The firm is pleased to announce that Karine Akopchikyan, Heather Antoine, John De La Merced, Neil Elan, and Celina Kirchner have been named to Thomson Reuters’ prestigious list of 2021 Southern California “Super Lawyers” Rising Stars. Additionally, Heather received enough votes to place her on the “Up-and-Coming 100: 2021 Southern California Rising Stars” and “Up-and-Coming 50: 2021 Women Southern California Rising Stars” lists.
Every year, “Super Lawyers” profiles attorneys in more than 70 different practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievements. The list selects the top lawyers in Southern California based on peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation. After the "Super Lawyers" research team has completed the screening process, only 2.5 percent of lawyers under the age of 40 years old are granted the title of Rising Stars.
View the Up-and-Coming 100: 2021 Southern California Rising Stars here.
View the Up-and-Coming 50: 2021 Women Southern California Rising Stars here.
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP is proud to announce that its attorney, John De La Merced, has been elected as the incoming President of the UCLA Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. Scott Alderton, Managing Partner of the Firm commented: “This is a significant professional accomplishment and recognition by John’s peers, and we are very proud of him for that. The Firm values leadership and rewards initiative, and taking affirmative steps towards the development of one’s broad professional network is exactly the type of thing we encourage and empower our associates to do, because we know from experience that it is going to benefit him personally, as well as the Firm.”
The UCLA Law Alumni Association seeks to establish and nurture a lifelong relationship between the school and its more than 18,000 alumni. All graduates of UCLA School of Law are automatically members of the association.
John 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. John’s 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.
Congratulations to SA&M attorney John De La Merced for his appointed as 2020 Vice President of UCLA Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. He will be officially sworn in on July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
The UCLA Law Alumni Association seeks to establish and nurture a lifelong relationship between the school and its more than 18,000 alumni. All graduates of UCLA School of Law are automatically members of the association. The UCLA Law Alumni Association Board of Directors governs the group's activities and policies. Members serve three-year terms.
For more information on the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors visit here.
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, Vice President of UCLA 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.
For more information about our Business Litigation Practice or questions contact John De La Merced at
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
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Stubbs Alderton & Markiles Attorney, John De La Merced, was featured as a speaker on a CLE panel along with former California Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Carlos R. Moreno (Ret.) and Toni Jaramilla, discussing the ins-and-outs of arbitration and practical tips. The CLE event, “Arbitration: A How-to-Guide,” was held at JAMS’ offices in Downtown Los Angeles. In the past two years, John has helped achieve incredible results on behalf of SA&M clients in arbitration, which include obtaining a favorable award in a complex bet-the-company case following a two-week long arbitration proceeding, and resolving a multi-million dollar partnership dispute on the eve of the final arbitration hearing.
To learn more about our Business Litigation Practice please contact John De La Merced at
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles’ attorney John De La Merced will be featured as a speaker for a CLE event on "Arbitration: A How-To Guide" presented by the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) and JAMS on Thursday, July 11th, 2019. The event speakers will provide a backdrop of arbitration, best practices, and recent developments in the United States Supreme Court jurisprudence.
Topics will include:
JAMS Los Angeles Resolution Center
555 West 5th Street, 32nd Floor,
Los Angeles 90013
Reception 6:00pm | Program 6:30pm
To register for the event click here.
John R. De La Merced is an attorney at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP and is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice 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.
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 President and a member of the Board of Governors for the Philippine American Bar Association, the oldest and largest local association of Filipino-American lawyers in the United States. John is also a proud member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the St. Thomas More Society of LA Advisory Committee. In 2018, John was a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of LA County Board of Governors. John further enjoys mentoring current and future law students, as well as junior attorneys in the Southern California area.
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles attorney John De La Merced was featured in Balitang America, a news program that airs on “The Filipino Channel”—a major television outlet for Filipino-Americans and Filipinos globally. John, current president of the Philippine American Bar Association, has some big things planned in the legal world - including bringing more Filipinos to the Bench.
“This year, we’re kinda happy to add on to what PABA has done for the community this year we’re making a big emphasis on really being involved in the Filipino American community locally,”
To read the full article and view the video visit here.
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. 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 President and a member of the Board of Governors for the Philippine American Bar Association, the oldest and largest local association of Filipino-American lawyers in the United States. John is also a proud member of the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the St. Thomas More Society of LA Advisory Committee. In 2018, John was a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of LA County Board of Governors. John further enjoys mentoring current and future law students, as well as junior attorneys in the Southern California area.
For more information about our Business Litigation Practice or questions contact John De La Merced at
[vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" overlay_strength="0.3" shape_divider_position="bottom"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]Congratulations to Stubbs Alderton & Markiles attorney John De La Merced for his appointment to the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. The UCLA School of Law Alumni Association has over 17,000 Bruin alumni members and seeks to establish and nurture a lifelong relationship between the school and its alumni in an effort to strengthen the legal community and to assist in the development of the full potential of UCLA School of Law. The Board of Directors governs activities and policies of the UCLA Law Alumni Association.
For more information about the Board of Directors, visit here.
John R. De La Merced is an associate of the Firm. His practice focuses on business litigation, which includes commercial, intellectual property, and real estate disputes. 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. John is currently the President-Elect of the Philippine American Bar Association and is a member of its board of governors. In 2019, he will serve as the organization’s President. John also serves on the board of governors for the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, and on the advisory committee for the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles.
For more information about our Business Litigation Practice or questions contact John De La Merced at [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Congratulations to SAM attorney John De La Merced for his appointed as 2018 president-elect for the Philippine American Bar Association ("PABA"), the largest local association of Filipino-American lawyers in the United States. He was officially sworn in on March 14, 2018 at PABA’s 32nd Installation and Awards Gala, which featured California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu as the keynote speaker.
To view the 2018 PABA office, visit here.
John R. De La Merced is an associate of the Firm. His practice focuses on business litigation, which includes commercial and intellectual property disputes. His experience encompasses all aspects of the litigation process, including drafting operative pleadings and responses, law and motion practice, discovery, mediation, client counseling and assisting in trial.
John currently serves as Treasurer and a member of the board of governors for the Philippine American Bar Association, and will serve as the organization’s President-Elect in 2018 and then President in 2019. John is also a member of the advisory committee for the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles.
For more information about our Business Litigation Practice or questions contact John De La Merced at
Congratulations to Stubbs Alderton & Markiles attorney John De La Merced for his appointment to the Board of Governors for the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County. He was officially sworn in on February 23, 2018 at APABA’s 20th Annual Installation of the Officers & Board of Governors, which featured California Supreme Court Justice Leondra R. Kruger as the keynote speaker.
For more information about the Governing Board, visit here.
John R. De La Merced is an associate of the Firm. His practice focuses on business litigation, which includes commercial and intellectual property disputes. His experience encompasses all aspects of the litigation process, including drafting operative pleadings and responses, law and motion practice, discovery, mediation, client counseling and assisting in trial.
John currently serves as Treasurer and a member of the board of governors for the Philippine American Bar Association, and will serve as the organization’s President-Elect in 2018 and then President in 2019. John is also a member of the advisory committee for the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles.
About APABA
The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County is a member organization comprised of attorneys, judges and law students throughout Los Angeles County. It is a voice for issues of concern to the Asian Pacific American community. APABA provides legal education and assistance to underserved communities and sponsors programs in professional development, community education and law student mentorship.
For more information about our John's appointment to the APABA or our Business Litigation Practice or questions contact John De La Merced at