SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA –– Klinedinst PC is proud to announce that the firm has achieved the Mid-Size Mansfield Certification for 2023-2024. This marks the second year that the firm has been recognized by Diversity Lab, and recognized the work the firm has done to ensure equity and consistency in advancement across all seven offices.

The Mansfield Certification is named after Arabella Mansfield, who was the first female lawyer in the United States. Mansfield took the Iowa bar exam and scored high marks; however, the State of Iowa permitted only male candidates to sit for the bar exam. Mansfield challenged the males-only law in court and won her case, resulting in Iowa becoming the first state in the union to admit women and minorities to the practice of law in 1869.

In recognition of Ms. Mansfield’s achievement, the Mansfield Rule was created to help law firms identify ways to expand talent opportunities and increase diversity in leadership roles within the legal profession. Powered by Diversity Lab, the Mansfield Rule verifies that law firms have affirmatively considered women, lawyers of color, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions.

To achieve Mansfield Rule Certification, firms must undergo an independent multi-step program that measures the structural changes and tangible steps firms have taken to ensure paths to leadership – including lateral hiring, client pitch teams, promotions, appointments, and more – are open and transparent to all qualified lawyers. Mansfield’s processes are all designed to ensure equal opportunity and access to leadership roles.

The Mansfield Certification by Diversity Lab is a structured process backed by behavioral science. The entire process is designed to boost inclusivity, access, and diversity in leadership at every step. It encourages law firm management to make decisions in selecting future leaders by considering a broad pipeline of talent, including lawyers who are historically underrepresented in law. The same inclusive decision-making process is also encouraged when assembling client-centric service teams.

The Mansfield Rule program is designed to not exclude anyone, but instead expand the pool of lawyers to include additional qualified talent. According to Diversity Lab, recent studies, including the data analysis published in The American Lawyer and the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Advancing Diversity Report, praise Mansfield for its effective and lawful method for enhancing transparency and diversity in leadership.

“I am so impressed and proud of Klinedinst PC’s willingness and enthusiasm about Mansfield certification. The process is a huge commitment but our team has taken it on with passion and dedication to our core values,” said DEIB Committee Co-Chair Teresa Beck.

Klinedinst thanks Diversity Lab for building a collaborative platform for law firms to become Mansfield Certified, and looks forward to continuing its participation in the Mansfield Rule program for the 2024-2025 cycle. Learn more by downloading the official announcement from Diversity Lab. To learn more about Klinedinst’s efforts in improving diversity, please visit:

klinedinstlaw.com/diversity

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that business are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — Klinedinst is honored to be recognized by the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL) as a 2024 Top Legal Organization for DEI. The award, one of ten being given to local law firms, will be presented to Klinedinst at OCCDL’s Annual Awards Gala on October 3, 2024. The award honors organizations who have advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Orange County legal community in the past year.

The Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law is the collaborative effort of professionals from leading Orange County law firms and other community partners promoting the recruitment, retainment, equity among, and advancement of diverse attorneys in Orange County. The OCCDL provides practical workshops, diversity-based education (CLEs), and supports local Orange County law school and high school students from underrepresented communities.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to supporting diversity within the legal profession, the firm, and the Orange County office,” said Klinedinst’s Chief Diversity Officer Natalie Vance.

The firm’s commitment to diversity and equity goes back two decades, when the firm was an original signatory to the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s 2005 Statement of Diversity Goals and Principles. Klinedinst has since received numerous recognitions for DEIB initiatives, including the Corporate Commitment Diversity Award from the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and, most recently, the State Bar of Nevada’s 2024 Partner in Diversity Medallion. The firm has also achieved Mid-size Mansfield Rule Certification for 2022-2023. Powered by Diversity Lab, Mansfield Rule Certification verifies that law firms have affirmatively considered women, lawyers of color, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. This year, the firm was also named a Best Company to Work For: Law Firm for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report.

Klinedinst thanks the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law for this recognition and for their commitment to elevating DEIB in the legal community.

Learn more about Klinedinst’s unwavering commitment to diversity at www.klinedinstlaw.com/about/diversity

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.


SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst announces that six attorneys have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Published annually, Best Lawyers recognizes top-caliber attorneys in over 150 practice areas. For the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the organization received 27 million evaluations from lawyers to determine the most talented and esteemed professionals in the industry. This included a record-shattering 4.2 million responses from this year alone. Best Lawyers uses the input of these attorneys to then decide this year’s honorees.

In 2025, Best Lawyers recognized more than 80,000 lawyers, a 5% increase over the previous year. Klinedinst lawyers who are recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers include:

Being recognized by Best Lawyers is a testament to exceptional practice. Klinedinst congratulates these outstanding lawyers for being recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers. To learn more about each, please visit:

www.klinedinstlaw.com/best-lawyers

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst was pleased to host a special DEIB webinar featuring John Miller, Staff Attorney with Lambda Legal. The webinar, which took place on August 13, 2024, was moderated by Shareholder Brian P. Murphy.

Mr. Miller, who is based in Los Angeles and also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, discussed the past, present, and future of Lambda Legal’s work representing the LGBTQ+ community. Mr. Miller and his team serve as the first line of defense when it comes to the legal department, fielding 5,000 calls every year from people facing discrimination.

Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda attorneys have been behind many of the court cases that have secured the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, including the landmark Obergefell decision that recognized marriage equality.

“Lambda Legal does vitally important work that is close to my heart,” said Mr. Murphy, who is based in Klinedinst’s San Diego law office. “This webinar gives viewers a chance to go behind-the-scenes with an organization that is on the frontlines in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.”

During the webinar, Mr. Miller reviewed important milestones in the history of the LGBTQ+ movement, from founding through present day. He also discussed pending legal cases, and what the future may hold for cases that are working their way through the U.S. court system.

Klinedinst thanks Mr. Miller and Lambda Legal for participating in this special event. To learn more about Lambda Legal, please visit: klinedinstlaw.com/lambda-legal

About Klinedinst 

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst PC has just posted an opening for an organized and professional Legal Operations Manager to join our vibrant and collaborative team. The ideal Legal Operations Manager candidate would be based in our Irvine location and oversee the operations of both our Irvine and Los Angeles offices.

Klinedinst is dedicated to providing top-caliber legal services to clients across the West, while nurturing the professional development and personal advancement of each and every employee. We work hard to promote a positive, energizing culture built on teamwork and inclusion. It’s the reason why Klinedinst has been named a Best Place to Work: Law Firm by US News & World Report in 2024.

As Legal Operations Manager, we want you to inspire and help lead these teams to success.

Learn More

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

Shareholder Lynda C. Shely (left)

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Klinedinst is pleased to announce that Lynda C. Shely has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as Shareholder.

Ms. Shely is a highly-respected attorney who has built a practice focused almost exclusively on legal ethics law.  With nearly four decades of experience, Ms. Shely frequently serves as an expert witness in legal malpractice cases, advises lawyers and law firms on risk management and professional responsibility matters, and assists clients in responding to allegations of professional misconduct. 

Lynda C. Shely

Before joining Klinedinst, Ms. Shely managed her own firm, providing counsel on ethical advertising, Alternative Business Structure (ABS) law firms, fee agreements and billing requirements, training and supervision of law firm personnel, lawyers transitioning between firms, succession planning, trust account documentation, docketing and communication requirements, and conflicts of interest. Before starting her own practice, she worked at the State Bar of Arizona as the Director of Lawyer Ethics. In this role, she served as Staff Counsel to the Ethics, Fee Arbitration, and Peer Review Committees, as well as the Client Protection Fund Board of Trustees and the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. She supervised multiple departments and provided tens of thousands of telephonic advisory opinions to members of the State Bar on legal ethics issues over her ten years at the Bar. Ms. Shely assisted the Arizona Supreme Court’s Task Force in implementing adoption of ABS law firm regulation in Arizona, helping shape the rules and compliance mechanisms that govern these entities. She has been an active volunteer within the American Bar Association, serving as Chair of both the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and the ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection. She also was one of the representatives for the State Bar of Arizona in the ABA House of Delegates, and has been a longtime member of the ABA’s Center for Professional Responsibility. 

Ms. Shely continues her involvement today in the legal ethics community, including as a member of the Arizona Supreme Court’s ABS Committee and the Court’s Steering Committee on AI and the Courts, as well as the State Bar of Arizona’s Ethics Advisory Group and the ABA Standing Committee on Professional Regulation. As a result of her work within the community, she has been honored with multiple recognitions from the State Bar of Arizona, and was inducted into the Maricopa County Bar Association’s Hall of Fame in 2023.

To learn more about Lynda Shely, please visit:

www.klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/lynda-shely

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst PC announces the addition of Imbar Sagi-Lebowitz as Senior Counsel to the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Imbar Sagi-Lebowitz

Ms. Sagi-Lebowitz focuses her practice on labor and employment litigation. She counsels and represents employers in arbitrations, civil actions, mediations, and settlement conferences.

Ms. Sagi-Lebowitz graduated from Loyola Law School in the top 20% of her class. As a law student, she served as Articles Editor and Staff Writer for Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review. Prior to law school, she received her B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), magna cum laude. 

“Ms. Sagi-Lebowitz will bolster the firm’s labor and employment practice, and brings with her a wealth of experience to assist the firm’s clientele,” said Robert J. Hatem, Managing Shareholder of the Klinedinst Los Angeles office. “We could not be more pleased to have Ms. Sagi-Lebowitz join the firm as we grow our key practice areas.”

Klinedinst is proud to welcome Ms. Sagi-Lebowitz to the firm. Her full biography is available online at:

https://klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/imbar-sagi-lebowitz.

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.




SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst PC announces the addition of construction attorney John C. Goodman as Senior Counsel to the firm’s San Diego office.

John C. Goodman

Mr. Goodman joins the firm with nearly three decades of experience in construction law and construction-related insurance defense. Prior, Mr. Goodman worked at his own private law practice, where he handled both private and major public work cases. 

Mr. Goodman received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he graduated second in his class. During law school, Mr. Goodman served as a representative on the student council, after being nominated by his peers as a write-in candidate. Prior to law school, he received his undergraduate degree in Economics at Michigan State University.

“Mr. Goodman is a welcome addition to our thriving construction team,” said Robert J. Hatem, Managing Shareholder of the Klinedinst Los Angeles office and one of the Construction practice group leaders. “His background in representing developers, contractors, subcontractors and experts will provide sophistication and a steady hand to our clients. We look forward to Mr. Goodman’s contributions as we continue to expand our construction team.”

Klinedinst is very pleased to welcome Mr. Goodman to the firm. His full biography is available online at: https://klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/john-goodman.

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.




SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Klinedinst Seattle is pleased to welcome attorney Chancelor K. Eagle to its growing business and commercial litigation team.

Mr. Eagle assists with the representation of corporations in both transactions and litigation, with a focus on the financial services industry. In his prior position, he handled contracts and negotiations for a startup tech company. Within the community, Mr. Eagle is an active member of both the business law and intellectual property sections of the King County Bar Association.

Mr. Eagle received his J.D. at Gonzaga University School of Law and interned at a firm that practiced criminal and family law throughout his time as a student. Before law school, he received his B.S. from Eastern Washington University.

“We are very excited to welcome Chancelor to our fast-growing Seattle team,” said Seattle Managing Shareholder Gregor A. Hensrude. “He is going to combine his experience with transactional matters with his considered approach to legal problems to serve our corporate clients doing business in the Pacific Northwest.”

To learn more about Mr. Eagle, please visit: https://klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/chancelor-eagle.

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst PC is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation and trial experience, sophisticated transactional advice, and other solution-oriented legal counsel. Providing legal services across the West, our attorneys are dedicated to fostering trusted relationships with each and every client, to help them achieve their individual goals and objectives. Klinedinst lawyers strive to serve as true business partners, always at the ready to address the legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether in court, at the board meeting, or otherwise, KPC is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst Shareholder Teresa M. Beck helped launch a brand new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Toolkit for the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations (NCWBA). The Toolkit is designed to help women’s bar associations increase their engagement and membership with various groups, particularly women of color.

Ms. Beck served as the 2022–23 President of NCWBA, and one of her goals was to not only address obstacles in gender equality, but those inhibiting racial diversity, as well. After noting the disparity between different racial groups in the membership of legal organizations, Ms. Beck established a Diversity Task Force to help NCWBA member associations strengthen their own diversity profiles.

One product of the NCWBA Diversity Task Force was the DEIB toolkit, designed to provide a roadmap for bar organizations to increase their inclusion of women of color. The toolkit outlines practical steps that can be easily integrated within an organization’s policy to increase the participation of both women in general, and women of color in particular. By driving change within individual organizations, the toolkit aims to help associations reach their own individually-defined DEIB goals, which can have profound positive effects on the legal profession.    

Within Klinedinst, Ms. Beck serves as Co-Chair of the DEIB Committee, where she helps foster inclusivity and equity initiatives across the firm’s six offices. In 2023, the firm achieved Mid-Size Mansfield Rule Certification, and continues to be an active participant within the Mansfield community. The firm also regularly hosts webinars on DEIB-related topics, and participates in the American Bar Association’s annual Model Diversity Survey.

Klinedinst congratulates Ms. Beck on the successful launch of the DEIB Toolkit, and thanks her for her service to NCWBA. For more information on the new NCWBA DEIB Toolkit, visit: https://ncwba.org/resources/deib-toolkit/.

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel. The firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle service the West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationships our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether vigorously advocating for clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.