California

Launched in 2017 as an Orange County-based litigation boutique, Everett Dorey now houses 23 attorneys throughout four offices in California, including coverage in the northern half of the state, as well as one office in Phoenix, Arizona. The firm emphasizes its agenda as a California-based firm representing state-domiciled clients, with most of its work taking place in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. “They represented me in litigation with charter and adult education programs,” confirms one client. “They are responsive, proactive and imaginative – and they win in court.” Firm founder and name partner Seymour “Sy” Everett is lead counsel on several cases of particular gravity to communities within the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. He represents the City of Costa Mesa, which passed an ordinance to regulate sober-living homes, as it was one of several cities within Orange County that had been plagued by unscrupulous sober-living home operators, resulting in deaths and negatively affecting residential neighborhoods throughout the area. As a result of this ordinance, the city has been targeted by eight different sober-living home operators in lawsuits filed in federal court. Everett prevailed in five cases via motions for summary judgment and, in April 2022, received a unanimous defense jury verdict in the Central District. Everett is also attending to similar litigation for the City of Orange in litigation with a soup kitchen for addicts with no interest in recovery and thus perpetuating crime and disturbance in the community. The city found itself getting sued upon terminating the soup kitchen’s license, with a federal judge stepping in and essentially denying the city’s right to manage its own property. As a result of settlement reached in May 2022, Mary’s Kitchen will be leaving the property and the City of Orange took back possession of the property in August 2022. The City has taken over provision services to the homeless at the property, in place of Mary’s Kitchen. A client testifies on Everett’s behalf, “Sy listens and is thoughtful, but he is also proactive and a strategic thinker.” Samantha Dorey, another founding and name partner, advises clients on non-litigated matters, including development of risk-management protocols and procedures related to property management and environmental issues.