Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani continues its strong 2026 hiring momentum with the addition of five lateral partners, Sydne Alexander, Giugi Carminati, Yelitza Dunham, Whitnee Goins, and Jonathan Ross, in its Northern California offices. Their extensive experience and diverse practice areas strengthen the firm’s capabilities in Northern California and nationwide.
“We are thrilled to welcome these talented attorneys to the firm. Their arrival further strengthens GRSM’s footprint across Northern California and underscores our ongoing commitment to excellence, exceptional client service, and attracting top legal talent,” said Mark Posard, Senior Partner in the Sacramento office and a key leader in the firm’s regional growth strategy.
Sydne Alexander is a dedicated and enthusiastic attorney with more than 14 years of experience. Her most recent roles helped to develop a strong focus on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counseling. Alexander’s experience boasts a proven track record of zealous advocacy, strong legal writing and research, and excellent interpersonal skills. She is admitted to practice in California.
Giugi Carminati is a litigation attorney with more than 17 years of experience handling complex commercial litigation, contract disputes, and actions in federal and state courts. She has a deep background in large-scale discovery, trial preparation, and litigation strategy, including first and second-chair federal trial experience across several states. She is admitted to practice in California, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, Colorado, and Oregon.
Yelitza Dunham has more than two decades of experience advising clients in all facets of insurance coverage, including those involving cybersecurity, privacy, and intellectual property infringement risks. She has extensive experience litigating insurance cases pertaining to D&O, E&O, property, general liability, fiduciary, professional liability, and life insurance in arbitration and in state and federal courts. Dunham has successfully managed trials and appeals and cost-effectively resolved complex high-stakes coverage disputes short of litigation. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Central Districts of California.
Whitnee Goins is a seasoned trial attorney with a strong federal and state court litigation practice, dedicated to helping employers manage risk and navigate complex compliance challenges through effective counsel and successful litigation outcomes. A former Assistant United States Attorney and state prosecutor, she brings significant courtroom experience, including extensive trial work and prior supervisory responsibility over attorneys and complex matters. She partners with employers to deliver strategic, business-aligned litigation outcomes and defends claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, wrongful termination, and wage-and-hour disputes. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Jonathan Ross focuses on resolving complex litigation in federal courts, bringing a practical, results-oriented approach to cases that require sound judgment and strategic execution. A trial attorney and civil litigator, he handles class actions, regulatory disputes, and other high-stakes issues. Before joining GRSM, Ross spent more than a decade with the U.S. Department of Justice, most recently as senior litigation counsel in the Civil Division, where he led strategy in nationally significant cases and argued in district courts and courts of appeals nationwide. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
“This expansion reflects the continued strength of our Northern California platform and our dedication to delivering exceptional results for clients across the region. We remain focused on thoughtful, strategic growth that enhances our ability to meet clients’ evolving needs,” said Mollie Burks, Regional Oversight Partner of GRSM’s Northern California offices.
Learn more about GRSM’s offices nationwide and the exciting remote and hybrid opportunities in Northern California and across the firm’s 50-state platform.