Niall Vignoles is an experienced trial and commercial lawyer whose practice focuses on land use entitlements, commercial and land use litigation. Mr. Vignoles has handled numerous actions involving land use claims, unfair business practices, employment issues and personal injury. He has handled many matters through jury and bench trials. He has successfully defended property owners against efforts by large outdoor media companies to wrest control of permits and property rights in civil court and administrative proceedings. He has fought to both secure and defeat easement and entitlement claims. He has niche specialties in government code enforcement and outdoor advertising. He successfully prosecuted a class action employment claim against Wells Fargo Bank, securing multi-million dollar settlement for workers.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Vignoles was a Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Francisco from 1994 to 2007. As a Deputy City Attorney, Mr. Vignoles won substantial monetary victories for the City and secured significant Appellate Court rulings, including rulings regarding laches and entitlement to attorneys’ fees. Niall successfully prosecuted the first case before the San Francisco Entertainment Commission against a nuisance nightclub on referral from the Chief of Police. He prosecuted code violations for the Planning Department, Department of Building Inspection, Public Health Department, and the Police and Fire departments. He also helped run the San Francisco’s SRO Task Force.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Vignoles advanced domestic and international travel for the President, First Lady and Vice-President of the United States in support of White House policy initiatives. He has renovated and sold residential housing in San Francisco and has been licensed by the State of California as a real estate broker. He also performed as Assistant Director of Transportation for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Mr. Vignoles is a Board Member of the James S. Brady Therapeutic Riding Program, a non-profit organization that provides physical and emotional therapy, via horseback riding, to children with disabilities including autism, to military veterans with PTSD, and to at-risk youth.
Mr. Vignoles received his law degree from Hastings College of Law and a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley.