Press Releases

Attorneys Are Members of Environmental, Business and Municipal Law Practices

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2013
Media Contact: Jennifer Bowles • 951.826.8480 • jennifer.bowles@BBKlaw.com

RIVERSIDE, Calif. _ Best Best & Krieger LLP recently hired five entry-level attorneys across Southern California who were summer interns at the firm during law school.

The new associates graduated from law school last year, and were interns at BB&K in the summer of 2011.

“We are glad to bring aboard such well-rounded associates. For several of the new attorneys, law is a second career, allowing us to offer that added depth of experience to our clients,” said Danielle Sakai, a Riverside-based partner at BB&K who specializes in environmental law and chairs the firm’s recruiting committee.

The new associates in the Riverside office are:

Jennifer J. Kunz, who focuses on environmental, natural resources and land use law as a member of the firm’s environmental law and natural resources practice group. Prior to law school, she worked for several years as a land use and environmental planning consultant, serving both public and private sector clients throughout California. Kunz is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a LEED-accredited professional. She holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of California at Irvine. Kunz received her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Jeremiah J. Lee, a member of the firm’s business services practice group who concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, non-profit law and business litigation. Lee graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law where he was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship & the Law. While in law school, he served as an extern to U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II in Los Angeles and interned in London under the local general counsel for an international investment management firm. Prior to beginning his legal career, Lee worked with a global management consulting firm and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Lee is a third-generation native of Riverside where he continues to live.

The new associate in Ontario is:

Thomas A. Rice, a member of the firm’s municipal law practice group who provides transactional advice for cities, counties, water districts and joint powers authorities on a wide range of issues. Prior to joining BB&K, Rice worked as a finance office and special projects specialist at Groundwork Manchester, a charity in England that is engaged in the sustainable redevelopment of communities through joint environmental action. He is a LEED-accredited professional. Rice was recently appointed to a three-year term on the board of the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County, a non-profit that works with communities to empower low-income residents to achieve self-sufficiency. During law school, Rice interned for the County of Riverside Office of Legal Counsel, where he worked on a variety of matters including numerous code enforcement cases. Rice received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign, Ill. 

The new attorneys in San Diego are:

Richard L. Hyde, whose practice focuses on real property litigation, title insurance litigation, commercial litigation, municipal and public entity representation, and civil code enforcement and litigation. He is a member of the firm’s municipal law practice group. He received his law degree from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School. Prior to joining BB&K, Hyde interned with the California Attorney General's correctional law section. He also externed with U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner in Utah.

Marco A. Verdugo, who joined the special districts practice and is working on water quality issues, eminent domain and election law for various public agency clients. Licensed in California as a general engineering contractor, Verdugo helped oil companies, cities and utilities comply with air quality and water quality regulations relating to underground and aboveground storage tanks before he turned to a legal career. During law school, Verdugo interned at the Chula Vista City Attorney's Office where he assisted on various municipal law and California Environmental Quality Act issues. He also volunteered at the University of San Diego Legal Clinic where he assisted low-income individuals with landlord/tenant and contract issues. Verdugo received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.