Our Firm

With over 35 years combined experience  in law, business management and engineering, principle Michael Shepherd is knowledgeable about Landlord-tenant issues regarding both the residential and commercial tenancies.

Our Attorneys

Shepherd Law Group is led by Michael Shepherd, with additional legal support from

attorney Daniel Sorkin, a contract attorney, and experienced paralegal and administrative

staff. The firm is currently fully staffed and anticipates expanding with additional

paralegals as the practice continues to grow.

Owner/ Lead Attorney - Founder

Michael Shepherd is the founder of Shepherd Law Group and has more than 25 years of

experience representing property owners in landlord-tenant disputes and eviction litigation

throughout the Bay Area.

His involvement with eviction law began in a very personal way. At approximately 18

years old, while attending college, he purchased his first rental property. When a tenant

stopped paying rent and remained in the unit without payment, he was forced to pursue an

eviction while simultaneously working to pay the mortgage on the property.

That experience provided firsthand insight into the challenges property owners face when

tenants fail to meet their obligations.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Shepherd has handled a wide range of landlord-tenant

matters, from straightforward non-payment cases to highly contested eviction litigation.

Because many of the cases he handled early in his career involved difficult tenant disputes,

he developed significant courtroom experience and has conducted more than 20 jury trials

involving unlawful detainer litigation.

Associate Attorney

Daniel Sorkin is a San Francisco native and California attorney whose practice focuses on landlord-tenant and real property matters. He provides practical, strategic guidance to clients navigating disputes involving rental housing, compliance issues, and civil litigation.

Daniel earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He went on to attend Golden Gate University School of Law, where he was recognized with a Witkin Award for academic excellence in his coursework. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2020.

Daniel is fluent in Russian and is able to communicate effectively with Russian-speaking clients.

Daniel has extensive experience handling unlawful detainer matters from inception through resolution. He regularly advises clients on pre-litigation strategy, including preparation and service of notices (3-Day, 30-Day, 60-Day, and notices to cease), and ensures compliance with applicable state and local ordinances.

He drafts unlawful detainer complaints and prepares responsive pleadings, including answers to civil habitability actions, and manages all phases of written discovery. His motion practice includes motions to compel, motions to deem requests for admission admitted, and motions for summary judgment. Daniel routinely negotiates settlements at mandatory settlement conferences and through informal negotiations, including stipulations to vacate and pay and stay agreements.

His practice also includes coordinating with process servers and sheriffs for enforcement of writs of possession, advising clients on lease compliance and enforcement issues, and developing case strategy in complex landlord-tenant disputes involving habitability claims, nuisance allegations, and local regulatory issues.

Senior Paralegal

Elidia (“Lydia”) Bird is a highly skilled Senior Paralegal /Office Administrator at The Shepherd Law Group, with over 12 years of experience specializing in unlawful detainer matters across California. She has extensive knowledge of rent control regulations in various cities, including Oakland, San Francisco, and Berkeley, and is familiar with the unlawful detainer process in 23 California counties. Her expertise also extends to law firm management, case management, and trial preparation.