Meyers Nave’s Eminent Domain Practice Grows with the Addition of Two Partners from Erickson Beasley

Oakland, CA – Meyers Nave announced today that Brenda Aguilar-Guerrero and Henry Hewitt have joined the firm, expanding the firm’s well-known eminent domain practice with two recognized eminent domain attorneys.

Ms. Aguilar-Guerrero, former Managing Partner, and Henry Hewitt, Founding Partner of Erickson Beasley & Hewitt LLP, bring extensive experience in representing public entities in complex eminent domain and inverse condemnation matters. Ms. Aguilar-Guerrero and Mr. Hewitt joined Meyers Nave following the retirement of John Erickson and Alice Beasley, who founded the firm with Mr. Hewitt.

“Eminent domain has become an increasingly complex and at times controversial issue for our public entity clients,” said Meyers Nave Managing Principal Jayne Williams. “We are thrilled to have Brenda and Henry join our Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation Practice Group.”

Ms. Aguilar-Guerrero’s practice focuses on complex eminent domain and inverse condemnation, governmental tort liability, employment, and civil rights actions. She has litigated a wide variety of matters on behalf of cities, counties, school districts, transit agencies and other public entities throughout the Bay Area and surrounding areas. She has also represented various private owners in the area of inverse condemnation.

Mr. Hewitt specializes in employment and eminent domain law. He has drafted and defended affirmative action programs for government agencies, and represents public entities in such areas as employment and civil rights defense. He has represented plaintiffs in a number of federal class action discrimination cases and has also represented numerous individuals in employment-related matters.

“Brenda and Henry bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in matters involving eminent domain,” stated David W. Skinner, head of the firm’s Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation Practice Group. “The addition of Brenda and her team will enhance our ability to provide our public entity clients with creative, practical and cost-effective property acquisition strategies and solutions.”

Ms. Aguilar-Guerrero, who had served as Managing Partner of Oakland-based Erickson Beasley & Hewitt LLP since 2004, also has successfully litigated on behalf of plaintiffs in discriminatory and predatory lending cases.

“Joining Meyers Nave allows us to combine our strengths with a sophisticated eminent domain practice as well as to offer clients a wider array of legal services,” Ms. Aguilar-Guerrero stated.

“Though we’ve competed for years, our two firms have always had great mutual respect,” said John Erickson, Founding Partner of Erickson, Beasley and Hewitt. “I’m pleased that Brenda and Henry will be able to continue their exceptional representation of our clients.” 

About Brenda Aguilar-Guerrero

Ms. Aguilar-Guerrero is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where she was the recipient of the Henry & Emma Deganno and William L. Murray scholarships. She was a Sloan Fellowship Recipient at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and earned a B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. 

About Henry Hewitt

Mr. Hewitt graduated with an A.B. in Philosophy from Occidental College in 1964. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1967. During the next year, he served as law clerk to the Honorable George B. Harris, Chief Judge of the United States District Court, Northern District of California.

From 1989 to 1992, Mr. Hewitt was an adjunct professor of law at the University of San Francisco Law School, teaching a course in Federal Courts. He is a past Co-chair of the EEO Subcommittee and is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco and the California Employment Lawyers Association.

Mr. Hewitt is admitted to practice before the state courts of California, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States Claims Court, and the United States Supreme Court, and is a member in good standing with the State Bar of California.

Meyers Nave attorneys represent both public entities and property owners in eminent domain actions. They have litigated the acquisition of properties ranging from agricultural land, to commercial and residential buildings, railroad right-of-ways and submerged tidelands, as well as air rights, subsurface mineral rights and wind power rights. The firm’s expertise includes property owner rights, inverse condemnation, property valuation and goodwill valuation. To learn more about Meyers Nave’s Eminent Domain Practice, contact the Practice Group Chair, David Skinner, at 800.464.3559. 

Contact:

Jayne Williams
510-808-2000
jwilliams@meyersnave.com