Attorney Spotlight: Diane E. Coderniz
Welcome to our attorney spotlight series. In each installment, we interview an attorney at our firm to get to know them better. We will learn about their unique insights, experiences, and personal journeys within the legal landscape. Our series aims to shed light on the diverse expertise and rich narratives that shape our team, offering a unique window into the world of law through the eyes of those who navigate its complexities daily. Join us as we explore the stories behind the suits, one attorney at a time.
View Diane’s attorney bio here at this link.
Give an overview of your legal career.
I started at Baker Manock & Jensen in 2011. I actually summered here in 2010 and I’ve worked here ever since. I started as a general litigation associate and, within a year or so, began to focus on employment law. By my fourth or fifth year, most of my practice was employment law and it has continued that way. Our prior employment law practice group chair left during my fifth or sixth year and I was given the opportunity to run the department. It was a sink or swim moment, so I decided I’d better swim. That’s the story of how I shifted to primarily employment law. However, I do still do a bit of business litigation when it fits, is necessary, and focuses on the areas that I can specialize in.
For a long time after I started, I had a reputation for filling in the gaps. For instance, “We don’t know who should do this. Diane will do it.” I did hundreds of landlord/tenant cases which were not what I’d consider fun, but they were great experience being in court weekly. I also developed the expertise of PACA, which is Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. We only come across that a few times per year but it’s one of the more enjoyable things I work on. So, that’s an overview of how my practice developed and what I do now.
What made you want to become a lawyer?
I grew up on a dairy and a farm, and I loved working with cows. But, I did not enjoy driving tractor. I did not enjoy being in the heat or the extreme cold, being cold and wet, outdoors. I decided I wanted more of an indoor career, but I loved the ag industry, so I said if I could combine an indoor career with the ag industry, what would that look like? And decided on the law. So, I focused on ag in my undergraduate career and got a dairy science degree. Then, I went straight to law school from there. I don’t have any attorneys in my family, but I thought, I could do that. That’d be a good indoor career, so I don’t have to be cold and wet in the winter outside feeding cows. And here I am!
Tell us about your favorite project or case that you’ve worked on.
My favorite is my day-to-day employment advising. I have clients who call and email me probably weekly with all types of questions, and that is my absolute favorite thing. I enjoy troubleshooting those emails and the phone calls day-to-day. I like the little fires that you can put out quickly, that won’t turn into two years’ worth of litigation. I like a fire that sounds like, “We need an answer today, we want to make this decision, what does that look like?” That’s my favorite thing that I do.
One client in particular calls me before they make a decision, listens, and takes the advice. In those situation, I’m not trying to get them out from under the decision they previously made in error. That is my favorite part of my practice.
How do you spend your time outside of the office?
I like hanging out with my kids. Long time ago, seven years ago, that wouldn’t be my answer. It would be probably drinking wine and going to the coast on the weekends. Now, it’s drinking wine with my kids. Don’t worry, they don’t drink the wine, just me. They do a lot of activities. I am going to dance competitions. I am going to basketball games. I spend several hours a week at the dance studio watching them. The studio has good wifi and nice little setup with chairs in lobby where I can work so I do a lot of work from there. It brings me joy to be able to watch my kids do the things they enjoy. I also love concerts and I try to go to a couple concerts a year with girlfriends. I’m going to see Blink 182 and Lainey Wilson this year.
Why Baker Manock & Jensen?
For me, it was the immediate connection with the people at Baker Manock. When I did my summer associate interviews, I interviewed with several firms in the Fresno area and was blessed to get options from the firms. The tone, energy, and reputation of the people at Baker Manock aligned with my personality, sense of humor, and work ethic. I could tell they were good people. What kept me here is the same thing, the vibe, the people; people you can work with well, people that you can communicate with, people that it’s easy to talk to and to collaborate with.
Even in a practice area where I’m almost a one-man show, it’s still nice that, I can pretty much knock on anyone’s door, ask them a question, and they’re willing to take the time to chat. It’s been great and what’s really attracted me to BMJ, and then in my opinion, kept me here all the years.
