MG+M The Law Firm is pleased to announce that we have elevated six attorneys to partner, effective January 1, 2026:
- Laurelly Dale, San Francisco
- Charles W. Jenkins, Los Angeles
- Rachel H. Leonard, Walnut Creek, California
- Danielle M.S. Riera, New Orleans
- Ryan L. Rystad, Irvine, California
- Preeya S. Varma, New York
“On behalf of the MG+M community, I proudly congratulate our six newly elevated partners, whose relentless dedication, sharp legal acumen, and unwavering commitment to client service drive our firm’s success,” says MG+M Chairperson and Partner John B. Manning. “These outstanding professionals strengthen our culture, expand our reach across the nation, and elevate the standard of excellence that defines MG+M. We celebrate their remarkable achievements, welcome them into our partnership ranks, and applaud the impact they continue to deliver for our clients and colleagues.”
Laurelly Dale (San Francisco), a seasoned litigator with more than 18 years of experience, represents insurers and insured entities at a national level in matters arising under the Child Victims’ Act (CVA) and related abuse litigation. She advises and defends organizations facing complex, high-exposure claims involving historical allegations of abuse across multiple jurisdictions. She develops defense strategies tailored to the sensitivities and procedural nuances of CVA litigation and often achieves favorable outcomes through dispositive motions or early settlement strategies. Her reputation for diligence, professionalism, and results-driven advocacy has made her a trusted partner to clients facing sensitive and challenging litigation, including complex construction defect and general liability matters. Outside her legal practice, Laurelly is an accomplished marathoner who has earned the Six Star Medal by completing all six Abbott World Major Marathons and seven Boston Marathons. Laurelly is an active member of the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary, is fluent in French, and is licensed to practice in Canada.
Charles Jenkins (Los Angeles) focuses his practice on asbestos litigation, general liability, product liability, construction defects, and contract litigation. Charles has defended manufacturers and suppliers in cases involving asbestos, silica, benzene, formaldehyde, mold, and other chemical substances. He represents manufacturers in product liability lawsuits involving commercial machinery, equipment, and retail products. Charles’ practice also involved negotiating the sales of various types of businesses. Charles has more than 30 years of civil litigation and jury trial experience in both federal and state courts. Prior to MG+M, he was a successful sole proprietor for 10 years and California counsel for a large equipment manufacturer. Before opening his own firm, he was a partner at two prestigious California firms.
Rachel Leonard (Walnut Creek, California) has practiced law since 2006 and has considerable experience in all aspects of civil litigation, from claim inception through trial, defending parties in personal injury, premises liability, and various other general liability matters. Rachel formerly served as a prosecutor for the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office, where she tried numerous criminal jury trials to verdict. In addition to her trial experience, Rachel has extensive experience in law and motion practice, including targeted and successful motions for summary judgment, written discovery, depositions, discovery, oral argument, settlement conferences, mediations, and arbitrations. This significant litigation experience enables Rachel to efficiently identify the strengths and weaknesses of each case and realistically evaluate damages. Her considerable trial experience enables her to recognize which cases are appropriate for trial and which should be resolved.
Danielle Riera (New Orleans) defends clients in complex litigation, including manufacturers, designers, and suppliers of equipment, such as heavy equipment and component parts used in automotive, agricultural, and petrochemical and industrial applications. She is part of the national coordinating counsel team for several long-standing clients, developing and implementing long-term nationwide defense strategies. Danielle manages local and national cases from filing, trial preparation, and settlement. She also manages large-scale discovery, prepares corporate and expert witnesses for deposition, and conducts extensive investigations to build and preserve corporate histories. Additionally, Danielle serves as local counsel in Louisiana for a global aerospace company in toxic tort litigation. Beyond asbestos work, she has experience handling general liability, premises liability, products liability, and other toxic tort liability matters.
Ryan Rystad (Irvine, California) has found success litigating a variety of complex legal matters. He has represented a wide variety of clients, including individuals and local business owners, as well as multinational corporations. Ryan’s clients consistently rely on him to accurately gauge and limit any potential exposure and to proactively maximize their potential for success. He has experience with multi-party litigation and has achieved positive results for his clients inside and outside the courtroom through informal negotiations and mediation.
Preeya Varma (New York) is a dedicated attorney with substantial experience in asbestos and talc litigation, and general liability defense. Preeya works closely with clients and applies a solution-oriented approach to handle all stages of litigation, both in and out of the courtroom. She successfully manages multiple toxic tort accounts, focusing on motion, settlement, and trial strategy. She also oversees motion practice for several talc and asbestos clients, from strategizing and drafting to arguing motions.
