Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani’s Los Angeles office continues to grow with the addition of Partners Trent Copeland, Jennifer Grace, and Tessa Lessner, Of Counsel Kelsey LaGaly, and Associate Karina Grobman. Their backgrounds in commercial litigation, employment ligation, and wage and hour defense further strengthen the firm’s capabilities in Southern California and nationwide.
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani’s Los Angeles office continues to grow with the addition of Partners Trent Copeland, Jennifer Grace, and Tessa Lessner, Of Counsel Kelsey LaGaly, and Associate Karina Grobman. Their backgrounds in commercial litigation, employment ligation, and wage and hour defense further strengthen the firm’s capabilities in Southern California and nationwide.
Copeland focuses his practice on high-stakes civil and business litigation, criminal defense, defamation, employment, and products liability. A first-chair trial lawyer, he has successfully handled more than 60 trials and arbitrations throughout California. His experience includes representing businesses, executives, celebrities, and entertainment professionals in complex disputes involving significant legal exposure and media attention. He is admitted to practice in California.
“Trent brings an impressive trial record and experience handling complex, high-stakes disputes,” said Brandon Saxon, Regional Oversight Partner of GRSM’s Southwest offices. “He further strengthens our Los Angeles litigation bench and the support we provide to clients.”
“Our Los Angeles Employment practice continues its exceptional growth with talented attorneys who strengthen the bench our clients rely upon,” said Debra Ellwood Meppen, National Chair of GRSM’s Employment practice and Ventura County Office Managing Partner. “Jennifer, Tessa, Kelsey, and Karina provide valuable experience and perspectives that broaden our ability to support employers with workplace litigation and bet-the-company disputes. Bringing on top-notch employment practitioners allows us to continue to provide exacting litigation strategy as well as narrowly tailored, in real time, advice and counsel to our clients.”
Grace focuses her practice on employment and traditional labor disputes and workplace investigations. Her background includes oversight of HR, employment, ethics, and compliance functions for a major federal agency, managing litigation in federal courts and before administrative agencies, and supporting board governance.
Lessner represents public and private sector employers in labor and employment matters from inception to trial. She routinely handles federal and local agency claims, wrongful termination, and wage and hour disputes.
The office’s Employment team has also welcomed LaGaly, whose employment litigation experience and tenacity add significant depth to GRSM’s Southern California employment litigation and counseling capabilities, and Grobman, the wage and hour team’s newest addition. The additions build on significant hiring momentum for GRSM’s Los Angeles office. Including this group, the office has welcomed 43 attorneys in 2026: 12 partners, six of counsel, eight senior counsel, and 17 associates.
Learn more about GRSM’s Los Angeles office and the opportunities available in Southern California and across the firm’s 50-state platform.