Representing employees against employers in claims for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, assault & battery; whistleblower retaliation. Handle claims of retaliation for taking disability or medical leave, workers' compensation leave or family-medical leave, or denial of such leave. Harassment and discrimination claims are often based on sex, race, national origin, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, medical condition and other protected classifications. Adverse job actions based on discrimination may include excessive and unfair criticism, removal of responsibilities, fewer hours, transfers or assignments with less opportunity or income, assignment to menial or dirty tasks, demotion, denial of promotion, or simply termination. The firm also handles claims for unpaid overtime, denial of lunch and rest breaks. We handle all aspects of litigation including trial, arbitration, mediation and settlement in all state and federal courts in California and before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Also represent independent contractors and managers with discrimination claims against their employers. Attorney Geoffrey Lyon has over 25 years' courtroom experience. He has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal court collectively resulting in well over $15 million in verdicts and settlements. Attorney Lyon has handled dozens of trials, including jury trials, as well as arbitrations, hundreds of court appearances and mediations, and thousands of depositions. He has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Ninth Circuits and the California Court of Appeal. He was a candidate for State Assembly in 2004. Lyon is married with three children. Collectively, the firm's employee-clients have sued dozens of Fortune 500 companies in numerous industries including aerospace, entertainment, defense, broadcasting, real estate, construction, advertising, automotive, sales, service, banking, mortgage, and many other industries. Representative public entities sued by clients of the firm include the City and County of Los Angeles, school districts and numerous city, county and government agencies. Nothing herein is intended to be a prediction, guaranty or estimate regarding the outcome of your case or any particular matter.

For more than 15 years, Russell has helped families, fiduciaries, and individuals navigate complex trust and estate matters with clarity, care, and practical guidance. His clients include trustees, personal representatives, conservators, professional fiduciaries, corporate trustees, and individuals seeking thoughtful counsel as they plan for the future or address disputes involving a loved one’s estate. Russell’s practice includes trust administration, probate, conservatorships, estate planning, and trust and estate litigation. He advises trustees, personal representatives, and conservators as they administer trusts, probate estates, and conservatorships, helping them understand and fulfill their fiduciary obligations. When disputes arise, Russell represents fiduciaries in litigation involving trusts, estates, and conservatorships. In his estate planning work, Russell helps clients prepare for the uncertainties of life by creating individualized plans that reflect their needs, wishes, and family circumstances. To learn more about how Russell can assist with estate planning, trust administration, probate, conservatorship, or trust and estate litigation matters, call 626-746-5877 or complete our online contact form.

Attorney Wade specializes in civil litigation, conducting jury trials in complex cases and in helping individuals and businesses in every phase of their development. He has been practicing law for almost twenty years. He also has served as both a judge pro tem and an arbitrator for the Santa Clara County Superior Court, and has guest lectured at Stanford University.

Nicholas J. Leonard is a seasoned trial attorney who now manages Ikuta Hemesath’s Northern California office. Nick has practiced exclusively in medical malpractice after graduating from law school in 2008. Specifically, for the first 14 years of his career, Nick practiced as a defense attorney at Low McKinley & Salenko, a prestigious medical malpractice defense firm located in Sacramento. While there, Nick quickly rose through the ranks and became a partner in 2014. Hired by insurance companies, Nick successfully defended countless doctors, nurses, and hospitals in civil actions and board proceedings. Nick even presented to medical malpractice insurance companies, large hospitals, and medical groups on how to limit exposure in medical malpractice lawsuits. Nick was named a Rising Star, awarded to the top 2.5% attorneys under the age of 40, by Super Lawyers Magazine in the field of medical malpractice defense in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Nick’s transition from the defense has been seamless. His defense experience is the foundation and motivation for Nick, who uses the skills and knowledge learned during those years to achieve maximum compensation for injured victims of malpractice from those same insurance companies and large hospitals. To that end, Nick often speaks to other plaintiff lawyers about litigation strategies focused on leveraging internal pressure points insurance and large companies have to compensate injured persons for their losses. Nick graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 2008, where he was a member of the Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal and clerked at the California Attorney General’s Office. Before law school, Nick received an athletic scholarship from Seattle University to play on their basketball team and was honored as a member of the league’s academic all-conference first-team three times. He received a B.S. in Computer Science with a Business Specialization from Seattle University. After graduating but prior to law school, Nick worked as a Business Systems Analyst at Microsoft.

Fitzgerald & Campbell is a Consumer Debt Defense Law Firm unlike any other. We provide affordable protection to consumers suffering from debt throughout California and assist them in getting out of debt for as little as possible. We resolve judgments, garnishments, student loan debt (federal & private), collection lawsuits, debt settlement, collection harassment and bankruptcy. We have been practicing law for over 25 years and have helped thousands to become debt free on a basis you can afford. Our motto is Admit Nothing, Demand Proof!

I was born, raised and grew up in Orange County, getting married and raising three children within the local community. I graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a degree in history in 1994 and went to Chapman University Law School; graduating from this institution in their inaugural class. Since being admitted to the bar our firm has been practicing mostly bankruptcy law amassing thousands of cases discharged for our clients. We practice out of Orange County but handle cases throughout Southern California and are always willing to accommodate our clients by flexible appointments, reasonable fees and direct communication.

Mr. Bendel received his B.S. in Finance, magna cum laude, from the University of Connecticut in 1997. He then went on to receive his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2000 from Pepperdine University, where he was a member of the Pepperdine Law Review. Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Bendel joined the Los Angeles office of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, where he practiced for over twelve years. While at Stroock, Mr. Bendel handled complex business litigation, including securities disputes, small business dissolutions, insurance coverage and bad faith matters, and other business and commercial disputes. The primary focus of Mr. Bendel’s practice is insurance coverage and insurance bad faith litigation. He has provided coverage advice and/or been involved in bad faith litigation with respect to claims made under all types of insurance policies including Commercial General Liability, Directors & Officers, Errors & Omissions, Property, Homeowners, and Automobile insurance policies. Mr. Bendel is admitted to practice before all federal and state courts in California, including the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has tried cases in federal and state courts in Northern and Southern California. In total, Mr. Bendel has over fifteen weeks of trial experience. Mr. Bendel also has experience at the appellate level; he has drafted a number of successful appellate briefs.

Douglas Shaffer practices out of Santa Monica, CA and has been licensed for 34 years. This attorney attended Pepperdine University School of Law and handles cases in Accident & Injury.

An accomplished litigator, Sara Colón is admitted to practice in both California and New York, where she has extensive experience handling a broad range of commercial litigation cases in federal and state courts and in arbitral forums. Ms. Colón has skillfully managed a variety of legal matters including disputes regarding breach of contract, partnerships, investments, insurance coverage, fraud, government investigations, and business torts. She has also represented plaintiffs in financial elder abuse cases. Ms. Colón’s clients include local and international businesses in a variety of industries, including finance, real estate, telecommunications, entertainment, and technology.

Welcome to Takehara & Stuart, LLP, a distinguished boutique law firm based in the beautiful City of Santa Monica and offering a diverse range of legal services in all of California. Our firm's mission is to provide exceptional legal representation across various practice areas, including personal injury litigation, auto accidents, entertainment law, aviation law, employment law and other areas of practice. With a deep commitment to excellence and a proven track record of success, we pride ourselves on delivering tailored, client-focused solutions that meet your unique needs. Whether you've been injured in an accident, require expert counsel in the entertainment industry, or seek specialized aviation legal services, our team of experienced attorneys is here to guide you through every step of your legal journey. Explore our website to learn more about our firm and the comprehensive legal expertise we bring to the table. Your legal needs, our passion for justice—Discover the Takehara & Stuart difference today.