Michelle Cheng is a health care litigation partner in Reed Smith’s Global Commercial Disputes Group. Her practice involves defending health care organizations in high-stakes litigations and arbitrations. Cheng focuses her practice on provider disputes and is regularly involved defending health plans from various managed care-related claims. She also has substantial experience defending drug and device companies from product liability and mass tort allegations. Cheng frequently secures dismissals at the pleading and summary judgment stages. Cheng chairs the firm’s women’s initiative network (WINRS) for her Los Angeles office and was recently appointed to serve on the Board of Governors for the Korean-American Bar Association (Southern California).

Ernie Ocampo is a partner in Reed Smith’s Entertainment and Media Industry Group. He serves as outside corporate counsel to his clients and advises them on an array of transactional and operational matters, including equity and debt financings, formation and corporate governance, and M&A. Ocampo serves as pro bono counsel for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, a nonprofit that produces programs for youth and families in Historic Filipinotown and other neighborhoods throughout Greater Los Angeles County. He also serves on the boards of Filipinos in Institutional Real Estate, the Philippine American Bar Association, and USC’s Asian Pacific Alumni Association.

Los Angeles is a national leader when it comes to influential minorities, and the field of law is no exception. Many superb attorneys in the LA region happen to be minorities. According to the LABJ, attorneys profiled in the feature are “particularly impactful” on the profession. Los Angeles Business Journal staff selects profiles for publication based on levels of client trust and contributions to the community. The complete list of lawyers on the Leaders of Influence list is available at labusinessjournal.com.