Karen R. Frostrom is a partner in the firm's business and real property practice group focusing on business litigation, land use, eminent domain and contracts.
A Pennsylvania native and the oldest of four, Karen was a tomboy growing up. Energetic, caring, funny and driven, Karen excelled as a gifted student throughout school. Karen's interest in the law was piqued when she was in middle school and took a field trip to a court. She moved to California to pursue her undergraduate degree and fell in love with San Diego.
Karen is drawn to litigation and particularly to real property issues because of her belief that property rights are one of the most fundamental rights that individuals hold. She serves as a true advocate for her clients, representing and valuing the whole person.
Karen has litigated trials to verdict in San Diego and Orange County and has also handled both appellate writs and direct appeals. She has also made appearances before various government agencies to advocate for client rights. She served as an extern to the Honorable Rudi Brewster of the Southern District of California and clerked at the United States Attorney's Office in San Diego and the Department of the Navy in Washington, D.C.
Karen is active with the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations, serving previously as the Chair of the San Diego Lawyers' delegation and the San Diego Bar Association delegation. She served on the Board of the Conference as well. Her current memberships include the American Bar Association, the State Bar of California, the State Bar of Arizona, the San Diego County Bar Association, the San Diego Lawyers' Club, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Consumer Attorneys of California, the California Board of Realtors, the International Right of Way Association, and ProVisors. She is admitted to practice in all California and Arizona state courts and in all federal courts in California. She is also a licensed real estate broker in the state of California.
In November 2006 Ms. Frostrom was honored by her peers with an Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award for Mesdaq v. City of San Diego et al, a complex eminent domain case. In November 2007, she was awarded the Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award for Southern v. University of California, a matter involving breach of contract of a grant award. The next year, she received the Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award for Anderprises adv. Caltrans, a condemnation case involving the construction of a major freeway.
Karen received her B.A. summa cum laude in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from San Diego State University, then attended California Western School of Law on a full scholarship and received her J.D., magna cum laude.
In her personal life, Karen enjoys traveling, quilting, diving, music and spending time with her husband and daughter. A favorite family destination is Lake Arrowhead. Karen also acts as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth, believing that all children are valuable members of society and vital to the future.
