Welcome David Tchack as the Newest Of Counsel in Northern California

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce David Tchack has joined the Northern California office as Of Counsel, as part of the law and motion team. David brings years of experience in the legal field, with a strong background in real estate, landlord-tenant litigation and negotiations, and appeals. David is eager to focus his professional efforts on legal research and writing, seeing motion practice as not just a perfunctory procedural step, but as an opportunity to shape the narrative and direction of a case.

David’s practice has covered a wide range of real estate matters, including unlawful detainer defense, habitability claims, wrongful eviction, and tenant buyouts. He has also provided consulting services on business opportunities and commercial real estate transactions, and has had numerous successes as lead counsel in defensive asylum petitions in immigration court.

David earned his law degree from New College of California School of Law in San Francisco. He also holds a Master’s degree in International and Multi-Cultural Education from the University of San Francisco, and a Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Writing from Harvard University. David has received numerous awards for his legal advocacy, including Pro Bono Advocate of the Year from the San Francisco Eviction Defense Collaborative in 2014, and the Bar Association of San Francisco Volunteer of the Month Award in March 2016.

Welcome Jacqueline Nichols as the Newest Of Counsel in Las Vegas

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Jacqueline Nichols has joined the Las Vegas office as Of Counsel. She brings significant litigation experience in civil rights matters, tort litigation, employment law, and Nevada Public Records Act cases at both the trial and appellate levels. Jacqueline has first-chaired multiple trials and has argued before the Nevada Supreme Court more than a dozen times, with a strong record of favorable outcomes for her clients. Her appellate advocacy has contributed to six published opinions.

Jacqueline has represented government agencies, public entities, and private organizations in federal and state matters involving disputes regarding law enforcement, Monell claims, and other constitutional and employment-related claims. Her practice includes consulting clients regarding employment practices, public records compliance, internal investigations, and pre-litigation risk management. Jacqueline has successfully resolved multimillion-dollar disputes through mediations and arbitrations.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Jacqueline received her undergraduate degree from the University of Las Vegas in Criminal Justice before earning law degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where she graduated cum laude and obtained a Certificate in Health, Science, and Technology. The certificate reflects advanced coursework focused on the complex legal issues that arise at the intersection of law, science, and emerging technologies.

Welcome John Nguyen as the Newest Of Counsel in Northern California

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce John Nguyen has joined the Northern California office as Of Counsel, bringing more than 13 years of litigation experience to his practice. An established trial attorney, John has served as lead counsel in both bench and jury trials across a range of matters, including labor and employment, torts, ADA claims, and related disputes in both state and federal court. John is dedicated to helping clients navigate legal uncertainty by identifying core issues and guiding matters toward practical, efficient resolution.

John began his legal career as a volunteer law clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of California before establishing his own practice, where he represented clients in tort litigation, family law, and consumer bankruptcy. John later served as lead attorney at a firm focused on high-exposure tort matters. Across these roles, John’s strategic case management, clear communication, and commitment to client-centered advocacy have led to favorable outcomes at trial and in complex settlement negotiations.

Prior to practicing law, John spent more than 17 years working as a Software Integration Engineer in the high-tech industry, where he led software integration projects and developed solutions for technically complex systems. His transition into the legal field was driven by a growing interest in the structure and problem-solving aspects of law, building on his background in analytical thinking and systems design. His engineering background continues to inform his legal strategy, particularly his ability to assess risk and manage the most complex cases with a thoughtful, methodical approach.

Welcome Judy Azizayad as the Newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Judy Azizayad has joined the Los Angeles office as Associate, focusing her practice on general liability matters. She began her legal career at M&C as a Summer Associate, gaining early insight into the nuances of litigation, client interaction, and case management.

Judy graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science: Public Law from the University of California, San Diego. Motivated by a strong desire to help others and solve complex problems, she saw the legal field as a meaningful way to make a lasting impact. Judy went on to earn her law degree from Chapman University’s Dale E. Fowler School of Law, where she was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team and developed her skills in negotiation and analytical problem-solving.

Drawn to business and employment law, Judy remains eager to explore a broad range of legal practice areas. She clerked with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office during her undergraduate studies and while in law school externed with a Beverly Hills litigation firm that represents clients in serious injury and tort cases.

Early in her academic journey, Judy worked as a camp counselor and after-school program leader at her former elementary school. Her background working with children in high-energy environments and growing up in a busy household sharpened her ability to stay composed under pressure, manage competing needs, and adapt quickly to dynamic situations. Those experiences continue to shape how she approaches her legal practice today.

Welcome Wendy Mitchell as the Newest Of Counsel in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Wendy Mitchell has joined the Los Angeles office as Of Counsel. She brings a wealth of experience in complex litigation, mass torts, medical malpractice, wrongful death, products liability, premises liability, catastrophic injury, consumer class actions, and complex commercial disputes. Her practice has included cases involving medical devices, pharmaceutical products, toxic exposures, corporate negligence, and high-exposure injury claims.

Wendy’s career includes significant experience on both sides of the bar, giving her a rare dual perspective on complex matters. She served as lead counsel in major, high-exposure medical-device product-liability and mass-tort matters, handled pharmaceutical-injury cases involving severe or fatal outcomes, and represented clients in sexual-assault claims involving a national youth development organization. Wendy has led discovery in multi-jurisdictional actions, managed attorney teams, and developed strategies for matters involving extensive document production and expert-driven issues. Her attention to detail and ability to pinpoint critical issues in voluminous written discovery are hallmarks of her practice, and she is recognized for synthesizing complex facts and shaping persuasive case narratives through the most demanding phases of litigation.

Prior to joining M&C, Wendy played a pivotal role representing state, local, and tribal entity plaintiffs in the landmark opioid multidistrict (MDL) litigation, the largest civil litigation in U.S. history. She served on trial teams in the national and bellwether opioid trials across multiple jurisdictions, including New York, Ohio, Florida, West Virginia, and Utah, obtaining unanimous jury verdicts and multi-billion-dollar settlements against opioid manufacturers, distributors, retail pharmacy chains, and high-level stakeholders in international pharmaceutical conglomerates.

Welcome Angela McNair as the Newest Associate Partner in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Angela McNair has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate Partner, focusing her practice on Law and Motion. With more than a decade of legal experience, Angela’s background includes significant work in civil rights, educational equity, housing law, and statewide legislative advocacy.

Prior to joining the firm, Angela held leadership and litigation roles with prominent legal services and nonprofit organizations focused on advocacy, domestic violence services, housing, immigration, and civil legal aid. Her previous work included supervising teams of attorneys and paralegals, overseeing complex state-level initiatives, and co-facilitating multi-organization coalitions aimed at reducing school‑based criminalization. Angela’s efforts have led to several key legislative reforms.

Angela earned her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration and Tier Two Honors with International Distinction from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Welcome Naomi Gregoryan as the Newest Associate in Las Vegas

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Naomi Gregoryan has joined the Las Vegas office as an Associate. Her experience includes handling complex tort matters, premises liability, auto accidents, and commercial landlord/tenant disputes.

Naomi earned her J.D. from California Western School of Law in San Diego, where she developed her courtroom skills through externships with both the Clark County District Attorney’s Office and the Legal Aid Society of San Diego. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is an active member of the Nevada and Clark County Bar Associations.

Highly regarded for her meticulous research and analytical depth, Naomi thrives on diving into complex legal issues to craft precise, strategic solutions for her clients. Her commitment to equity and inclusion is reflected in her leadership role with the Clark County Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Equity (DICE), where she served as Co-Chair.

Welcome John Ellis as the Newest Associate Partner in Irvine

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce John Ellis has joined the Irvine office as an Associate Partner, bringing more than two decades of experience in general liability and complex torts litigation. An experienced trial attorney, John has successfully tried jury cases to verdict in courts across California, including in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Joaquin Counties.

Over the course of his career, John represented clients in a broad range of civil litigation matters involving premises liability, medical and dental malpractice, construction defect, contracts, and habitability claims. His litigation style is defined by a strong command of courtroom strategy, honed through years of experience and a thoughtful, client-focused approach. John’s background includes high-level experience in international logistics and strategic oversight as a director of an independent insurance adjusting organization, skills that inform his practical, business-minded approach to litigation.

John earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Illinois College, followed by an M.B.A. from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. He went on to receive his J.D. from Whittier Law School, where he further enriched his legal education through a summer abroad program in International Maritime Law offered by Tulane University Law School in Rhodes, Greece.

Welcome Michael Karsaz as the Newest Associate Partner in Irvine

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Michael Karsaz has joined the Irvine office as an Associate Partner focusing his practice on medical malpractice.

With over 25 years of litigation experience, Mike built his reputation on delivering effective defense strategies tailored to the needs of healthcare providers, insurers, and businesses facing complex medical malpractice and healthcare-related claims. Clients value his deep understanding of both medical and legal issues, his meticulous preparation, and his ability to guide them through high-stakes litigation with confidence and skill.

Michael’s litigation practice spans a wide range of civil matters, including medical malpractice, elder abuse, wrongful death, employment discrimination, and corporate governance. He has successfully defended clients against claims involving emotional distress, informed consent violations, battery, fraud, and consumer protection matters, serving as both trial and appellate counsel in jury and bench trials. Before joining M&C, he represented clients in these and other complex matters at respected law firms throughout Southern California and advised a major real estate company as a member of its litigation committee, where he oversaw budgets and monitored ongoing and pre-litigation claims.

Mike earned his law degree from University of California of the Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings College of the Law) and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from California State University, Fullerton. Before entering the legal profession, he served as a Medical Specialist in the United States Army and the California National Guard, experience that gives him unique insight into medical and organizational dynamics. He is also a licensed California Real Estate Broker and speaks Farsi, which allows him to serve a broader range of clients.

Welcome Gurpreet Mundra as the Newest Associate in Northern California

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Gurpreet Mundra has joined the Northern California office an Associate, where she represents clients in general liability matters. Gurpreet began her legal career at M&C as a Law Clerk, gaining firsthand experience in litigation strategy, client communication, and case management. Her early work at the firm laid the foundation for her collaborative, client-focused approach to resolving complex legal matters.

Gurpreet earned her law degree from Seattle University School of Law with an Academic Honors Scholarship. She holds a B.S. in Public Relations from San Jose State University and is a graduate of the university’s Humanities Honors Program. During law school, Gurpreet held clerkships and internships with both private defense counsel and nonprofit organizations supporting survivors of domestic violence. She conducted research for legal organizations focused on expanding access to resources for marginalized communities, further shaping her strategic and empathetic approach to advocacy.

While completing her undergraduate studies, Gurpreet served in marketing and communications roles across various industries, such as venture capital and live entertainment. These experiences sharpened her abilities to manage high-stakes projects, communicate effectively, and think strategically under pressure.