“Working In The City” is The San Diego Sun’s feature Q&A series with downtown San Diego business operators. It’s a way to get to know the city by meeting the people who work here. This is the 31st in an ongoing series.
Company name (neighborhood): HHJ Trial Attorneys (Little Italy, Downtown San Diego, Carlsbad, La Jolla, Escondido)
What’s happening here: Since founding the firm in 2018, we’re expanding our litigation team and taking on larger, more complex cases, including wildfire-related claims, while continuing to invest in technology and trial presentation to stay ahead in the courtroom.
I am: Partner Michael Hernandez.
Best aspects of working downtown: The energy. You’re surrounded by great restaurants, professionals, and a constant sense of movement — it feels like the center of everything. We also work above Barbusa which we believe is the best Italian restaurant in San Diego.
Worst aspects of working downtown: Parking and the smell of pee.
Company pet/mascot: Grasshopper: Nimble, kind and fierce.
Regular customers: Clients who are seriously injured.
Most surprising part of working downtown: How friendly people are. The legal community in San Diego is so pleasant to deal with compared to those L.A. Lawyers.
Funniest downtown work memory: Fighting all of our traffic and parking tickets with our new lawyers.
Scariest downtown work memory: Walking into a high-stakes trial with everything on the line for a client — knowing the outcome will materially change their life.
Big-event bumps: Padres games, conventions and major events can turn a 5-minute drive into 30 — but they also bring great energy to the area. We put our lives on the line when we walk from our office in Little Italy to see a game at Petco Park.
Homelessness: It’s a real issue downtown. It affects businesses and quality of life, and it’s something that needs thoughtful, effective solutions that balance compassion with accountability.
How can the city be more business friendly: Improve parking access, streamline permitting, and create more consistency in how regulations are applied. By making it easier for restaurants and hotels to come in and invest. Ramping up Broadway and Horton Plaza to what it was 15 years ago.
Favorite downtown business that isn’t yours: Barbusa and Lala (Busalacci restaurants).
Best advice for running a downtown SD business: Be visible, build relationships, and lean into the community. Downtown rewards businesses that show up and stay consistent. SDSun
