Downey Brand Names Six New Partners
December 12, 2017
Downey Brand is pleased to announce that Sophia Castillo, Arielle Harris, Tyson Hubbard, Tom Marrs, Meredith Nikkel, and James Robertson have been elected to the firm partnership effective January 1, 2018.
Sophia B. Castillo – Sophia Castillo (formerly Belloli) specializes in environmental and toxics litigation and compliance in California and advises clients on issues related to California’s Proposition 65 law, state and federal natural resource damages, the Clean Water Act, and CERCLA. She defends environmental and toxics lawsuits and provides compliance advice for clients in a number industries including midstream oil and gas companies, industrial facilities, and manufacturers, retailers, and businesses across the consumer supply chain selling food, cosmetics, automotive, and home goods and glassware products. Sophia earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Arielle O. Harris – Arielle assists public agencies and private clients with environmental review, land use entitlements, and local, state, and federal permitting for a diverse range of projects including residential/commercial development, groundwater and surface water supply projects, public infrastructure, renewable energy, and mining operations. She also assists clients in the defense of environmental review documents and project approvals in both the trial and appellate courts. Arielle obtained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, and her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Tyson E. Hubbard – Tyson has built his litigation practice over nine years, focusing on trust and estate disputes. Today, Tyson advises trustees, beneficiaries, siblings, surviving spouses, and others, in conflicts concerning inheritance. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Tyson practiced law in Boston, Massachusetts. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in history from Harvard University, Tyson obtained his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law. Tyson is admitted to practice law in California, Massachusetts, and New York.
Thomas E. Marrs – Tom began his legal career litigating complex business disputes, and he brings that experience to his current practice resolving complex family law matters. Before attaining his Juris Doctor, cum laude, at the University of San Francisco School of Law, Tom received his Bachelor of Science in genetics from the University of California at Davis and worked in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.
Meredith E. Nikkel – Meredith’s experience in water rights disputes ranges from multi-faceted administrative proceedings to litigating complex matters before state and federal courts. She counsels water resource managers for public and private entities and is currently representing water users in the proposed California WaterFix project. Meredith received her Juris Doctor, with distinction, from Stanford Law School and her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the University of California at Berkeley.
James Robertson – With a background as a senior corporate executive and general counsel for publicly traded and privately owned companies, James offers his clients practical and efficient legal advice and counsels them through complex business matters with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, securities and financing transactions, corporate governance matters, and complex commercial transactions. James earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law and simultaneously earned his MBA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Licensed to practice in California, Nevada, and Colorado, James serves clients from the firm’s Sacramento and Reno offices.