Munck Wilson Mandala, a technology focused law firm, is pleased to welcome Ilana Zelener to the firm’s distinguished litigation team. Zelener joins MWM as a principal attorney, working in the Dallas office. She previously worked as an associate at Barnes and Thornburg in Dallas.
“Ilana has an impressive background from her Judicial Externship to her work in both Los Angeles and Dallas at AmLaw 100 law firms,” said co-chair of the litigation practice Michael McCabe. “Her extensive litigation experience aligns well with our services, and she will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”
Zelener represents clients in high-stakes and commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts. She handles all phases of case development from discovery to trial preparation and her cases include business disputes, partnership disputes, class actions, construction defects, tort claims, and trade secret disputes. She is known for her meticulous trial preparation and witness preparation, and adds leadership skills with her pro bono work, assisting with several estate planning and divorce matters as a part of the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program.
In Los Angeles, Zelener served as a commercial litigation associate at Polsinelli PC where she managed cases through all stages of litigation, drafted critical legal documents, and successfully negotiated favorable resolutions for her clients. Her pro bono work in LA included obtaining immigration benefits for minors and representing Holocaust survivors in landlord/tenant disputes and insurance repayment claims.
Zelener’s impressive legal journey began with a Judicial Externship for the Honorable Margaret Morrow at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California. She also gained valuable experience as a Law Clerk at Bet Tzedek in Los Angeles, focusing on elder law and Holocaust reparations.
Zelener attended Loyola Law School, where she graduated in the top 20 percent of her class. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of California, Irvine, with minors in Psychology and Social Behavior, and earned multiple certificates in conflict analysis and resolution, Middle East, and global studies.
Fluent in Russian, Zelener is admitted to practice in Texas and California. Outside of her legal career, she is a nationally ranked table tennis player, enjoys international and domestic travel, and is an indoor plant hobbyist.
Munck Wilson Mandala is a full-service, technology-focused law firm known for its powerful litigation teams that represent clients in patent, trade secret, trademark, and other intellectual property disputes as well as high stakes and complex commercial litigation. Honored with a Top 100 Verdict in 2021 by the National Law Journal, the firm has offices in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and Waco, Texas, Los Angeles, California, and South Florida (Boca Raton). Munck Wilson Mandala represents clients from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Learn more about the firm at http://www.munckwilson.com.
