Founding Member, Alpert Dispute Resolution & Consulting

Alpert was a founding member of Alpert Barr & Grant, now Grant/Shenon. He is also the founding member of Alpert Dispute Resolution and Consulting, where he still serves as a mediator, arbitrator, consultant and lobbyist. He is a trustee at Woodbury University and is on the board of the Edge Foundation, which provides coaching for young people with special needs and in underserved communities. He is a past president of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, past president of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Alpert received the Fernando Award, among other honors.

Founding Member, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles

Alderton is a founding partner of Sherman Oaks-based Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, a law firm that has been around since 2002. He is also a member of its executive committee and the co-chair of the company’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Practice Group. Alderton advises clients across a number of industries, including software, technology, digital media, interactive entertainment and video games, cybersecurity and life sciences. He is often referred to as one of the top startup lawyers in Southern California, with more than 30 years of experience working with technology and emerging growth companies. He has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters Super Lawyer and a U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyer.

Partner, Fishman Block & Diamond

Fishman has more than 35 years of experience at his Encino-based firm in providing tax, trust and estate, accounting and business advisory services. He specializes in working with high-net-worth individuals and their closely-held businesses, primarily in the real estate field. Fishman’s practice includes manufacturing, distribution and other service businesses. He is very active in the Los Angeles community, serving as a past president and on the board and chair of the HR committee of Stephen Wise Temple. He is a chair of the local executive committee and national council member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He is also on the finance, campaign, strategic planning and distribution committees of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.

Founder, Senior Partner, Boucher LLP

Boucher is the founder and senior partner at his namesake firm, which is based in Woodland Hills. He specializes in consumer litigation, class actions, product liability, toxic tort litigation, employment discrimination and bad faith matters. In his more than 30-year career, Boucher has tried more than 50 cases and secured more than $3 billion for clients. One of his biggest cases was the $600 million sexual abuse settlement with the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Boucher has lectured at many law schools, including Pepperdine University, where he earned his law degree. Before founding Boucher, he had roles at firms then known as Kiesel, Boucher & Larson LLP and Nordstrom, Steele, Nicolette & Jefferson.

Chair, Employment Practice Group, Lewitt, Hackman, Shapiro Marshall and Harlan

Working exclusively with employers at her Encino-based firm, Bendavid handles employment litigation, counseling and transactions, representing employers in matters such as claims prevention, training and class action lawsuits. Bendavid also assists employers with hiring and firing; wage and hour issues; leaves of absence; wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims; preparation of employee handbooks, policies, employment agreements; and performance management. She is a member of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, where she served multiple terms as president, trustee, officer and chair of various committees. She is chair of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association’s labor and employment committee.

Partner, Eide Bailly LLP (used to be Bessolo Haworth LLP)

Haworth has been an accounting professional for more than four decades. In October, Haworth’s firm, the Sherman Oaks-based Bessolo Haworth, merged with Eide Bailly to expand its reach with offices in California and the greater Seattle area. “From the initial introduction, it was clear that cultural alignment existed between our firms. It was the knowledge of Eide Bailly’s culture, along with their committed and professional staff, that made uniting an attractive option for Bessolo Haworth,” Haworth said at the time. In 2007, Haworth and two other colleagues, successfully created and launched a full-service accounting firm, building a book of business that has grown to an employee base of 25 employees. The first 25 years of Haworth’s career were as an audit and tax practice leader, where he lead an audit practice for two large regional firms. Haworth is a graduate of California Polytechnic University-Pomona.

Principal, David Gershwin Consulting

Gershwin’s career in public affairs and public relations has spanned more than three decades. He opened David Gershwin Consulting in 2010, specializing in providing strategic advocacy and communications to corporate, government and nonprofit clients. Previously, Gershwin was a vice president at Cerrell Associates from 2008 to 2010. From 2006 to 2008, he was chief of staff to Eric Garcetti when the former mayor and current U.S. ambassador to India served as Los Angeles City Council president. Gershwin was director of communications for the previous Los Angeles City Council president, Alex Padilla, now a U.S. senator. Gershwin is on the board of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association and co-chairs its government affairs committee.