Firm News and Events

• Minyard Morris congratulates Mark E. Minyard for being selected by the Daily Journal as one of the 2024 Top Family Lawyers in California
• Janani S. Rana was named a Partner at Minyard Morris
• Matthew S. Buttacavoli installed as President of the Constitutional Rights Foundation-Orange County’s Board of Directors
• Minyard Morris selected as a Tier 1 Best Law Firm for 2024 (Best Lawyers® 2024 “Best Lawyers”)
• Mark E. Minyard was appointed to the Orange County Collaborative Courts Foundation. The foundation provides support and services to the participants in the five programs to assist them in overcoming obstacles and become productive members of society. The programs include the following: MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, HOMELESS OUTREACH COURT, DUI COURTS, VETERANS COURTS, AND ADULT DRUG COURT.
• Mark E. Minyard has been selected by the Daily Journal as the only Orange County lawyer listed as a Top 20 Family Law attorney in California.
• Jennifer Corona, Samantha Sheehan and Shabnam Saadatkhah joined Minyard Morris
• Mark E. Minyard authored four-part article, “Family Law Courts – A Call for Effective Change” for The Daily Journal
• Mark E. Minyard received The Orange County Bar Association’s Franklin G. West Award is the OCBA’s highest honor, presented to outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law.
• Mark E. Minyard authored article for OC Lawyer Magazine, “Ten Years After the Elkins Task Force, Judicial Openings Remain”
• Mark E. Minyard co-authored article for OC Lawyer Magazine “Toxic Stress on Children in High Conflict Divorces, Judicial Vacancies Remain”
• Mark E. Minyard lectured at Chapman Law School on Complex Issues in Family Law
• Mark E. Minyard presented at OCBA for Small Firm/Solo Practitioner Section “OCBA: The Master Experience”
• Michael A. Morris presented at Association of Certified Family Law Specialists’ Annual Spring 2023 Seminar
• Matthew S. Buttacavoli presented at OCBA Family Law Section: “Tools for Dealing With The Non-Disclosing Business Owner: Beyond Motions to Compel”
• Matthew S. Buttacavoli presented at Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, “Navigating Settlement Conferences: Harnessing the Tools to Settle Your Client’s Case” with Judge Stock
• Alexander C. Payne admitted as Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Alexander C. Payne appointed to the Orange County Bar Association’s Board of Directors
• Alexander C. Payne elected Treasurer for the Orange County Asian American Bar Association
• Alexander C. Payne elected President for the Orange County Korean American Bar Association’s Foundation
• Alexander C. Payne elected to Public Law Center’s Board of Directors
• Janani S. Rana was elected to the Orange County Women Lawyers Association Board of Directors
• Janani S. Rana installed as South Asian Bar Association of Southern California-Orange County Judicial Endorsement Committee Co-Chair
• Janani S. Rana installed as USC Gould Orange County Committee Co-Chair for 2nd Term
• Janani S. Rana co-authored article, “What Every Business Owner Should Know About Divorce in Orange County,” with CPA Robert Watts for OC Lawyer Magazine
• Janani S. Rana hosted USC Gould OC Chapter Dinner at Minyard Morris
• Jonathan T. Little presented at OCBA Family Law Section: “Tools For Dealing With The Non-Disclosing Business Owner: Beyond Motions to Compel”
• Jonathan T. Little presented at OCBA YLD: “Demystifying Depositions: The Laws, Tips, & Strategies You Need to Know”
• Jonathan T. Little was reappointed as board member seat to the Community Legal Aid SoCal Finance and Audit Committees Board for the next three years
• Scott M. Savage presented at OCBA Family Law Section “Tips and Strategies to Oppose and Move-Away Request” with Judge Miller & Attorney Campuzano
• Scott M. Savage presented at OCBA Family Law Series Part 1: “Custody, Child Support & DVPA”
• Scott M. Savage appointed to the Orange County Bar Association Family Law Section Executive Board for a 4th year
• Aditi Murillo elected to OCBA YLD Board as Diversity & Inclusion Chair
• Aditi Murillo presented at the Orange County Constitutional Rights Foundation Law Day seminar at Chapman University School of Law
• Aditi Murillo elected to serve on Project Youth OC Associate Board
• Aditi Murillo attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Advanced Cross Examination
• Aditi Murillo volunteered as Presenter for Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County’s 8th Grade Constitution Day Program
• John Murillo elected to OCBA YLD Board as Education Chair
• John Murillo elected to serve on Project Youth OC Associate Board
• John Murillo attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Advanced Cross Examination
• John Murillo volunteered as Presenter for Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County’s 8th Grade Constitution Day Program
• John Murillo co-Chaired associate attorney’s Jonathan T. Little’s OCBA YLD Presentation: “Demystifying Depositions: The Laws, Tips, & Strategies You Need to Know
• John Murillo co-Chaired OCBA YLD Presentation: “Impaired Colleague? Addressing Attorney Competency, the Warning Signs, and Getting Help.”
• Leyla S. Tabatabaie elected to Second Term of Iranian American Bar Association’s Orange County Board
• Leyla S. Tabatabaie attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Advanced Cross Examination
• Samantha K. Sheehan attended the National Family Law Trial Institute – Kolodny Trial Skills
• Denise H. Koeller elected to the Orange County Asian American Bar Association Board of Directors
• John Murillo was selected to be on the Board of Directors of the OCBA Young Lawyers division and co-chair of the education committee.
• The Court of Appeal recently published an opinion in Nakamoto v. Hsu, which affirmed the trial court’s ruling in favor of a Minyard Morris’s client, subject to a need-based fee request. Although Family Code section 2030 identifies “reasonableness” as a factor in an attorneys’ fee award, the opinion may be the seminal case supporting a flat-out denial of any need-based attorneys’ fees predicated almost entirely, if not solely, on the requesting party’s litigation conduct. Most, if not all, other appellate court decisions affirm an award of attorneys’ fees rather than a denial of an award of attorneys’ fees, notwithstanding the requesting party’s need and the opposing party’s ability. On a go-forward basis, family law practitioners should consider relying on Nakamoto v. Hsu to oppose fee requests when the requesting party engages in bad faith litigation or over litigation.
• Mark Minyard, Michael Morris, Lonnie Seide and Matthew Buttacavoli were selected to the 2022 Super Lawyers list
• Mark Minyard was recognized as a 2022 Top 100 Lawyer in Southern California (out of 267,000) by Southern California Super Lawyers
• Mark Minyard and Michael Morris were recognized as a 2022 Top 50 Lawyer in Orange County 2022 by Southern California Super Lawyers
• Alexander Payne, Janani Rana, Leyla Tabatabaie and Samantha Sheehan were recognized as 2023 Southern California Rising Stars by Southern California Super Lawyers
• Mark Minyard and Michael Morris were designated Leading Family Lawyers for 2024a
• Mark Minyard was listed in Best Lawyer – U.S. News/World Report Orange County – Family Law each year since 2001
• Michael Morris was listed in Best Lawyer – U.S. News/World Report Orange County – Family Law each year since 2006
• Lonnie Seide was listed in Best Lawyer – U.S. News/World Report Orange County – Family Law each year since 2012
• Alexander Payne was recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for work in Family Law
• Janani Rana was recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for work in Family Law
• Scott Savage was recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for work in Family Law
• Leyla Tabatabaie was recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for work in Family Law
• Denise Koeller was recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for work in Family Law
• Vicky Zuberi was recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for work in Family Law
• Jonathan Little, received his certification as a Family Law Specialist – Family Law
• Leyla Tabatabaie, Aditi Murillo and John Murillo attend the 2022 National Family Law Trial Institute 7-Day Program in Houston, Texas.