Suzanne Alves
Suzanne Alves
Attorney Suzanne M. Alves is a civil litigator with extensive experience in all areas of business and commercial litigation and appeals, handling cases in courts throughout the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area and Northern California. She relishes opportunities to display her oratory and legal skills in court. Ms. Alves is a firm believer in assessing each client’s case on its individual merits; always with a clear focus on the client’s best interests and goals.
Education
- University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California
J.D. – 1997
Honors: With High Honors - Trinity College, Dubin, Ireland – 1997
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic – 1997
- University of Southern California School of Law – 1995
- University of California at Berkeley – 1992
Honors: cum laude
Major: Philosophy
Published Works
- Panakosta Partners LP v. Hammer Lane Management LLC (2011) , 199 Cal.App. 4th 612 (first reported decision on limited partnership buy out provisions of Corporations Code 15908.02)
- Burrill v. Nair (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 357 (Anti-SLAPP)
- In Re Estate of Kievernagel (2008) , 166 Cal.App.4th 1024, (Case of first impression regarding post-mortem disposition of frozen sperm of intestate donor)
Recognition
- Court-appointed mediator for the California Court of Appeal for the Third District: 2021
- Sacramento Magazine Top Attorney, 2015 – 2017, 2019
- CALI Award for Excellence in Entertainment Law, 1998
- California Alumni Scholar , 1988 – 1992
Professional Associations and Memberships
Current:
- American Arbitration Association, Panel Member
- California Women Lawyers
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Member and Mandatory Fee Arbitrator
Past:
- Women Lawyers of Sacramento, Vice Chair of Community and Public Relations
- Alameda County Bar Association
- Bar Association of San Francisco
Selective Representative Matters
- Defense verdict on behalf of law firm defending against tort claims by former co-counsel seeking in excess of $36M
- Arbitration award in excess of $1M on behalf of hemp company for breach of contract by processor
- Six-figure jury verdict in elder abuse and breach of fiduciary duty action against decedent’s spouse
- Disgorgement awards on behalf of residential homeowners against unlicensed contractors
- Defeated arbitration provision in franchise contract against out-of-state franchisor- upheld by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal after oral argument
Client Testimonials
I hired Suzanne in July 2019. Right before our hearing she had an emergency that was unavoidable which caused a postponement and some delay in my cases. I wanted to hang on to her and wait out the storm she was passing through. Thankfully, things worked out and she was able to stay on as […]
I hired Suzanne for two different cases. I couldn’t sleep. I was scared. A friend that won her case with Suzanne told me to have a consultation with her. Best decision I ever made. Suzanne put BOTH My cases against me to rest. I paid my retainer and got more than half back! As I’m […]
My case was a little unusual, but involved a lot of money. Suzanne was tenacious. We could have probably gotten more if we went to trial, but she gave me my choice, and I settled with more than I had hoped for. It took WAAAAY longer than I had expected, but she kept me aware […]
