Our Team

Attorney Lisa Runquist has spent her legal career serving nonprofit and business organizations. She graduated from Hamline University and the University of Minnesota Law School.

Lisa is also a prolific writer and author. She first published The ABCs of Nonprofits in April 2005, with the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association publishing a second edition in 2015. The ABCs of Nonprofits is now available in Spanish, as well. Lisa is also the principal author and editor of the Guide to Representing Religious Organizations, which the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association published in February 2009.

Lisa regularly writes and speaks on legal matters involving nonprofit organizations and is widely regarded as an expert in nonprofit organization law. Lisa was the first recipient of the Outstanding Lawyer Award by the ABA Business Law Section, a Nonprofit Lawyers Award, and the first to receive both the Outstanding Lawyer Award AND the Vanguard Award. In addition, Lisa has received an AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell for over 25 years and has appeared on the list of Southern California Super Lawyers for the past five years.

Outside of her professional life, Lisa regularly trains and competes with her two Standard Poodles, Zippy and Marley, in various dog events around Southern California. Zippy and Marley are also registered therapy dogs. She also works with Jack, a Lagotto Romagnolo (Italian Truffle Hunting Dog), an ancient but rare breed with an impressive work ethic and intellect.

Theresa Lynn Sidebotham founded Telios Law PLLC in 2012, where she advises organizations in the U.S. and internationally, with a focus on religious and nonprofit law, employment law, child safety, and investigations.

Telios Law advises on legal and policy issues, with an emphasis on First Amendment protections, international law, child protection policies and practices, and employment practices. It also coordinates legal audits and assists with internal investigations. Though Telios Law helps most of its clients avoid litigation, it also represents organizations in litigation defense, asserting constitutional defenses around religious free exercise, religious privilege, and other First Amendment issues, as well as normal business and employment law principles.

Although she was born in New York, Theresa and her parents arrived in Indonesia just in time for the Communist coup in the “Year of Living Dangerously.” Her four sons were born on three different continents, the youngest when she and her husband were serving in Sumatra. After returning to the States, she enrolled in law school and graduated first in her class from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.  Theresa was mentored by judges at the Colorado Court of Appeals and worked at a large law firm serving religious institutions and doing general litigation before opening Telios Law.

Now, she uses these experiences to help religious and nonprofit organizations achieve their vision in a way which is “complete, perfect, or whole,” as the name “Telios” implies.

A native of Miami, Florida, Anthony Gonzalez is a Florida International University and St. Thomas University School of Law graduate. While in law school, Anthony received the Book Award in Appellate Advocacy and attained membership in the International Moot Court Honors Organization. Anthony is also an ordained clergyman and co-founded a non-denominational Christian church in Miami. Anthony focuses his legal practice on civil litigation and church law.

Kelli Marsh is an Azusa Pacific University and Trinity Law School graduate who graduated second in her class with the Dean’s Scholarship. While in law school, she served as Lead Article Editor on Trinity’s Law Review and was a member of the Christian Legal Society.

Kelli came to the California Center for Nonprofit Law following her career in the financial services industry. She worked as a Senior Client Services Specialist in tax, risk analysis, and project management. As an associate attorney, she provides our clients with general legal counsel in governance and tax-exempt status.

Kelli also serves as a teaching assistant at Trinity Law School and a teacher at Right on Mission. In addition, she has completed extensive charitable volunteer work in Mexico, India, and Tanzania.

Nathan Brecht is a southern California native who graduated from Vanguard University and Trinity Law School. While a law student, he participated in moot court, law review, and the student tutoring program.

Nathan has a diverse background in dependency law and civil litigation. He previously served families in need as a Minor’s Counsel in Los Angeles County, where he developed skills as an advocate and trial attorney. In addition, he worked in civil litigation, representing corporate clients primarily in real estate and business law matters. As a result of his professional experiences, Nathan has developed unparalleled skills in negotiation, interpersonal communications, and trial work. At the California Center for Nonprofit Law, Nathan now advises our clients in forming and structuring nonprofit entities.

Nathan has a long history of serving his church domestically and abroad in Cambodia, Mexico, and Belize. In addition, Nathan enjoys music, experimenting with coffee brewing methods, and hiking in his free time.

Gabriella Atallah was born and raised in Southern California where she went on to graduate from the University of California Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in English. Gabriella then went on to receive her Juris Doctor from Trinity Law School. While attending Trinity, Gabriella served as an executive editor for Trinity Law Review, and as an intern for Pacific Justice Institute.

Gabriella has extensive experience in civil litigation and has successfully represented clients in their personal injury, employment law, and civil rights cases. Gabriella is empathetic and able to correspond and guide clients throughout their legal needs.Gabriella has a passion for legal research and writing and strives to one day become a published author. Gabriella has a passion for reading, writing, working out, and spending time with her family.

Jessica Frieberg graduated from Westmont College and earned her certificate in Paralegal Studies at the University of California, San Diego. A member of the California Center for Nonprofit Law family since 2008, Jessica has spent most of her legal career serving nonprofit organizations.

Jessica is known for her friendly and welcoming demeanor when meeting with clients and her extensive knowledge of legally required documentation for nonprofit corporations. As a paralegal, she regularly assists clients with nonprofit organization formation, drafting articles of incorporation and bylaws, applications for tax-exempt status, drafting and reviewing intellectual property licensing agreements and employment contracts, and dissolution proceedings.

Maria Gurule graduated from Azusa Pacific University with an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Masters in Educational Psychology. She earned her Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She joined the California Center for Nonprofit Law in 2018 as the office manager and as one of the paralegals.

Prior to joining the law firm, Maria worked in the education sector with K-12 students, students with disabilities, and graduate students at public and private educational institutions. In 2011, she joined Trinity Law School, where she served as an admissions counselor, assistant registrar, and director of academic services.

Maria enjoys working with clients by providing assistance with nonprofit formation, property welfare exemptions, dissolution and other needs of nonprofit organizations. She enjoys spending time with her family exploring the Southwest, reading, and finding new adventures.

Karrie is one of the newest members to the firm. She has extensive experience in administration, client interface, and recordkeeping. Karrie formerly served in University of Colorado Hospital Labor and Delivery Ward, where she was responsible for patient admissions, transfers, discharges, and maintaining patient medical records.
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Karrie has served in various church ministries, focusing primarily on people and organizations, and she currently supports children and facilities all over the world through (Christian nonprofit organizations?) Compassion International, World Vision, and the Door of Faith Orphanage. She has a passion for music and spends as much time as she can with her family.

Karrie has a heart for people and is normally the first person that clients will speak to at the firm. She is responsible for initiating client intakes, billing, and a handful of other administrative duties.

Katie Lannin graduated from Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a financial manager at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, managing programs with national security mission areas.

A New Hampshire native, Katie enjoys hiking and skiing in New England, especially in the beautiful White Mountain region. Katie plans to attend law school in the near future and become a practicing attorney.

Tyler Choe was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine, in three years, where he received a Bachelor’s in History with summa cum laude honors. During his undergraduate years, he was active in community service and academic research.

In his free time, Tyler is very involved in his local church, where he has extensive experience teaching the youth and volunteering with church events and the orchestra. He has been serving as an upper elementary Bible study teacher for the past three years.

Regarding career goals, Tyler aspires to attend law school and become a practicing attorney. He will be interning at the Church Law Center to gain valuable legal experience.