Category: Announcements

Meyers Nave proudly announces Janice Brown as the new leader of our Labor and Employment Practice Group, effective January 1, 2024. A renowned trial lawyer and employment problem solver, Janice brings a wealth of experience in California employment law, alongside a commitment to her clients, maximizing workplace productivity and minimizing risks. To Janice, fostering long-term relationships is of equal importance to achieving excellent results.

Janice is proud to follow in the footsteps of her esteemed colleague and dear friend Camille Hamilton Pating, whose leadership and contributions to the practice she will always cherish, and who will remain by her side to guide their team of attorneys toward success.

Janice’s vision for the practice aligns seamlessly with Meyers Nave’s core principles of delivering high-quality, innovative legal services underpinned by a team of authentic, passionate lawyers. Her leadership will continue to elevate our commitment to client service and workplace morale.

In addition to her legal expertise, Janice is the founder of Beyond Law, a platform that embodies her philosophy of going beyond conventional thinking in the legal field, and emphasizing the importance of mindset, trust, and collaboration in the practice of law. Her dedication to living an inspirational life and building meaningful relationships is at the core of her professional ethos. Janice’s unique perspective and motivational approach make her an exemplary leader for Meyers Nave’s Labor and Employment Practice Group.

January 3, 2024

Meyers Nave has elevated Senior Of Counsel Attorney Russell E. Morse to Principal of the Firm, effective January 1, 2024.

Managing Principal David Skinner emphasizes that “Russell is a go-to counsel for cutting-edge real estate and land use projects throughout California. His distinctive blend of creativity, experience, and business acumen in addressing complex legal challenges sets him apart and positions him as a genuine business collaborator with our clients. We are fortunate to welcome Russell as a Principal with the Firm, and we look forward to his leadership in the years ahead.”

Russell earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., political science and anthropology) and his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He is a deeply experienced attorney in real estate transactions and land use, uniquely able to support clients from the property acquisition stage through entitlements and environmental review. His practice focuses on land use and zoning, CEQA, housing development and real estate law. Private developers, hospitality companies and public entities benefit from his experience and skill to complete complex initiatives, including large affordable housing projects and projects using the Housing Accountability Act and Builder’s Remedy. Also recognized for his pro bono work, Russell has helped Native American tribal-affiliated groups with land back transactions, the first of their kind in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

Russell explains, “Meyers Nave has given me the opportunity to work on the most exciting land use, CEQA and real estate projects in California alongside a team of exceptional attorneys who are also genuinely good people. I am excited to become a Principal and leader with the Firm and support its continued growth.”

Meyers Nave’s Eminent Domain Team is proud to continue its partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on its property acquisition needs to extend the Westside Purple Line Subway Extension Project from Downtown Los Angeles to Westwood/UCLA. We successfully concluded another eminent domain jury trial on the value of a subsurface subway tunnel easement located in the City of Beverly Hills — on Wilshire Boulevard, across the street from the “Golden Triangle.” The landowner’s appraiser valued the subsurface easement and alleged severance damages at $25,620,000. LACMTA’s appraiser concluded that the total appraised value was $90,000. The jury verdict was in the sum of $235,000.

This jury trial follows another successful jury verdict for Meyers Nave’s Eminent Domain Team on behalf of LACMTA. In July 2022, our Team partnered with LA Metro to secure a favorable jury verdict for a subsurface subway tunnel easement beneath the Beverly Hills High School. (See article here.) These trial results bolster LA Metro’s ongoing initiatives to reduce traffic, congestion and carbon emissions from automobile use, and to provide affordable public transportation options to all in Los Angeles.

David Skinner was lead counsel in both trials. The Meyers Nave Team also included Associate, Kristof Szoke.