On April 27, 2020, Venable partners Celeste Brecht and Michele Mulrooney were recognized in the Los Angeles Business Journal's list of the Top Women Attorneys for 2020. This award honors women for their exceptional legal skill and achievement across the full spectrum of responsible, exemplary leadership, as evidenced by meeting the highest professional and ethical standards, and contributions to the Los Angeles community at large.
Celeste Brecht became an equity partner in 2019, and in 2020 she was named co-chair of Venable's California litigation group, which includes 50 attorneys in offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. She is also an accomplished first-chair trial lawyer who has led and been a member of multiple trial teams in state and federal courts, has successfully argued before the California Courts of Appeal, and has obtained favorable jury verdicts and results in a variety of administrative forums.
Michele Mulrooney is chair of Venable's West Coast Tax and Wealth Planning Practice. She focuses her practice on estate planning for high-net-worth individuals, including actors, directors, writers, producers, and artists. Her experience and astute insight into the unique legal needs facing individuals in the entertainment industry have led her to develop a broader service offering for her clients.