Women-Owned Employment & Personal Injury Law Firm in California | Gomerman | Bourn & Associates

Gomerman | Bourn & Associates is a women-owned California law firm representing employees whose workplace rights have been violated and individuals and families affected by serious injuries and wrongful death.

Led by founder and managing attorney Tanya Gomerman and shareholder and managing attorney Maria Bourn, our firm combines compassionate client support with strategic, trial-ready advocacy. Since opening our doors in 2012, we have recovered more than $100 million for our clients and have represented individuals throughout California from the beginning of their cases through trial and appeal.

For us, being women-owned is more than a statement about who leads the firm. It influences how we build our team, support our clients, prepare cases, and advocate for people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Women in the Legal Profession: Progress Worth Celebrating

The legal profession has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several decades.

According to the State Bar of California, women now comprise approximately 45% of California attorneys, representing the highest percentage in the state's history. Even more encouraging, women accounted for 57% of newly admitted California attorneys in 2024, signaling that the next generation of lawyers is increasingly female.

Nationally, the American Bar Association reports that women make up approximately 41% of all attorneys, and predicts that the legal profession is approaching gender parity as more women graduate from law school and enter practice.

Women in the Legal Profession: The Latest Available Data

Demographic	Approximate Percentage
Women attorneys in California	44.6%
Men attorneys in California	54.3%
Women attorneys nationwide	41%
Men attorneys nationwide	59%

While these numbers demonstrate meaningful progress, statistics tell only part of the story.

Women Still Face Significant Barriers in the Legal Profession

Women have transformed the legal profession, but barriers to advancement have not disappeared.

Women attorneys may continue to encounter challenges involving partnership opportunities, compensation, sponsorship, courtroom bias, caregiving responsibilities, and access to influential professional networks.

Underrepresentation in Partnership and Firm Ownership

Although women now represent nearly half of California's attorneys, they remain underrepresented among equity partners, managing partners, and firm owners. Leadership opportunities continue to lag behind overall representation. This gap matters because equity partners and firm owners often influence decisions about compensation, hiring, mentorship, case strategy, advancement, and workplace culture.

Unequal Access to Sponsorship and Advancement

Mentorship provides advice. Sponsorship goes further.

A sponsor actively advocates for an attorney’s advancement, recommends them for important assignments, introduces them to influential contacts, and helps position them for leadership. Historically, women have not always had equal access to the informal professional relationships through which sponsorship frequently develops.

Bias and Unequal Expectations

Women attorneys may also face different expectations regarding leadership, communication, confidence, and courtroom behavior.

The same qualities praised as decisive or assertive in one attorney may be interpreted differently when displayed by a woman. These assumptions can affect evaluations, compensation, client opportunities, courtroom interactions, and advancement.

Balancing Leadership and Caregiving Responsibilities

The practice of law can involve demanding litigation schedules, urgent client needs, depositions, travel, and trial preparation. At the same time, women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities in many families.

Building workplaces that support flexibility, accountability, and sustainable professional growth benefits not only women attorneys, but the entire legal profession.

Women-Owned Law Firms Continue to Be the Exception

One statistic often surprises people: there is no publicly available database that tracks how many California law firms are women-owned, much less how many focus specifically on plaintiff employment law and personal injury. While organizations collect data on attorney demographics, ownership by practice area is not systematically reported.

That lack of data underscores how uncommon women-owned plaintiff litigation firms still are.

Building and leading a successful trial practice requires not only exceptional legal skill but also entrepreneurship, business leadership, and the willingness to take significant financial risks on behalf of injured clients and wronged employees.

Compassion and Strength Belong in the Same Courtroom

Being women-owned is not about checking a box.

It's about fostering a culture built on compassion, collaboration, resilience, and relentless advocacy.

At Gomerman | Bourn & Associates, we understand that every client comes to us during one of the most difficult moments of their life.

Whether someone has:

• Experienced workplace discrimination

• Been sexually harassed

• Faced retaliation for speaking up

• Suffered catastrophic injuries because of another's negligence

• Lost a loved one due to wrongful death

They deserve attorneys who listen, understand, and fight tirelessly for justice.

Our leadership believes that empathy and strength are not mutually exclusive—they are complementary qualities that make better advocates.

Proud to Stand Apart

As a women-owned California law firm, Gomerman | Bourn & Associates is proud to be part of a growing movement of women leaders reshaping the legal profession.

We believe diversity strengthens legal advocacy.

We believe leadership should reflect the communities we serve.

And above all, we believe every client deserves passionate attorneys who are committed to achieving meaningful results.

Every case is personal.

Every client matters.

Every voice deserves to be heard.

Justice is built on courage. Leadership is built on integrity.

We remain committed to standing up for injured individuals, protecting employees' rights, and advocating for those who need a strong voice in their corner.

If you have been injured because of someone else's negligence or believe your rights have been violated in the workplace, our team is here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gomerman | Bourn & Associates a women-owned law firm?

Yes. Gomerman | Bourn & Associates is a women-owned California employment and personal injury law firm led by founder and managing attorney Tanya Gomerman and shareholder and managing attorney Maria Bourn.

Does the firm represent employees or employers?

We represent employees. Our employment attorneys advocate for workers in cases involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower claims, wage violations, disability rights, leave violations, and other unlawful workplace conduct.

What types of personal injury cases does the firm handle?

Our personal injury practice includes serious motor vehicle accidents, traumatic brain injuries, slip-and-fall accidents, premises liability claims, dog bites, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death cases.

Does Gomerman | Bourn & Associates represent clients throughout California?

Yes. We represent employees, injured individuals, and families throughout California. Our offices are located in San Francisco, San Jose, Redwood City, and Santa Rosa.

How much does it cost to speak with the firm?

Initial consultations are free. Cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, which means there are no upfront attorney fees and clients do not pay attorney fees unless the firm obtains a recovery on their behalf.

Contact Gomerman | Bourn & Associates today to learn how we can advocate for you.