Complex Business Litigation
Many of the region’s leading companies trust their most significant litigation to Downey Brand—with good reason. We have some of the most knowledgeable and resourceful trial and appellate lawyers in Northern California, with extensive experience in state, federal and administrative tribunals throughout California and beyond.
Our attorneys have a proven record of successfully handling a wide variety of complex high-stakes commercial and business cases. Our experience covers the waterfront for both plaintiffs and defendants in business, employment, qui tam, class action, securities, antitrust, shareholder and partnership disputes, probate, healthcare, intellectual property, federal and state investigations, construction, wildland fire, real estate, and environmental matters.
Recognizing that litigation can be a costly distraction, we work closely with our clients to pursue creative, efficient and practical solutions to a wide array of contentious disputes. However, if pre-trial resolution is impossible—or where a more aggressive posture is warranted—we never hesitate to call upon our substantial experience and skill to aggressively pursue and defend our clients’ interests through trial and appeal.
Downey Brand has the region’s largest litigation department, with over 40 lawyers who handle diverse matters in civil, appellate and regulatory forums. Our litigation attorneys have the confidence and legal acumen to efficiently and effectively obtain results for our clients.
Selected Experience
- Downey Brand represented Sierra Pacific Industries in litigation stemming from the Moonlight Fire, one of this country’s largest ever wildland fire cost recovery actions. The Moonlight Fire matters were tried in both federal and state court, and initially resulted in a federal settlement with the United States Forest Service for pennies on the dollar. Downey Brand’s client was recently completely vindicated in Plumas County Superior Court when, three days before trial was set to commence, the court dismissed all six separate cases filed against it and entered judgments in favor of Sierra Pacific Industries.
- Downey Brand handled contentious and protracted litigation on behalf of real estate holding company Park Cattle Co. in litigation against Bill Yung and his Tropicana gaming and holding companies for enforcement of a ground lease for the Horizon Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe. A two month jury trial resolved two days before Downey Brand’s closing argument when Yung and Tropicana agreed to dismiss their complaints against Park Cattle, return the Horizon property, and pay $165 million in damages, plus interest, to Park Cattle.
- Downey Brand represented Sierra Pacific Industries in litigation stemming from the Moonlight Fire, one of this country’s largest ever wildland fire cost recovery actions. The Moonlight Fire matters were tried in both federal and state court, and initially resulted in a federal settlement with the United States Forest Service for pennies on the dollar. Downey Brand’s client was recently completely vindicated in Plumas County Superior Court when, three days before trial was set to commence, the court dismissed all six separate cases filed against it and entered judgments in favor of Sierra Pacific Industries.
- Downey Brand handled contentious and protracted litigation on behalf of real estate holding company Park Cattle Co. in litigation against Bill Yung and his Tropicana gaming and holding companies for enforcement of a ground lease for the Horizon Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe. A two month jury trial resolved two days before Downey Brand’s closing argument when Yung and Tropicana agreed to dismiss their complaints against Park Cattle, return the Horizon property, and pay $165 million in damages, plus interest, to Park Cattle.
- Downey Brand represented large California school district in litigation over approximately $70 million in new school construction. After overbilling the district millions of dollars, the general contractor abandoned the projects. Downey Brand successfully mediated all 13 of the subcontractor claims brought against the district as a result of the general contractor’s conduct, and brought claims against the general contractor, its principals, an assistant superintendent of the district, and the general contractor’s accountants. The California Attorney General issued numerous criminal indictments against the general contractor’s management team and a school district assistant superintendent based on the ground work laid by the Downey Brand litigation team.
- In a bet-the-company suit against its client’s direct competitor for copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation of proprietary source code, Downey Brand represented AtPac, Inc., a leading supplier of database software used by Clerk-Recorder offices throughout California. When AtPac filed suit against its much larger competitor and a governmental entity, they hired intellectual property specialists from Los Angelis to handle their defense. Through tenacious discovery efforts, Downey Brand’s litigation team uncovered irrefutable evidence of defendants’ malfeasance, and demonstrated that defendants had failed to comply with their discovery obligations and had destroyed evidence of their wrongdoing. Downey Brand obtained substantial monetary sanctions against the defendants and their counsel, and a critical order requiring that the jury would be instructed on the adverse inference arising from defendants’ destruction of evidence. With the benefit of these hard fought rulings, Downey Brand secured a $1.9 million settlement for AtPac, Inc. on the eve of trial.
- At the conclusion of a three week jury trial in Sacramento County Superior Court, jury returned a complete defense verdict for Downey Brand’s clients, real estate developers Charles Somers and Ron Alvarado, who were sued by AKT Development Corporation for fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty regarding an alleged joint venture to purchase significant development property near Sacramento.
Meghan M. Baker
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5510
Kelly M. Breen
Kelly M. Breen
Counsel

Kelly Breen has a proven track record of helping clients navigate complex business issues with a common sense approach that achieves optimal results. She applies the right balance of aggressive advocacy, robust understanding of the law, and creative problem-solving to every case she handles.
Sacramento 916.520.5485
Counsel
Sacramento 916.520.5485
Bradley C. Carroll
Bradley C. Carroll
Partner

Bradley Carroll is a seasoned litigator who focuses on complex business disputes in trial courts and on appeal. Bradley is known for his client-centric approach and his effective and efficient resolution skills. His combined experience as an appellate staff attorney and trial attorney allows Bradley to successfully guide clients through arduous, high-stakes business disputes and litigation.
Sacramento 916.520.5299
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5299
Jamie P. Dreher
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5478
Cassandra M. Ferrannini
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5387
Sean J. Filippini
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5430
Janlynn Robinson Fleener
Managing Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5227
Tyler J. Horn
Senior Associate
Stockton 209.472.3978
Sacramento 916.444.1000
Tyson E. Hubbard
Tyson E. Hubbard
Partner / Mentoring and Professional Success Partner

Tyson Hubbard is an experienced litigator who focuses on trust and estate disputes. Tyson's clients rely upon him to steer an efficient and effective path. He draws from more than a decade of litigation experience across a wide range of matters, as well as from his personal experience as a trustee of a family trust.
Sacramento 916.520.5216
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5216
Christopher Miles Kolkey
Christopher Miles Kolkey
Partner

Clients rely on Christopher Kolkey to navigate them through the complex channels of litigation and to be a passionate advocate for them. Mr. Kolkey has a client-tailored approach to litigation, assessing the needs and goals of each case as a key driver in litigation strategy.
Sacramento 916.520.5320
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5320
Michael J. Laino
Michael J. Laino
Associate

Since joining Downey Brand in 2019, Michael Laino has represented businesses and individual clients in a wide arrange of civil litigation matters, including partnership and shareholder disputes, construction and product defect litigation, wild fire liability, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy cases, financial security matters, and general real estate and contractual litigation.
Sacramento 916.520.5360
Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5360
John C. McCarron
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5450
Sean G. McKissick
Sean G. McKissick
Counsel

Sean McKissick provides strong and effective legal assistance throughout all stages of trust and estate disputes. Sean has extensive experience across a wide variety of litigation areas and industries in addition to trust and estate work, including healthcare, real estate, civil rights, and white-collar criminal defense.
Sacramento 916.520.5262
Counsel
Sacramento 916.520.5262
Elizabeth B. Stallard
Elizabeth B. Stallard
Partner

Elizabeth Stallard helps clients navigate complex employment and business issues with a common sense and pragmatic approach. A seasoned and creative problem-solver, Elizabeth advises clients with workforce management issues and efficiently resolves disputes either through litigation or alternative dispute resolution.
Sacramento 916.520.5238
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5238
M. Max Steinheimer
Of Counsel
Stockton 209.472.3926
Sacramento 916.444.1000
Jennifer L. Williams
Jennifer L. Williams
Counsel

Regional public entities, businesses, sole proprietorships, and individuals have benefited from Jenny Williams's legal counsel. In today's challenging economic climate, an increase in case filings have reduced the court's availability to hear oral arguments and resulted in significant delays in obtaining trial dates.
Stockton 209.472.3918
Counsel
Stockton 209.472.3918
Sacramento 916.444.1000
Announcements
34 related items-
August 19, 2022Associate Brian Aton Joins Downey Brand’s Litigation and Bankruptcy Practices
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April 21, 2022Downey Brand Welcomes Senior Associate Dustin Amrein to its Litigation Group
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March 15, 2022Alexandra LaFountain Selected to Leadership Sacramento Class of 2022
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November 5, 2021Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2022 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
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October 27, 2021Sandra Sava Returns to Downey Brand’s Litigation Practice
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August 25, 2021Distinguished Trial Attorney Kevin Rooney Joins Downey Brand as Counsel
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April 27, 2021Downey Brand Welcomes Sean McKissick to its Litigation Practice in Sacramento
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April 1, 2021Downey Brand Welcomes Samuel Micon to its Employment Practice in Sacramento
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March 5, 2021Christopher Kolkey Selected to Leadership Sacramento Class of 2021
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November 9, 2020Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2021 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
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January 2, 2020Downey Brand Welcomes Two New Associates to Sacramento Office
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November 4, 2019Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in 2020 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
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July 1, 2019Downey Brand Welcomes New Counsel Kelly Breen
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June 7, 2019Downey Brand Welcomes New Litigation Attorney Michael J. Laino
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December 12, 2018Downey Brand Welcomes Two New Associates to its Sacramento Office
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November 12, 2018Downey Brand Ranked Nationally and Regionally in “Best Law Firms” 2019 by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
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September 17, 2018Downey Brand Welcomes Litigator Christopher Kolkey to its Sacramento Office
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March 7, 2018Jay-Allen Eisen Receives the 2017 Anne K. Meline Award
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February 14, 2018Elizabeth Stallard to Serve as President of the Board of Trustees at the Sacramento Zoo
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January 12, 2018Prominent Attorney James Morris Joins Downey Brand
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December 20, 2017Downey Brand Promotes Four New Counsel
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December 12, 2017Downey Brand Names Six New Partners
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November 17, 2017Annie Amaral Named 40 Under 40 by Sacramento Business Journal
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November 6, 2017Downey Brand Named a Tier 1 Regional “Best Law Firm” in Six Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® in 2018
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October 24, 2017Downey Brand Welcomes Attorneys Avalon Fitzgerald and Kristin Capritto
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March 10, 2017Annie Amaral Recognized as Young Leader by Comstock’s Magazine
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March 6, 2017William R. Warne Assumes Chairmanship at Downey Brand LLP
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January 6, 2017Downey Brand Names New Partners and Counsel
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December 19, 2016Three New Associates Join Downey Brand
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January 4, 2016Downey Brand Names New Partner
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October 30, 2015Jamie Dreher to Serve as Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference
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January 1, 2015Downey Brand Names Four New Partners
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December 12, 2014Downey Brand Welcomes Three New Associates
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December 6, 2013Downey Brand Names New Partner
In the News
2 related items-
October 19, 2007Spencer Gifts faces copyright suit over Willie Nelson T-shirts
Sacramento Business Journal -
December 2, 2005U.S. Chamber Sues State Over Law Blocking Unsolicited Fax Ads
Sacramento Business Journal
Speaking Engagements / Events
5 related items-
May 13, 2022When Family Friction Catches Fire: Practical Advice for Avoiding Interfamily Litigation
Co-Presenter, Capital Region Family Business Center's 2022 Annual Generations Conference -
February 4, 2021Contract Negotiations, Grape Brokers, Land Value Trends & Financing Solutions
Mendocino Winegrowers, Economic Summit 2021 -
May 15, 2020Business Guidance on Next Steps in Recovery for Yuba and Sutter Counties
Greater Sacramento Economic Council, COVID-19 Webinar Series -
January 30, 2020Credit Disaster Roundtable
Presenter, The Risk Management Association, Central Valley Chapter -
April 2013Settlement Strategies
American Inns of Court - Bruce R. Thompson Chapter CLE seminar
Publications
3 related items-
September 2019Big Changes in California Sexual Harassment Law
California Grocer, Issue 4 -
June 2015United States District Court Eastern District of California Checklists
Practical Law -
September 24, 2013Receiverships: Resolving Disputes with Management of a Small Business
Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Business Law Guide