o'melveny values awards

Each year the Firm recognizes two partners, two counsel or associates, and two staff members who exemplify our values of uncompromising excellence, distinctive leadership, and superior citizenship. In 2008, the Firm honored:

Danielle Calhoun, Assistant, New York
Danielle joined O’Melveny in 2002 as part of the merger with the O'Sullivan law firm, where she had worked for five years. She is well respected by her colleagues, including both lawyers and staff members who recommended her for this honor. Danielle is described by several of her colleagues as going "above and beyond" what is required and as someone "always ready and willing to help lawyers, even if it means that she will be here late into the night (which she often is)." Indeed, one lawyer reported that Danielle occasionally pulls "all nighters" to help lawyers file briefs and meet difficult deadlines.

The nominations noted that not only does Danielle do all of this without the hint of complaint, but she does it with genuine enthusiasm. Danielle is also integral to the success of the New York office pro bono program. Lawyers appreciate how she assists with the day-to-day administration of the program by circulating pro bono opportunities, maintaining data to track cases, addressing questions, obtaining hours reports, coordinating fundraiser attendance, and performing a variety of other pro bono administrative duties. They also mentioned that Danielle’s natural compassion and empathy are evident when she speaks directly to pro bono clients, who are comforted and reassured by her easy and capable demeanor.

Danielle has excellent leadership skills and sets a fine example for all around her, according to both staff and lawyers. One lawyer likened Danielle to the character Radar in the sitcom MASH, saying she always anticipates the needs of those around her and takes the initiative to meet those needs before the lawyers have even realized that they need her help, not to mention before they have asked for it. As one lawyer put it, "O’Melveny is truly lucky to have Danielle working here."

John Daum, Partner, Los Angeles
John joined the Firm in 1971 and has been a member of the partnership for three decades. During his tenure, John has been an active participant in Firm management, including as a member of the Policy Committee and the Chair of the Community Legal Services Committee.

In the words of Committee Chair Lee Blalack during his introduction last weekend, John is widely recognized as a keeper of the O’Melveny flame—a partner who has devoted his long career at the Firm to teaching and mentoring junior lawyers on "the O’Melveny Way." Indeed, that phrase—the O’Melveny Way—was cited repeatedly by those who nominated and endorsed John for this year’s Values Awards. As one associate wrote: "I cannot count how many times [John] would explain ‘the O'Melveny way’ of doing something and, without exception, what he was teaching was the best of our values." A common theme from those who urged John’s selection this year was that he emphasizes to those with whom he works "the lessons that he learned from the great early leaders of our Firm."

John’s professional excellence is universally recognized by clients and competitors alike. His work on complex, high stakes, and lengthy litigation matters, including for some of our most important clients such as Exxon, is legendary. One partner described John as an "amazing intellect," both in and out of the office. Another commented that John was "one of the smartest, most creative, most strategic, and most talented lawyers that [he] has had the privilege to know." Referencing John's personal love of reading and his fluency in several languages, one partner remarked, "[h]e seems to know something about everything."

John is also known as a terrific mentor to more junior lawyers at all levels. One associate volunteered: "The truth is that I'd work for free if it meant having the opportunity to work closely with John." The Committee found most impressive the genuine affection that people have for him. One partner summed up why John was deserving of the Values Award, describing him as "one of the living treasures of our Firm."

Mangyo Kinoshita, Counsel, Tokyo
Mangyo has been with the Firm since 2005. He is extremely well respected within the Tokyo office for his excellence in the practice of law. As one person commented: "I find myself judging other lawyers by Mangyo." Lawyers in the Asia and transactional groups reported that Mangyo’s enthusiasm for the law is infectious and his passion and energy inspire those around him.

Mangyo has also demonstrated his leadership, both within the Tokyo office and as a leading member of the ACAC, according to his many nominees. They report that he takes his role on the ACAC seriously, listening and responding to associate concerns and requests. Despite the demands of his busy practice, Mangyo is active on numerous pro bono matters and has encouraged others in the Tokyo office to become involved as well.

Perhaps most importantly, colleagues say, Mangyo has demonstrated that he is an exceptional mentor to the more junior lawyers with whom he works. Associates reported that they sincerely enjoy working with Mangyo because, as one junior associate put it, he is "always available, welcomes questions, and is there to encourage [our] development." In addition, as one lawyer commented, Mangyo is "an invaluable asset to the Tokyo office" and a "bridge to Tokyo for the rest of the Firm."

Randy Oppenheimer, Partner, Century City
Randy initially joined O'Melveny as a summer associate in 1976, returned as an associate the following year, and was elected to the Firm's partnership in 1984. He is presently the Adversarial Office Group Leader in Century City and is also a member of the Compensation Committee.

In the many nominations that the Committee received supporting Randy for this year’s award, the common theme was selflessness—both with his time and in his dogged efforts to compliment others. One counsel advised that Randy is "unfailingly focused on the success and well being of our Firm and its individual lawyers." A partner who has worked closely with him urged Randy’s selection for the award because he "is one of the Firm's busiest and best trial lawyers, but he will help in whatever role his partners may ask. His native instinct is to place the interests of his partners ahead of his own."

Randy is widely regarded by clients and peers as an exceptional trial lawyer. Partners and associates marvel at Randy’s commitment to client service and his ability to gain and maintain the confidence of clients in their most difficult cases. One partner commented that Randy’s client-pleasing skills are aided by his "native intellectual brilliance and his truly extraordinary inter-personal skills." Another partner added that Randy "is a 24/7 lawyer. He will never refuse to take a call from a client or a lawyer no matter the hour or imposition on his personal life."

Aside from his excellence as a lawyer, many people with whom the Committee spoke praised Randy’s judgment and attitude. One partner explained that Randy stands out because he is devoted to "making this a better, more cohesive place to work at all levels. Another partner nicely captured why Randy was deserving of the Values award when he advised that Randy is a "totally trustworthy guardian of our values."

Mee-Lee Szeto, Text Editing/Distribution Center Manager, Los Angeles
Mee-Lee has been with the Firm for 36 years and was recently promoted to her current position. She has moved up the managerial ladder because she is "an expert at her job," as one nominee stated. The Committee received numerous comments from lawyers and staff who shared stories of crises averted due to Mee-Lee’s hard work and skill. She was repeatedly described by the lawyers who urged her selection for this year’s awards as dedicated, hardworking, trustworthy, and a true professional. One lawyer described Mee-Lee as "one of the most hard working people I have ever seen and she does not complain at all."

Perhaps one story captures best why Mee-Lee is so deserving of the Values Award. During the nomination process, a partner sent the Committee a video in which she tells the story of how Mee-Lee encouraged her when she was a young associate striving to succeed in the highly competitive environment at O’Melveny. This partner related that Mee-Lee was aware that she was going through the partner selection process and was understandably anxious about what the future would hold. A few days later, Mee-Lee showed up at work with a jar of construction paper stars made by her daughter. Mee-Lee gave the jar of paper stars to the now partner to bring her good fortune in the selection process, telling her that the jar held her "lucky stars." This gesture was never forgotten by the partner, who is just one of the many people at our Firm whose lives have been touched by Mee-Lee during her nearly four decades with O’Melveny. She is, as one person remarked, "one of a kind."

Melissa Wright, Associate, Silicon Valley
Melissa joined the Firm in 2004 and has made a tremendous impact on the Silicon Valley office during her tenure at O’Melveny. As a testament to this, both the staff and lawyers in the Silicon Valley office separately organized to submit collective nominations for Melissa this year. The nominations from the partners and counsel highlighted Melissa’s professional expertise and skills, while the staff nominations noted her respectful attitude towards the staff and her daily contributions to the life of the Silicon Valley office.

In addition to her busy commercial practice, Melissa is the Transactions Department coordinator for the Silicon Valley office’s Pro Bono Committee and she chairs the office's Community Involvement Committee. The Community Involvement Committee has grown into a robust, office-wide initiative and, under her leadership, has executed more than 10 successful programs in 2007. These included the adoption of a platoon of 12 U.S. soldiers in Basra, a backpack drive that produced nearly 50 sets of school supplies for low-income school children, a cell phone drive benefiting The Support Network for Battered Women, and holiday food drives raising thousands of dollars for needy families.

Finally, junior lawyers repeatedly advised that Melissa is an excellent mentor to her peers. Her nominees shared that despite being a "driving force" behind many of the Silicon Valley office’s most important and successful community and pro bono initiatives, Melissa has managed to attain a balance between these impressive achievements, excellence in her legal practice, and a rich family life.