OCWLA Featured Members

Name: Ashley Vernick

Place of Work: Rutan & Tucker, LLP 

Fun Fact About Me:  I've hiked to Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft!) and volunteered for a month at an animal rescue center in Africa (ping me for some pics of me with lion cubs, elephants, cheetahs, and more!)

Philanthropic Interests: Animal welfare and awareness (involved in Elephant Cooperation) and mentoring women and young attorneys (at my firm, through law school, and other bar organizations).

Recent Professional Accomplishment: Selected as Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers and up for election to partnership (fingers crossed!) this year!

Favorite part about OCWLA: Collaborating with like-minded and like-hearted professional women!

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: Though born and raised in OC, I spent 9 years in Chicago, which included law school and 6 years in practice (Jenner & Block). So while my bar number may start with a 3, I am of an older vintage (practicing over 10 years now!) and looking to get more involved in networking opportunities here in OC, especially OCWLA. Would love to meet up in person to get to know more of you better--be ready for me to suggest a "walk," I am an outdoorsman at heart!

 Name: Danielle Guerrero

Place of Work: Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo 

Fun Fact About Me:  I am self-proclaimed nerd and try to attend Comic-Con every year!

Philanthropic Interests: I have served on the Board of Directors for Grandma's House of Hope for the past three years. The GHH mission is to "empower the invisible populations of Orange County" through housing, education, and other programs serving the homeless and low-income population. See https://www.grandmashouseofhope.org/ for more information.

Favorite part about OCWLA: Mixers, Wine Events, Networking, Meeting fabulous women in our profession.

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I am always down for coffee, lunch, or happy hour!

Name: Laurie Rowen

Place of Work: Owner/Founder of Montage Legal Group - https://montagelegal.com/attorneys/laurie-rowen/

Fun Fact About Me:  My husband is a lawyer, and I'm raising two "mini-lawyer" daughters, ages 11 and 13. I also have a really cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lucky, who is a treasured member of our family!

Philanthropic Interests: I've been supporting WHW (Women Helping Women) for over a decade. I've served as the President of the Board of Directors, and I'm currently the Chair of the Advisory Board. My daughters currently support WHW through their children's philanthropy club, CA Kids Giving Back. See www.whw.org and www.cakidsgivingback.com.

Practice Area:  My business, Montage Legal Group, is a freelance legal platform that connects freelance lawyers to busy law firms to assist with hourly overflow work. We started Montage to help lawyers who had left BigLaw find balance by working from home, and also to help small law firms and legal departments who need help with substantive legal work. In terms of referrals, if you meet a solo practitioner drowning in work, send them our way!

Favorite part about OCWLA: Philanthropy events, Annual Gala, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I'm currently on the Board of OCWLA, and serve on the Philanthropy Committee and Membership Committee. I absolutely love OCWLA!

Name: Proud Usahacharoenporn

Place of Work: Rutan & Tucker, LLP

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
I was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for five years in a row (2017-2021).

Fun Fact About Me: I have a 10 month old baby girl named Kaia, a basset hound, and an American bully dog, and I love dance, yoga, and barre.

Philanthropic Interests: OCWLA, Thai American Bar Association, Sonenshine Pro Bono Committee

Favorite part about OCWLA: CLE's, Mixers, Wine Events, Judges Reception, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:  I am so inspired by the wonderful and powerful group of women lawyers we have here in OC!

Name: Eve A. Brackmann

Place of Work: Stuart Kane LLP

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
Became Shareholder at Stuart Kane LLP, elected as Director at Large on the Orange County Bar Association’s Board of Directors, and celebrating two major recent appellate victories!

Fun Fact About Me: I am writing a bodybuilder cookbook, and planning a girls’ trip to Europe this summer to celebrate my 50th. I have two adorable fur babies, both toy fox terriers, 13 years old and one year old. Their names are Foxy and Bitty and they are the best!

Philanthropic Interests: Serving my community is very important to me…Some of the organizations that I am proud to support are:
• Orange County Bar Association (OCBA Board Director at Large, 2021-2024; Mentoring Committee co-chair; longstanding Mandatory Fee Arbitrator; member of the Legislative Committee for over 10 years now; regular speaker at Bridging the Gap);.
• OC Veterans Legal Institute (pro-bono work, and annual fundraiser committee member);
• USD Law School Alumni (OC Chapter Board Director since 2016)
• Project Hope School Foundation Board (Past President)

Favorite part about OCWLA: Networking, Philanthropy Events

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:  I am a strong proponent and supporter of women lawyers, women in business, and women in the survivors’ community. I am so grateful that we live in a time when we can be truly independent, successful, and help each other. As Stevie Nicks has said, “Don’t be a lady, be a legend!” Many thanks to OCWLA for supporting women lawyers and diversity in our OC legal community!

Name: Michael Lucien Baroni

Place of Work: BARONI LAW - Business & Entertainment Law

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
Entertainment Lawyer of the Year - USA (Lawyer Monthly Magazine)

Fun Fact About Me: In entertainment law, my biggest client wasn't an A-list actress. It was a Killer Whale!

Philanthropic Interests: Human Trafficking. Founding the OCBA's Human Trafficking Task Force was the most meaningful thing I've ever done as a lawyer. I will never give up the fight against traffickers.

Favorite part about OCWLA: CLE's, Mixers, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:  Currently working on a new TV show, UNICORN HUNTERS, with a #1 rated TV Producer.

Name: Dana Heyde

Place of Work: Cottle Keen Lopiccolo & Heyde, LLP

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
My law firm purchased a historic home in Orange for our office.

Fun Fact About Me: I love to play Monopoly!

Philanthropic Interests: Youth literacy.

Practice Area:  I take great care to help people resolve emotional situations in Family Law and Litigation practice areas.

Favorite part about OCWLA: Book Club.

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:  I am a passionate advocate for my clients and for the advancement of women in the legal profession. I am honored to be OCWLA’s 2021 Vice-President and look forward to connecting with other dynamic members at our fun events. 

Name: Larisa Dinsmoor

Place of Work: Deputy Public Defender, Office of the Orange County Public Defender.

Recent Professional Accomplishment: Orange County Bar Association President.

Fun Fact About Me: I have lived in Russia, Uganda and South Africa. I love to travel and do volunteer work with lawyers in developing countries. I've had the privilege of working with lawyers in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. I also like yoga, running, and trying new cuisines, although I don't like to cook.

Philanthropic Interests:  International Bridges to Justice, Avocats Sans Frontières, Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) with Bryan Stevenson.

Favorite part about OCWLA:  CLE's, Mixers, Wine Events, Judges Reception, Networking, Camaraderie.

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:  I am extremely accessible. Feel free to reach out to me. I believe in mentorship, allyship, and investing in women lawyers. Together, we can bring about more connection, community and unity.

Name: Shirin Forootan

Place of Work: Workplace Justice Advocates

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
Joined Workplace Justice Advocates as Partner in 2019, Served as Chair of the Labor & Employment Section of OCBA in 2020, Appointed Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee of OCBA in 2021.

Fun Fact About Me: I enjoy baking for others and reading historical fiction.

Philanthropic Interests:  I wholeheartedly support the Orange County United Way and the important work they do for our community.

Practice Area:  I represent employees and executives in employment litigation, although for many years I defended employers in such cases. 

Favorite part about OCWLA: The Annual Gala is always such an exceptional and fun event. I have met so many incredible and supportive women through OCWLA that I would not have met otherwise, and for that I am very grateful.

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:  I have greatly enjoyed OCWLA throughout the years and I look forward to continuing my involvement with this amazing group of smart and passionate women.

Name: Jacqueline Beaumont

Place of Work: Call & Jensen

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
As a litigation partner, I really enjoy the teamwork that goes into crafting a winning summary judgment motion, or negotiating a well-valued settlement - and the celebrations afterwards.

Fun Fact About Me: I speak French and Mandarin Chinese, and have lived in both countries.

Philanthropic Interests: Girls Inc., MOMS Orange County, and other organizations that lift women and girls into their full potential and leadership through mentoring and special programs.

Practice Area:  I handle employment defense of class actions and lawsuits, plus kitchen-sink advising on all employment law issues under the sun for businesses. There is not an employment issue that I do not handle for Southern California employers!

Favorite part about OCWLA: CLEs, Annual Gala, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:I'm passionate about advancing opportunities and equality for women in the workplace, and always open to discussing new ideas or events for OCWLA.