It is very difficult to find the BEST words to describe the professionalism of Stephanie Rickard!…read moreWhat I can say is you will never find anyone who goes above and beyond in representing you. She has the respect from the judge, the courts, and everyone she comes in contact with. To include knowing all about the military and helping veterans goes way beyond my expectations. As far as service fee's they are very reasonable and worth every cent. From this point forward, I gained a best friend. Thank you for everything you do for me. I am forever in your debt!!!!

Stephanie is very good, professional, friendly and supportive. She helped me with my case and got…read morethe best result for me (dismissal!), which went far beyond my expectation. Stephanie worked hard to dig into the case details and was being very thoughtful and responsive all the time, even during the free consultation session! I asked Stephanie to represent me when my previous lawyer lost my trust over time by laying back and being unsupportive and unresponsive. After I switched to Stephanie, the quality of service she provided is such a surprise. Now I wish I would reach out to Stephanie in the first place!

Nan Bucknell is an outstanding DUI attorney. She is professional, knowledgeable, and very clear…read moreabout what to expect throughout the process. From the start, she was organized, responsive, and easy to communicate with. What really stands out is how confident and prepared she is. You can tell she has extensive experience in DUI law and takes her work seriously. She handles everything with professionalism and focus, which makes a stressful situation feel much more manageable. If you're looking for someone who is skilled, straightforward, and dependable, I highly recommend Nan Bucknell.

Nan is a superb, no-nonsense attorney. She defended a family member of ours for years and never…read morefailed to lay out complex legal issues for us in a concise, clear manner. She's responsive, diligent, smart - truly a consummate professional in and out of the courtroom. Maybe more importantly, she's also a kind, sympathetic person. She even made time to bring our sick dog to the animal hospital! Not for reward, she did it out of goodness of her heart. Nan Bucknell is an attorney on another level. If you need an ally in your corner, there's no one better.

Just hire him!! When my partner was charged with 2 DUI…read morecharges, it felt like his job, financial health, and freedom was at risk. Throughout the entire case, Brendan was RESPONSIVE, non-judgmental, and proactive. He answered every question and he has a great attitude that genuinely makes this incredibly difficult situation less stressful. You can FEEL that he has your back. He immediately sent us a list of things to work on to make my partner's case STRONG before he even had to face a judge so that when he did, he was set up for success. When you invest in a lawyer like Brendan, you are paying for his expertise and relationships with district attorneys that will help you favorable resolve your case. Brendan was able to get BOTH DUI charges dismissed to a lower charge. That help is invaluable and it could not have been done without him. Brendan is an expert at what he does and is worth every penny. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need legal help, please do yourself the favor of hiring him.

Our family used Brendan multiple times already and he still doing an outstanding job. so I had to…read morecome back on and give an update. Highly recommended ,easy to work with, and very responsive.

I cannot fully express how grateful I am to have had Scotty represent me. I was facing serious…read moredomestic violence-related charges and felt completely overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. After finding Scotty on Yelp and seeing his 5-star reviews, I reached out--and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have made. From our very first conversation, Scotty stood out. Even before I officially hired him, he took the time to explain my options and walk me through what to expect. His honesty and patience immediately gave me confidence that I was in good hands. Once he began handling my case, he exceeded my expectations. Scotty was always responsive by text and email, kept me informed throughout the process, and made an extremely stressful situation feel far more manageable. Most importantly, thanks to his knowledge and dedication, he was able to get my charges reduced to a non-domestic violence related infraction--an outcome that made a huge difference in my life. What truly sets Scotty apart is that he genuinely cares. He didn't treat me like just another case. He listened carefully, understood my situation, and showed real empathy every step of the way. If you're looking for an attorney who is knowledgeable, responsive, and truly committed to his clients, Scotty is the person you want on your side. I highly recommend him--especially if you're a military veteran.

Writing this long overdue review…read more Scotty helped me with a DUI that I got in Alameda county and was totally awesome. He was honest, fair and upfront about everything to be expected and he helped me every step of the way. He also helped me avoid an ignition-interlock device being installed in my car. 12 years later he reached out about Alemeda county's clean slate program which I am going to check out and see if I can get my record 100% cleared. His fees are totally reasonable too.

When searching a Criminal defense Lawyer, He came highly recommended! He was a public lawyer for 25…read moreyears then went into his own practice. The intake was quick and easy, then billing was straight forward. Payment can be made online. His professionalism and knowledge of the law was impeccable. Santa Clara court system cannot deny his tenacity and friendliness, they speak in very high regards. Even after I ran out of funding because of the pandemic he followed through transferring my case file to public defender. Giving full detail of what was happening and strategy for my case. Mr. Rios played a big roll in defending me and he speaks Spanish. Communication was easy by phone, in person , email , text . Before you speak to another criminal lawyers, I highly recommend talking to him immediately. Remember don't speak to law enforcement before speaking to a lawyer (YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT , DON'T LET LAW ENFORCEMENT TRICK YOU PLUS DON'T LET THEM IN YOUR HOUSE WITHOUT A SEARCH WARRANT , GO OUTSIDE LOCK YOUR DOOR & STAY SILENT AND STATE "I LIKE TO SPEAK TO A LAWYER BEFORE ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS" ) This can be a key from damaging your case. SILENCE IS A KEY! Mr. Rios played a key role of reuniting me and keeping our daughter. If you need a great criminal lawyer and speaks Spanish, don't hesitate to call Mr. Rios!!! Call him AS SOON AS POSSIBLE he could save your life. Bill A.

I needed an attorney for personal assault. Although Javier couldn't assist, he provided a plethora…read moreof information and provided a referral and for that he deserves the 5 stars. Thank you Javier! You're a GEM!

I am thankful for the way this law firm handled my case and I will always be thankful for their…read moreexpert services, especially Ms. Tennille Duffy. She is an expert at law, awesome professionalism exhibited from beginning till closure with meticulous planning, sincerity, guidance, execution, hard work, dedication and empathy. Legal system in this country is scary and results could be worse, even for a small mistake if not handled properly. I strongly suggest this firm for those who got caught in the legal system "web". It's hard to make your point, unless you have experts behind you, else you will be run over easily. It's hard to deal with a country's legal system and a organized force, unless you have experts like Ms. Duffy and Mr. Rabin and their staff and the entire firm. Thank you for everything.

I hired Summit Defense expecting them to fight the false accusations against me. Instead, I felt…read morepressured into accepting a no-contest plea because it was easier for them than actually defending my case. They made big promises, charged significant fees, and delivered very little. My experience was that they took advantage of hardworking middle-class people who trusted them to provide a strong defense. I would not recommend their services.

The prices two high, and pressured to make a do automatic payment. I did not feel comfortable using…read moretheir service. I thought it was a lot of pressure to get me to sign a contract for their services. I waited in the office, and I saw other individuals come into the office and make payment. But they wanted me to use my credit card to do auto payment. I thought that was really odd.

I am very satisfied with the service that I received from this lawyer. He was very helpful and very…read morethorough and made my life a lot easier. I would definitely use him in the future.

Finding Law Offices of William V. Pernik was one of the best decisions I've ever made…read more As a disabled Army veteran living with PTSD, I was facing one of the most stressful situations of my life. William Pernik didn't just represent me--he fought for me. He drove from Salinas to Palo Alto multiple times for my hearings, and every time he walked into the courtroom he projected confidence, preparation, and professionalism. What impressed me most was his ability to stand his ground. He was direct, persuasive, and never intimidated. Watching him advocate on my behalf gave me confidence when I needed it most. Thanks to his hard work, my case was successfully diverted into Military Veterans Court, giving me an opportunity that truly changed my life. His background as a longtime public defender and his extensive experience representing veterans and clients facing mental health challenges clearly showed throughout my case. Walking out of court after the successful outcome was a moment I'll never forget. It felt like a tremendous weight had finally been lifted. If you're looking for a criminal defense attorney who genuinely cares, fights relentlessly for his clients, and knows how to navigate the justice system, I cannot recommend William Pernik highly enough. If you're a veteran, you'll be in especially good hands. Thank you, William, for giving me a second chance. It was money well spent.

Phone consultation was helpful It's just too bad my…read moresituation was too risky to invest in Thanks anyway folks

Not Guilty. Faith in God and confidence in our son's attorney, Cameron Bowman, emboldened me to…read morewrite those words on the beach during a break in our son's trial. Two days later they were the words read by the foreperson when the jury delivered its verdict. They were the two words that ended our 3-year nightmare. From the moment that Cameron Bowman chose to represent our son, he fought each and every method of injustice that would have caged our son for an unfathomable term of 85 years to life. Mr. Bowman countered every legal blow while guiding us through a nearly unbearable process. He listens intently while strategically processing information. He has a legally brilliant and gifted mind. I am not alone in this assessment. Mr. Bowman is a masterful trial attorney. Those present during the trial watched with reverence. He's a showman, in command of the jury which he flawlessly captivated. It's clear that using the law to uphold justice is his passion, which explains how he can be so compassionate and yet fight so fearlessly. He's unabashedly confident without an ounce of arrogance. Simply put, Cameron Bowman is in command. He's both friend and fixer. He was able to uncover the truth, and engage in a revolutionary act of presenting it so forcefully that every wrong was made right. We hired the most respected expert. Gave him the facts. Trusted him. Our son is a disabled military veteran. Trust does not come easily for him, but Mr. Bowman made the connection and they were able to fully engage in the case together. The criminal justice system is too flawed for anyone who is justice-involved to gamble with his/her freedom. Mr. Bowman is a freedom fighter. Having such an exceptional attorney was our antidote against risks and regrets. Cameron Bowman with the support of his partners, Patrick Valencia, Riccardo Ippolito, office manager Anniesa Jimenez, and the entire outstanding VIB Law team saved our son's life. Justice, it's what Cameron Bowman delivered. Our family is forever grateful! One of many life changing things that I have learned from this experience is that it is okay to be sad, but you don't have to suffer. Hope is not good enough. You too can take action to end your despair, give Mr. Bowman a call, then watch him work!

Update July 7, 2026 at 7:42 am: Mental health diversion was actually available June 2018. I…read morecouldn't care less for their "empathy." Empathy changes nothing. Update June 25, 2026 at 11:33 am: It has been alleged that mental health diversion was not an available option at the time of my plea. I entered my plea in September 2018 and was sentenced January 2019. Mental health diversion was signed into law in July 2018. Here is my source: https://capcentral.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Judge-Couzens-Mental-Health-Diversion-MAY-2024.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com Make no mistake about it: Patrick Valencia deserves to be disbarred. He would be performing a kindness for the local community by retiring. I retained Patrick Valencia in April 2018 to represent me in a criminal case. I had been accused of a crime by someone who raped me. I let Patrick Valencia know there was a strong mental health component to my case. I was unaware at the time that Santa Clara County had a mental health court, so when he claimed the best outcome was for me to plead to a felony, being inexperienced with the system I believed him and served three years' probation. The felony plea contributed in large part to my expulsion from University. Years later I was arrested for the same conduct concerning the same rapist and this time was represented by the Public Defender's Office at no charge to me. I received a much better outcome without having to spend $7500 on a retainer. I was granted mental health diversion and my charge was dismissed. I complained to the State Bar and Patrick Valencia, even after being notified I am aware of his misconduct, refuses to so much extend the courtesy of a refund even though he did NOTHING for me besides ruining my life. Not to mention, from serving three years' probation and being expelled from University I suffered massive financial losses. Thankfully a new law was passed, vacatur, where survivors of sexual violence can petition to have their rap sheet erased. But even so, nothing will repair the lost time and opportunities I suffered because of this shameful, incompetent rape apologist. Did I mention he screamed at me outside of the courtroom asking if I was a nasty woman? That's how he treats his clients. Steer clear from this firm. I notice I am not the only former client he has mistreated. I encourage all of this scoundrel's victims to report him to the State Bar.

Dmitry is awesome. I kind of think I should just leave it there, but I know, I should elaborate…read more.. My girlfriend has had to deal with a pesky ex who keeps trying to file bogus protective orders. Right away Dmitry understood the case. He listened to my girlfriend, did the research on all the prior harassing court behavior by the ex, and just got it. We didn't have to waste time walking him through the story. However, what was most impressive about Dmitry was how prepared and knowledgable he was about the Santa Clara courts. He correctly predicted the behavior and moves of the overly litigious ex, and was able to aptly and professionally steer the entire proceedings. In the courtroom, Dmitry's skills were on full display. He might've made 15 objections, and 14 of them were sustained. Conversely, the opposing counsel might've might 20 objections and 17 were overruled; Dmitry was simply head-and-shoulders more skilled in the courtroom than the opposing counsel. At one point, the judge got so frustrated with the opposing counsel that he began asking for Dmitry's input on questions he was trying to ask the opposing counsel; clearly the judge respected him. For prep, he was also great. My girlfriend can get a little...let's say "disorganized" when being questioned, and can easily stray off topic. Dmitry did a wonderful job prepping them to take the stand and giving them a sense for what questions would and wouldn't get asked. In every facet, we both loved working with Dmitry. He was friendly, but serious and professional. We're fully expecting the ex to file more bogus claims, and we would absolutely return to Dmitry to squash those as well. He's even mindful of the costs involved, and doesn't waste time or try running the clock up to bill more. Again, every facet of working with him was professional.

Dmitry provided outstanding representation. From our very first interaction, he was communicative,…read moreprofessional, and completely reassuring during a stressful time. He achieved the best possible outcome for us, and his guidance throughout the process was invaluable. I would recommend his services to anyone!