The Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA) recently announced its new Executive Board, and two Chapman Law alumni and one current LL.M. student will serve in three of the five new officer positions. Congratulations to incoming President Michelle Tran (’10), Treasurer Sarah Nowels (’10), and Secretary Sheila-Marie Finkelstein (LL.M. ’17).

Michelle Tran is owner of the Law Offices Michelle L. Tran, which is devoted to family law and general litigation. In addition to her work with OCWLA, Michelle has served as a Director of the Orange County Asian American Bar Association (OCAABA), sat on the Board of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), and was Chair of OCBA’s Young Lawyers Division. She is active in OCBA’s Family Law and Appellate Law sections as well as the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. While in law school, she had an externship as a law clerk for the Honorable William F. Rylaarsdam of the California Court of Appeal and was Senior Editor of the Nexus Journal of Law and Public Policy.

Sarah Nowels (’10) is a partner with Amezcua-Moll & Associates where she handles employment, business, and real estate litigation. Sarah has been involved with OCWLA since attending law school at Chapman, serving as Secretary, a member of the Board, and a member of the 35th Anniversary Dinner Committee. She also served on OCBA’s Board of Directors, was Chair and Education Chair of the Young Lawyer’s Division, and was on the Board of the OCBA’s Charitable Fund. During law school, she was President of Chapman Law’s Student Bar Association and a Justice of Phi Alpha Delta.

Sheila-Marie Finkelstein joined the Executive Board this year as OCWLA Secretary after previously serving on the Board of Directors. She is an estate planning and probate attorney with Holstrom, Block & Parke. Her other leadership positions have included Vice-Chair of the OCBA Veterans & Military Committee (“VetCom”) and Secretary of the Orange County Jewish Bar Association. She also facilitates the Orange County Young Trusts & Estates Attorneys’ monthly “Lunch and Learn” series, which she founded in 2014.

The new officers will be installed at the 2017 Board of Officers and Directors & Holiday Celebration on December 14 at 6 pm at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

Above: Michelle Tran (’10), Sarah Nowels (’10), and Sheila-Marie Finkelstein (LL.M. ’17)