News Release

McGlinchey Welcomes California Litigators Tickner and McCliman

May 8, 2023

McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce that distinguished attorneys Kere Tickner and Michelle McCliman have joined the firm’s Enterprise Litigation and Investigations Group as Members (Partners) in the Irvine, California office. The pair is joined by a paralegal, Kirsten Zell, and a legal assistant, Elizabeth May.

“We are very proud to expand our Irvine presence with the addition of litigators of Kere and Michelle’s caliber, and we welcome them to McGlinchey. Their focus on employment, intellectual property, and business disputes adds a nice complement to the services our California attorneys offer,” said Michael Ferachi, McGlinchey’s Managing Member. “Their deep knowledge of civil litigation matters and experience with federal and California courts will serve our clients well as we expand our team on the West Coast for our clients.”

“When we researched McGlinchey, everything we read was so positive. We thought, wow, they had a plan, they executed, they supported. Lawyers were not only joining but staying, so it had the feel of a growth engine with a plan and a purpose,” Kere said on behalf of the pair, who have practiced together for more than 15 years. “Everyone we met was a great legal mind but also had a great sense of humor and a similar approach to practice styles. So it felt like a great culture and a great opportunity.”

Kere is regarded as a top trial attorney who is particularly skilled at handling complex civil litigation matters. With a primary focus on general litigation and employment, she counsels clients in all phases of legal need — from outside general counsel on day-to-day matters to pre-litigation, arbitration, and state and federal court litigation, including class actions. Kere represents clients at hearings in front of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Labor Board, and also handles environmental litigation, business, and real estate/homeowners association disputes.

Kere received her J.D. from the University of La Verne College of Law and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of San Francisco. Kere is licensed to practice law in California and the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Southern, Northern, and Eastern Districts of California, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

A highly respected litigator with more than 20 years of experience handling complex civil matters, Michelle primarily counsels clients in general litigation matters as well as employment, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition, business torts, defamation, and commercial litigation. She has successfully represented clients in both federal and California courts, court-ordered settlement conferences, arbitration, and mediation. At McGlinchey, Michelle will focus her practice on general and employment litigation, as well as IP advice and counsel, representing clients by developing and executing creative, cost-effective solutions to complex legal issues.

Michelle received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law and her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. She is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in California, including the Court of Appeals.

“Kere and Michelle each bring more than 20 years of experience with California’s judicial system in matters ranging from complex, multi-million-dollar litigation to class actions and legal issues facing small businesses,” said Dan Plunkett, Chair of the firm’s Enterprise Litigation and Investigations Group. “They have the ability to resolve the most hard-fought, intractable litigation matters and clients rely on their relentless approach to finding the best solutions to meet their goals.”

With these hires, McGlinchey has added 14 litigators to its Enterprise Litigation group in the past year. Of those 14, seven have been Members (Partners) and 11 have been women.

“Michelle and Kere’s talents as seasoned counselors and fierce litigators will help our clients avoid litigation exposure and present a strong defense when litigation is unavoidable,” said Brian Paino, Managing Member of the Irvine office. “They will be a great asset to McGlinchey as we continue expanding our team in California.”

McGlinchey’s litigation practice spans the firm’s 17 offices and serves a variety of industries, including corporate, construction, financial institutions, real estate, commercial lending, insurance, heavy industry, manufacturing, aviation, admiralty, and maritime, chemical and energy, automotive, and chemical and mechanical engineering. The firm’s litigators are well-versed in financial services and insurance, class actions, labor and employment, cybersecurity, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, government investigations, and intellectual property matters.