Attorney Information
Chris Johnson Hamer - Senior Partner
Practice Areas:
-Will, Trust and Estate Disputes
-Elder Financial Abuse
-Conservatorships
-Real Property Disputes
-Business Disputes
-Water Right Disputes
-Contract Disputes
Admitted:
1982, California; 1983, U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 1986, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California and U.S. Tax Court; 1994, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; 2004, Yurok Tribal Court; 2008, Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Court
University:
University of California, Santa Barbara, summa cum laude
Law School:
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude
Member:
Humboldt County Bar Association; State Bar of California
Background:
Chris Johnson Hamer is a Humboldt County native. Ms. Hamer practiced law in Southern California for a number of years, and became a partner with Case, Orr, Paterson & Cunningham, LLP in Ventura, California. When both of her parents became critically ill, Ms. Hamer returned to her native Humboldt County where she has remained ever since. Chris Hamer is an experienced legal advocate, appearing in courts all over the State of California, including Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity, Mendocino, Marin, Sacramento, San Juaquin, Tehama, Los Angeles, and Alameda, as well as federal District Court and the First District Court of Appeal.
Ms. Hamer is the mother of three, and enjoys running, yoga, skiing, tennis as well a number of other outdoor activities.
Eric V. Kirk - Senior Partner
Practice Areas:
-General Practice
-Water Rights
-Civil Litigation
-Mediation
-Real Property
-Personal Injury
-Civil Liberties Law
-Business Law
Admitted:
1995, California
Law School:
Golden Gate University, J.D.
Member:
Humboldt County Bar Association; State Bar of California
Background:
Eric Kirk was brought up in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge and the fog of San Francisco. He has an impressive knowledge of the city's local history, including relics of Berkley's political events and the Bay Area's civil rights movements. Eric moved to Humboldt County with his wife, spending many years in the town of Redway.
Mr. Kirk joined Attorney Les Scher in his Garberville law practice, with a focus on criminal defense and civil litigation, prior to moving to Northern Humboldt.
Eric is a dedicated father who has had the pleasure of raising two adopted children in Humboldt County. Eric ultimately relocated the family to the city of Eureka, where the Kirk family has lived for over ten years. Eric remains active in the community of Southern Humboldt, even keeping an office space for appointments as needed.
Mr. Kirk is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. Eric was honored to write the Humboldt County Sanctuary Measure K bill, a local referendum approved by county voters last year which gave Humboldt County residents the strongest sanctuary law in the state. Eric enjoys spending time with his family and participating in community events. Eric is an encyclopedia of historical politics and is active in local radio programming in his free time. Mr. Kirk hosts a radio talk show, discussing current events and politics live on the airwaves, at Southern Humboldt's local non-profit radio station KMUD, based in Redway, CA.
Elan Firpo - Partner
Practice Areas:
-Divorce
-Legal Separation
-Annulment
-Child Custody and Relocation Issues
-Child and Spousal Support
-Domestic Violence Response
-Restraining Orders
-Paternity Actions
University:
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, B.A
Law School:
Santa Barbara College of Law, J.D.
Admitted: 2008, California
Background:
Ms. Firpo graduated Cum Laude from California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. A successful career as a design engineer in the computer and biomedical industry followed, wherein Ms. Firpo travelled extensively in Europe and Asia managing manufacturing and product design. An interest in the law led Ms. Firpo to attend and graduate from Santa Barbara College of Law and she was admitted to the bar in 2008.
Elan Firpo is a former prosecutor with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office, and has experience working with the victims of crime and seeking justice on their behalf. In 2013, the National Association Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) honored Ms. Firpo with the “Outstanding Prosecutor Award.” This award had not previously been awarded in Humboldt County, nor has it been awarded in Humboldt County since. This award was a national honor of distinction for Ms. Firpo.
Practicing for the Firm solely in the area of family law, Ms. Firpo specializes in using her experience as a victim advocate in helping clients and their children transition through difficult times as easily as possible, while also aggressively fighting for the her client’s rights and assets.
Ms. Firpo enjoys the quality of life Humboldt County offers— especially the local oceans and beaches. Ms. Firpo is an avid SCUBA diver, traveling the world to dive and explore biodiverse reef systems, with a particular fascination for sharks. She has served or is serving as a Board Member for the Eureka Chamber of Commerce, the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, Southwest Eureka Rotary Club and Soroptimist International of Humboldt Bay.
Joshua Kaufman - Of Counsel
Practice Areas:
-Estate Planning
-Probate
-Real Estate
-Business Formation
-Contracts
Undergraduate:
University of California, Berkeley
Admitted: 2003, California
Background:
Mr. Kaufman has been a resident of Humboldt County for over 30 years. He received his undergraduate degree in geology from UC Berkeley and then began a career as a paleontologist at Berkeley, the University of Nebraska and the Los Angeles County Museum. After moving to Humboldt County, Josh apprenticed in the State Bar’s law office study program and, four years later, became certified to practice law after passing the bar exam.
Josh has two grown children and lives with his wife, Kristin in rural Humboldt County where he enjoys gardening, hiking, carpentry and tinkering with their off-grid electrical system.
Josh is an experienced legal advocate and handles estate planning, probate, real property transactions, business formation and contract law matters.