Southern California Super Lawyers Articles

Philip X. Wang brings a chess-champion mind to patent law

Mane Sardaryan learned English with the help of Lucille Ball and Charles Dickens

How Lorraine D’Alessio went from international model to immigration attorney

How Brian J. Bergman and Jason Barbato secured redevelopment land for LA County

Discovery with Davida P. Brook

Eight LA attorneys recount their journeys to America

Nancy Sher Cohen is firm but fair

For Ron Makarem, it’s about righting wrongs while enjoying the journey

Juan Dominguez and the good that good produced

Lisa Kantor fights insurance companies who deny treatment coverage for eating disorders

Why 19 years in the PD’s office didn’t burn out Lauri Brenner

Neville Johnson, aka Trevor McShane, publishes poetry, loves Lennon, and wouldn’t mind a bitchin’ double cheeseburger

Ralph Saltsman and Steve Solomon on the best cheap eats in LA

Ibiere Seck follows in some big footsteps

Will Chuchawat cuts to the chase

How two years in Doha altered Yasmine Abdel-Aal’s career

Matthew Easton on how legal tech can help level the playing field

Jean Rhee says “OK, USA!” to dance, surf and candy corn

Jennifer L. Keller’s path to success came via odd jobs and public defense

Carl Shusterman brings a lifetime of immigration experience to the Trump era

The search for the story behind the will that set Terry Franklin’s ancestors free

When politicians pick campaign songs, songwriters pick Lawrence Iser

And the secret of the simplified Chinese character

Michael Louis Kelly pilots pups to safety

The skills Kalpana Srinivasan learned as a reporter help with high-stakes litigation

Three books with which to escape the law for a few hours

Three attorneys who decompress by revving up

Super Callif’s agile list of sushi, snuggles, boat trips

How the LA attorney and her client helped free Alice Marie Johnson

Jessie Kornberg makes connections and pursues justice at Bet Tzedek

How J.P. Fritz honorably tired himself out in Japan

Scott Tillett’s battle with substance abuse

Tracy Hughes has rescued more than 300 dogs

The meticulously prepared Ramit Mizrahi once confronted her own identity thief in court

Colleagues call the Jones Day attorney both relentless and a consummate gentleman

Clients compare the entertainment attorney to Evander Holyfield and the T-100

Bruce Broillet and Scott Carr on the case heard ‘round the world

Bill Slaughter of Ojai finds people lost in the woods

Evie Jeang takes international divorce and surrogacy to the next level

Stubbs Alderton’s Preccelerator program is a legal boon for the tech boom

Alan Gurvey was given a second chance, and it’s been carpe diem ever since

Give Toni Jaramilla a double shot of espresso and Eskrima sticks, and watch out

Santa Barbara’s Louise LaMothe tells us what’s good in the neighborhood

From Miranda to Booker: 40 years of historic and hilarious moments clerking for the U.S. Supreme Court

Moez Kaba, a first-generation Pakistani Muslim, reps clients from the LGBT community to a Koch brother

Two attorneys reminisce about their year clerking or the U.S. Supreme Court

How Stephen McArthur turned his gaming passion into a niche practice

The Manatt associate boldly goes where no corporate and finance attorney has gone before

The Gibbs Giden attorney tells us what’s good in the neighborhood

The personal harassment cases that made an employment attorney out of Genie Harrison

The back-and-forth of John C. Taylor and David Ring

Mia Yamamoto spent years working for social justice before finding it for herself

Nine top attorneys talk about practicing law from the 1950s to today

Did Claudia Ribet’s bicycle accident turn her into a better lawyer or just a better Californian?

Civil rights attorney Ron Kaye leads the charge against malfeasance in law enforcement

Robert F. Brennan talks ABOUT consumer law ... and UNCLE William J. Brennan Jr.

How elder abuse litigation attorney Kimberly Valentine transcended a tough upbringing to become a voice for the vulnerable

Inspired by an injustice, bored by the CIA, business litigator Michelle J. Correll keeps movingFeaturing Michelle J. Correll

Eminent domain attorney and Expo Line advocate Bradford B. Kuhn on why the easiest way from Point A to Point B isn’t necessarily a straight lineFeaturing Bradford B. Kuhn

Employment plaintiff attorney Leonard H. Sansanowicz learned empathy as an actor opposite (among others) Steve CarrellFeaturing Leonard H. Sansanowicz

From Gitmo to Orange County, Cindy Pánuco fights for inmate rightsFeaturing Cindy Panuco

Lindsey L. Smith on the emotional burden of bankruptcyFeaturing Lindsey L. Smith

An oral history of the good, the bad and the ugly experiences of the first wave of female attorneysFeaturing Edith R. Matthai, …

Dan Stormer likes fighting for people who need helpFeaturing Dan L. Stormer

Top med-mal attorney Margaret Holm wants you to know she’s not that interestingFeaturing Margaret M. Holm

Candace Carlo is like Teri Garr in a Game of Thrones townFeaturing Candace Carlo

How Gregory L. Bentley and Inner City Law Center helped tenants who didn’t know their rights—or that they had anyFeaturing Gregory L. Bentley

What Lester J. Friedman learned from John WoodenFeaturing Lester J. Friedman

Employment defense attorney Samantha N. Hoffman, scion of a surfing clan, on gender-plus discrimination casesFeaturing Samantha N. Hoffman

Real estate attorney Susan Lee Daly’s parents crossed the 38th parallel, then an ocean, to give her this opportunityFeaturing Susan L. Daly

Traveling the world and buying Chagalls with international tax attorney Albert S. GolbertFeaturing Albert S. Golbert

Marshall Camp successfully argued the first case under the Fair Sentencing for Youth ActFeaturing Marshall A. Camp

Christy Han Mohan has one, and she says it’s the key to immigration lawFeaturing Christy Han Mohan

PI plaintiff’s attorney Robert T. Simon hung a shingle at 29, but it’s his pretrial ritual that’s eye-openingFeaturing Robert T. Simon

Julian André defends stolen art and due process

Pity Jordan R. Bernstein; part of his job involves testing the best restaurants in the cityFeaturing Jordan R. Bernstein

Crystal Lofing’s latest real estate deal involved Dodger StadiumFeaturing Crystal T. Lofing

Aitken•Aitken•Cohn takes on Disneyland, mountain lions, and hit-and-run executivesFeaturing Wylie A. Aitken

M&A attorney Brian J. McCarthy leads on mergers involving Disney, Pixar and LucasfilmFeaturing Brian J. McCarthy

Heather L. Rosing, professional liability lawyer and CFO, is bothFeaturing Heather L. Rosing

As a child, Evan A. Jenness stood up to schoolyard bullies; as a criminal defense lawyer, she stands up to government overreachFeaturing Evan A. Jenness

John A. O’Malley argued the case of a lifetime against billionaire Sheldon AdelsonFeaturing John A. O'Malley

Sonia Carvalho has been city attorney for Yorba Linda, Azusa, Colton, Claremont and now Santa AnaFeaturing Sonia Rubio Carvalho

Timothy Coates’ stint as a comedian helps when he argues before the U.S. Supreme CourtFeaturing Timothy T. Coates

How N. Denise Taylor helped LA County deal with cutbacksFeaturing N. Denise Taylor

Former pilot Ronald L. M. Goldman represents air crash victims, but one of his first clients was one of the most famous lawyers of the 20th centuryFeaturing Ronald L.M. Goldman

On the job with employment defense attorney Sabrina A. BeldnerFeaturing Sabrina A. Beldner

Every summer, Brian Recor turns into “un avocat”Featuring Brian Recor

Michael Maguire won a Tony for leading a failed revolution in the original Broadway production of Les Miserables; now he helps those with failed marriagesFeaturing Michael L. Maguire

The two employment attorneys share alma maters and a big-picture perspective; but their disagreements are legend

Ruth D. Kahn works with Holocaust survivors

John Quinn and David Quinto, of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, general counsel and lawyer for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, get ready for their close-upFeaturing John B. Quinn

Commercial real estate lawyer Stuart Graiwer navigates the global financial meltdownFeaturing Stuart A. Graiwer

Marc Miles successfully defended the widow of an alleged Ponzi schemer; but the case wasn’t overFeaturing Marc P. Miles

Laura Faer, statewide education director at Public Counsel, knew what she wanted to do in high school and never wavered

David Stern and Robert Pfister help same-sex couples with that ‘richer or poorer’ vowFeaturing David M. Stern, …

Why Michael Tuchin calls bankruptcy ‘the emergency medicine of law’Featuring Michael L. Tuchin

How family law lawyer Judith Forman went from ‘highly educated Mom’ to knocking out Muhammad AliFeaturing Judith R. Forman

Securities litigator Philip Aidikoff knows what’s inside the boxFeaturing Philip M. Aidikoff

Former public defender John Barnett has carved a niche practice representing the policeFeaturing John Barnett

Between setting up an office in LA and setting world records in swimming, Dan Stephenson helped set a young girl freeFeaturing Daniel J. Stephenson

Paul F. Cohen hears them in jazz and the lawFeaturing Paul F. Cohen

IP and business litigator Adrian Pruetz, whose eponymous firm merged with Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro last November, talks about preparing witnesses, debriefing juries, and the perceived advantage of being a female attorneyFeaturing Adrian M. Pruetz

Alan Braverman, general counsel at The Walt Disney Co., has an instinct for what’s around the corner

Recent Texas transplant Victoria Cook has already made a splash in the McCourt divorce case

Construction lawyer Jay Freedman keeps things steady during the real estate crisisFeaturing Jay B. Freedman

Christiane Cargill Kinney gets creative while helping the creativeFeaturing Christiane Cargill Kinney

Kelly Chang Rickert on being the girl who’s blindfolded with the justice scalesFeaturing Kelly Chang Rickert

For employment lawyer Perry Smith, songwriting is just a hobby; but that didn’t stop American Idol from callingFeaturing Perry G. Smith

Sara Azari fled Khomeini-era Iran, practiced law in Rio and defends the worst of the worstFeaturing Sara Azari

Dan Petrocelli on how to handle the high-profile casesFeaturing Daniel M. Petrocelli

Amy Fisch Solomon takes on Bayer, Disney and the ‘learned intermediary defense’Featuring Amy Fisch Solomon

In junior high, Brian Weinhart sold hair dryers to secretaries; now he makes multimillion-dollar dealsFeaturing Brian S. Weinhart

Brian Kabateck’s grandparents survived the Armenian genocide; now he represents the descendants of those who didn’tFeaturing Brian S. Kabateck

Howard Krepack tries to keep L.A. roads safe for bicyclists

Howard Weg and David Shemano see the Terminator franchise through two bankruptciesFeaturing Howard J. Weg, …

Entertainment lawyer Eric Weissmann, of Weissmann Wolff Bergman Coleman Grodin & Evall, on fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe, becoming friends with Gene Wilder, and being called ‘a rotten son of a bitch’ by Burt LancasterFeaturing Eric Weissmann

David C. Friedman helps Summit Entertainment release the Twilight series and more

When the Queen of Soul—yes, Aretha—felt she was libeled, she called Michael NiborskiFeaturing Michael J. Niborski

Few lawyers do more to advocate for the rights of children than Andrea HeynFeaturing Andrea Goldsmith Heyn

Playing hockey as a kid taught Pascal Benyamini to never give upFeaturing Pascal Benyamini

Personal injury lawyer Robert Jarchi, for oneFeaturing Robert D. Jarchi

Keith Griffin helps victims of tragedy piece their lives back togetherFeaturing Keith D. Griffin

A young lawyer is tapped to help rewrite America’s war powers legislationFeaturing Matthew T. Kline

After a stint in the ultra-intense U.S. attorney’s office, nothing fazes criminal defense lawyer David WillinghamFeaturing David K. Willingham

Former insurance defense lawyer and shoe salesman Robert Clayton finds his niche on the plaintiff sideFeaturing Robert R. Clayton

Drew Hansen was a lock-down defender on the court at the University of Utah, and is one again at Arent FoxFeaturing Drew R. Hansen

Rahul Ravipudi digs in for consumers and wins on a huge scaleFeaturing Rahul Ravipudi

Ilyas AkbariFeaturing A. Ilyas Akbari

Jeremy RosenFeaturing Jeremy B. Rosen

Vered Yakovee

Todd HarrisonFeaturing Todd Harrison

Lan QuachFeaturing Lan T. Quach

How Marshall Grossman parlayed a $5 overcharge into a powerhouse careerFeaturing Marshall B. Grossman

Scott Edelman’s cases have happy endingsFeaturing Scott A. Edelman

Schuyler Moore’s life would make a great movie; but would he watch it?Featuring Schuyler M. Moore

In 2000, Channing Johnson helped a church buy the Forum, and his life changed foreverFeaturing Channing D. Johnson

Gail Title knows, and she fights to protect the authors’ rightsFeaturing Gail Migdal Title

The understated, underrated Mark Robinson’s outrageously creative research pays dividendsFeaturing Mark P. Robinson, Jr.

These four lawyers spend their lives toiling to keep a righteous balance between the needs of the environment and the demands of business and government

When he's not winning cases, Najeeb Nabil Khoury studies Islamic philosophy

Compared with Michael Avenatti's previous work—politics under Rahm Emanuel—life in the courtroom is a breeze

Here's Chang(e) you can believe inFeaturing Esther Chang Weese

Truth and beauty, says Jesse Chavez, are all he knows and all he needs to know

What keeps Nu Usaha motivated? A psychic paycheck

Long before Proposition 8, Jeffrey Bollinger was working to legalize same-sex marriageFeaturing Jeffrey Bollinger

Jeffrey Glassman had to lose a million dollars to learn how to become a successFeaturing Jeffrey R. Glassman

Meet three attorneys on the fast trackFeaturing Damian D. Capozzola, …

Marc Jacobs knows that people laugh at him. It's part of his jobFeaturing Marc R. Jacobs

Patrick Avakian is hooked on speedFeaturing Patrick Avakian

How does a labor lawyer win television's highest honor?Featuring Jacqueline J. Harding

For public defender John Littrell, the line between theater and real life got a little blurredFeaturing John Littrell

At 36 years old, Jonathan Anschell stepped into the hot seat at CBS

Bruce Broillet knows how to weave dreams and win casesFeaturing Bruce A. Broillet

Bruce Ramer may be the loneliest Republican in AmericaFeaturing Bruce M. Ramer

Mark Geragos is on the front page as often as his high-profile clientsFeaturing Mark Geragos

Nina Shaw helped found one of Hollywood's most important law firmsFeaturing Nina L. Shaw

Philip Glusker celebrates Greenberg Glusker's 50th year

Arthur Greenberg celebrates Greenberg Glusker's 50th anniversary

At 36 years old, Jonathan Anschell stepped into the hot seat at CBS

Steve Mindel thinks you shouldn't have to part with your money when you part with your spouseFeaturing Steven A. Mindel

Lawrence Jacobson goes from the sofa to swimming with the sharksFeaturing Lawrence H. Jacobson

For Andrei Iancu, the good ol' days are now

Lori Loo and son Quinten work in tandem to beat an awful foeFeaturing Lori A. Loo

Eddie Lazarus' newest book reveals hitherto unknown machinations behind the nation's highest court

David Neale says deep sea diving makes him a better lawyerFeaturing David L. Neale

After a long and successful political career, including years as the speaker of the California Assembly, Robert Hertzberg reflects on having settled into his law practice.

How two East Coast guys became West Coast best friends        Featuring Richard A. Lazenby, …

Alexis Neely brings the Rockefeller treatment to the common guy        

Jean-Claude André's high court trifecta        

Jean-Paul Jassy and the fight for free speech  Featuring Jean-Paul Jassy

Patriotic clichés are easy to spout. But for three young Los Angeles-area attorneys, immigration to this country really did grant them life, liberty and the pursuit of happinessFeaturing Rita M. Diaz, …

Douglas Lief brings his improv skills to the courtroom  Featuring Douglas J. Lief

Dad checks in from Iraq  Featuring Sharyn M. Fisk

How Seth Levy fell into trying to save the world  Featuring Seth D. Levy

Featuring Patrick M. Maloney

Even Tom Girardi depends on the kindness of strangersFeaturing Thomas V. Girardi

Martin Singer may be a mad dog, but he’s crazy like a foxFeaturing Martin D. Singer

Bringing beauty to the business of lawFeaturing Max Factor III

The passion of David LashFeaturing David A. Lash

Randy McMurray grows Johnnie Cochran’s L.A. office Featuring Randy H. McMurray

Stacy Phillips’ reading includes complex financial documents and iffy national gossip ragsFeaturing Stacy D. Phillips

Don Burris has created an A1 museum to the Dodgers—in his own home.Featuring Donald S. Burris

How a curious entertainment lawyer became Indiana Jones

Greg Stone is one of California’s last real cowboysFeaturing Gregory E. Stone

Charles Rettig’s friendship with Don Ho was a meeting of like minds

Jeffry L. Weiler and Richard A. Killworth married their old professions with their new callingFeaturing Richard A. Killworth

Cornelia Dai, along with her good karma Pasadena law firm, doesn’t just hate injustice; she changes its course Featuring Cornelia H. Dai

By keeping lawsuit costs low, and thinking like a businessman, this general counsel has presided over a doubling of company revenues

Connected? Kohner’s pals and his family helped propel him to successFeaturing Alexander P. Kohner

David Glass is a whole new kind of family lawyerFeaturing David J. Glass

Shaun C. Clark takes a gamble on the World Poker TourFeaturing Shaun C. Clark

Scott Klopert and Debra Ravden practice family law. Doubly so.Featuring Debra Ravden, …

Laura Wytsma devotes several hundred pro bono hours to immigration and asylum casesFeaturing Laura A. Wytsma

Water, water everywhere ...

Deborah M. Parker made waves in court instead of HollywoodFeaturing Deborah M. Parker

Welcome to the Winston McKesson files of formerly lost cases

Sorrell Trope gets the worm (and Nicole Kidman, Cary Grant, etc.)

These six attorneys argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court

Orly Degani wants to speed up the evolution of animal rights

Randol Schoenberg's perfect (12-tone) legal ear shepherds a $300 million win

Mitch Mitchell doesn't just represent artists and writers, he is one himself

A desperate career move led Denis Crawford to switch sides

Everything Brian Dunn needed to know about the law he learned from Johnnie Cochran

Ben Davidson knows too well the perils of living in Iran

Tran fled war-torn Vietnam and barely survived the boat ride to freedom

Sandra Smith Thayer recalls visiting Stanley “Tookie” Williams on San Quentin’s Death Row 

Tellis became immersed in an investment fraud case involving a Middle East investment firm

Ginger Heyman Pigott feels the legal world could use a few more rimshots

Providing free legal assistance to more than 10,000 low-income people is precisely what she had her eye on

Raskin combined her profession with her lifelong love of the arts

When Robert O’Brien speaks, the world listens

Daniel Hoffer traded his badge for a briefcase

How diminutive Debra Yang took on L.A.’s bad guys and wonFeaturing Debra Wong Yang

Want to jump-start your career? Get fired by Michael JacksonFeaturing John G. Branca

A recent win against the City of San Francisco brngs his $1 million win total past the 100 mark

“My, my, my, what an eager little mind,” said Rosalind of Jan

Why would one man be foolish enough to take on the major Hollywood studios?

How did a man happily married for three decades become the divorce king?

Bela Lugosi took his famous father’s advice and steered clear of show biz

Susan Rabin is no stranger to larger-than-life stars like Conan O’Brien

Michael Kun’s hobby got him nominated for a Pulitzer

Irving Greines' second career

A chance encounter turned Kevin Duffis into an actor

How Karen Nobumoto survived a year of sleeplessness and reformed the State Bar

Daron Watts wants to change the diet of African Americans across the nation

Greg Weisman’s surfing days helped launch his career

The lawyer from Cannery Row

Chen’s parents cringed at her choice to become a lawyer, now they bask in their daughter’s success

Jeff Lenkov’s clients love him, and it’s not just because of the pet rocks

Seth Gerber fights for the return of a Chabad treasure trove

The small screen? Small’s screen

Dan Grunfeld makes his childhood wish come true

Jeffrey Swedo helps settle a piece of racing history

From O.J. to Oklahoma City, Kelli Sager keeps the courts open

Theme parks and movies and politics, oh my

David Nimmer knows copyright law … and Winnie the Pooh

The Burmese generals ask: What’s wrong with a little forced labor?

Carole Handler’s very apt appellation

Featuring Laura A. Wasser

For Damon Watson, playing games is serious business

All Seriousness Aside

Between patent infringement discussions, Robert Benson had a vision

The birth of his first son moved Mark Teuton to become an attorney

Sarbanes-Oxley a barrel of monkeys? Well, almost, for Michael O’Sullivan

Kevin Boyle sides with the little guy — and he’s darn proud of it

Republican activist Michael Reynolds was moved to political action after the murder of his sister

Having grown up in Chinatown and armed with a law degree and a good mind, Judy Lam has a mission: to help her community

Even the mighty Microsoft fell after this high school dropout took after it

The archetypal Hollywood lawyer, Fields takes no prisoners when representing his famous clients

Danny Kuchuck sells his screenplay and finds a new best friend — lawyer Jeff Frankel

Lisa Stern sued Italy’s largest insurance company on behalf of her grandfather-in-law, who died in a Nazi concentration camp — and every Holocaust victim was a winner

James is every mother’s fondest dream — a doctor and a lawyer

All across allegedly godless L.A., lawyers are finding solace in their religion

Jim Nichols saddles up

Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is a politician in forward motion

Patricia Kinaga just wanted to document victims of domestic violence – instead she wound up being nominated for an Emmy

Because he had to get some demons out of his psyche, Chuck Patterson discovered he was a poet