Of Counsel, Los Angeles
444 South Flower Street
8th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071-2901

TEL: 213.243.6257
FAX: 213.243.6330
EMAIL: mjohnson@mckennalong.com

PROFILE

Margaret Johnson is Of Counsel in McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP's Los Angeles office. She has extensive experience in the area of civil writs and appeals, having filed numerous appellate briefs and petitions in the United States Supreme Court, the Federal Courts of Appeal, the California Supreme Court and the California Courts of Appeal.  In 1999, she passed the Appellate Certification exam administered by the California State Bar.

Margaret is also an experienced litigator with a broad background in arbitrations and trials. She has handled numerous toxic torts, environmental torts, product liability, premises liability, and land use cases, as well as matters involving environmental regulation. In addition to her expertise in toxic tort cases, Margaret has also represented clients from the pre-litigation stage through the conclusion of the appellate process in actions involving diverse areas of the law, including professional liability (legal, medical, dental, and broker malpractice), director and officer liability, insurance coverage, employment discrimination and wrongful termination, and public entity defense.

For many years, Margaret was a member of the Board of Directors of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association, chairing its Public and Judicial Appointments Committee, and remains involved in APABA as an advisor to its Board. Margaret has served as a City Commissioner, Vice Chairperson of the Community Development Advisory Board, and member of the General Planning Committee for the City of Lomita. As a member of the Junior League of Los Angeles, she was a sub-committee chair for a community outreach program providing parenting classes for teens and adults in court-ordered counseling. Margaret was involved in numerous community service events while serving as Vice President and Counsel for the Lomita Women's Club,  including "Christmas in Lomita" for underprivileged children. She also serves as pro bono counsel for the Alliance for Children's Rights, and volunteers her time for Habitat for Humanity, the Union Rescue Mission, Camp Pendleton YMCA's "Secret Santa" (Support And Nurture Those Americans who serve"), "Toys for Tots," and numerous youth sports and community service organizations. Margaret is a Board Member and Past President of the Los Angeles Rowing Club for which she races in masters' competitions and participates in its “Learn to Row” program, training new and novice rowers. In recognition of her commitment to volunteerism, the firm awarded Margaret its Pro Bono/Community Service award in 2005.

Recent appellate victories include:

Union Carbide v. Superior Court (Marshall), Second Civil B169801 (12/22/2003) -- writ of mandate issued directing Superior Court to vacate order striking filing of motion for summary judgment;

Union Carbide v. Superior Court (Arambula), 128 Cal. App.4^th 333 (2005) – affirming dismissal and denial of plaintiffs’ motion to vacate judgment under Code of Civil Procedure section 437c;

R.T. Vanderbilt v. Superior Court (Loe), Second Civil B197344 (9/26/ 2007) – alternative writ issued directing Superior Court to vacate order denying motion for summary judgment and enter a new order granting motion, and 

Lawson v. Reynolds Indus. Corp., U.S.C.A. Ninth Circuit (CA), Case No. 06-55449 (1/8/2008) -- affirming summary judgment for employer in wrongful termination/sexual and racial discrimination action.