Welcome to DiBenedetto Law Group, your boutique civil litigation law firm dedicated to providing practical and effective solutions for a spectrum of legal challenges. With a specialized focus on real estate, land use, business, and construction matters, we pride ourselves on our commitment to resolving disputes with a practical, solution-oriented approach.
At DiBenedetto Law Group, we understand the complexities that individuals and businesses face when navigating legal disputes. Our team of legal professionals brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, offering personalized strategies tailored to each client’s unique needs.
What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to finding practical resolutions. We recognize that litigation can be time-consuming and financially burdensome. Therefore, we prioritize efficient and effective approaches that aim to achieve favorable outcomes while minimizing the strain on our clients.
Our firm’s philosophy is centered on clear communication, attention to detail, and a proactive mindset. We believe in empowering our clients with the knowledge and guidance necessary to make informed decisions throughout the legal process.
Anna DiBenedetto is a long-time Santa Cruz resident. In her three decades of experience in the legal profession, 21 as an attorney, she has learned the benefit of emphasizing a practical, solution oriented approach to every case. She focuses her practice in the areas of real estate law and litigation, business litigation and land use.
Anna devotes as much time as she can to local charitable organizations, whether it be serving meals and delivering gifts to families during the holidays, promoting environmental causes or working with CASA or other organizations serving the needs of at-risk children in our community.
Emily Trexel is an experienced attorney with a diverse background in the legal profession. Prior to graduating from Monterey College of Law in 2007, she was a police officer for the City of Mountain View. During her first decade of law practice, she worked as the Associate Attorney of Madeleine Boriss in Santa Cruz, litigating all areas of family law.
In late 2019, Emily became a Court Commissioner for the County of Santa Cruz, where she served as a judicial officer for two years handling the minor violations calendar. In that role, she presided over traffic infraction arraignments and trials, juvenile traffic matters, and other various criminal infraction and misdemeanor matters arising under city municipal codes and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California State Parks agencies. She also presided over the family law and small claims calendars as needed. This gave Emily a different and valuable perspective of the courtroom and litigation, and an array of experience with various parties involved in the legal process.
Most recently Emily worked as a Supervising Attorney with Senior Legal Services, a non-profit providing free legal advice and representation to older adults in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, defending the rights of individuals in the areas of landlord/tenant law and other housing/real property matters, health care, estate planning, protection from abuse and exploitation, and freedom from discrimination.
Rae Spencer brings over a decade of experience of litigation support to the firm. She has a comprehensive understanding of the concrete tasks involved with every step towards resolution, and enjoys working with clients to help discover, organize, and present the facts of their case. Rae is a strong proponent of practicing clear communication, and she prides herself in employing precise language – whether written or spoken, in English or in Spanish – and working diplomatically with clients from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.
Rae is a founding member and Co-President of the Allied Legal Professionals of the Santa Cruz County Bar Association, for which she was a 2023 recipient of the Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County Cogliati-Wenz Award for the advancement of women in the legal profession and the advocacy of women in our community.
Rae grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains and studied International Relations at the Universidad del Salvador, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she lived for ten years. In her free time, she enjoys teaching and volunteering outdoors doing native habitat restoration and cleanup.
