WPGCH - Key Persons
AARON C. HANES was born in Eugene, Oregon. He graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon, graduating in 2000. He subsequently completed a Masters of Law in Taxation at the University of San Diego School of Law.
During law school, Mr. Hanes performed an internship at the U.S.Attorney's Office. Additionally, he gained experience in the fields of personal injury, medical malpractice, corporate law, estate planning, and tax law while clerking with law firms during law school and the Masters of Law program. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Hanes was an associate in the corporate tax division of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). He assisted in researching and creating structures aimed at maximizing federal and state tax benefits for divestitures, mergers and acquisitions. He also provided tax advise on stock options, charitable contributions, employee relocation, and independent contractor issues.
Since joining the firm in 2002, Mr. Hanes has handled a wide variety of complex personal injury, public entity construction, and employment cases. He also handles business, real estate, and contract matters.
Mr. Hanes' professional organization memberships include the San Diego Defense Lawyers, San Diego County Bar Association, North County Bar Association, and the Oliver Wendell Holmes Inn of Court.
Mr. Hanes can be reached at ahanes@wpgch.com.
AMELIA M. YURCH was born and raised in Brecksville, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs. After college, Ms. Yurch moved to New York City and began working at Hearst Magazines International where she worked for Cosmopolitan magazine for two years. Ms. Yurch then moved across the country to attend law school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she was awarded her Juris Doctor in 2005. While at Thomas Jefferson, Ms. Yurch was awarded the Cali and Witkin Awards for Excellence in Wills. She also served as an intern at San Diego Superior Court and drafted tentative rulings on various civil matters.
Ms. Yurch was admitted to the California Bar in February 2006. Prior to joining the firm in 2009, Ms. Yurch practiced general business and construction-related litigation in San Diego, California.
Ms. Yurch's professional organization memberships include the San Diego County Bar Association, North San Diego County Bar Association, and Lawyer's Club. She is very active in the community and serves on the taskforce of the Women's Resource Fair in San Diego and volunteers with Labrador Rescue.
CATHERINE A. GAYER was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ms. Gayer received a Bachelor of Science degree in business, information systems from San Diego State University in 1987. She obtained her Juris Doctor at Northern Illinois University in 1990. While attending Northern Illinois University, she was a Dean's List recipient and an officer in the Student Bar Association.
Ms. Gayer has tried a number of bench and jury trials throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial and Orange Counties. Her primary areas of practice include personal injury, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, public entity liability and construction defect. She has served as a panelist for seminars on various topics concerning tort litigation. She serves as a judge pro tem and member of the arbitration panel for Riverside County Superior Courts. Her professional memberships include Warren E. Slaughter Inn of Court, Desert Bar Association, Building Industry Association, and Southern California Association of Health Care Risk Managers and DRI.
Ms. Gayer's community service activities include past school board member of St. Theresa School, Palm Springs High School Athletic Booster Association, and Palm Springs Youth Football Board of Directors.
Ms. Gayer can be reached at cgayer@wpgchlaw.com.
ERIKA A. EASTLEY was born and raised in Torrance, California. She graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History and a Minor in Legal Studies. Ms. Eastley received her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law and was admitted to the California Bar in November of 2023.
During law school, Ms. Eastley served as an Articles Editor for the San Diego International Law Journal and was an Associate Member of the USD School of Law Appellate Moot Court. She was the Vice President of the Business Law Society and was a representative for LexisNexis.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Eastley gained valuable experience working as a law clerk with the United States Attorney's Office in the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit. She then began working at WPGCH as a law clerk until she was admitted to the bar.
Ms. Eastley currently represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation ranging from personal injury to employment litigation. A large percentage of her practice involves defending public entities including school districts and community colleges. Her professional organization memberships include the San Diego County Bar Association, the North San Diego County Bar Association and San Diego Defense Lawyers.
Erin N. Brandt was born and raised in Cambria, California. She graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Minor in Sociology. Ms. Brandt received her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2015.
During law school, Ms. Brandt served as the Executive Editor for the California Western International Law Journal. She was on the Dean's Honor List and received multiple Academic Excellence Awards. She also served as a legal writing honors instructor, property tutor, and research assistant.
JENNIFER S. CREIGHTON grew up in Traverse City, Michigan. She graduated summa cum laude from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1995 with a Major in History and Minors in English and Spanish. Ms. Creighton was awarded a full scholastic scholarship to California Western School of Law, where she was awarded her Juris Doctor in 1999. She joined the firm in the Spring of 1998. Ms. Creighton subsequently obtained an LL.M. from the University of San Diego School of Law in Business and Corporate Law with an emphasis in Employment Law and Discrimination in 2001.
Ms. Creighton is a Super Lawyers rated attorney (only the top five percent of attorneys in California receive this distinction). She has over twenty-five years of experience in education litigation, civil litigation and labor and employment law. She also has handled all types of personal injury litigation. The majority of her career has been devoted to serving public entities, primarily school districts, colleges and universities, in diverse litigation ranging from defense of personal injury claims to wrongful termination claims. Ms. Creighton is one of a very small group of attorneys considered highly qualified in defending childhood sexual abuse cases and her assistance has been sought out by public entities throughout Southern California. Ms. Creighton has successfully tried several civil cases to verdict, and handles cases both in the Superior and Federal Courts. In addition to her civil trial experience, Ms. Creighton has obtained extensive experience in handling disability retirement claims and appeals under the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 ("the 37 Act). She has tried over 40 administrative appeals for retirement associations in Southern California, including SDCERA, LACERA and ICERS over the past 13 years.
In 2009, Ms. Creighton was elected to the Board of Directors of the North San Diego County Bar Association. She was re-elected to a three year term in 2010. Ms. Creighton served as the Chair of the Membership Development Committee until the end of 2012. In Connection with her duties on this committee, and since the end of her most recent term, Ms. Creighton has worked closely with local law schools to mentor law students and new lawyers in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Ms. Creighton has served as a keynote speaker on topics including Charter School Litigation, Interactive Process Requirements for Public Employers, Professionalism, and Ethics. She regularly provides training to school district employees on investigative techniques, sexual harassment, and bullying. She has also served as a panelist at an American Bar Association 9 th Circuit Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Ms. Creighton's professional organization memberships include the American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, San Diego Defense Lawyers, San Diego County Bar Association, North San Diego County Bar Association, California Council of School Attorneys, and the National School Boards Association.
Ms. Creighton can be reached at jcreighton@wpgch.com.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of the Sand Dollar Foundation
KENNETT L. PATRICK was born in Pasadena, California. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics with minors in philosophy and psychology from the University of California, San Diego in 1986. Mr. Patrick then entered the University of San Diego School of Law, where he was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1989.
Mr. Patrick was admitted to the California Bar in December 1989. He is also admitted to the United States Federal District Court, Southern and Central Districts of California. His practice focuses primarily on insurance, business, construction and tort litigation.
Mr. Patrick's professional organization memberships include the San Diego Defense Lawyers, San Diego County Bar Association, North County Bar Association, American and California Bar Association (litigation section), City of Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, and Barristers Club of San Diego (Board of Directors 1992-1994). He has served on the Board of Directors for the North County Bar Association.
Mr. Patrick specializes in personal injury litigation and has tried several cases to verdict throughout Courts in Southern California. He also specializes in construction defect litigation, representing primarily Developers and General Contractors in complex litigation.
Mr. Patrick is a co-founder of the Sand Dollar Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization which provides support to local San Diego charities.
Mr. Patrick can be reached at kpatrick@wpgch.com.
MICHAEL A. PASKOWITZ was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut. Mr. Paskowitz attended Thomas Jefferson College of Law where he obtained a Juris Doctor in 1981. Mr. Paskowitz was admitted to the California Bar in 1982, and he is also admitted to the United States Federal District, Southern and Central Districts of California.
Mr. Paskowitz has extensive experience in personal injury litigation including auto, commercial vehicle and motorcycle claims. His other areas of practice include liability and defective product litigation. Mr. Paskowitz has successfully tried cases in these areas in Superior Court.
Mr. Paskowitz has served as an arbitrator for the San Diego Superior Court for 10 years. His professional memberships include the San Diego County Bar Association and the San Diego Defense Lawyers.
Mr. Paskowitz can be reached at mpaskowitz@wpgch.com.
RANDALL L. WINET was born in Los Angeles and grew up in San Diego, California. He was awarded a full scholastic and golf scholarship to the United States International University, graduating summa cum laude in 1981 as the Class Valedictorian. He then attended the University of San Diego Law School, graduating cum laude in 1984.
Mr. Winet has been a member for more than 20 years of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization of trial attorneys who have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating courtroom excellence. In this organization, Mr. Winet was elevated to the status of Advocate and has successfully tried more than 90 jury trials to verdict.
At the request of his clients, Mr. Winet has tried numerous cases involving significant personal injury, wrongful death, employment, insurance, public entity, school district disputes, and business litigation.
The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers has provided its preeminent (AV) rating to Mr. Winet for more than 20 straight years. This rating is for both professional performance and ethics. Super Lawyers Magazine attempts to identify the top five percent of attorneys in their field. Since Super Lawyers Magazine has started rating attorneys in San Diego County, Mr. Winet has been selected as one of the top lawyers in his field.
Mr. Winet has been recognized by San Diego Magazine as one of the top lawyers in San Diego County and Los Angeles Magazine as one the top lawyers in Southern California. He was named as Attorney of the Year by the San Diego North County Bar Association in 2014.
Presently, Mr. Winet is a Master in the Fiorenzo Lopardo Inn of Court, and takes special pride in mentoring lawyers and working with judges and other experienced lawyers in that organization. He is a member of the San Diego Defense Lawyers, having served on the board of directors as a chair of the Educational Committee, and has also served as an instructor and arbitrator for the San Diego Inn of Court Evidence Workshop.
Mr. Winet's community service activities include involvement in the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church and support of Father Wassen's Orphanage for Haitian Children, the YMCA, the Humane Society, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Mr. Winet can be reached at rwinet@wpgch.com.
Steven A. Tisi was born in Washington, D.C., but is a longtime resident of San Diego. He attended Saint Augustine High School in North Park and graduated from University of California, San Diego in 1985. While at UCSD, Mr. Tisi was a founding member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and was active in several student body organizations.
Prior to attending law school at Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles, Mr. Tisi worked as a business litigation paralegal at the Los Angeles Law Firm of Munger, Tolls and Olson. During law school, Mr. Tisi completed a prestigious clerkship with the United States Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Tisi was admitted to the California Bar in 1993, and joined the Law Firm of Gibbs, Eppsteiner and Stagg, which later became Gibbs and Fuerst. As a senior associate, Mr. Tisi defended major retailers in all areas of personal injury, and represented public entities, including law enforcement agencies, municipalities and school districts. Mr. Tisi joined Winet Patrick Gayer Creighton & Hanes in 2017. Throughout his 24-year career, Mr. Tisi has also worked extensively in the areas of employment litigation, disability retirement, landlord- tenant and civil rights.
In addition to managing a busy litigation practice, Mr. Tisi enjoys presenting seminars to clients to assist with their Risk Management needs. He has also drafted employee handbooks and policy manuals for employers.
Mr. Tisi is a member of the California State Bar and is also admitted to the United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of California. Steve is also a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the San Diego Defense Lawyers Association, National Association of Subrogation Professionals and Lambda Legal. In his free time, Mr. Tisi volunteers for the Barking Lot Dog Rescue.
Tifanie H. Stern was born and raised in San Diego, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Vanderbilt University, graduating cum laude. Ms. Stern then attended California Western School of Law. There, she was awarded the Creative Problem Solving Scholarship, made the Dean's Honor List, and graduated cum laude. Ms. Stern was admitted to the California State Bar in 2012. She is also admitted to the Federal District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California.
Before law school, Ms. Stern served as an undergraduate intern at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, Civil Division. During law school, she served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Margaret M. Mann at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California. She also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Alex C. McDonald at the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division One.
After law school, Ms. Stern became an associate at an intellectual property and business litigation firm in San Diego. There, she gained extensive experience in patent, trademark, and copyright infringement matters, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, breach of contract, employment disputes, asset purchase agreements, licensing agreements, and related commercial matters. Ms. Stern was responsible for all aspects of civil litigation, handling cases in both the State and Federal Courts. She has tried cases in State and Federal Court.
Ms. Stern joined the firm in 2016. She has a busy personal injury litigation practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Ms. Stern's professional organization memberships include the San Diego County Bar Association, North County Bar Association, and the San Diego Inn of Court.
Ms. Stern can be reached at tstern@wpgch.com
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego County Bar Association
TRISTEN N, SPENCER was born and raised in San Diego, CA. In 2019, Mr. Spencer graduated *cum laude* with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University San Marcos. After graduating, he attended the University of San Diego School of Law in 2020.
During his first year of law school, Mr. Spencer worked as a law clerk for the University of San Diego Veterans' Legal Clinic. Mr. Spencer concurrently served as a member of the Student Bar Association and was a voting member of the USD School of Law Budget Committee. During his second and third years of law school, Mr. Spencer worked business litigation firm where he acquired exemplary writing and oral advocacy skills.
Mr. Spencer received his Juris Doctor, with a Concentration in Business and Corporate law, from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2023. After graduation, Mr. Spencer joined WPGCH as a post-bar law clerk. After passing the California Bar Exam in November of 2023, he was sworn in and promoted to Associate Attorney. He currently handles cases in state and federal courts, ranging from construction and premises liability litigation to employment litigation.
Mr. Spencer is currently a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the North County Bar Association and San Diego Defense Lawyers.
Mr. Spencer can be reached at tspencer@wpgch.com
VINCENT M. SBARDELLA was born and raised in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. After leaving the Northeast, Mr. Sbardella developed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Castleton State University. After graduating, Mr. Sbardella pursued his legal education at California Desert Trial Academy. During his time in law school, Mr. Sbardella distinguished himself as an active leader and served as an officer of the Student Bar Association as well as a tutor. While attending law school, Mr. Sbardella worked full-time as an Operations Manager at a local bank. With a strong work ethic and much tenacity, Mr. Sbardella transitioned to WPGCH after his first year of law school, where he continued to work full time and excel in his studies. After graduating at the top of his class and successfully passing the California bar examination, Mr. Sbardella was promoted to Associate Attorney.
Mr. Sbardella's practice involves all types of civil litigation, ranging from personal injury and premises liability, to defense of public entities. His diverse background and expertise have earned him high praise among clients and the judiciary. Mr. Sbardella is an active member of the Desert Bar Association, where he stays abreast of the latest legal developments and engages with fellow legal professionals.
Mr. Sbardella can be reached at vsbardella@wpgchlaw.com