Mike Rains is one of California’s top trial attorneys. He has over 25 years of experience representing peace officers and other high-profile clients in civil and criminal litigation. Mike’s practice focuses on criminal trial work in both state and federal courts. Over the course of his career, Mike has defended peace officers in some of the most complex and controversial criminal trials in California history, including the successful defenses of the "Corcoran 8" and the "Oakland Riders.” Mike also handles civil and labor-related actions, and has served as both defense and plaintiff's counsel in state and federal court employment cases.

Before founding Rains, Lucia & Wilkinson in 1999, Mike was a partner with the San Francisco firm of Carroll, Burdick and McDonough. He joined the Carroll, Burdick firm in 1982 after several years representing police officers in Los Angeles.

Mike enthusiastically shares his knowledge and expertise in police disciplinary matters by teaching at numerous criminal justice academies and at POST-approved seminars, addressing topics such as internal affairs investigations, the handling of critical incidents, and sexual harassment.

After graduating from the California State University at Long Beach, summa cum laude, Mike served in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps. He joined the Santa Monica Police Department after his military service. While a member of the Santa Monica P.D., he was awarded a scholarship to attend Golden West University School of Law. He was also president of the Santa Monica Police Officers’ Association at this time. Attending classes at night, he graduated magna cum laude and was valedictorian.

Interviews and articles about Mike Rains
Mike Rains, Esq. POA Interview by Sgt. Paul Francois.

Police in Crisis Turn to East Bay Law Firm By Nanci L. Valcke.
East Bay Business Times' article on Mike Rains.

Rocky Lucia is one of the most effective labor attorneys in the state of California. He has negotiated highly-favorable contracts for peace office labor organization clients throughout the state. Rocky advises and represents labor associations on grievances, unfair labor practices and meet and confer rights. He also represents these clients in court actions and arbitrations to enforce collective bargaining agreements.

In addition to collective bargaining matters, Rocky advises his peace officer association clients on non-profit organizational and business transactional matters. His work includes the drafting of contracts, employment policies, maintaining and securing of tax exempt status, incorporation of associations, and the preparation of bylaws and constitutions.

Rocky has extensive estate planning experience, with a special focus on the representation of peace officers and their families. He advises individual clients on trusts, wills and powers of attorneys. He also counsels trustees and administrators on their legal duties and responsibilities.

On behalf of peace officer clients, Rocky regularly handles critical incidents including officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and vehicle pursuits. He has represented RL&W clients at coroner’s inquests and before grand juries in both state and federal jurisdictions. Rocky also represents clients in administrative investigations and disciplinary actions.

As a lead instructor for the PORAC Basic and Advanced Collective Bargaining Courses, Rocky provides instruction on the full range of collective bargaining rights for peace officers. In addition he lectures on estate planning matters at the local and national levels. Rocky graduated from St. Mary’s College of California and earned his law degree at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law.

Alison handles complex disciplinary matters and civil litigation, as well as being a frequent lecturer at criminal justice academies and at POST-approved seminars. As both plaintiff and defense counsel, Alison has successfully litigated cases involving civil rights claims, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, employee privacy rights, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, and the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act. Alison has also prosecuted numerous writs to enforce collective bargaining agreements. Alison’s published opinions include People v. Stanistreet (2002) 29 Cal. 4th 497, County of Riverside v. Superior Court (2002) 27 Cal. 4th 793, Brooks v. City of San Mateo, et al., 229 F.3d 917 (9th Cir. 2000); People ex sw Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Santa Clara County v. County of Santa Clara, 49 Cal.App.4th 1471 (1996); California School Employees Assoc. v. Marin Community College District, 8 Cal.4th 333 (1994); Barner v. City of Novato, 17 F.3d 1256 (9th Cir. 1994); and Wagner v. City of Santa Clara, 1994 WL 621667 (N.D. Cal. 1994).

Alison graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and earned her law degree from Hastings College of the Law.