Dean Christopherson

Background

About Dean Christopherson

Mr. Christopherson is proud to have recently been awarded the prestigious "AV Preeminent" rating by Martindale, and chosen as a “Super Lawyer" by SuperLawyers.com from 2019 through 2022. He brings exceptional insight and depth of understanding to his practice, drawing on more than 30 years of experience principally in commercial and banking litigation and trials. For instance, in September 2016, Mr. Christopherson tried an action in the US District Court in Milwaukee achieving a $3 million judgment in favor of an international heavy equipment manufacturer, and against his NYSE traded opponent (later upheld on appeal). Starting as an in-house counsel for Wells Fargo, Mr. Christopherson's practice focuses on defense claims arising from real estate secured lending (wrongful foreclosure, equitable subordination, partition, eminent domain, and mechanic’s liens) and personal property loans and leases (defense of dealer fraud, “Lemon Law”, the Rees-Levering and Vehicle Leasing Acts claims). Retail banking cases, including claims for improper payment of forged checks at the hands of an embezzling bookkeeper and losses from safe deposit boxes, are also in his area of expertise. Mr. Christopherson is skilled both at recovering collateral and collecting sums due from commercial and consumer debtors, often using prejudgment writs of possession and attachment. Furthermore, contempt proceedings are pursued against judgment debtors who fail to abide by post-judgment obligations. In the mediation realm, Mr. Christopherson focuses on maintaining a civil and cordial process, but provides feedback as to relative strengths and weaknesses of the parties positions. Mr. Christopherson sits on the mediator panels of the California Third District Court of Appeal, the Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Solano and Sacramento County Superior Courts, and the San Francisco and Marin County Bar Associationsand the California Association of Realtors. He also serves as an Arbitrator and Discovery Referee in commercial and real estate disputes.