Julia B. Strickland

Strickland, one of the most influential attorneys in Los Angeles, has observed lots of changes in the legal and regulatory landscape. For example, the banking industry has seen its share of law revisions since the great recession.

"The most significant change in the past five years has been the dismantling, in substantial part, of the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] under the Trump administration," she said.

"After its formation, the CFPB was extremely active in both the regulatory and enforcement aspects of the consumer financial services space," Strickland continued. "The Trump administration has made it a priority to curtail these efforts ... There has been a shift from defending CFPB enforcement actions to addressing and defending enhanced inquiries by state regulators and prosecutors."

A few cases in recent years also helped constitute the definition of public injunctive relief, a threshold Strickland argued a plaintiff didn't meet in a putative class action against JPMorgan Chase Bank.

The plaintiff was to void arbitration, but the U.S. District Court ruled the relief sought by the plaintiff was not "public injunctive relief," in other words, relief that by and large benefits the general public.

"The court concluded that when the relief you seek is fundamentally on behalf of a group of people with whom you actually have a contract, that is not a public claim, that is a traditional private claim between you and your contracting parties and it must be arbitrated," Strickland said.

Away from representing the banking industry, Strickland is very involved in the Los Angeles performing arts community. Her memberships include the board of directors of Center Dance Arts of the Los Angeles Music Center.

"Literally, the place is packed with kids," Strickland said. "My guess, 90 percent of these kids have never been to a live performance ... To see those kids so engaged and so excited, it's really gratifying."

-- Arin Mikailian