AALRR Proudly Welcomes Nationally Recognized Attorneys to Its Student Services and Special Education Team
On Monday, February 28th, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo strengthened its Student Services and Disabilities Law practice group by adding three prominent attorneys with significant experience serving California’s school districts and county offices of education. Jack B. Clarke, Jr., Cathy S. Holmes, and Annalisa S. Maitz all joined AALRR having previously worked with the law firm Best Best & Krieger. Mr. Clarke and Ms. Holmes both joined as partners in AALRR’s Riverside office. Ms. Maitz joined as an associate working out of AALRR’s Sacramento office.
Mr. Clarke is a nationally recognized expert in all aspects of student disability laws, and brings with him 35 years of experience in administrative and court litigation involving all aspects of the IDEA, Section 504, ADA and state laws governing students with disabilities. Mr. Clarke was the co-founder of Best Best & Krieger’s special education practice group. Mr. Clarke is a highly sought after presenter before local, state and national audiences and is the quintessential trusted advisor to those that have worked with him. Over the years, Mr. Clarke has received numerous honors related to both his practice and his service to the community.
Ms. Holmes joins AALRR as a 25 year expert practitioner in special education and student services matters. She is a trusted advisor to the clients she’s served throughout California and is a highly experienced and gifted public speaker. Ms. Holmes represents public school districts and county offices of education in administrative due process hearings and dispute resolution before the Office of Administrative Hearings and California’s state and federal courts. Having attended over 1000 IEP team meetings in her career, Ms. Holmes offers practical and experience driven assets to new and veteran special education personnel. As the most recent chair of Best Best & Krieger’s special education practice group, Ms. Holmes’ executive leadership and collaborative approach will be a tangible and highly valued resource for AALRR’s clients and attorneys.
Ms. Maitz joins AALRR’s Sacramento office as an associate. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Maitz worked as a counselor with disabled and at-risk/at-promise youth in juvenile probation, as a youth behavior therapist in a nonpublic school and as a youth crisis counselor. Ms. Maitz attended approximately 150 IEP team meetings before becoming an attorney as a second career in 2021. Ms. Maitz is an outstanding communicator and presenter whose experience before and since becoming a special education attorney will assist greatly the Firm’s Northern, Central Valley and Southern California clients.
Adam Newman, chair of the Firm’s state-wide Student Services and Disabilities Law Practice Group, emphasized, “We are so fortunate to have Jack, Cathy and Annalissa join our Firm and practice group. They are true experts with a national presence, and are consummate professionals and colleagues in every respect. Their contributions to the field of public education, in general and special education in particular, cannot be overstated. We look forward to working closely with them and their representation of the Firm’s clients in the many years ahead.”
Please update your records to reflect their new contact information:
Jack B. Clarke, Jr., Partner
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
3880 Lemon Street
Suite 350
Riverside, CA 92501
Office: 951-683-1122
Direct: 951-788-6892
jack.clarke@aalrr.com
Cathy S. Holmes, Partner
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
3880 Lemon Street
Suite 350
Riverside, CA 92501
Office: 951-683-1122
Direct: 951-788-6886
cathy.holmes@aalrr.com
Annalissa S. Maitz, Associate
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
2151 River Plaza Drive
Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95833
Office: 916-923-1200
Direct: 916-920-6945
annalissa.maitz@aalrr.com