Nafiz M. Ahmed is an award-winning criminal defense attorney, owner, and managing partner at Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law, a leading criminal law firm with offices in Redwood City and San Jose, CA. Due to his dedication, experience, and skills, Nafiz has been recognized time and again for his exceptional legal representation. He was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2012 to 2021. He was also distinguished by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization as a Criminal Law Specialist. Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law have over three decades of combined experience they've successfully defended over 50 trials and won more than 3,000 cases. They handle all types of criminal cases involving domestic violence, DUI, sex crimes, drug crimes, assault, and more.

Samantha Greene, a founding partner of Sevens Legal and native of California, is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 20 years of experience defending clients in complex and high-stakes criminal cases. As an award-winning San Diego criminal defense attorney, she has successfully handled thousands of cases, earning a reputation as a compassionate leader and skilled advocate for justice.

John R. Ternieden is a member of our Mass Tort and Fire Litigation practice groups. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, he spent several years working for one of the nation’s largest firms in its complex business and commercial litigation practice. He has successfully represented clients in all stages of litigation, including discovery, prejudgment remedies, dispositive motions, mediation, arbitration, and trial. Mr. Ternieden graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, where he was involved with the Law Review and, as a member of the National Moot Court Team, represented BYU in New York City, Washington, and Portland. As a law student, he worked on criminal appeals with the Utah Attorney General’s Office and served as a research assistant for several professors. Before attending law school, Mr. Ternieden earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and business management from BYU, graduating in the top of his class. He is currently admitted to practice in both California and Utah state courts as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of California and the District of Utah. Mr. Ternieden enjoys spending his free time in the mountains, on the golf course, and at the local ice rink.

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.

Thomas J. Filicia is a practicing lawyer in the state of California who handles Criminal defense cases.

Noah Huston’s decision to pursue a career in criminal defense is rooted in personal experience. Throughout his youth and adult life, he witnessed family members struggling through the justice system without access to adequate legal representation. These experiences instilled in Noah a profound understanding of the importance of advocating for the accused. Noah now dedicates his career in criminal defense law to helping others through some of the most difficult times in their lives. As a trusted San Diego criminal defense attorney, Noah’s compassionate approach to law is driven by a commitment to defend his clients’ rights, providing the kind of advocacy and support that can make a meaningful difference.

Having recently earned his Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, Ben brings a fresh perspective and a deep understanding of the law to his practice. His commitment to justice and unwavering determination to protect the rights of his clients make him a valuable asset to the firm. Prior to pursuing his legal education, Ben graduated with honors from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in General Business from the Honors College in May 2020. During his time at the university, he was an active member of The Carl A. Elliot Society, demonstrating his commitment to academic excellence and leadership. With a strong academic background and a drive to excel in the legal field, Ben is poised to make a meaningful impact at Sevens Legal and in the criminal defense community.

Jay Monico, a senior associate attorney at Sevens Legal Criminal Lawyers in San Diego, brings a unique blend of life experience, legal expertise, and unwavering dedication to his clients. With a background rooted in service as a U.S. Marine and a deep commitment to justice, Jay offers compassionate, bilingual representation to individuals facing complex legal challenges.

Knut S. Johnson, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is the practice group leader for our Environmental Litigation & Policy practice group. He brings over 30 years of experience as a trial attorney to Singleton Schreiber. Representing clients in federal and state courts across the nation, he has handled complex trials, appeals, and habeas corpus proceedings and litigated cases alleging violations of environmental laws, including under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Mr. Johnson’s diverse and sophisticated litigation practice has included the representation of many clients, from large corporations to small business owners, and from judges to doctors to entire communities. Together with his many trials and appeals, he has represented clients before the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol and the Mueller Special Counsel’s Office investigation. Mr. Johnson has been recognized with many awards and honors, including the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, unanimous “Well Qualified” rating (the highest ABA rating) after nomination to U.S. District Court, 2020; Top 50 Attorneys, San Diego Super Lawyers, 2020 and 2019; University of San Diego, School of Law, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2018; America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Selection, 2018; Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017; Lawyer of the Year, White Collar Criminal Defense, San Diego, Best Lawyers in America, 2016; and the E. Stanley Conant Award, Defenders Organizations of San Diego, 2005 and 2013. He graduated cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law and before his legal career, Mr. Johnson studied petroleum engineering and geology as an undergraduate and graduate student at Tulane University, where he received the W.A. Tarr Award for outstanding Earth Sciences Graduate. He then worked as a petroleum geologist for a major oil company, where he mapped oil reserves and worked on production estimates and on rigs during the final stages of drilling. He also received a significant amount of professional training in areas like well completion, exploration, and related topics. Mr. Johnson is licensed to practice in the state courts of Arizona, California, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington. In addition, he is admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits, as well as many different U.S. District Courts. He is also admitted to practice before the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands. He has served as the Chair of the Practitioners Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission and testified before the Commission on several occasions. He presently serves on the Ethics Committee for the San Diego County Bar Association.

Krystle Berkstresser is Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber, where she serves within the firm’s Public Entity and Fire Litigation Practices. With over a decade of litigation experience, Krystle plays a key role in managing complex cases, including those involving personal injury, insurance defense, public entity defense, product liability, and homeowners' association litigation. Her leadership extends to overseeing all aspects of her cases, from initial intake through settlement or trial. In her role at Singleton Schreiber, Krystle continues to apply her proven ability in navigating mediation, trial preparation, and courtroom strategy, making her a key player in the growing firm. She currently represents wildfire victims who have suffered devastating losses caused by the negligence of utility companies and others, working to support them in their rebuilding journey. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Krystle was a Partner at a prominent California law firm, where she managed an active caseload and helped mentor budding attorneys. Her previous legal positions gained her significant experience in public entity defense, ADA litigation, and personal injury cases. Krystle earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she served as the Managing Editor of the San Diego International Law Journal. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Davis.