Page 1

Dear Readers
In April’s Business by LA Times Studios Magazine, we’re taking a look into the legal profession in Southern California, along with additional insightful touches across the spectrum of business.

BUSINESS LA Times STUDIOS
Director, Client Services and Systems Advertising.

EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON THE BUSINESS OF ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS
What do you consider to be the most challenging obstacles facing the industry in 2025?

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Opens New Cardiac Imaging Suite
CHLA is the first pediatric hospital in the United States to feature low-field MRI technology

Quicker Fixer-Uppers
Big box home improvement stores take “DIY” to the next level with innovative new AI “assistants”

Want Fries with Your Machine Learning?
Miso launches next-generation Flippy Fry Station utilizing AI-powered robotic cooking

Rivian Makes Its Commercial Van Available to Fleets of All Sizes
For U.S. customers, those big EV vans are no longer just for Amazon

CRE Entrepreneurs Focus on Innovation with New Venture
Industry leaders behind $40 billion in development sales launch Redeavor, combining development sales, advisory and capital investment under one roof

Shopoff Realty Investments Acquires Buena Park Site with Plans for Redevelopment
Formerly home to Amway’s SoCal operations, the infill project will bring residential units to Orange County

Legal Experts Highlight Key IP Trends To Watch
From AI to embedded content, litigation and potential new laws could shape the future of IP

Future-Proofing the Next Generation of Lawyers
Southern California’s law schools embrace technology to prepare students for employment in a rapidly changing legal landscape

Coast-to-Coast
For GRSM, growth has come through a unique 50-state strategy, providing advantages and challenges

SKIMS Opens Los Angeles Flagship
The brand continues its nationwide retail expansion; announces key collaboration with Nike

TRIPLE THREAT
BMO’s dynamic Los Angeles leadership trio ready for new challenges and opportunities

California Tourism Industry Unites in L.A. to Drive Post-Wildfire Economic Recovery
Visit California spotlights the region and the transformative power of travel at annual Outlook Forum

Movers & Shakers: Highlights of Recent Executive Hires and Climbs
David Kramer to succeed Jeremy Zimmer as CEO of UTA in June 2025

M&A Roundup
This month’s top deals from around Southern California

A Busy Year for L.A. County Law Firms
Fires, mergers and relocations part of a 2025 that is shaping up to be a banner year for legal representation

TOP 125 LAW FIRMS
RANKED BY NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

TOP 125 LAW FIRMS
1800 Century Park East, Eighth Floor, Los Angeles 355 S. Grand Ave., Suite 4200, Los Angeles.

TOP 25 LAW FIRMS - CORPORATE
RANKED BY NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

TOP 25 LAW FIRMS - LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
RANKED BY NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

TOP 25 LAW FIRMS - LITIGATION
RANKED BY NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

TOP 25 LAW FIRMS - REAL ESTATE
RANKED BY NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

TOP 25 LAW FIRMS - ORANGE COUNTY
RANKED BY NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

LAW SCHOOL INSIDER
TOP LAW PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA

Albany Law School
Albany Law School is accredited by the American Bar Association (which accredits only J.D. programs) and Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

LMU Loyola Law School
LMU Loyola Law School opened its doors more than a century ago as an evening program. The Hybrid Juris Doctor (JD) Evening Program builds on this legacy of excellence, combining the best of traditional and innovative legal education.

UWLA School of Law
ABOUT UWLA SCHOOL OF LAW

Marissa ALGUIRE
Marissa Alguire, a partner at Akerman LLP, serves as deputy chair of the firm’s nationwide Labor and Employment Practice Group and leads its California team. She specializes in defending management in complex labor disputes, including wage and hour class actions, PAGA claims and discrimination cases.

Wade ACKERMAN
Wade Ackerman, a partner at Covington & Burling LLP, leverages two decades of experience in private practice, the FDA and Capitol Hill to guide clients through complex regulatory challenges. He co-leads Covington’s Digital Health Initiative, advising on legal, regulatory and policy issues in digital health.

Tyrine Shawron LAILA AMAN
Tyrine Shawron Laila Aman, a fourth-year associate at Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs, has quickly established herself as a skilled litigator in labor and employment law. She made history as a Provisionally Licensed Lawyer in 2020, excelling beyond traditional counterparts.

LEGAL VISIONARIES
What does it mean to be a legal visionary? The following lawyers listed on these pages are some of the best and brightest in a large and highly competitive world of Southern California professionals, but it is their dogged dedication to both clients and craft that make them worthy of this recognition.

Clifton W. ALBRIGHT
Clifton Albright, president and founding partner of Albright, Yee & Schmit, specializes in labor and employment law in Los Angeles. A Loyola Law School graduate, he was the first attorney to win a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services regarding its Public Health Service Training Program.

Sayan ABOUDI Esq.
Attorney Sayan Aboudi, founder and managing partner of LionsGate Law Group, APC, is a leading advocate in personal injury law across California. His firm specializes in cases involving car, motorcycle, truck and pedestrian accidents, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful deaths and catastrophic injuries.

Daniel AHN
Daniel Ahn, a key partner at Reed Smith, is a former senior federal prosecutor with two decades of legal experience. As a former acting chief and deputy chief at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in California, he led high-profile corruption cases, securing convictions against the former mayor of Anaheim, a Democratic Party official and business leaders.

Michael M. AMIR
Michael M. Amir, co-founder of Doll Amir & Eley LLP, is a seasoned litigator with a 20-year track record of winning high-stakes cases. He represents health organizations, banks, tech companies, universities and high-net-worth individuals in complex litigation at all levels, including trials, arbitrations and appeals.

Robert BEGLAND
Robert Begland, a partner at Cox, Castle & Nicholson, is a leading trial lawyer specializing in real property, contract, corporate governance and insurance recovery disputes. He has extensive experience in state and federal courts, arbitrations and international litigation.

Sharon APPELBAUM
Sharon Appelbaum, founding and managing attorney of Appelbaum Law, P.C., is a nationally recognized criminal defense and white-collar litigator. A former Manhattan prosecutor, she led groundbreaking cybercrime and fraud investigations, including the indictment of 94 defendants.

Ryan BAKER
Ryan Baker, co-founding partner of Waymaker LLP, is an elite trial lawyer known for winning high-stakes intellectual property and technology cases. Recognized as a Top 100 Lawyer by the Daily Journal and ranked by Chambers USA, he has argued precedentsetting cases in state and federal courts, including the California Supreme Court.

Susanne B. COHEN
As partner at Hahn & Hahn LLP, Susanne Cohen advises clients on estate and special needs planning, trust and estate administration, conservatorships and elder financial abuse litigation. With over 30 years of probate court experience, she provides pragmatic and compassionate guidance in complex legal matters.

Kevin BROGAN
Kevin Brogan, partner at Hill, Farrer & Burrill LLP, is a trial lawyer specializing in eminent domain, inverse condemnation and real property disputes. His clients include multinational corporations, property owners and law firms.

Lina BRAVERMAN
Lina Braverman, a private credit attorney at Sheppard Mullin, represents lenders in secured and unsecured debt transactions, focusing on middle-market deals. A 2016 Loyola Law School graduate and Order of the Coif honoree, she externed for the U.S. District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Debbie BIRNDORF-ZEILER
Debbie Birndorf-Zeiler, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, brings over 30 years of employment law experience, representing employers in harassment, discrimination, wage, Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and trade secret cases. She also advises on compliance, contracts and workplace policies.

Kanika CORLEY
Kanika Corley, a litigation partner at Akerman LLP, specializes in complex commercial and intellectual property litigation, focusing on the sports, entertainment and media industries. She represents media companies, advertising firms, designers and professional sports entities, advising on asset protection, litigation risk and IP issues.

Morgan CHU
Morgan Chu, a partner at Irell & Manella, has secured over $9 billion in verdicts, judgments and settlements, earning recognition as one of the nation’s top trial lawyers. He led the team that won a record $2.3-billion patent judgment for VLSI Technology against Intel and a separate $948-million verdict in a related case.

Esther E. CHO
Esther Cho, partner-in-charge of Stradley Ronon’s Southern California office, co-chairs the firm’s securities litigation and enforcement practice.

Stephanie I. BLUM
Stephanie Blum, a Certified Family Law Specialist with over 25 years of experience, is a leading California divorce attorney and chair of the Family Law Department at Reuben Raucher & Blum. She blends strategic mediation with courtroom advocacy to protect families during crises.

Emil DAVTYAN
Emil Davtyan, founder and managing attorney of Davtyan Law Firm, earned his Bachelor of Science from Woodbury University and his Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School, graduating cum laude in the top 10%. He externed at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and clerked at a global business immigration firm.

Emahn COUNTS
Emahn Counts, founder and managing attorney of Counts Law Firm PC, has 20 years of experience in business, family and real estate litigation. He has represented corporate clients like American Express, Porsche and Honda Finance, as well as thousands of individuals and small businesses in Los Angeles.

Joshua R. DRISKELL
Joshua R. Driskell, managing partner at Lagerlof, LLP and chair of the Private Client Services Department, specializes in estate planning, wealth transfer, business succession, post-death administration and fiduciary litigation. His clients include high-networth individuals, business owners, real estate investors and entertainment figures.

Kelly CUNNINGHAM
Kelly Cunningham is a partner at Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP. A seasoned intellectual property attorney with over 25 years of experience, he specializes in patent, trademark and copyright litigation across numerous courts.

Hunter R. ELEY
Hunter R. Eley, managing partner at Doll Amir & Eley LLP, is a leading litigator specializing in class action defense and financial services litigation. He has successfully argued cases in the Ninth Circuit, California Court of Appeal and trial courts nationwide.

Miles FELDMAN
Miles Feldman, founding partner of Raines Feldman Littrell LLP, is a seasoned trial lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience in high-stakes litigation. He represents top clients in technology, media and finance, including TikTok, United Talent Agency and rapper Killer Mike.

Sierra ELIZABETH
Sierra Elizabeth, a nationally recognized trial lawyer and partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, specializes in high-stakes litigation, including product liability, mass torts and intellectual property disputes. Since 2020, she has won five bet-the-company jury trials, securing billions in exposure for clients such as 3M, Abbott, BP and General Motors.

Daniel DUBELMAN
Daniel Dubelman, partner at Massumi + Consoli, is a highly regarded transactional attorney specializing in private equity and complex corporate transactions. He advises top firms like KKR, Oaktree Capital and Brentwood Associates on acquisitions, growth equity, joint ventures and governance.

Phillip J. ESKENAZI
Phillip Eskenazi, a trial lawyer and partner at BakerHostetler, specializes in complex business, securities litigation and class action defense. With over 32 years of experience, he has served as lead counsel in more than 250 class actions and secured notable trial victories, including a rare jury win against the SEC.

Joseph R. DUNN
As partner at Covington & Burling LLP, Joseph Dunn is a seasoned bankruptcy attorney specializing in creditor rights, asset recovery and insolvency litigation. He represents institutional creditors, fiduciaries and boards in bankruptcy cases, restructuring and asset protection matters.

Jason FAIR
Jason Fair, managing partner of Robins Kaplan LLP’s Los Angeles and Silicon Valley offices, is a distinguished business trial attorney known for his strategic approach to complex corporate disputes.

Steven J. ELIE
Steven J. Elie, co-managing partner at Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP, specializes in complex business, insurance and environmental litigation. With over 30 years of experience, he represents insurers, businesses and public entities in high-stakes disputes involving environmental regulations, insurance coverage and white-collar matters.

Robert P. FRIEDMAN
Robert Friedman, shareholder at Carlton Fields, is a trusted adviser to developers, property owners and businesses, handling high-value real estate transactions. He has structured major deals, including a $500-million sale of shopping center interests and a $46 million, 75-year ground lease for a Los Angeles retail project.

Amber S. FINCH
Amber Finch, global chair of the insurance recovery group and partner at Reed Smith, leads high-stakes insurance litigation and pro bono efforts. She advises clients on complex insurance issues, including aiding Los Angeles wildfire victims in navigating claims.

Michael G. FREEDMAN
Michael G. Freedman, founder and principal of The Freedman Firm, is a top criminal defense and trial attorney handling high-profile federal cases nationwide. A former federal prosecutor, he has quickly grown his firm to five lawyers since launching in 2021.

Terrence Mark FRANKLIN
Terrence Franklin, a founding partner at Sacks, Glazier, Franklin, Lodise, McMurtrey & Scheerer, LLP, has over 30 years of experience in high-profile trusts and estates litigation. He has successfully represented beneficiaries, trustees and institutions in complex disputes, including the landmark Moeller v.

J. Mira HASHMALL
As partner at Miller Barondess, LLP, J. Mira Hashmall is a seasoned trial lawyer with over 20 years of experience, specializing in high-stakes litigation and employment matters. Her notable victories include reversing an $8.

Esra HUDSON
Esra Hudson, partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP’s employment and labor practice, is a top adviser to major entertainment, insurance, healthcare and financial firms, specializing in wage and hour class actions, PAGA matters and trade secret disputes.

David HANNA
David Hanna, member at Mintz, is a leading intellectual property attorney with over 15 years of experience, specializing in pharmaceutical, biologics and medical device patent litigation. He has successfully represented clients in billion-dollar patent disputes, Federal Circuit appeals and PTAB proceedings.

Brittani JACKSON
Brittani Jackson, a partner at Hueston Hennigan, handles highprofile litigation, including commercial disputes, privacy issues, trade secret misappropriation and corporate governance. She represents Amazon’s Twitch in wrongful death claims over a live-streamed shooting and defends Activision Blizzard in mass arbitration.

Mahfam GRANDT
Mahfam Grandt, senior counsel at Sanders Roberts LLP, represents Fortune 100 corporations in business litigation, employment disputes and product liability cases in state and federal courts. Known for handling complex, multi-jurisdictional matters, she has secured key dismissals, led high-stakes settlement negotiations and managed large legal teams.

Anton (Tony) HANDAL
Anton Handal, a seasoned litigator and partner at Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP, has tried over 100 cases and served as lead counsel in more than 170 patent litigation matters. His expertise spans intellectual property law, international business disputes and complex transactions.

Richard GALOFARO
Richard Galofaro, co-managing partner at Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP’s Los Angeles office, specializes in estate and gift tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and families, trust administration and probate matters. His expertise includes structuring sophisticated tax strategies, business succession planning and charitable giving.

Demetria L. GRAVES
Demetria Graves, a Certified Family Law Specialist, is the founding and managing partner of The Graves Law Firm, with offices in Pasadena and Beverly Hills. A leading attorney in family law, she has earned numerous accolades, including Super Lawyer and Top Family Lawyers by the Daily Journal.

Stephen KAUFMAN
Stephen Kaufman, founder and principal of Kaufman Legal Group, is a leading authority on campaign finance and election law. He represents elected officials, candidates, PACs, corporations, labor unions, nonprofits and government agencies on campaign finance, ethics and election matters.

Richard KAPLAN
Richard Kaplan co-founded Kaplan Marino, PC in 1988, transforming white-collar defense law. His independent background enables creative, persuasive legal strategies, challenging conventional arguments.

Jason S. KIM
Jason S. Kim is a partner at Blank Rome LLP. He represents domestic and foreign companies, financial institutions, funds and high-networth individuals in corporate and real estate transactions, with a focus on cross-border deals. Kim frequently advises on private equity transactions and major investments.

Ji WON KIM
Recently promoted to partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, Ji Won Kim is a key member of the firm’s Global Cybersecurity and Privacy team. She advises global clients on cybersecurity risk management, compliance, governance and incident response, handling complex investigations involving critical infrastructure.

Adriana LEVANDOWSKI
As an associate at Nixon Peabody LLP, Adriana Levandowski is a skilled litigator specializing in labor and employment, business law and entertainment industry disputes. She provides strategic counsel, risk management and innovative legal solutions. She also leads diversity initiatives as associate chair of the firm’s Women’s Resource Group.

JR LANIS
JR Lanis, partner at BakerHostetler, is an experienced attorney specializing in securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions. He advises public companies, investment banks and registered investment firms on stock and debt offerings, IPOs, M&A and compliance for OTC, Nasdaq and NYSE-listed issuers.

Paul LAURIN
Paul Laurin, partner at Barnes & Thornburg, is a leading attorney in commercial litigation, creditor’s rights and bankruptcy law. A key member of Barnes & Thornburg’s California restructuring and bankruptcy group, he advises on high-stakes litigation, restructurings and loan enforcement disputes.

Kate LAQUAY
As managing partner at Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP, Kate LaQuay is a recognized leader in California employment law, providing critical insights through writing and speaking engagements. She covers evolving legal issues, including PAGA reforms, remote work compensation and intersectional discrimination.

Lily LI
Lily Li is the founder and president of Metaverse Law. She founded Metaverse Law in 2018 to address the growing need for legal services in artificial intelligence (AI), data privacy and protection. A Duke Law graduate, she advises on AI governance, CCPA, GDPR, NIST frameworks, healthcare privacy and breach response.

Jonathan LITTRELL
Jonathan Littrell, managing partner and CEO of Raines Feldman Littrell LLP, advises public and private entities, fund sponsors and asset management firms on corporate governance, finance, mergers and acquisitions, fund formation and private placements.

Andrew T. KIRSH
Andrew T. Kirsh is the co-chairman of Sklar Kirsh LLP, chair of its Real Estate Practice Group and a management committee member. He represents investors, funds, developers and lenders in acquisitions, equity investments, syndications, fund formation, financing and foreclosures.

Arsen KOURINIAN
As partner at Mayer Brown, Arsen Kourinian is a leading data privacy and artificial intelligence (AI) counselor in Los Angeles, holding AI governance (AIGP) and certified information privacy (CIPP) credentials across multiple regions. He advises major tech and financial firms on AI compliance, including under the EU AI Act and U.

Scott MALZAHN
Scott Malzahn, managing partner of Waymaker LLP, is a leading California litigator specializing in complex commercial, intellectual property, fintech and securities class action disputes. In 2024, he secured an $18.3-million award in a trade secret theft case and crafted the winning argument in FilmOn, Inc.

Meg LODISE
Meg Lodise, partner at Sacks, Glazier, Franklin, Lodise, McMurtrey & Scheerer, LLP, has built a distinguished 37-year career handling complex, high-value trust and estate disputes in California. She secured a precedent-setting decision in O’Connor v. O’Connor (26 Cal.

Michael MALLOW
Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s managing partner, Michael Mallow, achieved significant legal victories in 2024. He defeated the Federal Trade Commission’s injunction attempt, which sought to ban his client from marketing products online and via telemarketing.

Patrick MERRITT MALONEY
Patrick M. Maloney, a certified legal malpractice specialist and founding partner at The Maloney Firm APC, is a leading litigator focused on business disputes and fair billing practices. His expertise has saved clients millions in legal fees, with notable wins in antitrust, patent, shareholder and fiduciary duty disputes.

Sophia MANCALL-BITEL
Sophia Mancall-Bitel, a partner at Mayer Brown, specializes in complex commercial litigation, focusing on wiretapping and internet data privacy cases for major tech and social media companies. She represents clients in class actions involving the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), the federal Wiretap Act and other privacy statutes.

Marianne S. MARTIN
Marianne S. Martin, a corporate finance partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP, specializes in borrower-side representations for founder-owned and sponsor-backed private companies, with expertise in syndicated and complex bilateral credit transactions.

Nina MARINO
Nina Marino is the co-founder and partner of Kaplan Marino, PC. She is a globally recognized white-collar and complex criminal defense attorney. Named a Band 3 Leading Lawyer by Chambers USA, Marino is lauded for her skillful representation of senior executives.

Michelle E. MCCARTHY
As partner at Nossaman, Michelle E. McCarthy, with over 20 years of legal experience in employee benefits and taxation, advises a diverse clientele—including tax-exempt organizations, governmental plans and Fortune 100 companies—on the design, compliance and administration of retirement, health and welfare benefit plans.

Michael V. MANCINI
As founding partner of Mancini Shenk LLP, Michael V. Mancini specializes in shareholder, cannabis, business and entertainment disputes. A leader in cannabis litigation, he has recovered tens of millions for clients and successfully defended against multimillion-dollar claims.

Chris MANDERSON
Chris Manderson, partner at Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, specializes in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, corporate finance, distressed transactions and preserving Net Operating Loss (NOL) tax assets. He advises public and private boards on corporate governance and previously served as EVP & general counsel at Real Industry, Inc.

Hemal MASTER
Hemal Master, managing shareholder at Frandzel Robins Bloom & Csato, L.C., specializes in lender representation, advising commercial banks, private equity funds and financial institutions on real estate and commercial loan transactions, workouts, liability defense and enforcement of lender remedies.

Jordan MATTHEWS
Holtz Matthews LLP’s founding partner, Jordan Matthews, served as lead counsel in landmark litigation against Steve Wynn, representing the primary witness in The Wall Street Journal’s exposé on Wynn’s alleged sexual misconduct. The case contributed to Wynn’s resignation and a $10-million fine in 2023, removing him from the gaming industry.

Skip MILLER
Skip Miller, co-founder and partner of Miller Barondess, LLP, is a prominent trial lawyer known for handling high-stakes litigation. He has served as lead counsel in over 100 state and federal cases, representing corporations, Fortune 500 companies, entertainers and government entities.

Jonathan MELMED
Jonathan Melmed, founder of Melmed Law Group, is a leading employment attorney with a decade of experience advocating for employees’ rights. He has secured recoveries for thousands of California workers and served as lead counsel in hundreds of class and representative actions, achieving numerous multi-million dollar settlements.

Felicia R. MEYERS
Felicia R. Meyers is a founding partner at Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, LLP, a boutique family law firm in Century City and Irvine, California. Specializing in complex litigation and trials, she handles high-conflict divorces, custody disputes and high-asset cases.

Lisa HELFEND MEYER
Lisa Helfend Meyer, co-founder and senior partner at Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, LLP, has been a certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California since 1989.

Ann Marie MORTIMER
Ann Marie Mortimer, founder and managing partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Los Angeles office and executive committee member, leads the firm’s commercial litigation practice.

Elisabeth MORIARTY
Elisabeth “Liz” Moriarty, chair of Greenberg Glusker’s litigation department, is a seasoned trial attorney with over 30 years of experience handling complex, high-stakes disputes in entertainment, intellectual property and high-net-worth divorce litigation.

Robert “BOB” F. MILLMAN
Robert F. Millman, a senior shareholder at Littler, is a leading figure in labor and employment law with 50 years of experience. He joined Littler in 1974 as its 18th attorney and later founded its two Los Angeles offices, playing a key role in the firm’s growth.

Kirk L. MOON
As partner at Hahn & Hahn LLP, Kirk L. Moon advises individuals and entities on business, residential and commercial real estate transactions, with a focus on succession planning and mergers and acquisitions.

Esteban MORALES
Esteban Morales, a partner at Mintz, is a leading litigator specializing in class action defense and consumer/privacy-related litigation. Known for securing early dismissals and employing aggressive defense strategies, he has successfully defended clients under statutes like the TCPA, California Invasion of Privacy Act and Unfair Competition Law.

Mark NEUBAUER
Mark Neubauer, founding managing shareholder of Carlton Fields’ Los Angeles office, has over 45 years of litigation experience.

Agustin OROZCO
Agustin Orozco is a partner at Crowell & Moring LLP. He excels in complex white-collar cases, pretrial litigation and federal trials, including briefing and arguing cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A former assistant U.S.

Michael MORTENSON
Michael Mortenson, managing partner at Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP, became the first in his family to graduate college, earning a degree from the University of Virginia in 1999. He worked for the U.S. House Speaker and in private equity before attending Case Western Reserve University School of Law, serving as the Student Bar Association president.

Amy PROCTOR
Amy Proctor, a partner at Irell & Manella LLP, is a leading intellectual property attorney recognized for her role in landmark patent cases for VLSI Technology. She helped secure a $2.3-billion judgment – the largest U.S. patent judgment at the time – and a $948-million jury verdict against Intel.

Paul PORTER
Paul Porter is a business and real estate litigation attorney and partner at Hill, Farrer & Burrill LLP. He represents Fortune 500 companies, individuals, property owners, public agencies and businesses in real estate, contract, business disputes, eminent domain and inverse condemnation.

Andy OUVRIER
Andy Ouvrier, partner at Cox, Castle & Nicholson, is a leading commercial real estate attorney specializing in the leasing, acquisition, disposition and development of life science, retail, office, medical office, media and mixed-use properties.

Pamela PALMER
Pamela Palmer is a Los Angeles-based attorney and member at Clark Hill, specializing in insurance coverage and maritime law, with nearly 25 years of experience. She advises insurers on environmental contamination, marine, clergy abuse, natural disasters and suspicious claims.

Timothy REUBEN
Timothy Reuben, president and director of Reuben Raucher & Blum, is a distinguished litigator with over three decades of experience in business and tort cases, including real estate, entertainment, intellectual property, employment and complex civil matters.

Lisa REIMBOLD
Lisa Reimbold, member-in-charge of the Los Angeles office of Clark Hill, is a leader in class action employment litigation. She has successfully defended clients in multi-million-dollar wage-and-hour cases, often defeating claims or securing favorable settlements.

Neama RAHMANI
Neama Rahmani is president and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers. A UCLA graduate at 19 and Harvard Law graduate at 22, he began his career representing major corporations like Disney and Marriott.

John B. QUINN
John B. Quinn founded Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in 1986, growing it from four lawyers in Los Angeles to the world’s largest litigation firm with 1,200 attorneys across 36 offices in 13 countries.

Ashwin RAM
Ashwin Ram is a leading white-collar defense attorney and partner at Steptoe LLP, representing companies, executives and entrepreneurs in high-profile investigations and cases across California, New York and Illinois. A former fraud prosecutor at the U.

Angela REDDOCK-WRIGHT
Angela Reddock-Wright is a leading employment and Title IX attorney mediator with nearly 30 years of experience, the founder of Reddock Law Group and a distinguished panelist with Signature Resolution.

David RAWI
David Rawi, senior counsel at Lagerlof, LLP, is a litigation and transaction lawyer with 15 years of experience in the healthcare and business sectors. He represents small to medium healthcare businesses, startups, physician practices and providers, advising on business formation, equity structuring, risk assessment and transactions.

Will REED
Will Reed, a top litigator and shareholder at Shegerian & Associates, specializes in employment law and has secured significant victories in high-profile cases. In the past two years, he achieved notable outcomes, including a $9.2-million judgment in Lawler v.

Naeun RIM
Naeun Rim, leader of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP’s trial, white collar and investigations practice, is a trial attorney known for defending clients in multimillion-dollar civil lawsuits. She secured a $100-million fraud case win and prevailed in a commercial real estate trial.

Michael ROTH
Michael Roth is a leading civil litigator and partner at King & Spalding, specializing in consumer class actions, complex business disputes and entertainment litigation. He has represented major brands like The Gap, VF Corp., Nike and Stiiizy Inc.

Larry C. RUSS
Larry C. Russ, co-founder and managing partner of Russ August & Kabat (RAK), has driven the firm’s growth by establishing leading practices in patent litigation, entertainment and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). He played a pivotal role in building one of the nation’s largest plaintiff’s patent litigation teams and expanding the firm’s M&A practice.

Jeffrey ROSENFELD
As partner-in-charge of Alston & Bird’s Los Angeles and Century City offices, Jeffrey Rosenfeld has been pivotal in shaping the firm’s growth and culture in California. With three decades of experience in complex commercial litigation, he focuses on trial and appellate matters, particularly class actions.

Michael BERJ SARYAN
Michael B. Saryan, founder of Concord Legal Group, PC, began his legal career at Gibson Dunn and Sheppard Mullin, handling high-profile matters in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and litigation.

Aisha SHELTON ADAM
Aisha Shelton Adam, founder and managing partner of Adam Investigations Counsel, is a leader in neutral workplace and Title IX investigations. With 15 years of litigation experience, she has conducted over 200 independent investigations addressing misconduct, harassment, discrimination and more for public, private and educational institutions.

John W. SHENK
John W. Shenk, founding partner of Mancini Shenk LLP, specializes in shareholder, derivative, cannabis and business disputes, often referring to his practice as “business divorce.” He guides clients – partners, shareholders, LLC members and joint venturers – through strategic negotiations, arbitration and litigation.

Christian SCALI
As founder & managing partner of Scali Rasmussen, PC, Christian Scali is a seasoned attorney specializing in advice, counsel and high-stakes litigation, primarily for the retail automotive industry.

John SCHREIBER
John Schreiber, a partner at Winston & Strawn and chair of the firm’s Los Angeles litigation practice, is a nationally recognized leader known for his precedent-setting legal victories. He has twice led teams to unanimous wins before the U.S.

Jeffrey SKLAR
Jeffrey Sklar is co-chairman of Sklar Kirsh LLP, chair of its corporate department and a member of the management committee. He advises clients across industries, including advertising, entertainment, technology and hospitality, specializing in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and executive compensation.

Carney R. SHEGERIAN
Carney R. Shegerian is a top plaintiff-side employment litigator and founding partner of Shegerian & Associates, renowned for securing over 50 seven-, eight- and nine-figure verdicts throughout his career. In the past two years, he led seven multimillion-dollar jury verdicts, including a $3.

Jesse SAIVAR
As chair of Greenberg Glusker’s intellectual property & technology group, Jesse Saivar is a leading advisor in digital media and IP law. He counsels top media companies on IP licensing, content distribution, talent deals and brand partnerships.

Ana TAGVORYAN
Ana Tagvoryan, co-chair of Blank Rome’s corporate litigation and privacy class action defense groups, has over 18 years of experience defending high-stakes consumer class actions involving privacy, data handling, advertising and e-commerce.

Gregory Matthew SMITH
Gregory Matthew Smith, senior attorney at The Maloney Firm APC, is a business litigator specializing in legal malpractice, fee disputes and breach of fiduciary duty actions.

Justin SOLOMON
Justin Solomon, a key partner at Kirkland & Ellis’ Los Angeles office, has been instrumental in expanding the firm’s investment funds group. With nearly 20 years of experience, he has advised leading private equity firms on fund formations, totaling over $21 billion in the past two years.

Rose B. SORENSEN
Rose B. Sorensen is a partner at Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. who specializes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestitures, corporate finance, private placements and corporate governance across industries including technology, manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare and construction.

Daron TOOCH
Daron Tooch, partner at King & Spalding, specializes in managed care litigation, recovering hundreds of millions for healthcare providers through over 100 trials in federal, state and administrative courts.

Douglas Andrew THOMPSON
Douglas Andrew Thompson is a partner at Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. and a seasoned litigator with extensive experience defending financial institutions and businesses in over 250 class actions and related regulatory investigations. He specializes in claims involving federal banking laws, consumer lending, deposit operations and privacy issues.

Christopher TAYBACK
Christopher Tayback, co-managing partner of Quinn Emanuel’s Los Angeles office, is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with over 40 years of experience. He has tried or arbitrated over 100 civil and criminal cases across the U.S., covering antitrust, bankruptcy, class actions, IP and more.

Alfred E. SMITH
Alfred E. Smith, chair of Nossaman’s water group, is a leading expert in water, environmental, transportation and public agency law. He has secured over $750 million in contamination settlements and successfully litigated multiple water rights adjudications, including a unanimous U.

Jennie WANG VONCANNON
Jennie Wang VonCannon, a partner at Crowell since October 2022, specializes in white-collar defense, regulatory enforcement, privacy, cybersecurity and AI governance.

Rajan TREHAN
As partner at Hueston Hennigan, Rajan Trehan is a trial-focused litigator known for winning complex, high-stakes cases. He represents major clients, including Lionsgate, Palantir Technologies, PacifiCorp, Match Group and the State of Hawaii.

George J. WALL
George J. Wall, senior partner and chair of Glaser Weil’s mergers and acquisitions practice, is a leading transactional attorney with over 500 successful deals across diverse industries.

Thomas VIDAL
Thomas H. Vidal is a first-chair trial lawyer and partner at Pryor Cashman LLP, specializing in litigation, media and entertainment, intellectual property, and technology law. With over 20 years of experience, he has won high-stakes cases nationwide, including a $26-million verdict in a federal elder abuse and fraud case.

Walter M. YOKA
Walter M. Yoka, chairman & owner of YOKA | SMITH, LLP, is a nationally recognized trial attorney specializing in product liability, commercial disputes and class actions. He has successfully tried numerous high-profile cases and argued before California’s Supreme and Appellate courts.

Michael YOUNG
Michael Young, partner at Massumi + Consoli, is an accomplished transactional attorney with extensive experience advising private equity firms, portfolio companies and public and private entities on complex transactions, including acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, mergers, joint ventures and dispositions.

Craig WELIN
Craig Welin, president of Frandzel Robins Bloom & Csato, L.C., has nearly 30 years of experience resolving business challenges in creditors’ rights, bankruptcy litigation, real estate financing and secured transaction workouts. He also represents state and federal equity receivers nationwide.

Gary WINUK
As managing attorney at Kaufman Legal Group, Gary Winuk specializes in campaign, election and governmental ethics, advising government agencies, officials, candidates and nonprofits. A seasoned litigator, he was named to The Best Lawyers in America in 2024.

Perrie M. WEINER
Perrie M. Weiner, partner-in-charge of Baker McKenzie’s Los Angeles office and chair of its North America securities litigation group, is a leading authority in high-stakes securities class action, shareholder derivative litigation, SEC enforcement and complex business litigation.

Eric WEDEL
Eric Wedel, one of the nation’s top private equity finance lawyers, is realizing his vision of building a premier Los Angeles presence as partner and head of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP’s L.A. office and global co-chair of the finance and capital markets group.

Alex WEINGARTEN
Alex Weingarten, managing partner of Willkie Farr & Gallagher’s Los Angeles office and chair of its entertainment litigation practice, is a leading commercial trial lawyer known for his expertise in entertainment, probate and business litigation.

Sharon Z. WEISS
Sharon Z. Weiss, a partner in BCLP’s corporate & finance transactions department, is a leading insolvency lawyer with extensive experience in bankruptcy, litigation and out-of-court workouts. She represents debtors, creditors, trustees and committees across sectors like real estate, aviation and technology.