Ms. Wilcox joined Hershorin & Henry LLP in 2007 and brought to the firm 26 years of extensive experience in civil litigation with a strong emphasis in real estate based claims and financial disputes. Her practice also encompasses probate litigation, trust administration and estate planning.

At Wilcox & Peirano LLP, Ms. Wilcox’s role as managing partner involved a civil litigation and related appellate practice with an emphasis on real estate and commercial lease disputes, consumer legal remedy claims, trust and estates litigation, asset disposition and estate planning. Ms. Wilcox’s client prevailed in the published appellate decision of Patricia Lee v. Southern California University of Professional Studies (March 16, 2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 782 that involved enforcement of an arbitration clause in a class action setting.

Commencing in 1999, as a partner in McQueen & Ashman LLP, Ms. Wilcox successfully litigated a wide range of cases involving general business disputes. In particular, she defended eminent domain claims initiated by CalTrans, cities and local redevelopment agencies on behalf of ConocoPhillips and other business condemnees. Resolution of those actions often required the negotiation and drafting of complex pre and post taking contracts and licenses to deal with environmental issues. Her practice also encompassed business tort claims involving unfair competition and copyright infringement, commercial secured loan foreclosures and enforcement of commercial mechanic’s liens. Ms. Wilcox drafted the successful briefs that lead to the decision of Howard S. Wright Constr. Co v. Sup. Ct. (2003) 106 Cal.App.4th 314 that upheld the contractor’s right to enforce its commercial mechanic’s lien despite the property owner’s notice of non-responsibility.

As counsel to Corbett, Steelman & Spector, her practice involved litigation and risk management on behalf of employers dealing with employment based claims involving ERISA, severance plans, wrongful termination and sexual harassment. Other areas of her practice included resolution of partnership disputes, appellate work, commercial loan recovery and work-out negotiations, creditor bankruptcy rights involving real property and construction disputes arising from public and private works of improvement.

During the Bank & Thrift Crisis that occurred in the early 90’s, Ms. Wilcox served as Senior Attorney with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Western Regional Office. There, she litigated claims in federal and state courts that related to major receivership assets of failed banks and thrifts. That litigation frequently required the restructuring of complex loans secured by real and personal properties and often involved rents receivers, writs of attachment and writs of possession against debtors of notoriety.

Ms. Wilcox has lectured before the OC Building Owners Management Association and various Southern California Escrow Associations. Also, as Senior Attorney for the FDIC, she developed a nationwide program for auditing the legal services of outside counsel. She also has extensive Federal training in negotiation techniques and alternative dispute resolution.

Ms. Wilcox obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in 1980. That same year she won the First Annual Trial Advocacy Competition held at Loyola Law School.

While attending law school, Ms. Wilcox co-authored, illustrated and published The Poorman’s Guide to Gourmet Dining on the Westside of Town (an L.A. Times Bestseller) and The Poorman’s Guide to Gourmet Dining in Pasadena.

Admitted to practice: California Bar, May 1981