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2008-2009 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  CHAIR:  
  Lisa Clare Lerner Miller

Lisa Clare Lerner Miller
Miller Consulting
12003 Hartsook Street, D
Valley Village, CA 91607
818-761-5910
FAX 818-623-8547
lisa@lmillerconsulting.com or
editor@lmillerconsulting.com
Term: 2003 - 2007

Lisa Miller was a trial lawyer for many years, and worked as in-house counsel in a number of settings before becoming the principal of Miller Consulting, a full-service business development consultancy in Valley Village, California.

Miller Consulting provides a full suite of business development services, including on-going public relations (print and broadcast), strategic marketing planning and advertising campaigns. Ms. Miller offers crisis communications, Web content, newsletters, event planning and other support to the legal industry.

Ms. Miller was an editor at the Daily Journal newspapers, and is now the editor of BIG NEWS for Smaller Firms, the section's magazine, and the supplement Trial Style, focused on the dispute resolution experience. She is the editor of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association newsletter Bar Notes and chairs the San Fernando Valley Bar Small Firm Section.

  CHAIR ELECT:  
 

Marilyn Ann Monahan

Marilyn Ann Monahan
Emmer & Graeber
10810 Cushdon Ave.,
Los Angeles, CA 90064-3221
310-475-3792
FAX 310-470-3887
mamonahan@earthlink.net
Term: 2005 -2008

Marilyn Monahan focuses her practice on employee benefits (with an emphasis on health and welfare plans) and insurance corporate and regulatory law. She began her legal career as a litigator after receiving a B.A. in English from UCLA and her J.D. from Loyola Law School.

Ms. Monahan is currently an attorney with Emmer & Graeber in West Los Angeles. The firm assists insurance companies, HMOs, consulting firms, private employers, governmental entities, and union sponsored health and welfare plans with compliance obligations under federal and state employee benefit and insurance laws and regulations. Ms. Monahan advises clients on their responsibilities under such laws as ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA. She conducts benefits-related training sessions for clients, is the author of the firm's legislative newsletters, and has written articles for industry publications. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, the Conference of Insurance Counsel, and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Ms. Monahan is on the Board of Directors of the Professionals in Human Resources Association, serving as the Vice President – Legislative Affairs. She is a frequent lecturer to insurance industry groups and human resource professionals on federal and state employee benefits and insurance laws and regulatory compliance. Her article about employee leaves of absence was published in the California Bar Journal in July 2006.
  SECRETARY  
 

Carolyn Yellis

Carolyn Yellis, ACP
CAPA Board Liaison
619 N. Zeyn Street
Anaheim, CA 92805
714-553-4188
FAX 714-502-9980
cyellis@aol.com
Term: 2002 - 2005

Carolyn Yellis has worked with California attorneys in business litigation, construction defect, product liability, medical malpractice, environmental, and employment/labor cases by assisting in the discovery process and sitting second chair at trial. She received her paralegal certificate from Southern California College of Business & Law in 1991 and her Certified Paralegal certification credential (CP) from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) in 1998 and has been a freelance paralegal since 2000. In July 2006, she completed the Advanced Paralegal Certification program in Discovery and earned her Advanced Certified Paralegal designation (ACP).

Ms. Yellis currently serves on this committee’s Secretary and Legislative Chair. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors as Region IX Director for the National Association of Legal Assistants and has served as Legislative Chair, Board Advisor and Past President of the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations. In 2000, as President of the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations, Ms. Yellis testified before the California Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees in support of AB 1761, which was codified as Business & Professions Code 6450, et seq. representing California paralegals. She is a frequent author for several legal periodicals regarding the role of paralegals in discovery issues and trial preparation. In 2004 the Anaheim City Council unanimously appointed Ms. Yellis as a commissioner on the city’s Sesquicentennial Commission.

  TREASURER  
 

Teresa A. McQueen

Teresa A. McQueen
17910 Sky Park Cir., Ste. #105
Irvine, CA 92614
949-260-1181
FAX 949-260-1185
tamcqueen@pedersenlaw.com
Term: 2006 - 2009

Teresa McQueen is a skilled communicator, a published author, and a respected member of the Orange County legal scene. Prior to joining Pedersen Law & Dispute Resolution Corporation, a small Orange County law firm in January 2006, Ms. McQueen established her own solo law practice in 2003 where she developed a strong knowledge and experience base as a general business counselor. As an associate at Pederson Law Teresa emphasizes providing transactional and administrative services to a diverse client base of corporations and LLCs as well as entrepreneurs, professionals and other individuals. Ms. McQueen’s outstanding efforts have resulted in her being named a 2007 Southern California Super Lawyers "Rising Star" by Law & Politics and the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine. Teresa practices in the transactional areas of water law, real property, employment and general business law. She also litigates both real property and elder abuse matters.

Ms. McQueen earned her J.D. degree from Chapman University School of Law in Orange, CA and is admitted to practice before all California state courts.

Professional Affiliations: Orange County Bar Association, State Bar of California, American Bar Association. Ms. McQueen is very active in her local bar association serving in such varied volunteer positions as OCBA Board of Directors (2007-2011), Chair of the OCBA Young Lawyers Division (2007), Chair of the OCBA Solo/Small Firm Practitioner Section (2006). Ms. McQueen is also a member of the OCBA Resolutions Committee, OCBA Bridging the Gap Committee, and an Executive Board Member of the State Bar of California Solo and Small Firm Section. Ms. McQueen also serves the local community as a member of her cities Ad Hoc Traffic Fee Committee and as a board member of the Orange County VIP Mentors program.

 

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR:

 
 

Roberta J. Burnette

Roberta J. Burnette
Burnette Law Firm
3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste 209
Westlake Village, CA 91362
805-497-1011
FAX 805-435-3730
roberta@theburnettelawfirm.com
Term: 2004 - 2007

Roberta J. Burnette has been representing businesses in all aspects of labor and employment litigation, business litigation, and computer and Internet law matters for over 20 years. She is the founder and managing attorney of the Burnette Law Firm in Westlake Village. Ms. Burnette formerly practiced law in Los Angeles with the law firms of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, and Musick, Peeler & Garrett, and served as the labor counsel to the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, before opening her own law firm in 1997. She earned her Juris Doctorate with Distinction among the Order of the Barristers in 1987 from the University of Nebraska College of Law, completed M.A. coursework and Graduate Teaching Assistantship from the University of Nebraska in 1984, and B.A. with high honors from Augustana College in 1982.

Ms. Burnette is an adjunct professor of Business Law and Cyberspace Law at Moorpark College, President of the East County Bar, co-chair of the Employment Law Section of the Ventura County Bar, and a judge pro tem for the Ventura County Superior Court. Ms. Burnette is a frequent author and speaker on employment, business and computer law matters for the state bar, local bar associations, and professional organizations. She is also an avid violist with the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra.

 

MEMBERS:

Cynthia Elkins
Nancy B. Goldstein
Timothy McGonigle
Matthew C. Mickelson
Michael R. Sohigian
Joseph Urcis

 

Cynthia Elkins

Cynthia Elkins
Elkins Employment Law
21700 Oxnard Street, Suite 700
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Celkins@employer-law.com
Term: 2006 - 2007

Cynthia Elkins has a law practice that focuses on defense of employment-related claims in state court, arbitrations, and administrative hearings before the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Fair Employment & Housing. Her clients are employers that with her preventative and proactive approach audit their personnel and human resource functions for compliance with the state and federal requirements. Ms. Elkins develops Employee Handbooks, forms, policies, practices and procedures for the proper implementation of human resource functions. She conducts State of California required Harassment and Discrimination Seminars and Training for employers and their managerial staff, and serves as an outside investigator for harassment and discrimination claims and allegations.

Ms. Elkins graduated from Southwestern University School of Law and obtained a B.S. in Business Administration from CSU Northridge. Ms. Elkins has taught Labor and Employment Law for the CSUN Extension program. From 1996 through September 1998, Ms. Elkins formed the Employment Law Litigation & Counseling Department of Pearlman, Borska & Wax in Encino, California and from 1987 through 1995 was the senior associate at an management side employment law defense firm in the San Fernando Valley. Ms. Elkins has served as a trustee for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, as co-chair of their litigation & employment law section, as co-chair of their personnel committee and as past co-chair of their small firm sectionand is on the Board for the Valley Cultural Center. Ms. Elkins served as a trustee of the SFVBA Community Legal Foundation and is general counsel for the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce, and active in the labor & employment law sections of the state bar and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She is frequently asked to speak at seminars for employers, trade and professional associations.

 

Nancy B. Goldstein

Nancy B. Goldstein
3625 E Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. 209
Westlake Village, CA 91362
818-707-4573
gr8calilawyer@hotmail.com
Term: 2006 - 2008

Nancy Goldstein has been working as a civil practitioner in a solo or small practice since 1984. In the last 10 years, Ms. Goldstein's practice has emphasized business and real estate matters, with the litigation portion of her practice predominantly involved with land use disputes.

Ms. Goldstein came to the practice of law from her prior career as a federal investigator. She believes in promoting access to the courts for those less able to pay the costs of litigation. In furtherance of that goal, Ms. Goldstein donates her time to the Ventura County Self-Help Center; acts as a Fee Arbitrator, a Judge Pro Tem and an arbitrator in civil cases.

 

Timothy MocGonigle

Timothy McGonigle
233 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 700
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-478-7110
FAX 310-478-7440
timothymcgonigle@aol.com
Term: 2005-2009

Timothy D. McGonigle has practiced law for over 20 years and founded his own plaintiff firm in 1989. Clients range from corporations to individual entrepreneurs, professionals and individuals. His firm handles jury and bench trials, arbitrations, mediations and other dispute resolution matters all over California and is AV rated. The firm has obtained numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of its clients.

Mr. McGonigle is a graduate of Notre Dame, Pepperdine Law School and Georgetown University Law Center where he obtained his LLM in Securities Regulation. His authored, “The Class Action: A solution to the Dilemma of Certification After Judgment” in 1984. He received the American Jurisprudence Award in Wills and Trusts. Mr. McGonigle is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California and Los Angeles, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the local bar associations for Beverly Hills, Century City, Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

 

Matthew C. Mickelson
16055 Ventura Blvd Ste 1230
Encino CA 91436
818-382-3360
FAX 818-382-3364
mattmickelson@bizla.rr.com
Term: 2007 - 2010

Matthew C. Mickelson is a sole practitioner whose practice focuses on general business litigation, collection matters (both pre- and post-judgment), and appeals. He has represented attorneys in dozens of lawsuits against former clients for unpaid fees; his lawyer clients range from one of the top-25 largest law firms in Los Angeles County to sole practitioners. He has also defended attorneys in legal malpractice matters. Mr. Mickelson has expertise in post-judgment collection litigation, and specializes in dealing with wealthy individuals who have hidden their assets in family partnerships and trusts. Mr. Mickelson is active in the appeals arena, having represented appellants, respondents and writ petitioners in front of the California and federal courts.

Mr. Mickelson is a graduate of the UCLA. School of Law, where he was awarded the Order of the Coif. As a civil litigator for several years at Irell & Manella, he represented clients such as City of Hope National Medical Center in royalty litigation against Genentech. He later practiced appellate and post-judgment law at Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland in Los Angeles. At Greines Martin, he represented deceased celebrity Anna Nicole Smith in her fight for a portion of her husband’s estate.

Mr. Mickelson’s publications include: Collecting Unpaid Fees, Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2006; Follow the Money: Collecting Fees Without Triggering Malpractice Claims, San Fernando Valley Bar Association Bar Notes, 2006; Enforcement of Binding Arbitration Provisions in Retainers, Los Angeles Lawyer, 2005. He has been a presenter at the University of California’s Continuing Education of the Bar Program Series Collecting Unpaid Attorney’s Fees; and the NBI seminar Collection Law, From Start to Finish.

 

Michael R. Sohigian
11755 Wilshire Blvd Ste 120
Los Angeles CA 90025
310-914-2494
FAX 310-914-2484
msohigian@mrslaw.net

Michael R. Sohigian is a sole practitioner based in West Los Angeles. He specializes in civil litigation with an emphasis on business, real estate, employment, probate, insurance coverage and public licensing. He represents individuals and businesses at trials and on appeal in state and federal court, and in alternative dispute resolution and administrative proceedings.

Mr. Sohigian is a 1991 graduate of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He earned his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley. From 2002 through 2006, he was a member of the City of Los Angeles Police Permit Review Panel, and since 1999 he has sat as a temporary judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. He is also an active member of Westwood Presbyterian Church, where he has served as a Deacon and an Elder.

Mr. Sohigian has been published in the fields of First Amendment law, insurance coverage and probate litigation. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times; the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s monthly magazine, Los Angeles Lawyer; the Journal of the Consumer Attorneys Associations of Southern California, the Advocate; and the State Bar Solo and Small Firm Section’s publication for the State Bar Convention, Big Meeting.

Mr. Sohigian is active with the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Beverly Hills Bar Association, and has served as a member of the delegation of the Beverly Hills Bar Association to the State Bar Conference of Delegates. As a member of the Executive Committee, Ms. Sohigian works to help lawyers in solo and small firm practices create networks with one another to maximize resources and level the playing field. He values serving this practice community and urges members to contact him with their concerns.

 

Joseph Urcis

Joseph Urcis
920-A West 17Th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
714-558-1166
FAX 714-558-0733
urcis1@juno.com
Term: 2006 - 2009

Joseph Urcis is a bilingual attorney in solo practice in Orange County since 1977. Mr. Urcis current practice consists of representing primarily personal injury plaintiffs, workers compensation uninsured employers, and general civil litigation. Mr. Urcis is also a mediator and arbitrator, both privately and bro-bono under the judicial arbitration program.

Mr. Urcis was an eleven year old child when his family fled Cuba to arrive in the Bronx. He learned English there in 6 months, going on to graduate from the City College of New York, cum laude, and thereafter from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Politically active in the Hispanic community in Orange County for the past 30 years, Mr. Urcis has been a member of the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County (HBAOC) since 1978 and served as its president in 2005. During his tenure, the association saw a significant increase in membership and raised funds for scholarships for deserving law students.

Mr. Urcis has taken mediation courses at the Pepperdine University Law School Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution. He commands a solid grasp of trial techniques and is an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He has also been a lecturer at the American College of Law in Anaheim and has presented Seminars for The State Bar of California and the HBAOC.

 

ADVISORS:

Anne C. Adams
Hester H. Honda
Richard D. Kaplan
Robert M. Klein
Patricia L. McCabe
Steven G. Mehta
Myer Sankary
Eleanor K. Southers

 

Anne C. Adams

Anne C. Adams
Law Offices of Anne C. Adams
7041 Owensmouth Ave., Suite 103
Canoga Park, CA 91303
818-715-0015
FAX 818-715-9895
anneadamslaw@sbcglobal.net
Term started 2002

Anne C. Adams represents clients in family law matters as well as individuals and small businesses that are experiencing financial difficulties. She helps her collection defense clients resolve their financial problems by negotiating with their creditors to arrange hardship payment plan arrangements or settle their debts at a discount as an alternative to bankruptcy. Ms. Adams represents clients in civil lawsuits regarding contract disputes and collection matters as well as bankruptcy.

Ms. Adams graduated from Southwestern University of Law in 1993. She received her MBA in Finance from Golden Gate University and her BA in economics from UCLA. Ms. Adams writes articles and speaks at programs for the State Bar and local organizations about resolving financial issues and law practice management concerns.

Ms. Adams is past Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar. She is past President and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Valley Community Legal Foundation of the SFVBA. Ms. Adams served five years on the Board of Trustees for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association. She currently serves as a delegate to the Conference of Delegates. Ms. Adams is also an active member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

 

Hester H. Honda
760 Town & Country Rd.,
Orange, CA 92868
714-835-4540
FAX 714-835-4542
hhhonda@sbcglobal.net
Term started 2004

Hester H. Honda has a solo practice based in Orange that emphasizes Social Security, SSI and health-related issues, including Medi-Cal planning and appeals, and conservatorships. She advises other attorneys frequently on the inter-relationship of SSI/Medi-Cal benefits and personal injury awards, estate planning and inheritances, dissolution of marriage, worker's compensation issues, and other practice areas and has served as expert witness in several cases involving Social Security and SSI issues, including a family law matter that resolved shortly after her testimony. Ms. Honda has been a speaker on SSI, Social Security and disability-related issues for numerous nonprofit organizations, including at the state bar annual meeting and Section Education Institute.

Ms. Honda earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. and her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Ms. Honda has served as chairperson of the Orange County Bar Association's Elder Law and Social Security Sections, and recently "retired"(after 10 years) as co-chairperson and member of OCBA's "Bridging the Gap" Committee. She was a founding director of the Orange County Asian American Bar Association and has served as its president. Ms. Honda received the Pro Bono Award from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives in 2000.
 

Richard D. Kaplan
Kaplan Marino, A.P.C.
9454 Wilshire Boulevard, Ste.500
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310-557-0007
FAX 310-557-0008
kaplan@kaplanmarino.com
Term started 2001

Richard Kaplan has been representing criminal defendants facing insurance fraud, medicare fraud, murder, robbery, embezzlement, domestic violence, sex crimes, environmental crimes, white collar crimes, multi-kilo narcotic cases, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol as well as asset forfeiture matters in state and federal courts for almost 20 years.

As a partner in the Beverly Hills firm of Kaplan Marino, his office has represented professional athletes, entertainment industry professionals, doctors and lawyers. Mr. Kaplan attended Pepperdine University School of Law and has served as the president of the Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers, on its board of directors until 2001, and is the co-chair of the Beverly Hills Bar Association Criminal Law Section. Over his many years of involvement with this executive committee, Mr. Kaplan has served as chairman and was the force behind forming the new Lawyer 2 Lawyer directory on this website. Mr. Kaplan speaks regularly on criminal law and related matters at bar annual meetings, local bar events and at local colleges.

 

Robert M. Klein

Robert M. Klein
Law Offices of Robert M. Klein
11611 San Vicente Blvd., Ste. 820
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-820-6700
FAX 310-207-4612
rmklein@sbcglobal.net
Term: 2004-2008

Robert M. Klein has a civil litigation-oriented solo practice based in Los Angeles. His clients have personal injury cases due to auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death cases, slip and falls, bicycle or motorcycle accidents, and dog bites. The injuries range from tragic accidents resulting in the death of a loved one, or injuries involving broken bones or permanent scarring, to simple cases where the victim suffers a neck or back sprain requiring medical treatment for only six weeks. Mr. Klein also represents medium-sized businesses in litigation matters.

A native of Los Angeles, Mr. Klein graduated from the University of Arizona and Southwestern University School of Law. In addition to belonging to the California bar, Mr. Klein is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court. He is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Consumer Attorneys of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. He is a board member of a new and exciting non-profit organization, Hurdle Jumpers, which provides free cancer care kits to people who are about to start, or are undergoing, cancer treatment. Mr. Klein is a group leader for the Professional Network Group.

 

Patricia L. McCabe

Patricia L. McCabe
7100 Hayvenhurst Ave., #314
Van Nuys, CA 91406
818-907-9726
FAX 818-907-6384
PLMcCabe@aol.com
Term: 2003 - 2007

Patricia L. McCabe started her solo practice 10 years ago and has focused on the representation of the disabled in Federal Court litigation relating to Social Security benefits, ERISA long term disability benefits, Veteran's benefits, State benefits and Medicare and Medi-Cal claims. She handles all levels of administrative appeals as well as litigation in United State District Court. Ms. McCabe was a partner with a personal injury litigation firm before she became her own boss. She is a graduate of Franklin Pierce Law Center and has a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology.

Ms. McCabe chaired the Los Angeles County Bar Association Social Security section, is a founding member of the Los Angeles Social Security Attorneys, a not-for-profit educational association, and president of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association. The Conference of Delegates to the California Conference of Bar Associations is her longest commitment, having served for 13 years as a delegate. Ms. McCabe is a member of the board of directors for Neighborhood Legal Services, one of the largest legal aide programs in Los Angeles County, and a member of the board of directors for the San Fernando Valley Mental Health Clinics, Inc. For several years now, at state bar conferences and events hosted by the National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Representatives, Ms. McCabe has spoken about Medi-Cal, social security, disability laws, Law Office Management and other issues.

 

Steve Mehta

Steven G. Mehta
Mediation Offices of Steven G. Mehta
25214 Springfield Ct., #250
Valencia, CA 91355
661-284-1818
FAX 661-284-1811
steve@mehtamann.com
Term started 2001

Steven G. Mehta was a busy trial lawyer who has become a full-time mediator since 2002. He still practices law at his firm with clients in two main practice groups: consumer law and business/estate law. Mr. Mehta provides representation in areas such as major personal injury, wrongful death cases, employment and harassment law, elder abuse litigation, medical malpractice and other consumer matters. His partner Michele Mann takes clients with issues involving business and estate planning, trust and probate administration.

Mr. Mehta graduated from McGeorge School of Law, order of the coif (top 10%) and with dean's list honors, and worked as an associate at various Los Angeles area law firms from the summer of 1992 to the time his law firm was formed. Mehta & Mann has developed a comprehensive approach to satisfying their clients' legal needs. The attorneys have represented clients in trials, arbitrations, mediations, State Court, Probate Court, Federal Courts and in the Courts of Appeal, on a variety of complex legal matters. As a result, Mehta & Mann is able to provide our clients with the experience and training of a large law firm, but with the personalized service of a boutique firm.

 

Myer J. Sankary

Myer J. Sankary
Myer J. Sankary, A Law Corp
12925 Riverside Dr. 3rd Fl
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423-2287
818-325-8989
FAX 818-325-8980
myerJ@sankary.com
Term started 2003

Myer Sankary has 40 years of practice in probate and estate planning. In 1996, he trained at Pepperdine Law School to become a mediator, and has devoted his practice since then to ADR and mediating a variety of litigated cases, including probate, employment, real estate, construction, personal injury, family law, business, intellectual property, and related areas of law. Trained and certified by Dr. Robert Cialdini, Professor of Psychology at Arizona State, Mr. Sankary is a leading authority on applying the science of influence to the art of negotiations and presents workshops and lectures for mediators, attorneys, corporate legal departments, consulting firms, corporate executives, human resource managers, strategic planners, and expert witness associations. A recent program he presented was "Ethical Advocacy, Applying the Science of Persuasion in Making Deals, Settling Disputes and Winning in Court" at the state bar annual meeting.

Mr. Sankary is a graduate of Harvard Law School and is A.V. rated by Martindale & Hubbell. He teaches MBA students at USC about negotiation and lectured at the 14 th Annual Dispute Resolution Conference, U of Washington School of Law in Seattle. Having served on this committee for many years including as its chairman, the section created the annual Myer Sankary Award in his honor for a solo/small firm practitioner who demonstrates outstanding leadership and dedication. Mr. Sankary is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the General and Solo Section of the American Bar Association. Mr. Sankary has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, Kaiser Permanente, and Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitration and Mediation panel since 1996 and is currently on the Probate Court Panel for Los Angeles County. Mr. Sankary represents the San Fernando Valley Bar Association to ADR Committee of the LA Superior Court - Judicial Education Subcommittee and a trustee of that b ar association. Mr.Sankary is also treasurer of the Southern California Mediation Association.
 

Eleanor K. Southers
1362 Pacific Ave., #216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-466-9132
FAX 831-466-9456
esouther@aol.com
Term started: 2003

Eleanor Southers has been a personal injury and workers compensation attorney for 23 years and a sole practitioner since 1987. Over the years, Ms. Southers has spoken before many groups including at state bar annual meetings and written for legal newspapers. She co-authored a handbook about med-legal issues that is a required text used at many chiropractic colleges. As a litigator, she recently obtained a $1.4 million verdict for a personal injury client. Ms. Southers recently added immigration to her practice and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Ms. Southers is also skilled in the practice of mediation. She has served as an arbitrator and mediator for the E.E.O.C., the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and as a judge pro tem and settlement officer for Los Angeles courts. Ms. Southers is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar and its ADR section, Los Angeles Trial Attorneys and Consumer Attorneys of California, the California Applicant's Attorneys Association, and the Southern California Mediation Association. She is a member of numerous civic organizations, Chairman of Women's Referral Service "Mentor Program" and president of the board of directors of the Halcyon Center for Child Studies.

 

BOARD LIAISON

Michael D. Marcus
ADR Services, Inc.
1900 Avenue of the Stars, Ste. 250
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310-201-0010
FAX 310-201-0016
ethicsinlaw@earthlink.net

 
 

Mary A. Gerber
Continuing Education of the Bar
300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, #410
Oakland, CA 94612-2001
510-302-2175
FAX 510-302-2001
mary.gerber@ceb.ucop.edu

 
 

SECTION LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES:

Saul Bercovitch
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco CA 94104-1639
415-538-2306-
FAX 415-538-2515
Saul.bercovitch@calbar.ca.gov

Saul Bercovitch is the State Bar’s Legislative Counsel. He joined the State Bar’s Office of Governmental Affairs in 2001. Saul practiced civil litigation at Pettit & Martin from 1985 to 1995 and at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) from 1995 to 1998.

From 1998 to 2001, Saul was a Principal Legislative Analyst for the University of California, Office of the President.

 

SECTION STAFF:

 
 

Manager of Sections

Tricia Horan
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1639
415-538-2223
FAX 415-538-2368
tricia.horan@calbar.ca.gov

 
 

Section Coordinator

Mitch Wood

Mitch Wood
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, , CA 94105-1639
415-538-2594
FAX 415-538-2368
mitch.wood@calbar.ca.gov

 
 

Section Administrative Assistant

Ana Castillo
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-538-2071
FAX 415-538-2368
ana.castillo@calbar.ca.gov

 

Director of Sections

Pam Wilson

Pam Wilson
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1639
415-538-2467
FAX 415-538-2368
pam.wilson@calbar.ca.gov

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