Helen I. Zeldes, esq.

Helen I. Zeldes received her Bachelor's in Political Science/Public Service from the University of California at Davis in 1988, and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law, cum laude, in 2000. During law school, Helen served as a member and editor of the University of Hawaii Law Review, and following graduation clerked for the Honorable Daniel R. Foley at the Intermediate Court of Appeals for the State of Hawaii. Helen served on the Board of Directors of Hawaii Women Lawyers in 2000 and currently serves on the Board of San Diego CoastKeeper and the San Diego Girls Alliance. Helen is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California and San Diego and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Helen is licensed to practice law in all state courts in Hawaii and California, and the U.S. District Courts for the District of Hawaii, and the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Central Districts of California. Before starting her own practice, Helen practiced law at the San Diego office of Lerach Coughlin (formerly Milberg Weiss) from 2001-July 2006.

Helen's practice areas include Complex Class Action Litigation focusing on Consumer and Insurance Fraud, Human Rights, Civil Rights and Environmental law.

            Hawai‘i State Bar                                                                                                        Nov  2000

California State Bar                                                                                                    June 2002

Education

  
            University of Hawai‘i, School of Law                                                                        May  2000

            Juris Doctor, graduated cum laude

University of Hawai‘i Law Review;  Editorial Board, Outside Articles Editor

Edward H. Nakamura Memorial Public Interest/Service Scholarship recipient

CALI Award for highest grade in Domestic Ocean & Coastal Law

Tied for top grade in Administrative Law

OxfordUniversity, at New College, England                                                            Summer 1998
Scholarship Recipient to Oxford-GWU Human Rights Law Program

University of California, at Davis                                                                              June 1988
Bachelor of Arts, Poli Sci/Public Service, Emphasis Int'l Relations

Legal Employment & Experience

            Zeldes & Haeggquist, LLP                                                                                   September 2008 – Present

Practice focuses on consumer and insurance fraud, civil rights,
            unfair business practices, employment wage/overtime violations,

credit and mortgage lending fraud, human rights, employment

discrimination and general business litigation.

Law Offices of Helen I. Zeldes                                                                             July 2006 –  August 2008

Practice focuses on consumer and insurance fraud, civil rights,
unfair business practices, employment wage/overtime violations,
credit and mortgage lending fraud, human rights, employment
discrimination and general business litigation. 

Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins, LLP                                    Oct 2001 – July 2006

(formerly Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach). 

Associate in the consumer and insurance fraud practice group at the
nation’s largest plaintiffs’ class action firm.  The consumer group’s
complex litigation practice focused on civil rights, unfair business
practices, insurance underwriting fraud, employment wage/overtime
violations and mortgage lending fraud.  Involvement from the ground
up on cases: researching and investigating potential claims, crafting
litigation strategies, conducting discovery, depositions, document review,
motion practice, collaborating with co-counsel from across the country
and client contact. In charge of the internship program for the consumer group. 
Interviewed, mentored, determined assignments and reviewed work
product for new interns.

State of Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of Appeals                                               Oct 2000 – Oct 2001

Appellate Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge Daniel R. Foley. 
Researched legal issues, drafted opinions and made recommendations
for adjudication in both civil and criminal appellate matters. 

Law Offices of Bostwick & Hoffman, Los Angeles, CA.                                    May 1999 - Dec  1999
Human Rights/Civil Rights Law Internship, Fall Semester, 1999. 
Researched and provided memoranda on employment discrimination,
police abuse, FSIA and ATCA, environmental justice/Title VI,
administrative exhaustion doctrine, and evidentiary issues. 
Traveled to Thailand to assist with depos in Doe v. Unocal, a human rights case.

Summer Associate, Summer 1999.  Researched and provided memorandum
on first amendment, tort, business, civil and criminal appeals, civil rights
and human rights law. Exposed to various aspects of litigation
including depositions, settlement conferences, client screening and
counseling and court proceedings.

AppleseedPublicInterestLawCenter, Honolulu, HI.                                                 Summer  1998

Summer Law Clerk Grant Recipient.  Awarded Appleseed grant
to research and provide memoranda on child advocacy/welfare,
and Native Hawaiian legal issues.

Other Employment

Global Creations & Global Interiors, Haleiwa, HI.                                              May 1990 - Present

Owner and Founder  of unique handcrafts and local artists
gallery.  Responsible for import/export, small business and employee
management, sales, marketing, financial management,
online store creation.  www.globalcreationsinteriors.com

The Empowerment Project, Los Angeles, CA.                                                    July 1988 - Nov 1988

Theatrical Release Coordinator. Coordinated theatrical openings
across the country for a documentary film called “COVERUP: 
Behind the Iran-Contra Affair.” Represented filmmakers in P.R.,
public speaking, media outreach, and fundraising. Coordinated
Los Angeles run of the film, created & supervised volunteer staff.