Summer 2006
Meet Our 2006 Summer Associates
The members of this year's class in alphabetical order are: Juliana Chereji, Mark C. Gabel, Paul B. Gruwell, C. Onye Ikwuakor, Trent M. Latta, Angela M. Munoz, Julie A. Sherman, Sharon W. Wu.
To learn more about the summer associates, including their reasons for selecting Hanson Bridgett as the place to spend the summer of 2006, click on the name links above or scroll down to see the entire class.
Juliana Chereji
Stanford University (J.D. Candidate, 2007); Cornell University (B.A. 2004)
Last summer I worked at Hanson Bridgett and loved my experience. My summer classmates were wonderful and the type of work that I received was interesting and very informative. In the fall, I was very glad to receive an offer to come back to Hanson Bridgett for the 2006 summer program I accepted the offer and was given the opportunity to come back for three weeks.
Upon arriving here for a second time, I received a very warm welcome and felt right at home. Last summer I expressed a lot of interest in Labor and Employment and was very happy to come back this summer and find that I was given several assignments in that area. I was also very impressed with this year's Summer Associate Class. Everyone was very friendly and truly made me feel like I was part of their summer class even though I would only be here for three weeks. I greatly value my experience at Hanson Bridgett and it has helped me realize that being a lawyer was the right career choice for me.
Mark C. Gabel
University of California, Hastings College of Law (J.D. Candidate, 2007); University of California, Berkeley (B.A., 1995)
From my first week of law school, I knew that I had chosen the right career path for me. But I didn't know whether I would find a firm that exemplified the way I wanted to practice law. I was initially drawn to Hanson Bridgett by its combination of a long-standing, successful public agency practice and a broad, equally well respected commercial litigation practice. After researching the firm, I was also impressed by its community ties, in terms of both its regional client base and its unusually strong dedication to community service, diversity and pro bono work. During the interview process, I noticed the enthusiasm of Hanson Bridgett attorneys for their practices and for the firm—an enthusiasm not always shared by attorneys at other firms I interviewed with. When I left my callback interview, I thought, "These are people I would really want to work with."
After two months, I can safely say that Hanson Bridgett lives up to the high expectations I had for it. The partners and associates are of course talented and devoted to their clients, but they are equally devoted to the firm, its staff, and each other. The firm gives new associates opportunities to develop their professional abilities quickly and more senior associates freedom in developing their own practices. And Hanson Bridgett's commitment to community service and pro bono work isn't just lip service; in fact, the management of the firm leads by example in those areas.
As a summer associate, I have received a variety of assignments from attorneys in almost every area of the firm, and have been given opportunities to make substantive contributions from the first day. The intellectual abilities and diverse personalities and backgrounds of my fellow summer associates have been refreshing and have enriched my summer experience immensely.
In my free time, I enjoy music, baseball, spending time with my dog Merlin, and reading science fiction and history.
Paul B. Gruwell
University of San Francisco School of Law (J.D. Candidate, 2007); Brigham Young University (B.S., 2004)
When I first interviewed with Hanson Bridgett, I was almost surprised by the firm's genuine interest in me as a person. Over the course of the summer, however, I have learned that a passion for life and an interest in people is simply part of the Hanson Bridgett culture.
What initially attracted me to Hanson Bridgett was its variety of practice areas, commitment to career development, and reputation as an ethical firm that allows and promotes a healthy work/life balance. Working with the firm as a summer associate, I have had the opportunity to get a real taste of how attorneys at Hanson Bridgett practice law. For example, I received an assignment to help prepare a case for oral argument before the First District Court of Appeal. The attorneys with whom I worked valued my opinions, relied on my work, and taught me practical skills that are not found in books or the classroom. This experience and other meaningful assignments have allowed me to interact with experienced attorneys as if I were a first year associate.
Building relationships with Hanson Bridgett attorneys this summer has taught me that this firm truly invests and takes a personal interest in its employees. The firm is concerned about one's development as an attorney, but also promotes and allows a healthy life outside of the firm. As a result, its attorneys have successful careers, are involved in the community, and have families. In a time when many associates frequently switch firms, it has been a pleasure to work for a firm that creates such an appealing culture. When I am not working, I enjoy running, rock climbing, baseball games, and family reunions. I also enjoy modern art, good music, classical literature.
C. Onye Ikwuakor
Stanford Law School (J.D. Candidate, 2008); Iowa State University (B.A., 2003)
I heard about Hanson Bridgett from a classmate who had worked at the firm the previous summer. She had nothing but good things to say about her experiences and made sure that Hanson Bridgett was on my radar as I began my job search. I was not familiar with the majority of the San Francisco firms, having grown up in Colorado and spending my college years in Iowa, therefore I ended up relying heavily on the knowledge of those who were more in-tune with the San Francisco legal market. When it came to Hanson Bridgett it seemed like no matter who I asked the message always stayed the same. Time and time again I was told that Hanson Bridgett was a great place to work.
After arriving at the firm I quickly came to realize that deciding to spend my summer at Hanson Bridgett was the best decision I could have made. The partners, associates, support staff and fellow summer clerks are all a joy to work with and the quality of the projects I have been assigned has been extremely high as well. In fact, within a couple days of starting work at the firm I was already working on a number of interesting and challenging assignments, researching issues and looking for answers to questions that the attorneys actually needed answered. In addition to working on numerous assignments from varied practice groups, my fellow summer clerks and I have been fortunate enough to attend court and arbitration hearings, tour the state capital, staff public interest clinics and meet and have discussions with incredibly accomplished and well respected judges.
This summer has been a lot of fun as well. Attending baseball games, dinners, and the theatre, just to name a few of the numerous activities, has given me a chance to get to know the attorneys better and demonstrated that this is a firm where the people genuinely like and care about one another. I can't say enough good things about Hanson Bridgett and consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend a summer in such a wonderful environment.
I enjoy traveling and am a huge fan of the Denver Broncos and Denver Nuggets. I spend most of my spare time watching movies, attempting to cook and trying to come up with excuses to avoid going to the gym.
Trent M. Latta
Golden Gate University, School of Law (J.D. Candidate, December 2006); Western Washington University (B.A., 2003)
I am extremely happy with my decision to join Hanson Bridgett for the summer. Of the law firms I interviewed with, Hanson Bridgett stood out as the most welcoming, supportive, and interesting by far. Its wide breadth of practice areas and outstanding attorneys would provide me with an excellent forum to develop and refine my legal writing and analytical skills. Now, having worked at Hanson Bridgett, I am positive I chose San Francisco's finest.
Hanson Bridgett has provided me with tremendous opportunities this summer. I have met clients, attended depositions and oral arguments, published an article, and drafted client letters. The summer truly is a working summer, in that the assignments are meaningful, and reflect actual life as a Hanson Bridgett attorney. Each attorney I have worked with has provided me with the mentorship, encouragement, and guidance necessary to produce a stellar work product. Beyond the challenging and interesting work, Hanson Bridgett's greatness is embodied in its attorneys and staff—each and every one of whom is approachable, helpful, nice, and has an appreciation for a good sense of humor.
Prior to joining Hanson Bridgett I worked at the Immigration Court, at the District Court for Judge Martin Jenkins, and for Associate Supreme Court Justice Marvin Baxter. I enjoy writing, fencing, theater, and playing the piano.
Angela M. Munoz
Stanford Law School (J.D. Candidate, 2008); Harvard University (AB, 2000)
When applying for summer associate positions last December, I conducted my job search with a very specific type of firm in mind. I wanted to work at a firm in the Bay Area with a close-knit, collegial culture that placed a high value on developing the careers of young attorneys. Because I was not sure which substantive area of law I wanted to pursue, I also wanted a place small enough for attorneys to be accessible, but large enough to provide a diverse array of interesting work. I found all of those things in Hanson Bridgett.
My main goal for this summer was learning about different substantive areas of the law, and the summer program has helped me meet this professional goal. I have worked with attorneys in the areas of employment, intellectual property, health care, finance, and public agency law. Everyone I have worked with has proven to be extremely helpful and accessible. I have also had the chance to develop my research and writing skills with an attentive writing coach. I have had fun along the way as well; working and socializing with the people at Hanson Bridgett has been a true delight!
I am a Bay Area native, which I think has contributed to my obsessions with good food and the outdoors. My personal interests are varied-- I like to read novels, the New York Times online, and Vanity Fair magazine, and love to catch live shows in San Francisco. I am a runner and lifelong Tahoe ski enthusiast as well.
Julie A. Sherman
University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law (J.D. Candidate, 2007); State University of New York, Buffalo (B.A., 1989)
Every firm that participates in the On-Campus Interview Program touts itself as supportive of diversity, committed to the community, and a place where new attorneys will be mentored and challenged. At Hanson Bridgett, those claims are not just recruitment hooks; they truly reflect my experience this summer. The firm has a reputation among professors and students at Boalt as being a wonderful place to work, and my expectations have definitely been exceeded. The summer program is well-run and there is a nice balance between work and fun. The assignments are varied and I have been able to work in areas in which I have an interest, such as Real Estate, Public Agency and Intellectual Property. I've also had the pleasure of exposure to practice areas that were not on my radar.
One thing that really stands out at Hanson Bridgett is the collegiality among the employees. The attorneys, both partners and associates, have all been a pleasure to work with, and everyone seems genuinely happy to answer questions and offer feedback. I have also met many wonderful people among the firm's staff, including several employees who have been with Hanson Bridgett for many, many years - a testament to the firm's exceptional environment.
In my spare time, I spoil my Labradoodle, Zoe, play as much tennis as possible, love hiking in the East Bay hills, and enjoy remodeling my Berkeley home.
Sharon W. Wu
University of California, Davis School of Law (J.D. Candidate, 2007); University of California, Berkeley (B.A., 2001)
I first learned of Hanson Bridgett while attending an event hosted by the Asian American Bar Association. The attorneys from Hanson Bridgett seemed genuinely happy and satisfied with their work. Their commitment to the community also instantly impressed me. During the on-campus interview process, Hanson Bridgett again stood out among the crowd with its close ties to the Bay Area community, and its commitment to both diversity and pro bono work. I knew this was the place I wanted to be this summer.
My summer so far has been very fulfilling. I worked on challenging and interesting assignments from various practice groups across the firm, and went on amazing outings with the rest of the summer associates. Everyone in the firm welcomes the summer associates with open arms and is very willing to answer our questions about the work and the firm. There is a team of coordinators and mentors helping us through every step of the process. Through it all, it is obvious that Hanson Bridgett is invested in helping the summer associates develop into effective and caring advocates for both the clients and the community.
In my spare time, I like to travel to new places, attend to my garden, and cheer for the Giants.
Non-Discrimination Policy: Hanson Bridgett LLP seeks to ensure a positive and diverse work culture where each person may work and develop professionally to the best of his or her ability free of unlawful discrimination or prejudice. To this end, the firm is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits unlawful discrimination or prejudice of any kind based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability, or pregnancy.
