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!

Company Name: Forootan Law

Recent Professional Accomplishment: After having worked for years at defense and plaintiff firms practicing employment law, I opened my own firm, Forootan Law, last Fall. I represent both sides--companies and employees--in employment litigation. I also provide workplace training, conduct workplace investigations, and provide expert testimony. This year I hired two law student clerks and one associate. I look forward to celebrating a successful first year at Forootan Law with my team.

Fun Fact About Me: I enjoy taking walks by the beach while listening to wellness podcasts.

Philanthropic Interests: Orange County United Way

Practice Area: I represent employees and companies in employment litigation, as well as provide advice and counsel, workforce training, and HR expert testimony.

What is your favorite part about OCWLA? Networking, The Gala

Is there anything else you would like the OCWLA Members to know about you? I am so grateful to know so many of OCWLA members, and for those I do not yet know, I very much look forward to meeting you. To know other Orange County women lawyers that support each other is truly special and very necessary in the legal field. See you at the gala!

Name: Livia Espiritu, rising 2L at Chapman University Fowler School of Law

Place of Work: Forootan Law

What is Your Practice Area? Currently employment law. Undecided and interested in civil litigation, entertainment law and immigration law.

Fun Fact About Me: I was born in the Philippines and came to the US when I was 5 years old.

Philanthropic Interests: I currently volunteer at any outreach events with the Orange County Bar Association or Beverly Hills Bar Association. I’m also a volunteer summer associate at Ukrainian Mothers and Children Transport Initiative, a program created by my professor at Chapman Law which provides legal aid to Ukrainian women and children fleeing the war.

Recent Professional Accomplishment: I received two CALI awards (highest grade of the class) this last spring semester in my Legal Research and Writing Class as well as my Civil Procedure Lab class. I also became a member of the Mock Trial Competition Board and Moot Court Competition Board.

Favorite Part about OCWLA: I’m excited to network with a distinguished group of women who share the values of empowerment and advancement of women in the legal profession.

Anything Else You Would Like OCWLA Members to Know About You: I enjoy connecting with others, especially listening about their unique experiences in the legal field. I’m thrilled to get involved with or assist with the organization however I can.

Name: Calyn Hadlock

Place of Work: Forootan Law

What is your practice area? Currently working on labor and employment law cases, but as I am still in law school, I am unsure what my official practice area will be post-grad.

Fun Fact about me: I am a second degree black belt in karate, and French is my second language.

Philanthropic interests: While at UCI, I’ve worked with the ACLU on various first amendment cases; I’ve also worked on cases for tenant advocacy groups. 

Recent Professional Accomplishment: I drafted my first mediation brief, which helped the firm secure a mediation settlement twice as large as expected. I was also recently offered employment with Chancellor’s Professor Michele Goodwin as Professor Goodwin’s Research Assistant. 

Favorite part about OCWLA: Mixers, Networking, exciting conversations about new developments in law. 

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I am an avid student of constitutional law and will be working with the Appellate Litigation Clinic at UCI Law on an appeals case involving questions of state constitutional law next year. I am a 3L at UCI law and I am earnestly looking forward to graduation and passing the bar. As much as I’ve enjoyed my time at UCI, I am anxious to finally embark on my career journey.

Name: Tiffany Israel

Place of Work: Aleshire & Wynder

What is your practice area? Municipal Law

Fun Fact About Me: I've been to all 7 continents and more than 80 countries.

Philanthropic Interests: Feeding people, housing for people experiencing homelessness, and education.

Recent Professional Accomplishment: I was named the first woman Managing Partner of my firm effective 1/1/22.

Favorite part about OCWLA: Mixers and the opportunity to meet other members.

Anything else you'd like to share? I decided in kindergarten that I wanted to be a lawyer and can't imagine any other career. I love what I do and enjoy the people I work with at my firm as well as my clients who work hard every day to make their communities a better place.