Professional Experience
Ms. Specht has extensive experience representing a variety of national and California-based companies and providing strategic advice and representation on significant business, legal and public policy issues. Her particular expertise involves assisting clients at the intersection of law and government. She has broad-based experience representing clients seeking government contracts and awards as well as bid protests. Her practice also focuses on obtaining land use entitlements and environmental approvals. She regularly appears in hearings before state and local legislative bodies, agencies, boards and commissions. Her California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) practice focuses on administrative and pre-litigation counseling.
Ms. Specht's clients include developers, corporations, institutions and government agencies. They include Maximus, The Related Companies, J.H. Snyder, The Lionstone Group, Urban Partners, Playa Capital (Playa Vista), Bed Bath and Beyond, Duty Free Shops of North America, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Delaware North Companies, and the County of Los Angeles.
Ms. Specht previously served on the firm's Management Committee, Board of Directors and Compensation Committee. She has been called upon for various civic assignments, including chairing the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission and serving as a City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commissioner. She also served as Chief Counsel for the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in 2000.
Memberships & Activities
Vice Chair and Director, Music Center, Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County.
Executive Board, Pitzer College (Claremont Colleges).
Executive Board, Town Hall Los Angeles.
Executive Board, Central City Association.
Executive Board, American Jewish Committee.
Member, The Trusteeship.
Former Member, United States Department of Commerce Industry Policy Advisory Committee. (Secretary of Commerce appointment).
Former Chair, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission (Mayoral appointment).
Former Commissioner, City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission (Mayoral appointment).
Former Member Women's Leadership Board, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Former Director, Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission.
Former Director, California Women Lawyers.
Former Director, Bet Tzedek Legal Services.
Former Director and current Honorary Director, NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund Board. (Legal Momentum).
Co-Founder and former Chair, Women's Political Committee.
Former Director, Los Angeles Urban League.
Honors & Awards
Selected for numerous editions of Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward/White.
Recognized numerous times as a Southern California "Super Lawyer" in surveys conducted by Law & Politics Media Inc. and published in Los Angeles Magazine.
Named by California Law Business as one of the "Top 100 Attorneys in California" and as one of the "Top 100 Influential Lawyers in California."
Named by Los Angeles Business Journal one of the "Most Prominent Attorneys in Los Angeles County."
Selected to be included in Who's Who of American Women.
Named one of Southern California's Most Influential Women in Real Estate by Real Estate Southern California.
Recipient of the Learned Hand Award, American Jewish Committee, recognizing contributions to the legal profession and to the community.
Recipient of Women of Achievement Award, the California Legislature.
Recipient, Woman of Achievement Award, Big Sisters.
Recipient, Woman of Achievement Award, National Organization for Women.
Recipient, Women of Achievement Award, Business & Professional Women's Club.
Ms. Specht was a legal commentator for KABC Television, Eyewitness News from 1979 to 1989.