Joe received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Santa Clara University, and a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law, University of California. He is a member of the State Bar of California, and admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California, and pro hac vice in Florida.

Joe is a former Senior Counsel of Fireman's Fund Insurance, and partner and general counsel of Pacific Western Energy and American Intertech. His business experience has provided considerable knowledge of corporate business practices and corresponding consumer and employee rights.

At Chavez & Gertler, Joe represents consumers and employees in class actions, and assists Jonathan Gertler in catastrophic personal injury cases. Examples of class recoveries to which Joe has substantially contributed include auto loan refund actions against Bank of America, and a wage-hour action by employees of Hollywood Video. Joe also was on the prosecution team and responsible for establishing crew negligence in an action against BNSF Railroad, in which Mr. Gertler obtained a judgment of almost $9 million for an injured PG&E employee.

Joe is a former Big Brother, and long-time volunteer in Little League Baseball.