March brings the start of spring renewal, and also Women’s History Month. To celebrate, Montage Legal Group takes this opportunity to shine the spotlight on three women attorneys interviewed by our guest blogger, Kandy Williams. These trailblazing women come from different backgrounds and have faced different challenges, but they have one thing in common – they are all inspiring leaders in their fields.
Jessica C. Munk
Jessica Munk has extensive experience in federal and state court focusing on white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation.
Ms. Munk has won several Anti-SLAPP motions resulting in the entire dismissal of the case and has drafted and argued many successful motions.
Ms. Munk has been recognized for the past four years by Super Lawyers®. This distinction is reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice and only 5% of the attorneys in Southern California receive this honor. She has also been selected for three years in a row to The Best Lawyers in America®.
Ms. Munk has practiced in Federal Districts throughout California, has handled appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the California Court of Appeal, and has practiced in the United States Tax Court. Ms. Munk is a member of the CJA Trial Panel for the Central District of California. She has served on the board for the Orange County Women Lawyers Association for the past six years and is a Past President.
Before joining the firm, Ms. Munk was a prosecuting attorney in Washington State. She has tried many jury trials and has written and argued numerous criminal motions and appeals.
Q: You are a former prosecutor. How has your experience as a prosecutor influenced you as an attorney now focused on white-collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation?
A: Having experience as a prosecutor gives me a special insight with a unique understanding about both sides of each case. It helps me identify the issues the prosecution will focus on which provides a stronger defense for my clients. I also clerked for a Court of Appeals Judge after law school, which has given me excellent experience to see first-hand how a judge responds to issues raised by the parties. Having these three experiences has given me insights into the perspectives of all parties in a case, which I think allows me to provide exceptional advocacy for my clients that few other lawyers can match. Each of these roles has strengthened my skills as a lawyer in different ways but combined, has specifically provided key assets as a federal white-collar criminal defense attorney.
Q: Tell us about a pivotal moment that shaped your career and the lessons it Imparted.
A: A pivotal moment for me would be when I decided to move to Southern California from Seattle 15 years ago to work for my now partner, David Wiechert. I had clerked for two years after law school followed by another two years as a city prosecutor. At that point, I had the opportunity to move to Southern California and get experience doing federal white-collar criminal defense for a couple of years. I thought I would then move back to Seattle but this decision 15 years ago completely shaped my legal career as I am still at this practice. It has provided me amazing case experience, exceptional mentorship and a wonderful place from which to work on cases both locally and in jurisdictions across the country. I am now a named partner at my firm and have had the opportunity to work on many large and novel white-collar criminal cases. Southern California is also where I met my husband and where we have chosen to raise our children. I think the biggest lesson learned for me is that I could not have planned where my legal career would go and being open to different opportunities has led me to where I am today, and I absolutely love what I do.
Q: In addition to other women’s legal groups, you are a Past President of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association (“OCWLA”). What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time leading the OCWLA?
A: I was honored to serve on the board and executive committee of the OCWLA for the past six years and to serve as President in 2023. I am most proud of giving our members an opportunity to intentionally network for business development. I organized our first speed networking event. It was such a success that the board has decided to now hold an annual business development event. In addition, with over 500 members, I realized we needed a platform to search members by their specialty to increase referrals to other women lawyers. The OCWLA now has a Member’s Directory where each member can search by practice area to increase referrals within our organization.
Q: The legal profession is known for its demanding workload. How do you balance career and personal life?
A: People always tell me I’m Superwoman for working full-time and managing my law practice, raising three kids, and holding leadership roles within the legal community. But I’m not Superwoman. It takes a village, and I believe the “secret” is to get as much help as possible and don’t be afraid to ask for help. I also have a very supportive husband who encouraged me to run for the executive committee of the OCWLA and has supported me throughout my tenure on the board, and also supports me in my legal career. It is challenging balancing career and personal life, but I think being a mother makes me a better lawyer, and being a practicing lawyer makes me a better mother.
Q: What excites you most about the future of women in law?
A: I’m excited that women continue to make advancements in the law and on the bench. As of December 2024, the percentage of women justices and judges in California was 43.3%, which has continued to increase from only 27.1% in 2006. There is still a lot of progress to be made since women continue to make up more than 50% of law students, but I am excited that the trend continues to go upward. Since the pandemic, the legal profession in general seems to be providing more flexibility, allowing lawyers to work from home and have nontraditional work schedules. This has been beneficial to mothers – and fathers – and helps provide better work-life balance to those raising a family, which is exciting.
Q: Since it is Women’s History Month, who is a woman that has influenced you the most, and how so?
My mother has been very influential in my life. She was not able to finish college, but growing up she worked to help make sure my brother and I did not go without. She always encouraged me in school and even though I moved away for college to go to the University of Washington in Seattle, she was very supportive because she knew that was a better opportunity for me than attending the local community college. She continued to encourage and support me as I went to law school when I was 22. After I moved to Southern California and started having children, my mom wanted to move down here from Washington to help take care of my daughter. I am very fortunate to have my mother close by these past eight years and am truly grateful for what an amazing, supportive mother she has been throughout my life and continues to be today.
Janani S. Rana
Janani Rana is a Partner, a Certified Family Law Specialist and an experienced trial attorney. She handles complex family law issues and high net worth matters. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for four years in a row and Best Lawyers One to Watch for three years in a row (including the inaugural edition).
Janani graduated from the USC Gould School of Law and is a Co-Chair of the Orange County USC Gould Alumni Association.
In her spare time, she is learning to golf, passionate about bringing awareness to the pediatric epilepsy community, and dedicated to advancing the causes of the South Asian legal community. She also serves on the OCBA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Project Youth OCBF Associate Board, and is involved with the Orange County Unity Bar.
Q: As the first female partner at Minyard Morris, how has your leadership influenced the firm’s culture and approach to diversity?
A: Breaking barriers at a firm with a long-standing reputation has been both a privilege and a responsibility. My goal is to foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not just welcomed, but valued. As a South Asian woman in family law, I understand firsthand the importance of representation and mentorship, and I’ve worked to expand opportunities for younger attorneys—especially women and attorneys of color—so they feel supported in navigating the complexities of this profession.
Beyond mentorship, I am committed to actively fostering a culture of inclusion through our firm’s involvement in community-driven initiatives. Minyard Morris sponsors programs that support women in law, bar association initiatives, and events that provide networking and leadership opportunities for diverse attorneys. These efforts are an investment in the future of the profession and send a clear message: diverse attorneys don’t just belong in this space—they can thrive and lead here.
I’ve heard the question—why did it take so long to make a woman partner? It’s a fair one, and I don’t shy away from it. The legal profession, especially in high-stakes litigation, has historically been slow to elevate women to leadership. And regardless of the explanations for that delay, what matters more than how long it took is what we’re doing now to ensure the door stays open for others. My partnership isn’t just about breaking a barrier—it’s about reshaping the firm’s culture for the future.
I was also the first partner at Minyard Morris to take maternity leave—twice—while managing a full caseload. It was not easy. But because I did it, someone else will be able to do it also — hopefully even better, with fewer obstacles. This is critical because true diversity means breaking the outdated mold of what a trial lawyer is supposed to look like. The expectation that top litigators must be billing machines with no personal lives is one that has historically excluded women, particularly mothers, from leadership roles.
Being an involved parent does not preclude someone from excelling in the courtroom, leading complex litigation, or making strategic decisions in high-stakes cases. I am proud to show—through my own career—that women can spend their days litigating and their evenings and weekends parenting. My journey, and the journeys of many women like me, is proof that success in law isn’t about sacrificing family for career or vice versa—it’s about redefining what leadership, advocacy, and work-life integration look like for the next generation.
Q: Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that helped shape you into the attorney you are today?
A: Early in my career, I came in as the second attorney on a case in which a highly educated woman who had quit her job to take on all of the parenting tasks during the 25 year marriage faced the very real possibility of walking away with very little after decades of marriage. In part, this was due to built-in inequities in the law. But the other issue was that the original attorney handling the case simply missed major assets and told her to walk from certain claims because “the Judge doesn’t like women.” I was deeply troubled by this, and took it upon myself to change this woman’s divorce outcomes. I spent many evenings and weekends researching possible pathways to a financial success. The effort paid off, and that client remains one of my best referral sources, nearly 15 years later. Her case reinforced the significance of advocacy beyond just legal strategy— family law requires empathy, tenacity, and a deep understanding of financial structures. When I spoke with a law student at a recently seminar, I told her that the best thing she could do to succeed at family law was to learn business and finance. I would attribute a large portion of my success in family law to my mother, who instilled in me early on a deep love for numbers.
Q: In today’s digital age, how do you perceive the role of social media in shaping public understanding of family law matters?
A: Social media has completely transformed how people access legal information, often before they ever step into an attorney’s office. While it provides an opportunity for education and advocacy, it also presents challenges—misinformation spreads quickly, and legal issues are often oversimplified. I see social media as a powerful tool for demystifying family law, whether by offering insights into common legal misconceptions, explaining financial considerations in divorce, or highlighting the realities of spousal and child support. That said, the key is to ensure that information shared online encourages people to seek professional legal guidance tailored to their unique circumstances.
Q: The legal profession is known for its demanding workload. How do you balance career and personal life?
A: If you are giving 100% to one area of your life, you cannot give the same to another – it is a simple issue of mathematics. Therefore, to succeed as an attorney, you have to create a support system for yourself that will foster your success. To be present in both my professional and personal roles, I have to stay organized, set boundaries, be disciplined about time management, and actively delegate. There is no shame in delegation – we all need help. No (wo)man is an island, and I cannot do any of this alone. I have an amazing spouse who takes on the lion’s share of the family tasks, and incredible in-laws who support our caregiving team. It is also important to know and honor your priorities. I make it a point to attend all of my children’s school events, but I do not attend medical appointments for my daughter. I cook fresh homemade meals for my children at least a few weeknights per week, but do not feel guilty when we spend the weekends eating out and ordering in so that I can also catch a little break. I typically work at least three weeknights per week right up until bedtime, but I never work Fridays after 5pm, and I try to make it home for bedtime at least 60-70% of the week. By establishing and following rules, life feels more manageable. Finally, I believe firmly in the importance of good friends who help me reflect when I am overwhelmed, empower me with examples of my success when I am feeling nervous, and serve as a respite when I need a break. Balance does not mean always being happy; balance means developing the tools to navigate life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Q: What advice do you have for younger women considering a career in law?
A: First, don’t be afraid to take up space—your voice, your perspective, and your contributions are valuable and necessary. The legal profession is still evolving, and while challenges remain, there is more room than ever for women to lead and redefine the field. Second, seek mentorship early. Find people who will advocate for you, push you to grow, and help you navigate the complexities of legal practice. Make sure that you have someone who will “sponsor” you, that is, be your advocate and help you find opportunities. Third, don’t measure success purely by external markers—title, money, prestige—measure it by impact. The best attorneys are those who balance sharp advocacy with integrity and empathy.
Q: Since it is Women’s History Month, who is a woman that has influenced you the most, and how so?
A: There are many women who have inspired and influence me – my mother, my mother-in-law, and so many female mentors who supported me early in my career. But as we see diversity and inclusion protections being dismantled in the United States, I want to use this opportunity to speak about Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo. I find her particularly interesting because she is a South Indian woman like me. Ms. Nooyi made her way to the United States and became one of Forbes Magazine’s “Most Powerful Women” award recipients for nearly a decade. What makes her inspiring is not just her corporate success, but the way she has openly discussed the realities of being a woman of color in leadership. She was one of the first high-profile executives to candidly speak about the challenges of balancing career and motherhood, acknowledging that working mothers are often forced to make difficult choices. She famously spoke about how, even as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, she still felt the societal pressures of being a “good daughter, wife, and mother.” As the first female partner at Minyard Morris, I see firsthand how representation at the top matters. If we don’t actively create pathways for women, attorneys of color, and underrepresented professionals, we risk a legal system that only employs and serves a narrow demographic. Nooyi’s leadership taught me that we cannot just hope for diversity to happen—we have to build it intentionally.
Jibit Cinar
Jibit Cinar brings nearly 20 years of experience as a skilled litigator to Cepkinian-Cinar Law, Inc. Jibit takes pride in being a passionate advocate for employees who have experienced harassment (especially sexual harassment), wrongful termination, retaliation, demotion, violation of leave laws (including the California Family Rights Act and Family Medical Leave Act), violation of California’s wage and hour laws, breach of contract, misclassification, and/or discrimination.
When employees hire Jibit, they can feel confident that they will get honest and direct answers to difficult, and sometimes hard-to-ask, questions. She listens very closely to what her clients want from a case and is thereby able to provide employees with specialized, logical, and truthful counseling.
Q: What inspired you to specialize in advocating for employees facing issues like harassment and wrongful termination?
A: I was a baby lawyer, in my first year of practice, working for a law firm with all male partners. I was 25 years old, had graduated from law school, and had just passed the bar exam after my first attempt. I remember excitedly telling the senior partner that I had gotten engaged, and his response was “this will never work out…you’re going to be too distracted with planning a wedding now…you won’t be focused on work…” At the time, I didn’t know what to say – I was taken aback and tried to defend my commitment to my career. A few years later, when I started my own practice, I realized that I myself had been a victim of gender stereotyping and discrimination. I wasn’t going to let that happen to others. It was my own experience that led me to advocate for others who had faced similar situations (and, often times, worse) at work.
Q: Would you encourage your daughters to become attorneys? Why or why not?
A: I encourage my daughters to pursue whatever they are passionate about, and if that passion leads them to the practice of law, then I’d support them 1000%. What I truly want for my girls is for them to find a career that they love, one that they are proud of, where they’re challenged to bring the best versions of themselves every day, and one that makes them feel full at the end of each day.
Q: You are very active on social media. Do you think social media plays a role in increasing access to legal knowledge, especially for women?
A: Yes. Believe it or not, when I launched my social media campaign, my goal wasn’t to get clients. It was, in fact, to educate the follower about what an actual employment claim is – what exactlyis a “hostile work environment” or “wrongful termination”. These terms have legal definitions, and there are so many misconceptions that need to be cleared up. With regards to women, especially with regards to females from minority backgrounds, there have been advancements, but there’s still much work to do – regarding gender discrimination issues, stereotyping, harassment, and inequity in pay to name a few. I believe educating oneself is empowering oneself, and my social media presence is just one pathway to that knowledge.
Q: The legal profession is known for its demanding workload. How do you balance career and personal life?
A: I’m not sure there really is a “balance” between career and personal life. I do believe that it is possible to “have it all,” just maybe not always all at the same time. I have been blessed to have a partner for the past 21 years who shows up personally more whenever my work schedule is more demanding; and I do the same when his work is more pressing at times. It’s this constant dance between us that creates a sort of “balance” that makes our beautiful, busy life work.
Q: What excites you most about the future of women in law?
A: What excites me most about the future of women in the law is the shift I’m seeing towards equity, opportunity, and leadership. I’m excited to see more women entering new and emerging fields of law, like AI and tech. It’s inspiring to see women not just take a seat at the table, but lead the conversation around legal innovation and reform as well. What’s also exciting is the growing support and mentorship among women within the legal community. The networks of women supporting each other – whether through mentorship programs, women’s bar associations, or even informal collaborations – are much stronger now than when I first started practicing law. These networks provide the foundation for women to thrive and create new pathways for future generations of women lawyers.
Q: Since it is Women’s History Month, who is a woman that has influenced you the most, and how so?
A: My mom. Lusvart Cepkinian moved to the U.S. with my dad when she was 32 years old. She didn’t speak a word of English, had only a fifth grade education, and arrived in a new country with two kids – ages 7 and 1.5 (that’s me). She’d left behind an entire family of siblings, nieces, nephews, and her parents in order to give my brother and me the opportunities she and my dad didn’t have. She attended ESL classes at night, learned to drive, worked from home sewing men’s bow ties, and helped my dad with our family business as well. Over the years, she educated herself any way she could – she took typing classes and learned how to use the computer. She drove us everywhere, showed up to every basketball and volleyball game, and somehow made sure we had a home cooked meal every night. Looking back, I realize my mom must have been going through her own struggles of balance – balancing assimilating to a foreign country while trying to preserve her culture and language, balancing motherhood with her own desire to have more for herself. I’m not sure I could have done what she did for my brother and I. My mom’s resilience has always been a driving force for me to excel and advance in my life – be it personally or professionally.
Thank you to Jessica, Janani, and Jibit for allowing us to spotlight them in celebration of Women’s History Month. And thanks to our guest blogger, Kandy Williams of Triage Law Firm, P.C. We hope that these inspiring stories encourage future generations of women to continue breaking down barriers as they forge their own unique paths. Montage Legal Group celebrates inspiring women throughout the year. Celebrate the inspiring women in your life today, and every day!
Guest Blogger: Kandy Williams
Kandy Williams is the founder of Triage Law Firm, a boutique business law firm. Her practice focuses on M&A, private equity, and high level corporate, LLC, and partnership matters. As for Kandy, she was inspired by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, also known as The Notorious RBG.
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