Meet

From the PR Team — Michelle Wodynski, Esq. is the founder and managing attorney for MDS. She is highly-regarded in her field and among her peers, and has earned her reputation as a formidable and successful advocate, counselor, facilitator and professional listener.

Looking at her impressive 20-year legal career, it’s no surprise that she has been a competitive athlete her entire life. Michelle views the law as an intellectual sport and a true art form. She is a “big firm” trained lawyer — working for two prestigious international law firms, and later founded MDS Premier PC with strategic partnerships - nationally & internationally. She is an expert at cultivating and managing relationships.

Michelle has represented numerous Fortune 500 clients, Fortune 100, Global 500, high profile businesses, celebrities, athletes and a multitude of media and emerging growth companies.

Michelle is highly regarded and has been selected as a Super Lawyer for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 (Top 5%), Top 50 Lawyers in California (special recognition from the Top 100 Magazine), and Top 100 California Lawyers. Michelle was honored to be chosen as the featured women on the cover of Top 50 Women 2019.

She is a rare breed of lawyer, but equally accomplished as an athlete, philanthropist, spiritual warrior, speaker, mediator, and author, for starters. In her words, “Don’t put me in the traditional lawyer’s box!”  Michelle attributes her success to a Zen mindset, Texas sass and grit, an irrepressible sense of humor and pristine credentials.

In 2019, Michelle founded REAL TALK MEDIATION due to high demand for her skill set as a mediator, facilitator, settlement officer and her per se business-legal “talk therapy.” She recently helped client’s successfully settle numerous high-conflict disputes, including dozens of custody and divorce, paternity, and related matters. She has over 250 hours of mediation and negotiation training and recently completed the LASC Judicial Council training as a Temporary Judge in Los Angeles. She was certified as a mediator for the California Lawyers for the Arts in 2022 and currently serves as a volunteer mediator. She also is a court-appointed settlement officer with Resolve Law.

The former Division 1 college soccer player forged a fiercely competitive nature that has served her well as a litigator but also in a variety of sports she loves – boxing, skiing, surfing, scuba diving, and running marathons, to name a few. Michelle obtained a B.A. in Political Science/International Relations degree from Southern Methodist University and received a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude (Top 15%) from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. She also studied Art History from Loyola University in Rome, Italy for a year. She clerked for The Honorable Judith Retchin in the Superior Court of Washington DC during and after law school. She also has worked as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill.

In addition to her successful career, Ms. Wodynski is adamant about giving back to the community. In her spare time, Ms. Wodynski enjoys being with her daughter and lots of sports and outdoor activities, as well as traveling internationally.  She studies mind-body healing. She served as an Ambassador for the African Community and Conservation Foundation (ACCF), and frequently donates 25% of her time as attorney in pro bono matters for women and children in need in the family law arena.