The Orange County partner of Century City-based Stephan, Oringher, Richman, Theodora & Miller is set to become lead partner this week as part of changes playing out at the law firm.
Todd Theodora, who heads Stephan, Oringher’s Costa Mesa office and played a key role defending the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, is set to become lead partner with the pending departure of George Stephan.
Stephan, who works from Century City and defended the Angels alongside Theodora, is set to leave next month, according to Theodora. Stephan helped start the firm 25 years ago. Where he’s going isn’t clear. He couldn’t be reached for comment.
The move comes after a bitter but short-lived lawsuit by Stephan against his partners. Stephan sued fellow shareholders Theodora and Harvey Oringher in December.
He accused them of trying to “squeeze him out” as lead shareholder.
Theodora said the partners sought to treat Stephan “properly” and wanted to resolve the issues “quickly and amicably.”
Stephan withdrew the lawsuit a week after it was filed.
“We are pleased to be on friendly terms with George and to have corrected any innocent misunderstandings,” Theodora said. “While George has decided to leave, the balance of our firm is intact.”
The firm is set to change its name to Theodora, Oringher, Miller & Richman next month. Theodora is set to stay in Costa Mesa.
Oringher, Dale Miller and David Richman are set to continue working from the firm’s Century City office.
Having the lead partner here is recognition of OC’s growing business community, Theodora said.
The firm’s attention is split between OC and Los Angeles, he said.
“The firm is proud of the successes it has achieved in Orange County,” Theodora said. “The OC and L.A. offices mesh seamlessly.”
A decade ago, the Costa Mesa office had three lawyers, compared to 15 in Century City. It now has 20 OC lawyers and 54 firmwide.
“It’s been a fun ride, and we’re betting that the best is yet to come for Orange County” Theodora said.
The firm gained attention representing Arte Moreno’s Angels Baseball LP in its legal battle with the city of Anaheim over the baseball team’s name change in early 2005.
Theodora served as lead counsel for the Angels. After a five-week trial, a jury found Moreno didn’t violate the team’s lease at Angel Stadium of Anaheim by adding Los Angeles to its name.
The firm also represents the Anaheim Ducks and Honda Center.
“Orange County is blessed to have two of the best run teams in professional sports, the Angels and the Ducks,” Theodora said.
Theodora, who joined the firm in 1997, is well known here. He’s a board member of the New Majority, the centrist Republican group that’s one of the biggest supporters of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The governor appointed Theodora to serve on the Judicial Selection Advisory Committee for Orange County, which handles local judge applications and makes recommendations to the governor.
