EXECUTIVE BOARD
CHRISTOPHER WARNE
PRESIDENT
RANSOM BOYNTON
TREASURER
Ransom D. Boynton is an associate in the Labor and Employment practice group at Koegle Law Group, APC. Mr. Boynton has significant experience representing employers in all aspects of employment litigation, including complex litigation of class action claims and Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) claims, as well as wage and hour disputes, employment discrimination and fair employment practice cases. He also assists employers with the drafting and implementation of employment policies, wage and hour compliance, employment contracts. Mr. Boynton also advises a wide variety of companies and organizations in a multitude of industries on compliance with federal, state, and local labor and employment laws. Prior to joining Koegle Law Group, APC, Mr. Boynton was an associate at an AMLAW 200 national law firm and a medium-sized business law firm, handling employment and labor law cases. He also represented clients in civil litigation, product liability, premises liability, and general liability matters. Mr. Boynton earned his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and his Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts. He also received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
JENNIFER SCHMULDT
SECRETARY
Jennifer Schmuldt has been in practice for 20 years, dedicated to professional liability matters. She successfully briefed and argued multiple appeals in the California Courts of Appeal and Ninth Circuit, along with the Supreme Court of the United States – from complex business cases, professional liability, and civil rights actions. Jennifer has extensive insurance coverage experience, having advised and represented major insurance companies in the defense of numerous first party and insurance bad faith claims. Jennifer’s former private practice at Gilbert Kelley, focused on representing attorneys in professional liability cases to representing employers in labor and employment law related litigation and serving in an advisory capacity for numerous large and mid-size businesses. Jennifer now solely handles legal malpractice insurance claims, within the State of California, for Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company. She deals with all aspects of legal malpractice, and the handling of damages claims on behalf of policyholders. The emphasis of her role is to assist in the management and settlement of these claims, and to provide our policyholders with relevant and pertinent information to avoid professional liability claims.
KRISTEN CHIC
MEMBER AT LARGE
Kristen L. Chic, managing partner of Young & Chic LLP, is a client-focused litigator. Her practice centers on high-stakes commercial, real estate, and employment litigation in state and federal courts.
Since graduating Loyola Law School in 2014, Ms. Chic has represented high-profile clients ranging from one of the largest worldwide retailers in designated complex litigation under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (i.e., Proposition 65), to California’s largest county in quiet title litigation. She has also served as national counsel for a leading elevator manufacturer and servicer in defense of personal injury claims, national counsel for a leading plumbing manufacturer in product liability cases, and outside counsel for one of the nation’s largest occupational health services clinics in successfully defending against claims of discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. Ms. Chic has also been designated panel counsel for some of the nation’s largest title insurers.
CARL KANOWSKY
MEMBER AT LARGE
Carl Kanowsky has over 25 years’ experience in handling the majority of business transactional matters, as both in-house counsel to large corporations as well as a member of large Century City law firms. His experience runs the gamut from business to real estate law in both transactional and litigation arenas. Carl has represented clients in the purchase and sale of multi-million dollar companies; negotiated and drafted contracts for businesses and entertainment companies; litigated complex lawsuits involving cutting edge issues in employment and other areas of law and advised clients on the formation and operation of corporations and limited liability companies. Carl is also experienced in real property sales transactions, commercial leases, and financing of property purchases.
Commitment to our community is also a top priority of Carl’s as demonstrated by his having served as both President and Director of The SCV Boys & Girls Club, Cub Master of Pack 490, and a director of the Themed Entertainment Association. In addition he has been instrumental in spearheading grass roots representation on such issues as planned growth and toxic environmental cleanup, which greatly impact our valley and quality of life.
BRIAN LEE
MEMBER AT LARGE
Brian received his J.D. from UC Hastings in 2017 where he graduated cum laude and served as an editor for Hastings Law Journal. He is presently employed as Counsel at Young & Chic LLP in Valencia, California. Brian’s prior experience includes working as a prosecutor at a District Attorney’s office for several years, managing a heavy caseload and trying several jury trials to verdict. Brian’s experience also includes representing corporate clients in federal and state courts in mass tort and product liability matters.
DONALD REAPE
MEMBER AT LARGE
Donald P. Reape, Associate Attorney, is licensed to practice law in California and Massachusetts. Mr. Reape is passionate about representing clients through any legal challenge whether his clients’ children, assets, peace, income, or freedom are in legal jeopardy.
Donald’s practice at The Reape-Rickett Law Firm includes domestic violence, contempt of court, palimony and Marvin actions, legal separation, child custody litigation including move aways, child support, spousal support, division of community property, business valuation, and post-judgment litigation. With nearly a decade of litigation experience, Mr. Reape is a tenacious advocate for his clients and is committed to protecting their best interests. In 2025 Donald P. Reape was selected to the Southern California Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than five percent of lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
Attorney Donald P. Reape began practicing law in 2016 in the State of Wisconsin as an Assistance State Public Defender where he litigated more than four hundred cases per year across family court, probate, and criminal with a focus on family law matters.