Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP

PROFESSIONALS

* Not a member of the State Bar of California ** Of Counsel

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Employment Law Environmental Law Family Law Litigation Municipal & Special District Law Natural Resources & Land Use Law Personal Injury Business & Civil Litigation

EDUCATION

J.D., San Joaquin College of Law
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Rissa A. Stuart is a partner in the law firm of Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, concentrating in general civil litigation, with an emphasis in matters involving business transactions, automobile accidents, agriculture, environmental issues, municipal law, land use, employment disputes, contract disputes and family law. She has extensive experience in state and federal court litigation, as well as appellate court experience. She is a strong client advocate with solid experience representing Plaintiffs or Defendants in the litigation or appellate arena. Rissa is admitted to practice before all courts in the state of California, the United States District Court, including the Eastern, Central, and Northern Districts of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Rissa's representative work includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Litigation:

Successfully defended against numerous citizen suits challenging actions taken by the City of Hanford related to land development, CEQA, land use, zoning and/or LAFCO, at the state and appellate level.

Adrian Hernandez, et al v. City of Hanford, et al. The Hernandez' sued the City of Hanford challenging a zoning ordinance regulating business location. The City prevailed in the Superior Court and ultimately prevailed in the California Supreme Court, when its zoning ordinance was upheld.

Successful intervention in citizen suits, on behalf of an association comprised of agricultural and industry based members, related to enforcement of the Clean Air Act, to ensure agriculture and industry is present in air litigation, which impacts the industry.

Business litigation in state and federal courts involving contractual issues, negligence, unfair competition and a myriad of issues.

Personal Injury.

Plaintiff personal injury and wrongful death matters resolved favorably for our clients through settlement, mediation or trial.

Employment Litigation/Administrative.

Rissa regularly represents employers, public and private, in a variety of labor and employment issues or related issues, including, but not limited to wage and hour claims, Fair Employment and Housing Act administrative claims, discrimination, sexual harassment, FMLA, and ADA issues, and labor negotiations.

Rissa received a Bachelor of Arts degree, in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1982 and received her Juris Doctor Degree With High Honors from San Joaquin College of Law in 1993. She was admitted to the California Bar in 1993. While attending law school, she was the Editor-in-Chief of the San Joaquin College of Law, Agricultural Law Review. Rissa was also an extern to the Honorable William Stone, Associate Justice, California Court of Appeals, Fifth Appellate District, from 1993-1994.

Rissa is a member of the California State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Kings County Bar Association, and the San Joaquin Valley Association of Business Trial Lawyers ("SJV ABTL"). Rissa is the recently elected Secretary of the ABTL Chapter. She is also quite active in the local community. Rissa is an active member of the Hanford Sunset Rotary, where the focus is on community service, including local education and youth projects, and international service projects. She was the Outstanding President in the District and Hanford Sunset Rotary was the Outstanding Club in the District, for the 2006-2007 year. Rissa was an advisor for the local YMCA Youth and Government Program, serving local high school students from 2000 - 2007, she served on the YMCA Board from 2000 - 2006, and was named Volunteer of the Year for the YMCA of Kings County in 2002.