What’s happening in the OC with OCTLA?

Bench and Bar softball game and golf tournament

2015 August

While CAALA members and others from around California converge upon Las Vegas for the annual CAALA convention, OCTLA has been working on many events coming up at the end of summer and this fall. These signature events coming up take much planning and preparation and many of the committee members have been working feverishly all year to make these events every bit as great as years past and hopefully even better.

Columbus Day Bench and Bar Tournament

The OCTLA Columbus Day Bench and Bar Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015, at El Niguel Country Club with registration starting at 9:30 a.m. The committee this year has been spearheaded by Janice Vinci and Rob Gibson with oversight by Geraldine Ly. We all are particularly excited about the tournament this year in which we have adopted a “Cuban Theme” for our golf tournament as a way of celebrating the potential for new relations with a past foe in Cuba… and now hopefully a friend to the US. The Cuban theme will have Cuban Fidora’s, a Cuban Mojito bar, a Cuban Cigar roller for hand-made cigars and many other things to go along with the Cuban festivities. This golf tournament has been a sell-out very year for the past few years. You may register your foursome on-line at www.octla.org or email Janet Thornton at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Top Gun

We also have our Top Gun Trial Attorney of the Year event coming up on November 21, 2015, at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach. Each year OCTLA recognizes the best of the best trial attorneys who have either tried a case in Orange County or are members of the Orange County Trial Lawyers’ Association. Winners of the Top Gun award will be announced in September. Some of the past winners of the award include legendary Orange County attorneys such as Wylie Aitken and Mark Robinson, Jr. among many other past recipients of the award. We will also be hosting a silent and live auction to benefit a local charity. This year the Board has selected a very worthy and deserving charity in Miracles for Kids. We are honored to team up with this charity this year in order to help make a difference in the lives of children.

Miracles for Kids

Miracles for Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving children with life-threatening illnesses and the families that care for them. By operating programs that provide financial aid, basic needs and wellness to patients and their families, Miracles for Kids creates stability when families are crumbling from the financial and emotional devastation of fighting for their child’s life. Miracles for Kids operates offices in Tustin and Santa Monica, CA. Today, Miracles for Kids has served over 1,044 families throughout Southern California through three affiliated hospitals – Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) and Mattel Children’s UCLA (Mattel Children’s). If you would like to make a donation, please obtain a form on the OCTLA Website and return the completed form no later than November 13, 2015, to OCTLA, 23412 Moulton Parkway, Suite 135, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. You can also email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 949-816-9577 for further information about making a donation. We hope you will consider making a donation to this charity and help make this year’s Top Gun event another success!

Other sporting events

In addition to our signature annual events including the Bench and Bar Golf Tournament as well as the Top Gun Trial Attorney of the year, OCTLA also will be hosting the ninth annual Bench versus Bar Softball game taking place on August 22 at Grant Howard Park in Corona del Mar. This annual softball game pits some of the best of judges and attorneys showing off their athletic prowess on the softball field. And, of course, there is much fun to be had by all including players and fans alike. After the game, both teams as well as family and friends are invited to enjoy a picnic style BBQ with food prepared by the Newport Rib Company. There are also many fun activities for kids including bounce houses and face painting along with a nearby playground to enjoy. If you would like to join the fun, please contact the Softball game chairs Darren Campbell and Atticus Wegman.

OCTLA will also again partner with CAOC and CASD on July 29 for a “Day at the Races” at the Del Mar Racetrack. This has been an annual event for the past few years where as many as 100 attorneys take the train down to Del Mar to watch the horse races and enjoy a great atmosphere in Del Mar with colleagues, friends and family. While this event will have taken place as of the time Advocate is printed, I am confident it is sure to be a success. If you did not make it to the racetrack this year, you should definitely plan on putting this on your calendar for next year. There is much fun to be had!

OCTLA members look forward to seeing everyone at the CAALA convention in Las Vegas. And we hope you will join us for many of our upcoming events this fall!