A member of its Law Review and a 1986 graduate of Temple University School of Law, Mr. Dongell has substantial experience in business, environmental, and regulatory litigation, as well as a comprehensive understanding of general business transactions and the negotiating skills necessary to achieve our clients’ transactional goals.  Starting with his practice at a large law firm, Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro (now known as Pillsbury Winthrop), Mr. Dongell has established a solid, consistent record of obtaining successful results for many different commercial concerns, including defense contractors, real estate development companies, insurance companies, construction companies, metal fabricators and recyclers, energy interests, public entities, manufacturers, banks, and service industries such as dental suppliers, utility consultants, and software companies.  Mr. Dongell currently serves as outside general counsel to numerous mid-cap and large companies, overseeing most, if not all, of their legal concerns, both transactional and litigation related.  Mr. Dongell concentrates his work in the Firm’s Business Litigation, Environmental, Toxic Tort Defense, Directors & Officers Liability Defense, Drug and Medical Device Litigation, Construction, and Regulatory Advocacy Practice areas, but is also substantially involved in strategic counseling to assist clients with their transactional work and objectives. 

Based on its annual Southern California poll of judges and lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine named Mr. Dongell a “Super Lawyer” for both 2005 and 2006.  Various other publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and Verdicts & Settlements, have profiled cases recently handled by Mr. Dongell.

Mr. Dongell’s political experience includes Kathleen Connell for Mayor of Los Angeles (Campaign Co-Chair) 2000-2001; Gray Davis for Governor of California (Legal Policy Advisor) 1998; the California Democratic Party Business and Finance Council (Chief Legal Counsel) 1995; John Garamendi for Governor of California (Campaign Advisor and Fundraiser) 1993-1994; Tal Finney for State Democratic Party Controller (General Counsel) 1993; Gil Garcetti for Los Angeles District Attorney (Campaign Advisor and Fundraiser) 1992; and John Garamendi for California Insurance Commissioner (Campaign Advisor and Fundraiser) 1990.

Mr. Dongell has also served on various public committees aimed at regulatory reform. Most recently, the Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research appointed Mr. Dongell to the state’s Environmental Justice Legal Task Force.  He was also appointed by California State Controller Kathleen Connell to the Task Force to Reform the State Probate System (1996); appointed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti and Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn to the Environmental Crimes Sentencing Task Force (1993-1994); and appointed by California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi to the Environmental Liability Insurance Task Force (1992-1994).