I want our firm to give a voice to those who don't have a voice.  Our clients are often victims of some senseless tragedy, who are being further victimized by virtue of their gender, race or background.  Many are being treated unfairly.  Many can’t afford a lawyer.  They don’t know how to take on the powerful forces against them. We give a voice to those victims.

I have been blessed in my own life to have wonderful, kind, and supportive friends and family.  I want to give back by dedicating myself and our firm to helping those who are at their most vulnerable; those who have been seriously hurt or injured in some way and are struggling to regain their life.

I have a passion for cases where our client has been inflicted with a chronic pain disorder from an injury.  I have seen, again and again, the devastation that chronic pain and disability has on a person and a family.  Chronic pain is the least understood and the most overlooked area of injury law.  The defense lawyers and insurance companies we fight against, can be dismissive of these victims, who are very often women and people of color. I make it our business at MPTL to give voice to those victims and make sure they get equal and fair treatment.

I tried my first jury trial when I was 28.  I represented a hardworking man and his wife who crushed his foot in a motorcycle collision. Years later he still suffered from chronic pain.  They were being dismissed and treated poorly by the insurance company.  The jury heard their story and gave a verdict that changed their lives for the better, and it changed my life, too.  It made me want to do more.

I am the managing partner at MPTL.  Steve and I are married and have two wonderful children.  We live and work in the small town of Ojai, California.  We often try cases together, so we travel together to wherever we need to be on a case.   Our home and family is an extension of our practice.  We welcome of clients as friends and family. 

We are blessed to make a difference in the lives of those we represent. 

A poet and storyteller, Kim specializes in fighting for the underdog, using vibrant language and emotional connection to move jurors to help her clients.  She brings intellectual rigor and emotional intelligence to her cases.  Kim served as a trial lawyer at the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California for twenty years before joining MPTL.  She is widely acknowledged by judges, colleagues, and adversaries to be one of the best trial lawyers to practice in federal court in Los Angeles.  Kim is recognized for the relationships she builds with all players in the legal system and how she uses those relationships to her clients’ advantage.  Kim brings the same client-centered approach and zealous advocacy to vulnerable plaintiffs as she did to criminal defendants.  She listens and builds meaningful connections with clients and their families.  Warm and engaging, she can talk to anyone.  Kim is known for her irreverence and fearlessness in the face of powerful adversaries.  Although tender with clients, Kim is a pitbull litigator. 

As a public defender, Kim developed expertise in the impact of trauma on brain function, as well as a broad knowledge base about the autism spectrum and neurodiversity.  As a graduate of the UCLA School of Law Public Interest Law Program with a concentration in critical race studies, Kim understands how institutions perpetuate injustice and how people’s lived experience of race, gender, and class contributes to their experience of pain. 

Kim and Ashley became chosen family in 2008, when they attended the Trial Lawyers College.  Kim joined the College faculty in 2010.  Teaching is one of her great joys.  She and Ashley often teach together at Trial Lawyers College seminars.  Kim routinely applies her well-honed skills in the Trial Lawyers College methods, enabling her trial teams to bring their clients’ stories to life for jurors.

 When she isn’t trying cases, Kim and her partner hike, travel internationally, go to museums and dance performances, and hang out with their daughter and her three dog siblings. 

Josh is a passionate young trial lawyer who only handles complex injury cases at MPTL.  He has mentored under Steve and Ashley since becoming a lawyer four years ago.   

Josh is also a Litigation Specialist at MPTL.  Josh knows the courtroom inside and out.  He knows how to best present the story of the clients.  He worked for years as a trial presentation consultant while studying law.  Josh has worked on more major injury trials than most lawyers will see in career.  Josh is 34 years old.

Josh is 100% focused on discovering each client’s story from day one.  That means getting to know and understand the person, the human being, not just their case.  It is only from a depth of understanding, love and compassion that we can tell that story to a jury. 

Josh has already litigated hundreds of large cases and recovered millions of dollars for his clients in just a few short years. 

Since the beginning of her legal career in 2014 as a Loyola Public Interest Legal Fellow at Inner City Law Center, Colleen has intentionally sought to represent underserved and vulnerable communities – homeless individuals, victims of sexual assault (including victims of Jeffrey Epstein), protestors and activists wrongfully arrested and brutalized by law enforcement, and victims of workplace harassment and discrimination. Her unique experience has led her to develop a client-centered approach to litigation – one that prioritizes the client’s experiences, stories, and voices. She specializes in advocating for those suffering from trauma and hopes to empower her clients through the litigation process.

A nerd to her core, Colleen graduated at the top of her class as a Public Interest Scholar at Loyola Law School. Colleen is a brilliant and skilled trial lawyer. Her distinctive sense of humor, compassion, dedication, and talent working in civil rights and employment discrimination so impressed Steve and Ashley that they brought her onto the MPTL team.  

Ryan was born and raised in Los Angeles, where his family and background gave him a passion for justice and caring for others. He became interested in law while at UCLA studying Comparative Religion. After graduating UCLA, he went to work for a law firm that helped workers who had suffered discrimination. It was then that Ryan knew he wanted to become a lawyer.  

Ryan went on to graduate from Southwestern Law School after a two-year accelerated program. Ryan also received a concentration in civil litigation and advocacy, with honors. During law school, he spent much of his free time volunteering, for which he received a special distinction. 

Ryan has already distinguished himself as young trial lawyer.  He is in the trenches every day, engaging on difficult and complex legal issues. Most importantly, Ryan cares about people.  He is seen by his clients, the courts, and his colleagues as kind, generous and a consummate professional. 

Outside of work Ryan spends much of his time with friends and family, including his three brothers.  He is passionate about mindfulness meditation, fitness, and healthful living. Ryan enjoys film and dance. He calls My Cousin Vinny one of his favorite films, fitting for a young trial lawyer. He remains committed to helping others in his free time. 

At McElroy Parris Trial Lawyers, we understand our clients deserve the best and most experienced. That is why Cindy serves as our Director of Litigation. She has a seasoned background working in the legal field for over 25 years; including as a Certified Paralegal. At MPTL, she runs the inner workings of the practice. This includes, first point of contact for the courts and lawyers, managing the day-to-day on our cases, as well as assisting our clients obtain the best medical care and treatment. Cindy has supported Steve and Ashley for 7 years (and counting). This is because of her dedication to ensuring the clients get the best service they deserve.

Cindy also has a passion for health and mental wellness. In her spare time, she is at the gym, on a hike, going for a run, or practicing Kundalini yoga. Cindy was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, but now enjoys living close to the beach with her furbaby, Coco, in Ventura County. She also has a genuine belief in giving back to the community.

Nina is a lover of all animals. She has a Maltese and two lion head rabbits. She enjoys the outdoors, sporting events and live music. She has spent about half of her life in Boston, Massachusetts and the other half in Southern California. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Suffolk University and her paralegal certification from UCLA. She is our trial paralegal. She manages the cases, works with the clients, prepares cases for trial, and assists the lawyers at trial. Nina has worked with Steve for more than 10 years. She is certainly one of the best in the business.

Amy Joy is a born and raised Ojai local, with three generations of family still living within miles of her Oak View home. Amy was drawn to work for McElroy Parris Trial Lawyers by the alignment she felt between her own personal values and the values of the firm.  The daughter of a CEO Father and Artist mother, she is a balance of business and creativity. Amy handles the business operations, accounting, human resources, and marketing aspects of the firm. An energetic and passionate person, she finds the most joy in life through the positive connections she has made with friends, family, and community. She is a youth organization leader for 14 local girls, photographer, fiction writer, cat lady, mother, lover of camping, cooking, reading, dancing, and everything that’s red and sparkly.  In late 2023 she published her first book, and hopes to publish her second by 2025.

Georgina was born and raised in Mexico City, setting out just 2 years ago for California to continue her education and be closer to nature. A walking ray of sunshine, Georgina has many passions in life, including helping others, reading, travel, dog shows, friends, and family. She holds a certificate in Paralegal Studies, a BA in International Relations, and a Master of International Law.  Along with her regular caseload, Georgina handles all our client intake, orders medical records, assists with case notes, and provides native language communication and document translation for our Spanish speaking clients.  

Tobie came to the McElroy Parris team looking for a more challenging career path and has quickly proven herself to be an asset. She takes care of reception, mail, calendaring, and document management. With plans to attend Paralegal school in the fall, she looks forward to continuing her growth with the team. A Ventura County native, Tobie spent her youth competing in volleyball tournaments throughout the state of California and still enjoys playing casually in open gyms. She also loves spending time with her golden retriever/german shepherd dog, Chrys.

Liz came to work for McElroy Parris team in late Summer 2023. She assists the Managing Partner and Director of Operations on a multitude of tasks that help operations run just a little bit more smoothly. Liz is a born and raised Ojai local who has worked at the many boutique Hotels and Restaurants in town, giving her a great base for working as a Personal Assistant. She came to us looking for a different kind of workplace where she could utilize her endless energy and enthusiasm to help wherever is needed and have co-workers to bond with and share her life.