In 1999, Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. and his Partners embarked on an endeavor to found a national law firm. To do so, they sought the most skilled and talented trial lawyer available. The contacted Los Angeles trial attorney Randy H. McMurray, who had already attracted national attention on cases he had tried and settled.

Mr. Cochran and Mr. McMurray first met years ago at the Central Civil West Courthouse near Downtown Los Angeles. Randy was trying the remainder of a case after settling out the manufacturer of a well-known pharmaceutical anti-depressant drug – remarkably, the first settlement in the history of the drug’s usage. Meanwhile just next door, Johnnie was defending the University of Southern California in a civil case.

The two reached an agreement and Randy H. McMurray became the Managing Partner of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.’s law firm, which would become known as The Cochran Firm Los Angeles.

Mr. McMurray remained sole Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm Los Angeles until that firm’s dissolution in 2012.

 

In 2013, McMurray formed The Cochran Law Group, LLP and became its managing partner.

In late 2013, that firm became what is today known as McMurray Henriks, LLP, where McMurray practices with his co-partner, with the highly regarded business litigation attorney Yana G. Henriks, who is licensed to practice in three countries.

McMurray Henriks, LLP is a dynamic duo of husband and wife with combined legal experience of more than 40 years. This boutique firm’s partners – Randy McMurray and Yana Henriks – vigorously advocate for the wronged and overpowered.

 

Randy H. McMurray has been repeatedly named as a “Super Lawyer” and a “Law Dragon Top Attorney” for over 10 years. He has likewise maintained a “preeminent” lawyer AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 20 years, distinguishing Mr. McMurray as occupying the highest level of professional excellence in the estimation of his peers and the Judiciary.

In 2009, Mr. McMurray became the 60th and only African-American President of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, also known as “CAALA.” CAALA is the largest attorney association in the USA.

Mr. McMurray has represented members of highly established, as well as the most disadvantaged, members of our society, including those wrongfully injured and killed by police officers’ use of excessive force. Randy has also represented celebrity clients such as Goldie Hawn, Randy & Evi Quaid, Patti LaBelle, Congressman Julian Dixon’s wife, Bettie Dixon, members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, Red Tails, and Hall of Fame Dodgers Pitcher, Don Newcomb, in various areas of civil litigation.

Mr. McMurray continues to believe in the values of his late partner, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., who used to say “We represent the OJs and No-Jays” of the world. Together, Randy H. McMurray, Yana G. Henriks, and the McMurray Henriks, LLP team, continue that legacy into the 21st Century. Mr. McMurray truly believes this firm can ‘Change the world one case at a time’.

A co-founder and partner at McMurray Henriks LLP, Yana G. Henriks has an impressive track record handling high stakes litigation in both federal and state courts. Her zealous approach to litigation and tenacity makes her an asset to her clients.

 

Yana G. Henriks was designated as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and as a “Super Lawyer” in 2021 and 2022. Being selected for these prestigious lists published by Southern California Super Lawyers list an honor reserved for lawyers exhibiting the highest professional excellence in the practice of law.

Ms. Henriks’ most recent achievements include a $22,000 000.00 settlement in a wrongful death case during the midst of the pandemic lockdown; a $4,650,000.00 settlement in non-fatal police shooting case; and a money judgment against the County of Riverside for failure to comply with the California Public Records Act (“CPRA”). In 2021, Ms. Henriks successfully obtained a writ of mandate against the City of San Bernadino for not timely complying with a CPRA request in a police excessive force case.

Due to the societal importance of timely disclosure of documents under the CPRA, it is the practice of McMurray Henriks, LLP to file a Petition for Writ of Mandate for an Order mandating disclosure of responsive records under the CPRA. Unless a municipal entity possesses certain knowledge that it will experience the law’s discipline for failure comply with every citizen’s right to access to public records under the CPRA, there will be no incentive to follow it. Each time a municipal entity is forced to comply with its statutory obligations, it strengthens the foundation for accessibility, accountability, and transparency in our society. Diligently pursuing a Petition for Writ of Mandate in every applicable case is just one way McMurray Henriks, LLP is faithful to its motto of “Changing the World One Case at a Time”.