Downey Brand Welcomes Seven New Associates

January 27, 2022


Downey Brand is pleased to officially welcome new associate attorneys Mark Anishchenko, Nicolas Chapman, Jaycee Dean, Kyle Kloeppel, Breana Inoshita, Annie Marcroft, and Danielle Nafekh. All were members of the firm’s fall 2021 associate class prior to passing the California Bar Exam.

Mark Anishchenko is a member of the firm’s Litigation group in Sacramento where he represents clients in a vast array of legal issues, including construction litigation, complex commercial litigation, and partnership disputes. While in law school, Mark harnessed his legal knowledge as a Legal Research and Writing Teaching Assistant. He also won the Witkin Award for the highest grade in jurisprudence and wrote for both the UC Davis Law Review and Business Law Journal. In addition, he gained valuable experience as a certified legal intern for the Yolo County District Attorney. Mark received his B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Oregon prior to earning his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2021.

Nicolas (Nico) Chapman is a member of the firm’s Natural Resources group in Sacramento where he helps both public agencies and private clients navigate the complex realm of water rights. While studying law, Nico worked as a Judicial Extern for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California and was a staff writer for the University of the Pacific Law Review before serving as its Chief Articles & Symposium Editor. During undergrad, he was also a member of the University of California, Davis’ Men’s Water Polo team from 2014 to 2016, where he received his B.A. in Political Science. Nico earned his J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2021.

Jaycee Dean is a member of the firm’s Natural Resources group in Sacramento where her current practice encompasses a myriad of federal and state natural resources issues, including the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, water quality, and environmental defense. While attending law school, Jaycee interned at a prominent Sacramento lobbying firm, providing her with valuable insight into regulatory compliance and environmental litigation. She also won the Witkin Award for academic excellence in constitutional law and worked as a research assistant for the Moot Court Honors Board. Jaycee earned her J.D. at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2021. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Kyle Kloeppel is a member of the firm’s Litigation group in Sacramento where he works on complex litigation matters as well as a range of business transactions, including entity formation, purchase and sale agreements, and reorganizations. In between his time as a law student and undergraduate, Kyle worked as a Data Scientist at California Correctional Health Care Services. He earned his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2021. Prior to law school, Kyle received his B.A. in Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley.

Breana Inoshita is a member of the firm’s Natural Resources practice in San Francisco where she focuses on a variety of natural resources topics, including air quality, climate change, CEQA/NEPA, land use, regulatory law, and business permitting. Prior to law school, Breana worked as a legal intern for the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office as a member of the Transportation Team. While studying law, she wrote for the Hastings Environmental Law Journal and helped teach a Legal Research and Writing course. She also won Honorable Mention for the Spring 2019 Moot Court Oral Argument Competition. Breana earned her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2021. She graduated with a B.S. in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, Davis.

Annie Marcroft is a member of the firm’s Litigation group in Sacramento where her practice spans all phases of the litigation process, from pre-lawsuit demands to post-judgment appeals, and encompasses a wide array of legal issues, including commercial lease disputes, quiet title actions, class actions, and construction defect litigation. During law school, Annie worked as a summer clerk for the Honorable L. Scott Coogler, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and participated in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, which helped sharpen her strong analytical and writing skills. Annie earned her J.D. at the University of Alabama School of Law in 2021. She earned her B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy at San Diego State University.

Danielle (Dani) Nafekh is a member of the firm’s Business practice in Sacramento where she assists clients with a variety of matters, including estate planning, trust administration, probate, and both corporate and real estate transactions. While in law school, Dani gained crucial experience as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable John A. Mendez in the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Dani received her J.D. from the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2021. She earned her B.S. in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis, where she played for the Division I women’s basketball program and served as team captain during the 2017/2018 season.