As stated in The Wall Street Journal – Online, CNBC.com, Bloomberg.com, and other on-line publications on May 6th:
Montage Legal Group has seen enormous growth already this year. The group recently added six new lawyers who previously practiced law at firms like Latham and Watkins, Morrison Foerster, Gibson Dunn and Crutcher, Bryan Cave, Paul Hastings, Cooley, Baker and McKenzie, Covington and Burling, and Morgan Lewis and Bockius.
Montage’s six new contract attorneys, Kimberly Bick, Shannon Sweeney, Jenna Randolph, Carolyn McKitterick, Christina Johnson, and Kim Murakawa, expand Montage’s presence in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.
Most of Montage’s 20 freelance lawyers are mothers who joined the network directly after leaving in-house counsel positions or law firms, but others are a growing subset of women who are relaunching their legal careers after taking time off to raise their children. “Just because a female lawyer chooses to take several years off to raise her children doesn’t mean she has to stop working forever,” says Kim Bick, who obtained her bachelor’s degree, her masters in civil engineering and her law degree from Stanford University. “Montage not only keeps young mothers in the legal market, but it provides a supportive network to someone like me to wants to use their law firm training to benefit both their careers and the legal community.”
“The legal community doesn’t have to lose talented female lawyers anymore,” says Berkeley Law graduate and Montage lawyer, Lindley Fraley. “Montage gives me the opportunity to work from home for other law firms without the prior stigma attached to being a contract lawyer.” Fraley, who formerly practiced at Latham and Watkins and Payne and Fears, has a two year old toddler and is due in June with her second daughter.
The story also also recognizes Montage Legal Group founders, Laurie Rowen and Erin Gigla for appearing in this month’s OC Metro 2011 40 Under 40 issue, highlighting 40 Orange County professionals under the age of 40.
Meet our new Montage Legal Group attorneys below!
Kim Bick
Kim graduated from Stanford Law School, with distinction, and was a member of the Stanford Law Review. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Earth Sciences and her M.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University in 1985.
Kim then practiced environmental law at Covington and Burling, Morrison Foerster, and Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher. Kim currently advises on environmental law and compliance.
Kim volunteers with the National Charity League. She lives with her husband and two teenagers in Orange County.
Christina Johnson Christina Johnson obtained her Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law in 2003, graduating in the top 10%, as Order of the Coif. Christina also obtained her B.A. in Communications Studies, cum laude, from UCLA in 1998.
After law school, Christina practiced law at Crowell and Moring as a litigation/government contracts associate, then Morgan, Lewis and Bockius as a real estate associate, and then Jones and Mayer, where she focused on municipal law.
Christina was an actress in several hit television shows and movies. She lives with her husband and young children in Long Beach, CA.
Jenna Randolph
Jenna obtained her B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. Jenna was a member of the UCLA Entertainment Law Review.
After law school, Jenna joined Bryan Cave LLP, where she focused on commercial litigation and labor and employment . Following Bryan Cave, Jenna was in-house assistant counsel at PICOCO LLC.
Throughout her career, Jenna has maintained a dynamic pro bono practice. Jenna lives with her family in Orange County.
Shannon Sweeney
Shannon obtained a B.A. in Art History and Theatre from Scripps College, and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. While at USF, she served on and was published in the USF Law Review.
After law school, Shannon joined Cooley Godward in San Diego. Following Cooley, Shannon joined Baker and McKenzie where she focused on consumer class actions and complex business and commercial disputes.
Shannon practices in San Diego, and is due with her first child in May.
Kim Murakawa
Kim Murakawa obtained her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, and her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1994. Prior to attending law school, Kim was Press Secretary to the Governor of Hawaii and was a television and newspaper reporter.
Following law school, Kim was an associate at Bryan Cave in the Banking and Real Estate, and then joined the Real Estate/Finance Group at Latham and Watkins. Kim was also in-house counsel for Mobilitie, LLC in Newport Beach.
Kim lives with her husband and 22 month old daughter in Irvine.
Carolyn McKitterick
Carolyn graduated, cum laude, from the University of California, Irvine, with a degree in social ecology, and obtained her J.D. from Loyola Law School, finishing in the top 15% of her class.
After law school, Carolyn joined Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker as an associate in the employment group. Carolyn then left Big Law and began an active role in the community, with leadership roles in the NCL, Public Law Center, and the OC Bar Foundation.
Carolyn is active with her busy family, including her two daughters, a USC graduate and a senior at Stanford University.