About William Vadim
William Vadim Pernik is a criminal defense attorney certified to practice in California. He was licensed to the California State Bar in 2006, holding. His license remains lively. Mr. Pernik is the founder of the Law Offices of William V. Pernik, a company positioned in Salinas, California, serving clients across Monterey County and nearby areas.
Mr. Pernik earned his Juris Doctor diploma from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2006, graduating cum laude. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Davis, obtained in 2003. During his time at law school, he acquired a certificate in Public Interest Law and numerous educational awards, including CALI Awards for Excellence in Death Penalty Law, Juvenile Law, and Federal Courts.
Mr. Pernik's practice focuses on criminal defense, taking on cases such as DUI/DWI, family violence, white-collar crime, and various felony offenses. He has experience in all levels of litigation, including proceedings, appeals, legal proceedings, bargaining sessions, and trials. His strategy frequently involves innovative case settlements, particularly in things involving intellectual health, substance abuse, developmental issues, or army veterans.
Before establishing his personal practice in 2015, Mr. Pernik served as a Deputy Public Defender in Tulare and Monterey counties from 2007 to 2015. During this era, he gained recognition for his courtroom tenacity and impressive trial document, dealing with complex felony cases, which includes serious DUIs with more than one victims and injuries, narcotic income, assaults, and homicides. He has been licensed to practice earlier than the California highest court, the California Courts of Appeal, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Mr. Pernik is an active member of the Monterey County Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the California Public Defenders Association. He has been acknowledged within the Super Lawyers list for 2025 and was previously named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2019 to 2021. He is fluent in English and Spanish, enabling him to successfully serve a numerous clientele.
