Attorney Profiles

Shannon V. Baker
Adam J. Richards
Jon-Paul Valcarenghi
Kendall Dawson Wasley
Michael Rothschild
M. Bradley Wishek
Michael S. Sands
Quin Denvir

Shannon V. Baker, Partner

Ms. Baker joined Rothschild Wishek & Sands LLP as a trial attorney in 2001. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from San Diego State University and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Prior to joining Rothschild Wishek & Sands LLP, she worked at the San Diego County Public Defender's Office and the San Diego Office of the Alternate Public Defender.

Ms. Baker's practice will continue to emphasize the defense of persons and businesses accused of crime in adult and juvenile courts in Sacramento and Northern California counties. Her professional experience includes the defense of individuals, businesses and public officials against a wide array of criminal allegations, from theft, sexual offenses, crimes of violence and vehicular homicide, to white collar crimes and regulatory offenses. She will also continue to represent teachers and other licensed professionals in disciplinary investigations and proceedings.

Adam J. Richards, Associate

Email: arichards@rwslaw.com

Adam Richards represents individuals accused of crime in California trial courts and professionals in disciplinary licensing proceedings. After earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, San Diego, Mr. Richards graduated from California Western School of Law in 2007. He is an avid firearms enthusiast and has extensive expertise in the complex laws regulating the use and possession of firearms. Since joining the practice, Mr. Richards has handled the firm’s cases involving the alleged illegal possession or use of firearms and related offenses.

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Professional Licensing; Administrative Law.

Admitted: 2007, California

Law School: California Western School of Law, J.D., 2007

College: University of California, San Diego, B.A., 2004

Member: Sacramento County Bar Association, and American Bar Associations; National Association of Criminal Lawyers; California Attorneys for Criminal Lawyers; California DUI-Lawyers Association.

Born: Santa Monica, California, February 8, 1981

ISLN: 919575675

Jon-Paul Valcarenghi, Associate

Email: jpv@rwslaw.com

Mr. Valcarenghi's practice emphasizes legal representation of clients accused of crime or facing license review by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Department of Motor Vehicles. He has represented individuals and licensed professionals charged with driving under the influence, battery, theft, domestic violence and drug offenses. Mr. Valcarenghi is licensed to practice in all California courts and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Mr. Valcarenghi graduated from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2004. While there, he participated in the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition and helped his team advance to the finals held in Washington D.C. He also participated in the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition and helped his team advance to the finals in Honolulu, Hi. Mr. Valcarenghi served as a Teaching Assistant in the International Advocacy Program while attending McGeorge and, at graduation, received the Order of the Barristers in recognition of his achievements in McGeorge's advocacy programs.

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Professional Licensing; Administrative Law.

Admitted: 2004, California

Law School: McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 2004

College: Pacific Union College, B.S.B.A., 1998

Member: Sacramento County and American Bar Associations; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice.

Born: Pontiac, Michigan, December 31, 1974

ISLN: 918228251

Kendall Dawson Wasley, Associate

Email: kdawson@rwslaw.com

Ms. Dawson Wasley's practice focuses on legal representation of clients accused of crime or facing license review by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing or the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Ms. Dawson Wasley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Southern California and graduated with distinction from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. She is a member of The Order of the Coif and the Robert Traynor Honor Society. Prior to joining Rothschild Wishek & Sands, LLP, Ms. Dawson Wasley participated on a legal defense team before a United States Military Commission. She also has experience as a civil litigator and had the honor of serving as a judicial extern to the Honorable Morrison C. England, Jr., of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California.

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Professional Licensing; Administrative Law.

Admitted: 2007, California

Law School: McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, J.D., 2007

College: University of Southern California, B.A., 2004

Member: Sacramento and American Bar Associations; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Born: Santa Rosa, California, March 11, 1982

Michael Rothschild, Of Counsel

Email: mrothschild@rwslaw.com

Michael Rothschild has honed his trial skills in over 30 years of experience representing plaintiffs in civil litigation and defense of persons charged with felony offenses. In both arenas Mr. Rothschild has focused on psychological issues in general and those affecting children in specific. Emphasis of his criminal defense work has been upon sex-molest and abuse cases. Since 1991 Mr. Rothschild has been recognized by and included within the publication "The Best Lawyers in America" and is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Rothschild is Past President of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice. Mr. Rothschild regularly lectures upon trial skills to the National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center and has served both as trainer and program director of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice Trial Skills Workshop at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California. In addition, Mr. Rothschild has taught trial skill seminars to the organization previously known as the California Trial Lawyers Association and on behalf of CEB - California Continuing Education of the Bar. He has also presented to California trial judges through the continuing education program of the California Judicial Council. Mr. Rothschild is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and U.C. Hastings College of the Law.

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Professional Licensing; Political Law; Administrative Law.

Admitted: 1969, California; 1975, U.S. Supreme Court

Law School: University of California, Hastings College of Law, J.D.

College: University of California, Berkeley, B.S.

Member: State Bar of California; American Association for Justice (formerly The Association of Trial Lawyers of America); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice.

Biography: Master of the Bench, Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Law, 1991-. Vice President, 1988-1989 and President, 1990-1991, California Attorneys For Criminal Justice. Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 1991-. Member, Board of Governors, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice Foundation, 1993-1995.

Reported Cases: Hatton v. Bonner (2004) 356 F.3d 955; Townsend v. Superior Court (1975) 15 Cal.3d 774; Newland v. Board of Governors (1977) 9 Cal.3d 705; Lorenzana v. Superior Court (1973) 9 Cal.3d 626; California v. Orin (1975) 13 Cal.3d 937; Brosnahan v. Brown (1982) 32 Cal.3d 236; Gebremicael v. California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (2004) 118 Cal App 4th 1477; California Teachers Association v. Commission on Teacher Credentialing (2003) 111 Cal. App. 4th 1001; People v. Superior Court (Frietag) (1988) 204 Cal. App. 3d 247; People v. Lopez (1975) 52 Cal. App. 3d 263; People v. Thomas (1975) 44 Cal. App. 3d 573; Walker v. Superior Court (1974) 37 Cal App. 3d 938; Dudley v. Superior Court (1974) 36 Cal. App. 3d 977.

Born: Miami, Florida, September 24, 1942

ISLN: 901976275

M. Bradley Wishek, Partner

Email: bwishek@rwslaw.com

Mr. Wishek's practice emphasizes the defense of persons and businesses accused of crime, including aggressive representation through independent investigation during government and law enforcement investigations. His practice includes criminal and white collar defense on behalf of corporations and businesses, individuals, public officials, and licensed professionals.

He has experience in defending almost every kind of criminal allegation, including drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter, assault, firearms, rape, embezzlement, insurance fraud, kidnapping, environmental, health care, consumer and tax fraud, and other regulatory crimes.

Mr. Wishek is listed in the peer-reviewed publications Best Lawyers in America and Northern California Super Lawyers, and he has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available from this peer-reviewed publication. He has successfully litigated numerous precedent-setting cases in the Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court.

Mr. Wishek is an adjunct professor of law in the trial practice program at the University of California at Davis School of Law, and frequently serves as a presenter on a variety of legal topics in the areas of criminal defense and trial practice. He and the firm are active in the community, and Mr. Wishek serves on the Board of Directors for a local drug and alcohol treatment program which serves the homeless community in Sacramento.

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Professional Licensing.

Admitted: 1986, California

Law School: University of California School of Law at Davis, J.D., 1985

College: Claremont McKenna College, B.A., cum laude, 1981

Member: Sacramento County (Co-chair, Criminal Law Section, 1989-1990; Member, Indigent Criminal Defense Panel Committee, 1994-1995) and American Bar Associations; The State Bar of California; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice; Criminal Defense Lawyers of Sacramento (Board Member, 1993-; Vice President, 1995-1996); Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, 1989-1991; Master of the Bench, Milton L. Schwartz Inn of Court, 1992-1997 and 2001-.

Biography: Listed, Best Lawyers in America. Adjunct Instructor, Trial Practice, University of California at Davis School of Law, 1996-.

Reported Cases: Hughey v. Department of Motor Vehicles 235 Cal.App.3d 752 (1991); Bunnell v. Superior Court 21 Cal. App. 4th 1811 (1994); Ream v. Superior Court 48 Cal.App. 4th 1812 (1996); In re Jennings 34 Cal. 4th 254(2004).

Born: Pasadena, California, June 25, 1959

ISLN: 902676570

Michael S. Sands, Retired Partner

Email: msands@rwslaw.com

For over 30 years Michael Sands has been considered to be one of the best criminal defense attorneys in Northern California. He has defended felony cases in Superior Courts throughout California and in U. S. District Court. He has successfully argued cases before the California Supreme Court (Kellett v. Superior Court, 63 Cal. 2d 822) and the Court of Appeal (People v. Superior Court (DuVal), 198 Cal.App. 3d 1121.)

Mr. Sands has defended every kind of felony case, including capital cases, political corruption, homicides, drug offenses and child sexual molestation allegations. He has also presided over jury trials in both criminal and civil cases.

Mr. Sands was born in New York in 1937. He received his undergraduate degree with distinction from the University of Arizona and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He received his law degree from Stanford University.

Mr. Sands served as Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Legal Advocacy at McGeorge School of Law of the University of the Pacific. The author of "The Therapeutic Abortion Act", 13 UCLA Law Review 285, he has also authored and co-authored numerous case files for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Early in his career Mr. Sands served for five years as Sacramento County Assistant Public Defender. He was elected to the Sacramento City Council and served for eight years, four of them as Vice Mayor. He has also served as president of the Sacramento County Bar Association and the Sacramento Barrister's Club, executive council member of the State Bar Conference of Barristers, member of the Board of Directors of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, one of the founders of the California Public Defenders Association, member of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, and Master of the Bench, Emeritus, of the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court.

Mr. Sands has been honored as Attorney of the Year by the Sacramento County Bar Association and the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Sacramento, and was selected as Sacramento's Outstanding Young Man by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. For many years he has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been included in The Best Lawyers in America.

Practice Areas: Litigation.

Admitted: 1963, California; 1977, U.S. Supreme Court

Law School: Stanford University, LL.B., 1962

College: University of Rochester; University of Arizona, B.S., with distinction, 1959

Member: Sacramento County Bar Association (President, 1985); State Bar of California (Member, Executive Council, Conference of Barristers, 1968-1971); California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (Member, Board of Governors, 1982-1988); California Public Defenders Association (Founder, 1969); American Board of Criminal Lawyers (1981-1992); Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court (Master of the Bench, Emeritus, 1988-1995).

Biography: Phi Kappa Phi. Author, The Therapeutic Abortion Act, 13 University of California, Los Angeles Law Review 285, 1966. Professor of Law and Director, Center for Legal Advocacy, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, 1991-1996. Assistant Public Defender, Sacramento County, 1965-1970. Sacramento City Councilman, 1970-1977. Vice Mayor, Sacramento, 1971-1975.

Reported Cases: Kellett v. Superior Court 63 Cal.2d 822 (1966); In re Dennis M. 70 Cal. 2d 444 (1969); People v. Superior Court (DuVal) 198 Cal.App. 3d 1121(1988).

Born: New York, New York, February 21, 1937

ISLN: 904050705

Quin Denvir, Of Counsel

Email: qdenvir@rwslaw.com

Quin Denvir joined the firm in January, 2006. Mr. Denvir is a nationally recognized trial and appellate lawyer. As the Federal Public Defender in Sacramento from 1996 to 2005, he defended complex and high profile prosecutions and argued landmark cases before the United States Supreme Court. He has briefed and argued three cases before the United States Supreme Court, over twenty-five cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, over twenty-five cases before the California Supreme Court and over fifty cases before the California Court of Appeal.

In 1989 Mr. Denvir received the prestigious Annual Award presented by California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and in 1998 received that statewide bar association's Presidents Award. In 1998 Mr. Denvir received the Special Recognition Award of the California Public Defender's Association.

Mr. Denvir is a cum laude graduate of Notre Dame University and the University of Chicago Law School. His practice includes representation of clients on appeals and writs within the federal and state appellate courts and defense of white collar and other prosecutions in state and federal trial courts.

Mr. Denvir was lead counsel in the 'Unabomber' Theodore Kaczynski trial. He also represented former state schools chief William Honig in the appeal of his conflict of interest conviction, Michelle 'Batgirl' Cummiskey, who was charged with the brutal slaying of a Sacramento man, and Reza Eslaminia, who was charged in the Billionaire Boys Club murder of the former Iranian official who was his father.

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Appellate Practice.

Admitted: 1969, District of Columbia; 1971, California

Law School: University of Chicago, J.D., with honors, 1969

College: University of Notre Dame, A.B., 1962; The American University, M.A., 1966

Biography: Order of Coif. Member, University of Chicago Law Review. Federal Defender, 1996-2005. State Public Defender, 1976-1984. Member, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, 1986-Present.

Military: Lt., U.S. Navy, 1962-1966

Reported Cases: Jones v. United States, 526 U.S. 227 (1999); Roe v. Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. 470 (2000); Ewing v. California, 538 U.S. 11 (2003).

Born: Chicago, Illinois, May 27, 1940

ISLN: 907905194