The Law Offices of Mark A. Berg
1515 Lincoln Way
Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: 530.823.7700 or 916.773.7100
Fax: 530.889.1711
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Attorney Profiles
Mark A. Berg has practiced Criminal Law for 31 years, the last 26 years in Placer County. He has been the attorney of record in 14 murder cases in Placer County. He has handled every type of criminal case from misdemeanors to murder. Mr. Berg has great knowledge of the local criminal justice system and uses his knowledge to benefit his clients.
He has served as a Peer Court Judge since 1993 to present; he is a past president of the Placer County Bar Association. He served as Deputy District Attorney for 2 years. He was president of the Placer County Deputy District Attorney Association from 1985-1986. He has been acknowledged by best selling author Steve Martini in two of his best sellers Compelling Evidence and Prime Witness.
Mr. Berg was featured in the Discovery Channel presentation of “Wicked Attraction” regarding a 1994 murder case.
Mr. Berg was born in Los Angeles, California, August 30, 1949. He was admitted to the Bar in 1976, California; U.S. District Court, Eastern and Central Districts of California. Education: Pierce Jr. College (A.A., 1970); California State University at Northridge; University of San Fernando Valley (J.D., 1975); LaVerne University. Member: State Bar of California; Placer County Bar Board of Directors, 1989-1994; (President, Bar Association 1993); Placer County Deputy District Attorneys Association (President, 1985-1986). Peer Court Judge, 1993-present.
David G. Cohen joined the Law Offices of Mark A. Berg in 1996. Since joining the firm, Mr. Cohen has been involved in representing defendants in felony and misdemeanor cases and has tried many felony jury trials. His current caseload in the firm includes felony cases, “three strike” cases, sexual assault cases, homicides, and appeals. Moreover, Mr. Cohen is the firm’s primary attorney who handles driving under the influence cases (DUIs).
Mr. Cohen has been an active member of the Placer County Bar Association, where he served as President in 2004. Mr. Cohen has served as a mentoring attorney for the Peer Court program every year since joining the Firm and as a Peer Court judge since 2005. Prior to joining the Conflict Firm, Mr. Cohen was in private practice in San Francisco serving primarily as a court-appointed motion expert on homicide cases.
Mr. Cohen graduated from Northwestern University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Speech. While at Northwestern, he served as a Defense Advocate for students charged with crimes in the University Hearing and Appellate System. Mr. Cohen graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1994, and tried his first criminal case as a certified law student. Mr. Cohen also received awards for oral argument and written brief in Moot Court competition. He was admitted to practice in 1995.
Mr. Cohen was born August 23, 1969 in San Jose, CA. Education: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (B.S. in Speech, 1991); University of California, Hastings College of Law, San Francisco (J.D., 1994). Member: State Bar of California, Placer County Bar Association (member, 1996 to present; Board of Directors, 2001 – 2005; 2004 President), California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, California DUI Lawyers, National College for DUI Defense.
Alison L. Cohen joined the Law Offices of Mark A. Berg in 1997. Since joining the firm she has handled a variety of cases, misdemeanor and felony, including domestic violence, drug court and appellate work. In 2001 she began to practice exclusively in the juvenile delinquency courtroom and has handled all of the firm’s juvenile cases for the last six years. While with the firm she has tried approximately 30 cases to verdict.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Cohen worked for the Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the Homeless Advocacy Project in San Francisco, Battered Women’s Alternatives in Martinez, and The Family Law Center in San Rafael.
Born in Stockton, California, Ms. Cohen received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law in 1996 where she was on the Dean’s list and earned certificates in litigation and public interest law. She was admitted to practice in 1997 and is an active member of the State Bar. She has been a member of the Placer County Bar Association since moving to Placer County in 1997.
Gregory Elvine-Kreis joined the Law Offices of Mark A. Berg in 2003. Since joining the Firm, Mr. Elvine-Kreis has focused his practice on representing defendants in felony and misdemeanor cases. His current caseload in the firm includes handling the domestic violence and felony calendars, including “three-strikes” case, drug cases, sexual assault cases, sex registration and sexual battery and molestation cases.
Mr. Elvine-Kreis’s philosophy is to address any criminal charges prior to arraignment, if possible, with facts that attest to the character of the accused and the veracity of the allegations. What’s missing from a District Attorney’s analysis when they review the case is who the accused is and what the circumstances surrounding the alleged actions were. Mr. Elvine-Kreis has a relationship with the District Attorney’s office which allows for an honest and open line of communication to reasonably discuss the merits of your criminal matter before and after an arraignment. If no progress is made before arraignment, then the dialogue begins in determining what is in the best interest of the client through negotiations with the District Attorney.
Mr. Elvine-Kreis has been an active member of the Placer County Bar Association, where he held a position for the last three years. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Elvine-Kreis was in private practice in Sacramento mainly representing indigent parole violators as appointed by the State Board of Prison Terms. Additionally, Mr. Elvine-Kreis served as a law clerk at California Indian Legal Services for two years where he assisted in the negotiations of the Tribal-State Gaming Compact with Governor Davis.
Mr. Elvine-Kreis graduated from Humboldt State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with an emphasis in Ethnic/Native American studies, Sociology and Psychology. Mr. Elvine-Kreis graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1999.
Mr. Elvine-Kreis was born June 6, 1969 in Princeton, Minnesota. Education: Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA (B.A., 1995); University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, CA (J.D., 1999). Member: State Bar of California (#220775), U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th District; U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; Placer County Bar Association (member, 2003 to present; Board of Directors, currently), Hoopa Tribal Bar (past member). Publications: The Effect of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act on California’s Native American Independence, 35 SAN DIEGO L. REV. 179 (1998); Environmental Regulation and California Indian Gaming, Environmental Law News, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Summer 1999) (contributing author). Panelist: Indian Water Rights: Will the Government Keep Its Promises?, Western Social Science Association Conference: American Indian Studies Panel (April, 2000) (coauthor); Guest Lecturer, Sacramento City College, Minorities in America: Current Native American Issues (March 2001).
Ms. Zehrung joined the Law Offices of Mark A. Berg in July 2006. Since joining the firm, Ms. Zehrung has represented clients in felony and misdemeanor cases. She is currently assigned to represent clients in the misdemeanor courts in Auburn and in Roseville. She also receives appointments from the Courts to represent individuals with appellate issue.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Zehrung was with the Placer County Public Defender's Office. She joined the office in 2000 as a law clerk while she was finishing law school. She took the bar in 2002 and continued her employment at the Public Defender's Office as an Assistant Public Defender. During her time as a Public Defender, Ms. Zehrung handled cases in Misdemeanor Court, Mental Health Court, Proposition 36 Court, Conservatorship Court, Domestic Violence Court, and in the Appellate Courts. In addition, Ms. Zehrung handled misdemeanor and felony cases. She has done extensive motion work and has tried a handful of misdemeanor jury trials, the last jury trial being an acquittal.
Due to her experience with the Public Defender's Office, Ms. Zehrung has many connections with a variety of programs, including drug rehabilitation programs and domestic violence programs. She also has knowledge about mental health facilities and Alta Regional, and has worked with a variety of Social Workers in order to assist her clients with their needs.
Ms. Zehrung received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with an emphasis in Pre-Law from California State University, Chico. While in College she worked as a paralegal for a private criminal defense firm in Butte County. In 2002, Ms. Zehrung graduated from McGeorge School of Law.
Born in Chico, California in 1974; attended Butte College (A.A. 1994); Paralegal Certified 1995; California State University, Chico (B.S. 1997) McGeorge School of Law (Oral Advocacy Honors) ( J.D.2002); State Bar of California, Placer County Bar Association member.
[ Mark A. Berg ] [ David G. Cohen ] [ Alison L. Cohen ] [ Gregory J. Elvine-Kreis ] [ Amber L. Zehrung ] [ Luke Brownfield ]
Luke Brownfield has been with the Law Offices of Mark A. Berg since 2008. In November of 2008 he was admitted to practice law in the state of California. In his time at the firm, Mr. Brownfield has worked on variety of cases, including juvenile cases, misdemeanor cases, and felony cases. He is currently assigned to handle the firm’s misdemeanor and traffic cases.
Mr. Brownfield is a member of the Placer County Bar Association.
Born in Arcata, California, Mr. Brownfield graduated from Humboldt State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 2008, he graduated with distinction from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. While at McGeorge, Mr. Brownfield interned with the Sacramento Public Defender’s office. He also successfully participated in several law school mock trial and moot court competitions.
