Gigi Vernon is a member of Singleton Schreiber’s Mass Tort Litigation practice group, where she leads a team handling complex national cases. She plays a key role in the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) Products Liability Litigation, advocating for individuals injured by diabetes and weight-loss drugs. She also contributes to the Hair Relaxer litigation and is actively involved in the emerging Terbutaline litigation, as well as other personal injury matters. Earlier in her career, Ms. Vernon represented victims of some of California’s most devastating wildfires, including the Camp Fire, Thomas Fire, Woolsey Fire, Kincade Fire, North Bay Fires, and Butte Fire, gaining extensive experience in large-scale disaster recovery. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, she gained valuable experience in family law and immigration law and completed an internship with the Federal Defenders of San Diego, where she participated in criminal trials. She holds dual degrees in psychology and criminal justice from Florida International University, where she graduated at the top of her class, and earned her J.D. with a specialization in dispute resolution. As a native Spanish speaker, Ms. Vernon communicates with ease and empathy with clients whose first language is Spanish. She is skilled at breaking down complex legal issues into clear, accessible terms, ensuring that clients feel informed and supported throughout the legal process. Ms. Vernon is admitted to practice in California state and federal courts. Ms. Vernon is also widely recognized for her commitment to community advocacy, particularly for families of children with special needs. She uses her knowledge of the California Department of Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to guide parents through the process of securing services and supports, while educating families on their rights. She also organizes autism awareness events, creating spaces for families to connect, share resources, and access guidance. A Miami, Florida native, Ms. Vernon is an active leader in the children’s ministry at her church. She loves to travel and values time spent with family and friends.

Mary Fata is an Associate Attorney in Singleton Schreiber's Motions, Writs, and Appeals practice group, where she focuses on complex appellate litigation and post-trial advocacy. Before joining the firm, Mary served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Vladimir P. Devens at the Hawai'i Supreme Court, where she gained firsthand exposure to the full spectrum of appellate practice. Prior to her clerkship, she worked as a staff attorney at a nonprofit in New York City, leading an initiative focused on providing legal services to low-income senior women. Mary earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2022, where she was a recipient of the Berkeley Law Public Interest Fellowship. During law school, she served as Co-Director of the Berkeley Law Anti-Trafficking Project, Supervising Editor for the Berkeley Journal of International Law, and as a legal research extern with the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy Hague Domestic Violence Project. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University Bloomington in 2016. Mary is admitted to practice in New York. Outside of the office, Mary enjoys hiking, traveling, and drawing.

Zaira P. Estrada is a member of our Fire Litigation Division. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, she handled criminal cases for a law firm in San Diego and developed her advocacy skills during a three-year internship with the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2016 from the University of California, Irvine, Mrs. Estrada attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where she was selected to be a part of the Criminal Law Fellowship and Criminal Law Society and graduated in 2020. As a native Spanish speaker, Mrs. Estrada communicates easily and empathetically with clients whose first language is Spanish. She is adept at explaining complex legal proceedings in terms that are easily understood. In 2021, Mrs. Estrada was admitted to practice before California state courts. She’s also admitted in federal courts including the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In her spare time, Mrs. Estrada enjoys spending time with her family.

Steven Erkel (“Steve”) formed Erkel Law to help victims, individuals, and clients in moments of crisis. Steve enjoys getting to know each of his clients and guiding them through the legal process – many of whom are dealing with an adversary for the first time. Since founding Erkel Law, P.C., Steve works aggressively in litigating cases and is known for his tireless advocacy and relentless approach to law. Steve takes pride in understanding the complexities of each case, learning your perspective, and finding creative solutions to advocate for you. When clients join Erkel Law, Steve will treat them as family and will work tirelessly to advocate for their position. Steve is an experienced litigator and has worked for some of the most prominent law firms in the world. His work has included areas of employment, including wrongful termination, retaliation, and wage and hour law (e.g., “overtime”); class and representative actions; consumer protection cases; and privacy, including data breaches. Steve also has experience in personal injury matters, and has represented survivors who have experienced extreme trauma and/or injury. Steve’s background and exceptional experience is what separates Erkel Law from other firms. Steve is admitted to practice before all courts in California, including the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of California, the Central District of California, and the Southern District of California. Steve received his B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles (“UCLA”), where he graduated magna cum laude; his M.A. from Georgetown University; and his J.D. from U.C. Berkeley School of Law. Steve and his wife, Sarah, are proud parents to two amazing kids. Steve is an avid baseball fan and played college baseball.

Ms. Ballon has practiced civil litigation since 2003. She has a wide range of experience, primarily in representing clients in catastrophic personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. She has worked for both the defense bar, briefly working for one of the major insurance companies, and now for many years for plaintiff’s bar. She is a Partner with our firm.

Sarah M. Kelly is an Associate Attorney with Singleton Schreiber's Motion, Writs & Appeals team. Her appellate practice is driven by a deep-set belief in the power of the law to advance justice, and she brings a strategic approach to framing precise legal arguments within real-life context to achieve meaningful outcomes for clients. Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Sarah served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Sabrina S. McKenna at the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, and then as an inaugural judicial law clerk to the Honorable Micah W.J. Smith at the United States District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi. These prestigious clerkships provided her with invaluable insight into judicial decision-making and legal strategy at both the state and federal levels. Sarah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law, where she earned CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for achieving the highest grades in eleven courses and served as an Outside Articles Editor for the University of Hawaiʻi Law Review. She is admitted to practice in the State of Hawaiʻi, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Outside of her legal practice, Sarah enjoys spending time on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, where her husband's family runs a macadamia nut farm.

Chris Rodriguez is a partner in the Sacramento office of Singleton Schreiber and, along with partner Andrew Bluth, leads the firm’s mass torts practice. Before opening the Sacramento office of Singleton Schreiber, Mr. Rodriguez was a partner at two major national law firms and served as the managing partner of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s Sacramento office. Mr. Rodriguez is an experienced trial attorney who has represented clients in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, and administrative hearings involving a broad array of complex civil litigation issues. He prides himself on not only being a fierce advocate and skilled trial lawyer, but also on developing practical, efficient strategies that serve the best interests and well-being of his clients. Throughout his career, Mr. Rodriguez has successfully represented some of America’s largest corporations in business-to-business litigation, as well as in litigation against state and federal agencies. Mr. Rodriguez is excited to bring that experience to Singleton Schreiber and its clients. Mr. Rodriguez is admitted in all state and federal courts in the state of California, as well as the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Rodriguez graduated from Harvard University in 1996 with a degree in economics (cum laude) and earned his law degree in 2000 from the Boalt Hall (Berkeley) School of Law. He has been regularly recognized by Sacramento Magazine as a “Top Lawyer.” Mr. Rodriguez grew up in a small town outside of Sacramento, California, where he still lives with his wife and three children. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching competitive youth basketball, and volunteering as an umpire for the local Little League baseball program.