Seven Pettit Kohn Shareholders Recognized by San Diego Business Journal’s Top 100 “Leaders of Influence in Law 2025”

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Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin is proud to announce that seven of its shareholders – Jennifer Lutz, Damian Dolin, Janice Walshok, Ryan Nell, Shannon Finley, Matthew Smith, and Christine Clark – were recognized among San Diego’s Top 100 “Leaders of Influence in Law 2025” by the San Diego Business Journal. The honorees were recognized for their professional excellence, outstanding client contributions, and involvement in the San Diego community. To see the full list of honorees, click here.

Jennifer N. Lutz is a shareholder in the San Diego office and co-chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor Team. Ms. Lutz is a speaker and author on a broad range of issues including wage and hour law, employee privacy, and leaves of absence, and provides advice and training to employers on a full range of employment law issues. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for her work in both Employment Law – Management and Labor and Employment Litigation, and by San Diego Super Lawyers® each year since 2011. Ms. Lutz was recognized in 2020 and 2023 as a member of the Top 25 Women Lawyers in San Diego. San Diego Business Journal has recognized her in the 2021 – 2023 “Women of Influence in Law,” 2022 “Top 100 Leaders in Law,” and the 2022 “SD500 Most Influential People in San Diego.”

Damian M. Dolin is a shareholder and a co-founding member of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin. He focuses on personal injury, commercial real estate litigation, product liability, business disputes, and general negligence actions. His practice is largely devoted to the representation of individuals who have suffered serious catastrophic injuries.  He represents both plaintiffs and defendants across a broad spectrum of industries. He has obtained extraordinary results for his clients in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, and mediations throughout California.  His personal injury team has obtained in excess of $45,000,000 in verdicts and settlements for injured clients, who in turn benefit from his team’s keen understanding of what it takes to win at trial.  He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation only premier national association of experienced trial attorneys and judges.  He has achieved an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards. 

Janice Y. Walshok is a shareholder in Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin’s San Diego office and a leader in the firm’s Transportation practice group. She also serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Inclusion committee. With a litigation career spanning over a decade, Janice has developed a strong reputation as one of San Diego’s top litigators. Ms. Walshok is an accomplished trial attorney and has represented a broad spectrum of clients and nationally prominent companies defending and advising them on their most complex cases. She focuses her practice on personal injury-defense and transportation cases including wrongful death, product liability, and insurance bad faith. Walshok has successfully tried several jury trials and has argued before the Second District Court of Appeal. Ms. Walshok has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2024 for her work in Personal Injury – Defendants and Product Liability – Defendants and was recently honored with the 2025 Distinguished Practitioner Award by the California Western School of Law.

Ryan H. Nell is a shareholder in the San Diego office.  He has been recognized for his work in Employment Law – Management and has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for his work in Employment Law – Management and Labor and Employment Litigation. Mr. Nell is a leader in the firm’s employment and labor group and represents California employers in both counseling and comprehensive litigation support.  He speaks regularly on a wide range of topics aimed at assisting and guiding California employers in the avoidance of legal claims. His work in employment counseling and litigation defense has also led to his recognition by Best Lawyers in America and as a Rising Star by San Diego Super Lawyers®

Shannon R. Finley is a shareholder at Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin and also serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Inclusion Committee.  A leader in the firm’s employment and labor group, Ms. Finley provides comprehensive litigation support to California employers and guidance on best practices to avoid lawsuits before they arise.  She is a speaker and author on a wide range of topics and has been recognized as a Rising Star by San Diego Super Lawyers® and received the C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer Award from Lawyers Club of San Diego for her leadership and professionalism in the San Diego legal community. She currently serves as the Director of Legal Education for the San Diego HR Forum and on the Board of Directors of California Women Lawyers.

Matthew C. Smith is a shareholder and leader in Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin’s Professional Liability and Business Litigation group. A highly accomplished trial attorney and litigator, Mr. Smith focuses on the representation of business clients as well as a wide range of professionals, including lawyers and doctors, against claims of malpractice. He has extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including trials, arbitrations, and mediations, and has served as counsel in more than a dozen trials and arbitrations. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his work in Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Commercial Litigation. He has also been recognized by San Diego Super Lawyers since 2021 has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards.  

Christine Y. Clark is a shareholder in Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin’s San Diego office. She is an experienced litigator who represents large and small corporate clients against claims involving premises liability, product liability, and personal injury. She also represents California employers defending against all aspects of employment litigation including wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims. She has been recognized for her work in employment litigation by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2021-2025 and by San Diego Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2021-2025. She has been active in the San Diego legal community, leading a committee for Lawyers Club of San Diego as well as serving on the board of the San Diego Defense Lawyers.