Some of the nation's most talented litigators are the newest partners at WSHB.
2017's partner class includes seasoned trial lawyers, employment law specialists, and nationally recognized experts in professional liability and construction. Collectively, the group of six individuals represents emerging thought leaders in their respective practice areas. They are widely sought out for their experience, results and success in tackling the most difficult case and providing sage recommendations to bring it to a successful resolution.
Moreover, each of the individuals gives back to the communities they serve. One is a Trustee for a University, another is President of a non-profit organization managing 10 full time employees, and another is a planning commissioner.
"WSHB's partnership is rich with talent. We enjoy national recognition for our diversity and being one of the best firms in the nation for women lawyers," said Wendy Lau, one of the newly minted partners. "What sets us apart is the collaboration, teamwork and amazing environment."
David Webster, another new partner, echoed this sentiment. "We are a trial firm which enjoys an incredibly high rate of trial success, due to our many skilled litigators throughout the nation. To be part of this partnership team is an honor.”
Carla Braunstein –Based in WSHB’s Northern California office, Braunstein specializes in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including complex construction defect, professional liability, premises liability, product liability, and employment. Her clients range from individuals, to government entitles, to Fortune 500 companies. She is widely known to major California developers and general contractors for her success in resolving complex and large-scale construction projects and residential developments. A powerful litigator, Carla is also known for her creative risk transfer and dispositive strategies.
Alicia Kennon – Alicia Kennon is a fierce advocate for individual, public, and private clients facing allegations of unfair employment practices, negligence, and products liability. Also from the Firm’s Northern California office, she specializes in the litigation of claims involving employment practices, professional liability, and construction - both defect and catastrophic personal injury. Kennon also has a proven track record in her defense of physicians, nurses, hospitals, dentists, optometrists, and insurance professionals whose professional credentials and skills have been called into question by former clients and patients. Kennon is regarded by peers, clients, mediators, and judges as being a creative pragmatist, adept at assessing risk and formulating legal strategies that yield positive results for her clients.
Nancy Quinn Koba – Based in WSHB’s New York and Connecticut offices, Koba is a highly regarded civil litigator with more than thirty years' experience. In addition to her professional liability practice representing insurance agents/brokers, attorneys, notary publics, architects, ambulance companies and miscellaneous professionals, she has handled all types of high exposure, complex liability cases, including lead poisoning claims, products liability, labor law, general liability, municipal liability, automobile claims, insurance coverage issues, excess claims monitoring and declaratory judgment actions in state and federal courts.
Wendy Lau – Lau has a broad range of experience in many areas of law, including labor and employment, construction, and business transactions. Her practice in the Firm’s Rancho Cucamonga office includes the provision of counsel to businesses regarding best practices with respect to employment matters, as well as complex multi-party civil litigation, with a focus on construction defect litigation. Lau also serves as counsel to several of California’s largest publicly held and privately held builders, real estate developers, and contractors. Lau is active in her local community and serves as a trustee for her undergraduate university as well as a commissioner for the City of La Verne’s Planning Commission.
Jodi Mullis – From WSHB’s Phoenix office, Mullis is well known for consistent results managing complex matters ranging from catastrophic injury and professional malpractice claims to large construction-related disputes. Her practice areas include construction defect, product liability, professional malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death, elder law and medical malpractice litigation. Mullis also has experience handling administrative matters before the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, the Arizona Nursing Board and the Arizona Board of Technical Registration. Mullis was named a Southwest Rising Star 2013–2017 and was selected as one of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers in 2015.
David Webster – Located in the Firm’s Northern California office, Webster specializes in construction defect litigation, representing a wide variety of entities, including developers, design professionals and contractors. He has successfully represented motor carriers and their drivers in accidents involving serious injury and death. Webster’s practice extends to personal injury matters, defending contractors, public entities and common carriers. An accomplished trial lawyer, Webster enjoys a record of successful verdicts in closely watched, high-exposure matters.