Shelley Kramer

About Shelley Kramer

Let\'s make the legal system work for you. My passion is helping people resolve legal disputes and disagreements, through trial or settlement, efficiently and effectively. My experience includes over 35 jury trials on behalf of individuals and businesses throughout Northern California. While trial is always an option, letting strangers decide your case should typically be the last resort. Often a negotiated settlement is best all around.Should you settle or fight? Where the stakes are high, early assessment of the risks and options is key. Shrewd businesses appreciate the importance of an early evaluation of the merits of each case, coupled with budgeting their \"legal spend,\" to assess the wisdom of going forward and to choose the best course of action.I have defended national and commercial clients such as Macy\'s and The Emporium, UPS, J. C. Penney, and many smaller businesses and individuals, in premises, products, services, auto and trucking cases. One dramatic UPS case was turned around when our appeal succeeded; eventually we recouped over $1 million for our client.On the plaintiff\'s side, after a three-week jury trial, I recovered a jury verdict of the height of the banking crisis in 2008- for the estate of an elderly man who was victimized by his bank.I have represented employers in wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment cases, and have defended lender/broker and landlord/tenant liability cases. While the rules of substantive area of law may vary, the skills involved in strategic negotiation and trial are always key.I currently serve as a volunteer Judge pro tem for Marin Superior Court, on the Board of Directors for the Marin County Bar Association, and on the Board of Marin Women Lawyers. I am a co-delegate to California Women Lawyers.

Experience

1. Senior Attorney

   Cholakian & Associates

   Nov 2024 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   Taking on the defense of an exciting group of cases, with a venerable trial lawyer at the helm!

Education

• University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings)

  JD, Law

  1975 — 1978

• UCLA

  B.A., Economics, Political Science

  1971 — 1975

Skills

• Class Actions
• Mediation
• Public Liability
• Trade Secrets
• Insurance Law
• Employment Discrimination
• Trials
• Legal Assistance
• Construction Law
• Litigation Support
• Jury Trials
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Litigation Management
• Liability
• Legal Advice
• Appeals
• Legal Research
• Breach of Contract
• Westlaw
• Dispute Resolution
• Depositions
• Corporate Law
• Courts
• Premises Liability
• Torts
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Dispute
• Commercial Litigation
• Product Liability
• Civil Litigation
• Discrimination
• Intellectual Property
• Personal Injury
• Trial Practice
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Hearings
• Employment Law