Best Lawyers in Irvine, California
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Practice Areas
PRACTICE AREAS Trials Commercial Litigation Bet-the-Company Trials Class Actions White Collar Criminal Defense EXPERIENCE Kay is a seasoned trial attorney, having tried over 100 jury trials to verdict. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of high-stakes commercial litigation and white collar cases. Chambers USA ranks her among the top commercial litigators in California, quoting sources who describe Kay as “having great instincts and clients listen breathlessly...
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...
Robert A. Benavente was raised in Orange County and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma. Mr. Benavente received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Whittier Law School in 2000, where he was a member of Law Review, a Dean's List honoree, and the recipient of several merit scholarships. He is a Certified Family Law Specialist, which is a level of achievement reserved for those attorneys who have the requisite level of trial experience and have passed a special examinatio...
Gregory G. Brown, Esq. is an accomplished jury trial veteran and Certified Specialist in Civil Trial Advocacy, a distinction earned by only 140 lawyers in California. A trial lawyer for over 30 years, he has spent over 200 days as lead trial counsel in jury trials throughout California. A student of the jury trial, Brown has been awardedMartindale-Hubbell’s highest honor, an AV Rating, signifying that his legal abilities are of the “very highest standard” and his professiona...
PRACTICE AREAS Commercial Litigation White Collar Criminal Defense Appellate Litigation EXPERIENCE Reuben Cahn is a courtroom advocate of rare experience and ability. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he has tried over 100 cases to jury verdict and has argued twice before the Supreme Court (in 2011 and 2018) in addition to numerous arguments before both the 9th and 11th Circuits. This combination of skill and experience at the highest levels establish Mr. Cahn as one of the m...
James P. Carter is a principal in the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He counsels and defends employers in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour claims, non-compete and trade-secret issues and claims, class action cases, breach of contract claims, disability accommodation, leave of absence, and workers' compensation issues. James represents clients in many industries including financial, bi...
A shareholder at Berger Kahn, Stephan S. Cohn’s practice is concentrated in the areas of insurance, business, real estate and community association law. He routinely litigates business torts, real estate issues, environmental-toxic torts and insurance matters. In addition, he regularly counsels insurers regarding fair claim practices and claim investigations, and directors and officers in the enforcement of governing documents and other day-to-day operational matters. Steve has represen...
Marie DiSante is the Firm Managing Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. An employment litigation attorney whose dual role as a California business owner and entrepreneur allows her to understand her clients’ workplace challenges firsthand, Marie DiSante has been resolving and preventing disputes for employers for 28 years. Her active leadership in the business community shapes ...
Caroline Djang is a member of Buchalter’s Insolvency and Financial Law practice group in the Firm’s Orange County office. Ms. Djang practices in the areas of insolvency, bankruptcy, and litigation. She has vast experience representing various creditors, trustees, debtors, and committees in bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings. Ms. Djang is a Chapter 11 Subchapter V Trustee for the Central District of California. She counsels her clients on the best strategies for pursuing an...
Mark Finkelstein is a partner at Umberg Zipser LLP with more than 23 years of intellectual property and complex litigation experience. He advises clients on matters involving patent, copyright, trademark, and trade dress infringement, as well as misuse of trade secrets, unfair competition, and other commercial disputes. Mark has significant first-chair trial experience in both state and federal courts, and has argued before the Federal and Ninth Circuits .Mark has been recognized for intellec...
Tim Freudenberger is a Founding Partner at CDF Labor Law LLP (CDF), a California focused labor, employment and immigration defense law firm with five offices throughout the state. Freudenberger represents California and national employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and related litigation, with a special emphasis on defending class action wage and hour lawsuits, class action employment discrimination lawsuits, and other complex employment litigation matters. He heads CDF’...
TODD G. FRIEDLAND, Business Litigation Attorney, OCBA President. Mr. Friedland’s practice at Stephens Friedland LLP focuses on commercial litigation and strategic counseling including complex contract disputes, derivative actions, class action defense, unfair business practices, trade secrets, business torts, intellectual property and real estate matters. Prior to forming Stephens Friedland LLP, Mr. Friedland practiced with the multi-national law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman....
Jeff Garfinkle represents secured and unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, trustees, equity receivers, debtors, and other parties in a variety of bankruptcy, restructuring cases and collection matters, including out of court workouts. Jeff also specializes in matters pertaining to Articles 2 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and asset sales of bankrupt and financially-troubled companies.
Saul Gelbart is a Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, having served its Southern California Chapter in many official capacities including President. Mr. Gelbart is also a Fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Founding Fellow in the Orange County Bar Association's Society of Fellows, and a member of the Orange County Bar Association. Among his distinctio...
Lonnie Giamela is a partner in both the Los Angeles and Irvine offices. He represents a broad range of clients, from small businesses to national companies, in all sectors of manufacturing, retail, wholesale distribution, hospitality, education and the automotive industries. Lonnie has handled a full range of labor and employment matters, from single-plaintiff to multi-plaintiff, in both federal and state courts in California, the California Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court and ...
Brent Giddens 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. A labor and employment attorney experienced in litigation, strategic and operational issues, Giddens helps California employers advance their business goals, representing clients in all facets of the employer/employee relationship. He has extensive background and experience in defending class actions, as well as individual actio...
Jason E. Goldstein specializes in resolving complex business disputes for a diverse cross-section of clients, which include “private money” lenders, “private money” brokers, insureds, mortgage servicers, banks, credit unions, foreclosure trustees, investors, trade secret owners, individuals which own real property and general contractors.
Samer Habbas is a civil litigation attorney who focuses on personal injury and wrongful death matters. Mr. Habbas has handled a variety of claims in this area and has proved to be successful in doing so. Mr. Habbas’ aggressive approach towards attorneys and insurance companies has resulted in significant settlements Mr. Habbas is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, Orange County Bar Association, and Orange County Trial Lawyers Association.
Mona Hanna is Managing Partner of M&R’s Orange County office and the firm’s National Complex & Class Action Trial Chair. A premiere trial lawyer who has been named one of the best in Southern California, Mona takes a unique approach to her caseload. Her focus, from the beginning of any given dispute to its conclusion, is always on the goals of her client, whether that be an early resolution at the pleading stage, a jury verdict, or an outcome somewhere in between. Indeed, ...
Douglas Hatherley is a distinguished Certified Family Law Specialist and Irvine divorce attorney , focusing on family law litigation serving the Orange County area , including child custody and visitation , spousal support , child support , domestic violence , paternity, division of assets , and post-judgment modification . He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School. With a career dedicated exclusivel...
Samantha Hoffman serves as firm managing principal and is also a member of the board of directors. A long-trusted advisor to her clients and the firm, Samantha believes in mentoring and supporting junior lawyers to grow into leadership positions and continue helping Jackson Lewis be a leader among law firms breaking the “glass ceiling.” Samantha has worn many administrative hats at the firm, including office managing principal of the Orange County office, where she was responsible...
PRACTICE AREAS Trials Commercial Litigation Intellectual Property Insurance Recovery/Bad Faith Legal Malpractice EXPERIENCE Shaun Hoting focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. Shaun’s practice includes litigation related to legal malpractice, contract disputes, patents, copyrights, trademarks, securities, and white collar defense. He has litigated cases involving technologies as diverse as software, cellular telephones, aerospace seals, and waterpark attractions. Shaun&r...
Steven Katleman represents individuals and companies who create, produce and sell content in all media, emphasizing television, motion pictures and new media. Mr. Katleman’s clients include talent, such as writers, producers, performers and directors, as well as production companies and studios ranging from artist-owned boutiques to public companies, that create and supply programming to television broadcasters, television and motion picture distributors and studios. He also handles oth...
PRACTICE AREAS Trials Commercial Litigation Intellectual Property Securities Insurance Recovery/Bad Faith White Collar Criminal Defense Legal Malpractice Entertainment/Sports EXPERIENCE Jennifer Keller is one of America’s most successful trial attorneys. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of high-stakes commercial litigation and white collar cases. Chambers USA and Chambers Global rank her among the top commercial litigators in the nation, quoting sources who...
Raymond A. Lee focuses his practice in the areas of corporate, tax and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, public and private placements of corporate stock, and purchase, sales and redemptions of corporate stock. Raymond represents publicly traded and privately held companies, real estate developments and development companies.
Karl Lindegren is a partner in the Irvine and Los Angeles offices. He represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law. He provides clients with preventive advice and counseling on issues ranging from union avoidance to compliance with state and federal laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), defending and preventing wrongful discharge and discrimination claims and protection of trade secrets. His litigation practice in...
Shalem Massey has a broad range of experience in civil litigation. He is known for listening carefully to the client and then offering advice which is sensitive to the business concerns, not just the legal concerns. For more than 25 years, his practice has involved representing clients in complex (and often high stakes “bet the company”) litigation. Shalem’s litigation experience involves matters throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, South America, Central America, and...
Erika Mayshar advises hospitals and health systems, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations facing complex legal and tax issues. She works closely with nonprofit leaders and philanthropists to accomplish major corporate and charitable transactions, engage in sophisticated tax planning, and maximize philanthropic impact. She also advises private equity firms, investment management firms, and closely held companies engaging in innovative business relationships with the nonprofit...