Renee Stackhouse (née Galente) is a serious force in San Diego’s legal community, recognized equally for her tenacity, diligence, legal knowledge, and exceptional trial skills.  As an advocate, Renee is lauded for her strategic and empathetic approach, and she is known as a leader in the profession and the community.

In her years as a practicing lawyer, Renee has successfully represented clients in civil matters ranging from business disputes to construction defect and personal injury cases, while also growing a significant criminal defense practice. In addition, Renee has a strong military defense practice, and is recognized for her understanding of military processes and protocols, and the nuances involved in representing service members in various matters.  Her knowledge and understanding of the United States Military stems from her work as a civilian employee working in Marine Corps Community Services at Southern California’s largest base, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, from 1997-2007.

Renee’s zealous advocacy expands beyond her role as a lawyer – she is a dedicated champion of causes related to civil rights, diversity and inclusion, and equal rights for women.  Renee headed one of the state’s largest law-related associations, serving as President of California Women Lawyers in 2018 and President of the CWL Foundation in 2019.

Her substantial volunteer experience also has included leadership roles with the San Diego County Bar Association, where she served as the 2021 President of the Board of Directors. She also served the organization as host of its podcast “Meet & Confer” and as a regular contributor to San Diego Lawyer magazine, and frequent speaker on social media, trial skills, and general civil litigation. In addition, Renee has served San Diego’s legal community as the President of San Diego La Raza Lawyers and was selected in 2022 to join the Thomas Jefferson School of Law Board of Trustees.

She earned her J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, graduating magna cum laude, and earned a B.S. in Management and Marketing from Park University, also graduating magna cum laude.  She is a 2012 graduate of the Trial Lawyers College. She earned a Women in Leadership Executive Certificate from Cornell University in 2019.

Though she has myriad professional accomplishments, Renee is most proud of the small human she created with her husband, Phil; their son Gabriel.

Media Inquiries/Public Speaking

Renee is available for media appearances on injury litigation, state and federal crimes, and women’s rights issues. Renee is also available for legal association/education panels on legal ethics and social media, trial skills, women in the law, and diversity in the profession.

Admissions

• California, 2008
• Military courts worldwide
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 2008
• United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 2015

Certifications

• Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

Leadership Experience

• American Association for Justice, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
• California Lawyers Association & California Judges Association, Joint Taskforce on Remote Proceedings, Past Co-Chair
• California Lawyers Association, Long-Term and Strategic Planning Committee Past Member
• California Lawyers Association, Solo & Small Firm Executive Committee Past Chair
• California Lawyers Association, Past Awards Committee Chair
• California Women Lawyers, Past President
• California Women Lawyers Foundation, Past President
• Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Member
• Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter, Member
• Lawyer Club of San Diego, Past Vice President
• MOXIE  Awards Committee 2020-2022, Member
• National Association of Women Judges, Friends Committee Co-Chair for the Success Inside & Out Committee
• National Association of Women Judges, Fairness and Access Committee Co-Chair
• National Association of Women Judges, Mothers in Court Committee Past Co-Chair, Founder
• North County Bar Association, Member
• Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, Strategic Framework Facilitation
• Probate Attorneys of San Diego, Strategic Framework Facilitation
• San Diego County Bar Association, Past President
• San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, Past President
• San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association Scholarship Fund, Past Board Member, Scholarship Selection Committee Chair
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Board of Trustees, Development Chair
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association, Past President
• Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, Member

Teaching/Speaking Experience

• Advanced Trial Advocacy Course, USAF Judge Advocate General School
• California Alliance of Paralegal Associations, Presenter
• California Lawyers Association, Presenter
• California Western School of Law, Guest Speaker
• California Women Lawyers, Presenter
• Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Presenter
• Contra Costa County Bar Association Women’s Section, Presenter
• Lawyers Club of San Diego, Presenter
• Legal Education Access Pipeline (LEAP), Presenter
• MSheLE, LLC, Moderator
• National Association of Women Judges (Mentor Jet), Presenter
• National Defender Investigator Association, Faculty
• San Diego County Bar Association, Presenter & Podcast Host
• San Diego Law Library, Presenter
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association, Presenter
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Commencement Speaker
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Legal Writing I Adjunct Professor
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law, National Trial Team Adjunct Professor
• Trial Lawyers College, Weeks 2 and 3, Faculty
• Trial Lawyers College, Voir Dire, Opening Statements, & Direct Examination Regional Programs, Faculty
• Trial Lawyers College, Graduate Course I, Faculty
• UCSD, Department of Political Science, Presenter
• UCSD Extension, Sorbonne Winter Symposium, Faculty
• University of San Diego School of Law, Guest Speaker
• Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo, Presenter
• Women Lawyers of Long Beach, Keynote Presenter

Awards, Honors and Accolades: 

• American Bar Foundation Fellow
• AVVO Rated 10.0 (Superb)
• AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, 2016-2022
• Best Law Firms, 2019-2022
• Best Lawyers in America 2018-2022; Personal Injury
• California Women’s Leadership Association’s Women to Watch in 2019
• Certificate of Appreciation, City of Los Angeles (2005)
• Certificate of Commendation, County of San Diego Board of Supervisors Ron Roberts, 2012
• Certificate of Recognition, Office of Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr. SD Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, 2021
• Certificate of Recognition, CA Senator Brian W. Jones, 2021
• Certificate of Recognition, CA Assembly Member Col. Rocky Chavez, 2014
• Certificate of Recognition, CA Senator Marty Block 2013
• Commendation from Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton Commanding General Donovan, 2004
• Lawyers Club of San Diego, North County Community Service Award, 2019
• MOXIE Award, The Moxie Theatre, 2019
• National Conference of Bar Presidents President’s Page Award, 2022
• National Association of Women Lawyers, Outstanding Law Student Award, 2008
• Our City San Diego Justice Defender, 2017
• San Diego Attorney Journal, Cover Feature/Attorney of the Month, 2012, 2019
• San Diego Business Journal, Top 50 Women of Influence in Law, 2022
• San Diego Business Journal, Leaders in Law, 2021
• San Diego Business Journal, Women of Influence in the Law, 2021
• San Diego Business Journal Next Top Business Leaders Under 40, 2018
• San Diego Business Journal, Women Who Mean Business Finalist, 2016
• San Diego Business Journal, Best of the Bar 2014-2016
• San Diego County Bar Association, Outstanding Service by a New Lawyer, 2013
• San Diego Daily Transcript Top Young Attorneys, 2010, 2012
• San Diego Daily Transcript Young Influential, 2013
• San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, President’s Award, 2015
• San Diego Law Library, Witkin Award: Excellence as Community Changemaker, 2019
• San Diego Magazine, Celebrating Women, 2021
• San Diego Magazine, Latinos Making a Difference 2013-2014
• San Diego Magazine, Woman of the Year Finalist, 2015
• San Diego Magazine, Women Who Move the City Finalist, 2013
• San Diego Metro Magazine, Top 40 Under 40, 2012
• San Diego Press Club Award, 2020
• Super Lawyers Top 25 Women | San Diego, 2022
• Super Lawyers Top 50 | San Diego, 2022
• Super Lawyers 2017-2022
• Super Lawyers Rising Star 2015-2016
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Adjunct Professor of the Year, 2015
• Thomas Jefferson School of Law, A. Thomas Golden Alumni of the Year Award, 2013