LEGAL AID OF SONOMA COUNTY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Small Business Equity and Recovery Program Attorney
Ms. Hudson, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, has lived with her family in Sonoma County for over 22 years. She is currently Chief Administrative Officer at Exchange Bank. Before joining Exchange Bank, Ms. Hudson held senior leadership roles with several banks, including JPMChase and WaMu.
She has been honored as an NBBJ Women in Business award recipient. An active member of the Sonoma County community, she is board treasurer for Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. In addition, she is a past board member of Becoming Independent and is well known for her involvement with local nonprofits.
Job Titles:
- Telephone Intake Caseworker
Chris Grabill is a Santa Rosa Native raised by a high school history teacher and Farm worker rights/housing rights attorney. He left high school a semester early and moved to the mountains of Chiapas Mexico for a year to work in Zapatista rebel communities, building autonomous infrastructure, communications, farming, and potable water systems.
Continued to work in Chiapas throughout college, he took two semesters off from UC Berkeley to do this work internationally. Chris studied urban planning, international development, architecture, and interdisciplinary theory at UC Berkeley.
After graduation he became a general building contractor and master finish carpenter, while continuing to travel to work internationally in support of social causes. Chris brings his lifelong advocacy for Social Justice, equitable housing and tenants' rights, immigrant rights, human rights, and strong environmental policy, locally and globally, to the LASC board.
Job Titles:
- Reporter and Columnist
- Retired Columnist
Chris Smith worked 45 years as a newspaper reporter and columnist, for nearly of that time at what he considered a dream job at The Press Democrat. He treasured most meeting and writing about all sorts of people, and about this region's gift for community involvement and stepping up for people in need of a hand.
In retirement, he is doing some writing, taking on some long avoided home projects, spending more time with his Australian shepherd, Maisie, and endeavoring to stay engaged. He is married to longtime PD colleague Diane Peterson. Their son, Max, is a native of Sonoma County who works as a physical therapist in Santa Rosa.
Job Titles:
- Veterans Legal Services Attorney
Job Titles:
- Veterans Benefits Caseworker
Job Titles:
- Homelessness Prevention Caseworker
Jacquelynne Ocaña is a licensed Private Fiduciary and National Certified Guardian. She is a Junior Partner at Specialized Services for Law Firms in Santa Rosa, specializing in trust and estate administration, conservatorships, and special needs trusts. Jacquelynne is a passionate advocate for the elderly, the disabled, and other marginalized communities, as well as an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal and fiduciary fields.
She is bilingual in English and Spanish and serves on several leadership committees focused on improving the civil rights of her clients. Jacquelynne received her Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Latin American Studies at University of California Los Angeles, UCLA and is currently studying for her Master's in Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Veterans Benefits Attorney
Job Titles:
- President
- Partner at the Law Firm of Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty
Jennifer E. Douglas is a partner at the law firm of Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty. She has been a lawyer for 25 years with extensive experience in all manner of employment issues including wage and hour, discrimination, reasonable accommodation, leaves of absence, and implementing state and federal regulations. She often analyzes legal risks associated with hiring, disciplining and firing in order to counsel clients with these employment decisions. Although counseling is the key to DP&F's employment practice, Jennifer is a trained and experienced litigator who protects her clients' interests when litigation becomes necessary. Jennifer received her JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco.
Job Titles:
- Attorney, Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery
- Personal Injury Attorney
Jack Sanford is a personal injury attorney at the law firm of Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery in Santa Rosa. Jack has extensive experience handling all types of personal injury cases, including automobile and bicycle accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, defective products, and civil rights. Jack has litigated cases in both federal and state court. Jack has successfully taken cases to jury trial and arbitration.
Jack received his Bachelor's degree from University of Colorado Boulder and his Juris Doctorate degree from University of San Francisco. Jack is a member of the American Inns of Court, Sonoma County and Marin County Bar Associations, and Rotary Club. Jack enjoys mountain biking, surfing, and spending time with his wife and two young sons.
Job Titles:
- Homelessness Prevention Attorney
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Counsel for Cooley
Kara serves as pro bono counsel for Cooley and works with the pro bono team to develop and manage the firm's pro bono practice. She also works with Cooley's pro bono team to develop opportunities to partner with the firm's commercial clients on pro bono projects. Prior to rejoining Cooley and the pro bono team, Kara served as in-house counsel at two technology companies, focusing on litigation and regulatory investigations. Throughout her career, Kara has devoted a significant portion of her practice to pro bono matters. She has extensive experience advocating on behalf of LGBTQ+ individuals in impact litigation and immigration matters, as well as tenants, incarcerated individuals, and people impacted by police misconduct.
Kara lives in Sonoma with her husband and rescue dog, Allie. She enjoys spending time with family, hiking, going to concerts, and volunteering with farm animals.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Housing Caseworker
Ken is a native of Santa Rosa with connections all around the globe. He lived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 20 years where he successfully developed, owns, and operates Costa Sur Resort & Spa. Ken's career in Mexico also includes a number of resort and hotel developments and the creation and success of Playa del Sol Resorts, a timeshare sales and operation company based out of Puerto Vallarta.
He currently resides in Sonoma County with his wife, Alma.
Job Titles:
- Front Desk Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Veterans Services Staff Attorney
Job Titles:
- Family Justice Center DV Caseworker
Thomas Del Monte is a native of Santa Rosa and a business and real estate attorney at Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP. Thomas's practice includes business sales, real property transactions, ownership and buy-sell agreements, debt and equity financings, securities law, equity compensation, and IP strategy. Thomas received his JD from the University of San Diego School of Law and his MBA from the UC San Diego Rady School of Management
Job Titles:
- Family Justice Center DV Caseworker