Reid & Hellyer, APC, a Riverside County firm since 1897, is pleased to announce the firm’s new shareholders, Marie E. Wood and Donald W. Hitzeman. Ms. Wood and Mr. Hitzeman are joining shareholders Michael G. Kerbs, Daniel E. Katz, Douglas A. Plazak and Christopher A. Johnson.
Marie E. Wood joined Reid & Hellyer, APC in June 2016 after practicing business and real estate civil litigation at a local boutique firm and later starting her own immigration law practice. At Reid & Hellyer, APC, Ms. Wood continues her practice in business and real estate litigation, as well as immigration law, including family, employment, and business-based matters. Ms. Wood immigrated to this country at a young age and is fluent in Spanish. She prides herself in building great client relationships while supporting the community. She is a member of the California Lawyers Association, Real Property Law Section Executive Committee, a founding board member of the Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland Empire, a board member and past president of the Southwest Riverside County Bar Association, and member of the Southwest Inn of Court, Riverside and North County Bar Associations, the Federal Bar Association, and American Immigration Lawyers Association. Ms. Wood was an adjunct professor at Palomar Community College from 2010-2016, where she taught various business and contract law courses, has been a guest speaker at California State University San Marcos, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Mt. San Jacinto College Legal Studies Program.
Donald W. Hitzeman joined Reid & Hellyer, APC in May 2019. Mr. Hitzeman has been a California attorney for over 37 years, the past 17 years practicing in the Temecula and Murrieta area. He prides himself in providing his clients with sound and well-reasoned advice relating to employment law and transactional matters, knowing how contract issues will likely play out in court, mediation, or arbitration. Mr. Hitzeman was previously a co-president and founder of Hitzeman & Evenson, APC, overseeing its very active business litigation and transactional practice. His experience also includes over eleven years with Parker & Irwin, APC, in San Bernardino, California, where he was a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors. Prior to that, Mr. Hitzeman served over eight years as an officer and attorney with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps., practicing criminal law at the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Hitzeman has been an instructor and lecturer locally and nationally on such subjects as California Workers’ Compensation Law, employment discrimination, leave policies, criminal trial advocacy, and methods in child abuse prosecution.
In making this announcement, Reid & Hellyer President Michael G. Kerbs stated: “I gladly welcome Marie and Don into the ranks of the shareholders of our esteemed firm. On behalf of the entire firm, we congratulate them on this advancement in their legal careers and we look forward to their continuing contributions in serving our clients and our community.”
Please join us in welcoming both Marie E. Wood and Donald W. Hitzeman as shareholders of Reid & Hellyer, APC, where we continue our long tradition of Practicing Law with Competence and Integrity for over 100 Years.