Christina Elhaddad

Education and Experience

Christina has extensive experience handling a wide range of litigation matters from inception through resolution and trial, including partnership and shareholder disputes, business torts, contract claims, and real estate litigation involving both residential and commercial properties. She regularly advises clients through all phases of litigation, including pre-litigation strategy, discovery, depositions, law and motion practice, mediation, and trial preparation. Known for her strong advocacy and sharp analytical skills, Christina is particularly effective in navigating complex factual records and developing persuasive legal arguments tailored to each client’s objectives.

In addition to her litigation practice, Christina represents clients in real estate transactions, ensuring that agreements are carefully structured to protect her clients’ interests and minimize risk. She also maintains an immigration practice, assisting individuals and families with family-based petitions and navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration law with diligence and care.

Prior to joining Hoffman & Forde, Christina built a strong foundation in public interest and immigration law. She served as an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow at the Arab American Association of New York, where she advocated for underserved immigrant communities and helped build the then-largest legal services organization in South Brooklyn. She also represented survivors of gender-based violence through the Domestic Violence Project in New York City and defended detained immigrants at Legal Services of New Jersey. These experiences continue to inform her client-centered approach and her commitment to access to justice.

Christina is admitted to practice law in California, New York, and New Jersey, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Beyond her legal practice, Christina is deeply engaged in the legal community. She is the Co-Founder and President of the Arab American Bar Association of San Diego and serves as Vice-Chair of the Arab American Advisory Board to the San Diego Police Department. She is also an active member of Lawyers Club of San Diego, San Diego County Bar Association, and San Diego Unity Bar. Through her leadership and service, Christina is dedicated to advancing diversity, mentorship, and equity within the legal profession.

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey; admitted November 2015
• New York; admitted January 2019
• California; admitted December 2020
• US District Court for the Southern District of California; admitted December 2021
• US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; admitted June 2023

Languages

• Arabic
• French
• Spanish

Professional Memberships

• Arab American Bar Association, Co-Founder and President
• Arab American Advisory Board to the San Diego Police Department, Vice Chair
• San Diego County Bar Association, Member and Scholar of the Leadership Academy
• San Diego Unity Bar, Past Co-Chair of the Judicial Endorsement Committee
• Lawyers Club of San Diego, Member

Additional Information

Ms. Elhaddad is a first generation Lebanese-American and a classical pianist. She enjoys traveling, sky-diving, baking, camping, and off-roading.