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 Nevada.
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.
Shelby M. Barsam
Shelby M. Barsam
Associate

Shelby Barsam uses her strong analytical skills to assist her clients in solving problems and finding creative solutions within the ever-changing landscape of California employment law. She is driven by her dedication to her work and her clients and her understanding of the unique needs of each client.
Sacramento 916.520.5480 direct
Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5480 direct
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 direct
Counsel
Sacramento 916.520.5485 direct
Bradley C. Carroll
Bradley C. Carroll
Senior Associate

While working as a staff attorney at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Bradley Carroll developed not only strong analytical skills, but also gained a unique perspective on litigation. Bradley now uses these skills and his strong background in legal research and writing to assist businesses and individuals in all phases of litigation.
Sacramento 916.520.5299 direct
Senior Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5299 direct
Anthony S. Chavez
Senior Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5436 direct
J. Patrick Doust
J. Patrick Doust
Counsel

Patrick Doust is an accomplished litigator with trial experience in a variety of contexts, including elder abuse, trusts and wills, real estate, general commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense. Patrick's extensive experience in aggressively litigating high value and often emotionally charged cases across a wide spectrum of subject matters gives him a well-rounded knowledge base to draw upon in advocating for clients.
Sacramento 916.520.5484 direct
Counsel
Sacramento 916.520.5484 direct
Jamie P. Dreher
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5478 direct
Reno 775.329.5900 direct
Cassandra M. Ferrannini
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5387 direct
Janlynn R. Fleener
Janlynn R. Fleener
Partner / Chair, Litigation Practice Group

For over 25 years, a variety of businesses -- from financial institutions to national property developers and shopping center owners, governmental agencies, regional businesses, sole proprietorships, and individuals -- have turned to Jan Fleener to handle their complex business litigation.
Sacramento 916.520.5227 direct
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5227 direct
Jeffrey S. Galvin
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5242 direct
Reno 775.329.5900 direct
Sherry Hartel Haus
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5490 direct
Tyson E. Hubbard
Tyson E. Hubbard
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 direct
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5216 direct
Christopher Miles Kolkey
Senior Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5320 direct
Alexandra K. LaFountain
Senior Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5245 direct
Thomas E. Marrs
Thomas E. Marrs
Partner

Tom Marrs draws from extensive litigation experience to efficiently resolve complex family law matters for clients throughout California. Known for his practical approach, Tom skillfully advances his clients' interests, resulting in successful and timely resolutions.
Sacramento 916.520.5210 direct
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5210 direct
John C. McCarron
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5450 direct
Bret F. Meich
Bret F. Meich
Partner

With a proven track record of trying and winning complex business cases, Bret Meich counsels clients through a range of strategic decisions in order to effectively resolve disputes. He practices primarily in the area of general litigation, and he emphasizes professional, high-quality advocacy from case inception through post-trial appellate work.
Reno 775.997.7418 direct
Partner
Reno 775.997.7418 direct
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 direct
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5238 direct
Reno 775.329.5900 direct
M. Max Steinheimer
Of Counsel
Stockton 209.472.3926 direct
Sacramento 916.444.1000 direct
Matthew J. Weber
Partner
Stockton 209.472.3922 direct
Sacramento 916.444.1000 direct
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 direct
Counsel
Stockton 209.472.3918 direct
Sacramento 916.444.1000 direct
In the News
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December 2, 2005U.S. Chamber Sues State Over Law Blocking Unsolicited Fax Ads
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Press Releases
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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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October 1, 2020Downey Brand Welcomes New Bankruptcy Litigation Associate Paul Gaus
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June 1, 2020Bret Meich Earns 2020 Nevada Legal Elite Distinction
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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 28, 2019Anthony S. Chavez Joins Downey Brand’s Litigation Team
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June 27, 2019My Tien Doan Joins Downey Brand’s Family Law Practice
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June 10, 2019Bret Meich Named 2019 Northern Nevada Legal Elite
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June 7, 2019Downey Brand Welcomes New Litigation Attorney Michael J. Laino
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February 1, 2019J. Patrick Doust Joins Downey Brand’s Trust & Estate Team
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December 31, 2018Downey Brand Names New Partner
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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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July 31, 2018Solano County Landowner Prevails in Fraud and Trespass Lawsuit Against EDF Renewable Energy, Inc.
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June 21, 2018Bret Meich Earns Nevada Legal Elite Recognition
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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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June 2, 2017Litigation Attorney Bret Meich Recognized as Legal Elite: Nevada’s Top Attorneys
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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
Speaking Engagements / Events
3 related items-
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
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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