Ronald Olson, Brad Brian, Hailyn Chen and Bethany Kristovich Recognized Among the 2023 Top 100 Lawyers in California

Munger, Tolles & Olson is honored to have four attorneys recognized by the Daily Journal in its 2023 Top 100 Lawyers list, which recognizes the top lawyers in California annually. Those recognized include Name Partner Ronald Olson, Firm Chair Brad Brian, Co-Managing Partner Hailyn Chen and litigation partner Bethany Kristovich.

Mr. Olson and Mr. Brian have been recognized as Top 100 Lawyers several times, previously in 2022, 2021 and 2019. This is the first time Ms. Chen and Ms. Kristovich have been recognized. 

The Daily Journal recognized Mr. Olson for his representation of major corporations and high-profile individuals in connection with complex litigation and billion dollar transactions. His recent work includes representing Activision Blizzard and McDonald’s in labor and employment litigation, Berkshire Hathaway in the $11.6 billion acquisition of Alleghany Corp., and six Yuma, Arizona irrigation districts in negotiations over how to divide the diminishing supply of Colorado River water. 

Mr. Brian was recognized for his significant and high-profile criminal and civil cases, including representing PG&E in litigation involving the 2021 Dixie Fire, 2020 Zogg Fire and 2019 Kincade Fire. The Daily Journal also noted that Mr. Brian, along with co-counsel from Public Justice, Civil Rights Corps and two other law firms, secured a historic preliminary injunction pausing the enforcement of Los Angeles County’s cash bail schedule and eliminating cash bail for individuals arrested on most low-level, non-violent offenses.

Ms. Chen was recognized for her investigations practice, including leading an internal investigation on behalf of UC Berkeley into allegations of abuse, bullying and discriminatory conduct by longtime Head Coach of UC Berkeley Women’s Swimming, Teri McKeever. She also served as lead counsel in an independent internal investigation into decades of alleged sexual abuse at the Thacher School, an elite boarding school in Ojai, California. The Daily Journal also highlighted Ms. Chen’s appointment by the California Supreme Court to the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees in 2017.

Ms. Kristovich was recognized for her work involving bet-the-company litigation, professional liability defense, and some of the largest mass tort cases of the last five years. The Daily Journal highlighted her representation of Oaktree Capital Management, through its portfolio company Lonestar Airport Holdings, LLC, in a dispute involving the City of Austin and the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Ms. Kristovich obtained a $90 million Special Commissioners’ Award on behalf of her client, which is widely believed to be the biggest condemnation award in Texas history.

Read the Top 100 Lawyers profiles for Mr. Olson, Mr. Brian, Ms. Chen and Ms. Kristovich. (Subscription may be required)