About
Estelle & Kennedy, A Professional Law Corporation is a full-service law firm committed to providing exceptional legal service, superior skill, tireless tenacity, and integrity beyond reproach.
The above mission statement encapsulates and summarizes the high professional standard maintained by attorneys, Michael L. Kennedy, Brandy Estelle, and all Estelle & Kennedy, A Professional Law Corporation, staff. Clients frequently express their pleasure and satisfaction with their accessibility, professionalism and results. Estelle & Kennedy, A Professional Law Corporation believes that every client is important and every case deserves priority treatment. Whether the client’s case involves family law, civil litigation (contracts, nuisance), water & mineral rights, easements & right of ways, labor/employment law, State Personnel Board action/adverse action, administrative law proceedings, immigration law, business law, entertainment contracts and disputes, criminal defense, estate planning (trusts/wills), conservatorship/guardianship, probate, or State and Federal appeals, Estelle & Kennedy, A Professional Law Corporation provides superior service while always placing the client’s interest first.
Partners/Shareholders
Attorney Michael L. Kennedy, a seasoned litigator, embodies a wide range of experience that, coupled with keen legal knowledge and unparalleled skill, provides him a significant advantage achieving positive results for his clients. His diverse background includes both public and private sector employment; eight years of employment as a peace officer for the California Youth Authority; corporate ownership of a retail store chain and manufacturer of nationally known products. In 2001, Michael L. Kennedy founded Child Support Liberation, Inc., a powerful father’s rights paralegal firm dedicated to assisting fathers achieve equity through the courts on issues of child custody, visitation, paternity, and support. Michael L. Kennedy pioneered this effort throughout San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties.
As a civil litigator, Michael Kennedy has successfully represented clients in a myriad of cases including personal injury, breach of contract, conversion, wrongful termination, wage & hour claims, unlawful detainer/eviction proceedings, conservatorship, civil and family law restraining orders.
Michael L. Kennedy’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California – Riverside, and a Juris Doctor degree from Newport University College of Law. His education and diverse experience helped shape his view of justice and uniquely qualifies him to provide strong and effective client representation in the areas of civil litigation, employment law, contracts, family law, wills and trust, administrative proceedings (including Skelly hearings) and state appeals.
In addition to his professional duties and responsibilities, Michael L. Kennedy currently serves on several boards including Board of Trustees for San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association (SBCERA), Chairman of SBCERA Audit Committee, Board of Directors for Lincoln Club of San Bernardino County, and Board of Advisors for La Verne University College of Law. Michael L. Kennedy formerly served on the Dignity Health Foundation Board and as general counsel for the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce. He is a current member of Hillside Community Church in Rancho Cucamonga.
Attorney Brandy Estelle, also embodies a wide-range of experience that, coupled with keen legal knowledge and unparalleled skill, gives her a significant advantage in achieving results for her clients as well. Her extensive background in the practice of law includes over nineteen years of legal work in both public law and private practice. Her extensive background in real estate includes over sixteen years as a real estate broker.
Brandy Estelle’s academic background includes undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Rhetoric from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Her education from these prestigious universities, followed by years of private practice legal work, coupled with her diverse experience in public service with Public Counsel, the Western Law Center for Disability Rights, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, has also helped shape her view of justice and uniquely qualifies her to provide strong client representation in the areas of transactions, real estate (including easements and right of ways), family law, criminal defense, probate, estate planning, civil litigation, contracts law, landlord/tenant relations, entertainment, business law, and state and federal court appeals.
In 2001, Attorney Estelle was admitted to the State Bar of California and to practice in the United States District Court, Central District of California. She later gained admission into the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, Second Appellate District, and in April 2008, Attorney Estelle was duly admitted as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the United States.
She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Loyola Law School Board of Governors, as supervisor of the Helen Willis Legal Eagles Free Legal Clinic, and as a leadership council member of the LMU Black Alumni Chapter. Brandy values her relationships with her many mentees and enjoys participating in the St. Francis Center Attorneys For Others feed the homeless program and other volunteer work.
Associate Attorneys
Attorney Paul Suppa practices in the areas of contract law, real estate, civil litigation and civil rights, corporate formation and business development, criminal defense, entertainment, family law and estate planning. A professional negotiator and advocate for people in crisis, Mr. Suppa was admitted to practice law in California in 2000. He earned his Juris Doctorate as a Merit Scholar from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1999. As a member of the Psi Chi National Honors Society, he earned his BA in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in ’95 where he served as the Associated Student Body President of LMU. As a student activist and Public Information Officer for the American Red Cross, Mr. Suppa was the recipient of the Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and Sister Raymound McKay Service and Leadership Awards.
After admission to the State Bar, Attorney Suppa served as Legal Administrator for Universal Pictures, Inc. from 2000 to 2002, before becoming a Vice President of LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company from 2002 to 2007, where he taught investment property real estate tax law to other attorneys and CPAs. The following decade by age 46, Attorney Suppa appeared on misdemeanor and felony criminal cases throughout California. As a child advocate, he has practiced in the juvenile and family court systems.
Most recently, in the civil litigation arena, Attorney Suppa successfully represented over twenty (20) families against Pacific Gas and Electric in connection with the devastating 2018 Campfire in Paradise, California. Over two years of work culminated in a $13.5 billion settlement against PG&E, resulting in a substantial recovery for his clients.
Attorney Suppa now proudly joins Estelle & Kennedy, A Professional Law Corporation to head their third California office in Orange County at the Mission Viejo location. He remains a committed advocate for people in crisis and always seeks to negotiate in good faith on behalf of his clients in his fields of practice, providing value and seeking justice.
Stephen (Steve) Shaw is an attorney with the utmost honesty and integrity and more than 26 years’ experience in thousands of transactional and civil litigation matters, involving contracts, real estate, business, intellectual property, general and professional liability, securities, cyber law, and many other areas. He is particularly adept at getting to the heart of the issues in any contract or transaction and any potential or pending disputes of all kinds. He has an excellent track record of success in civil litigation, especially law and motion hearings, civil jury and bench trials, and appeals. He has U.S. District Court certifications in all Districts of California.
Mr. Shaw has maintained a track record of success of providing top notch legal solutions as in-house counsel for companies (including many private real estate and business investors), for numerous individual clients, and for law firms. He has strategically resolved a wide variety of issues, and has reviewed, analyzed, negotiated and drafted various contracts. He has enjoyed excellent results for all of his many clients.
Mr. Shaw graduated with honors from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor Of Art degree in English and Motion Picture Television in 1987. After working for entertainment and construction businesses, he attended law school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. While in law school, Mr. Shaw continued working and helping businesses, law firms, and the community on a part time basis. He obtained a Juris Doctor degree in May 1995, and then passed the California Bar exam in July of 1995.
Transactions: Mr. Shaw has analyzed, negotiated and drafted various contracts and actively solved an array of problems. His extensive and successful litigation background has also contributed to his problem solving skills where he has provided strategic and creative solutions. Very recently, as in house counsel, Mr. Shaw saved over $4.5 million dollars in liability by revising and renegotiating company contracts to avoid such problems in the future.
Litigation: Mr. Shaw successfully represented companies and individual clients in defense and prosecution of all kinds of claims in litigation throughout California. He has successfully litigated countless cases through dispositive motions and trials. For instance, he prevailed in defense of claims of over $7.2 million dollars. Also, he successfully defended claims in a 6-week bench trial, saving over $500,000.00, and won a settled judgment of $600,000.00 in complex class-action lawsuit with respect to a combination of both real estate and business issues and which caused the national real estate business to change its practices for the benefit of everyone in the U.S. He also prevailed on behalf of real estate and business clients in a myriad of other cases, including winning a defense verdict in a 5-week civil jury trial where plaintiffs were claiming over $1.3 million dollars. In 2020, he obtained a large settlement of complex business litigation involving one of the world’s largest financial services companies in the payments industry (serving key shopping and news networks (such as USA Today, ESPN, etc.)
He has prevailed on several appeals, utilizing his comprehensive approach to the main issues of fact and law. Furthermore, he successfully represented clients in anti-SLAPP motions.
Of course, many cases or potential litigation can and should be resolved as quickly, efficiently, and intelligently as possible. That is why at every opportunity he diligently works toward a resolution of the case, and prides himself in having resolved many legal disputes.
At UCLA, he not only excelled in academics but also wrote for the Daily Bruin, and competed against California Universities as a member of the UCLA surf and ski teams.
Hobbies: Surfing, skiing, beach volleyball, basketball, baseball, football, tennis (and many other sports), horticulture, movies, videos, photography, and novels.
Attorney Jacob Hedtke is a diligent, proactive, and creative problem-solving advocate. Jacob strives to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients, and exemplifies a service-oriented, client-first mentality. He has extensive estate planning, probate, trust administration, family law, and general civil litigation experience.
Jacob is admitted to practice in California, Virginia, and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Jacob graduated cum laude with a double major in Physics and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. He earned his Juris Doctor from George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School in Arlington, Virginia. At George Mason, Jacob held internships at Legal Services of Northern Virginia, assisting with representation of low-income and elder law clients.
Anya Zabelina-Harper was born and raised in Russia and Ukraine. Received the undergraduate degree in science and economics. She has more than 17 years of experience in real estate matters. She graduated from Glendale University College of Law. Her legal expertise extends to civil litigations, real estate and business matters, family law, and estate planning. She is bilingual and speaks English and Russian.
Attorney Mando Macayaon is a California-licensed attorney authorized to practice before the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Federal District Courts.
Attorney Mando Macayaon graduated from Santa Ana College with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and from California State University of Fullerton with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications. Attorney Macayaon obtained his Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law where he served as the Student Bar Association President and was a leading member of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Attorney Macayaon served the community as a Registered Nurse where he developed an intimate understanding of the healthcare process in a diversity of settings, including the traditional hospital setting, extended acute care, home health, nursing homes, critical care, mental health facilities and in the emergency room. Attorney Macayaon’s healthcare background has been indispensable in zealously representing businesses and individuals alike in litigation, negotiation, contracts and estate planning.
Attorney Mando Macayaon has nearly twenty years of experience in the practice of estate planning, family law, contracts, corporate formation and business development, civil litigation, bankruptcy and immigration law.
When he is not in the office or in court, Attorney Macayaon volunteers with his favorite faith-based non-profit organizations and spends time rediscovering life with his wife Gigi, their children Marc and Bernadette, and their canine kids Koda, Baby Doggy, and Lola. Attorney Macayaon speaks fluent Tagalog and conversational Spanish.
Ernesto Ernesto was born in Mexico, and he is a native Spanish Speaker. He immigrated to the United States as a young child and is first generation to go to College and Law School. He was mostly raised in Bakersfield, CA. He attended and graduated from California State University, Bakersfield in 2013, with a Major in Political Science. He also attended and graduated ABA-Paralegal Studies at UC San Diego in San Diego, CA in 2013.
In 2014, Ernesto was a volunteer for San Diego non-profit organization who provides no cost and low cost legal and related services for immigrants and refugees, mainly assisting pro-bono attorneys draft Citizenship Applications and “DACA” renewals for low-income individuals.
He attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2015 and Graduated Cum Laude in 2018. During his tenure in law school, he was a member of many organizations, including the immigration law society, criminal law society, Sexual & Domestic Violence Law Society, and La Raza Student Organization. Ernesto passed the California State Bar in October 2020.
He obtained a diverse experience in many areas of law including immigration law (Family and Business), family law, criminal defense, unlawful detainers (Tenant and Landlord), and civil litigation (contract disputes, property disputes/partitions, fraud cases).
On his free time, Ernesto also serves as a Catholic Catechist to Youth Groups in San Diego County.
Support Management Staff
Lupe Solano has worked for Estelle & Kennedy, A Professional Law Corporation, since 2012. Her current job classification is Operations Manager. She previously held paralegal and billing specialist positions at Estelle & Kennedy. As our Operations manager, she focuses on every aspect of operations to improve our day-to-day operations to enhance customer service and the overall client experience.
Educationally, she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in criminal justice and an Associate of Arts Degree in paralegal studies.
In addition to work, she enjoys a good game of baseball preferably if it’s the Dodgers. She is also a proud mother of three and a pup mom to two.
Arlene has an Associates of Science in Paralegal Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
Arlene started her career as a Paralegal at a document preparation office helping those in need who could not afford an attorney. In November of 2016, she started working with Attorney Kennedy at Child Support Liberation helping those in need.She has since followed him to ESTELLE & KENNEDY, A Professional Law Corporation.
Arlene is experienced and knowledgeable in many areas of law including, family law, civil litigation, probate, employment, business and estate planning.With her diverse knowledge she ensures our clients receive the best services possible.She works hard for our clients and helps them through their legal issues.
Arlene is a devoted wife and mother of (3) three.She is currently a girl scout leader trying to educate and promote our youth to do great things.
Support Staff
Anna Melikyan is the Office Manager/Paralegal at the Los Angeles branch of Estelle & Kennedy, A Professional Law Corporation. With 15 years of experience in the legal field ranging from legal assistant, office manager and paralegal, Ms. Melikyan is responsible for facilitating the firm’s daily needs allowing for a seamless collaboration within the legal team. She oversees new client engagements, organizes the master calendar, assists with the firm’s billing/payments, prepares legal documents and supervises new employee training. Anna has been with the firm since 2012.
In 2010, Ms. Melikyan graduated from California State University of Northridge with a B.S. She later attended the UCLA Paralegal Training Program and received her Paralegal Certificate with ABA approval in 2012. Her work is concentrated on Family Law, Civil, Business Organization, Estate Planning, and Probate
Deanna is a Paralegal with Estelle & Kennedy Upland office. Since completing the Paralegal Studies Program at Rio Hondo College, Deanna has devoted over 25 years of experience to working in the Family Law field. She is experienced in all facets of family law litigation, including, high asset cases, child custody, adoptions, contempt, and modification actions, assisting in court during hearings and trials. Additionally, Deanna has attended legal training seminars to increase her expertise. Deanna enjoys working with clients to help them through their cases.
Deanna is married to her husband Edgar of 25 years and has two sons and one granddaughter. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, and watching football in Las Vegas.
Billing Specialist
Deyanira Flores (Billing Specialist) attended South Coast College of Court Reporting from 2005-2009, where she studied the art of stenography, a passion of hers since she was a young child. Ms. Flores has over 14 years of experience in Accounts Receivables and Billing and has a strong passion and interest in all areas of Law. She strives to provide a positive and helpful service to both clients and the Estelle & Kennedy team. She is a proud and devoted mother of 3 children. In her spare time, she devotes her time to volunteer with nonprofit organizations, is a leader in a health and wellness community through Arbonne, a nonprofit organization which focuses on the mental health and well-being of our youth, and continues to build and make lasting memories with her 2 grown sons and young daughter.
Receptionists
Brianna Pena is the telephone receptionist for all three of Estelle & Kennedy’s office locations and the friendly face you see at the front of our Upland office. With six years of experience working in a law firm environment, Brianna enjoys greeting our clients with a warm smile and excellent service. When she is not working, she spends her time baking and with her adorable dog.
Christine Cabrera An undergraduate student at Chaffey Community College in the process of completing the Pathway to Law School Program and the Cal Law Scholars Program. Participated in Student Government as the Director of Communications in Spring 2020. Began an Internship at Estelle & Kennedy A Professional Law Corporation in the Summer of 2020. Recently accepted to participate in the Pre-Law Winter Institute at Chapman University for January 2021.
Previously served in missions work with a nonprofit organization that assisted communities in southeast Asia.
Graduated from Calvary Chapel Golden Springs Bible College in 2017 with an Associates in Theology.
Previous experience working alongside Human Resources as a student helper with the Alta Loma School District and experience as a Recreation Leader for the Jane Penny LINK Program for homebound seniors at the James L. Brulte Senior Center.
Kayley Reynel is the telephone receptionist for all four of Estelle & Kennedy’s office locations and the friendly face you see at the front of our Upland office welcoming visitors and answering phone calls. The responsibilities she holds include scheduling appointments and managing mail and deliveries. She warmly greets and guides potential clients, clients, and guests. Kayley loves to spend her personal time reading, taking care of her pup Stitch and hanging out with her loved ones when she is not working.
Paralegal
Brent W. Fode, Paralegal at the Los Angeles Office of Estelle & Kennedy.
Mr. Fode, a graduate of California Polytechnic University at San Lui Obispo, California with a B.A. in Political Science graduating with Honors who Majored in Pre-Law with a Minor in Public Administration. He interend and theyn worked for yhe San Luis Obispo Coounty Counsel under Jac Crawford. Brent attended California Western School of Law in San Diego obtaining an Honor’s instructorship in legal Research, Wrinting and Oral Advocacy booking that First Year Program. He worked mentoring First Year Students for the next two years making several long-term relationships with attorneys al over America and beyond. He worked as Law Clerk for the City of Palmdale City Attorney’s Office under Angel Pat Jones in the 1990s and carries with him 25_ years of legal experience in family law, municipal law, immigration, landlord-tenant law, bankruptcy, civil probate and owned a document preparation legal support business for several years in Inglewood, California called LAW P.A.L.S. [Professional Alternative Legal Support] services serving that community who he feels needs more businesses leveling the playing field for some of the City’s residents often providing pro bono services to those who cannot afford legal assistance and counseling.
Mr. Fode lives with his mini-dobi/jack-russell mix dog named ‘Jac’ in Downtown Los Angeles and loves this City, State, and the United States of America.
Evita began working in Family Law in 2008 at her family’s firm. Her immediate family works in different fields of law and working with them gave her experience in other matters that often influenced the course of the cases she managed such as bankruptcy, unlawful detainers, real estate, immigration, civil and estate planning matters.
She is bilingual in Spanish and that has helped her dedicate herself to the Latino community close to the Mexican border. She prides herself on assisting her clients in speaking up for themselves and seeing the children involved reach milestones beyond the difficult situations her cases may bring. She has experience in high volume firms all over San Diego dealing with high profile and complicated domestic issues.
She studied at Southwestern Community College and San Diego City College where she earned her associate in psychology, sociology, anthropology and studied Spanish abroad in Spain and Argentina. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors training horses and teaching painting.