Erin Smith
Executive Director she/her/hers
Erin Smith is the co-founder and Executive Director/CEO of Family Violence Appellate Project, the only organization in California dedicated to appealing cases on behalf of domestic violence survivors and their children. Erin has led the organization from its inception in 2012 to its current status as an established statewide legal services provider, with a staff of 9 and budget of over $1,100,000. Erin has spent more than 16 years working on behalf of domestic violence survivors, as appellate advocate, trial lawyer, legislative and policy advocate, and community partner, actively participating in domestic violence-related speaking engagements, committees, and community activities. From 2006-2012, Erin acted as lead counsel in a case representing an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence before the parole board and in a challenge to her criminal conviction with a habeas corpus petition under California Penal Code section 1473.5. Erin successfully secured the client’s release from prison after more than 27 years of incarceration. Read Erin Smith’s Full Bio.
Nancy Lemon
Legal Director she/her/hers
Nancy has been a leading authority on domestic violence for more than 30 years, pioneered its study in law schools and is the author of Domestic Violence Law, the premiere textbook on the subject. Nancy has been teaching the Domestic Violence Seminar at UC Berkeley Law – the first law school class of its kind – since 1988, and also directs the Domestic Violence Practicum. Read Nancy Lemon’s Full Bio.
Jennafer Dorfman Wagner
Director of Programs she/her/hers
Jennafer Dorfman Wagner is the Director of Programs at Family Violence Appellate Project (FVAP). She has been a legal services attorney since 1997, including 16 years in a supervisory or managerial role. She has practiced in diverse geographic regions and in multiple subject areas in previous positions at Mental health Advocacy Project (a project of Law Foundation of Silicon Valley in San Jose, California; Legal Action of Wisconsin; Washington (DC) Legal Clinic for Homeless; and Nevada Legal Services. Read Jennafer Dorfman Wagner’s Full Bio.
Shuray Ghorishi
Senior Managing Attorney she/her/hers
Shuray has been practicing litigation at the trial and appellate level since January, 2010. Before joining FVAP, she managed the Legal Services department at a domestic violence shelter in San Francisco, La Casa De Las Madres, where her practice focused on domestic violence law, family law, immigration law, and victims’ rights in criminal matters. She joined FVAP in 2014 to help guide and empower survivors in defending their rights in civil appeals. Read Shuray Ghorishi’s Full Bio.
Arati Vasan
Senior Managing Attorney she/her/hers
Arati was previously at Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (APILO) for 7 years, where she represented clients and coordinated the Domestic Violence Project. Prior to APILO, Arati had her own family law practice and worked with Bay Area Legal Aid. Arati has her Domestic Violence Counselor training from Asian Women’s Shelter. She has been licensed to practice law in California since 2008.
Taylor Campion
Senior Managing Attorney Housing & Employment Justice Project she/her/hers
Taylor Campion has been advocating for marginalized communities’ housing and economic rights since 2012. She comes to FVAP from Bay Area Legal Aid and has years of experience working in direct services as a legal aid attorney in housing and economic rights.
Carolyn Walker
Housing Outreach Attorney she/her/hers
Carolyn has practiced law in several roles in the domestic violence field over the course of her career. Carolyn’s experience includes seven years as a Deputy District Attorney for the Counties of Shasta and Tehama. Read Carolyn Walker’s Full Bio.
Cory Hernandez
Staff Attorney they/them/theirs
With a bachelor’s of science degree in political science and American studies from MIT, a master’s of science degree in political science from MIT, and a law degree from UC Berkeley, Cory is excited to return to FVAP as a staff attorney. Cory has previously worked as a staff attorney at Family Violence Law Center, and as a legal fellow and law clerk for FVAP. During law school, Cory clerked for Justice Jon B. Streeter of the California First District Court of Appeal, FVLC, and East Bay Community Law Center. Read Cory Hernandez’s Full Bio.
Charity Peets
Development Manager she/her/hers
Passionate about social justice and amplifying the voices of under-served and marginalized people, Charity’s work experience has focused on a number of causes including disability accessibility and inclusion, racial equity, and now domestic violence. Read Charity Peets’ Full Bio.
Paul T. Jones
Finance & Administration Manager he/him/his
Before joining FVAP in 2018, Paul worked for Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. in San Francisco for 23 years. Most recently as a Business Analyst / Manager for the Access and Entitlements unit managing access projects and individual requests to client and firm data, assessing access needs, determining and mitigating risk, and finally ensuring both client and firm data was safe and secure. Read Paul T. Jones’ Full Bio.
Katharina Grimm
Program Associate she/her/hers
Renee Boman
Senior Paralegal she/her/hers
Prior to joining FVAP in 2016, Renee worked as an investigator for the Habeas Corpus Resource Center, a California state agency that prepares habeas corpus appeals in capital cases. Renee holds a B.A in Urban Planning and Community Development from the University of Kansas City, Missouri, and in 2015 she received an ABA-Approved paralegal certificate from West Los Angeles College.
Meg Bay
Office Manager she/her/hers or they/them/theirs
Before joining FVAP in 2017, Meg was the Office Manager at La Selva Residential, a nonprofit Residential Mental Health Facility. Prior to that, she served as Volunteer Case Manager and Co-Head of the Fundraising Committee at Friends Outside, an organization providing support and resources to incarcerated individuals and their families. Meg holds a B.A. in Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
