Orange County Women
 Lawyers Association
For Women Lawyers and Those Who Support Their Advancement

OCWLA Featured Members

An integral part of OCWLA’s mission is to advance women in the legal profession by providing a professional network.  Our Featured Member Series is designed to highlight our OCWLA members online so we can help virtually connect members, facilitate referrals between members, and highlight our members’ accomplishments.

Have you recently been promoted, published an article, or achieved a milestone in your career? Or are you looking to network and meet more OCWLA members? We’d love to feature you! If you are interested in being featured, please fill out this form: OCWLA's Featured Member Series.  We’ll be in touch with you regarding your feature.  For more information, please email info@ocwla.org

  • Monday, April 03, 2023 7:36 PM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Bowman & Brooke

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: I have recently become the Firm Chair of Women's Committee and I was also awarded 2022 Lawyer of Distinction!

    Fun Fact About Me: I was the youngest to learn how to water ski at the age of 6; I love the outdoors - water skiing, snow skiing, hiking and the beach.

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

    Practice Area: Product Liability Civil Litigation Defense



  • Tuesday, March 07, 2023 1:54 PM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Veterans Legal Institute

    Recent Professional Accomplishment:  Promotion to Deputy Executive Director

    Fun Fact About Me: When I'm not working you can find me on a spin bike at Wellbee fitness!

    Philanthropic Interests: Veterans issues and access to justice.

    Practice Area: Public Interest


  • Thursday, February 23, 2023 11:59 AM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: Having started my career with the same firm as a law clerk while attending law school, as of October 2022 I became the sole owner of Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie.

    Fun Fact About Me: I love all things sports and enjoy working out, playing golf, pickleball and cycling.

    Philanthropic Interests: I volunteer for Ronald McDonald House, Veterans Legal Institute, and Second Harvest Food Bank, as it gives me great satisfaction and a privilege to give back to those in need in our community.

    Practice Area: Personal Injury

    Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you? I love practicing personal injury law because it allows me to help people during a difficult time in their lives.


  • Thursday, February 16, 2023 11:43 AM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Buchalter

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: I spoke at the ABA TIPS Motor Vehicle Product Liability Conference last year on ADS/ADAS vehicles.

    Fun Fact About Me: I used to compete in CrossFit competitions. I have 3 kids and my youngest is 6 months old.

    Philanthropic Interests: Education on nutrition and healthy diets for kids.

    Practice Area: Intellectual Property and Product Liability Litigation

    What is your favorite part about OCWLA? Wine Events, Judges Reception, Networking!


  • Thursday, February 09, 2023 1:05 PM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Cepkinian-Cinar Law, Inc.

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: After nearly 20 years of experience as a skilled litigator, I am thrilled to have recently opened up by own employment practice, Cepkinian-Cinar Law, Inc. I represent employees who have experienced harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, demotion, violation of leave laws, and/or violation of wage and hour laws.

    Fun Fact About Me: I am an adjunct professor at USC Gould School of Law, where I teach (you guessed it) employment discrimination. I also love hiking, traveling, and cooking for my friends and family.

    Philanthropic Interests: My daughters and I are part of the National Charity League (NCL), which is a mother-daughter organization that partners up with numerous philanthropies throughout Orange County. Some of our favorite philanthropies to volunteer at include Beyond Blindness, Caterina's Club, Families Forward, and the Ronald McDonald House.

    Practice Area: Plaintiff's Employment Law

    Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you? I am excited to get to know the OCWLA members more closely and discover all the ways we can help each other succeed - professionally and personally!


  • Monday, January 30, 2023 5:32 PM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Orange County District Attorney's Office

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: My most recent career highlight is being counsel for the People in a case currently pending before the California Supreme Court.  I was counsel on three published opinions from the Court of Appeal, including two addressing the prosecution of fraud cases. Having nearly 10 years of civil experience prior to becoming a prosecutor gave me a particular passion about criminal fraud cases. I have tried over 50 criminal trials in my nearly 22 years as a prosecutor.

    Fun Fact About Me: I was born in Hungary and moved to the United States with my family when I was 8 years old. I love to travel and experience different cultures. I have visited 17 countries so far. Pretty much any country is on my bucket list!

    Philanthropic Interests: I am a sustaining member of Junior League of Orange County. I am a volunteer usher for South Coast Repertory Theater. I like to focus my volunteerism toward the arts and child abuse prevention.

    Practice Area: Criminal Prosecution - Motions, Writs and Appeals

    What is your favorite part about OCWLA? Mixers and Book Club, of course!



  • Monday, January 09, 2023 11:45 AM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: DOPE Quick Reads LLC/Western State College of Law

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: In Jan. '22, I started my own writing business. Since beginning writing full-time in Jun. '22, I have published over 250 articles covering topics ranging from current events to recent research study breakthroughs to military history. 

    Fun Fact About Me: I am learning to play the guitar so that I can play my wedding song to my wife on our anniversary. James Arthur: Say You Won't Let Go

    Philanthropic Interests: Veterans, Elderly/Disabled, Mental Health Awareness

    Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you? I am a 2L student at Western State College of Law!

  • Monday, December 12, 2022 4:34 PM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Haynes Boone, LLP

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: Passing the bar

    Fun Fact About Me: I love hiking, snowboarding, and yoga

    Philanthropic Interests: OCWLA, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Project Youth, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County

    Practice Area: Business litigation

    What is your favorite part about OCWLA? CLE's, Mixers, Wine Events, Judges Reception

    Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you? I was the OCWLA student representative during law school!


  • Monday, November 14, 2022 7:52 PM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: Fennemore, LLP

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: After 26 years working at Rynn & Janowsky, LLP, my partners and I, made the move to join Fennemore, LLP with 250+ talented and skilled attorneys. I am currently the Vice-Chair of Programs for the Agribusiness Committee for the Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association. 

    Philanthropic Interests: I regularly volunteer at Saddleback Food Pantry Distribution Center. Over the last 10 years, I’ve worked on four Corazon home builds in Mexico and two Habitat For Humanity home builds in Los Angeles.  As a hobby, I paint on long weekends.  I am currently in the very early stages of planning a 501(c)(3) non-profit for student scholarships and creating/painting art to raise money for the cause.  Stay tuned.  

    Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you?: In May 2012, I was a recipient of the OCWLA's Diversity Bar Stipend Scholarship. At the time, I was a single mom of two young boys, working full-time, going to on-line law school (well before it was the Zoom norm). The stipend helped ease the financial burden of taking the bar exam. I am truly grateful of the assistance of OCWLA.  If you’re a single mom, keeping going. It doesn’t get easier, but it gets better. 

  • Monday, October 31, 2022 3:57 PM | Isabella McDonald-Brent

    Company Name: The Cotton Law Firm, PLLC

    Recent Professional Accomplishment: My law form recently expanded to Texas!

    Fun Fact About Me: I am a wife, Mom of two wonderful kids and a daughter in law. 

    Philanthropic Interests: I am a volunteer mediator through the Orange County court's Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center for high conflict cases, civil harassment and elder abuse. 

    Practice Area: I have been a litigator and trained Mediator, since 1997. I am versed in all areas of Guardianship/Conservatorship, Family Law and Special Education; listed on the Bexar County, Texas Mediation Wheel; and listed on the Orange County, California Court panel as a Temporary Judge and an Elder-caring Coordinator, Probate and Elder Mediator. I work with the Court on Civil Harassment and Elder Abuse mediations and with local communities in HOA disputes.

    Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you? I have been a member of OCWLA since law school graduation in 1997. I served as a member at large, treasurer and president in 2000! 


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