What This Recognition Means to Me:  After more than a decade of being involved with OCWLA, this recognition is incredibly meaningful to me. I have always looked up to the women who received this award before me, not only because of what they accomplished, but because they led with kindness, grace and a genuine commitment to lifting up the women around them. To be included among them is an incredible honor, and one I also take as a responsibility to keep opening doors, creating opportunities and advocating for the women coming up behind me.

Any Organization, Initiative, Event, or Project I’d Like OCWLA to Help Promote: Two organizations I’m incredibly passionate about right now are Project Youth OC and CASA OC. Both do amazing work for young people in our community, and if anyone is interested in volunteering, getting involved or just learning more about either organization, please reach out to me—I would genuinely love to share why I care so much about them.

Company Name: Rutan & Tucker, LLP

Practice Area: Corporate & M&A

Fun Fact About Me: My fun fact is that I genuinely think I’m the luckiest girl in the world right now! I recently married the love of my life, I have an amazing family and the greatest friends, and I get to spend my free time outside, with the people I love and, of course, with my dog Cody. I’m just really grateful for this season of life.

What is your favorite part about OCWLA? The genuine support among the women in this organization. For more than a decade, I’ve watched women ahead of me reach back, pull me up, encourage me and celebrate my successes as if they were their own. Now, as a member of the Emeritus Board, I feel a real responsibility to turn around and do the same for the women coming behind me. There are women in OCWLA I could call tomorrow with good news, a hard decision or a crazy idea, and know they would genuinely want the very best for me. That kind of community is incredibly special. OCWLA has also shaped the way I practice law. It taught me that being a great lawyer isn’t just about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about connection, collaboration, civility and understanding that we are all part of the same professional community. 

Is there anything else you'd like OCWLA members to know about you? I’ve gotten really excited about civic engagement in the last few years and finding new ways to give back to the community that has given me so much. I recently became a Commissioner for the City of Newport Beach and joined the board of the Newport Beach Foundation, and both experiences have made me even more excited about getting involved locally. We are incredibly lucky to live and work in Orange County, and I want to do my small part to make this community even better.

Find Me on Socials:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellylucindagalligan/

Instagram: @kellylucindagalligan

Company Name: Crowell & Moring LLP

What does this recognition means to your firm and your team: Receiving this recognition from OCWLA is a tremendous honor that reflects the dedication and hard work of every member of our office. It affirms our commitment to fostering an environment where women attorneys can thrive and lead. We are deeply grateful to OCWLA for championing the advancement of women in the law, and we are inspired to continue building a firm where inclusion and excellence go hand in hand.

Any firm news, initiatives, events, or community efforts you would like us to highlight: We are especially proud of several recent highlights from our Orange County team. Our OC Director of Administration & Senior Manager of Technical Customer Services, Josh Pearce, co-authored a bylined article in the OC Lawyer titled “Beyond Pro Bono: Unlocking the Full Capacity of Your Firm,” alongside Brooke Weitzman, Founder and Executive Director of Community Counsel — an organization dedicated to providing accessible legal services to people and communities facing legal challenges. The article reflects our firm’s belief that meaningful community engagement goes far beyond traditional pro bono work. This year, we were proud to celebrate OC partner and Chair of Crowell & Moring’s Antitrust and Competition Group, Dan Sasse, who was named the recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association’s (TMBA) Brooke Weitzman Allyship Award. Dan was honored at the TMBA’s 8th Annual Awards & Installation Gala on April 3rd. This award is presented to an attorney who demonstrates a sustained commitment to justice, equity, and empowerment — values that sit at the core of who we are as a firm.  In 2025, the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law recognized: OC counsels Melissa Nguyen and Charlene Sun as Top Young Lawyers in Orange County; OC partner Dan Sasse with the Bridge Builder Award for his leadership and commitment to equity and inclusion; and Crowell’s Orange County office as a Top Firm in Orange County for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In 2025, LA Times Studios named Orange County partner and firm Executive Committee Chair, Chahira Solh, a finalist for its Inspirational Women Forum and Leadership Awards. Our Orange County office was proud to receive two awards at Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County’s Food From The Bar Awards ceremony on July 30^th. Through volunteer efforts and fundraising, our OC team helped provide roughly 40,000 pounds of nutritious food to children, seniors, and families facing food insecurity across the OC community — a true reflection of our firm’s commitment to making a meaningful difference.

Practice Areas: Antitrust, complex commercial litigation, recovery, environmental, intellectual property, white collar & regulatory enforcement, advertising and brand protection, state attorneys general, and transactions.

Fun Fact About Our Firm: Crowell has never been afraid to do things differently. Our Orange County office (opened in the early 1990s as the firm’s second office) is a great example of that entrepreneurial spirit. A lighthearted symbol of that culture is our office mascot, the rubber duck, which reflects our willingness to break from the traditional law firm mold. That same forward-looking approach is evident in our leadership: the Orange County office has had female managing partners for the past 7 years, and we continue to maintain a strong pipeline of talented women attorneys.

What is your favorite part about OCWLA? OCWLA creates a space where women lawyers at every stage of their careers and lives can find support, inspiration, and connection. The organization’s dedication to advancing gender equity in the law reflects values that we hold deeply at our firm, and we are proud to be part of such a vibrant and purposeful community.

Is there anything else you’d like OCWLA members to know about your firm? At Crowell & Moring, we believe that a diverse and inclusive team isn’t just the right thing to do—it makes us better lawyers and better advocates for our clients. We are deeply committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting women attorneys at all levels of the firm, and we actively invest in programs and initiatives that support their growth and leadership. We are proud to serve clients in Orange County and beyond, and we look forward to continuing to build meaningful relationships with the talented women who make up the OCWLA community.

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What this recognition means to me: The OCWLA is unmatched in its dedication and efforts toward its mission—a mission I wholeheartedly support and from which I have likely benefitted.  OCWLA’s members and leadership are some of the most capable passionate in Orange County. I am truly honored to be recognized by an organization full of powerhouses and hope that I continue to make the organization proud both on the bench as well as off. 

Company Name: Superior Court for the State of California, County of Orange

Practice Area: Currently assigned to the Juvenile Panel and oversee a juvenile justice calendar and our collaborative court for commercially sexually exploited youth. Previously I handled a juvenile dependency calendar and was also assigned to the Family Law Panel. In private practice I handled complex business litigation.

Fun Fact About Me: I was voted “Best Dancer” in 8^th Grade and “Most Outgoing” in high school.

What is your favorite part about OCWLA? In addition to the laudable mission, I appreciate how OCWLA has created a community to help women in the legal profession feel connected and supported and also gives us opportunities for networking and career growth and development.

Is there anything else you'd like OCWLA members to know about you?  I will break into spontaneous dance if “Return of the Mack” is playing. It is basically autonomic.

Company Name:
Allen Morris Investigations LLC

Practice Area:
Workplace Investigations

Fun Fact About Me:
I once auditioned for a part on the TV show and spent time hanging out on TV sets during filming in my teens

What is your favorite part about OCWLA?:
The book club and morning coffee events are my favorites. I love the combination of substantive learning and the opportunity to build genuine relationships with other women attorneys in Orange County in a more relaxed environment.

Is there anything else you'd like the OCWLA Members to know about you?:
I conduct neutral harassment, discrimination, and Title IX investigations throughout Orange County. Always happy to connect or serve as a resource.

Find Me On Socials!

Company/Law School Name: UC Irvine School of Law

Practice Area: (Plaintiff-side) employment law

Fun Fact About Me: I love bouldering (indoor rock climbing) as a way to face my fear of heights!

Philanthropic Interests: Supporting progressive candidates in local and national elections

What is your favorite part about OCWLA?: OCWLA's leadership in standing up to the political targeting of the legal profession

Is there anything else you'd like the OCWLA Members to know about you?: As the former President of OutLaw at UCI Law, I appreciate when women's groups partner with LGBTQ+ groups to highlight and celebrate the intersection of multiple identities

Company/Law School Name: UCI School of Law

Practice Area: Real Estate Transactions

Fun Fact About Me: I'm a marathon finisher! One for the books and totally worth the experience.

Philanthropic Interests: As an Army Reservist, I’m passionate about giving back and connecting with veterans. Throughout law school, I volunteered at the Veterans Legal Institute, assisting veterans with discharge and benefit upgrades, which was incredibly rewarding.

What is your favorite part about OCWLA?: I love OCWLA for its supportive community, mentorship, and its commitment to uplifting women in law!

Company/Law School: Public Law Center 

Practice Area:Consumer Law (Legal Fellow) 

Fun Fact About Me: In high school, I played the cello in my school’s production of the musical The Secret Garden 

Philanthropic interests: Pro bono legal services and legal education pipeline 

What is your favorite part about OCWLA:I value OCWLA’s sense of community, mentorship, and commitment to advancing women in the legal profession 

Is there anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: 

Born and raised in Orange County, I am a huge museum enthusiast and love to explore museums when I travel. 

Company Name:
Marcia Zigler, Divorce Mortgage Planner, LLC

Practice Area:
Divorce Mortgage Planning

Fun Fact About Me:
I do love hot yoga and my lovely dog is a 3-legged Docker! (part Cocker and part Dachshund) 

Philanthropic Interests: 
Priceless Pets and OC Mission Rescue

What is your favorite part about OCWLA?:
Mixers, Wine Events, Networking

Is there anything else you'd like the OCWLA Members to know about you?:
I am thrilled to be a member and look forward to all the events and volunteer opportunities.

Company Name: Assassi & Cruz Law Firm, PC

Practice Area: Employment/Consumer Law

Recent Professional Accomplishment:  I have been recognized as a Super Lawyer - Rising Star for four consecutive years (2023–2026).

What is your favorite part about OCWLA?: The networking opportunities 

Is there anything else you'd like the OCWLA Members to know about you?: I would like to thank the OCWLA. The legal field is undeniably demanding, and as many of us know, women lawyers often have a special juggling act when it comes to work-life balance. Networking with this incredible group of women has been a game-changer. Thank you.

Find Me On Socials! 

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