HarrisMartin's Southern California Asbestos Litigation Conference Speaker Profiles
Co-Chair Michael L. Armitage, Waters, Kraus & Paul, Los Angeles Show/Hide Bio
Mike Armitage is a partner in the firm's West Coast practice — Waters, Kraus & Paul — as well as the managing attorney for the Los Angeles office. Admitted to practice in both California and Louisiana, Mike began his career practicing maritime transportation and commercial law, but has focused on personal injury and product liability cases since joining the firm in 2000. Mike oversees the firm's asbestos practice in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, and his work on asbestos-related cancer cases has resulted in some of the firm's most notable verdicts. He serves as a liaison counsel on the Bench-Bar Committee for asbestos litigation issues before the Los Angeles County Superior Court, and he is invited several times each year to serve as a co-chair or speaker at national seminars and conferences on asbestos and mass tort litigation. Mike earned his bachelor's degree from Tulane University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He went on to graduate cum laude from Tulane Law School as well, where he was selected to the Order of The Coif, served as a member of the Moot Court Board, and participated as a senior fellow in the university’s legal research and writing program. Born in Surrey, England, Mike is a member of the American Association for Justice, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles Board of Governors, Consumer Attorneys of California, he is also a proctor member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. Mike has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® from 2006 to 2010 (Copyright 2009 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.) that appeared in Los Angeles magazine. He has also been recognized on the Thomson Reuters Southern California Super Lawyers® list in the Los Angeles Times 2006 to 2011.
Co-Chair Stephen M. Nichols, Walsworth Franklin Bevins McCall, Orange, CA Show/Hide Bio
Born Los Angeles, California; admitted to bar 1981, California. EDUCATION: Santa Clara University (B.S. 1978); Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (J.D. 1981). Admitted to practice in U. S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit and United States District Court, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California and District of Hawaii. Member of State Bar of California; American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Associate; American Association for Justice; Orange County Bar Association; Orange County Trial Lawyers Association; Association of Business Trial Lawyers; Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. AV peer review rated.
Hon. Emilie H. Elias, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Show/Hide Bio
Hon. Emilie H. Elias was recently appointed the presiding judge of the coordinated asbestos docket for Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. For more on Judge Elias' appointment, see HarrisMartin's coverage of the story here.
Hon. Helen Irene Bendix, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles
Paul C. Cook, Waters, Kraus & Paul, Los Angeles
G. Jeff Coons, Gordon & Rees LLP, San Francisco
Geoffrey M. Davis, K&L Gates LLP, Los Angeles
Patrick Deblase, Deblase, Brown, Eyerly LLP, Los Angeles
Scott L. Frost, Waters, Kraus & Paul, Los Angeles
Margaret I. Johnson, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Los Angeles
Viiu Spangler Khare, Berkes Crane Robinson & Seal LLP, Los Angeles
Stephen C. Klausen, Prindle, Amaro, Goetz, Hillyard, Barnes & Reinholtz LLP, Long Beach, CA
Thomas J. Mikula, Goodwin Procter, Washington, D.C.
David A. Rosen, Rose, Klein & Marias LLP, Los Angeles
William J. Sayers, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Los Angeles
Carolin K. Shining, The Law Offices of Carolin K. Shining, Los Angeles
Mahsa Kashani Tippins, Gordon & Rees LLP, San Francisco
Linda Tatka, Claims Director, Asbestos Unit/Historic Claims Department, AZRS-Resolution Service, Fireman's Fund insurance Company, Novato, CA