Attorneys Profiles

Mark A. Berg

mberg@lomab.com
Mark A. Berg has practiced Criminal Law for 33 years, the last 27 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.

The Placer County Bar Association has created two scholarships in Mr. Berg’s name titled “The Mark Berg Granlibakken Vision Scholarships” (Placer County Bar Letter) for his contribution to continuing education. He served as a Peer Court Judge for 18 years. He is a past President of the Placer County Bar Association. Mr. Berg 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.

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David G. Cohen

dcohen@lomab.com
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 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.

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Alison L. Cohen

acohen@lomab.com
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 since then.  While with the firm she has tried approximately 40 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.

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Amber L. Zehrung

azehrung@lomb.com
Amber L. Zehrung joined the LAW OFFICES OF MARK A. BERG in July 2006. Ms. Zehrung’s caseload includes a wide range of felony and misdemeanor cases including drugs, thefts, domestic violence, strikes, and mental health cases. She has done extensive motion work and has tried a variety of jury trials. In addition to her cases, she receives appointments from the Courts to represent individuals with appellate and writ issues. She is the firm’s primary attorney who handles clearing your record of convictions, also known as “expungements.”

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Zehrung was with the Placer County Public Defender’s Office. 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.

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Samuel D. Berns

sberns@lomab.com
Samuel D. Berns joined the LAW OFFICES OF MARK A. BERG after he graduated from University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in 2010, and is currently the firm’s primary misdemeanor attorney. He has also worked on felony cases since joining the firm, including “three strike” cases.

Mr. Berns, a native of New York City, started his career as an advocate long before he was admitted to the State Bar of California. After he graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2005 with a bachelor of arts in political science and religious studies, Mr. Berns designed the curriculum and taught a class informing high school students of their rights. When he moved to California in 2006, Mr. Berns worked for a criminal defense firm in Oakland specializing in drug cases. While in law school, Mr. Berns worked for public defender’s offices in Sonoma, Solano, and Marin Counties, where he conducted a jury trial and argued more than a dozen contested hearings. He also won awards for his skills in trial advocacy and appellate advocacy, wrote three extensive research papers on criminal issues, organized and hosted a forum on marijuana law in California, and graduated with a criminal concentration.

Since joining the LAW OFFICES OF MARK A. BERG, Mr. Berns has volunteered as a high school mock trial judge and has been interviewed for a documentary on the “three strikes” law. He is a member of the Placer County Bar Association and is on the legal committee for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

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