Kathleen J. Purcell  (Ret.)

KATHLEEN J. PURCELL is a founding partner of Remcho, Johansen & Purcell. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1977 and the California Bar in 1978.  She is a graduate of Stanford University (B.A., 1974) and Stanford Law School (J.D., 1977). Her full biography can be accessed here.

James C. Harrison

JAMES C. HARRISON joined Remcho, Johansen & Purcell in 1997 as an associate and is now a Partner in the firm.  He was admitted to the California Bar in 1992.  He is a graduate of Duke University (B.A., cum laude, 1988) and the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (J.D., 1992).  Prior to joining Remcho, Johansen & Purcell, Mr. Harrison was a litigation associate at Morrison & Foerster for four years. 

Since joining the firm in 1997, Mr. Harrison has represented a variety of clients in public policy and constitutional litigation. Mr. Harrison has represented the proponents and opponents of ballot measures in pre- and post- election challenges, including the successful defense of Proposition 71 (California Family Bioethics Council v. California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 147 Cal.App.4th 1319 (2007)) and Proposition 10 (California Assoc. of Retail Tobacconists v. State, 109 Cal. App. 4th 792 (2003)) and successful challenges to Proposition 213 (Horwich v. Superior Court, 21 Cal. 4th 272 (1999)) and Proposition 208 (California Prolife Council Political Action Committee v. Scully, 164 F.3d 1189 (9th Cir. 1999)).  Mr. Harrison also represented the California Legislature in litigation involving the 2000 Census and redistricting and has represented the State Controller in actions relating to the authority of retirement boards and the Unclaimed Property Law.  Mr. Harrison's appellate experience includes arguments in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, and California courts of appeal.

Mr. Harrison has represented numerous state, local and federal candidates in connection with election law, campaign finance, and enforcement matters.  Mr. Harrison also advises public and private clients regarding compliance with the California Political Reform Act and public meeting and public record laws.  Mr. Harrison has represented numerous public officials and public agencies in conflict of interest matters, including the Department of Water Resources, the California Children & Families Commission, Monterey County, Stanislaus County, and the Alameda Unified School District.  In addition, Mr. Harrison has conducted ethics training seminars for the Governor's Office, the Assembly, and other state and local agencies, and he advises clients regarding professional ethics.

Mr. Harrison has been involved in drafting numerous ballot measures, including Proposition 10, Proposition 26, Proposition 71, Proposition 82, Proposition 87, and Proposition 93.  Mr. Harrison has also represented numerous ballot measure committees in state and local ballot measure campaigns in California.

Mr. Harrison served as general counsel to the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the stem cell agency which was established by Proposition 71, from January 2005 through March 2007, and he continues to serve as special counsel to the agency.

Karen Getman

KAREN GETMAN was admitted to the New York Bar in 1986, the District of Columbia Bar in 1987, and the California Bar in 1988. She is a graduate of Yale College (B.A. with distinction, 1980) and Harvard Law School (J.D. cum laude, 1985).

Ms. Getman served as Chairman of the California Fair Political Practices Commission from March, 1999 to April, 2003. She was a member of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board from May 2003 through February 2005.

Ms. Getman was the first Executive in Residence at the Center on Politics at the University of California, Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies, where she currently serves as a member of the IGS National Advisory Council.  Ms. Getman also served as adjunct professor at U.C. Berkeley School of Law, where she co-taught the course on Regulating Public Integrity.  Ms. Getman previously served on the boards of Women Executives in State Government and Students Run Oakland, and was a member of the Assembly Speaker's Commission on the California Initiative Process.

Since joining the firm, Mr. Willis has litigated a number of election law, conflict of interest, campaign finance and redistricting cases.  Mr. Willis is currently participating in litigation successfully defending the California Legislature’s 2001 redistricting plan.  Nadler v. Schwarzenegger, 137 Cal. App. 4th 1327 (2006).  In 2003, he successfully challenged an interim contract approved by a municipality before a referendum election could take place.  Lindelli v. Town of San Anselmo, 111 Cal. App. 4th 1099 (2003).  In 2002, Mr. Willis successfully defended a member of the Public Utilities Commission in an action that sought to remove him from office based on an alleged conflict of interest.  People ex rel. Found. for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights v. Duque, 105 Cal. App. 4th 259 (2003).  Mr. Willis also participated in a successful federal court challenge to San Francisco campaign contribution limits.   

In addition to litigation, Mr. Willis advises clients on the full panoply of laws governing the electoral and political process, including federal and state campaign finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest, and other ethics laws.  He also helped draft several statewide initiatives, including the recently proposed Proposition 87, which sought to increase renewable energy and reduce oil consumption in California.  Mr. Willis also represents clients before the Federal Elections Commission, the California Fair Political Practices Commission, and the San Francisco Ethics Commission.  He advises candidates, campaign committees, initiative and referendum committees, corporations and nonprofits about these laws and the electoral process, including election challenges.

Margaret R. Prinzing

MARGARET R. PRINZING joined Remcho, Johansen & Purcell in May, 2004. She was admitted to the California bar in 2000.  She is a graduate of Indiana University (B.A. with distinction, 1992; member of Phi Beta Kappa) and Boalt Hall Law School (J.D., 2000). Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Prinzing was an associate with Bingham McCutchen where she specialized in civil and appellate litigation.  From 1993 to 1997, she worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Congressmen Martin Olav Sabo and Frank McCloskey, focusing on health care, welfare and education matters. During law school, Ms. Prinzing was Executive Editor of the Berkeley Women’s Law Journal and interned with the East Bay Community Law Center and the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission.  She has done a wide variety of pro bono work, most recently serving as a member of the Advisory Committee to the California Habeas Project, and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the Alameda County foster care system.  Since joining the firm, Ms. Prinzing has represented clients in election, public policy and constitutional litigation before state and federal courts including the California Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Ms. Prinzing also assists clients in drafting initiatives and advises clients on political and governmental law matters, such as state campaign finance, conflicts of interest and the initiative process.

Kari Krogseng

KARI KROGSENG joined Remcho, Johansen & Purcell in 2005. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A., magna cum laude, 1996) and University of California, at Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) (J.D., 2001).  Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Krogseng was a litigation associate with Bingham McCutchen, and a volunteer organizer for America Coming Together during the 2004 general election.  During law school, she authored Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, 27 Ecology L.Q. 771 (2000), and was Managing Editor of Ecology Law Quarterly, a member of California Law Review, and a board member of Berkeley Law Foundation.  She also clerked for the East Bay Community Law Center, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and the United States Attorney's Office, Department of Justice.  Ms. Krogseng successfully argued that federal immigration law does not preempt state workers' compensation law for amicus curiae in Farmers Brothers Coffee v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, 133 Cal.App.4th 533 (2005).  She represents clients in constitutional, public policy and election litigation, and advises clients on nonprofit and tax-exempt corporation law, professional responsibility, and campaign and ethics law.

STAFF PROFILES:

Jeanne Pritchard

JEANNE PRITCHARD, Political Reform Act Specialist: Ms. Pritchard joined the California Fair Political Practices Commission when it was formed in 1975 and remained with the Commission until joining Remcho, Johansen & Purcell in 1992.  From 1985 until she left the Commission, Ms. Pritchard was Chief, Technical Assistance and Analysis Bureau with responsibility for providing advice to the public and specialists in the field on compliance with the Act.  She supervised a staff of approximately 25 specialists.  Ms. Pritchard, who is not an attorney, works with the firm's lawyers to provide technical advice on compliance with the Political Reform Act.  In addition, she assists in the preparation of public disclosure reports required of lobbyists, candidates, officeholders, political action committees and others involved in the political process.

Trina O'Brien

TRINA O'BRIEN, Administrator:  Ms. O’Brien received her MBA from Golden Gate University.  Ms. O'Brien joined Remcho, Johansen & Purcell in 2005 as the firm's general and business manager, computer network administrator and is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators, the Institute of Management Accountants and Society for Human Resources Management.  She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the Society for Human Resources Management.

Brian Metzker

BRIAN METZKER, Paralegal:  Mr. Metzker graduated from Georgetown University with a Professional Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and from the University of California, Berkeley with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He joined Remcho, Johansen & Purcell, LLP in 2009 as the firm's paralegal.

Nina Leathley
 
NINA LEATHLEY, Litigation Support Coordinator: Ms. Leathley graduated from California State University, Hayward in 1991 with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. She joined Remcho, Johansen & Purcell in 1991 and has over 20 years of experience as a legal secretary. Ms. Leathley also acts as the firm's litigation production coordinator.

Keli Sarantis

KELI SARANTIS, Executive Secretary/Administrative Assistant: Ms. Sarantis joined Remcho, Johansen & Purcell in 1997. She is the executive secretary to the partners and an administrative assistant to the Administrator. Ms. Sarantis is also the firm's accounts payable and billing clerk.