Marissa Marxen

ATTORNEYS

Marissa Marxen Giacomelli

About Marissa Marxen

SCHOOLS

Villanova University 

University of San Diego School of Law 

MEMBERSHIPS

ADMITTED

BIOGRAPHY

Marissa Marxen Giacomelli is the founder of Helix Litigation.  

Ms. Giacomelli attended Villanova University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Political Science and Spanish Literature in 2011.  After graduating, she went on to attend University of San Diego School of Law, where she was an Executive Board and national team member of the Appellate Moot Court Board.  As a national team member, Ms. Giacomelli participated in the Pepperdine University National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition in which she placed within the top 20 oral advocates and top 5 respondent briefs.  While in law school, Ms. Giacomelli also served as the Philanthropy Chair of the Business Law Society, mentored new law students through the mentor/mentee program, actively participated in the intramural softball league, and had her article, The Influence of Justice Traynor's Approach to Statutory Interpretation on Modern American Law, selected for publication in the California Supreme Court Historical Society's annual journal, California Legal History.  Ms. Giacomelli graduated with a concentration in Civil Litigation.

Prior to and during law school, Ms. Giacomelli worked for two local law firms practicing construction dispute and defect as well as business litigation.  She also externed for the Hon. Gonzalo P. Curiel in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

After passing the California Bar Exam, Ms. Giacomelli worked as an associate at a plaintiffs' class action firm in San Diego, where she practiced employment, class action, and real estate litigation.

Subsequently, Ms. Giacomelli worked at a San Diego insurance defense firm for approximately two (2) years, where she handled personal injury, construction defect, labor and employment, and business litigation cases.  

Ms. Marxen founded Marxen Law in 2017.  Her practice emphasizes providing clients with an aggressive and ethical prosecution and/or defense of a case.  

After receiving an offer to clerk for two federal district court judges in the Southern District of California, Ms. Giacomelli closed her law practice to take advantage of the opportuntity to work as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Hon. Roger T. Benitez and Hon. Linda Lopez of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  Her experience clerking provides her with an intimate understanding of the federal judicial system.

Ms. Giacomelli also volunteers with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program, where she has helped victims of domestic violence obtain restraining orders.  She also participates in the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and is a member of the Enright Inn of Court.  In her free time, Ms. Marxen enjoys playing tennis, sailing, and taking her puppy, Biscotti, to dog beach.  She is also the Membership Advisor to University of San Diego's Kappa Kappa Gamma Chapter.

Why I Became an Attorney

I was born and raised in San Diego.  I grew up on Mount Helix in La Mesa and was raised by my parents, an orthopaedic surgeon and a very involved stay-at-home mom.  Early on, my career path became clear: I wanted to help people by becoming a doctor, like my dad, or become the first attorney in my family.  I never quite got over my fear of needles, so the options narrowed to practicing law.  During college, I "tested the waters" by working for two law firms to make sure I liked the profession, and thankfully, I did.  Despite having to overcome the sudden and unexpected death of my father during my first year of law school, eventually, I became the first person on either side of my family to obtain a law degree.

I started my own law practice because I wanted more control over the kinds of cases I handle, which better allows me to help others.  Having my own practice allows me to accept cases involving clients who may not be able to afford the services of an attorney at a bigger firm.  It also allows me to be involved with every single case, at every step of the way.  Unlike larger firms, where you may work with numerous attorneys throughout the duration of your case, when you retain Helix Litigation, you retain me, and I promise you that I will remain involved in and committed to your case until we reach a resolution.  Your case matters to me, and I want to help you.  

Marissa Giacomelli is listed in AVVO as Experienced lawyers.