Michael graduated Cum Laude from the University of San Francisco in 1975, and from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1978. Michael was a California special education hearing officer from 1979 to 1982. Michael entered private practice in San Francisco in 1982, and since that time has represented and assisted thousands of parents of special needs children and adults with developmental disabilities identify the nature of their children's disabilities and appropriate services they need, and obtain public provision and/or financial support for those services. Michael has also provided legal counsel to many residential treatment facilities, private special education schools, and other private social service providers that contract with public school districts or provide services to students entitled to special education.Michael has lectured at San Francisco State University, and California State University at Fresno, contributed to several books in the area of special education law, and written numerous articles in his field. Michael has been a certified trainer in the field of juvenile justice. Michael has also been board president for two non-profit corporations in the field of child welfare, and a board member of an educational non-profit corporation.

mike@zsk-law.com

Ellen graduated from the University of San Francisco, School of Nursing in 1976 with a B.S. in Nursing and a Public Health Certificate, and was licensed to practice nursing that same year. Over the next 10 years, Ellen worked for the University of California - San Francisco, the Visiting Nurses Association, and St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco, developing a specialty in Oncology. Ellen graduated from New College School of Law in San Francisco, and was admitted to practice law in California in 1988. Ellen spent several years working as a risk manager in the field of medical and health care risk management. In 1990, Ellen became an associate attorney with the firm of Glynn & Harvey, specializing in medical malpractice defense. Since 1994, Ellen has been a practicing attorney in the field of special education. Ellen and Michael Zatopa, longstanding law and life partners, are married with two adult sons.

ellen@zsk-law.com

Laurene graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 1984, and from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1987. Laurene began practicing law in San Francisco representing businesses and their owners in both transactional and civil litigation matters. Throughout her legal career, Laurene also provided pro bono legal services for children through local nonprofits. In 2006, Laurene focused on child advocacy and began representing parents and their children in special education matters. In 2007, she joined Zatopa & Stephens.

Laurene is passionate about assisting parents in identifying and accessing special education for their children so that each child is given the opportunity to learn the academic, social and emotional skills necessary for further education, employment, and independent living. She has a record of success in representing parents in mediations and due process hearings with numerous published decisions addressing complex legal questions.

Laurene also advises private special education schools and service providers that are funded, licensed or regulated by public agencies. Laurene has taught seminars on special education, specifically on due process hearings and special education to address mental health disabilities, to attorneys, parents and service providers.

laurene@zsk-law.com

Cynthia graduated from Occidental College in 1992 with a degree in Biology. After working at a nationally recognized blood and tissue donation center for four years, she decided to become an intellectual property litigator. Cynthia earned her JD from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2000. She practiced law as an IP Litigator for the next eleven years, at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Menlo Park, CA. During that time, she also became a Patent Attorney before the USPTO. In 2008, Cynthia was the recipient of Orrick’s pro bono award.

During her time off as a mother of three young boys, Cynthia discovered another passion: special education. Two of her boys are dyslexic, and she quickly realized their educational needs would not be met without an advocate. She has advocated in both the private and public school setting, secured eligibility of specific learning disability for her sons and others, convinced the school district to use the term dyslexia on the front page of the IEP document. As a certified dyslexia advocate, she has counseled numerous families navigating the IEP process.

Cynthia is a former competitive figure skater, a third-generation San Francisco native, and a product of public schools. She is Co-Chair of the Learning Differences Network at Head-Royce School, and authored Dyslexia + ADHD, What is it?, a presentation. Cynthia will strongly advocate for all children and adults in special education, not just dyslexia.

cynthia@zsk-law.com