On Thursday, January 13th, the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) installed its new officers and directors for the year 2022 in a small ceremony outdoors. We are delighted to now formally congratulate Umberg/Zipser’s own partner, Mei Tsang, on her new role as OCBA Secretary! In 2025, Mei will become the third U/Z attorney who will have served as OCBA President, following Dean Zipser and Scott Garner. We are privileged and proud of our attorneys’ decades-long commitment to serving the organization.
Dean Zipser
Umberg/Zipser Again Sponsors OCBA Charitable Fund’s Raise Your Glass Fundraiser
The OCBA Charitable Fund’s recent annual “Raise Your Glass” event was once again a special experience. Umberg/Zipser (U/Z) continued to be a sponsor and our attorneys play a prominent role in the organization. Scott Garner is the Charitable Fund’s current president, Dean Zipser is a past president, and Mei Tsang has been a long-time board member. The OCBA’s mission is “To Enhance the System of Justice, To Support the Lawyers Who Serve It, and To Assist the Community Served by It.” The Charitable Fund supports programs and organizations who “assist the community served by it” through its grants. If you would like to learn more about the event, click here.
Umberg/Zipser Again Included in the Civic OC List for 2021
Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) is proud to again be named an honoree of The Civic 50 Orange County by OneOC and Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The award recognizes U/Z as one of the most community minded companies in Orange County. The Civic 50 OC initiative provides a standard for superior corporate citizenship, and showcases how companies can use their time, skills, and resources to drive social impact in their company and communities.
The firm has received this recognition for each of the four years it has been awarded. U/Z is involved with over 40 professional, pro bono, and charitable organizations, in which U/Z attorneys hold over 22 leadership positions as well as governmental positions.
“We are honored to be recognized again in the Civic 50 OC as one of the most community minded organizations in Orange County. Our attorneys are leaders in our community, and giving back is part our firm’s DNA,” said Dean Zipser, co-founding partner.
OneOC commented, “We are honored to work in partnership with Points of Light to celebrate the most community-minded companies in Orange County. Our mission is to accelerate nonprofit success and we strongly believe that our corporate community is key to accomplishing this. Our collaboration strengthens not only our mission but enhances the longevity and sustainability of our community.”
Partner Mei Tsang Elected as Secretary of the OCBA
Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) is proud to announce partner Mei Tsang has been elected Secretary of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA.) Mei has served on the Board of Directors of both the OCBA and the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund (OCBACF), the charitable wing of the OCBA for several years. Mei also co-chairs OCBA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and as former chair of the Intellectual Property and Technology Section.
“I am honored to be elected as the 2022 OCBA Secretary, and I look forward to continuing to serve this great organization with the mission of enhancing the system of justice and promoting equal justice for all,” says Mei.
The firm continues to play a major role with the OCBA. Partner Scott B. Garner is the Immediate Past President of OCBA, and currently serves as the 2021 President of the OCBACF.
U/Z’s co-founding partner Dean J. Zipser has also previously served as OCBA President, and received the Franklin G. West Award in 2017, an honor given annually to an attorney or judge in recognition of lifetime achievements that have advanced justice and the law.
Scott, Mei, and Dean are part of a long history of service by the firm’s lawyers to the OCBA, as well a host of other professional and community organizations.
Umberg/Zipser Continues Its Prominence With Orange County Bar Association
Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) continues to play a major role with the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA). On January 21, 2021, OCBA held its annual Judges’ Night and Annual Meeting (for the first time virtually). At the meeting, partner Scott B. Garner, the Immediate Past President of OCBA, was sworn in as an officer of the OCBA and as 2021 President of the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund (OCBACF).
After having led the OCBA through unprecedented times, Scott now takes the helm of OCBACF, which oversees and administers the charitable giving for the OCBA. It is dedicated to bettering the Orange County community and legal profession by facilitating access to justice. OCBACF raises and distributes monetary contributions to carefully selected Orange County law-related organizations.
Garner is immediate Past-President of the OCBA, has served on the Board of Directors for the OCBACF and as co-chair of the OCBA Professionalism and Ethics Committee. As a partner with U/Z, Scott represents clients in complex business litigation matters, with a focus on professional liability disputes and ethics counseling. He also frequently serves as an expert witness on legal ethics and standard of care issues.
“I am honored to serve as 2021 President of the OCBA Charitable Fund. I look forward to working with a dedicated group of professionals with the mission to enhance the system of justice and promote equal justice for all,” says Scott.
In addition to Scott’s leadership role, U/Z partner Mei Tsang was sworn in and will again serve on the Board of Directors of both the OCBA and the OCBACF. Mei also co-chairs OCBA’s Diversity Committee.
The annual meeting also recognized all of the recipients of OCBA’s highest honor, the Franklin G. West Award. Umberg/Zipser co-founding partner Dean J. Zipser, a former OCBA President, received the honor in 2017, given annually to an attorney or judge in recognition of lifetime achievements that have advanced justice and the law.
Scott, Mei, and Dean are part of a long history of service by the firm’s lawyers to the OCBA, as well a host of other professional and community organization.
Umberg/Zipser Again Named to Orange County Best Law Firms List for 2021
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.
For 2021, the firm received four Tier One rankings, in Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation. The firm also received recognition in the areas of Banking & Finance Litigation, Patent Litigation and Trademark Law.
“We are honored to again be recognized as one of the Best Law Firms in Orange County. We appreciate the continued recognition from our clients and peers, and our firm remains committed to pursuing our clients’ objectives by providing strategic and efficient solutions.” said U/Z co-founding partner Dean Zipser.
Once again, U/Z clients were effusive in their comments, responding to the U.S. News — Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” research process by commenting, among other things, “Umberg Zipser is a world class law firm exhibiting the highest level of competence and professionalism,” and that “Umberg Zipser asks the right questions and they make the most of every answer.”
In addition to the 2021 Best Law Firms ranking, attorneys Mark Finkelstein, Scott Garner, Carole Reagan, Adina Stowell, Mei Tsang, Thomas Umberg and Dean Zipser have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© 2021. In addition, Mark Finkelstein has been recognized as the Orange County Attorney of the Year and Brent Colasurdo listed in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Attorneys are ranked in the following practice areas:
- Finkelstein for 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;
- Tsang for Copyright Law;
- Umberg for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Real Estate;
- Zipser for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Intellectual Property and Litigation – Real Estate;
- Colasurdo – “Ones to Watch” list for Intellectual Property Law.
Eight U/Z Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2021
Umberg/Zipser LLP (U/Z) is proud to announce that attorneys Mark Finkelstein, Scott Garner, Carole Reagan, Adina Stowell, Mei Tsang, Thomas Umberg and Dean Zipser have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© 2021. In addition, Mark Finkelstein has been recognized as the Orange County Attorney of the Year and Brent Colasurdo listed in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
- Finkelstein was again selected in the fields of “Commercial Litigation,” “Litigation – Intellectual Property,” “Litigation – Patent” and “Trademark Law” and has been on the Best Lawyers list since 2016. Finkelstein was recognized as the 2021 Lawyer of the Year in Orange County for “Trademark Law.”. The Lawyer of the Year is awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is given this recognition per each specialty and location.
- Garner was again selected for “Commercial Litigation” and “Litigation – Intellectual Property.”
- Reagan was again selected for “Litigation – Intellectual Property” and “Commercial Litigation,” and has been on the Best Lawyers list since 2013.
- Stowell was again selected for “Litigation – Intellectual Property” and “Litigation – Real Estate,” and has been listed since 2019.
- Tsang has been selected this year for “Copyright Law.”
- Umberg has been listed since 2008, and was selected for “Commercial Litigation” and “Litigation – Real Estate.”
- Zipser was again selected for “Bet-the-Company Litigation,” “Commercial Litigation,” “Litigation – Banking and Finance,” “Litigation – Intellectual Property” and “Litigation – Real Estate,” and has been on the Best Lawyers list since 2008. Zipser has been recognized by Best Lawyers as the Lawyer of Year in Orange County for “Litigation – Intellectual Property” in 2017, and for “Bet-the-Company Litigation” in 2014.
- Colasurdo was selected this year to the Best Lawyers’ “Ones to Watch” list for Intellectual Property Law. These awards recognize extraordinary lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years in the United States.
In addition, U/Z is consistently recognized as one of the “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. In 2020, the firm received three Tier One rankings in Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation, as well as recognition in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation and Patent Litigation.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. 105,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and they have received 11+ million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. For the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, millions of votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 65,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”
Super Lawyers 2020 Selects Six Umberg/Zipser Attorneys
Umberg/Zipser LLP is proud to announce that five of its partners have again been included in the Southern California Super Lawyers list for 2020, a recognition reserved for only five percent of the lawyers in California. In addition, co-founding partner Dean Zipser has been recognized as a 2020 Top 50 Orange County Lawyer and Top 100 Southern California Lawyer.
The following Umberg/Zipser attorneys have been recognized in the 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers list:
• Mark Finkelstein for Intellectual Property Litigation;
• Scott Garner for Professional Liability: Defense;
• Carole Reagan for Business Litigation;
• Mei Tsang for Intellectual Property; and
• Dean Zipser for Business Litigation.
In addition, Priti Phukan, Ph.D. has been recognized as a 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star for Intellectual Property. Super Lawyers annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.
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
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/