Alumni Profile

Judge Esmeralda Zendejas ’06 is the first graduate of the King Hall Outreach Program (KHOP) known to have become a judge. After being appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2023, she serves on the bench of the San Joaquin Superior Court in Stockton, California. In 2024, she administered the State Oath at King Hall’s annual swearing-in ceremony. Before her appointment, she had most recently served as an attorney at the Department of Industrial Relations since 2022 and as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Attorney General’s Office from 2020 to 2022.

As a Partner at Nossaman LLP in Sacramento, Christopher D. Hughes ’07 typically represents trustees and creditors in bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He has also counseled clients on claims ranging from securities fraud to embezzlement to Ponzi schemes.

Janet Stone Herman ’84 is Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Covington & Burling LLP. Previously, she was Director of Attorney Development and Women’s Initiatives at Morrison & Foerster LLP. She served on the UC Davis School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors for nine years and was co-chair of the Student Outreach Committee.

What do you wish more people understood about diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Judge Kira Klatchko ’04 serves on the Superior Court of Riverside County. She was a partner at Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard, and Smith LLP and vice chair of its Appellate Practice when California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed her in 2016. Upon graduating from King Hall, Judge Klatchko first worked as an associate at her parents’ law firm, Klatchko & Klatchko. She then joined Best, Best, and Krieger LLP, where she founded and chaired the firm’s appellate group.

Bob Dunning ’73 was a daily columnist and sportswriter for the Davis Enterprise for 54 years. He wrote an estimated 28,000 pieces for the newspaper, wryly chronicling life in “The City of All Things Right and Relevant.” In 2021, the community celebrated his career with a downtown parade.

Jade Tran ’01 is a Partner at Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP (WSHB). She is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried many high profile, complex cases with significant exposure. She was the youngest member ever of Orange County’s ABOTA. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, she has been honored as one of the “Nation’s Best” by Lawyers of Color. She recently completed her second term on the King Hall Alumni Board.

What attracted you to being a trial lawyer, and what do you enjoy about it now?

Kristy Young Coleman ’08 is Lead Counsel at Airbnb. Previously, she was Counsel at Goodwin Procter’s San Francisco office, specializing in real estate with a focus on hospitality assets. She began her legal career at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, where she focused on commercial finance and bankruptcy. Kristy has an extensive background in politics, beginning before law school and continuing today. She currently serves on the UC Davis School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors.

What drew you to real estate and hospitality law?

Dina Randazzo ’08 is Of Counsel at EPGR Lawyers in Orange County, California, where she specializes in complex business disputes. Previously, she practiced at Latham & Watkins, LLP and Schilling Law Group, PC. At King Hall, Dina graduated first in her class and was admitted to the Order of the Coif. She is the President of the Public Law Center Board of Directors and serves on the UC Davis School of Law Alumni Board where she co-chairs the Student Alumni Outreach Committee and runs the mentorship program.

What drew you to business litigation?

Eric Toscano ’09 is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Tenant Law Group, a statewide firm with offices in San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Since 2016, Eric has grown the firm from a de facto solo practice originally named Toscano Law Group to the largest law firm in California (and possibly the nation) exclusively dedicated to protecting tenants’ rights. The firm is not only one of the 100 fastest growing law firms in the United States but also one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the nation.

Penny Westfall ’84 began her career as a nurse and retired as Sutter Health’s Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Bay and Valley Areas. As well as her King Hall law degree, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science. Penny started at Sutter as their Associate General Counsel in 1992. She served three terms on the King Hall Alumni Association Board of Directors and now lives in San Diego.

How did you go from studying nursing science to King Hall?