Zachary Pangares is an Associate Attorney at Singleton Schreiber, where he focuses on Fire Litigation and complex civil matters. A skilled trial lawyer, Zachary brings a strategic, client-centered approach to litigation, drawing from a diverse professional background and a commitment to justice. He has successfully represented clients in both federal and state courts, including high-profile and precedent-setting cases. Before entering the legal field, Zachary served as a healthcare administrator for one of the nation's largest healthcare systems, where he concentrated on strategy, system transformation, and behavioral health. He leverages this experience to deliver pragmatic legal strategies and effective client advocacy, particularly in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil rights. Zachary began his legal career as a judicial extern for the Honorable Benjamin H. Settle in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, where he gained valuable judicial insight in a fast-paced federal courtroom. He then joined a boutique litigation firm focused on the representation of survivors of sexual abuse and other violent crimes, helping secure substantial awards for his clients. Notable cases include the largest settlement in Oregon history involving a public school district for the sexual abuse of a student, as well as an eight-figure settlement with the U.S. government for the abuse of Native American children by an IHS pediatrician—achieved under a novel breach of treaty theory. Zachary earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Seattle University Law Review. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Oregon State University. Zachary is admitted to practice in Oregon, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Philip C. Cifarelli handles a variety of matters including a number of medical malpractice and medical mistake cases and elder abuse matters. Mr. Cifarelli has been with the firm for nearly twenty years and has established himself as a tough, innovative and skillful negotiator and accomplished trial attorney, having tried numerous cases to verdict including serving as lead and co-counsel on several seven figure trials. Some of his cases have been covered by several newspapers. He has received several six and seven figure settlements and verdicts in a variety of major personal injury, consumer fraud, medical malpractice and elder abuse matters. Mr. Cifarelli is a graduate of the Arizona State University and Western State University School of Law and is an active member of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, He is a supporter and contributor to consumer rights and fund-raising efforts. Mr. Cifarelli has been named to Who’s Who in America for 2001.

Marquis Owens is a dedicated personal injury attorney with nearly 20 years of experience advocating for individuals and families who have been harmed through no fault of their own. Known for his caring and compassionate approach, he takes the time to understand each client’s story while fighting tirelessly to secure the justice and compensation they deserve. Marquis also maintains a thriving probate administration practice and guides families through the most difficult periods of their lives. As a first-generation college graduate, Marquis understands the value of hard work and perseverance. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law. His journey from college graduate to seasoned trial attorney shapes the empathy and commitment he brings to every case. Throughout his career, Marquis has focused primarily on representing injured clients, standing up to insurance companies and negligent parties with skill, determination, and integrity. However, he boasts a vast wealth of knowledge across various practice areas. He believes that every client deserves respect, clear communication, and an attorney who will fight relentlessly on their behalf. With offices in both California and Alabama, Marquis serves clients across state lines while maintaining a hands-on, client-centered practice. His reputation for compassion, dedication, and results has made him a trusted advocate for those facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Personal Injury, Business, Civil Rights, Real Estate, Family Law

Marcela Mercado is a dedicated Monterey County personal injury attorney and co-founder of Mercado Kramer LLP, committed to helping injury victims and their families pursue justice throughout California. With a powerful personal story and a relentless work ethic, Ms. Mercado brings both compassion and tenacity to every case she handles. A native of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, Ms. Mercado immigrated to the United States with her mother at the age of 6. Growing up speaking Spanish and working in restaurants from a young age, she developed a deep appreciation for hard work and perseverance — values that continue to define her legal practice today. Ms. Mercado worked full-time while attending San Jose State University before earning her Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law. She also obtained a Master’s degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution, equipping her with advanced skills in negotiation and creative problem-solving. She leverages this training to secure strategic, effective resolutions in even the most challenging and complex injury cases. Before founding Mercado Kramer LLP, Ms. Mercado gained valuable experience at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, handling high-stakes, multi-million-dollar cases. She has since successfully litigated and resolved hundreds of cases across California, earning a reputation for obtaining top settlements in matters that other attorneys are often unwilling to take on. Her practice focuses on personal injury cases involving car accidents, catastrophic injuries, Lyft and Uber accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall incidents, truck accidents, and wrongful death claims. Known for her fierce advocacy and unwavering dedication to her clients, Ms. Mercado is committed to fighting for maximum compensation and meaningful results for those she represents.

John Lemon is a seasoned trial and appellate lawyer with over 25 years’ experience handling complex, high-stakes cases in state and federal trial courts and in the federal appellate courts. With over 50 cases tried to verdict and at least as many arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. Lemon has won favorable verdicts and appellate decisions in the most serious and complex criminal cases, including theft of trade secrets, racketeering, and murder. Since joining Singleton Schreiber in 2021, he has led the firm’s liability teams in several major fire cases and other mass torts. In July 2025 – acting as lead counsel in a civil trial for the first time – he won an $11.1M verdict in a personal-injury case arising from a road-rage assault. Mr. Lemon is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the State Bar of California as a trial specialist. He was a San Diego Daily Transcript “Top Attorney” for 2009 and was the Best Lawyers 2021 Lawyer of the Year in San Diego for criminal defense. He is AV rated (the highest peer rating for legal ability and ethical standards) by Martindale Hubbell and has been recognized in San Diego Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America every year since 2008 and 2014, respectively. He holds a B.A. in Letters with Distinction from the University of Oklahoma and a J.D. from Stanford.

Before joining Singleton Schreiber as a Partner, Mark Slaughter was one of the founding members of Slaughter & Slaughter, a premier personal injury firm. He is a zealous legal advocate who aggressively represents his clients in catastrophic personal injury cases. Mr. Slaughter has used his tremendous advocacy and negotiating skills to obtain numerous six- and seven-figure settlements for a multitude of clients who have been injured in motor vehicle, trucking, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. Mr. Slaughter earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at the University of Missouri and his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.

Britt Strottman is a partner in the Sacramento office of Singleton Schreiber and leads the firm’s Public Entity Practice Group, specializing in litigation against corporations for wrongdoing. A seasoned litigator with over 25 years representing state and local governments, as both in-house and outside counsel, and 30 jury trials. After working on the tobacco litigation and subprime mortgage issues as a senior assistant attorney general in Ohio, Britt then represented over 40 California cities and counties in opioid and fire litigation, culminating in a $1 billion settlement with PG&E for the North Bay and Camp Fires. Her knowledge of complex litigation, as well as her ability to resolve eight-, nine-, and ten-figure lawsuits, puts her in a unique class of attorneys. She was recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the "Top 100 Lawyers in California," a “Top 20 Under 40” Lawyer, and one of the “Top 100 Women Lawyers”; by The Recorder as a “Giant Slayer”; and by The Best Lawyers in America as one of “Northern California’s Best Lawyers” for successfully representing the city of San Bruno in the high profile gas line explosion and North Bay wildfire cities and counties against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). Since 2023, Ms. Strottman has provided counsel to the County of Mora, Mora Independent School District, Las Vegas City Schools, and Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative, aiding their efforts to recover losses from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Leading a team of experts, she developed a damages model to prove over hundreds of millions of dollars in reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covering various damages such as road and structural damage, operational setbacks, and increased administrative costs. Through strategic advocacy, Ms. Strottman has ensured these public entities receive the necessary support to rebuild and thrive after the tragedy. Ms. Strottman represented the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Yuba, Butte, and Nevada, as well as the cities of Napa, Santa Rosa, Clearlake, and the Town of Paradise, in the deadly 2017 and 2018 wildfires, work that helped secure a $1 billion recovery from PG&E for local governments. She also represented Calaveras County in litigation over a destructive PG&E-caused wildfire, obtaining a $25.4 million recovery for the county. Her work on the San Bruno pipeline explosion, one of the most catastrophic gas line failures in U.S. history, led to a $120 million recovery for the City of San Bruno. The case stemmed from PG&E’s 2010 pipeline rupture that killed eight people, leveled an entire neighborhood, and exposed years of safety failures. Her role helped force accountability and deliver meaningful resources for the community’s long-term rebuilding. Ms. Strottman’s in-house counsel experience includes serving as a Deputy City Attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office, Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Ohio Attorney General's Office, and a Deputy District Attorney at the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Ms. Strottman represented the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Yuba, Butte and Nevada as well as the cities/town of Napa, Santa Rosa, Clearlake and the Town of Paradise in the deadly and devastating wildfires in 2017 and 2018. Instrumental in recovering $1 Billion from PG&E for the counties and cities. She represented Calaveras County in a destructive fire against PG&E which resulted in a $25.4 million recovery for the County. She has recovered $120 million for San Bruno from PG&E in the gas line explosion. Ms. Strottman’s in-house counsel experience includes serving as a Deputy City Attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office; Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Ohio Attorney General's Office; and as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Ms. Strottman graduated in 2000 from the University of San Francisco School of Law and received her B.A in English from Vanderbilt University in 1997. She has always been passionate about protecting the elderly and proudly served as a board member for Meals on Wheels Diablo Region for six years. Ms. Strottman currently serves on the University of San Francisco School of Law’s Board of Counselors. Britt enjoys spending time with her husband, three active kids, and energetic Border Collie and lives in Walnut Creek, CA. Ms. Strottman enjoys reading and has been in the same book club for 25 years.

Matthew Clendenin is a senior trial attorney and the Director of the Pre-Litigation Team in our Personal Injury and Wrongful Death practice group. His litigation skills have earned significant results for his clients and the recognition of his peers. Mr. Clendenin began his career as a paralegal for several large law firms. He then attended the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he received many awards and accolades, including “Best Oral Advocate” in the Moot Court Competition. During law school, he was trained in oral argument by barristers at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn of Court in London, England, and studied at Magdalen College, Oxford. Mr. Clendenin is deeply involved in the San Diego Trial Lawyer Community, currently serving at the President-Elect for Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. Mr. Clendenin is also the former President of the Irish American Bar Association and former President of the Del Mar Professionals Association. Mr. Clendenin has repeatedly been recognized as a top-tier trial attorney. In 2025, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego awarded Mr. Clendenin the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award for his $13.7 million dollar verdict in Muhlbach v. Kemper Ins. The verdict was the 45th largest verdict of 2025 in California. In 2022, Mr. Clendenin received the “Street Fighter” trial lawyer award which specifically honors lawyers who take difficult cases to trial. He and his wife Marta Clendenin have been married for nearly 20 years, and have two daughters, Noemi and Lucie. Outside of work, Mr. Clendenin’s passions include darts, cycling, board games, good whisky, and good company.

Monica Ganjoo, the owner of Ganjoo Law Corporation, graduated from Indiana University with honors in 1996. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, and an outside concentration in British Literature. Monica graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2000. While obtaining her Juris Doctorate degree, Monica worked for the State Prosecutor’s Office, interned for the County Attorney’s Office, and worked for a prestigious private law firm. Monica further studied law in Cambridge, England, where she focused on the British Legal System and International Law. After graduating from law school, Monica worked for an immigration law firm in San Francisco, where she learned about all aspects of immigration law. During this time, Monica also taught legal classes at Catholic Charities. In 2001, Monica opened her first immigration law office in San Francisco. She opened her second office in San Jose in 2002. Monica is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She has lived and studied in three different countries and speaks three languages. Monica is licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Indiana and thus is licensed to practice federal law in all of the 50 states. As immigration law is federal law, Monica is licensed to practice immigration law in all 50 states.