Thomas Whitelaw litigators are courtroom veterans, possessing deep knowledge of courts throughout California and the nation, including appellate courts. We have tried highly technical and complicated cases to successful verdicts — time after time. Through our unique collective experiences from various national law firms and within global corporations, our attorneys offer insight from both a legal and business perspective. We embrace the latest technology and fight tirelessly for client results.
Our well-trained associates and paralegals play important roles in Thomas Whitelaw. From research to document filings to brief writing, they contribute to our teams and stay focused on client goals. These valuable team members help us to remain cost efficient.
Bill Kolegraff, a litigation partner with the Irvine office, is also a seasoned patent attorney registered with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and a former business executive who managed a sizable intellectual property portfolio for many years. Mr. Kolegraff's litigation skills are informed by his experience.
Prior to joining Thomas Whitelaw, Mr. Kolegraff was Chief IP Counsel for Kyocera Wireless, a $1.4B wireless handset company. In that capacity, he directed all of Kyocera's patent litigation, which included litigation against Fortune 100 companies, non-practicing "trolls," and individual inventors. As a member of Kyocera's executive committee, Mr. Kolegraff advised senior executives on all aspects of intellectual property matters.
Mr. Kolegraff's practice spans a broad range of technologies, including wireless communication hardware and protocols for CDMA, GSM, Bluetooth, Zigbee, 802.1x, and RFID. He also has considerable experience in video, audio, and speech compression and encryption, as well as antenna and optical disc constructions.
Before joining Thomas Whitelaw, Mr. Kolegraff practiced as a patent litigator and patent prosecutor at Lyon & Lyon LLP and Baker & McKenzie.
State Bar of California
United States District Courts
All California District Courts
Eastern District of Virginia
Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Federal Circuits
Mr. Kolegraff received his JD from the University of San Diego Law School (Order of the Coif, member 1996, and Law Review). He received a BS in electrical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, graduating manga cum laude, with an emphasis in digital design and software development.
Michael Martello, Senior Counsel at Thomas Whitelaw, is a seasoned litigator and strategic litigation manager with substantial business, regulatory and government experience. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Martello served as the City Attorney of Mountain View, Los Gatos and Concord, California and as Assistant City Attorney of Thousand Oaks, California. Mr Martello is regularly called upon to testify before state agencies and the California Legislature.
Mr. Martello has deep experience in high-profile litigation, including numerous matters involving complex financial accounting and auditing. He has obtained numerous seven figure settlements for his clients in publicly-prominent matters. Among his diverse experiences, Mr. Martello served on the seven-member creditor's committee in the Orange County Bankruptcy, and was one of the attorneys in the lawsuit which ultimately produced California's SLAPP legislation.
Mr. Martello is the principal author of Providing Conflict of Interest Advice, a 16-page practice manual for government attorneys. He has written and lectured extensively for thirty years on ethics and the law, including not only conflicts of interest, but also land use and planning, zoning, construction and other diverse areas of real estate law.
Mr.Martello received his BS magna cum laude from Arizona State and his JD from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Tierra Mendiola joined Thomas Whitelaw & Tyler in 2009 as a litigation paralegal. Her caseload is primarily focused on complex buisness and intellectual property litigation. Ms. Mendiola specializes in handling trial preparation and electronic discovery.
University of California, Irvine, Paralegal Certificate Program (American Bar Association Approved)
California State University, Long Beach, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Orange County Paralegal Association
Kerri A Rich, an associate in the Irvine office, focuses her practice on intellectual property disputes and complex business litigation. She has broad experience in all aspects of litigation, from discovery and law and motion matters through trial. She also has extensive appellate experience.
While attending law school, Ms. Rich served as an extern for Justice George W. Nicholson of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District.
"Who Is Trial Counsel Under Seagate?" in Orange County Business Journal (November 2009)
State Bar of California
United States District Courts
Central District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
Eastern District of California
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Ms. Rich received her JD with Great Distinction from McGeorge Law School in 2005. She is member of the Order of the Coif and Traynor Honor Society. She served as both an Associate Comment Editor and a Staff Writer for the Transnational Lawyer. Ms Rich received her BS in biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University in 2001.
Susan M. Rutten, Of Counsel in the Irvine office, is a skilled litigator who brings extensive employment law and business litigation experience to Thomas Whitelaw. Susan counsels clients on a broad range of complex business disputes in California state and federal courts. She also serves extensively on boards for community and charitable organizations.
Prior to joining Thomas Whitelaw, Ms. Rutten was a founding partner of Rutten & Morse, and prior to that, Oster, Schubert & Rutten.
Complex Commercial Disputes, Employment Litigation.
Ms. Rutten has given numerous presentations, including “Collection and Enforcement of Judgments” under the auspices of the CEB.
State Bar of California
United States District Court, Central District
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Ms. Rutten receiver her BS in Economics from Santa Clara University. She received her JD from Pepperdine Law School.
Charitable and Community Activities Ms. Rutten has been actively involved in charitable work, including with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Friends of the Mission, and the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School. She serves as President of the Emerald Bay Community Association, Chair of the Community Emergency Response Team, is a Trustee of School Power, the Langue Beach Education Foundation, and serves on the Consultative School Board for the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School.
William B. (Bill) Sanderson, partner in the Irvine office, has broad experience as a transactional lawyer in the areas of real estate, general corporate law, lending and employment agreements. Mr. Sanderson's approach to transactions allows his clients to get the deal done on the best possible terms while maintaining cordial relationships between the parties.
Mr. Sanderson is expert at commercial, retail and industrial real estate transactions. Mr. Sanderson also has extensive experience representing lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured commercial lending transactions, including representation of lenders in loans secured by real estate and other corporate assets and securities, unsecured loans, multi—phase residential projects, representation of agent banks in project finance transactions and syndicated loans up to $2 billion. He frequently represents borrowers in secured and unsecured term and revolving loans, as well as landlords, tenants, sellers and buyers in real estate transactions.
Mr. Sanderson began his practice in New York City representing institutional lenders in financing transactions. In 1993, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he represented banks and borrowers in loan transactions before returning to his native California in 1997.
Transactional Real Estate and General Business Transaction
The State Bars of New York, Connecticut, Missouri and California
United States District Court, Southern District of New York
Member of the Real Property Section of the Orange County Bar Association
Mr. Sanderson received his JD in 1990 from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the Major Tax Planning/Computer Law Journal. He received his BS in finance and business economics from the University of Southern California in 1986.
Joseph Thomas is the managing partner and co-founder of Thomas Whitelaw. A rare breed of trial lawyer, Mr. Thomas consistently achieves both unprecedented courtroom successes as well as rapid out-of-court settlements. Time and again, he has led his team of preeminent litigators in winning high—stakes national cases, and is recognized by general counsels at Fortune 500 companies around the country for creating a “Go-To” litigation firm, a distinction awarded by Corporate Counsel magazine to Thomas Whitelaw in both 2007 and 2008.
Well-known for his expertise in complex business, real estate and intellectual property disputes, Mr. Thomas is deemed to be part of the magic circle of business trial attorneys who dominate state and federal courts. His extensive trial experience includes first chair in more than 20 jury trials and 25 arbitrations and court trials. These cases span a wide variety of industries and are frequently international in scope.
Mr. Thomas has been a powerful advocate for his clients, not only in achieving exceptional results, but also in delivering value. He co- founded Thomas Whitelaw on the principle that superior legal counsel should be valued based primarily on results, not effort. He is a pioneer in developing alternative billing arrangements that align the firm’s interest with that of its clients.
Mr. Thomas has further distinguished the firm through his negotiating sawy and business insights. A powerful presence in the courtroom and the boardroom, Mr. Thomas is highly regarded by a loyal clientele that return to him repeatedly for representation in difficult, bet-the-company cases.
As the firm’s leader, Mr. Thomas embodies the virtues that define Thomas Whitelaw. He is hard-driving, business-savvy and client- centered. Mr. Thomas has created a culture that combines a strong work ethic with a highly collegial, entrepreneurial, and team—oriented philosophy, enabling the firm to thrive and grow despite the challenging economic environment.
Throughout his career, Mr. Thomas has been a leader and mentor to other attorneys. Previously, he was a partner and department head of McDermott, Will & Emery’s Litigation and Trial Practice Group. Prior to that, Thomas was partner and head of the Litigation and Trial Practice Group of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP in Irvine, California.
Trials, Intellectual Property, Real Estate/Construction Litigation, Securities Litigation, Product Liability
State Bar of California
United States District Courts
All Federal District Courts within the State of California
Eastern Districts of Virginia
Eastern District of Texas
Southern District of New York
District of Connecticut
Mr. Thomas was a law clerk to the Honorable Terry 8. Hatter, District Court Judge for the Central District of California
Mr. Thomas received is JD, magna cum laude, in 1981 from Pepperdine Law School, where he was the Articles Editor of the Law Review. Mr. Thomas received his BA, magna cum laude, in 1977 from Lehigh University.
James M. Whitelaw, a founding partner of Thomas Whitelaw, possesses both a strong legal and engineering background that is an important asset to the firm and its clients. Mr. White|aw’s extensive trial and litigation experience with diverse matters has distinguished him as a talented litigator with a winning track record.
Mr. White|aw's legal practice was preceded by a 10-year career as an aeronautical engineer at both McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Grumman Aerospace Corporation. Mr. Whitelaw applies his in-depth understanding of complex technologies in patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation matters that span a broad range of technologies. His ability to quickly comprehend and communicate case intricacies in a simple way has been of substantial benefit in numerous jury trials, hearings and arbitrations.
Mr. Whitelaw has acted as a lead lawyer in a host of high-profile, high- stakes commercial litigation and intellectual property matters, as well as real estate construction and securities disputes. He is highly regarded by both clients and his team for both exceptional intellect and strategic thinking.
Mr. Whitelaw works closely to guide and train the associates at the firm, sharing both technical and legal insights. Prior to founding Thomas Whitelaw, Mr. Whitelaw was a partner in the Irvine office of McDermott Will & Emery, where he was a member of its Litigation and Trial Practice Group, with a focus on complex commercial and intellectual property matters.
Business, Intellectual Property, Product Liability, Class Action and Real Estate/Construction Litigation
State Bar of California
United States Federal Courts
Central District of California
Eastern District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
Mr. Whitelaw is an active member in several professional organizations. In addition to his memberships in the Intellectual Property Law Sections of the State Bar of California and American Bar Association, Mr. Whitelaw is an Advisory Committee Member in Loyola Law School’s Special IP Focus Series Program.
JD, Loyola Law School with high honors BS in Aerospace Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, cum laude Honorary member in the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society.
Madonna Young joined Thomas Whitelaw & Tyler in 2007 as a litigation paralegal. Her caseload is primarily focused on business litigation, trademark and patent infringement cases.
Prior to joining Thomas Whitelaw & Tyler, Madonna was a paralegal at Arter & Hadden, where she worked on a wide variety of matters involving patent infringement, business litigation, and trademark prosecution; and at lrell & Manella where she worked primarily on complex litigation involving patent infringement. Prior to that she worked in both commercial and hospital clinical laboratories as a clinical laboratory scientist.
University of California, Irvine, Paralegal Certificate Program (ABA Approved) Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, Bachelor of Science with a Specialty in Medical Technology
Orange County Paralegal Association