Our Attorneys are Diverse and Passionate

Bonifacio Bonny Garcia is the managing partner and a founder of Garcia, Hernández, Sawhney. Although he also heads the firm’s Glendale office, Garcia has extensive experience representing school districts, community college districts, special districts, cities and other governmental entities throughout the state of California.

Mary T. Hernández is a founding partner of Garcia, Hernández, Sawhney, LLP and heads the San Francisco Bay Area office. Hernández serves as legal counsel to school, county and community college districts as well as nonprofit organizations and charter schools throughout California.

Nitasha Kaur Sawhney practices in the firm’s Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area offices in California, advising clients on all aspects of labor and employment matters. Sawhney specializes in labor negotiations, contract grievances, hiring and discipline matters, leaves of absences and health, and retiree benefit matters. Sawhney also frequently advises clients on charter school and nonprofit matters as well as general governance, strategic planning and policy implementation. Sawhney serves as legal counsel to public school districts, community college districts, private universities and charter schools throughout the state.

Aerobel Banuelos is an Equity Partner in the San Diego office of Garcia, Hernández, Sawhney, LLP. Her practice covers most aspects of transactional work relating to public agency and special district representation, including water law issues, public works and purchasing issues, and real property issues. Banuelos frequently represents the Oxnard School District, Garvey School District and other firm clients in finance and transactional matters.

Erika Anderson is Of Counsel with Garcia Hernandez Sawhney, LLP.  Erika’s practice focuses primarily on Labor and Employment and Education Law

Laura Berzins is an Associate Attorney at Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s San Francisco Bay Area office. She joins the firm’s Education Law practice group with a focus on Board governance, school facilities and contracts, special education and general student issues.

Emily Cheung is an associate in Garcia Hernández Sawhney’s Glendale office. Her practice focuses on Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law, and Education Law.

Ana Gallegos is an Associate Attorney at Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Los Angeles area office. She is a member of the Firm’s education law and litigation practice groups.

Ms. Gallegos has substantial experience in labor negotiations and advising clients regarding labor laws and state labor regulations. She also has significant experience litigating labor law, employment law and contract issues in civil court and administrative proceedings.

Stephanie is a member of Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Commercial Litigation practice team and is primarily based at the Firm’s Los Angeles area office.

Peter Janiak, one of the original editors of the California Public Sector Law Labor Relations treatise has joined Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP as Of Counsel. Peter received his J.D., with an emphasis in labor law, from UC Davis-King Hall.  His primary practice areas are employment discrimination and public-sector labor relations.

Lawrence S. Joe is an associate in Garcia, Hernandez, Sawhney, LLP’s Los Angeles office and a graduate of UCLA’s School of Law and the School of Public Affairs. He works in the firm’s Education and Public Law practice groups.

Conor Kennedy is a Partner at Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s San Francisco Bay Area office. He is a member of the Education Law group and the Litigation group.

Charisma T. Lam serves as Of Counsel with Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Education Law practice group. She has over 15 years of experience serving as general counsel and special counsel to school district’s, counties, and other public entities

Janet Ly is a Partner in Garcia Hernandez Sawhney, LLP’s Los Angeles office. Ms. Ly’s practice focuses on complex litigation matters and representing the firm’s education and municipal clients. She has extensive experience in handling commercial litigation disputes, including breach of contract, high stakes business tort litigation, employment and professional liability.

James Meeker is Of Counsel to Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP. James’s practice focuses on education law, particularly in the areas of special education and student discipline, as well as labor and employment law.

Thuy Thi Nguyen (Thúy Thị Nguyễn) is a Partner in Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Alameda Office. Ms. Nguyen (Nguyễn) is a member of the firm’s Education Law and Equity Leadership practice groups.Thuy served as in-house general counsel to the Peralta Community College District for more than 11 years, commencing in 2003. In addition to her duties as chief legal counsel, she served as Acting Vice Chancellor for Human Resources for one year and as Strategic Planning Manager for two years.

Benjamin Nieberg is Senior Counsel in the firm's San Diego office and specializes in education law, particularly in the area of special education. He has served as general counsel for school districts and has represented other governmental entities in personnel and student issues, contracts, labor negotiations, and governance issues.

Katie Riggs, a retired member of the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, now serves as Of Counsel at Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP. In addition to three decades of experience serving as lead attorney on a full range of complex civil rights compliance reviews addressing race, national origin, sex and disability, Katie is recognized as an expert on programs for English learners.

Alex Sears is a Senior Counsel in Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s San Francisco Bay Area office. Mr. Sear's practice focuses on complex litigation matters and representing the firm’s education and municipal clients.

Joseph Su is a senior attorney in Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Commercial Litigation practice and Education Law practice in the Los Angeles area office.Mr. Su has more than 14 years of experience handling complex litigation matters, including matters involving employment issues, general liability, construction practices, construction defect, contracts, insurance defense and real estate. He also has significant experience negotiating contracts.

Geoff Tong is a Partner in Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP’s Los Angeles Area office. Mr. Tong leads the firm’s commercial litigation group. He has counseled and represented insurance companies, managed care health plans and employee benefit plans in connection with claims and “bad faith” litigation for over 25 years. He has extensive experience in federal and state courts, at both the trial and appellate levels.