2025-26 Barristers/Young Attorneys Section -
Officers and Committees

Officers

		President Claire-Lise Kutlay is a trial lawyer at Miller Barondess, LLP, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in groundbreaking matters.  She is routinely retained by companies and high-level executives to handle their most important matters, serving as lead counsel at trial and arbitration. Claire-Lise has experience litigating cases in a broad range of practice areas, including employment, fraud, business torts, defamation, real estate, contracts, business partnership disputes, and misappropriation of trade secrets.
		Immediate Past President Harmony Gbe is a senior associate at Hogan Lovells US LLP, where her practice focuses on class actions and complex commercial litigation in the media, technology and entertainment industries. Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, Harmony clerked in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. She also worked at Hogan Lovells as a paralegal in the firm’s renowned Pro Bono Practice prior to attending law school. Harmony earned her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles and her undergraduate degree in Government and Sociology from Dartmouth College.
		President-Elect Martin F. Hirshland is a business litigation associate at Dykema, where he represents clients in disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, intellectual property, privacy, partnership disagreements, and general business litigation in state and federal court, administrative proceedings, arbitration, and mediation. Before Dykema, Martin worked at boutique entertainment litigation powerhouse Lavely & Singer, where he represented celebrities, influencers, and start-ups in matters involving copyright, defamation, and right of publicity. Martin earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School, where he participated in the school’s Entertainment Moot Court program and was President of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society, and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Martin has been a member of the Barristers Executive Committee since 2019, previously serving as Co-Chair of the Law Student Outreach Committee, Assistant Vice President of Special Events, Assistant Vice President of Outreach, Assistant Vice President of Public Relations, and Vice President.
		Vice President ​​​​​Adam B. Korn is a senior counsel in the Century City office of Allen Matkins. He advises clients in complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts, with an emphasis on real estate disputes and government investigations. Adam represents businesses and entities operating across diverse industry sectors, including real property investors and developers, family offices and high-net-worth individuals, commercial brokerages, lenders, and financial institutions. Before joining Allen Matkins, Adam clerked on United States District Court for the Central District of California. Adam earned his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, his M.A. from New York University, and his B.A. from Boston University.
		Assistant Vice President of Special Events Jamison Gilmore is a business litigation associate at Blank Rome LLP.  He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of industries, including media and entertainment, technology, pharmaceutical, energy, and construction industries in arbitration and litigation.  Jamison is experienced in handling matters involving trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, copyright and trademark disputes, and unfair business practices (section 17200).  Jamison is frequently relied on to represent clients from pre-litigation through trial in California courts as he is a former clerk of three Los Angeles Superior Court judges and extern for a federal magistrate judge in the Central District of California.  As a clerk, Jamison drafted over 3,000 tentative orders, none of which have been reversed on appeal.
		Assistant Vice President of Public Relations Amir Shakoorian Amir Shakoorian is a litigation attorney in Holland & Knight. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including commercial disputes, regulatory compliance, and internal investigations. He represents a diverse range of clients—from public and private companies to individuals and celebrities—in matters involving business torts, fraud, defamation, securities, contracts, and federal enforcement actions. Amir has appeared before the SEC, DOJ, and CPUC, and he maintains an active pro bono practice. Amir earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California and his undergraduate degree from Columbia University.
		Assistant Vice President of Outreach Juana San Martin is an associate at Jones Day in Los Angeles, where she represents corporations and individuals in high-stakes complex litigation. Her practice spans a wide range of matters, including product liability, public nuisance, consumer class actions, health care, contracts, and business torts. Juana has significant experience handling cases brought by federal and state prosecutors, and she has played key roles in defending clients in nationwide investigations and major litigation. She is also deeply committed to public service, providing pro bono representation to asylum seekers from Central America and actively participating in the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Barristers/Young Attorneys Section.  Prior to joining Jones Day, Juana clerked in the California Court of Appeal, Second District.
		Secretary Melissa Whalen is an associate at Horvitz & Levy LLP, where she specializes in civil appeals. In addition to briefing and arguing appeals, Melissa regularly guides clients through the process of preserving the record in the trial court, attacking judgments in the trial court through posttrial motions, staying enforcement of judgments, and perfecting an appeal. Melissa also frequently partners with trial teams to develop legal strategies and preserve appellate issues during trial.  Melissa earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and completed her undergraduate education at George Washington University.  Before joining Horvitz & Levy as an associate, Melissa clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Committees

Bench and Bar Committee
Co-Chairs:  Emily B. Lown and Matthew Richardson
The Bench and Bar Committee aims to help new and young attorneys build relationships with Southern California's judiciary. To that end, the Committee puts on an annual Bench and Bar Mixer that provides new and young attorneys the chance to meet and learn from judges from the local and federal trial and appellate courts in an informal setting.

Law Student Outreach Committee
Co-Chairs: Yvonne Carrick and Kat Ullrich
The Law Student Outreach Committee introduces future lawyers to the practice of law, engages them in the Los Angeles legal community, and provides networking resources. The Committee also raises awareness of the benefits of involvement in Barristers and encourages long-term membership in LACBA. The Law Student Outreach Committee facilitates the Barristers' Mock Interview Initiative, and serves as a liaison to the various LACBA clubs at area law schools.

Networking Committee
Co-Chairs: Zachary Johnson and Sean Burch
The Networking Committee plans exciting networking events aimed at helping new and young attorneys develop relationships with other attorneys and professionals. The Networking Committee hosts networking events quarterly for both Barristers members and non-members alike, alternating between Downtown and Westside locations.

Professional Development Committee
Co-Chairs: Heather Mariano and Dennis Gutierrez
The Professional Development Committee's goal is to provide quality programming designed to advance the careers of young attorneys. The Committee will deliver several educational programs annually, on topics such as, how to build your book of business (from scratch), networking with a purpose, and writing for judicial eyes. These programs feature prominent local judges and practitioners, who are both leaders in their respective fields and mentors to Barristers members. While the goal is to advance professional development generally, some of these programs may also offer California State Bar-required CLE credits.

Marketing and Media Committee
Co-Chairs: Kathy Winkleman and ​​​​​​ Anthony Lai
The Marketing and Media Committee is charged with managing the Barristers’ web presence. This Committee posts pictures and flyers related to upcoming events and other Barristers news items on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, ensuring regular content is generated and Barristers-eligible attorneys are hearing about our events and activities. The Committee is also responsible for coordinating the Barristers Tips column in Los Angeles Lawyer, the official magazine of LACBA. The column offers practice tips and advice to new and young attorneys.

Membership Committee
Co-Chairs: Daniel S. Pelaez and Theresa Vitale
The Membership Committee’s goal is to introduce and engage our new members with the Barristers section, and encourage future participation. The Committee will host several FUN (and FREE) events throughout the year designed to bring people out and have a good time, from bowling tournaments and comedy shows, to dance parties, hikes, and many other activities. We think the more you know us, the more you will like us, so come out and give us a shot!

Pro Bono and Community Investment Committee
Chair: David Rodriguez
Our CFJ representatives serve on the CFJ Board and act on behalf of the Barristers with respect to CFJ events and initiatives. The Barristers support the CFJ Projects, and partner on at least one program each year with the Veterans Legal Services Project, providing training to young attorneys on expungement, warrant and infraction issues, equipping the attorneys to offer legal assistance to the Veterans at the Project’s monthly clinic.

Member at Large: Janette Blair

Past Barristers Presidents*

Charles E. Beardsley 1928-29
Edward S. Shattuck 1929-30
John P. Riches 1930-31
Leo E. Anderson 1931-32
Loweli Matthay 1932-33
Jack W. Hardy 1933-34
Kenneth N. Chantry 1934-35
E. Avery Crary 1935-36
Ned Marr 1936-37
James C. Ingebretson 1937-38
Joseph McFarland 1938-39
William T. Davis 1939-40
Harold W. Schweitzer 1940-41
Whitney Harris 1941-42
Stanley N. Gleis 1942-43
Carl A. Stutsman 1942-43
Homer H. Bell 1943-44
Robert Lane Morris 1943-44
Wixon Stevens 1944-45
Donald A. Dewar 1945-46
Adolphe R.E. Roome 1946-47
Cameron W. Cecil 1947-48
Edward C. Jones 1948-49
Robert M. Barton 1949-50
Edward C. Freutel, Jr. 1950-51
Loyd Wright, Jr. 1951-52
Gordon K. Wright 1952-53
Chester Lappen 1953-54
Ira M. Price, II 1954-55
Philip F. Westbrook 1955-56
Joseph L. Wyatt, Jr. 1956-57
Richard H. Wolford 1957-58
Robert H. Ingram 1958-59
Richard F. Alden 1959-60
Hon. Lester H. Olson 1960-61
Richards D. Barger 1961-62
David H. Massey 1962-63
Charles G. Bakaly, Jr. 1963-64
H. Randall Stoke 1964-65
Hon. Harry L. Hupp 1965-66
Hon. Richard A. Gadbois 1966-67
Hon. Richard P. Byrne 1967-68
John J. Quinn 1968-69
John E. Kehoe 1969-70
John D. Hussey 1970-71
William B. Campbell 1971-72
Joseph D. Mandel 1972-73
Dennis K. Metzler 1973-74
Joseph R. Austin 1974-75
C. Stephen Howard 1975-76
Ronald L. Olson 1976-77
Hon. David A. Horowitz 1977-78
Laurie Harris 1978-79
Donald P. Baker 1979-80
Dennis M. Perluss 1980-81
Gregory A. Long 1981-82
Hon. Margaret M. Morrow 1982-83
Bernard E. LeSage 1983-84
David J. Pasternak 1984-85
Helena Sunny Wise 1985-86
Jeffrey A. Tidus 1986-87
Marc L. Sallus 1987-88
Claudia A. Carver 1988-89
Hon. Lee Smalley Edmon 1989-90
Hon. Andria Kay Richey 1990-91
Paul A. Catalano 1991-92
Jay Ford 1992-93
Michele E. Flurer 1993-94
Jan A. Yoss 1994-95
Michael D. Schwartz 1995-96
Laura V. Farber 1996-97
Russell T. Ginise 1997-98
Mark T. Gillett 1998-99
Bill Bilderback 1999-2000
Lorin D. Snyder 2000-01
Gabrielle Harner Brumbach 2001-02
Elizabeth M. Calciano 2002-03
Margaret P. Stevens 2003-04
Luci-Ellen Chun 2004-05
Kim Tung 2005-06
Gavin Hachiya Wasserman 2006-07
Cindy Johnson 2007-08
Alexander S. Gareeb 2008-09
David W. Swift 2009-2010
David K. Reinert 2010-2011
Sarah E. Luppen 2011-2012
Andrew Dhadwal 2012-2013
Mark A. Kressel 2013-2014
Devon Myers 2014-2015
Robert Glassman 2015-2016
Damon Thayer 2016-2017
Jeanne Nishimoto 2017-2018
Jessica G. Gordon 2018-2019
Diana A. Sanders 2019-2020
Sharon Gelbart 2020-2021
Sarah Kelly-Kilgore  2021-2022
Anne Nash 2022-2023
Nick Spear 2023-2024
Harmony Gbe 2024-2025

*In 2018, the name of the section was changed from Barristers to Barristers/Young Attorneys