Welcome Kayla Wheeler as the newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Kayla F. Wheeler has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate. She obtained her bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles, in African American Studies with a minor in public affairs. Kayla earned her Juris Doctor at Syracuse University, College of Law in New York, where she excelled academically while balancing multiple jobs and internships, including a position with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Kayla developed an interest in law during high school, inspired by observing historically significant trials, and became captivated by the intricacies of civil litigation. She found herself deeply engaged, evaluating alternative strategies and approaches. While in law school, Kayla carved out time to serve as a mentor in a program that uplifts young women in developing their academic, and interpersonal skills. Committed to giving back, she values the importance of community engagement for informing her client work and legal advocacy.

Kayla’s deep passion for knowledge is evident from her previous role as a substitute teacher—an experience that taught her adaptability, patience, and quick thinking. These attributes enhance her legal practice and fuel her future aspiration to teach pre-law courses to high school students. After law school, Kayla served as a Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, where she handled every aspect of her clients’ cases from start to finish, including written discovery, dispositive motions, and complex settlement negotiations.

Welcome Arlen Printz as the newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Arlen F. Printz has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate, focusing his practice on general liability matters. Prior to joining M&C, Arlen was an attorney at a law firm specializing in personal injury matters on all pre-trial aspects from initial intake and case evaluation, to drafting pleadings, attending case management conferences, and drafting complaints, and preparing the case for mediation. He has a range of experience in administrative law having worked at a special education law firm analyzing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and labor matters.

Arlen graduated magna cum laude from Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he majored in history with a minor in Russian and earned honors and distinction for his senior year thesis. Arlen continued on to earning his J.D. from Loyola Law School, graduating cum laude.

While attending law school, Arlen served as both a staff member and a Note & Comment Editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review, where he published an article of his own on election hacking and its implications in international law. Arlen was an active member of the OutLaw society, highlighting his commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal community.

Arlen’s dedication to the legal field extends beyond academia. He gained valuable experience as a Research Assistant for a law professor, delving into complex legal issues, and also served as a Student Mediator at the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution, honing his skills in dispute resolution.

Welcome Kristen Blanton as the newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Kristen Blanton has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate. Her background includes clerking at a law firm handling employment matters, where she focused on class action wage and hour settlements, wrongful termination claims, and discrimination lawsuits. She drafted a variety of legal documents, including complaints, motions, and long-form settlement agreements. Kristen transitioned into overseeing legal business affairs at a production studio that focuses on film and television development and production, leveraging her interest in employment law.

During law school, Kristen interned with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office in their domestic violence unit. She was one of two students selected for a yearlong internship with the Children’s Law Center of California, where she had the pleasure of representing children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned who fall under the protection of the Dependency Court Systems.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills, before obtaining her J.D. from Southwestern Law School with a concentration in Trial Advocacy.

Welcome Graham Simmons as the newest Associate in San Diego

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Graham A. Simmons has joined the San Diego office as an Associate. He is distinguished by his passion for writing, commitment to community engagement, and dedication to his legal practice.

Influenced by his father’s fervent passion for screenwriting, Graham acquired his bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on writing from Boise State University, becoming a first-generation college graduate in his family. His innate love for storytelling and communication, nurtured from a young age, serves as a driving force behind his legal work.

During his undergraduate years, Graham cultivated a strong foundation in research, writing, and critical analysis that seamlessly transitioned into his legal studies. He pursued his law degree from the San Diego School of Law, where his academic achievements earned him the Law School Honor Scholarship.

Murchison & Cumming Names Two New Associate Partners

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Julie Esposito and Tyler Ure have been elevated to Associate Partner.

Julie A. Esposito is based in the Los Angeles office, focusing her practice on general liability, products liability, and professional liability. Her experience includes handling matters in the arena of SIU (fraud) claims as well as assisting in the investigation of suspicious motor vehicle accidents and various property theft claims for several major insurance carriers.

Ms. Esposito served as a Judge pro tem for Los Angeles County and worked pro bono for the California Innocence Project and in the arena of constitutional law.

Julie received her B.A. in Political Science at California State University Northridge, awarded cum laude. She earned her J.D. at Loyola Law School, attending school at night while she worked as a law clerk during the day.

Tyler N. Ure is based in the Las Vegas office focusing his practice on insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and general liability. His experience includes representing clients ranging from national financial institutions to small business in the area of creditor’s rights.

Tyler received his Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in jazz studies from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, awarded cum laude. He continued onto William S. Boyd School of Law (J.D.) graduating magna cum laude. While in law school, he was an Editor of the Nevada Law Journal.

About Murchison & Cumming

Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier “Go-To” civil litigation firm with six offices throughout California and Nevada. Our attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers, and high net-worth individuals, at trial and on appeal. Additionally, the firm’s attorneys handle employment matters and business transactions. Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a member of the USLAW Network and other prestigious bench and bar organizations, including the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) and American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

Four Murchison & Cumming Attorneys Named 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers

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Senior Partners Guy R. Gruppie and Friedrich W. Seitz, and Partners James O. Eiler and Gina E. Och have been recognized as 2024 Southern California Super Lawyer honorees in the annual vote of peers and area judiciary conducted by Thomson Reuters.

Mr. Gruppie is one of California’s leading defense attorneys, focusing on complex, major injury and high-profile litigation. He is being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the 16th consecutive year. With extensive civil trial experience, Mr. Gruppie has developed a diverse portfolio of clients which includes large and small international, national and local businesses, entertainment/media companies, celebrities, athletes and other high net-worth individuals involved in high-profile matters. He is a popular author and sought-after speaker on torts, business litigation and jury trial matters.

Mr. Seitz focuses his practice on domestic and international product liability, aviation, catastrophic injuries and business litigation and is a specialist in defending wildland fire cases representing public utility companies. He served as Managing Partner of the firm from 1986 to 2007 and is being recognized by Super Lawyers 20th consecutive year. Mr. Seitz has tried more than one hundred jury trials, most involving product liability matters. He is “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell and has been recognized as a “Southern California Super Lawyer.”

Mr. Eiler has become one of California’s most recognized hospitality law attorneys focusing on a variety of hospitality matters including general negligence, premises liability, food borne illness and foreign objects, Legionella and other toxic torts, civil rights, ADA, franchise litigation and many more. He is being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the third consecutive time. As an active participant in several key trade industry associations, he also helps shape regulations and legislation affecting the hospitality industries on an ongoing basis. Ms. Och focuses her practice on law & motion and appeals, as well as public utilities, class action, unfair business practices and consumer rights, intellectual property, entertainment/media companies, and business litigation. She is being recognized as a Super Lawyer for the second consecutive time. She has achieved successful results for a wide range of clients, in both state and federal courts, including the defense of utility companies in wildland fire litigation, businesses in copyright and trademark litigation, and companies in unfair business consumer rights and class action litigation.

Murchison & Cumming Elevates Lisa Angelo to Senior Partner

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that Partner and civil litigation trial specialist Lisa D. Angelo has been promoted to Senior Partner.

After earning her J.D. from Whittier Law School, and her LLM from George Washington University, Ms. Angelo began her legal career in Washington, D.C. where she worked on high profile complex civil-litigation matters and tried her first cases in several state and Federal courts on the East Coast. She returned to California and joined Murchison & Cumming, LLP as an Associate attorney in 2008.

Over the course of the past 15-years with M&C, Ms. Angelo has successfully represented her retail, non-profit business and professional clients, securing multiple defense trial verdicts and dispositive motion outcomes. She is a Martindale Hubbell AV-Preeminent rated attorney and a member of several esteemed legal organizations where she speaks on various topics including mentoring, malpractice and navigating settlement demands.

“We are very proud to welcome Lisa as a Senior Partner at Murchison & Cumming,” said Managing Partner Dan L. Longo. “Over her time at the firm, Lisa has exhibited the litigation skills, leadership, and ability to work with others that will make her an outstanding Senior Partner.”

Ms. Angelo’s core mission throughout her 20-year legal career has been to pay it forward as her mentors did for her. “It is an honor to join the firm’s leadership as a Senior Partner,” said Ms. Angelo. “I am excited to take this next step and to being a permanent part of the firm’s future. I am mindful of what brought me to this pinnacle—relationships, communication and connection. I am grateful for the foundation upon which my career was built, including my family, my M&C family, and to a particular college professor who helped convince me that the law was my destined path. I look forward to this next step in my journey with the firm that began as a receptionist and morphed into Senior Partnership.”

Welcome Sophie Wagener as the newest Associate in Los Angeles

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Sophie B. Wagener has joined the Los Angeles office as an Associate, having previously worked as a Summer Associate and Post-Bar Law Clerk. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Bates College in Maine before earning her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Sophie focused on health law and civil litigation in law school, including participating in the Appellate Clinic.

After college, Sophie worked as a development associate at a non-profit organization that supported underserved youth in Boston, Massachusetts. While in law school, she interned for the Honorable Allison H. Goddard, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, and the Cancer Legal Resource Center. Sophie was an Articles Editor for the San Diego Law Review and President of the Health Law Society. She graduated magna cum laude and with the Order of the Coif, an honorary scholastic society that fosters excellence in legal education.

Welcome Gina Simone as the newest Associate in San Diego

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Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce Gina V. Simone has joined the San Diego office as an Associate. She joins M&C, having previously worked as a Summer Associate and Post-Bar Law Clerk while attaining her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Gina graduated from Sonoma State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Wine Business. While in law school, she was a librarian at the University of San Diego Legal Research Center and interned at the County of San Diego Public Defender’s office. Gina was Treasurer and Vice President of her school’s Criminal Law Society in which she organized a movie showing and speaker panel featuring an exoneration case. She earned a CALI Excellence for the Future Award® for achieving the highest grade in her Corrections and Sentencing writing class. Gina was a semi-finalist and won the first place Brief Award from moot court. Additionally, she received a certificate in Mediation from the National Conflict Resolution Center for her participation in an experimental Mediation Skills class.

Murchison & Cumming’s Richard Moreno Named to USLAW NETWORK Board of Directors

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Murchison & Cumming is pleased to announce that Richard C. Moreno has been selected to sit on USLAW NETWORK’s Board of Directors. “As chair emeritus of USLAW, I am very excited to welcome Richard to the USLAW Board of Directors,” said Managing Partner Dan L. Longo. “His leadership, business development and mentoring skills will serve the Board well.”

Richard Moreno is a Senior Partner and the Partner-in-Charge of the Los Angeles office. He serves as Chair of the Transportation practice group, Co-Chair of the Product Liability practice group, and is a member of the Wildland Fire Litigation practice group. He specializes in the handling of catastrophic injury cases, including matters involving multiple wrongful deaths. Mr. Moreno is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

USLAW NETWORK is an association of experienced law firms and lawyers from approximately 100 independent, full-service firms, including more than 6,000 attorneys across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Asia, with affiliations in Europe through TELFA. Launched in 2001, USLAW includes highly rated law firms that are part of the NETWORK by invitation only. USLAW member firms provide legal representation to major corporations, insurance companies, and large and small businesses alike and specialize in commercial and business law, employment and labor law, litigation, and other business-related areas of law.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP
With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier, AV-rated civil litigation firm with six offices in California and Las Vegas. The firm represents domestic and international businesses, insurers, professionals and individuals in litigated, non-litigated and transactional matters. The firm is a member of the USLAW NETWORK. For more information, visit murchisonlaw.com