AALRR Announces 2026 Equity and Non-Equity Partners

01.13.2026

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) is pleased to announce that three Partners have been named Equity Partners, and four attorneys have been elevated to Non-Equity Partner.

Managing Partner James Baca congratulated all and said, “I am proud to announce our newly elected Equity and Non-Equity Partners. These elections recognize the individual excellence and unwavering dedication to serving our clients at the highest level. We look forward to their continued leadership and success in the years ahead.”

New Equity Partners

Jonathan Judge heads the Private Labor and Employment Group’s Advice and Counsel Team of attorneys. He guides clients, large and small, in employment advice and counsel matters including wage and hour, leaves of absence, commission agreements, I-9 compliance, background checks, hiring, terminations, and documentation, and the Affordable Care Act.

Jenica Maldonado represents public and private employers in sensitive and complex labor and employment matters, including advice and counsel, labor negotiations, workplace investigations, litigation, arbitrations, and workplace and ethics trainings. Jenica also serves as General Counsel to select fire and other special district clients located in Northern California.

Jabari Willis represents both public and private employers in all aspects of their labor and employment matters. His practice includes personnel management, employee discipline, collective bargaining, board governance, special education, student-related matters and litigation and provides preventative training to employers. He also serves as general counsel for public entities.

New Non-Equity Partners

Michael Davis leads the Northern California Education Litigation team, representing public agencies and private entities in state and federal litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings. His practice includes government law, labor/employment, constitutional and civil rights, agency oversight, and compliance. In addition, he provides legislative and strategic policy counsel on statewide and federal issues impacting educational agencies and students.

Christopher Francis is a seasoned litigator who focuses his practice on representing clients in complex domestic and international litigation cases. He is also an IAPP-certified privacy professional who frequently assists clients with a range of data privacy issues: from data breach response to privacy training and compliance.

Sarah Martoccia has over two decades of experience working with public entities in labor and employment matters, with an emphasis on public safety clients. Her practice includes advice and counsel, workplace investigations, disciplinary appeal hearings, arbitrations, and writ proceedings. She is experienced in all aspects of the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBR) and the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act (FBOR) and routinely guides agencies through complex issues involving both acts.

Jacquelyn Takeda Morenz represents California school districts and county offices of education in labor and employment and general education matters. Her areas of expertise include leaves of absence, reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities, employee evaluation and discipline, equal employment opportunity laws, retirement benefit issues, school district audit appeals, labor relations, and workplace safety issues.

About Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
With over 45 years of unwavering commitment to client service, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) is one of California’s leading law firms. Our diverse team brings a seasoned perspective to California’s complex legal landscape for public and private entities, with particular strength in the areas of education, labor and employment, construction, complex litigation, corporate, taxation, and water. AALRR’s public sector clients include more than 450 K-12 school districts, community college districts and universities, as well as cities, counties, and special districts. We also represent diverse business entities, from small, family-run businesses to publicly traded corporations. With more than 300 lawyers and growing, AALRR has ten offices in Cerritos, Fresno, Irvine, Marin, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, and Westlake Village to serve our clients throughout California.

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