The San Diego‐based firm of Wilson Turner Kosmo, one the largest certified women‐owned law firms in California, continues to broaden its roster of business litigants with the addition of four attorneys, all graduates of the University of San Diego School of Law. The attorneys joining WTK include: Vivian Adame, Jason Avelar, Doug Clifford and Audrey Surridge.
Vivian Adame
A member of firm’s Employment Law, Class Action and Business Litigation practice groups, Adame represents businesses on a broad spectrum of employment issues, including wrongful termination, wage and hour, discrimination and harassment disputes. She also has experience defending individuals, professionals and businesses in personal injury, premises liability and professional negligence matters.
Adame received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from San Diego State University. During law school, she served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Jill L. Burkhardt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, a research assistant for one of her professors, and a Comments Editor for the San Diego Law Review.
Jason Avelar
Avelar, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, joins the firm’s Products Liability and Warranty practice groups. Before joining WTK, Avelar served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable William V. Gallo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Prior to becoming an attorney, Avelar worked in the field of radio frequency for two major telecommunications companies.
He earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and his B.A. in philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. During law school, Avelar interned in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and competed on USD’s national Mock Trial Team.
Doug Clifford
A senior counsel in the firm’s Class Action and Employment Law practice groups, Clifford has over 15 years of experience practicing employment law across a myriad of courts and in numerous roles, including: litigator, in-house counsel, adjunct professor, mediator and business owner.
Clifford represents, and litigates on behalf of, clients on the full spectrum of employment issues, including wage and hour, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation issues.
Before working in-house, Clifford founded and managed his own employment law firm and spent more than a decade litigating for one of Southern California’s preeminent employment law firms, where he handled all aspects of litigation from inception to conclusion. Clifford is a former adjunct professor for the University of Redlands. Clifford is a graduate of both the University of San Diego School of Law and University of Southern California. He was named a San Diego Super Lawyer® in 2017.
Audrey Surridge
Surridge joins the firm’s Employment Law and Business Litigation practice groups, representing employers in a variety of employment disputes including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and wage and hour litigation. Her experience also includes warranty litigation, bankruptcy and insurance defense.
Surridge received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from Saint Mary’s College of California. While in law school, she externed for the Honorable M. James Lorenz in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, was a leader in both the Women’s Law Caucus and Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Society and volunteered over 100 pro bono hours. Prior to joining WTK, Surridge was an associate at an Am Law 200 firm and worked for a multi-state general civil litigation firm. She was on the marketing team of a global consulting firm before becoming an attorney.
About Wilson Turner Kosmo
Wilson Turner Kosmo serves as California trial counsel for local and national companies and public institutions. The firm’s 33 lawyers provide litigation expertise in the areas of product liability, employment law, class actions and general business litigation. Established in 1991, Wilson Turner Kosmo’s attorneys are frequently honored for their commitment to the legal profession and the San Diego community. The firm is one of the largest women‐owned law firms in California and is certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms and The Supplier Clearinghouse for the Utility Supplier Diversity Program of the California Public Utilities Commission. For more information, visit www.wilsonturnerkosmo.com.