About Us
McAlarnen & Sun was born under circumstances defined by change and loss: the COVID-19 pandemic, an eruption of protests against police brutality, and the untimely passing of a titan of family law in the United States, Stephen Kolodny.
Partner
Julie McAlarnen
Ms. McAlarnen is the founding partner of McAlarnen & Sun. After graduating from law school in Washington, D.C. in 2007, Ms. McAlarnen moved to Los Angeles and for the past 12 years has dedicated her practice to family law with a keen focus on child custody litigation.A perennial honoree as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine since 2014, Ms. McAlarnen was honored as a Top 50 Up & Coming Female Attorney in 2018.Ms. McAlarnen's experience includes complex family law litigation as an associate with the largest family law firm in the United States, as well as her more recent role as a partner of Kolodny Law Group, a nationally renowned family law firm founded by Stephen Kolodny. Under the tutelage of Mr. Kolodny, a legendary trial attorney, Ms. McAlarnen worked on a wide range of cases, from litigation regarding businesses worth over $500 million to high conflict custody cases involving domestic violence and child abuse. When asked what type of cases are more difficult, Ms. McAlarnen’s answer is the same every time: "Child custody cases without a doubt. There is no rule book like there is for property division. It is up to the skill of the lawyer to persuade a judge what ‘best interests’ really means and there is no other area of family law where the stakes are higher and depend most on which party's attorney is making the better argument given the facts of each individual family." When not busy running her law practice and helping clients, Ms. McAlarnen enjoys spending time with her wife, who is a fellow family law practitioner, and their newborn girl.
Education
The Catholic University of America
Bachelor of Arts: Washington D.C. 2004
Juris Doctorate: Columbus School of Law 2007
Legal Specialization
Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Specialization
Honors
2020 Southern California Super Lawyer “Rising Star”
2018 Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star” – Up & Coming Top 50 Women
2014 - 2017 Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star”
Bar Admissions
2008 Admission to California State Bar
2011 Admission to New Jersey State Bar
2012 Admission to New York State Bar
Professional Memberships
Member of Executive Committee, The Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member, The State Bar of California, Family Law Section
Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member, The State Bar of New York
Member, The State Bar of New Jersey
Member, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association
Partner
Deborah Sun
Since graduating from law school and passing the bar exam in 2006, Ms. Sun has devoted her legal practice exclusively to the field of family law. She first gained invaluable experience at the Los Angeles Superior Court as the law clerk to five judicial officers, including the subsequent Supervising Judge, of the busiest Family Law Department in the world. As the law clerk, Ms. Sun’s duties included managing the judicial officers’ law and motion calendars, researching and drafting recommended rulings, and assisting with complex trials and high-profile cases.
In 2008, Ms. Sun joined the preeminent family law firm of Kolodny & Anteau, later Kolodny Law Group. In 2018, she became a partner of Kolodny Law Group. In her 12 years working alongside founding partner, Stephen A. Kolodny, Ms. Sun handled complex cases of high net-worth business owners, celebrities, and professionals within the United States and abroad, gained a thorough knowledge of the law, and developed an expertise in analyzing and writing about sophisticated legal issues.
Ms. Sun is the co-author of Mr. Kolodny’s annual Family Law Contempts article, a treatise relied on by family law judges throughout the State of California and distributed to attendees of the annual Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Symposium.
Education
Bachelor of Arts: University of California, Berkeley
Juris Doctorate: University of California, Davis School of Law; Executive Editor, U.C. Davis Law Review
Honors
Southern California Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2013-2020)
Recipient of Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services by the State Bar of California (2010, 2011 & 2013)
Recipient of Witkin Award in Family Law (2006)
Publications
Family Law Contempts, distributed annually as a bench book to family law judicial officers in California and as a practice guide to attendees of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section’s Family Law Symposium
Deborah C. Sun, Note, Intel Corp. v. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.: Putting “Foreign” Back into the Foreign Discovery Statute, 39 U.C. DAVIS L. REV. 279 (2005)
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
Northern District of California
Professional Memberships
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section
Beverly Hills Bar Association, Family Law Section
Associate
Sarah D. Gorrell
Ms. Gorrell brings a multitude of skills to the table, with experience in both mediation and litigation. Her practice is focused exclusively on all facets of family law.
As a mediator, Ms. Gorrell has extensive experience conducting mediations and providing a non-adversarial approach to resolution for many couples where judicial intervention is not necessary. Her no-nonsense demeanor helps clients save time, money, and emotional turmoil. Couples voluntarily meet with Ms. Gorrell who acts as a neutral third-party to assist in addressing and resolving disputed issues surrounding their family law matters.
As a litigator, Ms. Gorrell offers a holistic approach to representation, advising clients of their options and developing strategies and plans of action with her clients. She practices with an eye toward effective communication to ensure her clients are informed at every stage of the process.
Ms. Gorrell sat on the Board of Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and was also President of the Women's Law Association at Southwestern Law School. Ms. Gorrell worked as a judicial clerk at the Los Angeles Superior Court. Additionally, her time spent volunteering at the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law prepared Ms. Gorrell to anticipate the needs of her clients and ensure their understanding of rights and options available.
Education
Bachelor of Arts: Denison University
Juris Doctorate: Southwestern Law School
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
Professional Memberships
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section
American Bar Association
Lawyers for Good Government
Paralegal
Jean Poppa
Jean Poppa joined McAlarnen & Sun in September 2020, having been a family law paralegal since 1989. Of her 31 years of experience, Jean spent the past 24 years as a paralegal at Kolodny Law Group, working on highly contentious and complex divorce litigation. Jean’s nickname at the firm is “Jean, Jean, the Discovery Machine,” which she is highly embarrassed is now public knowledge. McAlarnen & Sun is thrilled to have her join the team.
Education
Bachelor of Science: California State University, Long Beach
Masters of Science: California State University, Long Beach
Associate of Arts, Paralegal Studies