Dorothy Wolpert is a founding member of the firm.

Her practice includes trial experience in copyright infringement, legal malpractice (as both plaintiff and defendant), probate matters, post-acquisition disputes, entertainment cases, and several precedential cases related to the construction of the Los Angeles subway.

She has argued in the Supreme Court of the State of California and before all the U.S. district courts in the state, as well as the Ninth Circuit.

Dorothy has served as a judge pro tem, mediator and arbitrator in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and has arbitrated fee disputes for the LACBA.

Education

  • University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., Member of Moot Court, 1976
  • College of the City of New York and University of Pennsylvania, B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1959

Honors & Awards

  • California Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2021-present

  • Humanitarian Award, American Civil Liberties Union, 2021

  • Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2019-present

  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law, Best Lawyers®, 2016-present

  • Constitutional Rights Foundation Mock Trial Attorney of the Year – Private Sector, 2015

  • Inner City Law Center’s Katherine Krause Award for Public Service, 2004

  • Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2003

  • Top Women Lawyers in Business, 2003

  • Southern California Super Lawyers, 2002-2011

Representative Cases

  • Obtained preliminary injunction in a pro bono class action lawsuit against federal prison over the inefficient measures taken by prison officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Successfully convinced the court to require prison officials to consider all medically vulnerable, non-violent prisoners and those over the age of 50 for home confinement.

  • Obtained favorable settlement in a pro bono matter on behalf of 50 tenants displaced from a South Los Angeles apartment building plagued by housing code violations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Represented a national law firm in a malpractice claim. Successfully defended the claim and obtained a jury verdict of over $1 million in fees.

  • Represented numerous major studios in piracy cases and secured damages and injunctions.

  • Represented public company in post-acquisition dispute and obtained $20 million plus settlement.

  • Defended major film maker against copyright infringement claim.

  • Represented prominent family in lengthy probate proceedings including six successful appeals.

Affiliations

  • Inner City Law Center, Past President and Member, Board of Directors, 1996-present
  • UCLA Law School Alumni Board
  • Fountain Theatre, Board of Directors
  • Court appointed Counsel in Juvenile Court
  • Founding Member, Los Angeles Library Association

Recent News & Events

Published Cases

DeCamp v. First Kensington Corp., 83 Cal. App. 3d 268 (1978)

Seiler v. Lucasfilm, 808 F.2d 1316 (9th Cir. 1986)

Southern California Rapid Transit Dist. v. Bolen, 1 Cal. 4th 654 (1992)

Publications

Dorothy Wolpert is a founding member of the firm.

Her practice includes trial experience in copyright infringement, legal malpractice (as both plaintiff and defendant), probate matters, post-acquisition disputes, entertainment cases, and several precedential cases related to the construction of the Los Angeles subway.

She has argued in the Supreme Court of the State of California and before all the U.S. district courts in the state, as well as the Ninth Circuit.

Dorothy has served as a judge pro tem, mediator and arbitrator in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and has arbitrated fee disputes for the LACBA.

Representative Cases

  • Obtained preliminary injunction in a pro bono class action lawsuit against federal prison over the inefficient measures taken by prison officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Successfully convinced the court to require prison officials to consider all medically vulnerable, non-violent prisoners and those over the age of 50 for home confinement.

  • Obtained favorable settlement in a pro bono matter on behalf of 50 tenants displaced from a South Los Angeles apartment building plagued by housing code violations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Represented a national law firm in a malpractice claim. Successfully defended the claim and obtained a jury verdict of over $1 million in fees.

  • Represented numerous major studios in piracy cases and secured damages and injunctions.

  • Represented public company in post-acquisition dispute and obtained $20 million plus settlement.

  • Defended major film maker against copyright infringement claim.

  • Represented prominent family in lengthy probate proceedings including six successful appeals.

Affiliations

  • Inner City Law Center, Past President and Member, Board of Directors, 1996-present
  • UCLA Law School Alumni Board
  • Fountain Theatre, Board of Directors
  • Court appointed Counsel in Juvenile Court
  • Founding Member, Los Angeles Library Association

News & Events

Women’s History Month: Spotlight on Founding Principal Dorothy Wolpert

In celebrating Women’s History Month and following Bird Marella’s 40th Anniversary milestone, the firm is pleased to honor one of its founding principals, Dorothy Wolpert, and her inspiring legacy.    Dorothy Wolpert began her law career in mid-life after graduating from UCLA School of Law in 1976 with unconditional support from her husband and two ...

Bird Marella Showcases Top-Tier Legal Talent with 19 Attorneys Named Among the 2022 Best Lawyers in America®

Bird Marella is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by U.S. News. Nearly half of the firm’s entire roster of attorneys have been recognized and selected by their peers as outstanding attorneys in their respective areas of expertise.   The Best Lawyers in America (2022 Edition)  Terry W. Bird  ...

ACLU of Southern California Honors Bird Marella with 2021 Humanitarian Award

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California has awarded Bird Marella with the 2021 Humanitarian Award, in recognition of its pro bono partnership on two COVID-19 class action lawsuits against the administrators at Terminal Island and Lompoc federal prisons. Filed on behalf of several prisoners, the lawsuits detailed how insufficient measures ...

Bird Marella Recognized by Benchmark Litigation 2021

Bird Marella is proud to announce that the firm has been recognized as a “Highly Recommended” law firm in California by Benchmark Litigation. The firm has also been ranked in Tier 1 for dispute resolution and in Tier 1 for securities litigation for the third consecutive year. In addition, five of the firm’s principals ...

18 Bird Marella Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers in America®

Bird Marella is proud to announce that 18 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized and selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Sharon Ben-Shahar Mayer – Criminal Defense: White-Collar Terry W. Bird – Commercial Litigation, ...

Bird Marella and ACLU Obtain Preliminary Injunction on Behalf of Federal Prisoners in COVID-19 Class Action Suits

Bird Marella and co-counsel the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) partnered with the Prison Law Office (PLO) to achieve victories in two class action lawsuits filed against Terminal Island and Lompoc federal prisons over the inefficient measures taken by prison officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the Lompoc class action, the Court issued a preliminary injunction and ordered the Bureau of ...

Published Cases

  • DeCamp v. First Kensington Corp., 83 Cal. App. 3d 268 (1978)
  • Seiler v. Lucasfilm, 808 F.2d 1316 (9th Cir. 1986)
  • Southern California Rapid Transit Dist. v. Bolen, 1 Cal. 4th 654 (1992)

Publications