MURCHISON & CUMMING - Key Persons
Abraham Berger is a Partner in the Los Angeles office, focusing his practice on construction defect, general liability, ADA law, and premises liability. He has extensive experience representing clients in state courts and in arbitration and mediation proceedings.
Growing up in a multilingual family, Abraham's clients appreciate that he is connected and relatable to the diverse community he serves. He works with his clients to make the litigation process as smooth as possible to achieve the best result. Abraham first saw his father as a lawyer with his own firm in Mexico; he observed his father's relationship with clients and the courts and knew that would be his path someday. As he got older, he was influenced by Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird; how Finch was able to address the jury, create his argument, and present the case was fascinating and confirmed his desire to become an attorney.
Abraham received his Bachelor's degree from California State University, Northridge, where he was selected for a special Judicial Fellowship with Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge John P. Farrell before continuing on to New York Law School. While attending law school, Abraham served as a judicial law clerk to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, Narcotics Division. He has also served as a law clerk in the Legal Counsel Division of the State of New York Administration for Children's Services.
Away from the office, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoys sports and collecting vintage baseball memorabilia, cards, and books he hopes to have time to read in the future.
Adesh Singh is an Associate at Murchison & Cumming, LLP's Los Angeles office.
Adesh worked full-time as a paralegal at M&C while earning his law degree at Loyola Law School in the evenings. Working full-time, attending law school, and having a family, he honed the craft of time and stress management in high-pressure environments. Adesh gained real-world experience in a legal setting and worked closely with attorneys to help prepare for trial, research settlement verdicts, and participate in areas including copyright infringement, bad-faith litigation, and habitability.
Adesh received his paralegal certificate at Mt. San Antonio College and B.A. at the University of La Verne in Legal Studies before continuing onto law school. During his first year in law school, he was in the Dean's Circle and received the Witkin award in Interviewing and Counseling. Adesh also volunteered with Team Prime Time, Inc., and helped coach middle-school students after school in Mock Trial.
Away from the office, Adesh enjoys working out, playing golf, traveling, fantasy football, and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel at the Los Angeles
Amelia Sedano McDonald is Of Counsel at the Los Angeles office of Murchison & Cumming, focusing her practice on transportation, utility, land use and permitting, and cannabis matters. She has more than 20 years of experience in civil litigation and has also spent the last 10 years cultivating an urban farm in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Amelia's clients appreciate her unique perspective as a small business owner who understands the challenges businesses face when navigating the legal landscape.
Coming from a bi-racial, bi-cultural, and progressive family interested in the arts and politics, Amelia chose to practice law to make small acts of progress and make a difference in our legal system. Her strengths are utilizing self-awareness and experience to evaluate claims better, navigating relationships with opposing Counsel, and effectively communicating with carriers and clients. She prides herself in evaluating her cases effectively with integrity, and her clients know she will always give them an honest and experienced evaluation of their cases.
Amelia graduated from the University of Arizona School of law after receiving her bachelor's degree in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. While in law school, she clerked for Judge B. Velasco, Arizona Superior Court, and was awarded the Ares Fellowship for teaching first-year law students research and writing.
Amelia volunteers for Girl Scouts of America and Boy Scouts of America and is now a teacher of various badges and programs. When away from the office, she enjoys going to concerts with her teenage daughter and teaching kids and adults about sustainable food, living, and crafting. Amelia loves hugging her goats and makes botanical jewelry from her farm.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Brace for the Wave of ŒForce Majeure Litigation
- COVID - 19 Sparks Coverage Litigation
Mr. Handal is a relentless advocate who focuses his skills on complex business disputes involving Intellectual Property, breaches of fiduciary duty, partnership break-ups, professional liability, products liability, trademark infringement, Trade Secrets, data breaches, and Lanham Act violations. He has over 40 years of first-chair litigation experience in Federal, State and Administrative tribunals. He has represented clients from all over the World and tried over 100 matters and has been lead counsel in over 170 patent litigation cases.
Mr. Handal has argued before the United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeal, the Patent Trial and Appeals Board, several Federal Appeals Courts, several District Courts, and several State Courts. He has also successfully tried cases before the International Trade Commission and handled 17 IPR's, trying 3 to successful conclusion. Mr. Handal regularly advises clients on matters involving trade secret, and cyber/computer issues including the theft or destruction of Electronically Stored Data, improper access to computer and data systems, misappropriation of trade secrets.
Mr. Handal also advises and represents clients in buy/sell side mid-sized M&A transactions, including leading due diligence, data room management, contract negotiations, and drafting purchase and sale documents.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Relations
Benjamin H. Seal, II is Of Counsel to the firm. An experienced trial attorney, Mr. Seal focuses his practice in the area of personal injury/property damage defense with emphasis on premises liability, automobile liability, assault and battery, and other intentional torts and negligent actions.
He has served as an arbitrator for the L.A. Superior Court and has served as a "Crash Settlement" panel member for the Northwest District of that court and was on the Los Angeles Superior Court ADR panel as a designated "neutral." He is actively involved with Alternative Dispute Resolution programs. Mr. Seal has received the 42-hour mediation workshop certification from Straus Institute For Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University's School of Law; has completed the 140-hour mediator certification program at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the 100-hour mediator certification from Cal State University, Northridge for Advanced Professional Development in Mediation and Conflict Resolution. He is "AV" rated by Martindale Hubbell.
Mr. Seal has tried and arbitrated over 100 cases and has negotiated over 350 cases in a mediation environment with a successful outcome.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel in the Los Angeles Office
Bonni S. Mantovani is Of Counsel in the Los Angeles office of Murchison & Cumming, LLP. In her legal career, she has represented major banks, lenders and servicers in civil matters as well as in contested and adversarial bankruptcy litigation.
Bonni graduated from Adelphi University in New York with a Bachelor of Science before continuing onto the SCALE program at Southwestern University School of Law. She views practicing law as a dynamic art that is constantly evolving, and her clients appreciate her tenacity and avid problem-solving. After many years in bankruptcy litigation, the birth of her daughter's twins changed her career trajectory. Bonni made the transition back to civil litigation defense to enjoy the balance of pursuing her legal profession while also spending time with her family.
Bonni was recognized in the January 2020 edition of DS News's "Top 25 Women in Mortgage Legal Servicing," and she is also a member of the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association. She has volunteered as Pro Bono for Bet Tzedek Legal Services and was a Small Claims Court Judge Pro Tem. In her time away from the office, Bonni enjoys finding "oldie but goodie" treasures at flea markets and vintage shops.
Bryan J. Ure is a Partner in the Las Vegas office of Murchison & Cumming, LLP. He has a wide range of experience in the legal industry, focusing his practice on defense litigation in the areas of insurance, construction, business, and healthcare.
Bryan became a lawyer because he wanted to help others solve their legal problems. His clients appreciate his ability to negotiate claims and resolve cases swiftly. Bryan understands that litigation can be the most challenging experience of someone's life, and his goal is to make the process as seamless as possible while advocating for his clients.
Bryan has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, as a Legal Elite Top Attorney by Nevada Business Magazine, and is also recognized by the Best Lawyers in America publication.
Bryan received his bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, before continuing onto law school at Western Michigan University-Cooley. Away from the office, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors and at the beach, and traveling around the globe.
Carroll Shelby v. Halicki. Case No. 820-cv-01344 MCS (DFMx) Central District of California. Trade dress, Trademark, breach of contract. High value dispute over the Shelby GT500CR vehicle and its alleged impersonation of the "Eleanor" car character from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds.
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources