Ray practices exclusively in family law and has done so for more than 15 years. A tough and practical litigator who also values mediation, he represents clients with complicated child custody, support, property, and other financial issues. He is experienced in handling matters involving unique occupational considerations, such as entertainment royalties and residuals, stock options, business valuation, tax, and retirement. When domestic violence, high-conflict custody, and parentage conflicts exist, Ray has particular expertise in navigating these contentious issues. He also has litigated both domestic and international abduction cases, involving non-Hague and Hague Convention signatory countries in both Asia and Europe.

Full Bio »

Ray practices exclusively in family law and has done so for more than 15 years. A tough and practical litigator who also values mediation, he represents clients with complicated child custody, support, property, and other financial issues. He is experienced in handling matters involving unique occupational considerations, such as entertainment royalties and residuals, stock options, business valuation, tax, and retirement. When domestic violence, high-conflict custody, and parentage conflicts exist, Ray has particular expertise in navigating these contentious issues. He also has litigated both domestic and international abduction cases, involving non-Hague and Hague Convention signatory countries in both Asia and Europe.

In addition, Ray is experienced in appeals and writs. He has sought and defended against applications for civil and domestic violence restraining orders. Owing to the complexity of the cases he has handled, Ray has represented clients with bankruptcy, civil liability, and white collar and other criminal concerns. He has worked in coordination with experts in other areas of the law to ensure successful and effective representation for his clients.

Ray works with clients throughout the Bay Area. He spent his early years as a lawyer in Los Angeles, where he also worked at the California Court of Appeal as a student extern.

Highlights

• Handles high-asset and contentious cases, in litigation and mediation contexts.
• Litigates domestic and international “move away” and abduction cases.

Representative Matters

• Successfully represented parents whose children were abducted by spouses. Orchestrated the return of abducted children by working with local, national, and international agencies.
• Successfully defended spouses accused of domestic violence, while ensuring client-spouse's liability for criminal prosecution was effectively addressed. Obtained joint legal and physical custody for clients accused of domestic violence.
• Successfully defended a third-party witness in a marital dissolution action against a civil restraining orders application on grounds that the application violated the California anti-SLAPP statute.
• Obtained domestic violence restraining orders against abusive spouses.
• Fought a custody evaluation report that failed to properly consider the existence of domestic violence perpetrated by husband against client-wife, who was later awarded sole legal and physical custody.
• Fought Family Court Services recommendations and obtained substantially increased custodial time for client who was a cult member.
• Domesticated international and out-of-state orders and judgments for enforcement in California.
• Successfully litigated contempt proceedings against opposing parties who disobeyed custody and support orders, obtaining jail time, fine, or both against opposing parties. In one case, obtained a guilty verdict on 27 counts of contempt, resulting in 135 days of jail time.
• Prevented third-party creditor from executing against client's portion of community property, and successfully defended against creditor's efforts on appeal.
• Litigated omitted asset issues successfully.
• Obtained a $25,000 discovery sanction against spouse who improperly asserted the Fifth Amendment privilege in response to more than 200 deposition questions.
• Prepared deferred sales contracts for divorcing couples that cannot sell their house due to depreciating property value.
• Negotiated partnership dissolutions and other ownership issues involving family-owned businesses, such as restaurants and catering companies, and professional practices, such as dental, legal, and medical practices.

Professional and Community Contributions

Ray has served as a volunteer attorney for the AIDS Legal Referral Panel, where he also led continuing legal education seminars. He was previously a staff and volunteer pro bono attorney for the AIDS Project LA. Ray is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, Asian American Bar Association and Filipino Bar Association of Northern California.

Admissions

State Bar of California

Education

J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, 1995
B.A., University of the Philippines, 1987

Language

Tagalog