Faculty

Kathleen Abdallah
J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Ms. Abdallah, graduated from Dominican University of San Rafael, B.A., cum laude, and McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, J.D.; Member, Moot Court Honors Board. She was assistant Comment Editor, Pacific Law Journal, 1987-1988. Her areas of practice included Business and Real Estate Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Business Law; Banking Law; Creditors Rights; Health Care Law; Appellate Law; Mediation; Arbitration.

Thomas Brennan
J.D. Humphreys University Drivon School of Law

Mr. Brennan is a graduate of Humphreys University Drivon School of Law. Brennan was a football player in high school, and a veteran—he was military police for six years—Brennan’s work on gangs in Stanislaus County has attracted the eyes of the federal government, which swore him in as a special assistant US Attorney in 2008, a position that allows him to take on gang leadership thanks to extra resources. His aspirations are to educate others and train county prosecutors on how to best defeat gangs in court.

Gene Eacret
J.D. San Francisco Law School

Gene Eacret has been licensed for 33 years and has an office in Lodi, CA. He received a degree from San Francisco Law School and a bachelors in economics from San Jose State University.  He is skilled in: Civil Litigation, Litigation, Military Legal Assistance, Personal Injury, Trial Practice, Legal Research, Depositions, Hearings, Wrongful Death, Arbitration, Mediation, Personal Injury Litigation, Legal Writing, Construction Law, Torts.

Christopher Eley
J.D. Golden Gate University School of Law

Mr. Eley has experience with Real Estate Law; Property Disputes and Defects; Boundary Line Encroachments; Purchase and Sale Agreements; Landlord/Tenant Issues including Leases and Commercial Evictions; Zoning; Eminent Domain; Quiet Title Actions; Easements, Right of Way; ADA. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and Golden Gate University.

Melissa Dougherty
J.D. Humphreys University Drivon School of Law

Alissa Harris
J.D. University of California Berkeley School of Law

Valerie J. Higgins
J.D. Glendale University College of Law
LL.M University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Anthony Johnston
J.D. Humphreys University Drivon School of Law

Professor Johnston is a graduate of Humphreys University Drivon School of Law. He has experience in Civil Trial and Litigation Services, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Trusts, and Probate, Bankruptcy (Creditors and Trustees), Commercial, Corporate, and Business, Agriculture.

Katie Limas
J.D. Humphreys University Drivon School of Law

Professor Limas is a Criminal Defense and Family Law Attorney. She is a graduate from Humphreys University Drivon School of Law.

Constance Logan
J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Ms. Logan is licensed as a CPA and as an Attorney, she is also a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law by the State Bar of California. She studied at California State University, Chico; Golden Gate University; University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.

She has practiced all aspects of taxation but emphasizes partnerships, S Corporations, estate and gift planning, tax exempt organizations, and representation before the IRS and California tax authorities. She also participates in Collaborative Divorce as a Financial Specialist.

Constance is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Academy of Attorney-CPAs (AAA-CPA). She served on the IRS Commissioner’s Information Reporting Advisory Committee from 2008-2010.

Gregory Meath
J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
LL.M. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Professor Meath’s areas of practice include Agricultural Law, Alcoholic Beverages, Business Law, Contracts, Copyright Infringement, Family Business Successions, Intellectual Property, International Intellectual Property, International Law, International Trade, Internet Law, Small Business Law, Trademark Infringement, Trademarks, Unfair Competition, and Winery Law. He received is JD and LLM from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Zayante Merrill
J.D. Humphreys University Drivon School of Law

Professor Merrill specializes in bankruptcy, family law, and domestic mediation. Merrill has since owned her own practice and has represented public agencies as an associate with the former law firm of Suntag & Feuerstein.She is now a Deputy County Counsel for San Joaquin County, representing the County’s Planning/Development Services Division, Environmental Health Department, and Emergency Medical Services Agency.

Adam Ramirez
J.D. Humphreys University Drivon School of Law

Professor Ramirez is currently Associate Attorney at Hakeem, Ellis & Marengo. His areas of practice include Corporate Law, Contract Matters, Counsel For Employers, High Value Disputes, Land Use, Family Law, Divorce, Visitation, Joint Custody Agreements, Child Support/Alimony, Estate Planning, Probate, Business & Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Personal Injury, Auto & Motorcycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Conservatorships, Guardianships, and Mediation. Ramirez obtained his JD from the Humphreys University Drivon School of Law.

Rebecca Sem
J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Professor Rebecca Sem is an associate at Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson. Sem’s legal practice is focused on civil litigation, where she represents clients in probate and trust litigation, medical malpractice, and employment matters. Sem obtained her bachelor’s degree in Government, cum laude, from California State University, Sacramento, a master’s in Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and her Juris Doctorate, with distinction, at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Prior to law school, Sem worked as an English teacher in both Stockton and Yamanashi, Japan.

The Honorable John Soldati
J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Honorable John Soldati is a judge of the Superior Court of San Joaquin County in California. Soldati obtained a B.A. from Saint Mary’s College of California and a J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Lisa Thiessen
J.D. Humphreys University Drivon School of Law

Professor Thiessen is a graduate from CSU Stanislaus and Humphreys University Drivon School of Law. She is currently a partner at Dianne Drew Butler and Associates. Her areas of practice include: Divorce/Family Law: Divorce, legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division for small, medium and large assets cases, domestic violence and domestic violence restraining orders, modification of current orders, litigation and trial services; Dissolution of same sex marriages; Dissolution of Domestic Partnership; Domestic Violence: Civil and family law restraining orders; Paternity Action: Parentage, child custody and visitation and child support; Guardianships; Mediation Services to resolve disputes in all areas of divorce and family law; Collaborative Services; Marvin/Partition Actions: Parties that have never been married but live together and that are now separating needing to formalize legally division of assets; Adoption/Step Parent Adoption; Conservatorships. She is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Board of California Board of Legal Specialization.

The Honorable Richard Vlavianos
J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Honorable Richard Vlavianos is a judge for the San Joaquin Superior Court in California. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Pete Wilson in 1999. He received his BA from UC Davis and JD from McGeorge School of Law. He began his legal career with the San Joaquin Country District Attorney’s Office, where he serves as a deputy district attorney for thirteen years. During his tenure, Vlavianos supervised the D.A.’s Narcotics Unit. Vlavianos has been a proponent of the collaborative courts as well as rehabilitative programs. He established a DUI prevention program called Choices and Consequences, that uses prisoners and collaborative court attendees to help educate students on the dangers of alcohol and drug use. He also established a Truancy Court and helped to revamp the Proposition 36 system for the Superior Court.