Sullivan Hill shareholders Christopher Hawkins, Jim Hill, Sharon Huerta, Donald Rez, Gary Rudolph, Shannon Sweeney, John Engel, and Of Counsel Candace Carroll and Kathleen Cashman-Kramer have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 29th Edition of Best Lawyers in America®. In addition, Christopher Hawkins was given special recognition as Best Lawyers® 2023 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law “Lawyer of the Year” in San Diego. Shareholders Michael Zarconi and Yaniv Newman have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch.
Shareholder Christopher Hawkins has been selected to the Best Lawyers list and Lawyer of the Year in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He is a current member of the firm’s Executive Committee and 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 and receivership practice includes representation of creditors, bankruptcy trustees, state and federal receivers, and select bankruptcy debtors in Chapter 11 business reorganization cases, and he has served as a court-appointed examiner and mediator. Mr. Hill served two terms as the inaugural Chair of the California Lawyers Association (CLA), and was Chair of its Business Law Section and Co-Chair of its Insolvency Law Committee before CLA’s separation from the State Bar of California.
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. 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 and Subchapter V debtors-in-possession, and creditors in commercial bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Rudolph regularly consults with, and advises, business clients regarding financial strategies and conflict resolution. He 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.
Of Counsel Kathleen Cashman-Kramer has been selected to the Best Lawyers list in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Her representation includes trustees, creditors and debtors in commercial bankruptcies. She has successfully tried matters in federal and state courts and participated in ADR proceedings before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and other panels.
Shareholder Michael Zarconi has been selected to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list in the fields of Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law. 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. Mr. Zarconi also has substantial experience representing policy holders in coverage disputes with insurance carriers and representing public bodies, maintenance assessment districts, and non-profit organizations in a wide variety of civil transactions and disputes.
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 firm’s Construction, Insurance Coverage, and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Mr. Newman represents and advises contractors, developers and business owners in disputes with insurers, often in the context of disputes over coverage for third-party claims. Mr. Newman’s experience representing insureds includes disputes with insurers over coverage arising out of a variety of insurance products including commercial general liability, directors and officers, and professional liability coverage, as well as various manuscript policies and coverage forms. Mr. Newman is an experienced and trusted advisor in the building industry advising and representing contractors and developers from contract negotiation through project completion, including resolution of performance and payment disputes, progress claims, and mechanic’s liens. Mr. Newman is also experienced in representing members of the building industry in the disputes that arise from and occur after project completion such as warranty and construction defect claims and is skilled in applying his deep knowledge of insurance coverage law to bring such disputes to prompt and favorable resolution whenever possible.
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 116,000 leading attorneys globally are eligible to vote, and they have received more than 17 million evaluations to date on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. Lawyer of the Year honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction. 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 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.
