Valley Village, CA

Michael Alder is a Senior Trial Attorney who represents plaintiffs. As one of the top trial attorneys in California, Mr. Alder vigorously pursues all cases on behalf of his clients who have suffered injustices and injuries. Mike’s separate law firm, AlderLaw, to-date has recovered over $3.1 billion for his clients suffering from personal injury, employment disputes and toxic tort claims. In 2020, he co-founded Z.A. Lawyers with Gina Zapanta to offer a quality law firm specializing in injured workers’ needs. As an underdog advocate, Mr. Alder takes pride in being personally involved in every case his firm takes on. Along with his team, he is consistently breaking records and earning the praise of the press with significant settlements and impressive verdicts. The former CAALA president, renowned speaker, and published author on trial strategy has a long history of supporting other trial attorneys. Mr. Alder maintains a 9,000-deposition database and an expert witness directory and provides information, at no charge, to up and coming lawyers upon request.

Gina Zapanta

Gina Zapanta has been an advocate for employees and injured people her entire career. In 2020, she co-founded Z.A. Lawyers with Mike Alder to create a law firm dedicated to injured workers rights after having founded a previous successful business assisting doctors who treated injured workers with legal claims. Working alongside her father, renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Zapanta, she saw the need to serve the community with a quality law firm that understood the specialized law for injured workers. Additionally, she served a two-term appointment as Trustee on the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association’s Board of Retirement (LACERA) and, in November 2023, was appointed to the California Organized Investment Network (COIN) Commission by the California Insurance Commissioner. She has expertise in contracts, healthcare management and personal injury strategic partnership development. Separately she founded the ‘Empowered with Gina’ empowerment platform including the ‘Empowered with Gina’ podcast and women’s retreats and events.