SAN DIEGO (August 28, 2025):

Higgs Fletcher & Mack (HFM) is proud to welcome attorneys Leonel (Leo) Fletes, Emily Garson, Michael Healy and Lauren Kane. Fletes and Kane have joined the firm’s Transportation Practice Group, Garson has joined the Family Law Practice Group, and Healy is a part of HFM’s Business and Employment Litigation Practices.

Fletes has a variety of civil litigation experiences and has worked on employment law cases and contract disputes, as well as entity formation. Prior to joining the HFM team, Fletes was a part of San Diego Gas & Electric Company’s in-house legal department. Earlier in his career, Fletes served as a Judicial Extern for Judge Ruth B. Montenegro and Judge Marco D. Nunez of the Imperial County Superior Court, and he also served as a Judicial Extern for Judge Peter C. Lewis, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. He earned his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law, where he was actively involved in the Business Law Clinic. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Prior to joining HFM, Garson spent nearly two decades as a Deputy City Attorney with the Office of the City Attorney of San Diego primarily as part of the Criminal Division’s Domestic Violence Unit. She litigated over 30 jury trials involving domestic violence, child abuse and stalking, and oversaw all aspects of case management from initial investigation through trial. In addition, Garson led and mentored a team of deputy city attorneys and developed specialized training programs on prosecuting stalking cases and overcoming legal challenges in domestic violence litigation. Garson earned her law degree from Tulane University Law School and previously earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University.

Healy is a litigator who defends businesses in a wide range of industries against a variety of legal claims including wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour under the Private Attorney General Act. He regularly provides counsel to clients regarding compliance with wage and hour laws, employee discipline, leave issues, and other matters concerning California law. As a part of his practice, Healy also conducts independent workplace investigations.

Healy earned his law degree from California Western School of Law and previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gonzaga University.

For over a decade, Kane has represented multi-national businesses, small businesses, employers and individuals in a wide range of legal matters, including high-stakes civil business litigation, professional liability, and complex personal injury cases. Her litigation successes include securing favorable dispositive motions, including a successful Anti-SLAPP motion dismissing all claims against the defendant based upon protected speech activity. She also authored the Respondent’s Brief in an appeal of a six-figure discovery sanction award, resulting in affirmance of the award in a published appellate decision in the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Kane earned her law degree from California Western School of Law and previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

About Higgs Fletcher Mack

Higgs Fletcher & Mack is a full-service law firm that serves diverse individuals and industries. For 85 years, the firm has worked tirelessly with companies and people that need legal counsel and representation in and out of the courtroom. Higgs Fletcher & Mack’s more than 75 attorneys have experience in multiple fields of law, and its internal network of legal professionals frequently coordinate in practice area groups that have multi-disciplinary dimensions, helping clients make a more informed decision. The firm is actively recruiting partner-level talent in complimentary practice areas to provide legal expertise in the San Diego region and beyond.