Umberg/Zipser Again Named to Orange County Best Law Firms List for 2020

Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) is pleased to announce that the firm again has been ranked Tier One in the “Best Law Firms” list by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® for the Orange County metropolitan area. The firm has received this recognition each year since it was formed. The ranking showcases top law firms recognized by clients and peers for delivering professional excellence and for high quality ratings, and  indicate a unique combination of quality in practice and legal expertise.

In 2020, the firm again received three Tier One rankings in Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation. The firm also received recognition in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation and Patent Litigation.

“We are honored to again be recognized as one of the Best Law Firms in Orange County. Our firm remains committed to pursuing our clients’ objectives by providing strategic and efficient solutions, and we appreciate the continued recognition from our clients and peers,” said co-founding partner Dean Zipser.

One Umberg/Zipser client responded to the U.S. News — Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” research process by commenting, “I have retained the law firm Umberg/Zipser and have found they deserve your highest ranking. Their legal expertise at handling intellectual property legal matters is exceptional and of the highest quality. Their counsel and advice is well researched and they are always well prepared.  I have 100% confidence in their ability to successfully litigate any IP matter, or in the alternative negotiate a favorable legal resolution in a timely manner.”

Another client commented, “Umberg Zipser’s legal service is above and beyond.”

In addition to the 2020 Best Law Firms ranking, attorneys Mark Finkelstein, Scott Garner, Carole Reagan, Adina Stowell, Tom Umberg and Dean Zipser were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020:

  • Finkelstein in the fields of “Commercial Litigation,” “Litigation – Intellectual Property,” “Litigation – Patent,” and “Trademark Law”;
  • Garner for “Commercial Litigation” and “Litigation – Intellectual Property”;
  • Reagan for “Litigation – Intellectual Property” and “Commercial Litigation”;
  • Stowell for “Litigation-Intellectual Property” and “Litigation-Real Estate”;
  • Umberg for “Commercial Litigation” and “Litigation-Real Estate”; and
  • Zipser for “Bet-the-Company Litigation,” “Commercial Litigation,” “Litigation – Banking and Finance,” “Litigation – Intellectual Property,” and “Litigation – Real Estate.”

Umberg/Zipser Again Included in the Civic 50 OC List for 2019

Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) is honored to be named again one of Orange County’s 50 most community-minded companies by the Orange County Business Journal in partnership with OneOC, Points of Light and True Impact. This is the third year that Umberg/Zipser has been honored with the award.

Umberg/Zipser attorneys hold or have held leadership roles with over 25 professional, pro bono, and charitable organizations, as well as governmental positions, and have dedicated over 1,200 hours of service to the community in the past year alone.

“We are honored to be recognized again in the Civic 50 OC. All of our attorneys are leaders in our community, and we believe it is a privilege and part of our core values to give back to our profession and our community,” said Dean Zipser, co-founding partner.

Civic 50 OC honorees are selected based upon four dimensions of their community engagement programs: investment, integration, institutionalization and impact, as determined by an annual survey independently administered and scored by True Impact.

In addition to the Civic 50 Orange County List, special category awards were announced at the Civic 50 Orange County Awards Luncheon on October 16, 2019 at the Hotel Irvine.

The Civic 50 Special Report and List will publish on October 21, 2019 in the Orange County Business Journal.

Dean Zipser Becomes President of the OC Chapter of the Federal Bar Association

Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) is pleased to announce that co-founding partner Dean Zipser has been elected President of the Orange County Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA/OC), effective November 1, 2019. Dean was installed at FBA/OC’s annual Judges’ Night on October 17.

Dean was a founding member of FBA/OC and has been on the board of directors for many years. Dean states, “I am humbled and honored for this opportunity to serve as President of the FBA/OC. I am committed to furthering the mission of the organization, by serving the needs of federal practitioners in Orange County.”

In addition to Dean’s significant involvement, Umberg/Zipser attorney Brent Colasurdo currently serves on the Board of the FBA/OC Young Lawyers Division, and as Editor-in-Chief of the Association’s Newsletter, and Adina Stowell and Mark Finkelstein have served as board members.

The FBA/OC is committed to meeting the needs of federal practitioners in Orange County, California by sponsoring important “Bench and Bar” programs, and continuing legal education and other social events. These events all focus on issues relevant to federal practitioners and provide an important bridge between the Federal Judges in Orange County and the attorneys who practice before them. Learn more here: fedbar.org/Chapters/Orange-County-Chapter.aspx

 

Tom Umberg Authors Daily Journal Article: Document Production Games Run Amok

Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) co-founding partner, and California State Senator Thomas J. Umberg authored an article for the Daily Journal titled, “Document Production Games Run Amok” which was published on September 30, 2019.

In the article, Tom explains that he authored California Senate Bill 17 in reaction to the firm’s recent experience of gamesmanship after a relatively routine request for production of documents in a business litigation matter. Discovery gamesmanship delays litigation, ties up the courts, and strains the ability of parties to access justice in civil disputes.

Senate Bill 17 was approved by the Governor on October 12. In the article Tom writes, “The measure encourages that initial disclosure of information and discovery materials, further discourages gamesmanship by imposing a $250 sanction on a party, person, or attorney who fails to act in good faith in response to a request for documents, and authorizes the court to require the offending attorney to report the sanction to the State Bar.”

If you have a Daily Journal subscription, you can click here to log-in and read the article: www.dailyjournal.com/articles/354509

Mei Tsang Again Serves as Co-Chair and Umberg/Zipser Sponsors OCBA Charitable Fund’s 2019 Raise Your Glass Fundraiser

Umberg/Zipser partner Mei Tsang again served as co-chair for the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund’s (OCBACF) annual Raise Your Glass event on Thursday, August 22 at the Newport Beach Country Club. Mei and Umberg/Zipser partner Scott Garner currently serve on the Board of Directors for both the Orange County Bar Association and its Charitable Fund. Scott also serves as President-Elect of the OCBA. Umberg/Zipser is proud to be a long-time supporter of the OCBACF, and is an Underwriter Sponsor for the event.

Raise Your Glass is the marquee wine tasting and charity awards benefit that is organized by the OCBACF, a nonprofit foundation raising money for law-related charities in Orange County. The event is held to help raise much-needed funds to support law-related organizations and programs in Orange County, including Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Southeast Los Angeles, Public Law Center, and law school and domestic violence clinics and programs. Read more about the event here: http://www.ocbacf.org/ryg/.

Umberg/Zipser Again Sponsors CRF-OC’s Annual Benefit

Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) was proud to again support the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Orange County’s (CRF-OC) Annual Benefit event on October 29, 2019.

The firm has a long history of leadership in CRF-OC. Partner Adina Stowell served as CRF-OC’s 2014/2015 President and has been a Board Member since 2006. Co-founding partner Dean Zipser served as the organization’s 2017/2018 President, and has been a Board Member since 2007. Partner Vikki Vander Woude has coached high school mock trial for approximately 12 years, serves on the CRF Mock Trial Committee and received the “Attorney Coach of the Year” Award in 2012.

The Annual Benefit is CRF-OC’s marquee fundraiser and all proceeds support the organization’s unique and highly-regarded civic education programs – Mock Trial, Peer Court, Constitution Day, Law Day and the Orange County Career Forum. Learn more here: https://www.crfoc.org/annual-benefit/

Umberg/Zipser Sponsors Orange County Women Lawyers Association’s Annual Gala

Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) is proud to again have sponsored the Orange County Women Lawyers Association’s (OCWLA) Annual Gala on October 3 at the Pelican Hill Resort.

This year, the Honorable Elizabeth Macias was honored as “Judge of The Year”, Lei Lei Wang Ekvall was recognized as “Attorney of The Year”, and Walsworth was presented with the “Advancement of Women Award”. The OCWLA is dedicated to advancing women in the legal profession by providing a professional network, raising awareness of discrimination and bias, and supporting charitable organizations. Learn more here: www.ocwla.org.