Our People

Melanie represents and regularly advises cities, counties, community college districts, school districts, public safety departments and special districts regarding employee and labor relations matters.  The breadth of her experience as both a negotiator and a litigator informs her practical approach to the myriad of labor and employment issues faced by public entities.

Kevin Chicas is an experienced Associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's Los Angeles office where he provides advice and representation to the firm's clients in labor, employment, and litigation matters. As a member of the firm’s Labor Relations practice group, Kevin regularly advises and represents clients in navigating their various meet and confer obligations under the MMBA, EERA, and TEERA.  Kevin also regularly represents agencies before PERB on matters such as unfair practice charges, representation issues, and requests for injunctive relief.  Additionally, as part of Kevin’s continuing practice in bargaining unit representation matters, Kevin served a lead role in advising clients in complying with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME and Senate Bill 866.  Kevin also represents clients at the bargaining table, negotiating matters such as compensation, mandatory access under A.B. 119, employee communication, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Ryan Church has over a decade of experience serving as general and special counsel to governmental clients throughout California. Ryan focusses his practice on employment law, education law, investigations, civil litigation, and federal Indian jurisprudence. Ryan works closely with our clients on employee disciplines, developing workplace policies and procedures, addressing violence at the workplace, Title IX compliance, and complex conflicts of interest issues. Ryan also regularly represents clients on matters before the EEOC, DFEH, OCR, and PERB.  Ryan has litigated extensively in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies and tribal courts throughout California and other states. Ryan has obtained several favorable rulings on behalf of clients by prevailing on dispositive motions such as motions for summary judgment, Anti-SLAPP motions, motions to dismiss, and other pleadings.

As Executive Director, Gary Connally manages the day-to-day business affairs of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, including finance and administration, human resources and firm-wide operations.  In this role he provides daily guidance to the firm on the myriad of issues a small business faces, and in addition helps to formulate and implement our long-range strategic plans. Since Gary joined the firm in 2001, LCW has more than doubled in size.

Heather DeBlanc is the Chair of the firm's Business & Facilities Practice Group and serves on the Executive Committee of the Retirement, Health and Disability Practice Group. She serves as the lead partner in both Affordable Care Act and Section 125 Plans practice. She practices education, construction, business, and employment law, representing clients in transactional and litigation matters, as well as administrative hearings.

Jenny Denny, an associate at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s Los Angeles Office, provides assistance to clients in matters pertaining to employment law, litigation services, private education and public education law.

With almost 40 years of experience in labor, employment, and education law, Mary Dowell has assisted clients in a myriad of employment and education-related issues.  Her primary area of expertise is representing and advising community college districts in a general counsel role, specifically in education, labor and employment-related matters.

Christopher provides representation and legal counsel to school and community college district, special districts, and independent schools.  His practice focuses on matters pertaining to business and facilities including general business contracts, construction contracts, and litigation. Christopher is also a LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) Green Associate, meaning he has been accredited by the U. S. Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) as a professional with extensive knowledge of green building practices, construction, and operations.  The LEED Green Associate is a highly accredited degree that recognizes individuals who specialize in green building practices and design, implementation, and regulatory requirements.

Kaylee Feick is an Associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s Los Angeles office where she provides representation and counsel to clients in all matters pertaining to labor, employment, and education law.  She provides support in litigation claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour disputes, and other employment matters. Kaylee has experience in litigation procedures such as drafting pleadings and discovery. She also has experience in trial preparation, including researching and drafting pretrial motions and preparing witnesses for trial.  

Jenny-Anne Flores is an associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s Los Angeles Office where she provides representation and legal counsel to the Firm’s education and public agency clients. An experienced litigator, Jenny-Anne has extensive experience in all aspects of the litigation process including pleadings, discovery, dispositive motion practice, settlement/mediation and trials.