About William Vadim
William Vadim Pernik is a criminal defense attorney licensed to practice in California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 2006, holding. His license remains active. Mr. Pernik is the founder of the Law Offices of William V. Pernik, a firm located in Salinas, California, serving clients throughout Monterey County and surrounding areas.
Mr. Pernik earned his Juris Doctor degree 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 received a certificate in Public Interest Law and several academic awards, including CALI Awards for Excellence in Death Penalty Law, Juvenile Law, and Federal Courts.
Mr. Pernik's practice focuses on criminal defense, handling cases such as DUI/DWI, domestic violence, white-collar crime, and various felony offenses. He has experience in all stages of legal proceedings, including hearings, appeals, litigation, negotiations, and trials. His approach often involves creative case resolutions, particularly in matters involving mental health, substance abuse, developmental disorders, or military veterans.
Before establishing his private practice in 2015, Mr. Pernik served as a Deputy Public Defender in Tulare and Monterey counties from 2007 to 2015. During this period, he gained recognition for his courtroom tenacity and impressive trial record, handling complex felony cases, including serious DUIs with multiple victims and injuries, narcotic sales, assaults, and homicides. He has been admitted to practice before the California Supreme 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 recognized in 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 effectively serve a diverse clientele.
