Jon E. Powell, Senior Paralegal
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Dance Theatre, Brigham Young University, 1988
HIGHLIGHTS
Primary paralegal to attorneys on first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the City and County of Los Angeles demanding beds, services, and treatment for thousands of homeless individuals, and clean and safe streets for the community. The lawsuit resulted in a $4 billion commitment for an additional 20,000 beds with services and treatment for homeless Angelenos by the City and County of Los Angeles, and commitment to encampment reduction.
Assisted in obtaining a complete dismissal for Planned Parenthood in the Northern District of California, Center for Medical Progress et al. v. Xavier Becerra et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-07978.
Supported the UMK team which, five months after being retained by established political figure, successfully negotiated a significant settlement on client’s behalf.
AWARDS
Recipient of Skadden, Arps 2026 Pro Bono Award for his contribution to the firm’s pro bono cases, which included work with the LA Regional Food Bank, multiple asylum cases, and dog owners who purchased chronically sick puppies from a pet store that sourced from puppy mills.
Jon has worked in the legal profession since 1998 when he stumbled into what was supposed to be a two-week temp job at Skadden, Arps in the records department. Six months later, he was approached to apply for a legal assistant position. While pursuing an acting career, Jon worked nights and weekends at Skadden for the next eighteen years. In 2016, Jon took a year off and traveled the United States and Canada with the touring company of Dirty Dancing. He put “Baby in the corner” every night as Dr. Houseman, Baby’s Dad.
In 2018, Jon joined Spertus, Landes & Umhofer as a senior paralegal. He is most proud to have assisted with the successful LA Alliance for Human Rights case, addressing the homeless crisis in Los Angeles. He is very grateful to accompany his friends and colleagues to Umhofer, Mitchell & King.
Prior to working in the legal field, Jon worked as an actor and producer and has appeared in film, television, commercials, and theatre. His interests include tennis, gardening, travel, and he is currently writing a book about his life.
“There is nothing more important in our lives than our story – the causes we take up, the choices we make, how we relate to ourselves and others is what our story is about. I want my story to be about justice, integrity, restitution, and atonement, just like in law.”