ROBLES & TANTRAPHOL, PLC

RAYMUND ROBLES

Raymund F. Robles concentrates on the representation of selected civil and criminal matters. Mr. Robles has defended individuals and businesses facing a variety of criminal liabilities and offenses, from internal and law enforcement investigations, through trials, and post-conviction relief proceedings.  He has also successfully represented individuals and companies in the areas of business and contractual disputes.

Mr. Robles has discretely navigated legal issues for clients in sensitive positions due to their employment or status in the community. He has assisted professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs faced with varying legal issues.
Before co-founding Robles & Tantraphol, Mr. Robles served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of California. In that capacity, Mr. Robles conducted the appellate prosecution of adult and juvenile felony cases before the United States District Court, the California Supreme Court, the California Court of Appeal, and local trial courts, obtaining a 99% success rate.

Mr. Robles also worked as a Trial Attorney for the Public Defender's Office. As Deputy Public Defender, he effectively represented thousands of individuals charged with an assortment of misdemeanor and felony offenses, from first-time DUI's to serious felonies with "Three Strikes" consequences.

Thereafter, Mr. Robles joined a civil litigation and transactions firm where he practiced general civil litigation, contracts and business dispute throughout California. 

Mr. Robles is also a former intern with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, Juvenile Prosecutions Division, where he conducted trials (adjudications), resulting in a 100% win record.

Mr. Robles received his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the California Polytechnic University. At Hastings, Mr. Robles was a member of the editorial board of the Hastings International & Comparative Law Review and a recipient of a number of academic and community service awards.

Mr. Robles' appellate cases cited in the official case reporters include:People v. Daugherty (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 275; In re Tanya B. (1996) 43 Cal.App.4th 1; People v. Davis (1996) 42 Cal.App.4th 806; People v. Fonseca (1995) 36 Cal.App.4th 631; and People v. Flynn (1995) 31 Cal.App.4th 1387.

Mr. Robles has spoken on a variety of issues at legal events, has appeared on television as legal commentator, and has had his cases published in newspapers. His present or former professional memberships and activities include the following: California Public Defenders Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, San Mateo County Bar Association, and American Bar Association.

Mr. Robles has been recognized as one of the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in California for four straight years, as featured in Los Angeles Magazine and Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, Rising Stars Edition.  He was selected for this award in 2004, 2005, 2006, and againin 2007.  Click here for more details on achieving this distinction.  In 2009, Mr. Robles was one of KRON4's Best of the Bay TV, Best Lawyers in the Bay Area nominee.

Mr. Robles successfully obtained a dismissal of all 10 felony counts on behalf of a Deputy Sheriff client, facing significant prison and fine exposure.  He also prevented the prosecution of a materials scientist and engineer for computer hacking, a medical provider for elder abuse, a number of Silicon Valley professionals with varying potential criminal charges - ranging from vandalism, domestic violence and commercial burglary, as well as a Southern California executive facing multiple years' prison exposure for fraud.

On the civil side, Mr. Robles has achieved favorable resolutions in a number of commercial landlord-tenant disputes, represented start-ups in diverse industries, attained significant monetary awards in serious personal injury and employment matters, and recently, resolved a contractual dispute worth over $3 million.

FLORENCE V. TANTRAPHOL

Ms. Tantraphol has experience on both sides of the criminal law arena.  She is a former Deputy District Attorney in Northern and Southern California and she was also a trial attorney with the Alternate Public Defender's Office.

As a Deputy District Attorney in San Mateo County, she prosecuted numerous criminal matters that occurred in South San Francisco, San Mateo, San Carlos, San Bruno, Redwood City, Pacifica, Millbrae, Menlo Park, Foster City, East Palo Alto, Daly City, Burlingame, Brisbane, Atherton, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Colma, Woodside, and other surrounding areas, attaining a 100% win record.

Ms. Tantraphol also served as Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles County. During her tenure at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Ms. Tantraphol handled cases out of Silverlake, Echo Park, Hollywood, Mid-City, Downtown, Pico-Union, Koreatown, Alhambra, Santa Anita, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Temple City, East Los Angeles, Montebello, City of Commerce, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Airport, El Segundo, and Inglewood.

As a Deputy District Attorney, she participated in all areas of prosecution of wide ranging criminal violations, from traffic infractions, white-collar offenses, to serious and violent felonies, including rape, attempted murder, and robbery.

As a Deputy Alternate Public Defender, she defended the rights of people accused of theft, possession, solicitation, distribution, being under the influence of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, dui, fraud, shoplifting, petty theft, grand theft, prostitution, domestic violence, criminal threats, white-collar crimes, lewd conduct, vandalism, gang allegations, robbery, assault, GBI, battery, harboring a fugitive, obstructing, resisting arrest, hit and run, car jacking, car theft, reckless driving, evading arrest, credit card fraud, weapons offenses, suspended drivers' license, and many other offenses.

Ms. Tantraphol also worked for a civil litigation firm in Santa Monica where she handled business litigation matters, personal injury, and workers compensation claims.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Tantraphol assisted in managing multi-million dollar accounts for Wilshire Associates, a global investment technology, consulting, and management firm.
Ms. Tantraphol received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, where she attained the distinction of Dean's Scholar and inclusion in the Dean's List. She earned her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law, where she received the American Jurisprudence Award in Legal Research and Writing, as well as a number of scholarships from the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Ms. Tantraphol was a member of Southwestern's Moot Court Honors Team, where she received awards for her advocacy during competition.

Ms. Tantraphol's present and former professional memberships and activities include the following: American Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Southern California Chinese Lawyers' Association, and San Mateo County Bar Association.

Various newspapers have published a number of Ms. Tantraphol's cases.  Ms. Tantraphol has been selected for recognition in Cambridge Who's Who for 2006/07, Among Executive and Professional Women "Honors Edition", Strathmore's Who's Who in the years of 2002, 2003 and 2004, for inclusion in IBC's Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century, IBC Living Legend and Worldwide Honors Lists, 2003-2004/05, and Cambridges Who's Who among Executives, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs for 2008-2009. 

In 2007, Ms. Tantraphol successfully represented one of the defendants in the highly publicized case involving Khai Van Ninh, at that time, the largest auto insurance fraud case in Santa Clara County's history.

In 2008, 2009, and again in 2010, Ms. Tantraphol was recognized as one of the top 2.5 percent of criminal defense attorneys in California, as featured in the July 2008, 2009, and 2010 editions of the Los Angeles Magazine and Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, Rising Stars Edition.  Click here for more details on achieving this distinction. 

J. CHRISTOPHER SMITH

J. Christopher Smith, of the Law Offices of J. Christopher Smith, has successfully defended clients charged with homicide and attempted homicide, narcotics sales and possession, rape, bank robbery, strike allegations, driving under the influence, petty theft, juvenile cases, and a host of other criminal matters. He has tried a significant number of jury trials with remarkable results. 

In addition, he has used his litigation and negotiation skills to advocate for juveniles in the juvenile justice system, individuals facing probation violations, and those with parole revocation concerns.
Among other cases, Mr. Smith was involved with the representation and defense of Giovanni Ramirez, in connection with the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium (NBC News).  Mr. Smith represented celebrity attorney Howard K. Stern, on conspiracy charges relating to Anna Nicole Smith (TMZ), as well as with the defense of hip-hop rapper T.I. and his wife (CNN), and with the legal representation of Grammy-winning singer Faith Evans (NY Daily News).
Before affiliating with Robles & Tantraphol, PLC, Mr. Smith was a Trial Attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. There, he successfully managed a significant caseload and effectively represented thousands of clients charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses throughout Los Angeles County.
Mr. Smith is also a former associate of a Downtown Los Angeles firm where he litigated labor, employment, and business law matters.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Smith worked for the Los Angeles County Superior Court as a judicial assistant, where he operated as court manager in criminal, civil, and family law courtrooms. He was also employed with the National Criminal Defense College, where he assisted with the implementation of continuing legal education programs for attorneys in the area of criminal defense.

Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles and his law degree from Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, on scholarship and as a quarterfinalist in moot court competition. He is licensed to practice law in California and Georgia.

Mr. Smith is also an expert legal commentator on television (ABC7 News) and on the web (Jerry Sandusky and Bernie Fine), has had his cases published in newspapers, been included in the 16th Edition of Who's Who Among American Law Students, and was a recruiter and representative for Mercer University School of Law.   Mr. Smith is formerly general counsel and secretary for the UCLA Black Alumni Association, and remains a member of the UCLA and UCLA Black Alumni Associations.

Mr. Smith appeared on television as one of the top 12 lawyers in the nation to compete in NBC's "The Law Firm", a legal reality series created by David E. Kelly, Executive producer of "The Practice", "Ally McBeal", and "LA Law."
  

ROBLES & TANTRAPHOL, PLC

500 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2300, Los Angeles, CA 90071
580 California Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94104
 4920 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022

Tel:  (800) 998-6988
Fax: (866) 890-0480
email:  info@rtlawyers.com

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