Nine AALRR Northern and Southern California Attorneys Named as 2026 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

08.07.2026

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) is proud to announce that Super Lawyers has named nine AALRR attorneys to their 2026 Northern California Rising Stars, 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers, and 2026 Southern California Rising Stars lists.

The following AALRR attorneys were selected:

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RISING STARS

Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars is a highly selective recognition that spotlights exceptional attorneys aged 40 years and younger, or those in practice for 10 years or less. Each selected attorney undergoes a multiphase selection process involving peer nomination and evaluation, as well as independent research. With only 2.5% of attorneys named as Rising Stars, these honorees are truly the “best of the best”.

Erika Rodine, Senior Counsel, represents Northern California educational agencies in all matters of the law. Ms. Rodine’s experience includes providing legal counsel on matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour claims, personnel discipline and dismissal, and other labor, administrative, and employment processes, hearings, and related concerns; and conducting investigations for public school districts, county offices of education, and community college districts involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, unprofessional conduct, and Title IX, among other types of allegations. In addition, she provides counsel for a full range of legal issues relating to charter schools, including operational compliance review and monitoring, complaint investigations, petitions and appeals, and operating agreements. This is the fifth year Ms. Rodine has appeared on the Northern California Rising Stars list.

Yvette Estrada, Senior Associate, represents school districts, community college districts, and county offices of education in labor and employment law, investigations, negotiations, and general education matters. Ms. Estrada provides representation, advice, and counsel on a wide variety of matters, including school board governance, collective bargaining and labor negotiations, employment discrimination and harassment, wrongful termination claims, Public Records Act compliance, student records privacy laws, unfair labor practice charges before the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), Title IX investigations, decision-making, and appeals processes. She regularly represents educational agencies in administrative proceedings and advises clients on complex personnel and labor relations issues. This is the first year Ms. Estrada has appeared on the Northern California Rising Stars list.

Janette Malanowski, Senior Associate, represents school districts, community college districts, and county offices of education in all aspects of labor and employment law and in general education matters. Ms. Malanowski focuses primarily on personnel-related matters, including certificated and classified discipline and dismissals, employee leaves, personnel investigations, and workplace violence restraining orders. She also advises and represents educational agencies in special education matters involving the ADA, IDEA, Section 504, equity in education, and Office for Civil Rights compliance. This is the fourth year Ms. Malanowski has appeared on the Northern California Rising Stars list.

Sarah Mojarro, Senior Associate, represents California school districts, community college districts, and county offices of education in labor and employment law and in general education matters. Her practice includes impartial and thorough workplace investigations and education-related litigation. She focuses on discrimination and harassment claims, defense of EEOC/CRD charges, leaves of absence issues, employee termination and discipline, grievances, workplace investigations, litigation, and workplace training. This is the second year Ms. Mojarro has appeared on the Northern California Rising Stars list.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUPER LAWYERS

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

Edward Ho, Partner, represents individuals and corporations in complex civil litigation matters, with special emphasis on shareholder disputes of closely held corporations, international supply and distribution agreements, fiduciary relationships and business torts. His expertise covers many industries, including technology, manufacturing, real estate and foreign entities. Mr. Ho has been voted a Southern California Super Lawyer twelve times.

Nate Kowalski, Partner, has litigated hundreds of challenging labor and employment cases in state and federal courts and has achieved remarkable results for his clients in hearings, arbitrations, trials, and appeals. Mr. Kowalski also handles workplace investigations, collective bargaining and wage and hour matters. Mr. Kowalski has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer every year since 2012.

Irma Rodriguez Moisa, Partner, is an experienced litigator, labor negotiator, and trial attorney representing public and private entities in labor and employment matters. She is recognized as one of the top Labor and Employment lawyers in the state for her outstanding results for her clients in their most complex and sensitive matters. She has handled matters ranging from discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, FMLA/CFRA, disability discrimination, wrongful termination, and the First Amendment. Ms. Rodriguez Moisa has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer every year since 2004.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RISING STARS

Sarkis Atoyan, Partner, represents clients in all aspects of labor and employment law, including wage and hour (including class actions), wrongful discharge, discrimination/harassment, retaliation, and leaves of absence. Mr. Atoyan has significant experience in the defense of wage and hour class actions and representative action lawsuits under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). This is the third year that Mr. Atoyan has appeared on the Southern California Rising Stars list.

Mia Lomedico, Of Counsel, represents management and corporations exclusively in the defense of single plaintiff and class and representative action lawsuits. She has litigated cases in state, federal, administrative and appellate court as well as arbitration from the ground up through trial and post-trial. She also obtained the first known court order entirely exempting a union contractor from a representative action brought under PAGA pursuant to Labor Code section 2699.6. This is the second year that Ms. Lomedico has appeared on the Southern California Rising Stars list.

“We are pleased to congratulate these attorneys for their recognition as Northern California Rising Stars, and Southern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars,” commented James Baca, Managing Partner. “These honors reflect an exceptional dedication to client service, and a continued commitment to the highest standards of the profession. We are grateful for the invaluable contributions to their clients, the Firm, and the broader legal profession.”

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 850 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, East Bay, Fresno, Irvine, Marin, Pasadena, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, and Westlake Village to serve our clients throughout California.

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