I counsel and advise small and medium-sized businesses and influencers to gain legal advantages and protection by providing original, success-focused strategies and legal know-how. I help protect business owners from making legal mistakes by educating them with knowledge about the legal issues that affect them in business. Businesses that thrive include a lawyer as part of their success team.

Franklin J. Contreras, Jr. is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and is a resident in the Irvine office. Mr. Contreras has been with the firm since 1995 when he initially joined the firm as a law clerk. Mr. Contreras concentrates his practice on appellate matters and business litigation including breach of contract disputes, business torts, corporate director and officer litigation and bankruptcy litigation. Mr. Contreras is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Northern District of California, Eastern District of California, Southern District of California and all courts of the State of California. Mr. Contreras received his undergraduate degree in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine and his law degree from Western State University College of Law. During law school, Mr. Contreras earned the American Jurisprudence award for legal writing. Mr. Contreras co-authored an article entitled “Bust the Trust: Why the Bankruptcy Trustee Should Carefully Examine the Creation, Funding and Administration of Irrevocable Trusts,” which was published in the California Bankruptcy Journal in 2011.

Franklin J. Contreras, Jr. is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and is a resident in the Irvine office. Mr. Contreras has been with the firm since 1995 when he initially joined the firm as a law clerk. Mr. Contreras concentrates his practice on appellate matters and business litigation including breach of contract disputes, business torts, corporate director and officer litigation and bankruptcy litigation. Mr. Contreras is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Northern District of California, Eastern District of California, Southern District of California and all courts of the State of California. Mr. Contreras received his undergraduate degree in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine and his law degree from Western State University College of Law. During law school, Mr. Contreras earned the American Jurisprudence award for legal writing. Mr. Contreras co-authored an article entitled “Bust the Trust: Why the Bankruptcy Trustee Should Carefully Examine the Creation, Funding and Administration of Irrevocable Trusts,” which was published in the California Bankruptcy Journal in 2011.

Judith (Judy) Conway represents victims of serious personal injury and wrongful death, from the initial client introduction through trial and appeal. She focuses on representing victims of mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos related diseases. During her career, Ms. Conway has successfully represented hundreds of clients and their families in recovering for their personal injury or death. She has secured tens of millions of dollars in settlements for wrongful death and survival action cases in Illinois, and serves as lead counsel for plaintiff’s asbestos litigation and sexual abuse litigation across the United States. Judy played a critical role in obtaining a $20 million settlement, which occurred during closing arguments of a three-week jury trial. Ms. Conway received her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. While attending Michigan Law, she was elected President of the Law School Student Senate. Judy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame where she completed a triple major in Political Science, Spanish, and Sociology. As an attorney, Ms. Conway is active in several bar associations and charitable organizations, including the Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Federation of Labor, Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, the Notre Dame Club of Chicago, and the Michigan Law Alumni Club of Chicago.