OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Carol is a civil rights lawyer and advocate. Carol graduated from Douglass College in 1968 and the People’s College of Law in 1978. She spent twenty years working for the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, most recently as Senior Staff Counsel. 

Since 1997 Carol has served as the lead attorney on several cases representing the homeless against the City of Los Angeles. She litigated the landmark cases including Jones vs. City of Los Angeles, Lavan v. City of Los Angeles, and Desertrain v. City of Los Angeles. She has also tackled similar issues in Orange County.

Carol serves on the board of directors for several organizations that advocate for proactive approaches to civil rights issues, including the National Police Accountability Project. She regularly gives talks on her work and is currently an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School where she teaches a civil right practicum. Carol was recognized as a highly accomplished Super Lawyer for civil rights for 2004-2021 and was named California Lawyer of the Year for her work on behalf of unhoused persons and those exercising First Amendment rights to protest against the government. 1 year of service.

Akhil is a Senior Counsel with Keller Anderle Scolnick LLP. His practice focuses on high-stakes business disputes. He has extensive experience in federal court, having completed several significant federal trials and two federal judicial clerkships. Akhil holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of California at Riverside. Before law school, he taught for and eventually co-ran the Southern California LSAT program for a national standardized test preparation company. Akhil received his law degree from the University of California at Irvine, and he was the research editor and lead article editor for UC Irvine Law Review. He also was an elected fellow with the American Bar Foundation. Akhil served on the board of directors for several other organizations including the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law, Public Law Center Advocates, Thurgood Marshall Bar Association, and UC Irvine School of Law Dean's Circle.

Heidi is the Co-founder of Bock & Plummer, Attorneys at Law. Ms. Plummer was born and raised in Orange County, graduated cum lade as a member of the Dean’s honor roll from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She obtained her Juris Doctorate from Western State College of Law, where she participated in the negotiations team, dean’s circle, completed over forty hours of public service, and graduated with honors. Ms. Plummer has extensive experience in probate, bankruptcy, and business law. She assisted and litigated in nearly every aspect of the law. Ms. Plummer's numerous accolades include Best Probate Attorney in Santa Ana in 2022; Super Lawyers Rising Start in 2023 and 2024; Philanthropist in Marquis Who's who of America 2023 and 2024; Top 100 Civil Litigators and Trust Litigators 2022, 2023. Ms. Plummer is the past director, secretary, and current treasurer of Orange County Women Lawyers Association Foundation; current director for Veterans Legal Institute; member of the Steering Committee for Moms of Orange County; member of the Orange County Unity Bar; member of Orange County American Asian Bar Association; member of Hispanic Bar Association. Past secretary and chair-elect, current chair of the Solo/Small Firm Section of the Orange County Bar Association; Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund committee member; member of the William P. Gray Inn of Courts. Ms. Plummer also serves on various committees in Orange County Women Lawyers Association in addition to her duties as treasurer, including sponsorships, programs, awards, philanthropy, membership, and many others.

Mimi Ahn is a Partner at Kahana Feld. She is an experienced litigator and trial attorney, with an emphasis in employment law. Ms. Ahn has represented clients through every part of the employment dispute process including pre-litigation investigations, DFEH investigations, Department of Industrial Relations hearings, binding arbitrations, and both State and Federal civil litigations.  Ms. Ahn also has substantial experience in business litigation and general liability matters. 

Ms. Ahn is the immediate past president of the Orange County Korean American Bar Association and serves on the board of the Orange County Korean American Bar Association Foundation. Ms. Ahn also serves on the board of Orange County Women Lawyers Association 

Jordana Furman has her own private law practice.  In addition, she volunteers countless hours at the ELDR Center. 

After graduating from law school, Jordana volunteered at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and the Public Law Center. 

Jordana holds an undergraduate degree from California State University Long Beach, a MBA from  Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University and a law degree from the Fowler School of Law at Chapman University.

Reza Torkzadeh is a nationally recognized plaintiff’s trial attorney at TorkLaw who has dedicated his professional career to the pursuit of justice by exclusively representing victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Reza has handled numerous high-profile cases in both state and federal courts, and has served in leadership roles in litigation at the national level. He has been featured for legal commentary by the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Daily Journal, San Francisco Daily Journal, New York Daily News, Metro News, Christian Science Monitor, KUSI TV, and many other news outlets and publications.

Reza is a frequently invited guest speaker and has lectured across the country on the practice of law and the civil justice system. He is a proud Honorary Board Member of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charity, an active member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and President’s Club Member of the Consumer Attorneys of California.

Reza is the co-author of the book, Accidents Happen: A Consumer’s Guide to the Personal Injury and Wrongful Death System, which is now it its second edition and continues to receive wide acclaim and endorsement from the legal community.

Rebekah Thomas is an Special Education Attorney practicing at Atkinson Andelson Loya Ruud & Roma. Rebekah represents school districts and county offices of education in education law with a concentration in special education and student issues. She provides interpretation and assessment of issues arising under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Americans with Disabilities Act. Mrs. Thomas represents school districts at IEP team meetings, resolution sessions, mediations, and due process hearings.

  Porsche is a Regional Assistant Chief Counsel with State Compensation Insurance Fund. 

She received her law degree from Pepperdine Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California. Porsche is an executive board member of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association and Chief Financial Officer for the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association Foundation. New member.

 Dan Sasse is a Partner at Crowell & Moring LLP. Dan co-chairs Crowell’s Antitrust and Competition Group and co-leads the firm’s affirmative Recovery Practice. His practice focuses on all aspects of antitrust and competition law, including litigation; government investigations; defending mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures; and compliance issues. He has extensive experience in regulated industries including health care, telecommunications, and energy. 

Chambers USA, Global Competition Review, and Southern California Super Lawyers have consistently named Dan as one of the top antitrust lawyers in the country.

Dan is a former member of Crowell’s Management Board, the co-chair of its Finance Committee, and co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition Group. Dan is also heavily involved in Crowell’s award-winning pro bono program. For these efforts and more, the Daily Journal has recognized Dan as one of "10 Emerging Law Firm Leaders in California."

Outside of the firm, Dan is a leader in the Orange County Bar and community organizations. He is past-president of the Orange County Chapters of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Federal Bar Association. He is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and has served as a lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and as a member of the Central District of California Local Rules Committee.

 Corey Steady is a Partner at SheppardMullin in the   Tax, Employee Benefits, and Trust & Estates Practice Group.  

Corey practices in family wealth planning, including all aspects of estate planning and probate and trust administration.  He advises U.S. citizens, residents and nonresident noncitizens regarding U.S. gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning. He works with clients to plan and implement strategies to transfer family wealth and accomplish personal goals in a tax efficient manner. Corey also advises fiduciaries in regards to the administration of trusts and estates.

In addition, Corey assists clients with their charitable tax planning. He counsels public charities and private foundations in their formation and with other tax or legal issues that arise in their operation and management.