VM Attorneys Selected to the 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Star List
Van Dermyden Makus is proud to announce that Senior Partners Eli Makus and Sue Ann Van Dermyden, along with Senior Attorney Investigator Mark Gabel, have been named to the 2025 California Super Lawyers list — a distinction awarded to only the top 5% of attorneys in the state.
In addition, Senior Attorney Investigator Kayleigh Birks has been selected to the 2025 California Rising Stars list, an honor given to just 2.5% of emerging lawyers in California. To qualify, candidates must be 40 years old or younger or have been practicing law for 10 years or less.
These recognitions by Super Lawyers, a prestigious rating service honoring outstanding attorneys across more than 70 practice areas, reflect each honoree’s exceptional professional achievement and high level of peer recognition. Selection is based on a patented multiphase process, including a statewide attorney survey, independent research, and peer evaluations.
The Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists are published nationally in Super Lawyers magazines, as well as in leading regional publications, and highlight attorneys who exemplify excellence in the legal profession.
For more information about Super Lawyers, go to SuperLawyers.com
About Mark Gabel
Mark Gabel, JD, AWI-CH, is a Senior Attorney Investigator with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. His practice focuses on conducting workplace and Title IX campus investigations. Mark is a thorough and thoughtful workplace investigator who prioritizes accurate and actionable findings. He has investigated a wide range of serious and sensitive legal and business issues, including matters involving C-suite executives, elected officials, and department heads, as well as matters receiving media attention. Mark’s investigation clients have included large technology companies and startups, municipal governments, national nonprofits, universities, and closely-held family businesses, among others. He is experienced with matters involving public safety personnel, including police officers, firefighters, and probation officers, and is familiar with the unique issues involved in public safety investigations.
About Eli Makus
Eli Makus, JD, AWI-CH, is a Senior Partner of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and Firm Managing Partner. Eli has focused on helping resolve employment disputes throughout his legal career. After litigating disputes for many years and working as in-house employment counsel, his practice now focuses on conducting impartial investigations. Eli conducts and manages neutral, unbiased investigations on complex and sensitive matters. He is experienced in all areas of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disability accommodations, protected leaves of absence, whistleblower claims, privacy, wage-hour compliance, and reorganizations.
About Sue Ann Van Dermyden
Sue Ann Van Dermyden, JD, AWI-CH, is a founding and senior partner of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. She has been an employment litigator since 1993 and has focused her practice on conducting workplace and Title IX investigations since 2006. Sue Ann is known as a trailblazer and thought leader in this field, building and leading one of the largest teams of attorneys nationwide dedicated solely to conducting workplace investigations. Through her experience as an attorney, investigator, author, speaker, professor, entrepreneur and student of investigations, Sue Ann is a sought-after speaker and expert witness. She has expertise in, and extensive involvement with, formulating industry standards.
About Kayleigh Birks
Kayleigh Birks, AWI-CH, is a Senior Attorney Investigator with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. Her practice focuses on conducting workplace and Title IX campus investigations. Kayleigh has handled numerous complex investigations involving a variety of allegations. She regularly investigates claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other misconduct. She is skilled in investigating intricate allegations, including complaints involving multiple sets of allegations, multiple parties, athletic teams, and high-level executives and administrators. Kayleigh conducts workplace and campus investigations in both the private and public sectors.
