Deborah Knefel

*Licensed in California only Experienced Litigator - Former Corporate/ Municipal Lawyer for City of Anaheim General Advisory and ("First Chair"​) Litigation Counsel with over 25 years experience in Business, Administrative, Government, Tort, Real Estate, Employment, Labor, Constitutional and Civil Rights Litigation and over 20 civil jury trials (100% success trial record in defense of peace officers against excessive force/wrongful death and civil rights allegations) Ms. Pernice Knefel also serves as a Contract Hearing Officer in administrative matters. Ms. Knefel served as a Deputy City Attorney in Anaheim, California advising, representing and litigating on behalf of the human resources, building and planning, public works, traffic engineering, utilities, police, fire, community services, parks and recreation departments, as well as the convention center, stadium and other city entertainment venues. Her work at the city involved many high profile trials and the successful defense of the city and its employees, mitigating or eliminating their exposure to millions of dollars in liability. Since retiring from Anaheim. had served as counsel for several other public agencies in Orange and Los Angeles County. Ms. Knefel has represented individuals and small businesses in harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and discrimination cases, contract and real estate transactions and other general civil litigation. Reported cases: People v. Buza, 4 Cal. 5th 658 (2018); ACLU v. Superior Court, 3 Cal.5th 1032 (2017), 236 Cal.App.4th 673 (2015) Drummond v. City of Anaheim, 343 F.3d 1052 (9th Cir. 2003) Walter E. Heller Western, Inc. v. Bloxham, 176 Cal. App. 3d 266 (1985) ABOTA-member, American Board of Trial Advocates Individually AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell (former) Judge Pro Tempore, Appointed Arbitrator - Orange County, California Certified Toastmaster Practice Areas: Labor, Employment, Wage & Hour, Civil Rights, Municipal & Administrative Law, General Tort & Business Litigation