For Immediate Release
For more information:
Lynn Hoffman (559) 233-4800 lhoffman@wjhattorneys.com
Fresno, CA-Wanger Jones Helsley PC is proud to announce the continued growth of the law firm with the addition of Riley C. Walter, Michael L. Wilhelm and Deborah K. Boyett of the Walter Wilhelm Law Group, a boutique business law firm founded in 1998, effective July 1, 2019.
The attorneys from Walter Wilhelm Law Group, all of whom are rated AV Preeminent by Martindale and Hubbell®, bring extensive experience in the areas of bankruptcy, business reorganization, commercial and real estate transactions, estate planning and probate to Wanger Jones Helsley; a firm that has a national reputation for its powerhouse litigation practice.
Now entering its 25th year, WJH anticipates a tremendous benefit from adding these remarkable attorneys to its growing practice; strengthening its ability to offer complimentary legal services to its clientele.
Timothy Jones, President of Wanger Jones Helsley, stated: “We are excited about the intellectual value and talent these attorneys are bringing to Wanger Jones Helsley. This is an intentional expansion of our practice and supports the vision we set out to accomplish years ago.”
Jones added, “These highly reputable lawyers bring to us new areas of expertise that build on our already strong practice base.”
Riley C. Walter, who will join WJH as a shareholder, has a statewide reputation and is a well-known specialist in troubled businesses, bankruptcies and business reorganizations. Walter specializes in complex reorganizations including agribusiness cases and has a subspecialty of handling reorganizations of healthcare districts. He has been recognized by his peers as a Top 100 Attorney in Northern California seven times and has been designated as a Northern California Super Lawyer every year since 2004. He is member of the American College of Bankruptcy, Class XIII; is a certified reorganization specialist accredited by the American Board of Bankruptcy Certification; was president of the San Joaquin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and co-chair of the California State Bar Agribusiness Committee. Walter was past president of the Central California Bankruptcy Association, vice chair of the City of Fresno Charter Review Commission and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Valley Children’s Hospital.
Michael L. Wilhelm has distinguished himself as a real estate, reorganization, bankruptcy and business transactions specialist. Wilhelm will bring his 38 years of impressive experience to a burgeoning transactions practice in the firm. Wilhelm has been a lecturer, author and community leader in bankruptcy, business transactions and has been recognized for his many civic contributions. He has received accolades for his work with the Fresno County Bar Association and in the community with the Fresno County Civic Leadership Project. He is also recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer, an honor given to only the top five percent of the attorneys in Northern California. Wilhelm is a Charter member and past president of the Central California Bankruptcy Association. Wilhelm has held the position of program chair for the Central California Bankruptcy Association and has published and presented on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Fresno Business Council and has served the community as a board member of several educational organizations.
Deborah K. Boyett brings to Wanger Jones Helsley her vast legal expertise in trusts, estate planning, probate, elder law and business succession planning. Her 18 years of legal experience will enhance Wanger Jones Helsley’s rapidly expanding estate planning, probate litigation and nonprofit practice. Boyett is a sought-after speaker on the topic of trusts and estate planning and has served as a director on several local nonprofit boards. She is a regular presenter at the San Joaquin College of Law Senior Day. Before legal career began, Boyett owned a marketing and advertising firm which served her well during law school when she was Editor-in-Chief of the San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review. In 2010, she was inducted into the Central California Advertising and Marketing Hall of Fame for her many accomplishments.
Walter said, “This is an exciting time for us. Mike, Deborah and I have known many of the WJH attorneys for a long time and we’re looking forward to being part of their team.”
Wanger Jones Helsley PC concentrates its practice in the representation of management in employment and labor matters (employment counseling and litigation), environmental and water law and litigation, commercial, agri-business (PACA/AMAA/crop loss litigation), real estate and land use, insurance coverage/bad faith litigation, private judging (arbitration and mediation), criminal defense and white collar criminal defense, anti-trust/unfair competition litigation, civil rights litigation, condemnation and eminent domain, construction defect litigation and construction disputes, patent/trademark copyright litigation, probate litigation, professional liability, real estate, securities litigation, toxic tort litigation. The firm enjoys an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating possible from this well-respected lawyers’ directory.