Happy December, OCWLA Members!

It has been such a privilege to serve as your 2025 OCWLA President, and I am so grateful for all the people who worked this year to bring so many programs, events and networking opportunities to life. Thank you to our generous sponsors, without whom none of our events would be possible. Thank you to our members, who support our events and whose contributions and ideas enhance our programs every year. And thank you to the people who volunteer their time and treasure to making this happen: our executive directors, Amelia Montgomery and Tori Menninger, and to our incredible 2025 Board of Directors who worked so hard this year. It has been such an honor and pleasure to work alongside you all in support of this great organization.

Our big goals for the year were to expand our “tent” through reaching new attendees and members, expanding opportunities for philanthropic work, and expanding opportunities for members to have their voices heard through advocacy. Our board, executive directors and members realized these goals.

Expanding our Reach

Thanks to membership chairs Laurie Rowen and Mimi Ahn, and past OCWLA President Dana Heyde’s popular OCWLA book club (now ten years old!) our membership over the last two years has grown from 400 members, to over 600 members. 

Heidi Plummer and the new judicial evaluation committee expanded inclusivity and OCWLA’s reach with the addition of a judicial evaluation committee and support for the Unity Bar.

 Heidi also led the Events Committee who put on this year’s extraordinary Gala, the Wine Event, the Past Presidents Tea, the Women Judge’s Reception and the Holiday Dinner. 

Sayuri Espinosa and Antoinette Naddour expanded our reach with MCLE programming featuring dynamic speakers and new subject areas. New programs also included our Professional Tool Kit series, offering members professional headshots, a presentation from marketing and branding experts, and a shopping networking event at the Veronica Beard store. 

Finally, past president Betty Fracisco led a team of board members to reconnect with past leaders of OCWLA in a history project documenting the last 50 years.

Philanthropy

Our incredible Philanthropy Committee, led by Heather Stangle-Smith and Ashley Peniche Montenegro, organized hands-on opportunities for members to participate in philanthropic activities while gaining legal experience. Ashley met early in the year with the Orangewood Foundation and organized an OCWLA event to make dinner for homeless teens. OCWLA sponsored a CRF judging night, and “adopted” a conservatorship clinic with the Elder and Disability Rights Center. Our monthly updates now feature volunteering opportunities where members can also gain legal experience.

Advocacy

Another 2025 goal was to provide opportunities for members to get involved in their communities and support issues they cared about. In light of attacks on lawyers, law firms and judges, our board was among the first in Orange County to draft and endorse a statement supporting the Rule of Law. We also sponsored a table at the Great American Write In, in which 100 organizations participated, and sponsored our first annual Suffragette Coffee, to support voting rights. 

I am also grateful for those who model the mission of our organization. Our incredible 2025 Awardees are shining examples of OCWLA’s support for civility, for support for women in the profession and the rule of law. Pamela Traut, Judge Kimberly Menninger and Everett Dorey all have contributed and continue to contribute to a legal community where woman lawyers thrive. Thank you again for the privilege to serve as the 2025 OCWLA President, and congratulations to the incoming 2026 Officers and Board of Directors!

Congratulations to the incoming 

2026 OCWLA Executive Officers and Board of Directors!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and a wonderful 2026!

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

Raines Feldman Littrell LLP

2025 OCWLA President

Dear OCWLA members,

Thanks to all of you who supported and attended our 50th Anniversary Golden Legacy Gala at the VEA Hotel on October 16! Gala Chair and OCWLA Vice President Heidi Plummer did a fantastic job making sure every detail of the evening was perfect. I was particularly moved by the acceptance speeches by our incredible honorees. Thank you, Pamela Traut, for normalizing support for the Rule of Law. Thank you, Judge Kimberly Menninger, for reminding us how important it is to support other women lawyers and for how far we have come. Finally, thank you, Samantha Dorey, for highlighting the important work you do at Everett & Dorey LLP to support and uplift women lawyers.

We had other memorable events in October. First, on October 9, OCWLA members, friends and clients visited the Veronica Beard store in Fashion Island to network, shop and enjoy champagne and soft drinks while shopping for fall and winter fashion. A women owned-brand, Veronica Beard donated 15% of the evening’s proceeds to Orange County Women Lawyers Association Foundation to support bar stipends and grants to charities supporting women and children in Orange County. We are so grateful to Desiree Salazar and the entire team at the Veronica Beard Newport Beach store for organizing this great event and for supporting the OCWLA Foundation.

On October 25, OCWLA was out in force to support the newest fantastic program rolled out by OCBA President Mei Tsang, the OCBA Community Fair. The event featured incredible talent by our own legal community, children’s activities and face painting. The OCWLA had its own table at the event. This will surely be a highly anticipated annual event for years to come.

In honor of Halloween, the OCWLA Book Club gathered on October 27 to discuss the book Night Bitch by Rachel Yoder. The discussion was led by Marketa Sims. Stay tuned for more details, as the OCWLA Members-Only Book Club will be celebrating its tenth anniversary of lasting connections and friendships with its First Annual Book Club Gala on January 23, 2026. Non-Members are welcome. It's sure to be a fun event!

For our last October event, Membership Committee Co-Chairs Laurie Rowen and Mimi Ahn put on another extraordinary member coffee meetup. Generously sponsored by Cottle Keen Lopiccolo & Heyde, LLP, and Silvana Sarkis, JD, the meetup was particularly festive and well-attended, and included some fantastic and creative costumes, including “A Formal Apology,” “Miss Demeanor,” and “Miss Trial.” Special thanks to Nico Johnson and Lexitas for hosting the event at his location.

This month has more events in store. On November 7 we are hosting our last MCLE of the Year, Elimination of Bias MCLE: Breaking The Mold, featuring Manal Richa. The luncheon will be at the OCBA Headquarters from 12-1:15. We will also be announcing the results of our recent election and our new OCWLA 2026 Board of Directors!

We are continuing to support group philanthropic events with an OCWLA CRF Moot Court Judging night on November 18. Please register here if you would like to attend.

Finally, our Holiday Party and Installation Dinner is on December 2, 2025, at the beautiful Renaissance Hotel in Newport Beach. Get your tickets now!  

Wishing everyone a wonderful November and a Happy Thanksgiving.

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

Raines Feldman Littrell LLP

2025 OCWLA President

Welcome to October!

We had a great turnout of nearly 70 people for our True Crime MCLE at the Pacific Club on September 26. My friends and former colleagues from OCDA, Matt Murphy and Heather Brown, gave the inside story of the twists and turns of the People v. Hossein Nayeri case. We are grateful to Matt and Heather for making the time to give this great presentation. Thanks also to our sponsors who made this great event possible: The Law Office of Brian Gurwitz, Moore Law for Children, Wiechert, Munk & Goldstein, PC, and SMBC Manubank. I would also like to acknowledge our venue sponsor Aaron Malo of Sheppard Mullin for securing this great venue for us. View photos

Please sign up for our final Professional Tool Kit event THIS THURSDAY at the Veronica Beard Store in Fashion Island. Bring a friend/colleague/client to see the latest styles for fall and winter while enjoying champagne. Veronica Beard is graciously donating 15% of the proceeds to the Orange County Women Lawyers Foundation, which supports non-profits supporting women and children and provides stipends to law students in Orange County.

Our BIG event this month is the celebration of our three extraordinary annual award recipients: Attorney of the Year Pamela Traut, Judge of the Year the Honorable Kimberly Menninger, and for the Advancement of Women Award, Everett Dorey LLP. We will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association. The event will feature live music, delicious food and cocktails in a beautiful outdoor venue at the VEA Hotel in Newport Beach. Get your ticketsbefore the event sells out!

Two more events are happening this busy October: First, our Members-Only Book Club on October 27, led by Marketa Sims, OC Alternate Defender.

Last but not least, our Membership Committee has organized another of our popular annual Halloween Coffee Meetups on October 31. Wear your costume and register here to share some coffee and pastries with friends and colleagues.

Looking forward to seeing you at the 2025 Gala at the VEA on October 16!

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

Raines Feldman Littrell LLP

2025 OCWLA President

Welcome to September, OCWLA Members!

Thanks to all of you who helped honor our women judges at the Annual Women Judges Reception on August 21. We had a record turn-out for the event with 144 registered. We are very grateful to our gracious host, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, who helped coordinate the event as it has done the last several years. 

We are also very grateful to our sponsors, including Gill Law Group, PC, CalPrivate Bank, Bock & Plummer, Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo LLP, Steno, Carno Law Group, Kahana Feld, Judicate West, Cottle Keen Lopiccolo & Heyde, LLP, Buchalter, JAMS, Minyard Morris, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Leslie Law Firm, Mediator Michelle A. Reinglass, Montage Legal Group, Traut Injury Law, Aptus Court Reporting, Silvana Sarkis, and Krystal Mosqueda. Without you this special event would not be possible.

We would also like to thank our gracious sponsors Bock & Plummer, Silvana Sarkis, Leslie Law Firm, and Lexitas Irvine for hosting our first annual Suffragette Day Coffee. Members were able to enjoy breakfast and coffee with colleagues from across Orange County while celebrating the remarkable women who fought for women’s right to vote. We also heard from the League of Women Voters on their work to protect voting rights.

We have an exciting MCLE opportunity coming up September 26, when two former homicide prosecutors will present on the People v. Hosein Nayeri case. The case is the subject of the Hulu documentary “Devil in the Desert,” and the ABC podcast of the same name hit the number one spot in the country for several weeks this summer. Matt Murphy is now with ABC, and Heather Brown has her own practice where she specializes in representing victims of sexual assault. Get your ticket now to hear from these two fantastic speakers while enjoying a delicious lunch at the Pacific Club—this event will sell out.

Also coming up this month is our members-only book club on September 29 at Mimi’s Café in Tustin. OCWLA Past President and current Board Member Dana Heyde will lead the discussion on Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore.

We have worked with professionals this year to help our members to hone their personal brand and marketing message. Our final event in the professional tool kit series will be generously hosted by the Veronica Beard store in Fashion Island. Members can register to attend this private shopping experience with a friend or client, and the store has graciously agreed to donate 15% of the proceeds to the OCWLA Foundation. Don’t miss this great opportunity to support the OCWLA Foundation, update your wardrobe and network with colleagues and clients. The event will be on October 9 from 4-7 pm.

I’d like to take the opportunity to also give recognition to this year’s OCWLA honorees who will take center stage at the OCWLA Golden Legacy Gala at the VEA hotel on October 16:

Gala tickets are selling fast and the event will sell out. Secure your spot with a sponsorshipto market your business. We are also still soliciting donations for our silent auction.

Also, it’s time for OCWLA’s annual election for ten (10) Director positions. If you are interested in running, and a current member, please find more information here.

Finally, we’d like to highlight some fall pro bono opportunities for our members:

Veterans Legal Institute: 

VA Hospital in Long Beach Clinic

September 19

Family Law Clinic

September 19

Elder Law & Disability Rights Center:

Sign up here!

Estate Plan Clinics

Part 1: September 6, Part 2: September 20 in Mission Viejo

Limited Conservatorship Clinics

September 13 & October 11 at CHOC

Please contact these organizations to reserve your spot!

May your fall be productive and full of happy surprises.

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

Raines Feldman Littrell LLP

2025 OCWLA President

Happy August to all our members!

In July, the OCWLA celebrated the leadership that formed and grew the organization at our Past Presidents Tea, graciously hosted by Anaheim Mayor and 2014 OCWLA President the Honorable Ashleigh Aiken.

On August 8, OCWLA members gathered at the Buchalter law firm in Irvine to hear from Outlier Creative partner Lora Brown about personal branding and marketing. The presentation included tips about how to create a LinkedIn profile and craft your social media for maximum professional impact. Stay tuned for news on the third event in the toolkit series coming this Fall. 

Be sure to register for one of our most popular annual events, the Women Judges Reception, on August 21st at the Boardwalk in Irvine. The evening event provides a wonderful opportunity to meet and mingle with local bench officers, and celebrates the very accomplished women judges of Orange County.

Also coming up this month is our Suffragette Coffee, from 8-10 am on August 26th at Lexitas in Irvine. Our suffragette sisters had to fight for the passage of the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920. Learn about recent legal issues related to voting rights while catching up with friends and colleagues at another of our popular coffees.

Our OCWLA Members-Only book club will be meeting this month on August 25 to discuss the book Upgrade by Blake Crouch. Allen Bourgeois of Verus Forensic, and Denetta Scott of Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP will be leading the discussion at Mimi’s in Tustin.

Finally, as a reminder, we will be celebrating our incredible 2025 OCWLA awardees, Pamela Traut, Judge Kimberly Menninger and Everett Dorey, LLP, at our annual OCWLA Gala, where this year we also mark the 50th anniversary of the organization! If you would like to support this festive event while promoting your organization, please consider a sponsorship. We are also still seeking donations of goods and services for the gala silent auction.

Wishing everyone a wonderful end of summer!

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

Raines Feldman & Littrell

2025 OCWLA President

Dear OCWLA Members,

Welcome to the month of June! With a few days left before the official start of summer, OCWLA has been staying busy. On June 11, we hosted our annual summer membership mixer at Zov’s in Tustin. Over 100 attendees connected with friends and colleagues and enjoyed delicious food and drinks. The OCWLA book club met on May 19, led by Maria Bashaw of Maldonado Bashaw Law, to discuss the novel “James” by Percival Everett.

OCWLA & OCWLA Foundation Summer Membership Mixer at Zov's Tustin

We were particularly excited to announce our 2025 awardees at the mixer.  We had an usually large and accomplished group of nominees this year, in every category, and it was challenging for our Awards Committee to select a single nominee from so many outstanding candidates. Here are the 2025 OCWLA Award winners:

• Advancement of Women Award: Everett Dorey, LLP

• Attorney of the Year: Pamela Traut, Traut Injury Law

• Judge of the Year: The Honorable Kimberly Menninger, Orange County Superior Court. 

We will be celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of our awardees at our 2025 Golden Legacy Gala on October 17, 2025 at the beautiful Vea Resort in Newport Beach. We are still seeking sponsors for this event, where we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Orange County Women Lawyer’s Association. We are also seeking donations for our silent auction. Please contact us if you are interested in a sponsorship to help promote your business while supporting OCWLA. Tickets will go on sale soon!

Our upcoming events include our Past Presidents Tea, honoring our OCWLA past presidents, on July 19th. Please also mark your calendars for our Women Judges Reception, which will be on August 21, 2025 at the Boardwalk in Irvine. Our June book club meeting will be on June 23rd and the featured book is “Wedding People,” by Alison Espach.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy summer.

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

2025 OCWLA President

Robinson Calcagnie, Inc.

Dear OCWLA Members,

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 2025 Orange County Women Lawyers Association President. We begin this momentous year of our 50th anniversary with heavy hearts as we grieve with our Los Angeles County neighbors in the wake of the catastrophic wildfires. Our thoughts are with our members and neighbors who are suffering incredible loss right now.

As I mentioned at our installation dinner in December, one of our goals this year is to provide tangible opportunities for our community to support one another. We have listed on our website some ways we can support the fire victims and first responders. 

Goals for our fiftieth anniversary year include:

• Offering advocacy and policy training for lawyers interested in advocating for women’s issues, locally and globally;
• Continuing to support our affiliate partners including the Unity Bar to support diversity on the Orange County Superior Court bench;
• Strengthening connections and networking opportunities for women in business and women lawyers through joint events; and
• Continuing to offer groundbreaking, one of a kind MCLE’s, and wonderful events like our gala and women judges reception.    

This month, we will be offering the first in a “Professional Tool Kit” series. On January 29^th, we will be hosting a photographer to take professional headshots for registrants. Hair and makeup touchups will also be available. Our first MCLE of the year, Celebrating Seven Historic Female Firsts on California’s Courts of Appeal will be on February 18^th.

I am excited about the year ahead for the OCWLA! Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of leading this organization. If you would like to help the fire victims and first responders, please see the resource link here.

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

2025 OCWLA President

Robinson Calcagnie, Inc.