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
-Civil Litigation
-Real Estate
-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.
Jason Eads - Senior Partner
Practice Areas:
-Business Transactions
-Commercial Contracts
-Real Property
-Business Law
-Trusts & Estates
University:
Humboldt State University, B.A
Law School:
McGeorge School of Law, J.D.
Admitted: 2002, California
Background
Jason J. Eads was admitted to the California Bar in 2002 after attending McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California and graduating as a member of the Traynor Honor Society. He graduated from Humboldt State University with High Honors prior to attending law school.
His practice is largely transactional, focusing on real estate, business law, estate planning and administration. Mr. Eads taught Business Law at College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California for several years and served as an adviser for the Economic Fuel business plan contest for many of those years.
He is an active member of both the Humboldt County Bar Association and the Rotary Club of Arcata.
When he is not practicing law, Mr. Eads enjoys spending time with his family, good music, and cooking, especially Bar-B-Q.
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.
Jeffrey Monsell - Partner
Practice Areas:
-Family Law
-Criminal Law
-Restraining Orders and Injunctions
-Contracts
Admitted:
2016, California; 2019, Hoopa Valley Tribal Court
Undergraduate:
Santa Clara University, B.A.
Law School:
University of San Diego, J.D.
Background
Jeffrey Monsell graduated from Santa Clara University, cum laude, with a B.A. in philosophy in 2013. He subsequently received his law degree in 2016 from University of San Diego, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. While in law school, he clerked for the Honorable Ronald Prager at the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District. He also served as lead editor on the board of the San Diego Law Review.
His practice primarily focuses on family law, including issues of child custody and visitation, asset division, and child and spousal support.
In his free time, Jeff volunteers with the Humboldt County Teen Court program as an attorney mentor. He also enjoys reading, hiking, playing board games with friends, and baking bread.