April Szabo

Shawn K. Collins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Shawn K., who practices law in Newport Beach, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shawn K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew S. Buttacavoli was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Matthew graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Irvine (B.A., 1995) and cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 1999), where he served as Executive Editor of the San Diego Law Review and received the General George W. Hickman, Jr. Award for excellence in Constitutional Law. Matthew was admitted to the California Bar in 1999, and was admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar in 2003. ...

Celeste Stahl Brady is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Celeste Stahl, who practices law in Newport Beach, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Celeste Stahl is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael G. Balmages, Esq. is an accomplished mediator and discovery referee with extensive experience as a trial lawyer, general counsel, and transactional lawyer. As a mediator and as a neutral, he has had great success in helping litigants resolve their disputes in more than 1,500 cases. His friendly nature and ability to find common ground both contribute to his easy rapport with litigants and their attorneys, while his determination to get cases settled is evident at each hearing. He is c...

Leigh Ann White is a Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment, and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. In her two decades of defending and advising employers, White has successfully resolved complex litigation and disputes, ranging from individual claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour class actions, and trade secret allegations. When defending clients against these types of claims, White brings her f...

David C. Palmer is a Senior Attorney with extensive litigation experience and proven record of delivering results for his clients. Mr. Palmer specializes in high-stakes business and real estate litigation as well as civil rights, environmental, and governmental tort litigation. Mr. Palmer received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara with majors in Law and Society and Cultural Anthropology. He then received his J.D. from Loyola Law School, where he was a two-year member o...

Timothy J. Heggem is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Timothy J., who practices law in Costa Mesa, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Molly Magnuson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Molly, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Molly is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William S. Cizmadia is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. William S., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Sungaila’s appellate work, which focuses on complex tort cases raising cutting-edge issues, has helped define the scope of the duty to warn sophisticated users of product hazards, set the guidelines for admitting expert testimony at trial, and overturned multimillion dollar judgments. Ms. Sungaila has also consistently helped secure important rights for women and girls internationally, nationally, and throughout California. Ms. Sungaila has been pro bono counsel of record for amici ...