Attorneys

The accomplishments of the legal team at Aguirre & Severson LLP are many. We fight against injustices representing individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities. We have successfully negotiated a $775 million dollar settlement on behalf of California electricity customers. Our lawyers have won fraud jury trials, civil rights and voting rights cases, environmental cases and public interest cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars. We have recovered for victims of Ponzi schemes, derivatives fraud, breach of contract, unlawful business practices and environmental law violations. Our lawyers have prosecuted cases against organized crime. Altogether, we have recovered and saved our clients hundreds of millions of dollars. We are bold in our quest for justice and are ready to take on the biggest corporations to achieve results for our clients.

Aguirre & Severson LLP is a multinational law firm with a reputation for providing personal service to our diverse client base, regardless of the sophistication of their matter or where they are located. We guide our clients throughout the resolution of the case, and at times, we establish a long-term relationship, serving as trusted legal counsel whenever necessary.

Michael Aguirre’s legal career spans over four decades as a federal prosecutor, municipal law expert, fraud victim trial attorney, and certified fraud examiner and special attorney assigned to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Permanent Investigations. He is a former elected official of the City of San Diego.

Maria (Mia) Severson is an experienced trial lawyer and former Chief Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Diego. With more than 28 years of private and public practice, she has litigated complex matters involving fraud, unfair business practices, contract and franchise disputes, public entity issues, including pension, election law, constitutional law, First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, labor and employment matters, land use, eminent domain, environmental issues, and serious personal injury and wrongful death claims. She has tried more than 20 cases, some with significant media attention. She is persuasive in the courtroom, both in trial and on appeal.

Regardless of your location or matter, Aguirre & Severson LLP provides comprehensive legal representation.

To learn more about our law firm, please click here.


PARTNERS

Photo of Michael J. Aguirre

Photo of Maria Christina Severson

 

 

 

Maria Christina Severson

Michael J. Aguirre

To learn more about our legal team, please click on the links above.


Associate Attorney Photo of Elijah T. Gaglio

Elijah T. Gaglio

Location:

San Diego, CA

Phone:

619-876-5364

Fax:

619-876-5368

Email:

[email protected]

Elijah Gaglio has practiced law in California for over 3 years after being admitted to the State Bar in January 2019. Following his clinical externship with Aguirre & Severson LLP, Mr. Gaglio worked as both a clerk and attorney before joining the firm as an Associate Attorney in 2020.

While in law school, Mr. Gaglio served as a Judicial Extern for Presiding Justice Judith McConnell at the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, and as a legal intern for the California Department of Business Oversight, Enforcement Division. Mr. Gaglio also interned with Chilean Judge Juan Guzman Tapia where he researched proposed judicial reform in South America and Spain, and archived Judge Guzman’s prosecution of Augusto Pinochet for violations of human rights during his dictatorship of Chile.

Mr. Gaglio earned his Juris Doctorate at California Western School of Law, graduating magnum cum laude. In law school, Mr. Gaglio served as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Law Journal and on the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Team where he was awarded Top Oralist and led his team to rank first in 2017. Prior to law school, Mr. Gaglio received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of La Verne.

Mr. Gaglio is the Community Service Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s New Lawyer Division. He enjoys serving as a mentor and coach to California Western’s moot court teams and teaching Appellate Skills Training in the summer program.

Areas of Practice

Administrative Hearings & Adjudication

Asbestos

Business Fraud

Lending & Secured Transactions

Commercial Leasing

Franchise Fraud

Freedom of Information

Freedom of Speech

Unlawful Business Practices

Employment Law — Employee

Public Utilities

Unfair Labor Practices

Complex Litigation

Litigation Percentage

85% of Practice Devotes to Litigation

Bar Admissions

California, 2019

Education

California Western School of Law, San Diego, California

J.D. magnum cum laude

University of La Verne, La Verne, California

Bachelor of Arts, BA

Major: Political Science

Professional Associations and Memberships

San Diego County Bar Association

American Bar Association

American Business Trial Lawyers

California Lawyers Association


We look forward to the opportunity to speak with you, at no cost or obligation, to discuss your legal matter, your legal rights and the options available to you. Please contact us to schedule a meeting.

For your convenience, we accept evening and weekend appointments.

Se habla español.

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