Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Gina Policastri joined Lonich & Patton, LLP in November 2003 and is the ranking senior associate. Ms. Policastri began her relationship with the firm in 2001 as a second year law clerk and continued working until she left to prepare for the July 2003 Bar exam.

Ms. Policastri obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Santa Clara University in 2000 and her Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University in 2003, where she earned a place as an editor of the Santa Clara Law Review by writing a legal comment on the Barry Bonds divorce case and the prenuptial agreement legislation it subsequently sparked. During law school, Gina earned both the Emery and Law Faculty Scholarships. She was also awarded a Public Interest Scholarship for her summer clerkship at the East San Jose Community Law Center, where she worked in the Small Business Group. She also received both the Witkin and CALI Awards in Community Property for her academic achievement in that course.

Since being admitted to the California bar, Gina has concentrated in the area of family law, where she uses her persuasive writing skills, familiarity with the Santa Clara County family court system and psychology background to effectively litigate cases on behalf of her clients.

Gina loves to travel and has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Italy; she recently returned from her honeymoon in Tahiti, where she visited the neighboring islands of Bora Bora, Moorea and Taha’a. She also enjoys camping (Big Sur is a favorite) and stays active by jogging, biking, rollerblading and skiing. Most of all, she enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Franco, her killer Chihuahua, Paco, and her family, who live on California’s Central Coast.

Gina is a member of the State Bar of California and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. She is also a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (including Barristers and Family Law Sections) and American Bar Association.

Mitchell T. Ehrlich is a partner with Lonich and Patton and along with David Patton, he leads the Family Law practice. His practice focuses on all areas of Family Law including Dissolutions, Child Custody, Support Matters, Property and Business Division, Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements, Paternity, Registered Domestic Partnerships, Guardianship and Adoptions. He recently passed the California Family Law Certified Specialistâs Exam and is awaiting approval to be designated as a Certified Family Law Specialist.

Mitchell has over 10 years of experience as a civil litigator and trial attorney. Mitchell began focusing his practice exclusively on Family Law matters shortly after Lonich & Pattonâs Family Law practice was developed. Prior to that, he amassed significant litigation experience handling the firmâs insurance defense, business law and employment law litigation matters as well as handling all of the firmâs appellate practice.

Born in Schenectady, NY in 1971, Mitchell grew up in San Jose, graduating from San Joseâs Pioneer High School in 1989. Mitchell then attended UC Santa Barbara where he graduated with a Degree in Economics in 1993. After working in Finance for a few years, he attended law school at Pepperdine University School of Law during which time he secured placement on the Deans Honors List numerous times, earned multiple scholarships, and earned assignments with the Washington D.C. Public Defender's Office, the U.S.D.A. and the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court. Mitchell graduated Cum Laude from Pepperdine in 1998 and then returned to San Jose to begin the active practice of law. He joined Lonich and Patton, LLP in 1999. Mr. Ehrlich is married, and he, his wife Wendy, 15 year step-son Jerry, three year old son Russell, infant daughter Ava and their dog Roxy who all live a happy and content life in the Willow Glen area of San Jose. When Mitchell isnât with his family, working or in court, he enjoys hiking, jogging, tennis, cooking, winning swimming races in his backyard pool, and playing guitar.

Mitchell is very aware of the fact that he practices in a field in which, quite often, his clients and their children are in the midst of an emotionally stressful and financially difficult situation, where their futures seem uncertain and making decisions can be difficult. Accordingly, relying on his thorough understanding of the law, his extensive trial and litigation background and his experience handling such sensitive matters, he endeavors to offer his clients his valuable experience, counsel and advice in not only the many complicated legal issues they face, but also the short term and long term impacts of their decisions on themselves, their children and their financial lives. Mitchell always provides his clients with timely and detailed attention, along with a clear goal-oriented approach to their issues. Further, drawing on his Economics Degree and his experience in finance, Mitchell has a keen ability to analyze and explain in plain English, the many complicated financial issues that Family Law matters so often entail. Recognizing both the emotional and exceeding high financial toll that can be associated with prolonged litigation, Mitchell seeks to avoid needless litigation and he focuses his efforts on reaching settlements and informal resolutions whenever possible. However, when a reasonable settlement that serves his clientâs best interest cannot be reached, he draws upon his strong litigation and trial skills to obtain favorable outcomes to the myriad of issues facing his clients.

Mr. Ehrlich is a member of the State Bar of California, the Santa Clara Bar Association and the State and Local Bar Family Law Sections. He engages in many professional activities including serving as Judge Pro Tem for the Santa Clara County Family Court and serving as an Arbitrator for the Santa Clara County Bar Association's Attorney Client Fee Disputes Division. Mr. Ehrlich is also a Traffic Court Judge Pro Tem. Mr. Ehrlich also volunteers his time with the Pro Bono Association's Lawyers in the Library Program.