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Aitken Aitken Cohn In the Community

At the heart of our law firm is a commitment to giving back to the community through various forms of service, volunteering, and charitable giving. Whether through pro bono legal work, volunteering at local organizations, or making financial donations to charitable causes, we understand there’s a responsibility to give back to the communities we serve. This public service is essential to our firm’s culture and encourages our lawyers and staff to get involved in meaningful causes. By prioritizing community service, we positively impact those in need and foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment among our employees. In addition to providing free legal services to those in need, our firm’s attorneys serve on boards and committees for many legal organizations and lecture on pertinent legal topics.

American Association for Justice

The attorneys at Aitken Aitken Cohn are proud members of the American Association for Justice. Their mission is to successfully defend Americans’ right to trial by jury and continue to fight every day to protect our practices, our clients’ rights, and our civil justice system.

American Board of Trial Lawyers

The attorneys at Aitken Aitken Cohn are members of the American Board of Trial Lawyers, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. ABOTA and its members are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

American Film Institute

Our firm is a proud supporter of the American Film Institute, The American Film Institute a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating excellence in the art form and to creating national education initiatives that inspire artists and audiences alike.

Association of Business Trial Lawyers

The Association of Business Trial Lawyers is dedicated to promoting a dialogue between the California bench and bar on business litigation issues.

Cal State Fullerton- Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History

AAC Founding Partner Wylie Aitken and his wife, Bette, are honored to be a significant part of a recently opened space in what was noted by the Orange County Register as something that will be instrumental in making sure that stories of historical significance in Orange County and beyond can be preserved, celebrated and shared across generations. The Bette and Wylie A. Aitken Community Room is part of the recently opened Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History (COPH), a component of California State University, Fullerton’s Department of History, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. As the Aitkens considered how many important stories are lost with each passing day, the couple recently donated $500,000 toward the COPH.

Caterina’s Club

AAC is a proud supporter of Caterina’s Club, Chef Bruno Serato’s nonprofit organization, which serves meals to hungry children and families living in motels and low-income
neighborhoods in Anaheim and Southern California. Our firm recently donated “Bette’s Bus,” named after the Aitken family matriarch, which has led to exponential growth in the number of meals delivered. AAC’s Ashleigh Aitken and Michael Penn have also been honored for their unwavering support and commitment during Caterina’s Club’s 17th Annual Gala.

Celtic Bar Association

The goals of the Celtic Bar are to promote camaraderie amongst membership, civility and professionalism within the Orange County legal community, and a greater awareness of the Celtic culture and history, particularly its contribution to the law.

Chance Theater

Wylie and Bette Aitken have significantly impacted the theater through sizable donations that have allowed Chance to meet many of its capital campaign goals – and prompting the company to name its current two-theater complex after Bette. Wylie Aitken and his wife, Bette Aitken, have also hosted the 2022 Chance Annual Gala in support of Chance Theater @Bette Aiken Arts Center’s mission is to contribute to a more connected, compassionate, and creative community.

Chapman University Fowler School of Law

Aitken Aitken Cohn is a proud supporter of Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law, which provides a personalized and practice- focused approach to legal education that prepares their graduates to make a lasting difference in their communities.

Consumer Watchdog

Aitken Aitken Cohn supports Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing an effective voice for taxpayers and consumers in an era when special interests dominate public discourse, government and politics.

H.H. Cotton’s Annual Feed Our Marines Thanksgiving Fundraiser

Aitken Aitken Cohn is a proud sponsor of H.H. Cotton’s Annual Feed-Our-Marines Thanksgiving Fundraiser. For several years running, H.H. Cotton has hosted 180 Camp Pendleton Marines, who are young service members stationed locally who can’t go home to spend the holiday with their families. The restaurant provided a Thanksgiving Day meal and gave away raffle prizes donated by community members.

International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Recognized as the most prestigious organization of trial lawyers in the world, the International Academy of Trial Lawyer’s purpose is to promote reforms in the law, facilitate the administration of justice, promote the rule of law internationally, and elevate the standards of integrity, honor, and courtesy in the legal profession.

K[HER]UT

Our firm is a proud supporter Kherut, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting survivors of sex-trafficking. Kherut empowers survivors of human trafficking by providing education, mentorship, and long-term employment opportunities in a safe and supportive environment. Through philanthropy and fundraising, Kherut supports the education, mentorship, and long-term employment opportunities to help marginalized women in Southern California successfully integrate into society.

Operation Helping Hands SoCal

Aitken Aitken Cohn joined Operation Helping Hands in building backpacks as part of their Charity Team Building Backpack Project Experience. Operation Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization that provides essential hygiene and necessity items to homeless individuals throughout Southern California with the participation of local youth.

Orange County Bar Association

Our firm is a proud supporter of the Orange County Bar Association, whose mission is to enhance the system of justice, support the lawyers who serve it, and assist the community served by it. AAC also supports the OCBA Master Division, which serves the unique abilities, needs, and agenda of practitioners with 25 years or more tenure in law practice.

Orange County Bar Foundation

Our firm is a proud supporter of the Orange County Bar Foundation, which works to improve public awareness of the legal system, the administration of justice, and the delivery of legal services.

Orange County Hispanic Bar Association

Our firm is a proud supporter of the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County. The OCHBA promotes education, unity, and excellence in the Hispanic legal community by expanding the
business and professional opportunities available and enhancing the quality of life for the members and the community.

Orange County Lavender Bar Association

Aitken Aitken Cohn’s Casey Johnson is a Chair Member of the OC Lavender Bar Association, the official association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied attorneys, judges, and law students in Orange County.

Orange County Public Law Center

Our firm in involved with the Public Law Center which is a nonprofit providing free legal services to low-income residents and other nonprofits in Orange County.

Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Columbus Day Tournament

Aitken Aitken Cohn is proud to support the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association and its charitable programs. Our firm is an annual sponsor of the annual Columbus Day Golf Tournament held by OCTLA.

Orange County Trial Lawyers’ Charities

Aitken Aitken Cohn is a proud supporter of the Keith More Charity Roast as part of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Charities. In 2022, Wylie Aitken roasted fellow plaintiff lawyer, Keith More, at the charity event, raising more than $70,000.

Project Youth OC

Aitken Aitken Cohn’s Christopher Aitken partnered with Project Youth OC for its “Feed the Need” fundraiser. The fundraiser helps raise money to help families struggling to put food on the table by distributing holiday meals during Thanksgiving. Project Youth OC offers specialized services to help youth make positive and healthy life choices. For many of the children they serve, this involves giving them a second chance to get back on the right path. Chris Aitken serves on the board of Project Youth.

Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court

The Banyard Inn of Court is the Orange County California organization affiliated with the American Inns of Court, and is designed to improve the skills, professionalism and ethics of the bench and bar.

San Clemente Downtown Business Association

As the San Clemente Downtown Business Association Chair, Chris Aitken works with local business owners to enhance and promote our commercial district’s cultural and historic charm. Aitken Aitken Cohn is a proud sponsor of “Puttin on the Glitz!” an event hosted by the San Clemente Downtown Business Association. Puttin’ on the Glitz is a fun and festive evening of late-hours holiday shopping, carolers, sweet treats, street musicians, and community vendor booths offering fun for the whole family. The San Clemente Business Association is dedicated to enhancing and promoting Downtown San Clemente as the community’s historical, cultural, and thriving commercial heart.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Aitken Aitken Cohn proudly supports the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. As a nonprofit arts organization, the Segerstrom Center relies on the support of the community to provide the very best performances on their stages, as well as fund exceptional education and community programs.

The Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County

AAC is a consistent supporter of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County which is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to empowering Orange County youth to be active, responsible citizens through participation in high-quality, interactive civic and law-related education programs.

The Maui Food Bank

Wylie Aitken and Casey Johnson participated in the Fairmont Kea Lani’s 8 th Annual Tree of Hope Campaign supporting The Maui Food Bank, which serves as the primary safety net for hunger relief on the island by providing safe and nutritious food to anyone in Maui County who is at risk of going hungry. Our firm also recognized the efforts of Casey’s husband, Joe Moreno, who co-chaired the Consumer Attorneys of California’s Tree of Hope fundraiser, which raised $17,000 to help combat hunger in Maui.

The Riverside County Bar Association; Christmas Elves Program

AAC is a proud supporter of the Riverside County Bar Association, which offers an arena in which to resolve problems that impact the justice system and attorneys who are practicing in Riverside County. Firm partner Megan Demshki, who was elected onto the Board of Directors, is also a part of the Riverside County Bar Association’s Elves Program, which was established in 2002 to assist needy families in Riverside County during the holidays. As a “Shopping Elf”, Megan and her family gathered gifts as part of the Christmas “Wish List” from the children of the families adopted by the program.

The Salvation Army USA

During the height of the pandemic, Aitken Aitken Cohn partnered with The Salvation Army USA to help the homeless in Orange County. During the holiday season, AAC held a donation drive to collect any unwanted clothes and other items to donate to those who need it the most every day of the year.

WISEPlace

Aitken Aitken Cohn proudly supports WISEPlace, the only Orange County-based nonprofit leading the effort to end homelessness for unaccompanied women by providing them with safe shelter, counseling, mental health services, and employment assistance to help rebuild their lives.

Association of Legal Administrators Orange County Chapter

Firm administrator Deborah L. Miller was recently sworn in as President-Elect of the Orange County Chapter, Association of Legal Administrators. OC-ALA’s chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) offers professional development, education, and networking opportunities to Legal Administrators in the Orange County area.

Consumer of Attorneys of California

Aitken Aitken Cohn Partner Casey Johnson is the Third Vice President of the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and has been on the CAOC Board since 2014 and served on the Executive Committee since 2016. Darren Aitken has served on the Board of Directors since 2009 and has been chairing the webinar subcommittee for many years.

Janet Goeske Foundation

Our firm is committed to strengthening our community through volunteer work. AAC’s Megan Demshki is an advocate for the elderly through her role as Immediate Past Chair of Janet
Goeske Foundation & Senior Center. The Janet Goeske Foundation is committed to enriching the quality of life of those 50 & older in the community they serve while maintaining the highest level of advocacy and providing health & wellness programs.

Riverside Chambers of Commerce Magnolia Business Counsel

Aitken Aitken Cohn’s Megan Demshki is a proud Board Member of the Riverside Chambers of Commerce Magnolia Business Counsel. The Business Council is a volunteer organization, comprised of Chamber members which provides a channel for its members to be involved in solving problems, discussing issues, and implementing special projects and events for the benefit of the area being served.

Riverside County Bar Association

Aitken Aitken Cohn partner Megan Demshki was recently elected to the 2022-2023 Board of Directors of the Riverside County Bar Association, appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer. She is also a member of the RCBA’s Steering Committee. Our firm also supports the RCBA’s Project Graduate program, which works in collaboration with the Riverside Superior Court and Riverside County’s Department of Public Social Services to assist foster youth to graduate high school, to continue their education beyond high school, and to plan for a successful future.

San Juan Capistrano; Mission Preservation Foundation

Firm managing partner Darren Aitken was recently named to the Board of Directors of the Mission Preservation Foundation. The foundation raises money for the care and preservation of Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The Pick Group

Aitken Aitken Cohn supports community engagement and networking. AAC’s Megan Demshki is the Immediate Past President of The Pick Group of Young Professionals in Riverside in 2021. The nonprofit board includes a diverse network of young professionals interested in engaging and improving the community.

United Way’s End Homelessness OC

Ashleigh Aitken serves on the Leadership team of United Way’s End Homelessness OC, working to bring more resources to Orange County to combat homelessness and build housing.

Western Trial Lawyers Association

AAC’s Casey Johnson was recently sworn in as the President of the Western Trial Lawyers Association, an organization that sponsors two continuing legal education seminars each year that bring both classroom education and social gatherings designed to encourage the exchange of new litigation ideas and experience.