OCWLA Featured Members

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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. 

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! 

Company Name: Orange County Superior Court Judge

Recent Professional Accomplishment: I am thrilled and honored to have been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court by Governor Newsom in March 2022.

Fun Fact About Me: I am a single mom of 2 boys, and love to do anything outdoors and that makes me sweat. 

Philanthropic Interests: My passions are children and education. Board member of MaxLove Project, which is dedicated to helping children fighting cancer and their families. 

Practice Area: I am currently assigned to the Family Law Panel. When I was practicing law, I did complex civil business litigation, focusing primarily on class action defense.

What is your favorite part about OCWLA? It's kick-a** women supporting other kick-a** women.

Company Name: Smart Forensics

Recent Professional Accomplishment: After 15 years in the accounting industry, I am thrilled that I was finally able to start my own forensic accounting and economic damages firm in December 2020.

Fun Fact About Me: I love golf! It's been a great way to get outdoors and connect with other professional women. 

Philanthropic Interests: Veterans Legal Institute 

Practice Area: Forensic Accounting

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

Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you? I look forward to meeting all of you in person at one of the OCWLA's amazing mixers and events soon!