Tara Lin Mitcheltree

Tara is a dedicated and compassionate attorney who has built her career around protecting individuals and families when the balance of power is stacked against them. Much of her work has focused on landlord–tenant disputes, where she has stood up for renters who faced unsafe and unlivable conditions. She has represented tenants suffering from lead poisoning, burns, pest infestations, harassment, and unlawful evictions at the hands of landlords who prioritized profit over people. Through her advocacy, dozens of families have been able to secure safer housing and remain in their homes, rather than being displaced by neglectful property owners. A Maryland native, Tara graduated from Mount Holyoke College before earning her J.D. at Brooklyn Law School. After being admitted to the New York State Bar, she gained valuable experience in insurance defense and coverage. Her path later took her west to California, where she passed the California Bar while clerking for the late Hon. Arthur Alarcón on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. That experience opened the door to habitability law, where she found her calling representing tenants. For seven years, Tara practiced at another firm where she vigorously fought for renters’ rights. She has now joined Shakhnis Law as Of Counsel, working alongside Philip Shakhnis to represent those harmed by substandard housing conditions. Together, they advocate for tenants facing serious issues such as carbon monoxide exposure, cockroach, bedbug, and rodent infestations, childhood lead poisoning, chronic mold, water and sewage intrusions, collapsing ceilings and walls, and lack of heat. Tara’s passion for justice and her unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable communities continue to define her legal career.