Smith Dollar PC

Diane Aqui represents employers before numerous federal and state administrative agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board, Workers Compensation Appeals Board, Department of Labor, Labor Commissioner, FEHA, EEOC and the EDD.

She is general counsel to numerous businesses and negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of management.  Ms. Aqui counsels employers regarding employee related issues, and provides state-mandated training for sexual harassment and bullying. She has successfully defended discrimination and class action wage and hour suits in both State and Federal Court.

Ms. Aqui graduated as valedictoran of her law school and was the recipient of numerous Witkin and American Jurisprudence Awards.  In addition to her J.D., Ms. Aqui holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Marine Engineering from Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, New York and was also a licensed Third Assistant Engineer in the United States Coast Guard. Her background as an engineer performing risk evalutations and safety inspections of power and production plants lends a unique real world perspective to managing the risks employers face in today’s market place, particularly in the areas of discrimination, harassment and business issues.

Bar admissions

Ms. Aqui is admitted to practice in all courts of the State of California and the Northern District and Eastern District Federal Courts of California. Ms. Aqui is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the DC Court of Appeals.

Published Decisions

Watson vs. Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 2007 US Dist. LEXIS 77131 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2007)

Carman vs. Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, 535 F. Supp. 2d 1039 (E.D.Cal. 2008)

NeilMed Products, Inc., 358 NLRB 8 (2012)

Scoma’s of Sausalito, LLC, 362 NLRD 174 (2015)

Speaking Engagements

PDCC Annual Convention 2014

Awards

• Valedictorian, Empire College School of Law, May 2001 (achieved highest grade point average in the history of school)

• Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Constitutional Law, 2000

• Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Wills, 2000

• American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Torts, 1998

• American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Contracts, 1998

• American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Criminal Law, 1998

• Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Outstanding Achievement in Torts, 1998

• Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Outstanding Achievement in Contracts, 1998

• Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Outstanding Achievement in Criminal Law, 1998

Glenn M. Smith has a broad range of experience with legal issues pertaining to business, real estate, commercial disputes, complex litigation and transactional work for public, private and nonprofit organizations as well as individuals. Over a period of 30 years, he has provided counseling to thousands of individuals and organizations. In the same period of time, he has proven his abilities by successfully owning and operating numerous businesses.

Mr. Smith is general counsel to many companies, organizations and industry associations, some of which he serves as a director. He attended law school while working full-time in the fields of engineering and marketing. In 1980, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University where he graduated with honors.

He is admitted to practice before all state courts within California, as well as U.S. District Courts. He is a member of the American, California and Sonoma County Bar Associations. He sits as a Judge Pro Tem for the Sonoma County Superior Court and is the past president of the Sonoma County Bar Association. He is active in many community organizations and has served for the boards of Empire College School of Law, American Subcontractors Association, North Coast Builders Exchange, and Blood Bank of the Redwoods.

Bar admissions

California State Courts

U.S. District Court of California, All California Districts

Education

Western State University School of Law, J.D.

Marist College, B.S. Business Administration

Professional associations and memberships

Board, Sonoma County Legal Aid

Board, North Coast Builder’s Exchange, American Bar Association

Board, Engineering Contractor’s Association

Member, American Bar Association

Member, American Subcontractors Association

Member, California Bar Association

Member, Marin Builders Association

Member, North Coast Builders Exchange

Member, Sonoma County Bar Association

Member, Sonoma County Alliance

Past President, Sonoma County Bar Association

Past Board of Directors, Sonoma County Bar Association

Empire College School of Law Scholarship Committee

LSRAA Sonoma County Superior Court Courts Committee

Smith Dollar PC

Joseph Gruchawka is experienced in business litigation and labor law.  He has particular expertise in mechanic’s liens, contract disputes, wage and hour claims, and employee classification.

Mr. Gruchawka has successfully collected money owed to contractors, represented contractors and homeowners disputing invoices and quality of work, defended employers in labor litigation, and obtained favorable settlements for employee plaintiffs.

Joseph is a Sonoma County native and enjoys hiking and running in our local parks when he is not zealously representing his clients.

Bar admissions

Admitted to practice law in California

Admitted to practice law in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Education

University of Colorado, J.D.

University of California Berkeley, B.A.

Professional associations and memberships

Sonoma County Bar Association

Barristers Club

Joshua M. West has handled a wide variety of civil litigation including personal injury/wrongful death, medical and hospital negligence, real property disputes, and probate and trust contests since 1985. His practice also includes estate planning and probate and trust administrations. Mr. West was recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer in 2012 and 2015 through 2017.  He has served as a Superior Court Pro-Tem Judge, Arbitrator and Settlement Panelist as well as a mediator/arbitrator with the Sonoma County Bar Association’s Mediation and Arbitration Referral Service along with the former No Fee Mediation program.

Professional Associations

Mr. West has been actively involved with various professional organizations including the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, State Bar of California (Litigation Section), Sonoma County Bar Association, The American Inns of Court and the Consumer Attorneys of California. A 1982 graduate of U.C. Davis, he earned his law degree at Golden Gate University in December 1984 with Highest Honors.

Bar admissions

All California State Courts

United States District Court, Northern District of California

United States District Court, Eastern District of California

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Supreme Court of California

Education

 Golden Gate University, J.D. with Highest Honors

 U.C. Davis, B.A.

Awards and designations

AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell

Northern California Super Lawyers: 2012, 2014-2017

Justin D. Hein joined our law firm in the spring of 2018 after serving as Managing Attorney of a statewide Government, Healthcare, and Employment law practice for the previous seven (7) years. In that  role,  Justin  represented  a  variety  of  professionals  and  businesses  ranging  from  doctors, veterinarians,  accountants,  and  brokers,  to  breweries,  wine  importers,  private  schools,  trucking companies, and automotive repair shops. Services ranged from obtaining and defending licenses, participation  in  government  benefit  programs,  and  resolving  business  disputes.  This  included representation before the State Personnel Board, Office of Administrative Hearings, all boards and bureaus within Department of Consumer Affairs (e.g. Medical Board of California, etc.), Labor Commissioner, and various County, City, and Municipal Civil Service Commissions.

Justin helped form dozens of medical and physical therapy practices, serving as general counsel to them. Justin also oversaw the firm’s marketing, public relations, and served as its In-house General Counsel, advising its Board of Directors, and Officers, as it continued to grow as a business.

 Justin D. Hein is an AV® Preeminent™ Rated and 10.0 Avvo Rated attorney. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his law degree at the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2005.

 Justin had prior experience managing a taxation law firm. There, Justin oversaw the business operations of a 25-member law firm that employed a staff of over 150. It was there that Justin was introduced to Employment Law, Business Formation, and Contract Law-practice areas that would become the focus of the rest of his career.

 Justin serves as an administrative hearing officer and private arbitrator and mediator. He worked with the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Fee Arbitration program from 2012 to 2018. And served as a hearing officer for both the County of Sonoma and San Diego, from 2016 to 2018.

 Justin was identified as a Top Employment Lawyer in Sacramento by Sacramento Magazine in 2015 and 2016. He was also recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers™ in 2017 and most recently in 2018.

Bar Admissions

 o   State Bar of California – all courts

o   State Bar of Wisconsin – all courts

o   U.S. Tax Court

o   U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

o   U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Professional Associations and Memberships

 o   Member, American Bar Association

o   Barrister, American Inns of Court, Schwartz-Levi

o   Member, California Society for Healthcare Attorneys

o   Member, California Academy of Attorneys for Health Care Professionals

o   Member, Sacramento County Bar Association

 o   Chairperson, Administrative Law Section, 2018

o   Vice-Chairperson, Administrative Law Section, 2015-2017

o   Member, San Luis Obispo County Bar Association

o   Member, Sonoma County Bar Association

Karen Tynan concentrates her practice on employment and regulatory law and compliance as well as employment litigation on behalf of California employers.  Fifteen years of practice combined with active consulting assignments give her a broad perspective on risk management and litigation.  She provides customized sexual harassment training for medium sized and large employers, safety audits for construction and manufacturing companies, and compliance consulting for a variety of entertainment companies based in Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

Prior to her law career, Karen sailed as a chief officer in the Merchant Marine and served in the United States Navy Reserves.  She is an active community volunteer and has led non-profit boards and organizations such as Sonoma County Women in Law, The Healdsburg School, St. John’s School in Healdsburg, the Committee For Equity in Women’s Surfing, the PASS Advisory Committee, and others.

Rachel Dollar is a Certified Mortgage Banker and a recognized expert on mortgage lending and fraud. Ms. Dollar represents lending institutions and secondary market investors in mortgage banking related matters including:

Origination and Servicing Litigation

Litigation arising out of State and Federal Disclosures

Lender liability litigation defense

Litigation of mortgage fraud and related actions including causes of action based in Federal RICO, broker bond and fidelity bond claim and appraiser and settlement agent errors & omissions policy claim litigation

Title and closing protection letter claims and litigation

Repurchase litigation

Mortgage insurance claim and rescission litigation

Drafting of standard documents such as escrow instructions, broker agreements and internal policies and procedures

Ms. Dollar also handles real estate and business litigation for companies and individuals including easement and title disputes, contract drafting and review and public works bid protests.

Ms. Dollar’s clients have included insurance companies, national banks, thrifts, non-bank mortgage lenders, secondary market investors, construction companies and real estate developers.

Ms. Dollar has developed a reputation as one of the foremost innovators and thought leaders in the real estate finance industry and has been widely quoted in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times and other publications. She was recognized in multiple successive years as one of the 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders in the United States. She is a nationally recognized speaker on the topics of mortgage banking and mortgage fraud, has testified before Congress and has appeared on CNN, CBS News and other radio and television programs.

She is the editor of the acclaimed industry website, Mortgage Fraud Blog, recognized in 2007 as Most Innovative Real Estate Blog.

Ms. Dollar is an author of Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud

Bar admissions

All California State Courts including California Supreme Court

United States District Court, Northern District of California

United States District Court, Eastern District of California

United States District Court, Central District of California

United States District Court, Southern District of California

United States District Court, District of Colorado

Multiple state and federal pro hac vice admissions

Education

Newport University, School of Law, J.D.

Professional associations and memberships

Vice-Chair, CMB Society, 2017

Secretary, CMB Society, 2016

Fellow, American College of Mortgage Attorneys

Media Committee, CMB Society, 2008-2009

Quality Control Leadership Committee, Mortgage Bankers Association, 2008-2009

MORPAC Committee, 2008-2009

President, Sonoma County Bar Association, 2007

Chair, MBA Appraisal Outreach Task Force, 2007

Former California Real Estate and Mortgage Broker

Mortgage Bankers Association

California Mortgage Bankers Association

Association of Financial Crimes Investigators

International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators

Publications and Presentations

Congressional Testimony – February 10, 2008 – “Foreclosure Aftermath: Preying on Senior Homeowners”; Senate Special Committee on Aging

Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud, Rachel Dollar and Ralph Roberts with Joe Kraynak, Kaplan Publishing, August 2007

Mortgage Fraud Blog, 2004-2017

Please contact Smith Dollar PC for CV if interested in Ms. Dollar’s prior speaking engagements

Awards and designations

AV Rated

Certified Mortgage Banker

Formerly a Certified Financial Crimes Investigator

2004-2007 Inman News Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders

2007 Inman News Most Innovative Real Estate Blog

2010 North Bay Business Journal Women in Business Award

2012-2017 Northern California Super Lawyers

Richard Freeman brings over 40 years of experience in high-level litigation to the firm. He has handled a wide variety of litigated matters, including professional and general liability, commercial, construction defect, complex, and banking and mortgage cases.

After graduation Mr. Freeman practiced in the criminal courts with the District Attorney of Los Angeles County and the Offices of the Public Defender in both San Francisco and Sonoma Counties. Mr. Freeman then joined the prestigious Spridgen defense firm in Santa Rosa as an Associate for a number of years before founding James, Gack, and Freeman, a defense litigation firm. He then joined a national defense firm specializing in the defense of major liability cases involving general and professional liability.

He has served as a Judge Pro Tem, a Settlement Conference Judge, and a Mediator in Sonoma, San Francisco, and Contra Costa Counties. He has taught at San Francisco Community College and Sonoma State University as well as lectured for CEB and the California Judge’s Association.

Mr. Freeman is a member of ABOTA, The American Board of Trial Advocates, and has been an AV rated attorney with Martindale Hubbell since 1983. He has been named a Northern California “Super Lawyer”.

Bar admissions

All California State Courts

United States District Court, Central District of California

United States District Court, Northern District of California

United States District Court, Eastern District of California

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

 Loyola University School of Law, J.D.

 UCLA, B.A. Economics

Professional associations and memberships

California State Bar Association

Sonoma County Bar Association

Board of Directors, LSR Alumni Association

Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco Chapter

Past Board of Directors Member, Sonoma County Discovery Museum

Awards and designations

AV Rated by Martindale Hubbel

Leadership Santa Rosa- Class VI

Northern California Super Lawyers: 2006, 2015-2017

Richard Sutherland is an experienced trial attorney.

Mr. Sutherland has represented lenders and other corporate entities in complex business litigation and lender liability matters concerning the financial services and real estate industries. His extensive litigation experience includes multiple jury and bench trials, binding arbitrations, evidentiary hearings, jury selection and witness examination, as well as substantial law and motion practice.

He successfully defended the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in its capacity as receiver for a failed bank from lender liability claims in excess of $60 million related to a commercial development in Los Angeles; represented a hotel portfolio owner in a breach of joint venture agreement with a multi-national financial institution; and successfully opposed writs of attachment and receivership applications regarding a $50 million commercial development, leading to a beneficial resolution of the dispute by all parties.

Bar admissions

All California State Courts

United States District Court, Northern District of California

United States District Court, Eastern District of California

United States District Court, Central District of California

United States District Court, District of Colorado

Education

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., With Distinction

University of California, San Diego, B.A.

Professional associations and memberships

Sonoma County Bar Association

Awards and designations

Roger J. Traynor Honor Society

Northern California Super Lawyers: Rising Star 2015 – 2017

Robert Russell’s practice focuses on financial institution supervision, director and officer liability, enforcement and fraud.

Prior to joining Smith Dollar, Mr. Russell was Counsel to Office of Thrift Supervision Director John Reich, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Director’s office, including the development of agency banking policy and the preparation of Congressional testimony and speeches.

Mr. Russell was also Deputy to the Vice Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In that capacity, he advised on all matters coming before the Board of Directors. In addition, he served on the Case Review, the Assessment Appeals, and the Corporate Policy Committees, and headed up the FDIC’s International Technical Assistance and Foreign Visitor Program.

Mr. Russell also served as Director of the FDIC’s Office of Policy Development where he was responsible for coordinating policy formulation on key issues relating to the Corporation’s overall mission, and was Special Assistant to Chairman Ricki Helfer, advising her on the most significant issues facing the FDIC.

Mr. Russell joined the FDIC as Senior Council in the Legal Division, first in the Professional Liability Section, where he managed the FDIC’s anti-fraud program, and subsequently in the Legislation and Regulation Section. He was responsible for coordinating the Corporation’s efforts on some of the most significant anti-fraud cases, including lead counsel in the Drexel, Burnham, Lambert case that resulted in a settlement in excess of $1 billion, the Daiwa case that resulted in the expulsion of a foreign bank from the United States, and the Bankers Trust matter, the first major derivatives case involving losses incurred by a federal financial institution.

Mr. Russell also led the FDIC’s Whitewater Task Force, served as the agency’s representative to the interagency Federal Bank Fraud Working Group, and as the FDIC’s representative on the steering committee to the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets.

Before joining the FDIC, Mr. Russell served as a Senior Trial Attorney in the Litigation Section at the Federal Home Loan Bank Board; Assistant Director in the Enforcement Division of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Trial Attorney and Program Director at the Federal Trade Commission.

Mr. Russell is a graduate of Boston College Law School and is a member of the State Bar of Massachusetts.

Bar admissions

Supreme Judicial Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Education

Boston College Law School, JD

University of New Hampshire, B.S., Political Science

Professional associations and memberships

Massachusetts State Bar Association

Publications and Presentations

17th Annual Survey of Massachusetts Law, Chapter 9, Consumer Protection (1970).

National Consumer Law Center, Truth in Lending Handbook (1971), Co-author.

Awards and designations

Outstanding Service Award, Federal Home Loan Bank Board

Louis O. Brandeis Award for Litigation, Nominated

FDIC Superior Service Award for conduct of litigation in the matter of Equifax, Inc.

Honors Program, Federal Trade Commission

Sherrill Oates has over fifteen years’ experience in residential and commercial finance, including government small business lending programs and residential mortgage lending and related regulatory and compliance issues. She has extensive experience litigating all types of disputes arising out of mortgage loan origination and servicing.

Ms. Oates provides advice to corporate clients on compliance with state and federal statutes, regulations and issues, including Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money-Laundering compliance, Privacy Act, TILA and Reg. Z, HOEPA, ECOA and Reg. B; RESPA and Reg. X; HMDA, FDCPA, FCRA, GLB and federal and state predatory lending and privacy laws.

Bar admissions

•Arizona State Courts
•California State Courts
•United States District Court, Northern District of California
•United States District Court, Eastern District of California
•United States District Court, Central District of California
•Georgia State Courts
•Tennessee State Courts
•Texas State Courts

Education

•University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law, J.D.
•Clemson University, B.S. Management

Stephanie Blair practices business and real estate transactional law, and focuses on advising clients and helping them achieve their business goals. Ms. Blair also provides estate planning services, such as trusts, wills and powers of attorney, to clients.

Ms. Blair has extensive experience forming limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and corporations in California and Delaware. Her business transactional experience covers a wide breadth of matters, including the addition and withdrawal of members to partnerships, transferring interests under Buy-Sell Agreements, and leasing equipment. She has also assisted clients in negotiating the sale of businesses.

Ms. Blair is highly skilled in drafting complex contractual agreements, such as indemnification agreements, licensing agreements, collaboration agreements to enable the joint development of technology, purchase agreements, employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, and settlement agreements.

Ms. Blair has a great deal of real estate transactional experience; she has drafted numerous commercial and residential leases, purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, easements, deeds, deeds of trust, and secured promissory notes. She helps clients negotiate the terms of leases and purchase agreements and has assisted clients with obtaining lot line adjustment approvals.  She has experience with the subdivision map act, code enforcement, Administrative Certificates of Compliance, real estate disclosures, and real property reassessment under Proposition 13.

Bar admissions

California State Courts

United States District Court, Northern District of California

Education

University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D. May 2006

University of California, San Diego, B.A. Political Science, 1996

Professional associations and memberships

Sonoma County Bar Association

Awards and designations

“Understanding Changes in Ownership in Property Tax Reassessment Under Proposition 13”, presentation to a group of local CPAs, December 2009

John Jordan is the CEO of Jordan Vineyard and Winery and has extensive experience in all aspects of the wine and hospitality businesses.  He has practiced in the areas of civil litigation and family law. Mr. Jordan has founded a number of successful companies, including a technology company that specializes in digital wine list solutions for restaurants.  In 2012, he created the John Jordan Foundation – a private, charitable foundation focused on income stability and educational attainment, which funds projects in elementary schools for literacy and technology, as well as micro-loan programs for low-income families to launch small businesses.

John Jordan is a private pilot who has earned his Private Pilot Certificate, Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi-Engine Ratings, Airline Transport Pilot License, as well as type ratings in Gulfstream and Citation aircraft.

Mr. Jordan served as a captain in the Navy Reserve.

Education

Empire College School of Law

University of San Francisco, Master of Business Administration

Occidental College, B.A. Economics

Honors and Positions

United Way, Philanthropist of the Year

10,000 Degrees Sonoma County, Founders Award

Hoover Institution at Stanford University, Board of Overseers

Languages

German

Russian

Sheila is a superb law firm manager, exercising her extraordinary talents for organization and efficiency and inspiring others to do the same. Her capacity for empathy and her common-sense, can-do attitude make her an irreplaceable asset to anyone with whom she works. I highly recommend her without any reservation.