Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, one of Southern California’s leading business law firms, today announced that three attorneys of the firm have been selected to the 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. SA&M attorneys Karine Akopchikyan, John De La Merced, and Neil Elan were honored for 2020. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
About Karine Akopchikyan
Karine Akopchikyan is a Litigator in SA&M’s Business Litigation Practice group. Karine has extensive experience representing and advising plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of business and commercial disputes in state and federal courts. She focuses her practice on resolving complex contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes (including copyright, trademark, patent, right of publicity, and trade secret claims), cyber insurance coverage disputes, and disputes involving unfair competition, fraud, and other business torts. In large part, Karine’s success lies in her integrity, diligence, and ability to bring people together.
Outside of the office, Karine is committed to improving the academic and social outcomes for students in her community. With roots as a credentialed public school teacher, Karine helped create the Pasadena Bar Association’s Mentorship Committee, which connects law students with seasoned attorneys. In addition, she regularly volunteers as an attorney proctor for the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Teen Court Program, which focuses on the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Karine earned her law degree from USC Gould School of Law and presently serves as the Chair of the Los Angeles Chapter of the USC Gould Alumni Committee. While in law school, Karine was a Senior Executive Editor of USC’s Business Law Advisor, which is a student-run publication focused on advisory articles relevant to the intersection of business and law. She also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew of the United States District Court.
About John De La Merced
John R. De La Merced is an attorney at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP and is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation group, representing clients in commercial, intellectual property, and real estate disputes in federal court, state court, and arbitration. His experience encompasses all aspects of the litigation process, including managing client matters, drafting operative pleadings and responses, law and motion practice, discovery, mediation, client counseling, and assisting in arbitration and trial.
Since joining the firm, John has served as co-trial counsel in various arbitration and court proceedings and has been instrumental in securing favorable results on behalf of the firm and its clients. Understanding that litigation is a team effort, John prides himself in ensuring that clients appreciate how the facts of their case intertwine with the relevant legal issues. John’s strong attention to detail and thoughtfulness in analyzing the law provide his clients with the confidence of knowing that they have an advocate in their corner who is truly looking out for their interests.
Prior to joining the firm, John was an associate at a large international law firm where he represented clients in complex trust and estate litigation and commercial litigation matters.
An active member of the community, John is the Chair of the Board and Immediate Past President of the Philippine American Bar Association, the oldest and largest local association of Filipino-American lawyers in the United States, a member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the alternate regional governor for the Central California region for the National Filipino American Lawyers Association. Previously, John served as a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County Board of Governors in 2018 and on the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2018. John also mentors current and future law students, as well as junior attorneys in the Southern California area.
About Neil Elan
Neil Elan is an Associate in the Business Litigation Practice group. Neil’s civil litigation practice focuses on all areas of business and commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on business dissolution, buy-sell agreements, prosecution and defense of breach of contract and promissory note actions, business torts, unfair business practices, fraud, and Anti-SLAPP. In his civil litigation practice, Neil represents real estate developers, limited liability companies, closely held corporations, financial institutions, entertainment producers, commercial landlords and business owners.
On occasion, Neil also handles various civil and probate family-law cross-over matters, including those related to elder abuse and palimony actions.
Neil understands that each case is more than just a file–it is a story with moving parts, complicated personalities, and rapid needs. He strives to protect the fast-moving, cutting-edge business and interest needs of his clients and is committed to finding creative and effective solutions. He understands that litigation is not for the faint of heart and prides himself in ensuring that the client’s legal—and business—needs are well protected.
About Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The 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. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com
About Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is a business law firm with robust corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, entertainment, intellectual property, brand protection and business litigation practice groups focusing on the representation of, among others, venture backed emerging growth companies, middle market public companies, large technology companies, entertainment and digital media companies, investors, venture capital funds, investment bankers and underwriters. The firm’s clients represent the full spectrum of Southern California business with a concentration in the technology, entertainment, videogame, apparel and medical device sectors. Our mission is to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business perspective. These principles are the hallmarks of our Firm. For more information on Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, visit www.stubbsalderton.com
