Leah K. McKechnie

Counsel

Leah is an attorney in the Newport Beach office who provides legal counsel in a variety of practice areas, with her practice primarily concentrated within the construction, real estate, and business sectors.

Leah is a seasoned litigator who has experience representing a variety of clients including business owners, Fortune 500 companies, homebuilders, contractors, design professionals, individuals, and beyond.  Her experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of civil litigation matters provides her with unique insight in resolving disputes from each perspective.  Clients appreciate Leah’s attentiveness, dedication and persistence, in addition to her personalized service.  She strives to resolve disputes for her clients in the most practical and efficient manner both inside and outside of the courtroom, through negotiation and alternative dispute resolution forums such as mediation.

Leah brings an empathetic and business-minded approach to her client’s needs, along with a collective approach to client service.  She is integrally involved with strategy and problem solving on how to best serve the firm’s clients in achieving their goals.  Her strong background in research and legal writing complements the firm’s service team.  She leverages her past experience as a law review editor, law school writing tutor, and research specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to craft persuasive writing on complex issues for clients in the courtroom and beyond.

Leah has negotiated numerous favorable settlements for her clients and has succeeded on a multitude of dispositive motions. Some of her accomplishments include the following:

• Tried eminent domain matter with lead trial counsel Charles Krolikowski against a public agency, which resulted in a $39 million jury verdict (over $40 million with interest/costs), when the initial offer by the public agency was only $15 million.
• Settled an eminent domain case for $2.2 million, when the initial offer by the public agency was just $660,000.
• Won a motion for summary judgment defending a contractor against a large commercial insurance lawsuit for breach of contract and declaratory relief.
• Obtained favorable settlement for real estate brokers in a breach of contract and fraud action to recover a real estate commission on a large transaction. Successfully opposed both defendants’ motions for summary judgment.
• Successfully defeated insurer’s motion for summary judgment against a builder in connection with insurer’s declaratory relief action for reimbursement of indemnity and attorneys’ fees.