About Cathy

CLIENT REPRESENTATION PHILOSOPHY

• Before scheduling an in-office appointment, I want to ensure I’m the right attorney for you. If I’m not, I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.

• Legal processes should be explained in plain English—no unnecessary jargon.

• Clients deserve to stay informed about their case, the legal process, and any significant updates.

• Clear goals are essential. You can’t hit a target unless it’s well-defined, and both the attorney and client need to be aligned on the objectives.

• Budgets matter. Just as you wouldn’t expect to leave a doctor’s office worse off than when you arrived, every legal action should be evaluated based on its benefit to the client.

• Some situations require aggressive representation, while others are best handled through conflict de-escalation. A skilled attorney knows when to apply each strategy.

One of the most rewarding aspects of representing business and agri-business clients is learning about their industries. Over the years, I’ve gained insight into gas station operations, trucking companies, hotshot trucking, load brokering, auto dealer flooring, fuel transportation, commercial and residential solar, genetic seed manipulation, and beauty spas, to name a few! I see the attorney-client relationship as a strategic partnership aimed at maximizing success.

PERSONAL

I’ve been practicing law since 1991, focusing primarily on business law, real property law, and agri-business law. However, my legal experience has been diverse.

My academic background includes:

• Business degree with an emphasis in Computer Applications & Systems, which helps me understand the complexities of my business clients.

• M.B.A. with a focus on organizational psychology, which has been invaluable in navigating conflicts. Every legal dispute has two sides: people and things—while the law addresses the "thing," understanding the human element is just as critical. I often find that I use conflict resolution and psychology skills as much as legal expertise.

• J.D. (law degree) with an emphasis on intellectual property and corporate/business law. (At this point, my parents thought I’d never finish school!)

Although I studied law at Santa Clara University School of Law in the Bay Area, I’m a Fresno native. My undergraduate and graduate studies were completed at CSU-Fresno, and my husband’s family is also from the Central Valley.

Outside of my legal practice, I’m a budding fiction novelist and a classically trained pianist. I currently play synthesizer (keyboards) for my local church and enjoy developing custom sounds through my computer system.

~ Cathy