LOS ANGELES — Arias Sanguinetti is proud to announce that partner Sahar Malek has been selected for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2026 Women of Influence: Attorneys recognition, an honor celebrating women attorneys whose leadership, professional accomplishments, and impact have helped shape the legal community in Los Angeles.
Malek’s practice focuses on sexual abuse, employment law and personal injury, work that has produced numerous six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts for her clients. Most notably, she played a key role in securing the historic $828 million settlement on behalf of 414 survivors of sexual abuse in Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention and foster care systems. This was one of the highest average per-plaintiff recoveries achieved in a sexual abuse case against a government entity, with an average recovery of $2 million per individual.
“We are incredibly proud to see Sahar recognized among such an accomplished group of women,” said Mike Arias, founding and managing partner of Arias Sanguinetti. “Her work on cases like the Los Angeles County juvenile detention settlement speaks for itself. She is a fearless advocate for clients who need it most, and this recognition is thoroughly well deserved.”
Her record of results is matched by her standing in the legal community. Malek was recently named a California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) by the Daily Journal in 2026 and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2024. She was also recognized among the Los Angeles Times’ Top Consumer Attorneys of Southern California in 2025 and was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence “Thriving in Their 40s” list that same year.
Having immigrated to the United States as a child, she brings firsthand understanding of the barriers and discrimination faced by many of the marginalized clients she represents, an empathy that shapes both her advocacy and her client relationships.
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“I am honored to be included among this year’s Women of Influence,” said Malek. “The cases that mean the most to me are the ones where people who have been failed by powerful institutions finally get justice. That is the work I show up for every day, and I am grateful to be part of a firm that shares that commitment.”
Beyond her litigation practice, Malek is deeply invested in the broader legal community. She serves on the boards of both the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), and is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ).
The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women of Influence: Attorneys recognition celebrates lawyers across the region who are leading significant matters, strengthening their firms, mentoring others, and contributing to the legal and civic communities in Los Angeles. Malek’s selection further cements Arias Sanguinetti’s standing among the city’s premier litigation firms and reflects the firm’s commitment to attorneys driving meaningful impact for clients and communities alike.
About Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team LLP
For more than three decades, Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team LLP has represented people navigating the challenges of complex civil litigation with expertise and compassion. The firm has grown into a nationally recognized plaintiffs’ law firm with more than 15 practice areas, including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, civil rights violations, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death cases. The firm’s trial lawyer team has received accolades from respected legal publications and associations for its outstanding work in landmark cases. With a record of securing over $2 billion in successful recoveries, the firm’s team tirelessly pursues justice, accountability, and results. For more information, visit www.aswtlawyers.com
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