Charles A. Pacheco
chuck@pachecosomera.com

Mr. Pacheco has over 20 years of experience as a defense attorney, as well as a background in law enforcement as a California Highway Patrol officer and as a criminal defense investigator, that he brings to bear on behalf of his clients.            

He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from California State University, Sacramento, and a Juris Doctorate from Lincoln Law School in Sacramento.  He was admitted to the Bar in 1987.

After spending 6 years as a California Highway Patrol officer, Mr. Pacheco worked as a licensed private investigator on more than 20 death penalty cases. He was the lead investigator in the case of the United States v. Lynette Fromme, the Manson cult follower who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford. Mr. Pacheco also has testified as an expert in accident reconstruction.

Mr. Pacheco has defended those accused of murder in death penalty cases and has achieved numerous acquittals in homicide cases.  As a result of his experience as a law enforcement officer, Mr. Pacheco gained complex knowledge of DUI's, and as a defense attorney he has represented numerous defendants in DUI cases.

In the case of Helmandollar v. the Department of Motor Vehicles (1992) 7 Cal.App. 4^th, 52, Mr. Pacheco won a ruling that the Department of Motor Vehicles must restore the driver's licenses of defendants who are acquitted on charges of driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more (Vehicle Code section 23152, subdivision(b).)

"My philosophy is that the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, is a road map or a guide for the detection and ultimate prosecution of criminal conduct," Mr. Pacheco says. "A defense attorney must ensure that his client's constitutional rights are not violated during that process."

Contact Mr. Pacheco at chuck@pachecosomera.com

Gilbert D. Somera
gil@pachecosomera.com

Mr. Somera is a native of Stockton, California.  He received his Bachelor or Arts degree from the University of California at Davis and his Juris Doctorate from Humphreys School of Law.

Mr. Somera’s work background and experiences have been essential to his legal success.  His work experience includes over 15 years of successful business management in both the corporate environment and small business.  During his college career at the University of California at Davis, Mr. Somera worked full time as the Executive Vice President of a multi-million dollar warehousing and transportation company.  While going to law school at night, Mr. Somera worked full time as one of the top representatives and managers of the Thomson Corporation (NYSE:TOC) in their legal publishing division.  Mr. Somera was responsible for the maintenance and growth of millions of dollars in contracts.  During his tenure with Thomson West, Mr. Somera conducted numerous training seminars on public speaking and presentations.

As an attorney, Mr. Somera focuses his practice on litigation, DUI and Criminal Defense, Civil Rights, Personal Injury, and Business consulting.  Mr. Somera understands the needs of his clients and knows how to handle cases when they require discrete negotiations or aggressive trial preparation.  Mr. Somera has had ongoing success in his practice and is able to handle each case with determination and confidence.  Mr. Somera is constantly thinking “outside the box” to achieve the most favorable results for his clients. 

Choosing the right attorney to represent you makes all the difference.  Mr. Somera’s experience and passion for his practice puts him on the top of the list.

Contact Gilbert D. Somera at gil@pachecosomera.com

Lisa Kobayashi
lisa@pachecosomera.com

Ms. Kobayashi received her Juris Doctorate from King Hall, UC Davis School of Law.  Prior to that, she received her Master of Laws in public law and Bachelor of Law degrees from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan.

Ms. Kobayashi has experience handling administrative hearings, immigration, criminal defense, and business and corporate matters.  Before attending law school, she worked for the government dealing with matters in international affairs and diplomatic relations.  She has traveled to over 30 countries and is fluent in Japanese.

In helping clients, she focuses on the client's specific background, needs, and goals to develop a strategy to achieve the most desired outcome for each individual client.

Gilbert E. Somera
gilsr@pachecosomera.com

Mr. Gilbert E. Somera, affectionately known at the firm as Gil Sr., was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1945 but moved to Tracy prior to beginning school. He graduated from Tracy Joint Union High School and entered the Air Force shortly thereafter. After his honorable discharge in 1968 he married and had two children. Gil Sr. Has been a lifelong student of law and life, attending San Joaquin Delta College, University of the Pacific, University of California at Davis, and Martin Luther King School of Law where he graduated in 1974.

Mr. Somera was employed by the California Department of Social Services as Senior Staff Counsel until 2006, when he joined Pacheco & Somera as associate counsel. Mr. Somera’s invaluable experience in life brings a different and helpful perspective to the firm.