Practice Overview
With over 35 years of practice, Yvonne brings a broad base of experience to every matter she handles. Her career has centered on litigation, and through that work she has cultivated lasting relationships with clients who now rely on her as general counsel across a range of issues — from contract review and pre-litigation business disputes to matters arising in the midst of a construction project. Yvonne also represents numerous event venues in premises liability and security guard liability claims, bringing a practiced hand to a specialized area of risk management.
Trial Experience
Yvonne’s trial experience includes serving as lead trial counsel in numerous jury trials. In 2014–2015, she was lead trial counsel in a complex 98-day bench trial, which resulted in a favorable outcome for her architect client. In 2016, she participated in a binding arbitration in which specific performance was successfully obtained compelling the sale of a San Francisco motel, after the seller attempted to back out of the deal. From 2017 to 2019, Yvonne secured defense verdicts for her clients in three separate jury trials. In 2021, her client prevailed in a jury trial involving a seller’s failure to disclose material facts in a real estate purchase.
Philosophy
While Yvonne is an accomplished trial attorney, she recognizes that the best result for a client is often a reasonable settlement. The fact that very few of her cases proceed to trial is not a sign of reluctance — it is evidence of effective, disciplined negotiation on behalf of her clients.
State Bar of California 1988
BA UC Berkeley 1985
JD UC Berkeley 1988
CLM
Association of Defense Counsel (ADC) – Board Member – Construction Subcommittee