Business Disputes and Litigation

Jason F. Schwarz

Associate

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

Jennifer R. Thomas

Partner

Jennifer obtained her B.A. degree from the University of Oregon in Journalism and her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, IIT. Jennifer is licensed to practice in both state and federal courts in California and Illinois.

Specializing in complex product and premises liability, transportation and the entertainment industries, Jennifer’s experience brings sophisticated litigation and trial knowledge to the firm’s clients. She is experienced in multi-million dollar claims involving severe injuries and wrongful death, as well as complex contractual issues representing local, national, and international corporations and organizations. She represents private industries, insurance companies, and self-insured corporations of all sizes while litigating and resolving high-profile cases.

Jennifer promotes early resolution when possible, through litigation tactics and early settlement discussions. She has demonstrated a high volume of success in obtaining favorable results for her clients through motions and pre-trial strategy, having many cases dismissed or settled following rulings on motions. She has also obtained defense judgments following court trials on technical legal issues in addition to defense verdicts in high-exposure jury trials.

In addition to providing advice and counsel to clients, businesses, and risk managers, Jennifer has presented seminars in the United States and United Kingdom to organizations and businesses on trial strategy and risk reduction techniques and has authored articles on liability topics and other legal updates.

Professional Organizations:

• State Bar of California
• Illinois State Bar
• Contra Costa County Bar Association
• ADC of Northern California
• Themis Advocates Group
• TIDA
• Phi Alpha Delta Sigma Kappa Sorority
• Order of Omega

David E. Beeby

Senior Associate

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

David M. Levy

Partner | Co-Founder

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

Hua Jiang

Associate

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

Kelly A. Kilkenny

Partner

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

Victoria Townsend

Senior Associate

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

Natalie V. Glavinovich

Partner

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

Jonathan Heck

Partner

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

Jay Van De Poel, Jr.

Partner | Co-Founder

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

Stephen K. Anderson

Of Counsel

Stephen K. Anderson is Of Counsel in the Walnut Creek office of VLT. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Business & Commercial, Construction Law, Professional Liability practice groups, primarily handling personal injury, premises liability, product defect, construction defect and bankruptcy matters. He has been practicing in the Northern California area for over 13 years with significant focus on civil litigation matters, including first party collection, judgment enforcement, contract dispute litigation, construction claim management and litigation, landlord tenant litigation, and general civil defense work. He has been active in the construction bar for over 13 years, assisting clients as they navigate the ins and outs of construction litigation. Mr. Anderson is licensed to practice law before all courts in California, including the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Federal District Courts.

Mr. Anderson handles corporate and personal bankruptcy debtor and creditor work as well, having formerly clerked for Judge Louise DeCarl Adler of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California. Previously, he worked for the Department of Justice in the United States Trustee’s Office in San Diego, California.

Mr. Anderson is an active member of the Association of Defense Counsel for Northern California.

Jennifer Z. Krenzin

Associate

Jennifer Z. Krenzin joined the firm of Van De Poel, Levy, Thomas LLP in May 2019. Her practice focuses on civil litigation in the areas of construction defect, landlord/ tenant, contract, and personal injury.

She graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2009 with a B.S. in Psychology, emphasis in Biology and earned her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2013. During her second year in law school, she volunteered as a certified law student with Legal Services of Northern California providing advice and assistance to income eligible Sacramento residents in need of help with landlord/ tenant legal issues.

Jennifer was admitted to the State Bar of California in December 2013 and practiced in the Sacramento area for over five years before returning to the Bay Area. She is licensed to practice law in all courts within the State of California as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Central Districts of California.

Patrick “Reid” Miller

Associate

Reid represents clients in all aspects of civil litigation, with a primary focus on personal injury and premises liability matters. In addition to representing parties in litigation, Reid also provides advice and transactional services to individuals and businesses pertaining to entity formation, contract negotiations, employment and purchase agreements, and estate planning considerations.

Reid received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of law, where he served as a literary editor of the Maritime Law Journal, a survey author for the University of San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, and a two-time participant in the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition. He also served as a Judicial Extern for the Hon. Linda Colfax and Hon. Michael Begert of the San Francisco County Superior Court.

Prior to entering the legal profession, Reid worked as a copywriter in the advertising industry. He conceptualized marketing campaigns and wrote television, print, and online advertisements for a variety of brands and national companies. Reid has found the creative thinking and communication skills that he acquired in advertising to have benefited his unique approach to problem solving for his clients and resolving detailed issues before the court.

Reid is a member of the State Bar of California and currently serves on the Executive Committee The Lawyers’ Club of San Francisco Inn of Court. He is licensed to practice law in all courts within the State of California.

James Merriman

Senior Associate

James Merriman is an Associate Attorney who joined the firm in October of 2019. Jim’s primary practice area is construction defect litigation, he also has experience in real estate law (including Airbnb, condo conversions and landlord/tenant) and personal injury litigation. He graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1983.

Jim is a member of the State Bar of California and has practiced in the Northern and Eastern District of California in the Federal System.