Meet Lee Maranto
Lee Maranto serves of counsel to Lamano Law Office. He is an accomplished attorney with a wealth of experience in criminal defense and beyond. Mr. Maranto started his own practice in 2014 providing legal services to low- and modest-income clients, emphasizing estate planning, probate litigation, plaintiff employment issues, and criminal defense matters. His expertise extends to mediating probate disputes to settlement and handling probate trials and appeals. Most recently, Mr. Maranto has been using this extensive background in criminal law and probate to represent litigants in Temporary Restraining Orders concerning domestic violence and elder abuse matters.
Mr. Maranto’s legal career began with valuable experience as a law student at the Office of the Public Defender in San Francisco, where he provided crucial support to felony defense attorneys, conducted legal research, drafted motions and memoranda, and participated in court proceedings. His efforts included successfully arguing a 995 motion that removed a “strike” from a felony indictment, thereby averting a mandatory 25-year jail sentence under California’s “Three Strikes” law.
He has built a strong track record in misdemeanor DUI cases across Bay Area counties, achieving dismissals and successfully representing clients in DMV Admin Per Se (APS) hearings. Notable successes include securing dismissals and judicial Declarations of Factual Innocence in DUI cases, as well as successfully challenging license suspensions by identifying critical Title 17 issues with blood evidence.
His commitment to justice is further reflected in his previous roles. His tenure as an Independent Hearing Officer at UC Berkeley from January 2012 to July 2016 involved presiding over all student disciplinary hearings, ensuring compliance with constitutional due process and relevant laws, and advising on complex legal and policy matters. As a Contract Hearing Officer at the University of California, Riverside, he managed student conduct hearings, particularly those involving sexual misconduct, and trained UC staff in due process requirements.
Mr. Maranto holds a Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies and Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is licensed to practice law by the State Bar of California and holds certifications as a Certified Facilitator from Community At Work and as a Certified Mediator from the Social Justice Mediation Institute at the University of Masschusetts-Amherst.
Outside of his legal practice, Lee cherishes time with his two children, enjoys poker games, and takes pleasure in exploring the diverse cultural offerings of the Bay Area. As a dedicated Oakland resident, he remains deeply involved in both professional and community activities, continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of his clients and the broader community. He is a board member of the Women Lawyers of Alameda County, a member of the Alameda County Bar Association Racial Diversity Task Force, and a member of the East Bay Trust and Estates Lawyers Association. We are proud to have Mr. Maranto as part of our team.
