The California Board of Governors has appointed Wilke Fleury associate Samson R. Elsbernd to the State Bar’s California Young Lawyers Association (CYLA). CYLA advises the Board of the interests of California young lawyers, develops strategies for increasing young lawyer involvement and participation in the State Bar, and facilitates the development of programs and services that would assist young lawyers in their professional and leadership advancement and programs that benefit the public.

CYLA members serve as ambassadors of the State Bar to the young lawyer organizations within the state. A California young lawyer is defined as a member in good standing of the State Bar of California who is in his or her first five years of practice in place California or who is age 36 or under. Mr. Elsbernd’s appointment will begin at the close of the 2010 State Bar Annual Meeting on September 26, 2010.

Wilke Fleury obtains judgment in Bankruptcy Court trial. Megan Lewis and Jason Cinq-Mars recently obtained a $204,000 judgment following a trial in the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California.  Ms. Lewis and Mr. Cinq-Mars represented a client that had emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and sued to recover monies the client had paid to purchase invalid medical claims. Ms. Lewis and Mr. Cinq-Mars regularly represent clients in all aspects of Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Mariam Siddiqui has joined Wilke Fleury for the summer as a member of the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Diversity Fellowship program. Ms. Siddiqui received her bachelors degree from the University of California, Berkeley and recently completed her first year of law school at the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She is a Sacramento native and enjoys photography, traveling and spending time at the river.

Wilke Fleury welcomes Bianca Watts to its Summer Associate Program. Ms. Watts recently completed her second year of law school at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She is a staff writer for the McGeorge Global Business and Development Journal and an executive board member of the Black Law Student’s Association. Last summer, Ms. Watts participated in the Sacramento County Bar Association Diversity Fellowship Program. Ms. Watts is an avid fan of the New Orleans Saints and the Sacramento Kings, and is currently studying karate.

Wilke Fleury recently secured a victory before the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Third Appellate District, on behalf of bankruptcy trustee Michael Burkhart. In the underlying trial court proceedings, Wilke Fleury partners Megan Lewis and Daniel Egan obtained an order under which Mr. Burkhart was substituted into the litigation as the party plaintiff following the bankruptcy filing of defendant Wire Comm Wireless, Inc. That decision was disputed by the creditor plaintiff, New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc., which appealed the matter. Wilke Fleury partner Dan Baxter handled the briefing and oral argument before the appellate court. Just eight days after that oral argument, the court issued an opinion affirming the trial court’s ruling in full. To view the Court of Appeal’s decision, go to http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/nonpub/C058837.PDF.

In 2009, Wilke Fleury raised $2,400 through its “Jeans Friday” program for the Down Syndrome Information Alliance (DSIA). “Jeans Friday” is an initiative that allows Wilke Fleury employees to wear jeans on Friday if they contribute $5.00 toward a charity that has been selected by employee vote. The charity selected for 2009 was Sacramento’s Down Syndrome Information Alliance, which provides support and resources for those affected by Down Syndrome to improve their knowledge and quality of life. DSIA develops and distributes informational materials, conducts outreach with local healthcare and service providers and develops a community support network to benefit families affected by Down Syndrome. Trevor Stapleton, a Wilke Fleury partner, is a member of the Board of DSIA and also serves as the organization’s treasurer. Wilke Fleury is proud to support DSIA’s efforts in our community.

Wilke, Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney, LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of two new associates, Samson R. Elsbernd and Natalie A. Johnston.

Mr. Elsbernd joined the firm as an associate in September 2009. He attended Pacific McGeorge School of Law, graduating with distinction. He received the Certificate of Governmental Affairs and the Witkin Award in Legislation. He served as President of the McGeorge Federalist Society, and was a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group Executive Committee for the national Federalist Society. While completing his studies, he was a legal extern for the California Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, he was a certified student attorney for Community Legal Services, a non-profit civil practice clinic, and for the Solano County Public Defender.

Ms. Johnston joined the firm as an associate in November 2009 after a year long judicial clerkship with the Honorable John E. Suddock of the Alaska Superior Court. She graduated with her J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of California, Davis in 2008. While in law school, Ms. Johnston served as a member of the U.C. Davis Law Review and chaired the King Hall Legal Foundation, a student-run nonprofit benefiting public interest law, and the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. She also served as a teaching assistant for the U.C. Davis undergraduate studies program and volunteered to assist with the annual Prison Law Symposium.

Daniel L. Baxter, Wilke Fleury Hiring Partner, said, “We are truly excited to have Natalie and Samson on board, and know that our clients will appreciate the level of service these two talented lawyers will provide.”

Daniel Egan, who Chairs the Firm’s Bankruptcy Practice, recently spoke at the 2009 Annual Conference of the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions on the topic of municipal bankruptcy law. Mr. Egan’s speech included a review of Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code, and discussed some of the benefits, as well as challenges, faced by a city or public entity that chooses to commence a bankruptcy case.

Wilke Fleury is a proud Corporate Work-Study partner of Cristo Rey High School Sacramento. Four students from Cristo Rey work at the firm as a job-sharing team to cover one clerical position. The students learn valuable skills and marketable job experience, and also gain insight into various career possibilities. The firm is pleased to have the opportunity to help prepare some of our region’s students for the workplace and to participate in community outreach while doing so.

Cristo Rey High School Sacramento is part of the national Cristo Rey Network of more than 24 high schools throughout the United States. The school is dedicated to the advancement of the students both in terms of a quality college preparatory education and professional work experience. Cristo Rey Sacramento is co-sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Auburn Regional Community, the California Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and the California Province of the Society of Jesus. The school was co-founded by Bishop William K. Weigand. Quality education is provided for youth from low income families. The unique Corporate Work-Study program provides each student an unprecedented opportunity to work in corporate America in an entry–level clerical job and to participate in paying for the cost of their education.

Craig Carnes, a Wilke Fleury associate, is set to begin an internship with the California Department of Parks and Recreation (“California State Parks”) in order to gain exposure to various areas of environmental and public agency law. California State Parks manages more than 270 park units and contains the largest and most diverse natural and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation. To learn more about California State Parks please visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/.

Wilke Fleury was pleased to bid its summer clerks-Sarah Scott, Stacy Hunter, and Angie Palmerin-farewell with two fun-filled events. On July 23, partner David Frenznick hosted a boat outing in the Delta near Walnut Grove. Attorneys and clerks wiled away the hours on a houseboat and floating dock before tubing at 40 miles per hour behind a speedboat. Miraculously, only one person was thrown from the tube-a true testament to the aquatic prowess of those involved! On July 31, Dick Hoffelt hosted Wilke Fleury’s annual summer clerk reception at his home overlooking the American River. This annual event takes place during the last Friday in July, and has been a summer fixture for over 25 years. The weather always seems to cooperate for this event, and this year was no exception. Everyone was treated to a relaxing evening . . . a great end to the legal summer season. We appreciate the efforts of Sarah, Stacy, and Angie, and wish them all the best in the coming school year!

Wilke Fleury is pleased to announce that four of its attorneys—Phil Birney, Tom Redmon, Dan Baxter, and Megan Lewis—have received accolades in the recently issued 2009 Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine. Mr. Birney and Mr. Redmon were named as “Super Lawyers” for the fifth and fourth times, respectively, while Mr. Baxter and Ms. Lewis were named as “Rising Stars.” The list of honorees is compiled by Law and Politics through a multiphase process that combines peer nominations and evaluations with third party research. Just five percent of the total lawyers in California are selected for the “Super Lawyer” designation, and no more than 2.5 percent are named as “Rising Stars.”

The achievements of these four outstanding lawyers are emblematic of the quality of services Wilke Fleury provides to all its clients. We look forward to proving it to you.

Wilke Fleury is happy to welcome its 2009 summer law clerks, Sarah Scott, Stacy Hunter, and Angie Palmerin.  Ms. Scott and Ms. Hunter recently completed their second year of study at UC Davis School of Law, while Ms. Palmerin just finished her first year at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and is a participant in the Sacramento County Bar Association Diversity Fellowship Program, of which Wilke Fleury was a founding member.  All three women will spend the summer assisting Wilke Fleury attorneys with research, writing, and court filings.

Wilke Fleury is proud to be a part of these dynamic individuals’ professional development, and looks forward to working with them in the coming weeks.