Attorney Profiles

Patrick McCarthy

Firm founder and senior partner Patrick McCarthy is a prominent civil trial attorney practicing in civil and business litigation, personal injury law, medical malpractice defense, equine-related matters and litigation, products liability, homeowners and non-profit associations, insurance defense, disabilities, administrative law, and governmental defense.

Mr. McCarthy enjoys spending time with his family and maintains active community involvement as a board member of Embarcadero Municipal Improvement District and a supporter of Bishop Garcia Diego High School baseball.  Mr. McCarthy is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and a supporter and volunteer with Catholic Charities.

Education:

• J.D., Southwestern University (1979)
• B.S., Regis College, Colorado (1973)

Admissions:

• California State Courts
• United States District Court, Central District of California

Professional Associations/Memberships:

• State Bar of California
• Santa Barbara County Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (former Board Member and Director, Santa Barbara County)
• Ventura Trial Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Inns of Court (Master)

Reported Cases:

• Marks v. Lyerla, 1 Cal. App. 4th 556; 2 Cal. Rptr. 2nd 63 (1991)
• Geffcken v. D'Andrea, 137 Cal. App.4th 1298; 41 Cal.Rptr.3d 80 (2006)

R. Chris Kroes

Firm partner Chris Kroes is a prominent civil litigation trial attorney practicing in a wide variety of areas, including business and general civil litigation, construction defect litigation, discrimination defense, employment defense, FEHA, EEOC, and ADA Defense, geo-technical defense, governmental defense, insurance defense, legal counsel to the medical community, medical malpractice defense, products liability, professional negligence, and real estate litigation.

Mr. Kroes is highly active in the community and serves on many local boards, including the Children's Discovery Museum of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and the Santa Barbara Citizens Council on Crime.  Mr. Kroes serves on the Leadership Council of the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Santa Barbara Athletic Roundtable and the Airline Owners and Pilot's Association.

Education:

• J.D., Santa Barbara College of Law (1987)
• B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara (1983)

Admissions:

• California State Courts
• United States District Court, Central District of California

Professional Associations/Memberships:

• American Bar Association
• Santa Barbara County Bar Association
• State Bar of California
• American Inns of Court, William Gordon Chapter (Santa Barbara)

Gary Grubacich

Associate Gary Grubacich is a well-known attorney in the Santa Barbara area practicing civil litigation trials and appeals in the areas of business law, commercial law, construction defects, elder law, insurance law, landlord/tenant, real property, and torts.

While in law school, Mr. Grubacich distinguished himself as an Executive Board Member of the California Western Law Review and International Journal.  A member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and the National Trial Team, Mr. Grubacich also received American Jurisprudence Awards in Constitutional Law, Legal Skills, Oral Advocacy, and Trial Practice.

Mr. Grubacich served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1970, and is a former Systems Engineering Manager for General Motors Corporation.  Mr. Grubacich stays involved in the community as a community activist and Little League sponsor.

Education:

• J.D., cum laude, California Western School of Law (1991)
• B.A., with honors, Oakland (Michigan State) University
• University of California at Santa Barbara

Admissions:

• California State Courts
• United States District Court, Southern District of California
• United States District Court, Central District of California
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States Supreme Court

Professional Associations/Memberships:

• State Bar of California
• Santa Barbara County Bar Association
• American Inns of Court, William Gordon Chapter (Santa Barbara)

Reported Cases:

• Geffcken v. D'Andrea, 137 Cal. App.4th 1298; 41 Cal.Rptr.3d 80 (2006)