Mirador Law: Results-Driven Advocacy Rooted in Justice
At Mirador Law, every case carries its own complexity and weight. Every client has unique needs and interests. The firm’s commitment to supporting real people, resolving real issues, and achieving real outcomes is what ties them together. Trial-level expertise and unwavering perseverance form the firm’s cornerstone in the competitive legal market of the Bay Area. Their strong, individualized dedication to the clients they serve sets them apart.
Mirador Law has achieved its “leader” status as a recognized Leadership Firm by the Alameda County Bar Association by combining exceptional courtroom results with ethical excellence and community service.
Meet the Partners: Emily L. Dahm & Megan T. Burns
The fearless, client-first philosophy behind Mirador Law is shaped by the leadership of two powerhouse attorneys: Emily L. Dahm and Megan T. Burns. Together, they bring decades of trial experience, strategic clarity, and a deep commitment to fighting for real people with real problems.
Emily L. Dahm
Whether standing before a jury or mentoring future attorneys, Emily L. Dahm leads with precision and purpose. With over two decades of litigation experience spanning criminal defense and complex civil matters, she has built a reputation as one of California’s most respected trial lawyers.
A graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law and The Fletcher School at Tufts University, Emily began her legal career at an international law firm, handling multimillion-dollar infrastructure financings and securities litigation. She then spent eight and a half years as a Deputy Public Defender in San Francisco, defending clients in everything from white-collar matters to violent felonies and gang-related cases.
At Mirador, Emily represents clients in both criminal defense and personal injury, including survivors of sexual abuse, victims of serious accidents, and families affected by wrongful death. She is known for her ability to untangle complex forensic evidence—DNA, digital data, toxicology, and accident reconstruction—and build compelling, human-centered narratives in the courtroom.
With more than 30 jury trials to verdict, including numerous full acquittals, Emily is not only a fierce advocate—she is a defender of due process and the legal system itself.
Megan T. Burns
Megan T. Burns brings unmatched clarity, intensity, and focus to every courtroom she enters. With more than 20 years of litigation experience and over 50 jury trials, she is a relentless advocate and a strategist with a record of results. In 2024 alone, Megan secured two of California’s Top 50 verdicts.
She graduated with honors from Boston College in 1999 and earned her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2004. Her practice spans both plaintiff-side personal injury and criminal defense, giving her a well-rounded ability to protect her clients’ rights when the stakes are at their highest.
In an ACBA Member Spotlight, Megan shared her early calling to “help everyday people improve their lives” and her deep passion for trial work:
“I have tried over 50 jury trials… the feeling of advocating for one of my clients never gets old.”
At Mirador, Megan is valued not only for her outcomes, but for the way she serves her clients—with empathy, strategic clarity, and unwavering respect. Whether fighting for someone’s freedom or future recovery, she leads with compassion and a fighter’s mindset.
Together, Emily and Megan lead Mirador Law with vision, grit and a commitment to client advocacy that shows in how the firm approaches each case.
Major Win for Due Process: Charges Dismissed in Alameda County Case
In a widely followed Alameda County case concerning Maurice Monk’s 2021 in-custody death at Santa Rita Jail, Mirador Law won the complete dismissal of criminal charges in a significant win for justice and due process.
Under then District Attorney Pamela Price, eight individuals including sheriff’s deputies, a doctor, and a nurse had faced criminal negligence charges related to Mr. Monk’s medical care. From the outset, the case drew statewide attention and questions about whether the prosecution reflected an evidence-based pursuit of justice or political overreach.
After a comprehensive internal review, the District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss all charges, acknowledging that the evidence could not sustain prosecution. Major outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, KTVU, and KQED reported the decision, noting that the dismissal was made “in the interest of justice.”
Mirador Law partner Emily L. Dahm, who represented one of the charged medical professionals, led a defense grounded in evidence and due process. Her team meticulously dissected the prosecution’s claims, exposing inconsistencies and reaffirming the presumption of innocence.
“This dismissal represents a necessary correction,” Dahm said. “Our client faced immense strain for years over charges that never should have been brought. Today’s outcome restores both reputation and trust in the justice system.”
The case underscores the delicate balance between accountability and restraint—a reminder that justice must rely on facts, not optics. As Dahm emphasized, defending the accused also means defending the integrity of the legal process itself.
For Mirador Law, this result reflects the firm’s unwavering mission: to protect clients from unjust prosecution, safeguard constitutional rights, and ensure fairness even under public scrutiny.
Why Mirador Law Focuses on Criminal Defense & Personal Injury
Two Causes, One Purpose: Justice
At first glance, criminal defense and personal injury might seem like different arenas. But both share a foundational purpose that is advocating for the underdog.
At Mirador Law, the firm’s dual focus reflects a coherent mission: to defend individuals when they are most vulnerable.
In a criminal case, the individual is pitted against the vast resources of the State. In a personal injury case, the individual is fighting against massive insurance companies whose sole goal is to minimize payouts. Our firm’s fearless, client-first philosophy is perfectly suited to these two arenas, where tenacity and trial skill directly impact a client’s life, freedom, and future security.
A Synergy of Trial Skills
The choice to specialize in both fields is also a strategic one that benefits our clients through a unique synergy of litigation experience:
- Criminal Defense Sharpens Trial Advocacy:
Criminal trials demand precision under pressure. They are fast-paced, emotionally charged, and require attorneys to think critically and act decisively. Years of navigating these high-stakes environments have forged our team’s ability to command the courtroom with confidence and clarity. Lawyers have honed their instincts to read juries, dismantle complex forensic evidence, and challenge narratives with skill and composure. These battle-tested trial skills, developed through relentless defense of the accused, translate directly into an unyielding advantage in personal injury litigation, ensuring that every negotiation, mediation, or trial is approached with the same level of strategy, rigor, and fearlessness.
- Personal Injury Enhances Compassion and Civil Strategy:
On the other side of our practice, personal injury work requires a profound level of compassion, detailed investigation, and nuanced civil negotiation. Representing victims of catastrophic injuries, wrongful deaths, and abuse requires empathy, patience, and a commitment to storytelling that resonates beyond the courtroom. This side of our practice teaches us to see beyond the legal file to understand the lives behind every case. The result is a team that not only fights aggressively for justice but also advocates with compassion. Our attorneys approach every client interaction with care, ensuring that their emotional and financial well-being remains at the center of every strategy, helping secure maximum compensation, whether through settlement or verdict.
Emily’s background as a Deputy Public Defender and Megan’s trial-heavy career mean that the firm has the courtroom experience to take cases to trial and not just negotiate. Their readiness to fight is a hallmark.
“I enjoy fighting for real people with real problems, whether they are charged with a crime or seeking recovery after being injured through no fault of their own.” – Megan Burns (ACBA spotlight) ACBA
Being recognized as a Leadership Firm by the ACBA is more than a badge; it signals the firm’s standing among peers, its commitment to professional excellence, and its role in the broader legal community.
For clients, this means:
- You’re working with a firm that meets elevated standards of ethics and quality.
- The partners are respected by peers and experienced in complex litigation.
- The firm is engaged beyond individual cases, committed to professional development, community, and the legal profession itself.
- When you choose Mirador Law, you’re aligning not just with a firm but with a team recognized for leadership.
Mirador Law stands at a powerful intersection: injustice and possibility; vulnerability and advocacy. Whether someone is facing a life-changing injury or a criminal charge that threatens their future, this is the firm that rises.
Under the leadership of Emily Dahm and Megan Burns, Mirador Law delivers not just legal representation but relentless advocacy, strategic clarity, compassion, and a genuine partnership with clients. Their track record of big verdicts and successful defenses reflects not luck, but a focused mission.
To learn more about how Mirador Law can support your case, contact our team today.