Principal KAREN A HOLMES has over 26 years experience as a successful litigator and trial attorney specializing in civil litigation and professional casualty defense matters. The firm’s professional clients often turn to Ms. Holmes on matters of contract negotiations, risk management and pre-litigation resolution between ongoing business partners. She is a well-respected author, teacher and speaker. Ms. Holmes has extensive trial experience before juries, judges and arbitrators. She has successfully defended business and tort cases for a variety of the firm’s clients. She is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell and has served as Judge Pro Tem as well as arbitrator and mediator for the San Diego Superior Court.  Ms. Holmes has counseled the firms clients in a variety of matters given the breadth of her experience including

• Defense of architects and engineers against claims of professional malpractice for design and engineering of soils, on and off-site utilities, roads, walls and commercial, residential and industrial structures, including analysis of claims of damages for repair costs, extras and delay claims
• Defense verdicts in favor of and creation of strategic defenses for developers and builders in construction claims on multifamily residential projects, including single family and attached homes, including prosecution of indemnity rights
• Long standing handling of a variety of claims asserted against elevator and escalator manufacturers, including products liability and premises liability claims in facilities as diverse as airports, high rise office towers, apartment and condominium complexes
• Other complex claims involving contract disputes, toxic tort claims, products liability, transportation and other general civil litigation, many involving multiple million dollar exposure
• Contract review and negotiation, and risk management counseling on behalf of design professionals and builder/developers, including insurance, risk transfer, and indemnity rights
• Ms. Holmes has been invited to present on a variety of topics to a wide array of audiences including the Defense Research Institute, American Meteorological Society, DPRCG Loss Prevention Convocation, and Lorman Educational Services AIA Contract Seminars