Kelly Lucinda Galligan
Partner
Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Kelly Galligan, a distinguished partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Orange County’s preeminent and largest full-service law firm, stands as a paragon of excellence in the realms of mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate governance. Her career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to professional distinction and her profound dedication to positively impacting the community.
In her career, Galligan has demonstrated exceptional expertise in a wide range of corporate transactions. Specializing in the middle market, she adeptly manages deals valued between $5 million and $500 million. Her role in guiding acquirers and target companies through complex processes of stock and asset acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, joint ventures, litigation funding and private equity investments has been marked by strategic acumen and integrity. As an outside general counsel, Galligan is renowned for her comprehensive and insightful counsel on transactional and governance issues, enabling clients to navigate the intricacies of the business world with confidence and clarity.
Her commitment extends beyond the corporate arena into the heart of her community. As the president of Project Youth OC, Galligan champions the organization’s mission of keeping at-risk youth in Orange County in school, healthy, and drug-free through education, counseling, mentoring and family strengthening programs. As president, she is responsible for assisting in the management of a $2 million annual operating budget, 20 full-time staff, four associate directors, a board of directors, associate board of directors and emeritus board of directors. She is currently overseeing the finalization of a 10-year strategic plan. Her leadership has been instrumental in positively influencing the lives of over 1,500 young individuals annually, opening doors to new possibilities and brighter futures.
In 2022, following her tenure as president of the Orange County Women Lawyer’s Association, Galligan led the organization’s foundation. In this role, she focused on empowering women in the legal field, raising awareness of discrimination and bias and supporting nonprofits that echo the foundation’s mission. Galligan’s current involvement with the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) further highlights her commitment to the legal community. She is in her seventh year serving as a director of the OCBA.
EXECUTIVE: MIDSIZE COMPANY FINALISTS
Anne Marie Ellis
Shareholder
Buchalter, PC
Anne Marie Ellis serves as the California chair of Buchalter’s Products Liability Practice Group and heads the Chemical Law and Prop. 65 Industry Group. She specializes in product liability defense, personal injury, and commercial litigation. Ellis is known for efficiently managing complex legal matters, including catastrophic injuries, Proposition 65 claims and class actions in state and federal courts. Her expertise includes e-discovery, trade secret preservation and regulatory compliance with obligations such as those of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Consumer Product Safety Commission. She advises clients on litigation prevention strategies, compliance issues and regulatory matters and is a prolific author and presenter on legal trends, like PFAS claims and Prop. 65 compliance.
Lisa Marie Hartung
Senior Vice President/Investments
Stifel
Lisa Hartung has been in the financial services industry for over 25 years. Her past industry roles have included wealth management advisor, producing sales manager and first vice president at Merrill Lynch from 1998 until 2016, then joining Stifel in 2016 where she remains today. In 2020, she’s listed as one of Working Mother’s Top Wealth Advisor Moms, 2023 AdvisorHub’s Advisors to Watch and 2023 Forbes Best-in-State Women Wealth Advisors. Hartung’s community involvements include being a committee member of the OC Campaign for UCSB, a member of Childhelp OC, a volunteer at Our Lady Queen of Angels Newport Beach, a member of Newport Harbor Elks and a member of NLYM.
Diana Granillo
Chief Operating Officer
Sullivan Curtis Monroe Insurance Services, LLC
Diana Granillo CIC, CRM is a seasoned insurance leader with over 30 years of industry expertise, currently serving as chief operating officer at SullivanCurtisMonroe Insurance Services (SCM). She has been instrumental in SCM’s growth trajectory, reorganizing divisions and spearheading client-centric initiatives. She advocates for diversity and inclusion, leading a committee to promote belonging within SCM. Granillo’s accolades include being recognized on the “Hot 100 List” by Insurance Business America and receiving the “Chairman’s Gold Award” and “Innovation Award” from Zurich North America. Previously, she served as executive vice president at Leavitt United Insurance and United Valley Insurance Services, overseeing retail agency growth through mergers and acquisitions and developing post-acquisition strategic plans.
Chahira Solh
Chair of Executive Committee & Partner
Crowell & Moring LLP
Chahira Solh is the pioneering chair of Crowell & Moring’s executive committee, marking the firm’s first diverse female partner in this role. Her leadership is distinguished by a steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion, evident through initiatives within the firm and across the legal industry. At Crowell & Moring, Solh spearheads efforts to promote racial equity, serving on the Racial Equity Task Force and advocating for diversity through the Sponsorship Program. She contributes to the Women’s Leadership Initiative, prioritizing the advancement of women lawyers. Outside the firm, she is involved in professional organizations like the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and the California Minority Counsel Program, where she mentors and sponsors emerging talent to foster inclusivity.
