May 14, 2011 8:09 AM
Leila Noēl, a partner in the Santa Barbara law firm Cappello & Noēl LLP, was named by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals as one of top 75 women lawyers in California.
Ms. Noēl, who works in lender liability, complex business litigation and catastrophic personal injury cases, is the only attorney from Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties to make the list, which was released this week.
Her many high-profile cases include the 2008 wrongful death lawsuit involving 4-year-old Jonathan “Yoni” Gottesman, who drowned in the Cathedral Oaks Tennis, Swim & Athletic Club pool during a summer camp program on Aug. 15, 2005. Jurors returned a $16.2 million verdict — the largest child drowning wrongful death verdict in state history.
And in March of this year, Ms. Noēl won a multimillion-dollar verdict for plaintiffs in a lending discrimination class action against Wells Fargo Bank under the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
“The suit brought to light the bank’s discriminatory lending practices against borrowers in minority neighborhoods in Los Angeles, resulting in higher loan costs for those borrowers,” according to a statement.
Cappello & Noēl managing partner A. Barry Cappello said in a statement: “There are over 75,000 women members of the California Bar. It’s a tremendous achievement to be named one of the top 75 women lawyers in the state.”
“When only a very few women lawyers were chosen from firms outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco, it takes an exceptional lawyer to stand out. We are proud that Leila’s efforts on behalf of our clients have been recognized.”
“Individuals and businesses are fortunate to have an attorney of Leila’s caliber here in Santa Barbara,” he added.
Cappello & Noēl represents the News-Press in some matters.
