Sullivan Hill attorneys Christopher Hawkins, Jim Hill, Sharon Huerta, Donald Rez, Gary Rudolph, Shannon Sweeney, John Engel, and Candace Carroll have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 28th Edition of Best Lawyers in America®. Attorneys Yaniv Newman and Michael Zarconi have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch.
Shareholder Christopher Hawkins has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He is the former managing partner and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He practices in the Insolvency and Commercial Bankruptcy, Business Transactions, and Commercial and Business Litigation practice groups. Mr. Hawkins represents a variety of corporate debtors, bankruptcy trustees, receivers, banks, commercial landlords, trade creditors, asset purchasers and other parties in interest in all aspects of commercial insolvency, including bankruptcies, receiverships, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. He also represents clients with non-insolvency financial matters in both the transaction and litigation contexts.
Shareholder Jim Hill has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law as well as Commercial Litigation. He is a founding member of Sullivan Hill, member of its Executive Committee and chair of the firm’s Insolvency and Commercial Bankruptcy practice group. Mr. Hill practices primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, insolvency and commercial law. His bankruptcy experience includes representation of creditors, bankruptcy trustees and select bankruptcy debtors in Chapter 11 business reorganization cases. He also works regularly with clients on asset sales and acquisitions, on state and federal court receivership cases, and on business workouts and dissolution matters, among other commercial law matters.
Shareholder Sharon Huerta has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the field of Insurance Law. Having been in practice for over 20 years, Ms. Huerta practices primarily in the areas of insurance coverage litigation and evaluation, bad faith, and developer representation. In addition, she has significant experience in appellate writing and was primarily responsible for drafting briefs in numerous successful published and unpublished opinions.
Shareholder Donald Rez has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the field of Commercial Litigation. He focuses his practice in the areas of business and commercial litigation and antitrust and trade regulation. Mr. Rez has handled all types of commercial lawsuits, including cases involving trade regulation and antitrust, breach of contract, franchisor/franchisee issues, lender liability cases, professional malpractice, and intellectual property. He has been involved in complex multi-district litigation, and his antitrust experience has involved claims of virtually every kind.
Shareholder Gary Rudolph has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He practices in the areas of bankruptcy and other insolvency matters, including representation of trustees, corporate Chapter 7 debtors, Chapter 11 debtors-in-possession, and creditors in commercial bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Rudolph also serves as a mediator for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California.
Shareholder Shannon Sweeney has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the field of Commercial Litigation. She practices in the Commercial and Business Litigation, Real Estate, Construction, and Employment Law practice groups. She has substantial experience in complex corporate litigation, large commercial disputes, and consumer and securities fraud class action lawsuits in both state and federal courts. Ms. Sweeney also has significant appellate experience in California state and federal courts, including successfully arguing at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as well as first and second-chair trial experience.
Shareholder John Engel has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the field of Real Estate Law. He has more than 50 years’ of experience in corporate, real estate, commercial and business law, with particular emphasis on transactional work in the areas of corporate mergers and business acquisitions, institutional financing, real estate acquisition and development, securities regulation, organization of partnerships and joint ventures and commercial contracts. In addition, his practice emphasizes debt and equity financing, loan workouts, employment law and common interest real estate developments.
Of Counsel Candace Carroll has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the field of Commercial Litigation. She is a highly-regarded appellate practitioner with more than 40 years’ experience handling appeals in the federal, state, and bankruptcy appellate courts. Her cases have encompassed a wide range of subjects, including contract disputes, insurance and indemnity issues, wrongful termination, intellectual property, personal injury, constitutional issues, and complex family law matters.
Shareholder Yaniv Newman has been selected to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list in the fields of Commercial Litigation and Construction Law. He practices in the Construction, Insurance Coverage, and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Mr. Newman represents and advises members of the commercial and residential building industries including developers, builders, design professionals, and specialty contractors. From contract negotiation through project completion, Mr. Newman has experience advising and representing clients on issues that arise during the course of construction including performance and payment disputes, progress claims, and mechanic’s liens, as well as the disputes that arise from and occur after project completion such as warranty and construction defect claims.
Shareholder Michael Zarconi has been selected to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list in the field of Commercial Litigation. He practices in the Commercial and Business Litigation, Construction Law, Insurance Coverage, and Employment Law practice groups. He has a wide range of experience as a general civil litigator including commercial and business litigation, construction disputes, insurance coverage, anti-SLAPP litigation, and labor and employment law matters.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers® lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Over 108,000 leading attorneys globally are eligible to vote, and they have received more than 13 million evaluations to date on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list is also compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation and recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers® is considered a singular honor.
About Sullivan Hill:
Sullivan Hill has provided efficient, aggressive, and responsive legal representation for more than 50 years. The firm provides full service representation to clients in a variety of industries with an emphasis in insolvency, construction disputes, insurance coverage, real estate, business disputes, civil litigation, and transactional matters. The firm has offices in San Diego and Las Vegas.
