Efficient and Effective Legal Counsel and Litigation Representation

The Team at Michalski Law Offices

James Michalski, Attorney at Law. A middle-aged man with short gray hair in a black suit and red striped tie; neutral expression.

James Michalski

Partner

We offer our clients the advantages that come with relying on a small firm – fast turnaround, meticulous attention to your case, and consistent access to us. Our lawyers all have worked at very large and prestigious law firms. We each bring that valuable experience to every case. Due to our low overhead, we can resolve cases and pre-litigation disputes much more cost-effectively than our larger competitors. We offer the most competitive and surprising low rates for our level of service and deep expertise in the law.

 

We are committed to finding efficient, effective solutions to complex litigation, business disputes, and personnel matters. Our services include guiding individuals, small businesses, and large corporations through pre-litigation disputes and cases involving issues such as discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the employment setting, wage and hour disputes, PAGA matters, insurance defense of employment matters, general business disputes, False Claims Act matters, and corporate transactions. Our roster of clients is diverse -- comprising businesses, human resources professionals, insurance companies, doctors, dentists, and other lawyers who seek our assistance with their cases. We do our best to be “a lawyer’s lawyer.” That is, we take the practice of law and achieving outstanding results for our clients extremely seriously. We devote the utmost care to your objectives, and we want you to be incredibly happy with your decision to hire us.


Diane Sherman

Of Counsel

Diane B. Sherman is an experienced business and entertainment litigator and labor and employment lawyer. She also represents senior level executives in employment contract negotiations, as well as independent producers and writers on entertainment projects. As a litigator, Diane has litigated every kind of business dispute, including trade secrets, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, trademark and copyright infringement, libel and slander and real property disputes. She also has substantial experience in labor and employment matters both in the unionized and non-unionized sector, including discrimination, wrongful termination and wage and hour disputes. 


Diane is an active member of the Bar in the states of California and New York and the District of Columbia. She is admitted to the practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Courts for the Central District of California, the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of California and the Southern District of California and the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York.

 

Diane clerked for United States District Court Judge Consuelo B. Marshall and also served a judicial externship for Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Arthur L. Alarcón.

 

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Diane worked as a journalist for national news organizations.

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Heather Kenneson 

Senior Paralegal

Heather has been passionate about the legal field since high school and has dedicated her career to advocating for clients in a variety of civil litigation matters. As a paralegal with extensive experience in personal injury and employment law, she has worked on cases involving toxic torts, medical malpractice, elder abuse, childhood sexual abuse, premises liability, and wrongful death. She has primarily worked on the plaintiff’s side, helping clients navigate complex legal challenges and achieve the best possible outcomes.


With a Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate from Purdue University Global and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana Wesleyan University, Heather brings strong research, writing, and analytical skills to her work. She excels in legal drafting, trial preparation, case management, and the use of technology to enhance efficiency in legal processes. She enjoys working collaboratively with her team to strategize and advocate for clients effectively.


Outside of work, Heather is deeply involved in her Christian faith and church community, where she leads Bible studies, ministers to those in need, serves foster children, and helps feed the homeless. She also enjoys board games, baking, writing, hiking, and traveling.

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Juan Vasquez

Senior Paralegal

As a Colombian-trained lawyer and experienced U.S. paralegal, Juan Vasquez brings a broad international perspective to the Michalski Law Offices team. He earned his law degree from Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana in Medellín, where he placed in the 98th percentile nationally on Colombia’s Saber Pro, the country’s higher education exam for university graduates.


As part of his law degree, Juan conducted a research project on the role of family protocols as a tool to prevent disputes and promote the long-term stability of family-owned businesses in Colombia. This work reflects his belief that conflict prevention is just as important in law as conflict resolution, since proactive legal planning helps safeguard parties from potential disputes across various areas of law.


Juan has served as a Senior Paralegal at Michalski Law Offices since 2023. In this role, he manages pleadings, oversees case management, and coordinates discovery, providing attorneys with support through every stage of litigation. His legal education in Colombia also allows him to offer bilingual assistance and cross-border insight that strengthen the firm’s ability to represent a diverse clientele.


Before joining Michalski Law Offices, Juan served as legal counsel for an international tech company, advising on commercial and labor law issues and developing solutions to meet changing business needs. Earlier in his career, he supported a California law firm focused on Social Security disability cases, where he managed administrative procedures and liaised with clients and Social Security officials to help achieve favorable outcomes.


Juan is dedicated to supporting clients from diverse backgrounds, especially those facing language or cultural barriers in navigating the U.S. legal system. He works to make legal processes more approachable and to ensure that every client receives the quality representation they deserve. Looking ahead, he plans to pursue admission to the California Bar to expand the scope of legal assistance he can provide.