Education

Juris Doctorate • California Western School of Law, Cum Laude

B.A. in Political Science & History • University of Arizona, 4.0 GPA

Professional Licenses

Attorney & Counselor at Law • California Bar (#230260) • 2004 – Present

United States District Court, Southern District of California • 2004 – Present

United States District Court, Central District of California • 2004 – Present

Certifications

California Certified Legal Specialist in Family Law • 2016

Professional Experience

Senior Litigation Attorney • Primus Family Law Group, LLP • October 2019 – April 2023
Family, Criminal, and Limited Civil Law

• Lead Attorney for 100-plus Contested Bench Trials, Evidentiary Hearings, Request for Order Hearings, Motions
• Lead Attorney for Three Criminal Jury Trials
• Lead Attorney for Four Appeals — Child Custody, California Family Code section 3044, Evidence, and Civil Restraining Order
• Minor’s Counsel Appointments

Judge Pro Tem • San Diego Superior Court • December 2019 – Present

• Conduct Family Law Mandatory Settlement Conferences in Central, East, South, and North County Courts

Senior Litigation Attorney • Klueck & Hoppes, APC • July 2017 – October 2019

Owner, Managing Partner, & Litigation Attorney • West Maldonado Law Group • June 2015 – July 2017

• Litigation Attorney
• Managed Law Firm Daily Operations
• Supervised Staff of Attorneys, Law Clerks, Paralegals, and Administrative Assistants

Owner, Partner, & Litigation Attorney • Rhoads & West • September 2004 – June 2015

Awards

California SuperLawyer Award Recipient • 2020 – 2022

Professional Associations

California State Bar Association

San Diego County Bar Association

San Diego Family Law Bar Association • Education Co-Chair• 2021, 2022

Education Committee Co-Chair • Foothills Bar Association

Professional Presentations

Presenter • “Domestic Violence: Unintended Consequences in Family Law” • San Diego Family Law Bar Association • December 2022

Presenter • “Discovery without Discovery” • San Diego Family Law Bar Association • November 2022

Presenter • “Justice Costs Money and Your Client Doesn’t Have Much” & “Cross-Examining the Expert on a Budget” • San Diego Family Law Bar Association • May 2021

Moderator • “Visitation & High Conflict Custody Cases” • San Diego Family Law Bar Association • March 2021

Presenter • “Coercive Control Comes to California (Domestic Violence – SB 1141)” • San Diego Family Law Bar Association • February 2021

Presenter • “Domestic Violence: Family and Criminal Law Crossover” • Foothills Bar Association • March 2019

Presenter • Family Law Seminar: Updates in Family Law – “Litigating Domestic Violence Cases – Where is the Evidence?” • San Diego County Bar Association • August 2017