ORLAND LAW GROUP - Key Persons
Chris Lawler is a litigator with over 17 years of experience. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, premises liability, general liability, construction-related litigation, and administrative matters within CSLB and other government agencies from start to finish. He helps companies navigate through difficult fights, administrative hurdles, and government red tape to allow his clients to focus on what matters most, creating value and obtaining results.
Chris is a graduate of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (Juris Doctor), and Wake Forest University (Bachelor of Arts). Prior to joining Orland Law Group Chris worked for almost 14 years with respected defense litigation firms located in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Chris is licensed in the State of California and the United States District Court.
He resides in Pasadena and enjoys soccer, golf, and outdoor activities. He is a loving husband to his wife and a father to their curious daughter, both of whom he adores.
Education
Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania
Juris Doctor - 2003
Wake Forest University
Bachelor of Arts - 2000
Farrell Covell is a litigator with almost 20 years of experience. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, premises liability, general liability, products liability, medical and legal malpractice, and construction-related litigation, from start to finish.
He graduated from Loyola Law School (Juris Doctor), and the University of California at Berkeley (Bachelor of Arts-Astrophysics and History). While at law school, he was a Thomas Moore Honor Society member and worked at the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
He is licensed in the State of California and the State of Washington.
While not working, he enjoys strategy board games, golf, fishing, and spending time with his wife and three boys.
Education
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
J.D. - 2003
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Founding Partner of Orland Law Group APC
James J. Orland is a founding partner of Orland Law Group APC, a California civil litigation and trial firm located in El Segundo, CA. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from College of the Holy Cross in 1989. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School 1992. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1992 and is a member in good standing. He was admitted to the Utah Bar in 2017 and is a member in good standing.
Mr. Orland's primary areas of practice involve construction defect litigation, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, products liability, general negligence and business litigation matters. He has represented developers, general contractors, architects, engineers, various subcontractor trades and has successfully tried to verdict and litigated numerous complex claims across the State of California.
He has been a Conference Chair, Panel Member and Moderator at numerous national civil litigation and construction defect conferences including West Coast Casualty, The Council on Litigation Management (CLM) Annual, the VEADR conference, and the annual Perrin National Construction Defect Conference. The events have been attended by judges, attorneys, contractors and claims adjusters from Florida, California, South Carolina, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada. He regularly presents accredited seminars to clients on current events addressing construction defect, complex litigation strategies, and claims adjuster ethics.
Mr. Orland is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (A.B.O.T.A) He is also currently a member of Themis Advocates Group, The American Bar Associate, and The CLM. He is admitted to practice law in all California and Utah State and Federal Courts and the United States Claims court. He is also recognized as a Super Lawyer.
Education
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
Juris Doctorate - 1992
College of the Holy Cross
B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1989
Kelsey Thwaits is a litigator with years of experience representing clients in California. Her practice includes civil litigation, construction-related litigation, general liability, and premises liability. Kelsey is a graduate of William and Mary Law School (Juris Doctor) and University of New Mexico (Communication and Psychology).
Kelsey is licensed in California and New Mexico. She is a California native and enjoys spending time volunteering with local organizations, hiking, camping, and traveling with her fiancé.
Education
William and Mary Law School, Williamsburg, Virginia
J.D. - 2019
University of New Mexico, Psychology & Communication
B.A. - 2015
Kirk Olson is a litigator with over 20 years experience. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, premises liability, general liability, Federal civil rights claims, construction related litigation, and administrative matters within CSLB, FINRA and other government agencies from start to finish.
A graduate of Western Michigan University-Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Juris Doctor), and California State University, Fullerton, California (Bachelor of Arts-Political Science), Kirk worked for the Sixty Plus Elderlaw Clinic representing seniors and veterans in estate planning, conservatorships, Social Security and Medicare claims. While also in school he served as the Student Bar Association Budget and Finance Chair, the student liaison for faculty hiring and as Scholastic Chairman for Lambda Chi Alpha. He also interned in the local field office for a California State Senator.
Prior to joining Orland Law Group Kirk worked exclusively for almost 19 years with a prominent respected defense litigation firm located in Los Angeles with his colleagues whom he regards as mentors. He started his legal career as a clerk with a busy small general practice firm in Orange County. He has also mediated disputes on diverse matters, including an election contest effort in a Southern California Congressional race, serving to liaison between the offices of the Registrar of Voters, the candidates and the Congressional oversight staff.
Kirk is licensed in the State of California and the United States District Court.
He resides in the South Bay and enjoys weightlifting, golf, and the great outdoors.
Education
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
J.D. - 1994
Nathan Whittaker is an experienced litigation attorney with Orland Righi Fitch in Salt Lake City Utah. Nathan is a native Utahn, having grown up in a small town in southern Utah as the son of a dairy farmer. After graduating in 2003 from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon with a B.A. in International Affairs, he returned to Utah and received his law degree from Brigham Young University in 2007. He was admitted to the Utah State Bar in 2008.
Nathan focuses on civil litigation and appellate practice in his legal work. (Alternatively, Nathan's legal practice is focused on civil litigation and civil appeals / appellate law/appeals work.) Having briefed and argued 16 appeals and over 80 dispositive motions, Nathan has developed a reputation for excellence in legal research and writing and has been praised by judges for his attention to detail. He is adept at taking the most complex legal principles and facts and synthesizing them into simple yet persuasive arguments. He has also served as a member of the Utah Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Civil Procedure, which works with the Utah Supreme Court to decide the rules that govern the state trial courts.
Nathan's civil litigation practice includes the defense of business owners, construction companies, and trucking companies and their drivers. He handles a wide variety of insurance defense cases ranging from personal automobile accidents to catastrophic injury and wrongful death. He serves on the firm's rapid response team for Utah. His practice also includes insurance coverage and bad faith. His attention to detail and ability to synthesize information quickly serves his clients well not only in rapid responses but also in complex litigation.
Before attending law school, Nathan spent two years abroad in Japan, where he learned to speak Japanese fluently. While there, he also learned the importance of keeping things simple and uncluttered-a principle he strives to apply to his legal practice. In his spare time, Nathan enjoys being in the outdoors, whether hiking in the Wasatch Mountains, exploring the Redrock Canyons of Southern Utah, or just gardening in his backyard. He sings baritone in the Salt Lake Men's Choir and volunteers for the Utah Aids Foundation.
Robert Ruhle is a litigator with years of real construction experience. His practice focuses on general liability and construction-related litigation. Robert is a graduate of Widener Law School of Delaware (Juris Doctor), and West Chester University (Communication Studies).
Robert is licensed in the State of California and the United States District Court. He is also licensed in Utah, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He enjoys surfing, camping, and travel.
Education
Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware
Juris Doctorate - 2015
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Litigation
- Partner at Orland Law Group APC
Samuel A. Mann is a partner at Orland Law Group APC, a California civil litigation and trial firm located in El Segundo, CA. He is an accomplished attorney, licensed to practice in the State of California since 2012. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Western State University 2012 after receiving his Bachelors of Science, Cum Laude, from Biola University 2008.
With his extensive experience and outstanding track record, he has become a respected figure in the legal community. Notably, he has established himself as an AV Preeminent® civil litigator by Martindale-Hubbell®. He has recorded victories in California State Court, the U.S. District Court Central District of California and the 2nd District Court of Appeal.
Mr. Mann is an experienced trial lawyer with primary areas of practice in construction defect, general liability, landlord-tenant law, insurance defense, civil rights, personal injury, premise liability, property damage, and professional liability claims. He has represented developers, general contractors, engineers, various subcontractor trades in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and pre-litigation claims.
Mr. Mann is a member of the litigation section within the California Lawyers Association and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). He completed the Los Angeles American Board of Trial Advocates (A.B.O.T.A.) Trial School in 2017.