GOMERMAN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney Employment
- Member of the California Employment Lawyers Association
Ashley has a breadth of litigation experience, taking particular pride in sexual harassment, LGBT discrimination, and wage and hour cases. Practicing for approximately eleven years, Ashley has successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf of underrepresented and underserved populations, including survivors of sexual assault and victims of sexual harassment, victims of discrimination, whistleblowers, and victims of wage theft.
Before becoming an employment lawyer, Ashley represented low-income persons in complex civil rights cases as a Graduate Fellow at the Environmental Law & Justice Clinic, winning an administrative appeal against the Environmental Protection Agency.
Ashley also has significant trial preparation and trial experience, most recently winning a bench trial in 2019 against a repeat offender in Santa Cruz, California, recovering all lost wages sought, PAGA penalties on behalf of aggrieved employees, and attorneys' fees with a multiplier due to the complexity and difficulty of the case.
Ashley is a former Board Member for Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) and current member of the BALIF Foundation, non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing various interests of the LGBT community and combating all forms of discrimination nationwide.
Ashley is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), and BALIF. Ashley is also an active alumna of Golden Gate University School of Law. Ashley frequently volunteers as a judge for national and local moot court competitions and mentors law students about public interest careers.
Job Titles:
- Litigation Paralegal
- Paralegal
Chan Phan is a litigation paralegal at Gomerman | Bourn & Associates. Chan attended the University of California Davis and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Managerial Economics.
After obtaining a bachelor's degree, Chan went on to work for the Kletter Law Firm in San Mateo, California as an office assistant. Because of a passion for providing zealous legal assistance to those in need, Chan was encouraged to become a paralegal while working for the Kletter firm.
In 2015, Chan joined the Law Offices of Tanya Gomerman. Chan's attention to detail and eagerness to help is often praised by clients and coworkers alike.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Member of Consumer Attorneys of California
Felipe Garcia is an associate attorney with the Gomerman | Bourn & Associates. Felipe handles both personal injury and employment cases throughout California.
Felipe is dedicated to seeking justice for those who have suffered injuries due to auto accidents, bicycle accidents, dangerous premises, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and employment discrimination.
Felipe is a determined and compassionate advocate dedicated to seeking justice for his clients. He possesses a deep appreciation of his role as a counselor. He understands that he is assisting individuals going through major life-altering circumstances.
Felipe is an active member of Consumer Attorneys of California ("CAOC") and a member of the CAOC Diversity Committee. Felipe is also a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the Mexican American Bar Association (MABA).
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Managing Attorney Personal Injury
- Member of the Law Fraternity Phi Alpha Delta International
Isabelle Tan is a passionate and forceful advocate for the injured and those harmed by professional misconduct.
From case investigation, detailed accident cause analysis, economic and non-economic damages calculation, complaint drafting, taking and defending of witness depositions, document and medical records review, examination of experts, complex motions practice to preparation of the case for settlement or trial, Isabelle excels in all aspects of litigating personal injury cases. In just five years of practice, Isabelle has assisted her clients in recovering over $10 million in verdicts and settlements.
At the Dolan Law Firm, Isabelle has successfully represented clients in a wide range of individual cases, including cases involving government torts, child abuse and sexual abuse cases, dangerous conditions of public property such as unsafe roadway designs, consumer protection from dangerous and unsafe products, premises liability, and traumatic personal injuries and wrongful death including drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and motorcyclists who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and fractures.
A graduate of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Isabelle is a member of the law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta International, and held the Vice Justice position for the Ford Chapter at Loyola Law School. She remains an active member of the local San Francisco Alumni Chapter of the Fraternity.
She is also a current active member in the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, especially within the New Lawyer Division Committee and the Women's Caucus. She serves as a member in the planning board on both committees, and participates in planning CLE's and in volunteer work. Isabelle is also active in the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, and serves as a mentor for young attorneys of the association.
Jamil Dorra is a paralegal on our employment team at Gomerman | Bourn & Associates. He has a Bachelor's degree in General Business from San Francisco State University. Jamil joined the team in September 2020 as an administrative assistant. He has since learned the paralegal side of the organization, and serves as the in-person face of the San Francisco office.
Jamil is a team player and his contributions to the employment team since he moved into the role of paralegal have been positive. He is a pleasure to work with, and his colleagues and teammates often praise his willingness to jump in and assist on tasks, and his calm demeanor. Jamil is a welcome member of our team at GoBo Law, and we look forward to seeing what his future holds.
In his free time, Jamil enjoys being out in nature, live music and travel.
Jen Pierre Charles is a paralegal on the employment team at Gomerman | Bourn & Associates. She joined the team in 2023, and lives in Southern California. She spent seven years in an established law firm in San Diego where they specialized in business law, trust and estate litigation, real estate, and civil litigation. Jen was the office manager and legal assistant there, and brings skills in court filings, drafting and proofreading correspondence, pleadings and discovery, as well as superb communication skills to the team at Gomerman | Bourn & Associates.
Jen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from San Diego State University, and was on the Dean's List. She also holds two Associate's degrees, one in Psychology and the other in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Grossmont College. Following completion of her Bachelor's degree, Jen spent a few months as an investigative intern at the San Diego Public Defender's Office.
In her free time, Jen enjoys being active and outdoors with her husband. She loves the beach, loves her church, and loves spending time with friends and family.
Jessica Rodriguez has spent the last decade working as a paralegal at top law firms and the U.S. Attorney General's Office in the Bay Area. Jessica earned her Bachelor's degree in political science and psychology from UC Davis as well as her paralegal certificate from San Francisco State University. Jessica also spent time volunteering for Yolo County Juvenile Hall where she hosted workshops to enhance life skills, mind-challenging activities, and community involvement for the detainees.
Jessica is bilingual in Spanish, and is skilled in a variety of software and case management programs. Prior to joining the Gomerman | Bourn & Associates team in 2021, Jessica worked as a paralegal at the Dolan Law Firm and also served as a legal assistant for the federal criminal division attorneys at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oakland, California.
At Gomerman | Bourn & Associates, Jessica supports two civil litigation attorneys, as well as managing the calendar for the personal injury team. Her attention to detail and organizational skills are top notch, and her ability to communicate effectively with team members, prospective clients, and current clients is a huge asset to the team.
Kaiel Bender is an employment law paralegal at Gomerman | Bourn & Associates. Kaiel joined the team in summer of 2023, and brings over twenty years of experience in legal and government roles to the team. Most recently, Kaiel worked for a law firm in Salinas, CA specializing in agricultural law. Kaiel has also worked for private companies as in-house paralegal and contracts manager, and brings a wealth of knowledge and diversity of experience to the table.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
- Member of the State Bar of California
Maria Bourn has dedicated her career to zealously representing employees discriminated against based on their gender, race, ethnicity, or disability. She has extensive experience in both trial and appellate work, and is not afraid to take on complex or complicated cases, as evidenced by her track record of multiple seven figure verdicts.
Maria has been named as a Super Lawyer since 2016. This distinction is based on a peer review process and is awarded to only the top attorneys. Maria's clients have nothing but positive reviews to share, and quickly become more than clients, but a friend and part of her extended family. She has appeared in "Lawyer Monthly Magazine- Women in Law" in recognition of her outstanding legal experience and skill.
Maria graduated magna cum laude from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in science and then earned her JD from John F. Kennedy Law School. During law school, Maria dedicated over 1200 hours volunteering as a certified legal intern with several non-profit organizations in the Bay Area.
From the beginning of her career, Maria's passion was trial advocacy. In law school she became a certified law student in order to advocate for individuals unlawfully evicted or unlawfully arrested. When she began practicing law, Maria continued to pursue using the justice system to advocate for her clients. In 2014, Maria won a trial in Alameda County, collecting punitive damages on behalf of a sexually harassed employee at a trucking company, earning her accolades from the judge presiding over the case, who noted that Ms. Bourn's trial skills were exceptional. Maria's trial success extends to arbitration, including winning a tough case in 2016, wherein the defendant offered nothing to settle because they were so confident that they would win.
Ms. Bourn's exemplary track record continued with winning a case against a cosmetic surgeon for firing his employee when she took leave to serve in the military. The Covid-19 pandemic could not slow Maria down, and she tried the first case in San Francisco during the pandemic, victorious over some of the most experienced trial attorneys in California. Her wins didn't stop there, as Maria proceeded to try a case in Tulare County wherein she won $1,280,000 for a janitor fired while on medical leave, followed by another trial in Tulare County that settled in the middle of trial for substantially more than ever offered during the pre-trial settlement negotiations. In yet another trial, Maria received a $3,005,000 verdict for a Plaintiff injured at work while walking to complete his shift. These are just a few examples of the tenacity shown by Maria seeking justice for her clients.
Furthermore, losing a case in district court does not stop Ms. Bourn from pursuing justice. She has taken several matters to the appellate court and in Moore v. Regents (2016) 248 Cal.App.4th 216) had an entire decision overturned, resulting in a leading case on employment discrimination cited in California jury instructions.
Maria is a member of The State Bar of California and is licensed to practice before all state courts. She is also admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of California. In addition, Maria is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association, and has served as co-chair for CELA's Public Employees Committee as well as co-chair of San Francisco Barristers Labor Employment section and San Mateo Bar Association Labor Employment Law section. Maria has spoken at several conferences across the state, and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with colleagues in this manner.
Michael Brooks joined Gomerman | Bourn & Associates in 2020. Michael is a trial lawyer dedicated to achieving justice for each worker he represents.
Since 2016, Michael has dedicated his law practice to representing mistreated workers. He has successfully obtained due compensation for employees subjected to various different types of harm at work, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower retaliation, wage and hour violations, and many others.
Prior to devoting his practice solely to the representation of workers, Michael worked as a legal aid lawyer for several years, fighting to advance the interests of low-income individuals and communities throughout California's Central Valley. He graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in Economics in 1995 and received his law degree from the University of Utah in 1998. He was admitted to practice law in Oregon in 1998, Washington in 1999, Montana in 2000, California in 2010, and the District of Columbia in 2017.
When not working, Michael enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal With over Twenty Years
Pam Mendes is a dedicated paralegal with over twenty years of law firm experience working in all aspects of civil litigation for plaintiff and defense firms. Pam earned an ABA approved paralegal certificate from Coastline Community College as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Phoenix in Criminal Justice.
Pam joined Gomerman | Bourn & Associates in 2022, and currently works as part of the personal injury team alongside managing attorney, Robert Hester. Pam brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to our team, including a high attention to detail, commitment to meeting deadlines, impressive communication skills, and a can-do attitude to every task that crosses her desk.
Pam's skills include heavy legal research, preparation of discovery documents, summaries of case law, reviewing and summarizing medical records and deposition transcripts, as well as developing a rapport with opposing and co-counsel and the court representatives. Pam also has extensive experience with MS Office Suite, Google Suite, WordPerfect, LexisNexis, WestLaw, Abacus, Essential Forms, HotDocs, TrialWorks, and Asana. She's a joy to work alongside, and is a team member that the personal injury attorneys and paralegals can always count on to jump in and assist as needed.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Managing Attorney Personal Injury
Robert Hester is the senior personal injury attorney at Gomerman | Bourn & Associates. He has worked with Tanya Gomerman since 2014. Robert Hester has fought for plaintiffs at all stages of litigation since 2007 as a paralegal and as an attorney since 2014. Robert handles cases throughout California. He specializes in traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injury cases.
Robert obtained his bachelor's degree with Highest Honors from the University of California Davis and his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Robert has obtained a wide variety of settlements, up to seven figures, for plaintiffs who have suffered injuries caused by other people.
Every day, Robert helps his clients navigate their claims at all stages. Robert understands that litigation can be extremely stressful. It is his goal to ensure that all clients are informed about their cases so they can make the best choices and achieve the best results.
Clients represented by Robert Hester, Esq. receive the aggressive representation they need, along with the compassion they deserve. Robert's unrelenting dedication to his clients earns him praise from the public and colleagues alike. From 2018 to 2023, Robert was selected to the Super Lawyer's "Rising Stars" list, an honor reserved for skilled attorneys who have a proven track record of excellence.
Job Titles:
- Intake Paralegal
- Intake Paralegal & Office Manager
- Paralegal
Salma Suleyman was born in Jerusalem and raised in Ohio before relocating to MENA, where she lived for more than 23 years. With a passion for leading others, Salma taught ESL to high schoolers and at Amideast, helping young adults develop necessary language skills. Salma then spent over 10 years in the not-for-profit humanitarian field. She first worked to support Victims of Torture. As a dedicated advocate, Salma lobbied against torture and cruel and inhuman punishment and detention.
Inspired by her experience, Salma moved to the field of Women's Economic and Social Rights, where she worked tirelessly to promote women's economic and social independence through microfinance and small business management, marketing, and quality standards and control.
After returning to the USA in 2014, she found her home with the Law Offices of Tanya Gomerman as an Intake Paralegal & Office Manager - first in the San Francisco office and now in the San Jose office. Salma is dedicated to serving Gomerman |Bourn & Associates clients and being an unrelenting support system for those seeking justice.
Steven Brown joined the Gomerman | Bourn & Associates team in the summer of 2023 as a paralegal for the personal injury team. In his over 30 years working in Southern California law firms, Steven has worked primarily in personal injury law, but also has experience in employment law, business litigation, HOA law and real estate law. Steven has experience with a variety of case management systems including Legal Solutions and ProLaw, as well as Microsoft Office programs and WordPerfect. Steven's experience as a paralegal includes assisting attorneys in every aspect of a new case from intake to settlements.
Steven holds two Associate's degrees and his Bachelor's degree in Business is currently in progress. His Associate's degree in Court Reporting from Cypress College and his Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies from Rancho Santiago College (both in Southern California) as well as his experience, aid in his knowledge and skills within the paralegal field. Steven's colleagues note his personability, his attention to detail, and his ability to meet deadlines as a few of his strengths. Steven is a great addition to our team at Gomerman | Bourn & Associates, and we are looking forward to seeing his growth within the firm.
In his time away from work, Steven enjoys spending time with his wife, family and friends in the outdoors playing golf, pickleball and boating at the Colorado River near his Arizona residence.