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Denise J. Serra, Partner at McNamara Law Firm in California.

DENISE J. SERRA

Partner

DENISE J. SERRA

Partner

Fairfield

Tel: 707-427-3998
Fax: 707-427-0268
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Ms. Serra attended the University of California, Berkeley, CA, and graduated with a degree in psychology in 1973. Prior to attending law school, she was a deputy court clerk for San Jose-Milpitas Municipal Court. Ms. Serra attended Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, CA, and was admitted to practice law in California in 1978. Ms. Serra is the recipient of several academic scholarships and awards, including the Alumni Scholarship, the John H. Wheeler & Elliot H. Wheeler Scholarship, the Hazel Lagerson Scholarship, the Levi Straus Scholarship, the Hoberg Scholarship and the Ehrman Scholarship Award.

Ms. Serra has authored several published articles including, “Liability for a Prior Company’s Asbestos Claims”, 2004, ADC Comment Article, “Sexual Harassment and Television”, San Francisco Chronicle, October 27, 1999, “The Courts Are Consistently Admitting A Broad Spectrum of Evidence in Sexual Harassment Cases”, Summer 2000 Edition of the California Labor and Employment Law Quarterly, State Bar of California, “Housing Discrimination, The Sleeping Giant”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 2000, “The Courts Are Providing Employer Guidance in Defining Hostile-Environment Sexual Harassment”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal, December 20, 1999, “An Employer Has A Duty to Defend An Employee Accused of Wrongdoing”, Focus of Legal Representation, Oakland Business Review, January 2000, and “Criminal Records Cannot Affect Most Hiring Decisions”, Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal.
Ms. Serra has presented a number of seminars for Lorman Educational Services entitled, “Selected Issues in Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in California”. Additionally, Ms. Serra has been a speaker before the Northern California Human Resources Association and for Women in Business, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bar Association.
Ms. Serra’s main areas of current interest are habitability cases, cases involving homeowner’s associations, wide ranging business related actions, employment, including sexual harassment, and toxic tort litigation. She generally works with insurance companies representing their insureds.

EDUCATION

Hastings College of the Law, University of California
Juris Doctorate
University of California, Berkeley, CA
B.A., Psychology, 1973
Undergraduate and law school entirely funded through scholarships, loans and 15-20
hours of work per week: recipient of Alumni Scholarship, John H. Wheeler & Elliot H.
Wheeler Scholarship, Hazel Lagerson Scholarship, Levi Straus Scholarship, Hoberg
Scholarship and Ehrman Scholarship Award

ADMISSIONS

State Bar of California

United States District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts

2000 – Present
McNAMARA, AMBACHER, WHEELER, HIRSIG & GRAY LLP
Partner
Pleasant Hill, CA
Firm is engaged in a diversified civil practice including the defense of toxic tort cases (asbestos, silicosis and mold cases), construction and employment litigation. Significant involvement in toxic tort defense, construction litigation and sexual harassment defense; handled multiple asbestos trial related matters.

1998-2000
DONAHUE GALLAHER WOODS & WOOD
Oakland, CA
Of Counsel
Firm was engaged in a civil practice including copyright and trademark licensing and enforcement, employment and asbestos litigation. Due to family needs worked on a limited basis assisting firm in asbestos litigation, business and employment matters.

1987-1998 
HASSARD BONNINGTON LLP
Partner
Duties as a partner included participating in commercial and construction litigation and the defense of asbestos cases.

1985-1986
McCUTCHEN DOYLE BROWN & ENERSEN
San Francisco, CA
Attorney
Worked on a part-time basis only while my children were young.
Defended and settled literally thousands of asbestos cases.

1978-1982
GRAVES & ALLEN (formerly GRAVES & MALLORY)
Oakland, CA
Partner
Duties as a partner included significant involvement in bankruptcy,
corporate work, commercial and real estate litigation.

1980
ST. MARY’S PARALEGAL PROGRAM
Moraga/Oakland, CA
Teacher
Co-taught litigation classes with Graves & Allen partner.

LAW SCHOOL AND PRE-LAW EXPERIENCE

MALLORY, SHAMIYEH & BOWIE (GRAVES & MALLORY)
San Francisco, CA
Law Clerk

SMITH, KURLANDER, HUMPHREY, CONNER & MANN
San Francisco, CA
Law Clerk

BURNS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS
San Francisco, CA
Investigator

SAN JOSE-MILPITAS MUNCIPAL COURT
San Jose, CA
Court Clerk

JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT
San Jose, CA
Counselor

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

SOLANO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

HONORS/AWARDS

Ms. Serra is the recipient of several academic scholarships and awards, including the Alumni Scholarship, the John H. Wheeler & Elliot H. Wheeler Scholarship, the Hazel Lagerson Scholarship, the Levi Straus Scholarship, the Hoberg Scholarship and the Ehrman Scholarship Award.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Ms. Serra volunteers her time to organizations who provide free legal advice to individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford representation by an attorney. Additionally, Ms. Serra volunteer for fundraising events for the Oakland Museum.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/PUBLICATIONS

Ms. Serra have authored the following articles: “Liability for a Prior Company’s Asbestos Claims”, 2004, ADC Comment Article, “Sexual Harassment and Television”, San Francisco Chronicle, October 27, 1999, “The Courts Are Consistently Admitting A Broad Spectrum of Evidence in Sexual Harassment Cases”, Summer 2000 Edition of the California Labor and Employment Law Quarterly, State Bar of California, “Housing Discrimination, The Sleeping Giant”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 2000, “The Courts Are Providing Employer Guidance in Defining Hostile-Environment Sexual Harassment”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal, December 20, 1999, “An Employer Has A Duty to Defend An Employee Accused of Wrongdoing”, Focus of Legal Representation, Oakland Business Review, January 2000, and “Criminal Records Cannot Affect Most Hiring Decisions”, Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Ms. Serra have presented a number of seminars for Lorman Educational Services entitled, “Selected Issues in Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in California”. Additionally, Ms. Serra have been a speaker before the Northern California Human Resources Association and for Women in Business, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bar Association.

TRIALS/CASE AND SETTLEMENTS

Ms. Serra have prepared hundreds of cases for trial and/or settlement.

Experience

2000 – Present
McNAMARA, AMBACHER, WHEELER, HIRSIG & GRAY LLP
Partner
Pleasant Hill, CA
Firm is engaged in a diversified civil practice including the defense of toxic tort cases (asbestos, silicosis and mold cases), construction and employment litigation. Significant involvement in toxic tort defense, construction litigation and sexual harassment defense; handled multiple asbestos trial related matters.

1998-2000
DONAHUE GALLAHER WOODS & WOOD
Oakland, CA
Of Counsel
Firm was engaged in a civil practice including copyright and trademark licensing and enforcement, employment and asbestos litigation. Due to family needs worked on a limited basis assisting firm in asbestos litigation, business and employment matters.

1987-1998 
HASSARD BONNINGTON LLP
Partner
Duties as a partner included participating in commercial and construction litigation and the defense of asbestos cases.

1985-1986
McCUTCHEN DOYLE BROWN & ENERSEN
San Francisco, CA
Attorney
Worked on a part-time basis only while my children were young.
Defended and settled literally thousands of asbestos cases.

1978-1982
GRAVES & ALLEN (formerly GRAVES & MALLORY)
Oakland, CA
Partner
Duties as a partner included significant involvement in bankruptcy,
corporate work, commercial and real estate litigation.

1980
ST. MARY’S PARALEGAL PROGRAM
Moraga/Oakland, CA
Teacher
Co-taught litigation classes with Graves & Allen partner.

LAW SCHOOL AND PRE-LAW EXPERIENCE

MALLORY, SHAMIYEH & BOWIE (GRAVES & MALLORY)
San Francisco, CA
Law Clerk

SMITH, KURLANDER, HUMPHREY, CONNER & MANN
San Francisco, CA
Law Clerk

BURNS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS
San Francisco, CA
Investigator

SAN JOSE-MILPITAS MUNCIPAL COURT
San Jose, CA
Court Clerk

JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT
San Jose, CA
Counselor

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

SOLANO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

HONORS/AWARDS

Ms. Serra is the recipient of several academic scholarships and awards, including the Alumni Scholarship, the John H. Wheeler & Elliot H. Wheeler Scholarship, the Hazel Lagerson Scholarship, the Levi Straus Scholarship, the Hoberg Scholarship and the Ehrman Scholarship Award.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Ms. Serra volunteers her time to organizations who provide free legal advice to individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford representation by an attorney. Additionally, Ms. Serra volunteer for fundraising events for the Oakland Museum.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/PUBLICATIONS

Ms. Serra have authored the following articles: “Liability for a Prior Company’s Asbestos Claims”, 2004, ADC Comment Article, “Sexual Harassment and Television”, San Francisco Chronicle, October 27, 1999, “The Courts Are Consistently Admitting A Broad Spectrum of Evidence in Sexual Harassment Cases”, Summer 2000 Edition of the California Labor and Employment Law Quarterly, State Bar of California, “Housing Discrimination, The Sleeping Giant”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 2000, “The Courts Are Providing Employer Guidance in Defining Hostile-Environment Sexual Harassment”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal, December 20, 1999, “An Employer Has A Duty to Defend An Employee Accused of Wrongdoing”, Focus of Legal Representation, Oakland Business Review, January 2000, and “Criminal Records Cannot Affect Most Hiring Decisions”, Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Ms. Serra have presented a number of seminars for Lorman Educational Services entitled, “Selected Issues in Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in California”. Additionally, Ms. Serra have been a speaker before the Northern California Human Resources Association and for Women in Business, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bar Association.

TRIALS/CASE AND SETTLEMENTS

Ms. Serra have prepared hundreds of cases for trial and/or settlement.

DENISE J. SERRA

Partner

Fairfield

Tel: 707-427-3998
Fax: 707-427-0268

Ms. Serra attended the University of California, Berkeley, CA, and graduated with a degree in psychology in 1973. Prior to attending law school, she was a deputy court clerk for San Jose-Milpitas Municipal Court. Ms. Serra attended Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, CA, and was admitted to practice law in California in 1978. Ms. Serra is the recipient of several academic scholarships and awards, including the Alumni Scholarship, the John H. Wheeler & Elliot H. Wheeler Scholarship, the Hazel Lagerson Scholarship, the Levi Straus Scholarship, the Hoberg Scholarship and the Ehrman Scholarship Award.

Ms. Serra has authored several published articles including, “Liability for a Prior Company’s Asbestos Claims”, 2004, ADC Comment Article, “Sexual Harassment and Television”, San Francisco Chronicle, October 27, 1999, “The Courts Are Consistently Admitting A Broad Spectrum of Evidence in Sexual Harassment Cases”, Summer 2000 Edition of the California Labor and Employment Law Quarterly, State Bar of California, “Housing Discrimination, The Sleeping Giant”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 2000, “The Courts Are Providing Employer Guidance in Defining Hostile-Environment Sexual Harassment”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal, December 20, 1999, “An Employer Has A Duty to Defend An Employee Accused of Wrongdoing”, Focus of Legal Representation, Oakland Business Review, January 2000, and “Criminal Records Cannot Affect Most Hiring Decisions”, Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal.
Ms. Serra has presented a number of seminars for Lorman Educational Services entitled, “Selected Issues in Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in California”. Additionally, Ms. Serra has been a speaker before the Northern California Human Resources Association and for Women in Business, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bar Association.
Ms. Serra’s main areas of current interest are habitability cases, cases involving homeowner’s associations, wide ranging business related actions, employment, including sexual harassment, and toxic tort litigation. She generally works with insurance companies representing their insureds.

EDUCATION

Hastings College of the Law, University of California
Juris Doctorate
University of California, Berkeley, CA
B.A., Psychology, 1973
Undergraduate and law school entirely funded through scholarships, loans and 15-20
hours of work per week: recipient of Alumni Scholarship, John H. Wheeler & Elliot H.
Wheeler Scholarship, Hazel Lagerson Scholarship, Levi Straus Scholarship, Hoberg
Scholarship and Ehrman Scholarship Award

ADMISSIONS

State Bar of California

United States District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts

EXPERIENCE

2000 – Present
McNAMARA, AMBACHER, WHEELER, HIRSIG & GRAY LLP
Partner
Pleasant Hill, CA
Firm is engaged in a diversified civil practice including the defense of toxic tort cases (asbestos, silicosis and mold cases), construction and employment litigation. Significant involvement in toxic tort defense, construction litigation and sexual harassment defense; handled multiple asbestos trial related matters.

1998-2000
DONAHUE GALLAHER WOODS & WOOD
Oakland, CA
Of Counsel
Firm was engaged in a civil practice including copyright and trademark licensing and enforcement, employment and asbestos litigation. Due to family needs worked on a limited basis assisting firm in asbestos litigation, business and employment matters.

1987-1998 
HASSARD BONNINGTON LLP
Partner
Duties as a partner included participating in commercial and construction litigation and the defense of asbestos cases.

1985-1986
McCUTCHEN DOYLE BROWN & ENERSEN
San Francisco, CA
Attorney
Worked on a part-time basis only while my children were young.
Defended and settled literally thousands of asbestos cases.

1978-1982
GRAVES & ALLEN (formerly GRAVES & MALLORY)
Oakland, CA
Partner
Duties as a partner included significant involvement in bankruptcy,
corporate work, commercial and real estate litigation.

1980
ST. MARY’S PARALEGAL PROGRAM
Moraga/Oakland, CA
Teacher
Co-taught litigation classes with Graves & Allen partner.

LAW SCHOOL AND PRE-LAW EXPERIENCE

MALLORY, SHAMIYEH & BOWIE (GRAVES & MALLORY)
San Francisco, CA
Law Clerk

SMITH, KURLANDER, HUMPHREY, CONNER & MANN
San Francisco, CA
Law Clerk

BURNS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS
San Francisco, CA
Investigator

SAN JOSE-MILPITAS MUNCIPAL COURT
San Jose, CA
Court Clerk

JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT
San Jose, CA
Counselor

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

SOLANO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

HONORS/AWARDS

Ms. Serra is the recipient of several academic scholarships and awards, including the Alumni Scholarship, the John H. Wheeler & Elliot H. Wheeler Scholarship, the Hazel Lagerson Scholarship, the Levi Straus Scholarship, the Hoberg Scholarship and the Ehrman Scholarship Award.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Ms. Serra volunteers her time to organizations who provide free legal advice to individuals who would otherwise be unable to afford representation by an attorney. Additionally, Ms. Serra volunteer for fundraising events for the Oakland Museum.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/PUBLICATIONS

Ms. Serra have authored the following articles: “Liability for a Prior Company’s Asbestos Claims”, 2004, ADC Comment Article, “Sexual Harassment and Television”, San Francisco Chronicle, October 27, 1999, “The Courts Are Consistently Admitting A Broad Spectrum of Evidence in Sexual Harassment Cases”, Summer 2000 Edition of the California Labor and Employment Law Quarterly, State Bar of California, “Housing Discrimination, The Sleeping Giant”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 2000, “The Courts Are Providing Employer Guidance in Defining Hostile-Environment Sexual Harassment”, California LawBusiness Supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal, December 20, 1999, “An Employer Has A Duty to Defend An Employee Accused of Wrongdoing”, Focus of Legal Representation, Oakland Business Review, January 2000, and “Criminal Records Cannot Affect Most Hiring Decisions”, Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Ms. Serra have presented a number of seminars for Lorman Educational Services entitled, “Selected Issues in Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in California”. Additionally, Ms. Serra have been a speaker before the Northern California Human Resources Association and for Women in Business, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bar Association.

TRIALS/CASE AND SETTLEMENTS

Ms. Serra have prepared hundreds of cases for trial and/or settlement.

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