ATTORNEYS

MATTHEW E. PODMENIK:
Matthew Podmenik is the Civil Litigation Managing Attorney for McCarthy & Holthus, LLP. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Dayton and an MBA and JD from the University of Toledo. Mr. Podmenik was a research assistant to Professor Roger Anderson and his work can be seen in the update to the textbook Fundamentals of Trusts and Estates. Mr. Podmenik has authored articles involving foreclosure issues for the United Trustee Association and the California Real Property Law Reporter. Mr. Podmenik is admitted to practice in the State of California.
mpodmenik@mccarthyholthus.com

JAVONNE M. PHILLIPS:
JaVonne M. Phillips joined McCarthy & Holthus in 2003 and is its Bankruptcy Managing Attorney. She has extensive legal experience with a business background. Ms. Phillips obtained a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Finance from the University of Oklahoma in 1992. She graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1995. Her legal work ultimately led her to accepting a position at the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office in Modesto, California, where she rapidly became a Senior Prosecutor. She possesses extensive courtroom experience, which includes conducting over 40 jury and bench trials. Ms. Phillips is admitted to practice law in the State of California.
jphillips@mccarthyholthus.com

MATTHEW R. CLEVERLEY:
Matthew Cleverley is the Managing Attorney for the firm’s Northwest office located in the Seattle area. He received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Utah in 1990. He received his J.D. from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where he was a member of the prestigious Moot Court Honor Board. He is a sought-after speaker and regularly presents at CLE seminars. Mr. Cleverly is admitted to practice law in the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Utah and Colorado.
mcleverley@mccarthyholthus.com

PAUL M. LEVINE:
Paul M. Levine is the managing partner in the Phoenix, AZ. office. Mr. Levine has been in practice since 1983. He has tried numerous jury and non-jury trials. In 2006, he was the lead attorney for a company that obtained the third largest jury verdict in the sate of Arizona. Mr. Levine is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Arizona and California. Mr. Levine is a member of the real property section of the Arizona state bar.
plevine@mccarthyholthus.com

MATTHEW A. SILVERMAN:
Matthew A. Silverman is an associate in the Phoenix, AZ office located in Phoenix, Arizona. After graduating from Arizona State University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, Mr. Silverman obtained his law degree from California Western School of Law in August 1997. Mr. Silverman began working for McCarthy Holthus in August 1997 and has continued to work for them for the past ten years. Mr. Silverman specializes in Bankruptcy and Foreclosure and is licensed to practice in the State of Arizona and the State of New Mexico.
msilverman@mccarthyholthus.com

KELLY TRAN:
Kelly Tran is an associate in the Bankruptcy Department. Ms. Tran is on the Board of Directors of the San Diego chapter of the California Bankruptcy Forum. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, she received her Juris Doctorate from American University’s Washington College of Law in 2007. Ms. Tran’s articles concerning international trade and gambling law have been published in the Gaming Law Review and the Appalachian Journal of Law. While attending American University, Ms. Tran was a staff member for American University’s International Law Review, President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and Vice President of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association. Ms. Tran is admitted to practice law in the state of California.
ktran@mccarthyholthus.com

ANGELA MICHAEL:
Angela Michael is an associate for the firm’s Northwest office located in the Seattle area. After graduating form Gonzaga University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Political Science and Spanish, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the School of Law at Gonzaga University in 2002. Ms. Michael has been a guest lecturer for the National Business Institute and Pennsylvania Bar Institute on the subject of bankruptcy. She is admitted to practice in the Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as the State of Washington. She is also admitted to the U.S. District Courts of the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington. Ms. Michael is also admitted to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
amichael@mccarthyholthus.com

KRISTIN SCHULER-HINTZ:
Kristin Schuler-Hintz is the Managing Attorney for the Las Vegas NV office. After graduating from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, she obtained her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1999. While at USD, she received the CALI Award for Excellence in Conflict of Laws and was recognized as one of the best Oral Advocates during her first year of Law School. In addition, she contributed to the Children’s Regulatory Law Reporter and was published in the Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues – Issues in California Family Law. Ms. Schuler-Hintz is admitted to bar in the states of California and Nevada and practices primarily in the areas of Bankruptcy and Nevada Mortgage related litigation.
khintz@mccarthyholthus.com

GAYLE JAMESON:
Gayle Jameson is an associate in the Eviction Department. After graduating from college with an English degree and a teaching credential from Azusa Pacific University, Ms. Jameson obtained her law degree from California Western School of Law in December 1999. She gained experience in real estate law and unlawful detainer actions and created her own private practice specializing in estate planning including trusts, wills and health care directives. Before joining McCarthy & Holthus, LLP, she was the General Manager for a finance company and most recently consulted for a real estate development company in the acquisitions and dispositions department. Ms. Jameson is admitted to practice law in the State of California.
gjameson@mccarthyholthus.com

SETH HARRIS:
Seth Harris is an associate in the Civil Litigation Department. Prior to receiving his law degree, Mr. Harris graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University San Marcos in 2004. He subsequently obtained his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School in 2007; graduating Cum Laude. Admitted to the California bar in 2007, Mr. Harris was then admitted in the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California of the U.S. District Court. While attending Whittier Law School, Mr. Harris was a member of the Whittier Law Review and was awarded the CALI Award of Excellence in Contracts. Mr. Harris’ has worked in a professional law office since 2001.
seharris@mccarthyholthus.com

DAVID C. SCOTT:
David Scott is a member in the Civil Litigation Department. He received a Bachelor of Arts from University of California at San Diego in 1996. He then obtained his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in 2002 and was admitted to the California Bar in 2003. He has since been admitted in the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California of the U.S. District Court. He was awarded by the Advocacy Honors Board most valuable Trial Team Member, and Citibank Trial Attorney of the Year in 2005. Mr. Scott is admitted to practice law in the State of California.
dscott@mccarthyholthus.com

JENNIFER WONG:
Jennifer Wong is an associate in the Bankruptcy Department at McCarthy & Holthus, LLP. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics, she received her Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in 2006. While attending California Western, Ms. Wong clerked for the Employee Rights Center where she assisted employees with wage disputes and unemployment insurance matters. She was inducted to California Western’s Pro Bono Honors Program in 2004. Ms. Wong is admitted to practice law in the State of California.
jwong@mccarthyholthus.com

CHARLES BELL:
Charles Bell is an associate in the Civil Litigation Department. After graduating from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, he received his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in 2007. While attending California Western School of Law, Mr. Bell served as President of the Black Law Students Association, worked as a legal intern with the San Diego County Public Defenders Office Felony Division and was a Judicial Extern for the Honorable John Houston in the United States District Court for the Southern District. Mr. Bell’s love for sports led him to work in sports marketing and contract negotiations before becoming an associate in the Civil Litigation Department of McCarthy & Holthus, LLP.” Mr. Bell is admitted to practice law in the state of California.
cbell@mccarthyholthus.com

JAMES HESTER:
James Hester is an associate in the Civil Litigation Department. After serving as an army officer, Mr. Hester obtained his law degree from the University of San Diego along with a master’s degree in International Relations and a Masters of Law degree in International Business. He has tried, arbitrated and mediated dozens of cases, has written numerous published articles for various legal publications, along with two books, and has served as a judge pro tem. Mr. Hester is admitted to practice law in the state of California.
jhester@mccarthyholthus.com

KELLY M. RAFTERY:
Kelly Raftery is an associate attorney in the Bankruptcy Department at McCarthy & Holthus, LLP. After graduating from The American University’s School of Public Affairs in 2003 with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Ms. Raftery received her Juris Doctorate in 2006 from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. During law school, Ms. Raftery studied Comparative Constitutional Law under Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who provided an in-depth analysis on the rights of individuals held as enemy combatants by the United States. Ms. Raftery is admitted to practice law in the State of California, as well as the in the Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern districts of the United States District Court.
kraftery@mccarthyholthus.com

MATTHEW B. LEARNED:
Matthew Learned is an associate in the Bankruptcy Department at McCarthy Holthus, LLP. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2002. He subsequently received his MBA from San Diego State University and his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. While at California Western, Mr. Learned became a member of the Pro Bono Honors Society for his volunteer work with the California Innocence Project. Prior to becoming an associate at McCarthy & Holthus, his strong business sense led him to intern with REEF and work as in house counsel for an independent record label. Mr. Learned is admitted to practice law in the state of California.
mlearned@mccarthyholthus.com

LUCY GILBERT:
Lucy Gilbert is a graduate of University of California at Berkeley with a BA in Soviet History. After working in New York and San Francisco as a paralegal, and then a chef, Lucy attended Seattle University School of Law and received her JD, Magna Cum Laude, in 2001. Lucy’s practice has been primarily in commercial litigation. However, she also spent a year and a half as a managing attorney for a nationwide anti-piracy litigation involving more than 30,000 defendants. In the winters of 2006 and 2007, Lucy volunteered at an elephant sanctuary in Northeastern Thailand. Lucy is admitted to practice law in the state of Washington.
lgilbert@mccarthyholthus.com

ANDREW E. HALL:
Andrew Hall is an associate in the Civil Litigation department. Mr. Hall received his B.A. from University of San Diego and J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Mr. Hall’s education at Thomas Jefferson culminated with recognition on the Distinguished Honor Roll in his final semester. Mr. Hall earned Admitted to the California Bar in October, 2008 and was subsequently admitted to the Southern, Eastern and Central District Courts.
ahall@mccarthyholthus.com

SETH J. ADAMS:
Seth Adams is an associate in the Las Vegas, Nevada office practicing in the areas of Bankruptcy and Mortgage related civil litigation. After graduating from Northern Arizona University, he worked for several large financial institutions before attending Gonzaga University where he acquired his J.D. and M.B.A. While enrolled at Gonzaga, Mr. Adams was a member of Moot Court Honors Council, a clerk for University Legal Assistance, and a semi-finalist in the ABA Client Counseling Competition. Mr. Adams is admitted to practice law in the state of Nevada.
sadams@mccarthyholthus.com

SASAN MIRKARIMI:
Sasan Mirkarimi is an associate in the Civil Litigation department at McCarthy Holthus, LLP. Mr. Mirkarimi graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2004, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He received his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in 2008. Mr. Mirkarimi was admitted to the California Bar in December 2008 and is admitted to practice law in the State of California.
smirkarimi@mccarthyholthus.com

RACHEL S. OPATIK:
Rachel Opatik is an associate in the civil litigation department. Ms. Opatik graduated from the University of Michigan in 2001, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently obtained her Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in 2006. While in law school, she clerked for an administrative law judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She also received the State Bar of California Wiley M. Manual Award for her pro bono legal work with the California Innocence Project and San Diego Legal Aid Society. Ms. Opatik was admitted to practice law in the State of California in June 2006.
ropatik@mccarthyholthus.com

MELISSA ROBBINS:
Melissa Robbins is an associate in the Civil Litigation department. She attended Northern Arizona University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Ms. Robbins graduated Cum Laude from California Western School of Law in 2006. While at California Western, she was a member of Law Review and was published in the California Western International Law Journal. Before joining the firm, she clerked for the Hon. Ruben B. Brooks, Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia, and Hon. Larry A. Burns of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Ms. Robbins is admitted to practice law in the state of California.
mrobbins@mccarthyholthus.com

BRENDA FOSTER:
Brenda Foster is an associate in the Bankruptcy Department at McCarthy & Holthus, LLP. After graduating from the University of California at San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Brenda received her Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in December 2007. Brenda is admitted to the California Bar as well as all four District Courts in California.
bfoster@mccarthyholthus.com

MANAGEMENT

DAVID OWEN
Chief Operations Officer
dowen@mccarthyholthus.com

MICHAEL CHIPPERFIELD
IT Manager
mchipperfield@mccarthyholthus.com

JOHN VALKUS
Controller
jvalkus@mccarthyholthus.com

Bankruptcy

Civil Litigation

Eviction Department