We are proud to announce that Marina Pacheco has been recognized by the Daily Journal as one of California’s “Top 40 Under 40” lawyers.
Marina has built her 11-year career around a principle learned from her father, a former plaintiffs’ attorney who became a judge: always put the client’s best interests first. This commitment drives her work in personal injury, class actions, sexual abuse, and insurance bad faith litigation, where she frequently represents communities that powerful interests overlook.
Her recent work on the Pajaro River Cases demonstrates her approach to advocacy. When a flood control system catastrophically failed in 2023, hundreds of families—predominantly Indigenous peoples and immigrant farmworkers—lost their homes and businesses. Marina coordinated a case across two counties with over 1,200 plaintiffs, many of whom spoke limited English. She defeated the first two motions that challenged plaintiffs’ legal theories entirely, setting crucial precedent.
“These victories reinforced what this fight is really about—not just compensation, but accountability and ensuring that no community is expendable simply because they lack political power,” Marina said.
Marina’s impact extends beyond individual cases. In her COVID-19 small business class action, she secured $6.6 million in settlements against San Diego County and Sonoma County when government entities forced closures while still demanding fees and threatening license revocations.
Congratulations, Marina, on this well-deserved recognition.