Nine graduates from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law are being recognized as Alumni on the Rise, are making significant strides in their respective fields. These accomplished professionals, who earned their degrees between 2000 and 2017, have demonstrated outstanding achievements, leadership, and contributions to their communities. Whether they are excelling in private practice, public service, or other emerging industries, these alumni represent a remarkable generation of legal talent. Their stories highlight and prove that McGeorge’s impact extends far beyond the classroom into the highest levels of legal and civic leadership.

A woman poses for a photo.Trevor Quirk, ‘03

Trevor Quirk, ’03, is the founder of Quirk Law Firm, LLP, specializing in personal injury cases, such as defective products and wrongful death. His firm has secured multi-million-dollar verdicts, including an $84 million win in 2024 for his clients after a seven-week jury trial. Quirk gained recognition for his humanitarian efforts during the 2017 Thomas Fire, where he organized relief efforts and co-founded a nonprofit aiding disaster survivors called Upper Ojai Relief. Recognized as a compassionate community leader, he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2017 and 2019.
The Hon. Dena Coggins, ‘06

The Hon. Dena Coggins, a 2006 McGeorge School of Law graduate, became a federal judge for the Eastern District of California in 2024. Coggins was nominated for the judgeship in February 2024 by President Joe Biden, confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2024, and assumed the role in September 2024.

As the first female Black judge on the Eastern District bench, she brings a wealth of experience to the role. She previously served as the presiding judge of the juvenile court in the Superior Court of California in Sacramento County since 2021. Coggins has also served as an administrative law judge and held key roles in the General Jurisdiction Division and the Special Education Division for the State of California’s Office of Administrative Hearings.
Patricia Eichar, ‘07

Patricia Eichar, ’07, is an experienced attorney who represents municipal bond issuers, borrowers, and underwriters across a variety of public infrastructure and nonprofit financing structures. She is a partner in the Portland and Sacramento offices of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

As the Sacramento office leader, she has played a key role in both taxable and tax-exempt municipal financings for health care organizations, senior living communities, and other 501(c)(3) organizations. Eichar has also represented the State of California and other municipal issuers in issuing a range of bonds, including general obligation and pension obligation bonds. She actively engages in pro bono work, aiding veterans and prosecuting guardianships in Sacramento.
Ognian Gavrilov, ‘08

Ognian Gavrilov, ’08, is the managing partner at Gavrilov & Brooks, a successful law firm with offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles. Specializing in business and corporate law, defamation, personal injury, and more, Gavrilov has led over 60 trials and arbitrations. One of his most notable achievements was a $39 million verdict in a 2021 case dealing defamation and cyberbullying. In 2020, he was named Advocate of the Year by the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association.

A Bulgarian immigrant, he created a McGeorge scholarship for Bulgarian students which is awarded based on merit and financial need. Gavrilov was also appointed as Bulgaria’s Honorary Consul for Northern California in 2024.
Lauren Layne, ‘10

Lauren Layne, ’10, is a shareholder at Baker Manock & Jensen, PC, where she chairs the firm’s Business Department and leads its Water Law and Public Agency practice groups. She focuses on water and environmental law, including CEQA and NEPA compliance, and handles business transactions involving water rights, water quality, public agency law, agribusiness, and real property. Layne was the 2023 president of the McGeorge Alumni Association Board of Directors and is the current President of the Cal Poly Alumni Association Board. She is actively involved in water law and agribusiness organizations and holds leadership roles in various legal and industry associations.
Bennett Bearden, JSD ‘11

Bennett Bearden, JSD ’11, is an affiliate of the Alabama Water Institute (AWI), where he guides local, national, and international guidance in the development of public policy and functional legal regimes for water resources through education, research, and policy analysis while balancing the needs of economic development and ecosystems management. Leveraging the University of Alabama’s knowledge in science, policy, and law, Bearden provides research and strategic counseling in water law and policy.

Specializing in data-driven policymaking, water diplomacy, and dispute resolution, Bearden helps resolve complex water challenges through collaboration with governments, industry, and community groups. By furthering partnerships and stakeholder relations, Bearden supports innovative, sustainable solutions to pressing water issues. Bearden is also involved with the Geological Survey of Alabama, further contributing to effective water management practices.
Aaron Brieno, ’14

Aaron Brieno, ’14, currently serves as Chief of Staff for California State Senator Melissa Hurtado, representing the rural Central Valley. Brieno is the director of the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law’s Legislative & Public Policy Clinic and a member of McGeorge’s Capital Center for Law & Policy Alumni Board.

As an admitted California attorney, Brieno mentors aspiring lawyers and advocates for public policy. He also founded Inspire California, providing college prep resources and scholarships to migrant farmworker students.
Lexi Howard, ‘15

Lexi Howard, ’15, is an attorney in the Legal Affairs Office of the California Secretary of State. Howard previously worked for four years in private practice as a real estate and business attorney. With over 26 years in the title insurance and financial services sector, Howard has a strong background in public policy advocacy and contract lobbying.

As the 2024 Chair of the McGeorge Diversity Alumni Board, she is also a founding and sustaining contributor to the McGeorge Virtual Food Pantry and serves on various boards, including SacLegal and the Sacramento LGBT Community Center. Howard is also dedicated to mentoring law students and high school students in the Law and Public Policy Academy at C.K. McClatchy High School.
Nicole Low, ‘17

Nicole Low, ’17, is a shareholder at Schroeder Schaff & Low. She has quickly emerged as a leading attorney in Sacramento, earning recognition from Sacramento Magazine in 2021 and 2022, and being named a Northern California Super Lawyer in 2022. During her time at McGeorge, she was a part of McGeorge’s nationally-ranked Mock Trial team. She was inducted into the Order of Barristers and Traynor Honors Society when she graduated from law school.

Low has honed her trial skills through various roles, including clerking at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and providing litigation consultation for Focused Decisions. She focuses on Labor and Employment and Cannabis Law and serves on the boards of the McGeorge Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.   

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.