Practice Areas: Labor, Employment, Wage & Hour, Civil Rights, Municipal & Administrative Law, General Tort, Business, and Real Estate Litigation

Individually AV rated by Martindale Hubbell

• Law Offices of Deborah Pernice Knefel
• Individually AV Rated 5.0 out 5

Ms. Knefel Has Successfully Litigated these Reported Cases:

People v. Buza 4 Cal.5th 658 (2018); 

ACLU v. Superior Court, 3 Cal. 5th 1032 (2017); 

Drummond v. City of Anaheim,343 F.3d 1052 (9th Cir. 2003

Walter E. Heller Western, Inc. v. Bloxham, 176 Cal. App. 3d 266 (1985)

Please refer to endorsements from over a hundred clients, friends and colleagues featured on Ms.Knefel's linked in profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

LAW OFFICES LOCATED IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA SINCE 2010

260 Newport Center Dr. Ste 100

Newport Bech, Ca. 92660

Civil Litigation, Trial Counsel

Ms. Knefel has been a civil litigator since 1984.

Ms. Knefel was a Deputy City Attorney and served as general and lead trial counsel for over 19 years for a charter city in Orange County, California. 

She has successfully litigated hundreds of legal disputes and completed 19 civil jury trials to verdict. 

She has been lead trial counsel in the defense of numerous high profile matters and litigated countless cases concerning civil/constitutional rights, police officer involved shootings, use of force, wrongful death, contract, public works, land use, redevelopment, labor and employment, disability ("ADA") rights, age, race, religion and national origin, gender discrimination and harassment, personal injury, premises liability, contract and real estate disputes .

Ms. Knefel has litigated in U.S. District Courts, State Trial Courts, Federal (9th Circuit) and State Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court.

Ms. Knefel has litigated the following reported decisions:

People v. Buza 4 Cal.5th 658 (2018); ACLU v. Superior Court, 3 Cal. 5th 1032 (2017); Drummond v. City of Anaheim, 343 F.3d 1052 (9th Cir. 2003)Walter E.Heller Western, Inc. v. Bloxham, 176 Cal. App. 3d 266 (1985)

Administrative Law

Ms. Knefel represents clients in administrative legal proceedings.  She has litigated before various boards and commissions during her recent 19 year tenure in the city attorney's  office and most recently before local boards and commissions in Los Angeles and Orange County. She currently serves as a contract hearing officer in such matters.

In her former capacity as Deputy City Attorney, Ms. Knefel served as general and lead trial counsel in numerous high profile matters involving civil rights and discrimination claims.   

Ms. Knefel represents victims of discrimination arising from gender, sexual orientation, age, race, disability, religion, and ethnic or national origin .  

Ms. Knefel also represents employers and business owners who may be unfairly targeted as defendants in such actions or wish to avoid such potential claims. 

Real Estate Law

As a recently retired Deputy City Attorney and former Assistant Vice President and Mortgage Loan Manager at Kaufman & Broad Homes, Ms. Knefel has over 25 years experience as General Corporate Counsel and Trial Counsel in real estate, land use, redevelopment and public works matters.

Reported Real Estate Cases litigated by Ms. Knefel:

Walter E. Heller Western, Inc. v. Bloxham, 176 Cal. App. 3d 266 (1985)

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Ms. Pernice Knefel has been a mediator, arbitrator and hearing officer. She is experienced and qualified to represent individuals and businesses in California in the following practice areas of alternative dispute resolution:

• Americans with Disabilities Act,
• Breach of Contract
• Civil Rights
• Discrimination
• Employment Law
• Personal Injury
• Real Estate Law
• Real Estate Purchases
• Sexual Harassment