Elissa Lasserre

Elissa Lasserre is Senior Counsel in Tyson & Mendes’ San Francisco Bay Area office. She has extensive litigation experience spanning insurance defense, plaintiff personal injury, construction defect, homeowner association law, and criminal defense.

Ms. Lasserre has defended insureds in personal injury, and premises liability matters, represented homeowner associations in complex construction defect cases, and litigated complex matters involving HOA governing documents, rule enforcement, and board governance disputes. She also brings significant trial experience from her long career in criminal defense, where she handled high-stakes felony matters and earned a reputation for disciplined preparation and persuasive advocacy. She previously served as Executive Director/Managing Attorney of a multi-county criminal legal nonprofit, overseeing operations, program development, and staff across multiple departments. Ms. Lasserre’s broad background provides a deep understanding of how claims develop, how plaintiffs build their cases, and how to deliver efficient, strategic, and successful defense outcomes. Recently, she was awarded the Bay Area CBS Icon Award for her work with those marginalized by a criminal history.

Ms. Lasserre obtained her J.D. from Southern California Institute of Law in 1995, where she was awarded a Certificate of Merit in Evidence and Trial Advocacy.

Outside the office, Ms. Lasserre is a history enthusiast who enjoys studying languages, cooking, hiking, and traveling.