 12-0 defense verdict. The Court also awarded David’s client recovery of attorney fees and costs.

Professional Organizations:

State Bar of California
American Bar Association
Contra Costa County Bar Association

ABOUT US

VAN DE POEL & LEVY, LLP

OUR LEGAL TEAM

Jay Van De Poel, Jr.

David M. Levy

Natalie V. Glavinovich

Kelly A. Kilkenny

Jonathan Heck

Hua Jiang

David E. Beeby

Victoria Townsend

Sheryl A. Traum

Janine M. Fiel-Cosse

Jason F. Schwarz

Assal Rezai

Delara Doroodian

Mark L. Lasser

Gary Berticevich

Brian E. Colton

Michael LaMay

Camille Huerta

Joseph Schultz

Jasmine Tran

Kevin B. Kevorkian

Danette Leung

OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM

Jenny Balestrieri