Brown Bag Lunch Committee

Officer Liaison: Cherisse Cleofe
Co-Chairs: Derek Ishikawa, Nima Mohebbi, Oliver Rocos, and Jesus Torres

The Brown Bag Lunch Committee is responsible for planning and arranging the Litigation Section’s Brown Bag Programs, including obtaining the speakers and program facilities, and arranging for notices and publicity for each program.
 

Communications and Website Committee

Officer Liaison: Marta Alcumbrac
Co-Chairs: David Samani, Eva Yang, and Candice Shikai

The Communications and Website Committee is responsible for working with the Web Services department of LACBA to maintain and monitor the content of the Litigation Section’s website and communications to its members through social media.
 

Complex Courts Committee

Officer Liaison: Cherisse Cleofe
Co-Chairs: Brian Glennon, and Kelly W. Weil (Gretchen Nelson, Advisor)

The Complex Courts Committee is responsible for interfacing with the Complex Courts of the Los Angeles Superior Court to brainstorm innovative methods to make the litigation of complex cases more efficient and effective, to address concerns by the bar and the bench regarding litigation before the Complex Courts, and report those concerns to the Executive Committee.  The Complex Courts Committee is responsible for planning and arranging the Litigation Section’s Complex Courts Symposium, including obtaining the speakers and program facilities, and arranging for notices and publicity for each program.  The Complex Courts Committee is also responsible for planning and arranging periodic Complex Courts brown bag lunches, including obtaining the speakers and program facilities, and arranging for notices and publicity for each program.
 

Court Alerts Committee

Officer Liaison: Marta Alcumbrac
Co-Chairs: David R. Carpenter, Tamara Bush, and Geoffrey Stover

The Court Alerts Committee alerts the LACBA Litigation Section members through e-blasts known as “Court Alerts,” printed in our online LACBA newsletter regarding upcoming court events, news and ongoing changes to the state courts in Los Angeles County and federal courts in the Central District.
 

Court Funding and Operations Committee

Officer Liaison: Shehnaz Bhujwala
Co-Chairs: Shehnaz Bhujwala, Elizabeth D. Mann, Ibiere Seck, and Jeff Westerman

The Adequate State Court Funding and Operations Committee is a LACBA Committee that determines how LACBA can best support efforts to keep courtrooms in the California State court system generally, and the Los Angeles County Superior Court in particular, open and functioning adequately, and address deferred maintenance and the need for construction of new courthouses, despite State court budget reductions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Officer Liaison: Mike Madokoro
Co-Chairs: Julie Gerchik, Shawtina Lewis, Gerald Ohn, and Cyndie Chang

The Diversity Committee is responsible for planning and arranging the Litigation Section’s Diversity Programs, including inviting the speakers, securing program facilities, and arranging for notices and publicity for each program.  Through the programs, the Diversity Committee strives to promote equity and full participation in the legal profession by members of all communities, in an effort to promote the advancement of attorneys from under-represented communities in all areas of the legal profession.  The programs also serve as a forum for dialogue, a method to increase collaboration in the legal profession, and a vehicle to bring the community together.

Federal Courts Committee

Officer Liaison: Peter Morrison
Co-Chairs: Jean-Claude Andre, Vicki Chou, Brian Hershman, and Rohit Nath

The Federal Courts Committee is responsible for interfacing with the Central District Court in order to understand the Court’s concerns, organize subcommittees to address those concerns and report those concerns to the Executive Committee.  The Federal Courts Committee is also responsible for coordinating with the local chapter of the Federal Bar Association to plan and arrange the Federal Court Symposium.
 

Legislative Review / Civil Procedure Committee

Officer Liaison: Peter Morrison
Co-Chairs: John Durrant, Michael Shortnacy, and Aaron Osten

The Legislative Review Committee is responsible for reporting to the Executive Committee regarding legislative matters of general interest to civil litigation lawyers and the courts, including proposed revisions to the Code of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and other rulemaking, for the Executive Committee's consideration and action.
 

Membership Committee

Officer Liaison: Mike Madokoro
Co-Chairs: Wesley Burrell, Esther Ro, Margaret (Peggy) Dayton, Matthew Richardson; Celene Chen Andrews

The Membership Committee is responsible for increasing membership in the Litigation Section, marketing the Litigation Section at LACBA events and at law schools, and coordinating with the Barristers’ Liaison to raise the profile of the Litigation Section at Barristers events by coordinating with a law student-member, as the Membership Committee hopes to increase awareness about the Litigation Section among law students.
 

Programs Committee

Officer Liaison:  Cherisse Cleofe
Co-Chairs: Armen Akaragian, Richard Stuhlbarg, Hilary Potashner, Jeffrey Koncius,

The Programs Committee is responsible for planning and arranging the Litigation Section’s Bench Meets Bar Program, including obtaining the speakers and program facilities, arranging for notices and publicity for each program and spearheading the sale of tables.  The Programs Committee also is responsible for planning and arranging such other programs as from time to time may be prescribed by the Chair or the Executive Committee.
 

Sponsorship Committee

Officer Liaison: Peter Morrison
Co-Chairs: Shant Karnikian and Timothy Reynolds

The Sponsorship Committee is responsible for structuring, pricing and promoting Litigation Section sponsorships from companies or individuals who provide goods or services in connection with or support of litigation, including without limitation sponsorship associated with one or more Section events, as may be directed and approved by the Chair or the Executive Committee.