Due to a delayed start to our billing and compliance cycle, the Board of Trustees approved the MCLE reporting deadline for this year only as March 1st. MCLE Group 3 attorneys (last names N-Z) who are reporting compliance for the 2/1/2014-1/31/2017 compliance period must complete and report the education due no later than March 1, 2017 in order to avoid a $75 noncompliance fee.  Please make sure that any MCLE marketing materials that include the reporting deadline correctly characterize this grace period.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the next Group 3 MCLE compliance period formally starts February 1, 2017, therefore, any course taken in February may be used for the 2017 or the 2020 period, but not both. Attorneys should be reminded to keep careful records in order to avoid double-counting any hours earned in February.

If you receive compliance questions from a California attorney, please feel free to refer them to the State Bar at 1-888-800-3400 or MCLE@calbar.ca.gov.

Please join the UCI Newkirk Center for Science & Society to welcome the arrival of the National Registry of Exonerations, the definitive repository of data about exonerations in the United States, and honor our benefactors Denise Foderaro and Frank Quattrone.
 
Thursday, March 16, 2017
2:30 p.m. - Panel Discussions
Two panels will discuss the importance of the Registry
for research, journalism, and policy reform.

5 p.m. - Celebration Program
Program to include:
Barry Scheck, Co-Founder, The Innocence Project
Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, UC Irvine Law School
Brian Banks, Exoneree
Franky Carrillo, Exoneree
Approved for 1.5 hour of MCLE Credit.

7 p.m. – Reception
Click here for all panel and program details.

UCI Student Center - Pacific Ballroom
A311 Student Center
Irvine, CA 92697
Directions

Everyone is welcome to attend all or individual events.
RSVP by March 10th.
Questions? Please contact newkirk@uci.edu

Denisha McKenzie slated to take role of President in 2018
 
IRVINE, Calif., January 30, 2017 – Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP (CDF), an award-winning California employment, labor and immigration law firm, is pleased to announce Attorney Denisha McKenzie is the President-elect of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association (TMBA).  Committed to diversity and the advancement of justice through positive community involvement, the Orange County Bar Association affiliate’s mission is to connect, support, and increase the African American legal community in Orange County.

The TMBA is a contemporary group that strives to promote increased diversity, multi-culturalism, community service and excellence and integrity in the practice of law.  Similarly, at CDF, workplace diversity is a core value.  The firm supports a professional environment that attracts attorneys and staff from all backgrounds, resulting in an organization filled with professionals whose perspectives and experiences greatly benefit the counsel of clients.

“As a member of the TMBA since 2015, I am honored to serve the association as President-elect, and look forward to taking on the leadership role of President next term,” says Denisha McKenzie, CDF attorney.  “I have learned a great deal from my peers at both my law firm and this association, and I’m privileged to continue my work with both organizations that have such an important impact on diversity in our legal community.”

“Denisha’s legal experience and dedication to community service is a testament to her leadership and commitment to providing the very best counsel for our clients,” says Todd Wulffson, Managing Partner of CDF’s Orange County office.  “Her experience on the TMBA board gives her a rich understanding of the importance of diversity in the legal community.”

A proud graduate of University of California, Irvine School of Law’s inaugural class, McKenzie is based in CDF’s Irvine office where she works with employers on a variety of issues involving discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination cases, representing clients before state and federal agencies.  Prior to joining CDF, McKenzie co-founded the Orange County Human Rights Association; was one of the first student co-authors of the first edition of the UC Irvine Law Review; and received the distinction of Pro Bono honors upon graduation.  Previously serving as the TMBA Vice President in 2016, McKenzie is President-elect this year and will assume the role of President in 2018.

As the 2017 TMBA Distinguished Law Firm Sponsor, CDF will fund scholarships for four Law Student Ambassadors to help with their legal education costs.
“It has been an honor and privilege to work so closely with a critical leader in the Orange County legal community on issues of diversity and inclusion,” said Kimberly La Salle, TMBA’s current President.  “Denisha's vision, skill and willingness to share her experience for the greater good have positively impacted and advanced diversity in the Southern California legal community and beyond.”

About Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP
For more than 20 years, Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top employment, labor and immigration firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance.  The firm has five offices throughout California – in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, visit: www.CDFLaborLaw.com and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Fletcher Jones Motor Cars

3300 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach

Benefitting female veterans at Veterans Legal Institute and honoring Trudy Levindofske, CAE, Executive Director of The Orange County Bar Association.

More Information

California Bar Foundation 3L Diversity Scholarship Application is now open!  Any diverse 3L who plans to practice public interest law in California, and who plans to take the July 2016 California Bar Exam, is eligible.  Scholarship recipients receive a free BARBRI prep course along with a living stipend.  Deadline is Tuesday, February 14 at 5 PM PST.  The application can be found here:   http://www.calbarfoundation.org/3l-diversity-scholarship.html

It has been an absolute pleasure and honor serving as your Orange County Women Lawyers President for 2016.

I would like to spend a few minutes highlighting some of our successes this past year. 

READ MORE: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1103337380382&ca=9f375339-65f1-4714-b8e6-df2b27210428

Comments sought:
 
Six (6) new proposals to amend the California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms have been posted to the California Courts web site, at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm. If approved, the amendments would be effective September 1, 2017.

The deadline for comment is 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2017.
 
Additionally, in 2016 the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) initiated a workstream to update the Tactical Plan for Technology 2014-2016. After analyzing branch business drivers, evaluating existing initiatives, and incorporating new initiatives, the workstream now requests input on the initial draft of the updated Tactical Plan for Technology 2017-2018.

Deadline for comments on the proposed plan is Wednesday, January 18, 2017.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Camilla Kieliger, at camilla.kieliger@jud.ca.gov, or at 415-865-7681.
 
We greatly appreciate your time and dedication to the continued improvement of administration of justice in California.

Comments sought:
 
Two proposals have been published for comment at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm.
 
CALCRIM 2016-02: Criminal Jury Instructions (CALCRIM) - Revisions
The Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions is seeking comment on new and revised instructions reflecting developments in the law. The deadline for comment is Friday, January 6, 2017.
 
 
SP16-13: Appellate Procedure: Expedited Review of Certain Orders Denying Motions to Compel Arbitration
Recent legislation requires the Court of Appeal to issue its decision in cases involving the review of certain orders denying motions to compel arbitration no later than 100 days after the notice of appeal is filed. The legislation also requires the Judicial Council to adopt rules to implement this requirement and to establish a shortened notice of appeal period in these cases. These proposed rules are intended to fulfill this legislative obligation. The deadline for comment is Wednesday, January 11, 2017.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Camilla Kieliger, at camilla.kieliger@jud.ca.gov, or at 415-865-7681.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (November 21, 2016) – The Orange County Bar Association will present attorney Dean J. Zipser with the Franklin G. West Award at its 2017 Judges’ Night & Annual Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif.
First established in 1971 in honor of the late Judge Franklin G. West, the Franklin G. West Award represents the highest honor awarded by the OCBA.

Widely regarded as a leader in the Orange County legal community, Mr. Zipser is a founding partner of Umberg/Zipser LLP, headquartered in Irvine, Calif. He has been practicing law for more than 36 years, and continues to serve the Orange County bench and bar as well as the greater legal community through his work, mentoring, and community service.

“The Orange County legal community is fortunate to have attorneys of Dean’s caliber,” said OCBA President Todd Friedland. “His selfless efforts have made a positive impact on countless OCBA members.”

In 2005, Mr. Zipser served as President of the OCBA, for which he founded and currently co-chairs the association’s Mentoring Committee. In years past, he served as a President of the OCBA Charitable Fund, and Chair of the OCBA Masters Division that includes members who have practiced law for 25 years or longer. Additionally, he is a founding member and Secretary of the Federal Bar Association, Orange County, and was a former President of the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Both at and beyond the OCBA, his service to the legal community has and continues to be a humbling example of service and leadership.
“Dean has always been a quiet leader, one who so clearly puts the interests of the legal community before his own,” shares U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton about her experience working with Mr. Zipser. “He is both reflective and inclusive in his decision making process. Because he puts others before himself, the members of the organizations he leads know they are in capable hands.”

He is currently one of two vice chairs for the California State Bar’s Second Commission on the Revision of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and previously served as a member of the Pro Bono Panel for the Central District of California as well as a lawyer representative for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Just as dedicated to the underserved and underrepresented communities in Orange County, Mr. Zipser is Vice President of the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, and works extensively with Orange County Bar Foundation and Public Law Center. In 2003, he received the Jurisprudence Award from the Anti-Defamation League, which annually recognizes an individual who exemplifies the highest ideals of the legal profession and demonstrates committed service to the community.
Earlier this year, Mr. Zipser was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Orange County Intellectual Property Litigation by Best Lawyers, which recognized him as “Lawyer of the Year” in the category of Orange County Bet-the-Company Litigation in 2014.

Moreover, he has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers for the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation since 2008, and as a “Super Lawyer” for the Southern California region since 2005.

Prior to establishing Umberg/Zipser LLP, Mr. Zipser was managing partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP until joining Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, where he was a partner since May 2008.

Mr. Zipser holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles. He earned his J.D. from Stanford University Law School in 1980, and served as a member of the Stanford Law Review.

About the Orange County Bar Association
Established in 1901, the Orange County Bar Association, with over 8,000 members, is one of the largest voluntary bars in California. The mission of the Orange County Bar Association is to enhance the system of justice, to support the lawyers who serve it and to assist the community served by it.

About the Franklin G. West Award
Established in 1971 in memory of the late Judge Franklin G. West, a highly respected jurist who served on the bench from January 1939 to March 1965, the West Award is bestowed upon an outstanding attorney or judge who has made significant contributions to advance and elevate justice and law. Judge West’s 26 years and two months on the bench constituted the longest term ever served by a judge in California.

Contact
Jane Kim, (949) 440-6700, ext. 123
jkim@ocbar.org