Who We Are
We focus.
Insurance, and only insurance. Whether that means a dispute with your homeowners’ insurer or a claim against a bad driver. We know the insurers, and they know us.
We never let go.
We are like a dog with a bone. Except in addition to a nasty growl and ruthless commitment to our clients, the lawyers at Kerley Schaffer have more than eighty years of battling insurance companies on behalf of homeowners, small businesspeople, and accident victims.
We win.
We have some of the largest settlements in our area of practice. We have one of the largest punitive damages awards against a property insurer, ever. We have more published opinions in California courts on behalf of insurance consumers than any firm in California. Focus, experience, and relentless commitment to finding solutions to your problems. That means success.
Meet the Team
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Marla Benavides
Marla brings to her work as a case manager at Kerley Schaffer long experience and great passion for advocacy. She is committed to delivering exceptional representation and counsel to her personal injury clients. After obtaining a paralegal degree in 2010, she has worked in various legal arenas, including class action employment law and insurance defense. Her work on behalf of accident victims is rooted in values of service, compassion, and promoting justice. Outside the office she spends her time with family and friends, cooking, traveling, and generally enjoying life’s simple pleasures.
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Tae Kang
Case Manager
Tae graduated cum laude from University of Rochester (2004) and is currently attending law school.
E tae@kslaw.us
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Edward Kerley
Partner
Edward graduated from Claremont McKenna (1986) and USC Law School (1994). His practice is focused on trial work. He has tried state and federal cases involving insurance fraud, various commercial disputes, insurance bad-faith, and wrongful termination. Prior to founding the firm, he held positions with law firms both in the U.S. and Middle East.
E edward@kslaw.us
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Ronan Morrill
Ronan graduated with a degree in history from UC Berkeley, where he rowed club crew, tutored at the writing center, and worked at an olive oil store. He retired from the olive oil industry to join Kerley Schaffer, where he assists with litigation. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, running, and playing fetch with his cat Artie.
E Ronan@kslaw.us
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Noah Perry
Paralegal
Noah received his bachelor’s in broadcasting and electronic communication from San Francisco State University. He spent a decade producing and recording music for television, documentaries, local artists, and record labels. After graduating from UCLA’s paralegal program in 2016, Noah was a member of Bet Tzedek Legal Services conservatorship program helping low-income families secure conservatorship for their disabled loved ones. At Kerley Schaffer, he serves as paralegal, office manager, and general major-domo.
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Nicholas Peterson
Attorney
Nicholas is a native of Seattle, WA. He graduated summa cum laude/valedictorian from Northwest University in 2000. Nicholas also performed and recorded as a drummer, percussionist and singer with numerous bands, with one album achieving “Gold” status in the U.S., and both “Gold” and “Platinum” status in the U.K. in 2008. He then earned his JD from UC Hastings College of the Law in 2012, where he was a senior editor with the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly and graduated cum laude with a concentration in civil litigation. Prior to joining Kerley Schaffer in 2017, Nicholas was an attorney at Kornblum, Cochran, Erickson & Harbison, LLP, where he also represented policyholders in various insurance disputes.
E nick@kslaw.us
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Jacob Polk
Jacob Polk is a case manager with over 20 years of experience in personal injury law. He enjoys serving as an advocate for individuals going through the difficult and stressful experience of dealing with all of the challenges related to an accident. He prides himself on supporting and looking out for the best interests of our clients. When away from the office he loves spending time with family and friends.
E Jacob@kslaw.us
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Anabel Ramirez
Anabel graduated from Heald College in 2014 with an Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies. She has worked at several personal injury firms over the last 16 years and has some experience in worker’s compensation as well as criminal defense law. In her spare time, after caring for her three children, Anabel likes to bake and watch true crime documentaries.
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Dylan Schaffer
Partner
Dylan attended Cornell and the University of California College of the Law, where he graduated magna cum laude. He clerked in the Ninth Circuit, spent a year as a teaching fellow at Stanford Law School, and then spent a decade working with Dennis Riordan, then California's leading appellate lawyer. Thereafter he spent ten years consulting on trials and complex appeals, while also writing books and movies. In 2013 he joined Edward Kerley’s insurance practice, which focuses on assisting consumers in disputes with their carriers.
E dylan@kslaw.us
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Marybelle Tolentino
Marybelle is a legal assistant with six years working in law. Born and raised in the Bay Area, she graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2017 with a BS in Business Management Economics. With her strong desire to help others and interest in law, she received her paralegal certificate from California State University, East Bay in 2021. Marybelle is also a licensed Notary Public. When she is not at work, find her at a nearby Pilates studio, running Lake Merritt, or taking an unhealthy number of photos of her two rescue dogs.