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.

Dean Zipser Participates in OCBA Seminar

Dean Zipser was one of two presenters (with Todd Friedland of Stephens Friedland LLP) at the Orange County Bar Association’s (OCBA), Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Section program, “Growing Your Law Firm,” on May 17, 2018.  The seminar covered topics designed to help lawyers identify the issues they must consider in growing their law firms and deciding whether growth is for them, as well as being inclusive in hiring. With Umberg/Zipser having grown from four to fourteen in just over four years, Dean had first-hand and very timely information to share.

Dean Zipser Serves as Co-chair of OCBA Leadership Roundtable and Reception

Umberg/Zipser (U/Z) co-founding partner Dean J. Zipser served as co-chair for the Orange County Bar Association’s (OCBA) Leadership Roundtable & Reception on May 16, 2018. The event brought current and former OCBA leaders together in a panel discussion on leadership opportunities within the OCBA. Among his many professional activities, Dean has served as co-chair (together with Michael G. Yoder of O’Melveny & Myers LLP) of the OCBA’s Leadership Development Committee since its inception – a group focused on identifying, recruiting, and training potential leaders of OCBA and the Orange County legal community.

Scott Garner and Todd Smith to Present at OCBA Specialty Credit Night – Navigating the Perilous Waters of the Attorney-Client Privilege

Umberg/Zipser is pleased to announce that attorneys Scott Garner and Todd Smith will co-present on the topic of “Navigating the Perilous Waters of the Attorney-Client Privilege” to members of the Orange County Bar Association.  The event will take place on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 in Costa Mesa. Click here for more information about the event.

Scott Garner represents clients in a wide array of complex business litigation matters with a focus on professional liability disputes and ethics counseling. He has represented large, mid-size, and small law firms, along with individual lawyers, in pre-litigation and litigation disputes concerning claims of legal malpractice, ethical violations, and securities fraud arising from their litigation, transactional, and IP practices. Scott also consults with clients on legal ethics issues, and has served as an expert witness on ethics and standard of care issues.

Todd Smith’s practice focuses on complex business litigation in state and federal courts. He represents companies and individuals in consumer and securities class actions, shareholder and derivative litigation, breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims, financial services litigation, real estate disputes, protection of intellectual property rights, and unfair competition claims. Todd also represents law firms and lawyers in legal malpractice actions. He is experienced in all phases of litigation, including trials, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals, as well as regulatory proceedings and internal investigations.

Scott Garner Presents on OCBA eDiscovery Panel

Umberg/Zipser is pleased to announce partner Scott Garner will participate in a presentation titled What Every Attorney Needs to Know about eDiscovery: Necessary Skills, Best Practices, Emerging Issues, and Ethical Pitfalls. The program will be hosted by The Orange County Bar Association Education Committee on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 in Costa Mesa, CA.

Garner will provide the defense and ethical issues perspective. He will be joined by speakers Honorable David C. Velasquez (Ret.), Judicate West; Kevin J. Mooney, Minyard Morris LLP; and Shawn Kennedy, Modera Legal.

The presentation will discuss best practices for various aspects of contemporary e-discovery practice. The panel will bring together multiple perspectives on e-discovery issues, including from the standpoint of a plaintiff’s attorney, a defense attorney, and the view from the bench. In addition to providing practical advice, the panel will examine how ethical standards like the duties of competence and confidentiality apply in the context of e-discovery.

The event is approved to provide 3.0 CLE Credits (Including 1.0 Legal Ethics).

Click here to read more about the event. 

Scott Garner represents clients in a wide array of complex business litigation matters with a focus on professional liability disputes and ethics counseling.  He has represented large, mid-size, and small law firms, along with individual lawyers, in pre-litigation and litigation disputes concerning claims of legal malpractice, ethical violations, and securities fraud arising from their litigation, transactional, and IP practices.  He also consults with clients on legal ethics issues, and has served as an expert witness on ethics and standard of care issues.