Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP is so proud to congratulate our very own Michael Schonbuch on being named the newest recipient of the Los Angeles Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates’ (ABOTA) Lee B. Wenzel Civility Award. Civility is not only a hallmark of Mike’s practice, but he truly embodies this principal in his demeanor, actions, and mentorship. Despite being a recent past President of the Los Angeles Chapter of ABOTA, this award is widely regarded as the LA Chapter of ABOTA’s greatest honor. This significant honor will be announced at the LA-ABOTA Installation Dinner Dance on January 21, 2022.

DFISL is pleased to announce that Michael Schonbuch has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. The induction ceremony took place online before an audience of 670 Fellows during the recent Induction Ceremony at the 2020 Annual Meeting and 70th Anniversary Celebration of the College.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.

Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,800 members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows. The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.

We are proud to announce DFISL’s 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers: Paul Fine for Business and Construction Litigation, Mark Israel for Insurance Coverage, Michael Schonbuch for Civil Defense Litigation, and Moses Lebovits for Plaintiff Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice. Mary Fersch was awarded the distinction of selection to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. Less than 5% of the attorneys in the state of California are named Super Lawyers, and less than 2.5% of attorneys are named to the Rising Stars list. Congratulations to them on this well-deserved honor.

DFISL founding partner Paul Fine received the Hall of Fame award from the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel. Paul was honored along with Gretchen Nelson, who received the Civil Advocate Award and Judge Stephen Moloney who received the Judge of the Year Award. All of the honorees received their prestigious awards at the gala ASCDC Hall of Fame Awards Dinner at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

DFISL is proud to announce that Michael Schonbuch has been elected Los Angeles ABOTA Vice-President for 2019 and President for 2020. The Los Angeles Chapter of ABOTA is the founding chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and it is the largest chapter of that organization in the United States. ABOTA membership requires extensive civil jury trial experience as well a high personal character and honorable reputation in the civil trial bar. This is a great honor and we are very pleased that Michael will have a leadership role in this tremendous organization.

DFISL congratulates its 2019 Southern California Super Lawyers: Paul Fine for Business and Construction Litigation, Mark Israel in the field of Insurance Coverage, Michael Schonbuch for Civil Litigation, Moses Lebovits for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice and Maureen Michail for Business and Construction Litigation and Insurance Coverage. The Super Lawyers designation represents excellence in the selected area of legal practice and we are very proud of our attorneys who have achieved this recognition. For more information visit: www.superlawyers.com

DFISL is pleased to announce that Geronimo Perez has been named a partner in the firm. We recognize Geronimo’s distinguished legal abilities and high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of law.

Moses Lebovits has been selected to the 2018 list as member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. NADC is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Its mission is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate. Due to the selectivity of the appointment process, only the top one percent of attorneys in the United States is awarded membership in NADC. This elite class of advocates consists of the finest leaders of the legal profession from across the nation. Moses received this honor on multiple occasions. Congratulations!

Moses Lebovits has been selected to the 2016 list as member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. NADC is an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Its mission is to objectively recognize the attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate. Due to the selectivity of the appointment process, only the top one percent of attorneys in the United States is awarded membership in NADC. This elite class of advocates consists of the finest leaders of the legal profession from across the nation. Congratulations to Moses for this incredible honor!