In recognition of Women's History Month, American Lawyer Media is celebrating women attorneys who have achieved leadership status in their field by naming them Women Leaders in the Law. Lois Lindstrom, in the Oakland office, and Sharon Hightower, in the San Jose office, have achieved this distinction.

Ms. Lindstrom is the Managing Partner of the Ericksen Arbuthnot's Oakland/Walnut Creek office, and Chair of the Board of Directors. She Co-Chairs the Healthcare and Insurance Coverage practice groups for the firm and also practices in the areas of Personal Injury, Products Liability, Professional Liability and Real Estate. Ms. Lindstrom is AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell - an honor less than 5% of women lawyers attain. She is also listed in the Bar Register of Woman Preeminent Lawyers. Ms. Lindstrom also serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada and chairs the Insurance Liaison Committee for that organization.

While Ms. Lindstrom has developed experience in several areas of practice, the primary focus of her practice is Professional Liability, including healthcare professionals. This includes assisting her clients in matters involving their professional boards, and administrative hearings and appeals. She has successfully appealed an Administrative Judgment which resulted in restoring a psychologist's license and dismissing all claims by the Board of Psychology against him.

Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Lindstrom worked in the insurance industry handling litigated matters and serving as a claims manager. She continues to use her knowledge from this experience in her practice involving insurance coverage and bad faith litigation.

Ms. Hightower is a senior partner and the Assistant Managing Partner in the San Jose office of Ericksen Arbuthnot. Her practice areas include Healthcare, of which she is the co-chair of the practice group, Employment, Personal Injury, Products Liability and Professional Liability. Her practice includes the defense of litigation involving professional liability claims, including surveyors, inspectors, and a host of other professionals. She provides services for both civil and administrative claims. Other aspects of her practice involve employment litigation, product liability, and personal injury.

Sharon is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. She is an experienced trial attorney with an excellent record of defense verdicts. Sharon has gained the respect of her colleagues for her success at trial as well as through the ADR process.

She was recently recognized for her outstanding contributions to the community and the profession by the Santa Clara County Bar Association with its prestigious 2013 Salsman Award. Named after Bryl R. Salsman, the late Superior Court Judge and Appellate Court Justice from Santa Clara County, the lifetime service award was presented at the Association's recent Annual Installation Ceremony and Reception on January 22, 2014 by incoming President, Dianne Sweeney. The recipient of the award is described as an “unsung” hero who has made a significant contribution to the Association without receiving public accolades for doing so. During the presentation of the award, it was noted that one member of the selection committee had commented that “Ms. Hightower embodies the best of what we expect a practicing attorney to be in Santa Clara County - knowledgeable, competent, respectful and willing to work to better our profession.”

Lois Lindstrom is a partner in the Oakland office. She can be reached at 510.832.7770 orllindstrom@ericksenarbuthnot.com.
Ms. Hightower can be contacted at shightower@ericksenarbuthnot.com, 408.286.0880 or visit our website at www.ericksenarbuthnot.com.