September 2024

Shayna van Hoften specifically sought out Hanson Bridgett straight out of law school and public policy school at Cal. The San Mateo native knew exactly where she wanted to be and what she wanted to do: her goal was to get involved in the public service space in California and find a way to bring private sector resources to the table for the greater good. Her trajectory is fitting, from young campaign volunteer, heavily active in youth and civic organizations since middle and high school, to becoming an attorney within the Government Section at our values-driven firm. It was a natural fit, though that’s not to say there weren’t incredible challenges along the way.

Shayna recalls a time when she was the only female associate at Hanson Bridgett who was also a mother of two—a particularly “intense” period when, at times, she had to advocate for herself as an up-and-coming attorney with a promising future, while also nurturing the early lives of two young boys. Things have changed quite a bit since then—and not just because she’s now the shortest person in her family by a substantial margin. As Shayna puts it, one of the things she loves about this firm is that “once we break down a barrier, we’re not going back.”

“Shayna was the first person I ever met at Hanson Bridgett. Her enthusiasm for our clients was infectious even when I was just a law student trying to learn more about representing government agencies. I can always count on Shayna to share opportunities for professional development and networking. Shayna truly cares about the career development of those around her.” – Associate Brendan Adams, on receiving mentorship from Shayna

Today, Shayna cherishes Hanson Bridgett’s mentorship program and guides up-and-coming Government Section attorneys within the firm, likening her mentorship style to equal parts career coach, teacher, and big sister. Senior Associate Catherine Groves, a mentee of Shayna's for the past decade, describes her as "pure 'HB' – she gives back, cares about our clients, and takes her work seriously, but not herself," adding that Shayna has been "absolutely essential" to her own success. 

As a partner and chair of our Public Transit and Transportation practice, Shayna’s currently assisting California’s most innovative and well-known transit agencies accomplish their own lofty goals, such as operating 100 percent zero-emission fleets before 2040, ideally beating timelines mandated by the state.

“This is an area where we are better qualified and better situated in the marketplace than probably any other firm,” Shayna recently told a Daily Journal reporter, explaining that the firm’s various interconnected and collaborative practice groups function as a “one-stop shop for the legal services clients need to implement their Innovative Clean Transit plans.”

Outside of the firm, Shayna’s heavily involved in community nonprofits and public policy advocacy organizations, such as boys team charity, the East Bay Leadership Council, and (formerly, and for three decades) the Junior State of America.

October 17 will mark what Shayna excitedly refers to as her “HBiversary”—she’ll have been at the firm she calls home for two decades. “No two days are the same, and that’s what I love about my job,” she explains. “It’s the versatility, building and maintaining the client relationships, and getting to work with so many different wonderful people and practice groups within the firm as well.”

Here, she can simply be herself and feels that her colleagues are empowered to do the same.