Ms. Lehman has been active in both California state and federal appeals for over 25 years. Her curriculum vitae includes the following:

Professional Organizations:

·      Certified Specialist in Appellate Law, State Bar of California (1997 [first year certification was offered]-Present)

·      Master, San Diego Appellate Inn of Court (2017-Present)

·      Commissioner, California State Athletic Commission (2013-2021)

·      Vice-President, San Diego County Bar Association (2001-2002)

·      Director, San Diego County Bar Association (1999-2001)

·      Chair, Federal Circuit Bar Association Rules Committee (2003-2006)

·      Chair, Appellate Court Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association (1999)

·      Chair, San Diego Co-Operative Federal Appellate Committees (“COFACS”) (1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006)

Awards and Professional Recognition:

·      AV Rated “Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell (2015-Present)

·      San Diego Top Lawyer Award (San Diego Magazine) (2015-2022)

·      America’s Most Honored Lawyers -Top 1% (2020 -2022)

·      San Diego Top Attorneys & Rising Stars in San Diego (2021)

·      Selected “San Diego Super Lawyers” for Appellate Practice (2009-Present)

·      America’s Most Honored Professionals -Top 1% (2015-2019)

·      Top 25 Women Attorneys in San Diego, CA (New York Times and Los Angeles Times Magazine) (2013, 2014)

Speaking and Authorship:

·      Speaker, Riverside Joint Inns of Court “How to Fight ‘The Good Fight’ In the Courtroom” (2016)

·      Author, Riverside County Bar Association Magazine, “Preserving Issues for a Civil Appeal” (2013)

·      Speaker, National Business Institute “How to Prepare and Handle a Winning Appeal in Any Circuit” (2009)

·      Speaker, National Business Institute “Legal Writing for Attorneys: Combining Heroic Ideals With Tried-and-True Principles” (2009)

·      Speaker, National Business Institute “Know and Follow the Rules to Protect Your Client’s Rights on Appeal” (2008)

·      Speaker, OCIPLA/SDIPLA “How to Prepare a Successful Appeal to the Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit” (2006)

·      Speaker, San Diego Lincoln Lectures “Good Legal Writing:  Combining Romantic Ideals With Tried-and-True Principles” (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007)

·      Speaker, Federal Circuit Bar Association’s Bench and Bar Conference “Emergency Appeals/Motions/Writs in the Federal Circuits” (2002)

·      Speaker, Federal Bar Association/San Diego Co-Operative Federal Appellate Committees (“COFACS”), “Effective Oral Arguments in the Ninth Circuit” (2002)

·      Recipient, Burton Award for Legal Achievement (Excellence in Legal Writing) (2000)

·      Speaker, State Bar of Arizona “Ethics on Appeal:  Real Life Problems for Trial and Appellate Attorneys” (2000)

·      Speaker, Federal Bar Association Annual Federal Litigation Conference “Emergency Appeals/Motions In the Federal Circuits” (1999)

·      Moderator, San Diego County Bar Association “Ninth Circuit Appeals: Civil, Criminal and Bankruptcy” (1999)

·      Speaker, Federal Circuit Bar Association Regional Meeting “Ethics on Appeal/Real Life Scenarios: Managing Risk in the Appellate Context” (1999)

·      Speaker, Federal Bar Association “Initiating a Successful Ninth Circuit Appeal” (1998)

·      Co-Author, Dicta Magazine, “The Appellate Perspective” (1995)

·      Contributing Editor, California Appellate Practice Handbook (Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh editions)

·      Editor, LSI’s Legal Professionals Handbook “Civil Appeals and Writs” (1995, 1996)

Other Legal Experience:

·      Gray, Cary, Ware & Friedenrich, San Diego, CA (now DLA Piper).  Exclusively civil writs and appeals (1991-2002)

 Education:

J.D. - University of San Diego (cum laude, 1991)

B.A. - St. John’s College, Santa Fe, New Mexico (“Great Books” Program, 1986)

Additional Information of interest:

Admitted to practice: United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals (Third Circuit, Fourth Circuit, Fifth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Tenth Circuit, Federal Circuit), United States District Court (Southern District of California), California Supreme Court and all California State Courts. 

Fluent in Spanish; Licensed Emergency Medical Technician; Undefeated Professional Boxer (ret.).