San Jose, Calif., Jan. 4 2024 – Hopkins & Carley is pleased to announce that Erika J. Gasaway, Liam J. O’Connor, and Jeffrey M. Ratinoff have been promoted to the position of shareholder, effective January 1, 2024. All three attorneys are based in the firm’s San Jose office.

“Erika, Liam, and Jeff embody the principles, talents, and legal skill that Hopkins & Carley is known for,” said Managing Shareholder Jennifer C. Johnson. “I am proud and delighted to welcome them to the shareholder ranks and look forward to their continued growth with the firm and within their respective practices.”

Gasaway, previously of counsel, serves as a member of the firm’s Trust & Estate Litigation and Real Estate practices. She represents and advises professional fiduciaries, trustees, beneficiaries, high-net-worth individuals, families, and their businesses on a range of complex litigation matters, including undue influence, fiduciary duties, elder abuse, quiet title, easements, and partitions. Gasaway is a recognized author and speaker within the industry. She is an involved member of the California Lawyers Association’s Trusts and Estate Section, Silicon Valley Bar Association, San Mateo County Bar Association, and the Rotary Club of San Jose. Gasaway earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.

O’Connor, previously an associate, is a member of the firm’s Financial Institutions and Creditors’ Rights practice group. His experience includes complex litigation on behalf of financial institutions, individuals, real estate agents and brokers, and various commercial entities. His practice focuses on creditor-side litigation; loan workouts; forbearance/loan modification agreements; loan sale agreements; real property and mixed collateral foreclosures; Commercial Code Article 9 enforcement; real estate litigation, pre-judgment enforcement remedies such as writs of attachment and appointment of receiver; and creditor-side bankruptcy. He has also developed extensive experience enforcing multi-million dollar judgments against individuals, corporations, and limited liability companies. O’Connor serves as chair of the Board of Directors for History San Jose, as a member of California Lawyers Association’s Business Law Section, a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, a member of the William A. Ingram American Inn of Court, a committee member and former board member of the San Jose Downtown Association, a former board member of the Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum, and an alumni of Community Leadership San Jose. He earned his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, where he served as editor of the Santa Clara Law Review and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society; and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Ratinoff, previously Of Counsel, is an intellectual property litigator with 25 years of experience representing clients in technology-driven litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and the International Trade Commission. His patent litigation practice includes representing clients from a range of sectors, including computer design and manufacturing companies, data storage device manufacturers, software companies, smartphone and tablet makers, network security providers, semiconductor and memory chip fabricators, electro-optical device manufacturers, and defense and firearms industries. He also has extensive experience protecting and defending clients’ IP rights in trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, unfair competition, anti-piracy, false advertising, trade libel, and copyright infringement matters. Complementing his litigation experience, he regularly advises clients on IP protection and enforcement programs, including implementing procedures and safeguards for protecting inventions, trade secrets, and other confidential information. Ratinoff participates in Hopkins & Carley's pro bono partnership with the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office to take trial-level felony cases and appeals. Additionally, he is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, and Vanderbilt Alumni Association. He earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School and bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from the University of California, San Diego.