Jessica K. Raynor

Jess joined Carmel & Naccasha in April, 2022 and assists clients in civil litigation and business matters.  Her work for the firm includes cases involving partnership disputes, breach of contract, employment issues, easement disputes, contract drafting and review, and business disputes.  Jess also conducts workplace investigations concerning allegations of harassment, discrimination, and other workplace misconduct, and counsels clients in pre-litigation dispute resolution.  

Prior to joining Carmel & Naccasha, Jess worked in the Complex Commercial Litigation practice of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s Silicon Valley office for seven years. During her time at Weil, Jessica advised clients on a variety of litigation matters across multiple industries, including commercial disputes, copyright, trade secrets, contract disputes, securities, consumer fraud, employee mobility, bankruptcy, and business torts. Jess counseled clients in internal investigations related to employee matters and potential business disputes, represented clients in mediation and arbitration, and offered counsel to clients regarding the litigation risk in mergers and acquisitions.  Jess also participated in briefing opposing a petition for a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. 

Jess devoted a significant portion of her practice at Weil to pro bono matters, including reviewing case files for the Innocence Project to help process their backlog of potential claims.  Over several years, she reviewed hundreds of case files.  Jess also represented a man incarcerated at California’s Pelican Bay State Penitentiary in connection with a free exercise of religion claim.  

Jess earned her bachelors degree in English, with a minor in poetry, from Saint Mary’s College of California, and then attended University of San Francisco School of Law.  While in law school, Jess was active in the school’s moot court program, won the 2011 Advocate of the Year oral argument competition, and worked in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Law Clinic.  

Jess is actively involved in community organizations including the Kiwanis Club, and volunteers her time at her daughters’ school to run a program called K-Kids, helping kids get involved in community service projects. Jess and her husband, Brian, have three very energetic daughters (6 year-old twins and a 3.5-year-old).  In her spare time, she enjoys running, hiking, gardening, reading a good book, cooking, and tackling a challenging puzzle.  

COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

• The State Bar of California – Member
• Alameda County Bar Association – Member
• San Leandro Kiwanis Club  – Secretary
• Roosevelt Elementary School PTA  – Executive Vice President

BAR ADMISSIONS

• The State Bar of California (2012–present) 
• US Supreme Court
• The Ninth Circuit

• US District Court for the Northern, Central and Eastern Districts of CA
  

EDUCATION

• University of San Francisco School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2012)
  • Honors and Awards:
    • McAuliffe Honor Society (3 years)
    • CALI Award for Excellence (highest grade) in Constitutional Law, Legal Ethics, and Juvenile Law
    • Advocate of the Year award winner in 2011
• Saint Mary’s College of California (B.A. in English, cum laude, 2009)