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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Bar Association Readies for Election Day

The San Fernando Valley Bar Association will field 11 candidates facing off for eight seats on the association’s board over the next couple months. The trade group’s Valley Lawyer Magazine provided candidate profiles for members to review, as well as a little background on the process. Attorney members will be able to cast their votes electronically starting next month. Among the hopefuls are Michael Cohen, Alan Eisner, Anthony Ellis, Kyle Ellis, Gary Goodstein, Alexander Kasendorf, Minyong Lee, Joy Kraft Miles, Darren Le Montree, Nancy Reinhardt and George Seide. “The very reason we have new trustees is to benefit from their fresh perspective, be challenged with questions or ideas the prior group may not have considered, and continue to be a dynamic, evolving organization,” said Yi Sun Kim, bar association president, in the latest edition of Valley Lawyer Magazine. “Being a trustee is a volunteer position, and trustees will only be effective if they believe in the work that they do and find this volunteer work worthwhile.” Trustees serve a term of two years, according to Michael White, communications manager at the association. There are no limits to how many times an incumbent can run. “All of the candidates are worthy, all of them have interesting backgrounds,” said White. “By looking at those profiles themselves, you can see those that have perhaps been moved by personal experience or life experience to go into law and then to practice in the area they have chosen.” Kim suggested trustees join committees that closely line up with their priorities and strengths, whether it’s networking opportunities, community service or helping out with the bar association’s attorney referral service. Newcomer Cohen is a personal injury attorney, recently opening his office in Calbasas. He attended San Fernando Valley College of Law. Fellow newcomer Eisner attended Loyola Law School and has practiced in criminal defense for more than 30 years. His office is in Van Nuys. Anthony Ellis attended Pepperdine School of Law and practices personal injury litigation, products and premises liability in Sherman Oaks. The prospective candidate hopes his time on the board helps bring more solo practitioners to the bar association. Board incumbent Kyle Ellis graduated from Fordham University School of Law and specializes in civil litigation. He is also a research attorney with the Los Angeles Superior Court. Goodstein is seeking a second term on the board. He graduated from Loyola Law School and practices business and real estate litigation, as well as insurance coverage. Kasendorf practices business, real estate and government affairs law and practices at the firm Alpert Barr and Grant in Encino. Lee graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and practices family law and juvenile dependency in Pacoima. She is the first lawyer in a family of dentists, according to her profile. Kraft Miles attended Southwestern School of Law and specializes in family law and estate planning. Her office is in Woodland Hills. She has been active in the Valley Community Legal Foundation, the bar association’s philanthropic arm, for several years. Le Montree also graduated from Southwestern School of Law and practices insurance coverage, real estate and business litigation in Woodland Hills. Reinhardt practices probate, estate planning and trust administration in Encino; she attended the University of San Diego School of Law. Seide is a sole practitioner of family law in Calabasas. He graduated from the University of La Verne School of Law.

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