Duty of Lawyers to Non-Clients: When There Is and When There Isn’t – A Tour of the Cases

Marta Alcumbrac is certified as a specialist in legal malpractice law by the State Bar of California. She has successfully represented lawyers and law firms in numerous legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty cases. She regularly identifies strategy for early resolution by quickly obtaining and accurately analyzing the relevant facts and developing a litigation plan for bringing the case to conclusion.

Marta brings the same creativity and determination to the practice of law that she used as a principal founder of the Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts, a public school started when Marta realized that parents in her community wanted another educational option for their children. Before joining Robie & Matthai, she practiced at Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols, where her practice focused on the defense of medical malpractice cases. When medical issues are relevant (as they often are in legal malpractice cases arising out of personal injury cases), her medical malpractice expertise is an invaluable asset.

Marta currently is the President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

HON. DAVID J. COWAN has been assigned for the last three years to hear long-cause Probate and Civil trials, and since September 2025, exclusively long-cause Probate trials.

Previously, Supervising Judge of the Civil Division. Responsible for operation of over one hundred fifty courtrooms, assignment of trials around the County, among other duties pertaining to managing Civil, including the PI Hub, I/C courtrooms, UD courts, as well as the Complex Program. Previously, Assistant Supervising Judge of Civil and assigned to an I/C courtroom at the Mosk Courthouse.

Earlier, Supervising Judge of the Probate and Mental Health Depts. Initially, handled a calendar of decedent estates, trusts, conservatorship and guardianship cases. Thereafter, focused on long cause or complex trials and settlement conferences.

Former member of the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council of California, as well as Vice-Chair of the Probate Law Committee of the Calif. Judges Ass’n.

Appointed a Judge by Governor Jerry Brown in 2014. Previously served as a Court Commissioner — for much of that time in a Family Law calendar at the Santa Monica Courthouse.

Before going on the bench in 2005, practiced business and real estate litigation for seventeen years. Initially, at Rogers & Wells, now known as Clifford Chance. Later, he had his own office.

Graduate of Univ. of Calif., Hastings College of the Law and Columbia University.

Previously, Adjunct Lecturer at UCLA School of Law and at Loyola Law School on various subjects, including Wills and Trusts.

Recipient of the Ronald M. George Award for Judicial Excellence from the Litigation Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Ass’n and of the Timothy A. Whitehouse Award from the Trusts and Estates Section of the BHBA.