When you are dealing with a personal injury case, having the right legal team can make a major difference. Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys brings together experienced trial lawyers, senior litigators, pre-litigation attorneys, and case-development attorneys who work together to protect injured clients throughout California.
Here are 12 standout personal injury attorneys at Hillstone Law, their backgrounds, and what makes each of them an important part of the firm.
1. Edwin Essakhar, Esq. Partner
Edwin Essakhar is the co-founder and lead trial counsel at Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys. His practice focuses on protecting the rights of individuals who have been wrongfully injured.
Before founding Hillstone Law, Edwin represented insurance companies in personal injury cases. That experience gives him valuable insight into how insurers evaluate and defend claims, which he now uses to fight for maximum recovery for injured clients. He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Super Lawyers® Rising Stars and recognition for one of the Top 30 Breach of Contract Verdicts in California in 2017.
Education: Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D.; UCLA, B.A.
2. Yvette Essakhar, Esq. Partner
Yvette Essakhar is a co-founder of Hillstone Law Accident & Injury Attorneys and is dedicated to advocating for personal injury victims across California.
She has nearly a decade of experience focused on personal injury law and has achieved seven-figure results in challenging cases, including matters that were previously rejected by other firms. Her background includes defense-side work for insurance companies, which gives her a strategic understanding of how the other side operates.
Yvette is known for aggressive representation, transparency, and treating clients like family.
Education: UCLA School of Law, J.D.; UCLA, B.A., Magna Cum Laude.
3. William Percy, Esq. Partner
William Percy is a Partner at Hillstone Law and an experienced litigator and trial attorney. His practice focuses on litigating and trying cases on behalf of injured individuals.
William has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients and has handled cases in both state and federal courts. Before joining Hillstone Law, he represented Fortune 500 corporations and insurance companies in consumer and personal injury litigation, giving him valuable insight into defense strategies.
Education: Suffolk University School of Law, J.D.; University of Colorado Boulder, B.A.
4. Steven Hilst, Esq. Senior Attorney
Steven Hilst is a highly experienced California personal injury trial attorney with more than three decades of experience helping injured individuals and families seek justice.
He focuses on serious injury and wrongful death cases involving motor vehicle accidents, bicycle and pedestrian collisions, premises liability, defective products, brain injuries, dog bites, mass torts, and class actions. He has achieved numerous seven and eight figure settlements and verdicts, particularly in catastrophic injury and auto defect cases.
Steven is recognized by organizations including The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Best Lawyers in America for Mass Torts, and the American Inns of Court.
5. Andrew Bunn, Esq. Senior Attorney
Andrew Bunn is a Senior Trial Attorney at Hillstone Law who focuses on high-exposure personal injury lawsuits, including car accidents, slip and falls, product liability, and wrongful death cases.
He has extensive litigation and courtroom experience in both California and Nevada. Before joining Hillstone Law, Andrew represented insurance companies in personal injury matters, giving him a deep understanding of defense tactics. He now uses that knowledge to counter insurance companies and pursue maximum recovery for clients.
Education: University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D.; University of Nevada, Reno, B.A.
6. Marianna Oustinovskaya, Esq. Senior Trial Attorney
Marianna Oustinovskaya is a Senior Litigation Attorney at Hillstone Law with a strong background in plaintiffs’ personal injury and employment cases.
She began her career at a plaintiffs’ personal injury firm and later gained defense-side experience representing insurance companies. This combination gives her a broader understanding of personal injury litigation from both sides. Marianna has tried many cases before juries and is known for her litigation experience, civil procedure knowledge, and strong courtroom advocacy.
Marianna is fluent in Russian.
Education: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles; California State University, Northridge.
7. Lindsay Graves, Esq. Attorney
Lindsay Graves is an attorney at Hillstone Law who litigates personal injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and claims against governmental entities.
Before becoming an attorney, Lindsay worked as a legal assistant, paralegal, and law clerk, giving her hands-on experience with every stage of a personal injury case. She graduated from law school in 2024 and passed the California Bar Examination on her first attempt. Throughout her career, she has helped achieve many six and seven figure results for clients.
Education: Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law, J.D.; Chapman University, B.A., summa cum laude.
8. Jacob Broman, Esq. Associate Attorney
Jacob Broman is a Los Angeles based plaintiffs’ attorney dedicated to representing individuals injured by the negligence of others.
His practice focuses on motor vehicle collisions, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death. Jacob earned his bachelor’s degree in History from UCLA, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and later earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School. He is focused on becoming a trial litigator and approaches each case with preparation, strategy, and determination.
Education: Loyola Law School, J.D.; UCLA, B.A.
9. Shannon Kerendian, Esq. Associate Attorney
Shannon Kerendian is a pre-litigation attorney at Hillstone Law. She earned her J.D. from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from UCLA.
During law school, Shannon focused on mediation and alternative dispute resolution. She later became a certified mediator in alternative dispute resolution with the State of California. Her background helps her approach personal injury matters with strong communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Education: Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, J.D.; UCLA, bachelor’s degree.
10. Sophia Halavi, Esq. Associate Attorney
Sophia Halavi works in Hillstone Law’s pre-litigation department, focusing on case development and early-stage strategy to position claims for maximum recovery.
She earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she was a member of the Entertainment Law Review, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA. Before joining Hillstone Law, Sophia gained experience in lemon law, business litigation, landlord-tenant matters, and personal injury defense litigation. Her defense-side experience helps her understand how insurance carriers and defendants evaluate claims.
Education: Loyola Law School, J.D.; UCLA, B.A. in Psychology.
11. Ruben Contreras, Esq. Associate Attorney
Ruben O. Contreras is an associate attorney at Hillstone Law who represents plaintiffs in personal injury cases across California.
He handles motor vehicle collisions, premises liability matters, and third-party workplace injury claims, guiding clients from pre-litigation through trial preparation. Before joining Hillstone Law, Ruben defended insurance companies in injury lawsuits, giving him valuable insight into insurer strategies. He now uses that experience to stay ahead in litigation and protect his clients’ interests.
Education: Loyola Law School, J.D.; University of California, Irvine, B.A. in Political Science.
12. Andrew Rietta, Esq. Demands Department Supervising Attorney
Andrew Rietta is the Supervising Attorney of the Demands Department at Hillstone Law.
He has worked with personal injury firms since 2021, primarily as a demand writer while attending law school. His background in personal injury law and writing allows him to manage the Demands Department and help maximize case value through detailed demand letters that strongly advocate for clients.
Education: University of La Verne College of Law and Public Service, J.D.; Claremont Graduate University, MBA; Whittier College, B.A.
What Sets Hillstone Law’s Attorney Team Apart
Hillstone Law’s team includes attorneys with experience on both sides of personal injury cases. Several attorneys previously represented insurance companies, corporations, or defendants, giving the firm valuable insight into how claims are evaluated, delayed, defended, and settled.
The team’s experience covers car accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, premises liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, product liability, workplace injury claims, and complex litigation. Together, Hillstone Law’s attorneys combine trial experience, strategic case preparation, strong negotiation, and compassionate client service.
For injured clients, this means every case is handled with care, preparation, and a focus on pursuing the best possible outcome.
Note: These blog posts are created solely for the use of Hillstone Law. The information is gathered from publicly available sources, attorney bio pages, and internal website content. While we aim to share helpful and educational content, some information may be incomplete, outdated, or subject to change without notice.
Disclaimer: The material provided in these blogs is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Reading these posts does not create, and is not intended to create, an attorney-client relationship with Hillstone Law.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Hillstone Law at (855) 691-1691. Our attorneys are available 24/7 to help you understand your rights.
Note: These blog posts are created solely for the use of Hillstone Law. The information is gathered from internet research, publicly available sources, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT. While we aim to share helpful and educational content, Hillstone Law does not independently verify every detail. Some information may be incomplete, outdated, or subject to change without notice. If you believe any part of a post is inaccurate, misleading, or infringes upon copyright, please contact Hillstone Law immediately so we can review it and take appropriate action, including correction or removal.
Disclaimer: The material provided in these blogs is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Reading these posts does not create, and is not intended to create, an attorney-client relationship with Hillstone Law. Our intent is to share knowledge, raise awareness, and provide helpful resources to the public; however, Hillstone Law makes no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided, and expressly disclaims liability for any actions taken in reliance on it. The photos used in these posts are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict actual clients, individuals, or incidents unless expressly stated. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact Hillstone Law at (855) 691-1691. Our attorneys are available to answer your legal questions and help you understand your rights.
