20 Women To Watch: Norma García Guillén

Compiled by Kelly St. John, Tina Borgatta, Susan Belknapp, Kristen Schott,
Amy Bentley and Craig Reem

Norma Garcia Guillen
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Attorney, specializing in business litigation

AGE: 33
Words to live by: “Stay true to yourself. Do what’s right, even if it’s not popular.”
Role model: Her parents. “They are working-class immigrants from Mexico who came here with nothing and left everything they knew behind. They have built up their own empire and sent their kids off to college. That’s what I admire – people with very little who succeed and stand by their principals.”
Favorite movie: “La Ley de Herodes” (“Herod’s Law”), a fable about a janitor-turned-mayor in a little Mexican town who realizes how far his new power and corruption can get him.

Guillen is a leader in her profession. In addition to being a successful litigator, she serves as president of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association – one of only 6 women to serve as president, and the first who was also an HBA scholarship recipient.

Guillen has successfully prosecuted and defended cases in state and federal court, including winning an open-ended jail sentence for contempt against a defendant who refused to turn over documents relating to a large Ponzi scheme.

While attending the University of Southern California, where she earned her law degree, Guillen was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court program, the Immigration Clinic and president of La Raza Law Students Association. Through her work with the Immigration Clinic, she helped undocumented women who were victims of domestic violence become legal permanent residents.

And in 2002, USC Law School awarded Guillen the prestigious Shattuck Award for her leadership, dedication and service to the law school community and profession. She remains committed to pro bono work and serves on the board of many organizations, including the Santa Ana Education Foundation and KidWorks. Guillen lives in Santa Ana with her husband, Jose, and their 3-year-old daughter.