practice areas.
Experience
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Firm Overview

About Us
Umberg/Zipser LLP is a premier business litigation and intellectual property boutique law firm. Drawing on decades of experience in some of the nation’s largest and most prestigious law firms, as well as national and state government service, our lawyers provide exceptional work with the unparalleled personal service of a boutique.

Our Culture
Umberg/Zipser believes in giving back, both to our community and to our profession. We regularly handle pro bono matters, and our attorneys devote countless hours to supporting — and leading — professional and community organizations. It would be difficult to find another firm in Orange County, regardless of size, that can boast the number of community leaders that exist at Umberg/Zipser.

Why Us?
By combining big-firm experience with small-firm efficiencies, we can handle complex matters for large companies, but we also are nimble enough to represent small companies and entrepreneurs. Our clients come to us because we deliver the highest quality work product together with extraordinary service.
Practice Areas
We Have the Experience to Handle a Wide Array of Matters
Professionals
We Have Exceptional Attorneys Who Stand Ready to Serve Our Clients

Brent S. Colasurdo
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Ryan S. Dean
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Ethan Feng
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]
Ethan Feng is an associate at Umberg/Zipser where he focuses his practice in complex commercial litigation, professional liability disputes, and employment litigation.

Martin Fessenmaier, Ph.D.
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Mark A. Finkelstein
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]
Mark Finkelstein is a partner at Umberg/Zipser with more than 25 years of intellectual property and complex litigation experience.

Scott B. Garner
- (949) 679-0052
[email protected]
Scott B. Garner is a partner at Umberg/Zipser in Irvine, California. He represents clients in complex business litigation matters, with a particular focus on professional liability disputes and ethics counseling.

Phillip R. Kaplan
Partner
(949) 679-0052- [email protected]
Phillip R. Kaplan is a recognized leader in the Orange County legal community, and is an accomplished business trial lawyer with a record of handling his client’s most difficult cases.

Molly Magnuson
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]
Molly Magnuson is an experienced, results-oriented litigation attorney. Molly’s experience comes not only from working for significant clients, but also from working in some of America’s top law firms, which has created exposure to high-stakes, complex commercial litigation.

Priti Phukan, Ph.D.
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Carole E. Reagan
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Todd W. Smith
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Adina W. Stowell
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]
Adina Stowell specializes in complex litigation involving corporate, commercial, trade secret, and real estate disputes in both state and federal courts.

Mei Tsang
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Thomas J. Umberg
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Vikki L. Vander Woude
- (949) 679-0052
- [email protected]

Dean J. Zipser
(949) 679-0052- [email protected]
Dean J. Zipser is a recognized leader in the Orange County legal community, having served as President of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) along with many other professional leadership positions.
NEWS and EVENTS
Umberg/Zipser in the Community

Umberg/Zipser LLP Again Sponsors OCBA Charitable Fund’s Annual Golf Tournament
Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) was once again proud to be a sponsor of the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund’s Annual Golf Tournament (OCBACF). Partners Dean Zipser and Mark Finkelstein played in the firm’s foursome this year, and were joined by partner and current OCBA Treasurer, Mei Tsang, at the ceremony following the round. U/Z is proud to be a longstanding supporter of the OCBA and its Charitable Fund. For example, both Dean Zipser and partner Scott Garner have

Priti Phukan, Ph.D. Promoted to Partner
Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z), a premier business litigation and intellectual property law firm located in Irvine, California, is pleased to announce that Priti Phukan has been promoted to partner. Priti is a member of the U/Z’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Group and her areas of legal expertise include intellectual property law, patent prosecution and counseling, patent portfolio development, and domestic and foreign IP practices. Priti

Umberg/Zipser LLP Celebrates The Ninth Anniversary As A Firm
We are delighted to share that Umberg/Zipser LLP just celebrated our nine-year anniversary as a firm! When we founded the law firm in 2014, we began with a vision of continuing to provide outstanding client service, in a supportive and team-oriented work environment, while actively giving back to our profession and to the community. We have grown from a team of four to 17

Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) Annual Judges’ Night 2023
On Thursday evening, January 19th, the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) held its annual Judges’ Night. The Honorable Martin J. Jenkins, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court, installed Michael A. Gregg, as 2023 OCBA President, along with the other new officers and directors. Umberg/Zipser’s own Mei Tsang was installed as OCBA Treasurer and as a Board Member for the OCBA Charitable Fund Board.

Super Lawyers 2023 Selects Seven Umberg/Zipser Attorneys
Umberg/Zipser LLP is proud to announce that seven of its partners have been included in the Southern California Super Lawyers List for 2023, a recognition reserved for only five percent of lawyers in California. In addition, both Dean Zipser and Scott Garner have been recognized this year as a Top 50 Orange County Lawyer—Dean for the fifth consecutive year and Scott for the second year. The following Umberg/Zipser attorneys have been recognized in the Southern

Dean Zipser Authors Timely Article for OCBA’s Orange County Lawyer Magazine entitled “Mentoring and Training New Firm Lawyers in the 2020s.”
Umberg/Zipser LLP partner, Dean J. Zipser recently authored a timely article for the Orange County Lawyer, published by the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), entitled “Mentoring and Training New Firm Lawyers in the 2020s. In this article, Dean discusses how the pandemic has created a need for successful law firms to navigate a new work paradigm, and why attention to mentoring is essential in

CAREERS
If you are an exceptional attorney who thrives on delivering top-notch client service, and would enjoy practicing law in a small, collegial environment, we invite you to contact us to learn more about how we can support your career growth. Umberg/Zipser is proud of its diversity, and is an equal opportunity employer.


CAREERS
At Umberg/Zipser LLP, it’s the quality of our people that makes our firm and work environment rewarding and unique. We are proud to have been recognized by our team as one of Orange County’s “2022 Best Places to Work.”
If you are an exceptional attorney, who thrives on delivering top-notch client service, and enjoys practicing law in a strong team culture, we invite you to contact us to learn more about how we can support your career growth.
Umberg/Zipser is also proud to have created a work environment that promotes and honors diversity and we are an equal opportunity employer. We look forward to hearing from you soon.