Our Team
Chris is a Santa Rosa native. He attended the California Maritime Academy earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation. As a licensed merchant marine officer, he traveled globally eventually returning to Santa Rosa.
Chris was a decorated police officer and deputy sheriff; his accomplishments include the Outstanding Service Award from the Santa Rosa Police Department and Distinguished Service Award from his work in the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. Chris served as a violent crime’s detective, crisis negotiator, patrol officer and was a lead investigator on homicides, officer involved shootings, complex domestic disputes and more.
Chris’ decision to leave law enforcement for a career as an attorney was driven by his personal experience involving the custody of his child.
While attending law school at night, Chris voluntarily transferred to Civil Court as a bailiff, where he observed thousands of civil and family law actions at the Sonoma County Superior Courts.
Chris holds a Master of Legal Studies and a Juris Doctorate of Law and is a member of the California State Bar Association. Chris is an articulate negotiator with experience in litigation who is also dedicated to maintaining his reputation of integrity, a dogged advocacy for his client, and uncompromising ethics.
Chris was also a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged.
Zack was born and raised in San Francisco but has made Santa Rosa his home for the past fifteen years, owning and operating successful businesses and developing multiple ties to the community before deciding to become an attorney.
Early on in his legal career, Zack spent four years with Legal Aid of Sonoma County under the umbrella of the State Bar of California’s Practical Training program. Based upon his calming presence and ability to put people at ease, Zack was asked to work in the Domestic Violence division in which he handled thousands of Domestic Violence cases. Zack was also assigned to the District Attorney’s Family Justice Center division. In this role he assessed clients, gathered evidence, prepared documents and court filings, represented clients in court, and led countless mediations and settlements.
In 2013, Zack was honored at the Sonoma County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Awards Luncheon and “recognized for being a ‘master of all trades’ for Legal Aid of Sonoma County.”
Zack’s greatest strength is his ability to negotiate a favorable settlement for his clients. This comes in great use when dealing with Personal Injury cases, Car Accident cases, or serious Criminal Charges. As a former businessman, he is adept at discerning the issues most important to the opposing party and then promoting a solution to those issues. Having experience with people from all walks of life, he is an expert at listening and finding points of commonality.
Zack holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Master of Legal Studies, a Juris Doctorate, and is a member of the California State Bar Association.
Zack recognizes that knowledge of the law is necessary to enable people to make the best decisions when faced with a criminal or domestic cases, and he is committed to providing that knowledge to his clients.
James Castranova has been a dedicated attorney for over two decades, having graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2002. His legal career began with a broad focus, but by 2011, while working at Moreno & Associates in Chula Vista, California, James discovered his passion for family law. This led him to hone his skills and specialize in this area.
In 2014, James took a pivotal step in his career by joining the Men’s Legal Center in San Diego, where he specialized in Domestic Violence Restraining Orders. This experience allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the complexities and sensitivities involved in family law cases, particularly those involving vulnerable individuals and delicate family dynamics.
James has extensive experience in handling a wide range of family law matters, including dissolutions of marriage, child custody and support disputes, move-away requests, and juvenile dependency cases. His approach to family law is grounded in empathy and a deep understanding of the emotional toll these disputes can take on all parties involved. James prioritizes resolving cases as quickly and amicably as possible, aiming to minimize conflict and reduce legal costs for his clients. However, when a swift resolution isn’t possible, James is a fierce advocate who will tirelessly fight to protect the best interests of his clients and their children.
After a period living in North Carolina, James returned to California in 2023 with his wife and two young children. Upon his return, he joined Carroll Law, where he continued his commitment to helping families navigate the complexities of the legal system. Shortly after, James transitioned to Vivian & Agil Law, where he now focuses on guiding clients through some of the most challenging times of their lives, offering both compassionate counsel and tenacious representation.
Lauren C. Costlow, J.D.
Attorney
Lauren’s journey began in Marin County, where she grew up before embarking on her own path to Sonoma County at the age of 17 to pursue her education at SRJC. Her diverse background encompasses a range of experiences, including a significant role as one of Petaluma’s youngest sworn employees, serving as a Public Safety Dispatcher at just 19 years old. Despite its challenges, this role proved deeply rewarding for Lauren, fostering her negotiation skills and passion for working with people.
Driven by a desire for a change of pace to accommodate her growing family, Lauren transitioned into her family’s produce business before delving into real estate as a broker and REALTOR®, roles she proudly maintains today. Additionally, she actively supports her husband in managing his general construction company.
Throughout her journey, Lauren has continually pursued opportunities for growth and learning. During law school, she honed her legal expertise as an intellectual property paralegal at Stainbrook & Stainbrook, LLP, before taking on a role as a Paralegal specializing in family law litigation. Most recently, Lauren achieved a significant milestone in her career by becoming an attorney at Vivian & Agil Law. Her dedication to excellence has been recognized with Witkin Awards for academic achievement in Torts and Criminal Law.
Jeremy Fietz is a record-setting trial lawyer dedicated to representing and protecting people that have been the victims of negligence by both individuals and greedy corporations. Jeremy has handled many death and serious injury cases involving everything from auto collisions to nursing home abuse, to dangerous drugs and medical devices.
Jeremy’s cases have been reported in newspaper headlines and he has been personally featured on over 50 radio and television interviews. He has been lead counsel on cases from Santa Rosa, California to New Jersey (and many states in between).
Jeremy is an invited member of several trial lawyer organizations including, the American Association for Justice (since 1996), the Consumer Attorneys of California, and many others.
In his years of practice, Jeremy saw that people often did not know how to go about finding the right lawyer for their case. He witnessed other lawyers, inexperienced with certain types of cases and unwilling to admit this fact, failing for their clients. And in every instance he saw just how much the client suffered due to the lawyer’s lack of skills and experience. He made a commitment to himself that he would never be one of those lawyers; nor would anyone on his team.
Jeremy holds the record in Sonoma County for the highest jury award of $10.6 million dollars, including $646,446 in economic damages and $10 million in non-economic damages.
Rex currently handles a diverse range of cases including Civil, Criminal, and Family Law. With a broad and deep legal background, Rex has dedicated much of his career to civil litigation, primarily on the plaintiff’s side, representing clients across California and throughout the United States. Since 2018, he has focused predominantly on fire-related litigation, bringing his extensive experience to bear in complex cases involving natural disasters and their aftermath.
Rex holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Empire College School of Law in Santa Rosa, California. In addition, he has earned two Master of Arts degrees—one from the University of California, San Diego, and the other from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego.
In addition to his legal practice, Rex has been a Professor of Constitutional Law and Legal History at Empire College School of Law since 2007, where he has influenced and guided many aspiring lawyers. A prolific author, he has published several books covering various legal and historical subjects, including a detailed history of the Sonoma County coast in California and a biography of the frontier lawyer Duncan Wellington Perley, who made his mark in Texas and California.
Rex’s deep commitment to legal education, coupled with his extensive litigation experience, makes him a highly respected figure in the legal community.
Margaret “Margie” England is a native Californian who has resided in Santa Rosa since January 1990 with her husband and their two sons. Margaret grew up in Southern California graduating from California State University Fullerton. Margaret attended law school when her sons were babies graduating in 1993 from Empire School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1994.
Margaret began her solo practice as a Family Law attorney. She then worked for a large Santa Rosa Law Firm, establishing 5 years’ experience with a large Law Firm, before returning to solo practice in 2001 to become more available for her husband and now adult sons. In 2024, Margie joined Vivian & Agil Law, specializing in Family Law mediations. Margie is devoted to her community and actively volunteers in several local organizations.
First licensed to practice law in 1984, Kevin has devoted his career to representing accident victims and their families. A veteran trial attorney, he is despised by the insurance companies and trusted and respected by his clients and colleagues.
Kevin has spent nearly all his life in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended Sonoma State University, graduating in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Management and a second degree in Economics, awarded “With Distinction.”
He went on to study law at Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, earning his Juris Doctor degree, with honors in 1984. Kevin is licensed to practice in the California State Courts and the Northern and Eastern District Federal Courts and has handled countless personal injury cases in these jurisdictions over the last four decades.
Kevin is devoted to his clients and provides his very best representation to every person, in every case. His dedication to his work and his clients has produced a long history of successful case verdicts and settlements and many satisfied clients. Together with his team, Kevin is dedicated to achieving the best possible result in every case, large or small.
Kathy Zedrick
Paralegal / Firm Manager
Kathy has resided in Sonoma County since 1975. She is married, has three children and is family oriented.
Kathy completed the Legal Secretarial Program at Santa Rosa Junior College and in 1982 began her legal career with Ryersen & Comstock and with their later predecessors, Wigdahl & Passarino, until 1996. Kathy began working with Margaret England since 1997 focusing on all aspects of Family Law matters.
Kathy has continued her legal education through the Sonoma County Bar Association continuing education programs, Redwood Empire Association of Paralegals and has participated in the Sonoma County Legal Secretaries’ Association (Past President), the Bay Area Legal Secretaries’ Forum, the Santa Rosa Junior College Advisory Committee (Past President), is an active participant in a Sonoma County Office Administrators’ Group and is a Notary Public.
Kathy’s dedication to the family structure and her ability to relate compassionately with clients, help clients to realize that although the family dynamics may be changing, the focus and importance of the family structure should remain the same.
Kayla Patel
Paralegal
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Kayla is an up and coming Legal Administrative Assistant in the legal field, with 4 years of experience assisting students, clients, and attorneys. Her first small introduction into the legal world began at Empire Law School, providing support to students and staff. And was soon fully immersed into law when she started working with attorney Richard Freeman, and later on attorney Ryan Wilber.
Kayla is currently continuing her legal education at the Santa Rosa Junior College, pursuing Paralegal studies.
Kayla is a very personable and empathetic person, allowing her to understand the stress and struggles clients face with all types of legal cases and takes pride in being a calming, kind presence in these trying times.
Olivia Brandt
Assistant
Olivia, originally from Chicago and raised in Petaluma, developed a passion for law through her high school policy debate team, competing nationally throughout her four years. She furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning degrees in Environmental Studies and Political Science with a focus on international relations. During her studies, Olivia interned with a non-profit organization collaborating with the UN General Assembly on global issues. She plans to attend law school in Fall 2025.
Olivia joined Vivian & Agil to explore diverse areas of law and connect with people from various backgrounds. She is dedicated to providing compassionate support to clients, regardless of what their circumstances may be.
Penny Fernandez
Bilingual Assistant
Penelope “Penny” Fernandez’s journey is woven with threads of compassion and cultural richness, blossoming from the bustling streets of Guanajuato, Mexico. Bilingual in Spanish and English, her multicultural upbringing imbued her with a deep appreciation for diversity and a profound sense of empathy.
At the tender age of 2, Penny’s family planted new roots in the serene landscapes of Sonoma County, where she thrived amidst its beauty and warmth. Her innate kindness and unwavering dedication to helping others became evident early on, shaping her path forward.
A graduate of Maria Carrillo High School, Penny’s academic prowess laid the groundwork for her future endeavors. Eager to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, she immersed herself in the Paralegal Program at Santa Rosa Junior College, where her passion for justice flourished.
Penny envisions a future where she can extend a helping hand to those in need. With aspirations of attending law school, she dreams of specializing in Family Law, driven by her sincere desire to advocate for families and individuals, ensuring they receive the support and representation they deserve.
Dan Shacklett
Investigation Team
Dan was born and raised in Sonoma County. In 1989, Dan was hired as a full-time police officer for the City of Santa Rosa and retired in 2018.
Dan was a plain clothes narcotics detective, property crimes detective, and environmental crimes detective. The detective assignments were all in an undercover capacity. These assignments consisted of countless hours of surveillance and the ability to be in public and private situations without being detected.
Also, Dan spent many years on patrol responding to calls for service and resolving many types of situations. Dan was also a Field Training Officer, Firearms instructor, and a background investigator.
Dan knows the value of having material information in your divorce, child custody, criminal or civil case. Dan can obtain this information, so you do not have to put yourself in a compromising position. Having a private investigator as part of your team is an invaluable asset that could make the difference between winning or losing your case.
Brett Bartlett
Polygraph Examiner / Investigation Team
Brett is a retired Police Officer with almost 20 years of Law Enforcement experience.
Brett has worked as a Detective, Patrol Officer, and as a Correctional Deputy. Collateral assignments included Undercover Narcotics, Hostage Negotiations, Crisis Intervention, and Community
Orientated Policing (COPS). He has testified in criminal court throughout his career and has been
recognized as an expert in narcotics trafficking.
Brett has in-depth, specialized training in Interviewing and Interrogation, Hostage Negotiations,
Crisis Intervention, Gangs, Mental Health, Drug Endangered Children, Narcotic Investigations, Social
Media, Child Protective Service related issues, and sex crimes.
Brett owns and operates To The Point Polygraph, Inc. He has conducted over 1500 polygraph
examinations for Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Departments, Governmental Agencies, Mental Health Providers, Civil Clients, and Attorneys.
If your case has a need for a private, civil, or criminal related polygraph examination, please reach out to us to discuss if a polygraph examination is right for your situation.
