OCWLA Featured Members

Name: Shirin Forootan

Place of Work: Workplace Justice Advocates

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
Joined Workplace Justice Advocates as Partner in 2019, Served as Chair of the Labor & Employment Section of OCBA in 2020, Appointed Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee of OCBA in 2021.

Fun Fact About Me: I enjoy baking for others and reading historical fiction.

Philanthropic Interests:  I wholeheartedly support the Orange County United Way and the important work they do for our community.

Practice Area:  I represent employees and executives in employment litigation, although for many years I defended employers in such cases. 

Favorite part about OCWLA: The Annual Gala is always such an exceptional and fun event. I have met so many incredible and supportive women through OCWLA that I would not have met otherwise, and for that I am very grateful.

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:  I have greatly enjoyed OCWLA throughout the years and I look forward to continuing my involvement with this amazing group of smart and passionate women.

Name: Jacqueline Beaumont

Place of Work: Call & Jensen

Recent Professional Accomplishment:
As a litigation partner, I really enjoy the teamwork that goes into crafting a winning summary judgment motion, or negotiating a well-valued settlement - and the celebrations afterwards.

Fun Fact About Me: I speak French and Mandarin Chinese, and have lived in both countries.

Philanthropic Interests: Girls Inc., MOMS Orange County, and other organizations that lift women and girls into their full potential and leadership through mentoring and special programs.

Practice Area:  I handle employment defense of class actions and lawsuits, plus kitchen-sink advising on all employment law issues under the sun for businesses. There is not an employment issue that I do not handle for Southern California employers!

Favorite part about OCWLA: CLEs, Annual Gala, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you:I'm passionate about advancing opportunities and equality for women in the workplace, and always open to discussing new ideas or events for OCWLA.

 
Name: Terri Bui

Place of Work: Kahana and Feld, LLP 

Fun Fact About Me: I am lactose intolerant and allergic to shrimp -- but you can often find me eating ice cream and shrimp ceviche. (Don't worry, my allergy is completely non-life threatening).

Philanthropic Interests: Organizations that support the advancement of women and minorities, particularly from underserved communities.

Practice Area:  I represent businesses and insurers in general litigation matters, including real estate, construction, employment, and personal injury.

Favorite part about OCWLA: Philanthropy events, CLEs, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I am thrilled to be a part of a community that supports and advances women's careers and understands the problems we encounter within the legal community!

Name: Kelly Galligan Dunn

Place of Work: Rutan & Tucker, LLP 

Fun Fact About Me: I am a COVID bride and recently married my best friend, Gordon.

Philanthropic Interests: Project Youth OCBF, and serving youth in our community.

Practice Area:  I am a general corporate transactional attorney and assist clients with all of their outside general counsel needs. I specialize in mergers and acquisitions, and love to help clients buy and sell companies!

Favorite part about OCWLA: The remarkable friends I have made.

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I love networking with women on the golf course and started a women's golf group called The Lady Birdies. Reach out if you'd like to join!

Name: Laura G. Lopez

Place of Work: McNeil Tropp & Braun LLP

Fun Fact About Me:  I am a former Ballroom and Latin dance instructor and performer.

Practice Area:  My practice areas included medical malpractice, healthcare law, business litigation, insurance defense, and personal injury defense.

Favorite part about OCWLA: CLEs, Annual Gala, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: 

I strive to be a positive example for women in the legal profession and encourage a collaborative and supportive environment with my colleagues. It is my mission to share experiences and empower other women, as my incredible mentors have encouraged me, to progress strong female leadership in law.

Name: Heather Stangle-Smith

Place of Work: Associate General Counsel, Optum

Fun Fact About Me:  I’m an animal lover, and my husband and I have two cats and two dogs, all rescues. I also became a vegetarian when I was 10 after watching the movie “Babe” (with the talking pig)!

Philanthropic Interests: Some organizations that are close to my heart include the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; The Guidance Center in Long Beach; Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles; Forever Footprints; Charlotte’s Purpose; and many animal rescues, including Heritage Humane Society and Zoey’s Place Rescue.

Practice Area:  As Associate General Counsel, I provide legal support for the federal health services business of Optum and UnitedHealth Group, which helps federal agencies tackle some of the biggest challenges in health care.

Favorite part about OCWLA: Book club, Philanthropy events

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I’m proud to be starting my third year as a member of the OCWLA Board of Directors—something I only dreamed of when I moved to California from the Washington, DC area five years ago and attended my first OCWLA event without knowing anyone. This organization truly empowered me as an attorney in my new home state, and continues to do so.

Name: Meldie Moore

Place of Work: Moore Law for Children, A Professional Corporation

Fun Fact About Me:  I grew up in Dublin, Ireland ages 8-16 and I learned Irish dancing.

Philanthropic Interests: CASA, Girl's Inc., Arthritis Foundation.

Practice Area:  We are a comprehensive care law firm for families and children in the areas of adoption, assisted reproduction technology (ART) law, conservatorships and legal guardianships, special education and school discipline, Title IX allegations, family law and estate planning.

Favorite part about OCWLA: Annual Gala, Networking

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I am proud to have an all women law firm, where we help women and men with their most precious assets - their children and legal matters relating to family. Being part of womens' organizations like OCWLA is an important part of our mission to improve the lives of women both professionally and personally.

Name: Breanna Bunnell

Place of Work: High Impact

Fun Fact About Me: I love dancing and traveling…Covid restrictions have made that very challenging!

Philanthropic Interests: Trial Lawyers Charities and volunteering with my church.

Practice Area:  I primarily partner with personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability attorneys to bring the liability and damages in their cases to life through visuals. I have also worked on several criminal defense, civil rights, and employment cases to the tell the story of what truly happened in the case.

Favorite part about OCWLA: Philanthropy Events & Networking. 

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I continue to develop relationships through OCWLA. One of those friends is Heather Stangle-Smith. We connected at the OCWLA wine tasting event when we realized we both live in Long Beach and work remotely. We have enjoyed many collaborative work sessions, wine nights, and fitness classes together since.

Name: Michelle A. Philo

Place of Work: Philo Law Firm, P.C. 

Fun Fact About Me:  2020 was a great year for me both professionally and personally. I was awarded with California Lawyers Association's Solo and Small Practice Excellence in Service Award and my high school's Distinguished Alumni Award. On a personal level, I married a wonderful partner and had about 80 people attending via Zoom.

Philanthropic Interests: OCWLA Foundation, the Alumni Associations of my alma maters Whittier Law School and Chapman University

Practice Areas: My practice is divided between (i) serving as general counsel for small business owners, providing everything from entity formation and contract development to asset or business sales and dissolution, and (ii) estate planning, probate, and trust administration and litigation.

Favorite part about OCWLA: I have been involved in the planning of the Gala for several years. It is my favorite event as it requires several volunteers working together to obtain a great goal. In addition to the Gala, I enjoy our annual Women Judges Reception - an event that promotes women on the bench in Orange County.

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I have been a member of OCWLA since I was a law student and served as a Law Student Representative to the OCWLA Board of Directors. I was a recipient of one of OCWLA's bar stipend awards, and now I raise funds so the organization can continue to support and expand the bar stipend program.

Name: Lucia Valenzuela, OCWLA Secretary.

Place of Work: Hall & Co. CPAs and Consultants.

Fun Fact About Me: Our Wheaten Terrier Pup, TUMI, has more Instagram followers than I do! @TUMI.WHEATEN

Philanthropic Interests: Project Youth OCBF, Higher Education Mentoring.

Practice Area: As the Sr. Manager of Specialty Tax Consulting at Hall & Co., I help companies save money on their taxes and increase cash flow by capturing tax credits for the work they're already doing!  

Favorite part about OCWLA: CLE's & Networking. 

Anything else you would like OCWLA Members to know about you: I'm passionate about the pursuit of advancing every woman's career and super excited about the future of OCWLA in our community. #President2023