Matthew Bourhis an attorney at BLG and the son of Ray Bourhis. He represents claimants in disability insurance, homeowners insurance and business insurance disputes. He is passionate about fighting for justice and helping policyholders achieve outstanding results. “The best part of my career is helping my clients. There is no better feeling than being a champion for them in their time of need. It means everything to me,” Bourhis says.
He frequently writes about insurance bad faith and has been published in the Daily Journal, LA Times and various other news outlets. Prior to joining Bourhis Law Group, PC in 2017, Bourhis served the California Supreme Court, where he was responsible for habeas corpus petitions and death penalty cases. Prior to that, he served in the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins’ chambers in 2015. He is an active member of Consumer Attorneys of California and the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Bourhis contributes pro bono legal services to California disaster victims and participates in free legal aid clinics. He has appeared as an expert panelist on insurance and as a radio guest advising fire victims on homeowners and business insurance. He has served on the Board of Directors of Community Action Marin – the largest human services provider in Marin County – where he oversaw numerous programs to meet the emerging needs of low-income people, including childhood education, mental health and financial services.
“I have been fortunate to receive the gifts of education and leadership opportunities in my life. My family instilled me with a profound sense of responsibility and am so honored to help my clients navigate the most challenging times of their lives. When someone is disabled or has lost their home, insurance is often their last safety net. When that safety net fails, I am there to help – it’s a tremendous opportunity, I love what I do.”
Bourhis earned his J.D. from King Hall, University of California, Davis School of Law and his undergraduate degree in journalism and history from Boston University.
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Ritsa is a skilled litigator who represents individual policyholders nationwide. She focuses her practice in the areas of long-term disability insurance, handling both ERISA and non-ERISA claims litigation and appeals, and insurance bad faith. She has extensive experience assisting and counseling clients at all stages of the disability claim process, including filing initial claim applications, appealing claim denials and terminations, negotiating claim settlements, and actively litigating in both state and federal court. She is a caring and zealous advocate for her clients, no matter the nature of the dispute, and is passionate about helping and fighting for claimants who have been wronged and cheated by their insurers.
Prior to joining Bourhis Law Group, PC, Ritsa defended business entities in a wide variety of matters such as high-stakes class action litigation, commercial contract disputes, insurance disputes, tort and statutory claims, and labor and employment. Ritsa’s experience as a former defense attorney affords her a unique perspective on tackling cases in order to achieve a favorable outcome for her clients.
Ritsa earned her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law and holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
As the firm’s Paralegal, Ann Marie manages day-to-day administrative tasks, oversees client files, prepares legal documents, handles filings with the court, and provides ongoing support to the attorneys. As the first point of contact for clients, she embraces the responsibility of putting their worries at ease and walking them through the difficult and often confusing first steps in the legal process. Leading with empathy and active listening, Ann Marie measures her success in her ability to remain a constant source of reassurance throughout all stages of a client’s journey. Like the attorneys, she is focused on ensuring that clients obtain the recovery they deserve.
Ann Marie earned her Paralegal Certificate from the University of California, Berkeley, and her B.A. in Communications and Sociology & Gender Studies from the University of Puget Sound.
When she isn’t working on cases, Ann Marie spends her time embroidering and is an avid reader and traveler.