About Gabriela m. Torres Law
Education
Special Education Advocacy & Student Rights
At Gabriela M. Torres Law, I advocate fiercely for students and families navigating California’s special education system. My work is grounded in equity, clarity, and a deep commitment to ensuring every child receives the services and support they are entitled to under the law.
I represent clients statewide in all areas of special education, including:
IEP advocacy and representation
Special education due process hearings
Suspension and expulsion defense
Manifestation determination reviews
Child Find and evaluation disputes
With litigation experience under the IDEA and ADA in federal district court, I also support families in securing Emergency Relief and Temporary Restraining Orders when a child’s educational access or safety is at immediate risk.
In addition to direct student advocacy, I bring extensive experience advising nonprofit and faith-based educational institutions on compliance with disability laws, including Section 504, the IDEA, and the ADA. This dual perspective—supporting both families and mission-driven schools—allows me to navigate these systems with a comprehensive understanding of how policies operate in practice.
Whether you’re facing a district that refuses to evaluate your child or need guidance in securing appropriate services, I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Public Agency / Municipal
Drawing on my experience as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of National City, I’ve supported public agencies through some of their most complex legal and governance challenges. My work has included advising on planning and land use, law enforcement matters, ethics compliance, and the day-to-day legal questions that shape agency operations. I’ve guided public bodies through Brown Act requirements, navigated conflict-of-interest rules, and helped advance major initiatives—such as the Balanced Plan with the Port of San Diego—that carry lasting impact for local communities.
With litigation experience in state court and a deep understanding of how cities, boards, and commissions function, I offer counsel that is practical, grounded, and mindful of policy implications. If your agency is seeking a trusted legal partner, I bring real-world experience and a commitment to supporting effective, transparent public service.
Public Policy
Public policy isn’t just an area of my practice—it’s the lens through which I approach every aspect of my legal work. Throughout my career, I’ve operated at the intersection of law and policy, partnering with members of Congress, U.S. senators, and state leaders to advance meaningful, systemic solutions. My experience spans education equity, environmental justice, municipal governance, and disability rights, giving me a comprehensive understanding of how policy decisions shape our communities.
I work closely with clients to craft thoughtful, legally grounded strategies that create real, lasting impact. Whether you’re looking to shape legislation, navigate emerging regulatory changes, or build a legal strategy with policy implications, I’m here to help turn advocacy into action.
Non Profit
Having served in leadership roles at major nonprofits—including Disability Rights California and the Surfrider Foundation—I understand not only the legal frameworks that govern nonprofit organizations, but also the mission-driven heart that keeps them moving forward. My work in the sector has given me a ground-level understanding of how nonprofits operate, the pressures they face, and the values that shape their decision-making.
I advise nonprofits on governance, board operations, employment matters, confidentiality, ethics, and regulatory compliance. Whether you’re launching a new organization, navigating sensitive HR or personnel issues, or strengthening your board’s structure and accountability, I provide strategic, practical legal guidance rooted in real nonprofit leadership experience.
My goal is to help your organization thrive—mission-aligned, ethically grounded, and legally sound.
Small Business Advising
Small business advising is far more than legal transactions—it’s about protecting legacy, navigating complexity, and strengthening the foundation for future generations. I work closely with family-owned, culturally rooted, and community-based businesses to address the distinct legal challenges they encounter. My support includes guidance on ownership and trust disputes, contract negotiation and enforcement, business dissolution or restructuring, succession planning, and litigation defense. I also assist clients with safeguarding intellectual property, resolving landlord–tenant conflicts, and managing financial distress.
My perspective is shaped by my own roots. My mother was a dressmaker who built and sustained her own small business, and through her I learned the pride, sacrifice, and resilience required to keep a family enterprise thriving. That lived experience informs the way I advocate today.
Whether you’re stabilizing a long-standing business, navigating a period of crisis, or planning for thoughtful growth, I bring a relationship-centered and culturally informed approach that prioritizes what matters most—your family, your vision, and your place in the community.
Environmental
I bring more than a decade of experience in environmental litigation and policy to my work, shaped by a deep commitment to protecting our communities and the natural resources that sustain them. My practice has centered on the Clean Water Act, CEQA, and cross-border pollution issues—areas where law, public health, and justice intersect in powerful ways.
From collaborating with the State Lands Commission and the Coastal Commission to leading litigation strategy as Policy Director for the Surfrider Foundation, I’ve worked alongside government agencies, nonprofits, and community advocates throughout California. My experience spans state and federal court litigation, regulatory advocacy, and providing public testimony on some of the most complex environmental challenges facing our region.
Whether you are a community member, a mission-driven organization, or a public agency navigating legal or regulatory pressures, I can help you build a strategy grounded in advocacy, technical understanding, and real-world experience.