Law Enforcement Defense

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP maintains an extensive practice in
the defense of law enforcement agencies and their oﬃcers. Our
experience extends to use-of-force claims in both the patrol and
custodial settings. We defend claims ranging from ﬁctitious allegations
of force to fatal oﬃcer-involved shootings, and in-custody deaths.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP’s experience extends to defending
Fourth Amendment false arrest and illegal search claims and First
Amendment claims in the patrol setting. In the custodial setting, we
have defended claims alleging failure to protect an inmate and failure
to provide adequate medical care. Through our extensive experience
in police and correctional oﬃcer defense, we have developed a
roadmap for defending claims so as to minimize the cost of discovery
and maximize the likelihood of obtaining an early dismissal, through
summary judgment or through voluntary dismissal.

Outside of litigation, Burke lawyers continually provide counseling to
law enforcement agencies, advising on policy procedures, legal limits
on police powers, POBRA issues, and managing the risk of claims.

Our law enforcement defense practice represents more than a dozen
cities and counties throughout California, as well as the California
Department of Corrections, the Board of Parole Hearings, the
California Prison Industry Authority, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

© 2025 Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP. All rights reserved.

LAW ENFORCEMENT DEFENSE
PEOPLE
Daphne M. Anneet, AWI-CH

Saed Atallah

Zareh Bursalyan

Susan E. Coleman

Algeria R. Ford

Sydney M. Gronroos

Caylin W. Jones

Lisa W. Lee, AWI-CH

Nathan A. Oyster

Natalie F. Price

Deann R. Rivard

