WILSHIRE LAW FIRM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Senior Partner Bioengineer
- Vice Chair to the Aviation and Space Law General Committee of the American Bar Association
A. Ilyas Akbari is a senior partner and bioengineer at Wilshire Law Firm. He is an experienced aviation litigator and director of the firm's aviation litigation team, having worked on over 200 aviation cases since 2005. Ilyas has litigated crashes and incidents involving commercial airlines, charter operations, general aviation aircraft, military aircraft, seaplanes, and rescue and air ambulance aircraft, in addition to litigating product liability claims against many of the aircraft and component part manufacturers - this includes 29 cases against Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc.
The National Law Journal and ALM Media recognized Ilyas and his team in 2018 as Elite Trial Lawyers finalists in the Consumer Protection category for their achievement in representing the family of the only two American residents onboard Germanwings Flight 9525, whose co-pilot committed suicide by locking out the pilot and crashing the plane into the French Alps, killing all 150 souls. On the heels of the Daimler and Bristol-Myers Squibb opinions, and despite the airline not having any offices, employees, planes, equipment, routes or advertisements in the U.S., and never paying taxes in the U.S., he argued that Virginia's long arm statute conferred personal jurisdiction over it because the German airline sold its tickets to passengers that resided in Virginia through its authorized agent and proxy, United Airlines. The Eastern District of Virginia agreed, in a published opinion, Selke v. Germanwings GmbH, 261 F. Supp. 3d 645 (E.D. Va. 2017).
Ilyas has served in numerous leadership positions and has represented clients in most of the major airline disasters, including the September 11 Litigation, American Airlines Flight 587, Air Midwest Flight 5481 (resulting in the first public apology by an airline), Southwest Airlines Flights 1248 and 1380, TACA Flight 390, Continental Airlines Flight 1404, Colgan Flight 3407, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 (only case proceeding to trial, settling prior to voir dire), Malaysia Air Flight 370 (MH370), Germanwings Flight 9525 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (Boeing MAX8 litigation), among others.
Ilyas serves as Plaintiffs Vice Chair to the Aviation and Space Law General Committee of the American Bar Association and is, additionally, the Editor of the ABA Aviation and Space Law Committee Newsletter for the 2020 calendar year. He is also honored to serve as Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.
Best Lawyers in America® has recognized Ilyas in the Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation category since 2016; Southern California Super Lawyers® has listed him as a top rated Aviation & Aerospace attorney since 2007. Additionally, Ilyas has been honored as a Southern California Super Lawyers® - Rising Stars, Up and Coming 100; the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Civil Plainiff Lawyers; the Aviation Trial Lawyers Association: Top 10; and Nations Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
He has earned the highest AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating through Lawyers.com / Martindale Hubbell®, the highest Avvo.com Superb Score of 10; and is listed in The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, Martindale Hubbell®.
Ilyas earned his B.S. degree in Bioengineering in 2000 from U.C. San Diego. U.C. San Diego's prestigious Bioengineering Department is consistently ranked as one of the top five programs in the world. While at U.C. San Diego, he was the founding Vice President of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers. It was through this society that Ilyas met several scientist-attorneys, who inspired him to continue on to Southwestern University School of Law. While at Southwestern, he had the honor of serving as President of the Student Bar Association. He was also a Certified Law Clerk at the District Attorney's Office in East Los Angeles, where he conducted preliminary hearings and misdemeanor trials.
Ilyas' bioengineering degree has proven very beneficial. In fact, Ilyas is in his element when he can blend his expertise in science and law. Whether it is finding the mechanism of injury, understanding the lasting effects of traumatic brain injuries, or investigating and determining the engineering flaw that caused an aircraft crash, Ilyas devotes himself to the pursuit of truth through the scientific process.
Ilyas devotes much of his time studying the ever-evolving science as it relates to brain injuries. Nothing irritates Ilyas more than people who describe some brain injuries as "mild" - no injury to the brain is mild. He is an active participant and member of the National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Association - Top 25, the Biomedical Engineering Society, North American Brain Injury Society, Brain Injury Association of America, and the California Brain Injury Association.
In addition to aviation cases, Ilyas has been involved in many high profile crashes involving trains, buses, tractor trailers, school buses, and duck boats, including the 2015 Duckboat crash in Seattle, which resulted in a $20 million verdict for two college-aged boys in Austria that lost their mother while she was vacationing in Seattle.
Ilyas also represented clients in some of the largest rail disasters in the country, including the 2017 Amtrak Cascades 501 derailment near DuPont, Washington; the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment cases in Philadelphia; the 2012 CSX coal train derailment in Ellicott City, Maryland; and was on the leadership team that litigated the two largest commuter rail disasters in Southern California: the 2005 Glendale crash and the 2008 collision in Chatsworth.
Never one to back down from a challenge or an injustice, Ilyas has also successfully taken on pharmaceutical companies, and has been court-appointed to serve, on behalf of all filed cases, as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committees for the Bisphenol-A (BPA) Polycarbonate Plastic Products Liability Litigation and the Heparin Products Liability Multi District Litigation (MDL).
Ilyas is often called upon by the media to comment on his cases or the news of the day, and has appeared over 2,000 times internationally in tv, print and radio.
One of the roles that Ilyas takes most seriously is that of mentor to younger attorneys or attorneys that are inexperienced and need advice, which is why he is called upon and speaks at conferences and conventions all over the world, so that other lawyers can learn and better represent their clients. He is known for freely taking the calls of attorneys that he does not know in order to assist them on various issues. This included a firm that needed help on a rapidly approaching brain injury trial, so Ilyas traveled to Trinidad, Colorado where he acted as consulting counsel (free of charge) for a firm that represented a high school student that suffered a brain injury during football practice, resulting in a $11.5 million verdict in 2013 (Ridolfi v. Riddell).
Ilyas has helped recover awards and settlements totaling over $364,000,000.
BIOGRAPHY A. Ilyas Akbari is a senior partner and bioengineer at Wilshire Law Firm. He is an experienced aviation litigator and director of the firm's aviation litigation team, having worked on over 200 aviation cases since 2005. Ilyas has litigated crashes ...
As a Supervising Pre-Litigation Attorney here at Wilshire Law Firm, Andrew Haling, Esq., helps clients manage legal disputes and pursue out-of-court settlements. Andrew leverages over a decade of experience to help clients deal with the following types of cases:
Wrongful death;
Catastrophic injury;
Spinal cord injury;
Traumatic brain injury;
Amputation;
Burn injury;
Car accidents;
Bike accidents;
Slip and fall accidents;
Dog bites;
Product liability;
Government claims;
Premises liability;
And more.
Andrew's belief that every person is entitled to their human dignity and legal rights forms the core of his practice. The work Andrew does forces corporations to recognize that people are not numbers on a spreadsheet, and that Andrew's clients are individuals who deserve to be treated with respect.
BIOGRAPHY As a Supervising Pre-Litigation Attorney here at Wilshire Law Firm, Andrew Haling, Esq., helps clients manage legal disputes and pursue out-of-court settlements. Andrew leverages over a decade of experience to help clients deal with the following types of cases: ...
BIOGRAPHY After serving as a defense lawyer for over a decade, Senior Trial Attorney Ariella E. Perry now leverages her considerable experience to represent plaintiffs, fighting for their rights and interests. Ariella helps clients navigate: Catastrophic Injuries Traumatic Brain Injuries ...
Arrash Fattahi, Esq. is an Associate Attorney with Wilshire Law Firm. He specializes in labor & employment litigation, class actions, and qui tam "whistleblower" cases. Arrash approaches each of his cases with a similar mindset: fierce advocacy and trusted advisory. He prioritizes building a strong relationship with his clients and is passionate about protecting their legal rights.
Arrash received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School. During law school, he served as a Notes Editor for the Federal Circuit Bar Journal, and received special recognition for contributing more than 340 hours of pro bono service. Prior to law school, Arrash attended the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (with an emphasis in American Government), summa cum laude.
Arrash is admitted to practice in the State of California and the Central and Southern Districts of California and is also a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) and Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA).
BIOGRAPHY Arrash Fattahi, Esq. is an Associate Attorney with Wilshire Law Firm. He specializes in labor & employment litigation, class actions, and qui tam "whistleblower" cases. Arrash approaches each of his cases with a similar mindset: fierce advocacy and trusted advisory. He ...
Benjamin Haber, Esq. focuses his practice primarily on employment and class action litigation and qui tam "whistleblower" cases. He is passionate about giving a voice to individuals who have suffered at the hands of major companies. Benjamin works closely with each client to advise them of their legal options, develop their case, and ultimately put in the necessary work toward delivering excellent results.
Since 2017, Benjamin has helped obtain dozens of seven-figure settlements on behalf of tens of thousands of workers in California. He has extensive experience litigating complex employment cases in state and federal courts and has taken or defended over one hundred depositions.
Benjamin graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and received his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. During law school, he was a member of the executive board for the Hastings Law Journal and a mediator at the San Francisco Superior Court, Small Claims Division.
Benjamin is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in California. He is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), and Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA).
BIOGRAPHY Benjamin Haber, Esq. focuses his practice primarily on employment and class action litigation and qui tam "whistleblower" cases. He is passionate about giving a voice to individuals who have suffered at the hands of major companies. Benjamin works closely with each ...
Bobby Saadian, Esq., JD/MBA founded Wilshire Law Firm, PLC in 2007 and has since grown his practice into an award-winning law firm with more than 50 attorneys and over 250 team members. Under Bobby's leadership, Wilshire Law Firm has been named among the "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® for 2020, 2021, and 2022, and his team has recovered over $1 billion in compensation for clients. Additionally, the firm obtained 20 of the "Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in California in 2020," making up 40% percent of the list by TopVerdict.com.
Selected among the "Nation's Top One Percent" of attorneys by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC), Bobby is a renowned plaintiff's lawyer who upholds the highest standards of legal excellence to protect the rights and well-being of his clients. A skilled negotiator and the confident leader of a well-respected trial law firm, Bobby has an impressive track record in achieving maximum compensation for his clients. One of his most notable case results was a $28.7 million settlement, which provided compensation for an 11-year-old student who was hit by a car and catastrophically injured while walking home from school.
In addition to providing financial recovery, the settlement required the victim's school district to implement groundbreaking policy changes to better protect IEP/Section 504 students. This settlement was recognized by TopVerdict.com as the Number 1 Pedestrian Accident Settlement for Single-Plaintiff Cases in the U.S. in 2019 and one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the U.S. for the same year. It also resulted in Bobby being named a Finalist for the 2020 Consumer Attorney of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC).
BIOGRAPHY Bobby Saadian, Esq., JD/MBA founded Wilshire Law Firm, PLC in 2007 and has since grown his practice into an award-winning law firm with more than 50 attorneys and over 250 team members. Under Bobby's leadership, Wilshire Law Firm has ...
BIOGRAPHY Brad Stuckey serves as a Senior Trial Attorney at Wilshire Law Firm and co-chairs the employment department. A seasoned litigator, Brad has considerable experience in all aspects of employment litigation before federal and state courts and agencies, along with ...
BIOGRAPHY An experienced counselor and litigator, Senior Attorney Carolin Shining brings decades of experience to the table for her clients, helping them navigate a wide range of legal disputes, including: Personal injury; Employment; Class action; and Intellectual property. A passionate ...
A sharp, dynamic lawyer with a passion for the courtroom, Colin Jones, Esq. is as invested in understanding his clients as he is the law. Wilshire Law Firm's first partner and lead trial attorney, Colin holds an authentic and genuine desire to connect with people, endearing him to clients, judges, and juries alike.
An accomplished courtroom attorney, Colin masterfully presents the stories of his clients, presenting their truths with a creativity and zeal that wins. His deep-seated commitment to improving the lives of others has helped his clients recover an astounding $200 million in under 10 years-including a recent $12 million premises liability settlement.
Colin's energy and enthusiasm for his work is something that other attorneys can't match. He puts a part of himself into each case he works, sharing in the triumphs of his clients as he leads them through the legal process. Colin carefully limits the amount of cases he takes on, ensuring that every client receives the personal attention and respect they deserve.
The stubborn persistence that Colin has tackled the legal issues of his clients with has garnered him an excellent reputation amongst his legal contemporaries-he has been honored as a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year since 2015, and has been a member of both The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 since 2011. A true trial lawyer who is committed to legal advocacy, Mr. Jones is both an admitted member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates and the 2020 President of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40.
Colin is frequently asked to address other attorneys at continuing legal education events. He has spoken multiple times at a variety of The National Trial Lawyers organizations on topics ranging from closing arguments to voir dire. In addition, Colin has presented on trial advocacy and litigation at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and DePaul University College of Law. His written legal guide, "How to Win Over a Jury to Win at Trial," was published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education in 2013.
When asked what he attributes his personal and professional success to, Colin points to his desire to help other people. He serves as an Honorary Board Member with the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities (LATLC), which is committed to making a positive difference in the greater Los Angeles area. With nearly a decade of experience successfully litigating complex cases and changing the lives of others, Colin's results speak for themselves.
BIOGRAPHY A sharp, dynamic lawyer with a passion for the courtroom, Colin Jones, Esq. is as invested in understanding his clients as he is the law. Wilshire Law Firm's first partner and lead trial attorney, Colin holds an authentic and ...
BIOGRAPHY Daniel B. Miller, Esq. is a dedicated consumer advocate and gifted personal injury trial lawyer at Wilshire Law Firm. He concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation, focusing on providing support and assistance with complex legal issues to innocent ...
BIOGRAPHY Daniel DeSantis, Esq. is a senior trial attorney in Wilshire Law Firm's award-winning personal injury department. Through thousands of cases, Daniel has recovered more than $60 million in settlements on behalf of his deserving clients, aggressively fighting against insurance ...
Inspired by the tragic loss of her grandfather after a traumatic brain injury and driven by her own traumatic injury at the young age of 21, due to the medical malpractice of a doctor, Erica made a commitment to fight for individuals who have been harmed by the negligence of others.
Erica is a Partner at Wilshire Law Firm. Erica brings a heightened level of commitment and professionalism to the profession of law, one that is unrivaled by even the best of attorneys. Erica has infused her empathy and compassion for others with her well-versed knowledge of the law, medicine, and brain injury to help establish a top law firm that is dedicated to fighting for its clients. With her own personal connection to loss, Erica understands the importance and delicacy surrounding medicine and personal injury law.
That personal connection makes Erica a passionate attorney who works on every case with unshakeable devotion. What differentiates Erica from other lawyers is the enormous amount of personal time she invests in each client. Helping people and protecting their rights is Erica's passion and it shows through at Wilshire Law Firm.
Erica is a true visionary and leader in the profession of law. She secured the highest position in the field of brain injury in the State of California, acting as the Chair of the Board for the Brain Injury Association of California. Erica single-handedly built the largest brain injury conference in the world, TBI Med Legal, where she brings the world's best doctors to teach lawyers the most cutting-edge medicine in the field of traumatic brain injury for three full days in San Diego, California. She is frequently asked to lecture at large-sized industry events, mentoring young attorneys and fostering their professional growth by sharing her knowledge of brain injury medicine and law. Erica also serves on the Board of the Consumer Attorneys of California and Los Angeles Trial Lawyer Charities, among other prestigious legal organizations.
Erica earned her Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School - Los Angeles. While in law school, she received several awards and recognition for her academic excellence. She received the Cali and Witkin awards for earning the top grade in her classes, served on the board of several honors societies and clubs, worked as a teaching assistant for evidence contracts and torts, and researched and edited for a professor who focused on gender equality in the legal profession. Erica continues to be involved at Southwestern Law School - Los Angeles where she has served as a guest speaker and lecturer.
Among her many talents, Erica speaks fluent Spanish.
BIOGRAPHY Inspired by the tragic loss of her grandfather after a traumatic brain injury and driven by her own traumatic injury at the young age of 21, due to the medical malpractice of a doctor, Erica made a commitment to ...
BIOGRAPHY Erik F. Harper, Esq. is a law and motion attorney in Wilshire Law Firm's personal injury department. An experienced legal advocate for the seriously injured, Erik brings a decade of knowledge and skill to complex motor vehicle and personal ...
BIOGRAPHY Gail W. Richardson, Esq. is an experienced attorney with more than two decades of practice in both federal and state court in personal injury litigation. Gail found her passion as a plaintiff's attorney, seeking justice for those who are ...
BIOGRAPHY Ghazaleh Attaran, Esq. practices employment law at Wilshire Law Firm, where she works to establish strong relationships between the firm and its new and prospective clientele. With years of employment law experience, Ghazaleh has a passion for defending the ...
BIOGRAPHY As a Supervising Pre-Litigation Attorney at Wilshire Law Firm, Jason Lieber, Esq., helps clients navigate a wide range of legal disputes. His practice areas include: Personal injury; Animal and dog bites; Traumatic brain injuries; Car accidents; Motorcycle accidents; Premises ...
BIOGRAPHY Jennifer Leinbach, Esq., is a Class Action Attorney at Wilshire Law Firm. As a seasoned attorney with over a decade of experience, Jennifer helps individuals navigate class action lawsuits. Throughout her career, Jennifer has obtained landmark judgments and negotiated ...
BIOGRAPHY Jennifer Reiz is a phenomenal Supervising Attorney in our Pre-Litigation department at Wilshire Law Firm. Ms. Reiz handles premises liability and motor vehicle accident claims. If a lawsuit is necessary, Jennifer is well equipped to fight on behalf of ...
John is a Senior Partner with more than 25 years of experience in the Employment Class Actions and Complex Litigation Group and handles select single plaintiff matters.
John brings a unique perspective and experience - before joining the Wilshire Law Firm in 2022, John was a Partner for many years and held major leadership roles in the international AmLaw 100 law firms of Foley & Lardner, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Seyfarth Shaw. Representing plaintiffs, John has found his true calling and purpose - to seek justice, protect employee rights and hold employers accountable.
John is a highly skilled litigator- successfully prevailing in lengthy cases involving multiple parties and millions of dollars. John has litigated countless wage and hour class action matters through the class certification process and beyond. He has proven to be innovative and aggressive, including, as just one example, proactively filing actions for declaratory relief and early summary judgment motions. He is also known as a truly determined attorney dedicated to creatively achieving the best possible results for clients.
John has a deep commitment to civic involvement and diversity. He currently serves as the Southern California Regional President with the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and on the Mexican American Bar Foundation Board of Directors. Previously he has served as the National Chair of the Communications Committee with HNBA, on the Board of Directors with the California Minority Counsel Program, as well as a Commissioner with the Los Angeles Civil Service Commission and the Los Angeles Convention Center Commission (where he was appointed by two mayors).
John has been quoted in the media as stating,
BIOGRAPHY John is a Senior Partner with more than 25 years of experience in the Employment Class Actions and Complex Litigation Group and handles select single plaintiff matters. John brings a unique perspective and experience - before joining the Wilshire ...
Johnny Ogata, Esq., is a Partner at Wilshire Law Firm, specializing in client retention and risk mitigation. Johnny ensures that our clients receive the attention and care they deserve at every step of their case. He leverages over a decade of business acumen, legal expertise, and leadership to drive growth and provide a degree of service that exceeds client expectations.
Jon C. Teller, Esq., is a partner and an award-winning senior trial attorney at Wilshire Law Firm. Going toe-to-toe with some of the largest insurance companies in the world, such as Allstate, Geico, Progressive, AAA, and State Farm, Jon has a proven track record of obtaining righteous verdicts of millions of dollars for his deserving clients. Jon's hard-working demeanor has helped his clients obtain 20 of the Top 50 Personal Injury Settlements in California in 2020, making up 40% of the list by TopVerdict.com.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Lead Counsel
- Senior Partner of Employment Class Actions and Complex Litigation
Justin F. Marquez is Senior Partner of Employment Class Actions and Complex Litigation at Wilshire Law Firm. He is a dedicated advocate for consumers and employees in litigation involving wage and hour claims, consumer protection, data breach, whistleblowers actions concerning false claims and SEC matters, and more. Justin's landmark results, including in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, have been instrumental in shaping the law to better protect the rights of his employees and consumers.
Mr. Marquez's strategic, client-first approach to his work and practice has earned him the praise and recognition of his peers. He was selected to the list of Southern California Rising Stars by Super Lawyers from 2017 to 2020, and in 2016 to 2020, he was selected to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40. Mr. Marquez serves on the Board of Directors of the Consumer Attorneys of California ("CAOC"), an organization that represents the interests of 39 million Californians by holding wrongdoers accountable.
A high-stakes litigation expert who practices at the forefront of consumer advocacy, Mr. Marquez's innovative legal work to uphold the rights of corporate misconduct victims against some of the world's largest corporations has earned him recognition as a leader in data privacy and consumer protection class actions. Passionate about protecting the public from greedy businesses, Mr. Marquez carries a 10.0 Superb Rating from Avvo for his work on cases related to employment, wrongful termination, consumer protection, and privacy law. In 2018, he was the only attorney to appear on each of the following Top Verdict lists:
Top 20 Civil Rights Violation Verdicts
Top 20 Labor & Employment Settlements
Top 50 Class Action Settlements
Practice Areas
Class Actions (Consumer, Data Breach, and Employment)
As lead counsel, Mr. Marquez prevailed against Bank of America by winning class certification on behalf of thousands of employees for California Labor Code violations, defeating appellate review of the court's order certifying the class, defeating summary judgment, and defeating a motion to dismiss. Frausto v. Bank of America, N.A., 334 F.R.D. 192 (N.D. Cal. 2019), 2020 WL 1290302 (9th Cir. Feb. 27, 2020), 2019 WL 5626640 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 31, 2019), 2018 W.L. 3659251 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 2, 2018). The class certification decision received national coverage on Law360, Bloomberg, and Reuters.
BIOGRAPHY Justin F. Marquez is Senior Partner of Employment Class Actions and Complex Litigation at Wilshire Law Firm. He is a dedicated advocate for consumers and employees in litigation involving wage and hour claims, consumer protection, data breach, whistleblowers actions ...
Nicol Hajjar, Esq. is a skilled litigation attorney who focuses on employment law at Wilshire Law Firm. An experienced employee advocate, Nicol focuses solely on representing clients in cases involving wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, workplace harassment (including sexual harassment), workplace discrimination, workplace retaliation, and Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) claims.
Nicol's concentrated emphasis on preparation and presentation has helped her secure tens of millions of dollars in successful settlements and verdicts on behalf of her deserving clients. That includes nearly $7 million in compensation in 2020 alone.
The excellent, personalized service that Nicol provides to each of her clients has been recognized by her peers with several significant honors. Nicol was among just 2.5% of all attorneys who were selected to the Southern California Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers each year since 2019. She has also been awarded memberships to several invitation-only organizations for her legal leadership, reputation, and performance, including The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 and the Wage and Hour Trial Lawyers Association-Top 10.
With a passion for making a difference in the legal community, Nicol sits on the Board of Directors for the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), and she serves on both the Wage and Hour Committee and Women's Committee for the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA). She is additionally an active member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA), and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA).
Nicol brings a keen eye and years of invaluable knowledge and insight into wrongful termination and wage and hour claims. Committed to standing up for employee rights and equality in the workplace, Nicol's first priority when working on a case is ensuring that her clients are comfortable and confident. By only accepting cases of the truly wronged, Nicol is able to treat each of her clients with the care and respect they deserve.
After receiving her undergraduate degree from California State University, Los Angeles, Nicol was awarded her Juris Doctor by Western State College of Law in Irvine, California.
BIOGRAPHY Nicol Hajjar, Esq. is a skilled litigation attorney who focuses on employment law at Wilshire Law Firm. An experienced employee advocate, Nicol focuses solely on representing clients in cases involving wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, workplace harassment (including ...
BIOGRAPHY Rita Mims is the Chief Operating Officer and leads the executive operations department at Wilshire Law Firm's Los Angeles offices. Centrally responsible for the business activities of about 200 team members at the firm, Rita oversees the successful execution ...
BIOGRAPHY Robert Dart, Esq. is a senior attorney in Wilshire Law Firm's class action department, focusing on complex class action litigation. Committed to holding big businesses accountable when their employees or consumers are harmed, Robert's drive to succeed produces sophisticated ...
BIOGRAPHY Sutton A. Shapiro, Esq. brings more than a decade of success as an attorney to the dedicated legal team at Wilshire Law Firm. Sutton's extensive legal background has exposed him to several different areas of law-including personal injury law, employment ...
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq. is a Partner at Wilshire Law Firm, and a proven Pre-Litigation Attorney with nearly two decades of experience. Determined to stand up for those without a voice, Tae focuses his practice on protecting the rights of individuals against greedy corporations and insurance companies. He helps clients solve complex legal matters, masterfully weaving their truths into compelling arguments that deliver results. Tae works with clients on:
Motor vehicle accidents;
Personal injury accidents;
Premises liability;
Product liability; and
Wrongful death cases.
As part of the pre-litigation team at Wilshire Law Firm, Tae builds the foundation for his clients' cases, enabling them to achieve substantial settlements without the stress of going to trial. He values open, honest communication, tailoring case strategies to the unique needs of his clients. Tae's approach has enabled him to recover millions of dollars for his clients and achieve outstanding results, such as settling a product liability case for over $8 million.
Tae works closely with other team members here at Wilshire Law Firm, ensuring that his clients receive the care they deserve at every stage of their case.
BIOGRAPHY Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq. is a Partner at Wilshire Law Firm, and a proven Pre-Litigation Attorney with nearly two decades of experience. Determined to stand up for those without a voice, Tae focuses his practice on protecting the rights of ...
Thiago M. Coelho, Esq. handles complex class and mass actions for Wilshire Law Firm. Well-versed in issues like consumer protection and data privacy, much of Thiago's innovative legal work has been at the center of this developing area of law. His sharp negotiation and litigation skills make him a vital part of Wilshire Law Firm's class action department, where he specializes in multimillion-dollar class action lawsuits and other high-stakes litigation.
Passionate about protecting the public from greedy, powerful corporations that focus on their own profits at the expense of consumers, Thiago leaves no case up to chance. He is committed to achieving exceptional results for Wilshire Law Firm and its clients through outstanding case preparation and presentation. Thiago confidently builds every case for trial with meticulous attention to detail. A dynamic consumer advocate, Thiago represents clients across the United States in complicated litigation matters against some of the world's biggest companies, including Apple, Uber, Marriott, Delta Air Lines, and more.
Thiago's strategic approach to the law places his practice at the cutting-edge of consumer advocacy, with his cases routinely developing at the forefront of the legal profession. His reputation for litigation excellence has been honored by industry peers with several legal accolades. As President of The Data Privacy Trial Lawyers Association-Top 10, Thiago has exemplified superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, and performance in data privacy and consumer protection class action litigation.
Thiago also serves as the Chair of the Consumer Class Actions and Data Privacy Class Actions Departments.
Practice Areas
Class Actions
BIOGRAPHY Thiago M. Coelho, Esq. handles complex class and mass actions for Wilshire Law Firm. Well-versed in issues like consumer protection and data privacy, much of Thiago's innovative legal work has been at the center of this developing area of ...