
Shani Zakay
San Diego attorney Shani Zakay is the founder and managing partner of Zakay Law Group. Shani’s law practice focuses on the representation of employees in Southern California. Shani began his legal career in 2009 with a San Diego law firm, where he practiced real estate and employment law as a partner for more than 6 years. In January 2018, Shani decided to start Zakay Law Group in order to focus his efforts towards helping California employees.
Over the last 5 years, Shani has represented employees against both their current and former employers. In both individual and class actions, Shani has been successful in representing his clients in wrongful termination, retaliation, and wage and hour claims. This constantly changing area of the law gives Shani the unique opportunity, to meet and work with a diversity of interesting people, while pursuing justice for those who cannot do so for themselves.
During law school, Shani was an Honors Instructor, assisting with legal research and legal writing courses. Shani received the prestigious American Jurisprudence Award for his outstanding performances in 8 different courses and was named one of the editors for his school’s Law Review journal.
A family man, Shani cherishes spending time with his wife and his family. When not with his family, Shani looks to feed his competitive nature by playing and watching almost any sport. Immigrating to the United States at age 16, Shani has learned that every adversity can be overcome with hard work and persistence. It is the same competitiveness, hard work, and persistence that Shani offers his clients as an attorney.
EDUCATION: J.D., California Western School of Law, magna cum laude B.S. in Business Administration Management, San Diego State University, cum laude
BAR ADMISSIONS: All Courts in the State of California United States District Court, Central District of California United States District Court, Southern District of California
United States District Court, Eastern District of California
United States Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)

Jackland K. Hom
Jackland K. Hom was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Jackland is an associate attorney at Zakay Law Group. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2015 at the University of California, Riverside in English Literature and Political Science. In 2019, she earned her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, where she served as the Senior Editor for both the California Western Law Review and International Law Journal.
In her final year of law school, Jackland was a judicial extern for The Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. During the judicial externship, Jackland authored “Wheel of Fortune or Misfortune? Contemplating the Media’s Post-Trial Right to Juror Information,” which was published in the July 2019 Ninth Circuit Jury Trial Improvement Committee Newsletter.
EDUCATION: J.D., California Western School of Law. B.S., University of California, Riverside
BAR ADMISSIONS: All Courts in the State of California. United States District Court, Central District of
California. United States District Court, Southern District of California. United States District Court,
Northern District of California. United States District Court, Eastern District of California.
Tiana K. Deffenderfer was born and raised in San Diego, California. Tiana is a Paralegal at Zakay Law Group, working primarily for Shani O. Zakay and Jackland K. Hom. Tiana earned her Paralegal certification in June 2019 and is experienced in handling civil litigation matters. During her education, she was an active member of the Paralegal Association at Cuyamaca College and has since been featured on the program’s website. She continues to be a guest speaker for students currently attending Cuyamaca College’s Paralegal program. Currently, Tiana is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Point Loma Nazarene University.
In between work and school, Tiana enjoys the simple things in life and enjoys spending time with close family and friends.