Welcome Lori M. Cullman as the Newest Associate Partner in Northern California

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Lori M. Cullman has joined the Northern California office as Associate Partner. She is an experienced civil litigator known for handling complex legal matters. Her practice centers on auto, fire, premises, and commercial general liability claims, representing insurers and their insureds in high-exposure matters. Having practiced both in-house with major insurance carriers and private practice, Ms. Cullman offers a practical, business-oriented perspective on the intersection of litigation strategy, claims handling, and risk management. This dual perspective allows her to align case strategy with client objectives early, with a clear focus on exposure, timing, and outcome.

In addition to guiding cases through all phases of litigation, Ms. Cullman has held significant leadership roles throughout her career. She has supervised attorneys, directed case strategy, and worked closely with claims professionals and internal stakeholders to evaluate and advance matters. She is particularly recognized for her ability to build systems that promote consistency, sound judgment, and efficiency across high-volume caseloads.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Cullman founded and led an in-house counsel operation for a national insurance company, overseeing attorneys and staff across multiple offices, managing budgets, and reporting directly to executive leadership. She has also contributed to broader industry discussions on litigation practices, including participation on a national committee addressing post-COVID developments in the legal system. She has further engaged in pro bono work, including successfully representing a residential childcare provider in a legal challenge to municipal restrictions under California law, thereby increasing access to stable childcare.

Ms. Cullman earned her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and her Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Long Beach. She is admitted to practice in California, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Outside of her practice, Ms. Cullman enjoys skiing, spending time near the ocean, and gardening.

Welcome Mona L. Bauer as the Newest Of Counsel in Northern California

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Mona L. Bauer has joined the Northern California office as Of Counsel. Mona Bauer has spent her legal career on the defense side of California civil litigation, representing insurers, businesses, and property owners in personal injury, premises liability, auto liability, landlord-tenant, and fraud-related matters. She joins Murchison & Cumming as Of Counsel in the Northern California office.

Mona has built her practice around identifying the dispositive issues in a case at the outset and leveraging them to bring matters to resolution in the earliest stages of litigation. Her experience includes time on a dedicated insurance fraud prevention team at Toschi Sidran Collins & Doyle, where the work required a sharp eye for inconsistency and a thorough command of the evidentiary record. That background informs how she approaches cases today, whether she is drafting motions, preparing for oral argument, or taking a matter through mediation or arbitration.

Mona earned her J.D. from John F. Kennedy Law School. Before law school, she studied Art History at Stephens College and continued her studies at Cambridge University. The analytical skills she developed there, including close reading and a precise focus on what the evidence demonstrates, translate directly to her work in litigation.

Outside the office, she travels internationally every year, drawn particularly to food and local culture in new places.

Welcome Robert B. Jones as the Newest Of Counsel in San Diego

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Robert B. Jones has joined the San Diego office as Of Counsel. Robert Jones brings a multi-faceted perspective to civil litigation, drawing on experience advocating for clients on both sides of the table. Over more than two decades, he has represented plaintiffs, defendants, insurers, and public entities, giving him a well-rounded instinct for how cases are built and where they are won or lost. Murchison & Cumming is pleased to welcome him as Of Counsel in the firm’s San Diego office.

Robert’s practice centers on insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, government tort liability, and complex commercial disputes, with particular depth in premises liability, construction disputes, and municipal liability claims, including roadway design, intersection safety, and dangerous condition of public property. He manages substantial litigation dockets from investigation through trial and appeal and brings first-chair trial experience in premises liability, automobile accident, and government tort cases.

Earlier in his career, Robert founded and ran his own litigation practice, handling everything from business disputes to appellate proceedings. He later served as Senior Contracts Analyst for San Ysidro Health, one of the region’s largest federally qualified health centers, where he oversaw corporate transactions, nonprofit mergers, and regulatory compliance, an experience that gives him an unusually sharp lens on the institutional and operational pressures his insurer and public entity clients face.

Robert earned his J.D. cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and his B.S. in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University.

When he’s not in the office, Robert is usually outdoors, hiking, fishing, or camping somewhere off the beaten path.

Welcome Mark T. Domeyer as the Newest Of Counsel in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Mark T. Domeyer has joined the Los Angeles office as Of Counsel. Mark T. Domeyer is a Senior Litigation Attorney whose practice focuses on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and complex commercial litigation. He represents lenders, financial institutions, and businesses in bankruptcy proceedings, adversary litigation, contested matters, and related commercial disputes, helping clients navigate insolvency issues while protecting their financial and operational interests.

Mr. Domeyer brings more than 15 years of legal and executive experience advising clients on insolvency matters, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes commercial disputes. He has handled hundreds of bankruptcy and civil litigation matters in federal courts, including adversary proceedings, contested hearings, and creditor representation in complex restructuring environments. His approach combines extensive litigation experience with a practical understanding of the financial and operational pressures facing businesses and lenders. He also has considerable state court trial and motion experience gained in real estate and commercial litigation and with regard to consumer matters regarding evictions, collections and defense of tort cases.

In addition to his litigation work, Mr. Domeyer has served as General Counsel for multiple organizations, advising leadership on corporate governance, secured financing, employment matters, and regulatory issues. Earlier in his career, he was a partner at a national law firm focusing on loan default and bankruptcy litigation, where he supervised legal teams and managed high-volume caseloads for major financial institutions. He also gained valuable perspective working with financial institutions and the federal bankruptcy court system.

Mr. Domeyer earned his Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, a Master of Science in Judicial Administration from the University of Denver College of Law, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Loras College.

He is licensed to practice law in California, Oregon, Washington, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Welcome James E. Kemp as the Newest Of Counsel in Northern California

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce James E. Kemp has joined the Northern California office as Of Counsel. James is a highly accomplished litigation and trial attorney with more than four decades of extensive civil litigation experience, spanning first‑chair trial work, complex commercial disputes, catastrophic injury matters, construction defect litigation, employment litigation, insurance coverage disputes, homeowners association matters, partnership and business disputes, and professional liability cases. Over the course of his career, he has represented individuals, corporate clients, insurance carriers, public entities, and business organizations across a remarkably broad spectrum of disputes, earning a reputation for meticulous preparation, strategic insight, and exceptional courtroom skill.

James has served as lead counsel in numerous high‑exposure, document‑intensive cases, achieving multimillion‑dollar recoveries for plaintiffs and complete defense victories for his clients. His diverse representative matters include defending rate‑setting litigation involving millions in alleged exposure, resolving complex multiparty construction and real estate disputes, handling high‑value contract and investment fraud actions, and litigating major catastrophic injury and medical malpractice claims. His long history of first‑chair trial success demonstrates his ability to navigate both jury and bench trials effectively and persuasively.

In addition to his litigation practice, James has served as an arbitrator, mediator, and judge pro tem in more than 100 cases through appointments by the San Mateo and Santa Clara Superior Courts, further reflecting his deep experience in dispute resolution and judicial processes.

James earned his Juris Doctor from Hastings College of the Law, where he served on the Hastings Law Journal as both a member and an editor. He holds a Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University, where he was recognized with the Scholar‑Varsity Athlete Award for four consecutive years.

Welcome David A. De Paoli as the Newest Of Counsel in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce David A. De Paoli has joined the Los Angeles office as Of Counsel. David brings more than three decades of diverse litigation, advisory, and complex case management experience to the firm. His background includes extensive work in product liability, aviation litigation, general liability, real estate litigation, labor and employment matters, business disputes, and appellate practice. Over the course of his career, David has handled high‑exposure civil litigation for commercial airlines, aviation component manufacturers, major developers, insurers, self‑insured corporations, and large commercial clients. His ability to identify key issues, communicate actionable recommendations, and collaborate effectively with experts, engineers, and decision makers makes him a valuable addition to our team.

David also has significant experience operating his own law practice, where he advised clients on business agreements, real estate matters, investment structures, and high‑net‑worth family office organization, including developing and managing the legal and structural framework for a $2‑billion Powerball winner’s family office. His strategic insight and balanced approach to legal risk and operational decision-making reflect his longstanding commitment to effective, results‑driven advocacy.

David earned his Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from California State University, Los Angeles. He is admitted to practice in California state courts, the California Court of Appeal, and the Federal District Court.

Welcome William Pascoe as the Newest Of Counsel in San Diego

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce William Pascoe has joined the San Diego office as Of Counsel. William brings more than three decades of litigation and trial experience to a broad range of matters, including insurance-related disputes, employment issues, and complex injury claims. Over the course of his career, he has tried approximately 50 jury trials to verdict in both civil and criminal cases, giving him a depth of courtroom perspective that informs his strategic approach from the earliest stages of litigation.

Throughout his career, William has represented insurers, businesses, and public entities in high-exposure claims. In a one matter, William and his team represented a bicycle motocross park and the City of San Diego in a catastrophic injury case involving quadriplegic injuries suffered by a rider. Through thoughtful case development and motion strategy, he secured summary judgment, eliminating substantial exposure and bringing the matter to a successful resolution in favor of his clients. In addition to trial work, William has extensive experience developing litigation strategy, coordinating expert discovery, and guiding clients through complex legal proceedings with a focus on practical resolution and cost-effective outcomes.

William’s path to practicing law was shaped by his Civil Procedure professor, whose ability to connect legal doctrine with real-world impact left a lasting impression on him. He earned his J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and holds bachelor’s degrees in History and Philosophy from the University of California, Irvine. During law school, he served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Howard B. Weiner of the California Court of Appeal, where he gained firsthand insight into appellate reasoning and disciplined legal analysis. He later completed a master’s degree in Health Law through a joint program with University of California, San Diego and California Western School of Law.

Three Murchison & Cumming Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers List

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is proud to announce that three of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers list in the annual vote of peers and area judiciary conducted by Thomson Reuters. This prestigious recognition highlights their outstanding legal expertise, commitment to client advocacy, and dedication to upholding the highest standards of the legal profession.

Guy R. Gruppie, Senior Partner in the Los Angeles office, focuses on the defense of complex and high-stakes litigation. He is being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the 18th consecutive year. He serves as Co-Chair of the Emerging Risks & Specialty Tort Practice Group and is a senior member of the firm’s Product Liability, General Liability, and Hospitality Litigation practice groups. With extensive civil trial experience, Mr. Gruppie has developed a diverse client portfolio, encompassing international, national, and local businesses, entertainment/media companies, celebrities, athletes, and other high net-worth individuals involved in high-profile matters. He is considered one of California’s “go to” defense trial lawyers and sought-after speaker on torts, business litigation, and jury trial matters.

James O. Eiler, Partner in the Los Angeles office, focuses his practice on hospitality and retail and serves as Co-Chair of the Hospitality Law practice group. Through the span of 40 years, James has established himself as one of California’s most distinguished attorneys in his field. His vast legal career extends to a wide range of claims, including general negligence, premises liability, foodborne illness, Legionella and other toxic torts, civil rights, ADA compliance, franchise litigation, and more.

Jerri L. Johnson, Partner at the Los Angeles office, focuses her practice on transportation matters. She brings a distinguished 35 years of experience defending clients in civil litigation, including commercial trucking litigation, product liability, construction workplace injuries, and general tort claims such as complex automobile accidents and premises liability. Jerri is a highly sought-after speaker in the legal industry, having taught seminars on topics such as early resolution strategies, presentation of evidence at trial, and defending Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) claims for various well-respected professional organizations.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have been chosen by their peers and through independent research of Law & Politics. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state or region are honored as Super Lawyers.

Welcome Sean Ducar as the Newest Senior Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Sean Ducar has joined the Los Angeles office as Senior Associate. He brings a broad civil litigation background and experience handling matters in both state and federal courts, with a practice that includes professional liability, employment-related disputes, and law and motion work.

Throughout his career, Sean has represented corporate and individual clients across a wide range of litigation matters, including FEHA claims, wrongful termination, ADA compliance issues, professional liability disputes, and general liability cases. His experience navigating complex procedural and substantive issues allows him to support clients through all stages of litigation with thoughtful and strategic advocacy.

Sean earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he graduated with Dean’s Honors. His background in the hard sciences informs his detail-oriented, analytical approach to case strategy, allowing him to break down complex factual issues and develop practical, well-reasoned solutions for his clients.

Welcome Dimitri Theofilopoulos as the Newest Associate Partner in San Diego

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Dimitrios “Dimitri” Theofilopoulos has joined the San Diego office as Associate Partner, focusing his practice on general liability and construction defect matters. Dimitri brings a well-rounded legal background spanning both litigation and transactional work, giving him a practical perspective on risk, disputes, and business realities that shapes how he approaches his cases. He has represented corporate clients, insurers, and businesses in matters involving bodily injury, construction defect, employment disputes, and commercial transactions

Prior to joining the firm, Dimitri served in senior litigation and in-house roles, handling complex liability claims, drafting and negotiating corporate agreements, and advising companies ranging from startups to established enterprises. His experience as general counsel for a biotechnology company and his work with research institutions and technology businesses give him a strong command of regulatory, contractual, and operational issues that often intersect with litigation.

Dimitri earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and holds a B.A. in History cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While at UCLA, he also completed pre-medical scientific coursework that sharpened his analytical approach and his ability to evaluate complex scientific and technical evidence in litigation.