Diana Pugh Lytel

Diana Lytel has been recognized for her legal excellence by Super Lawyers® for nine consecutive years along with a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Rating, holding the highest "Preeminent 5.0/5.0" in her profession. As a seasoned attorney with considerable experience, clients have benefited from her impressive record of courtroom successes and the myriad of positive outcomes in trial, mediation, arbitration and professional liability matters. Ms. Lytel demonstrates industry leadership by holding executive officer and board of director positions with prominent law organizations, while also being appointed to chair several of the board committees.

Ms. Lytel's practice focus is general litigation for businesses and individuals, professional liability (conduct & regulatory), premises liability and commercial litigation. She has defended a wide variety of high-profile clients, including Fortunees, financial institutions, mutual funds and insurance companies. Ms. Lytel also has an active criminal defense practice and is recognized as a "Premier DUI Attorney" with advanced level training by the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys.

Ms. Lytel previously worked in Morgan Stanley's litigation department, served at top securities regulatory agencies and has held senior litigation roles with prestigious law firms recognized by Super Lawyers®, Best Lawyers in America and AV Rating. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she also minored in Anthropology. Ms. Lytel received her J.D. in 2006 from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Admitted to practice in the State of California, Ms. Lytel has experience in both federal and state courts.

Honors/Memberships/Service:

AV® Rated | Highest Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell®
Super Lawyers® | Top 5% Southern California | ​2020-2023
Super Lawyers® Rising Star | Top 2.5% Southern California | ​2015-2019
Top 50 Women Super Lawyers® | ​2019 Southern California "Up & Coming List"
Immediate Past President | Association Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC) 2021 I Cover Verdict Magazine
Board of Director | California Defense Counsel
President | Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Foundation (Board of Director since 2018)
Vice President | Santa Barbara Women Lawyers ​(Board of Director since 2018) ​
Speaker & Presenter | ASCDC 2022 Annual Seminar, Diversity and Inclusivity - Why It Matters
Speaker | Santa Barbara County Bar Association I Annual Bench & Bar Conference 2022
Speaker | Los Angeles Superior Court (LASC) Fast Track Personal Injury Bench Trial Program 2021
Speaker, College & University I UCSB & Santa Barbara College of Law (2022)
Co-Chair I Cover Verdict Magazine I 2022 Annual Seminar Committee I ASCDC
Santa Barbara County Mock Trial Competition | 2022 Mock Court Judge & 2015-2021 Team Competition Scorer
Courtroom Judge for Teen Court Program | Santa Barbara I 2017-2022
Member LACBA | President's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women in the Legal Profession
Cover of Verdict Magazine "Young Guns: Stars of the Wild West," including a multi-page feature (12/17)
DRI Exceptional Performance Citation "for having supported and improved the standards and education of the defense bar, and for having contributed to the improvement of the administration of justice in the public interest" (2022)
President's Award 2017 Recipient | ASCDC
Pacific Coast Business Times I 2020 Who's Who in Professional Services
DRI Civil Litigation Defense Organization Member I 2016-2020 Vice-Chair Membership Committee
2015-2017 Co-Chair General Premises Liability Committee | ASCDCC
2015-2017 Co-Chair Diversity Committee | ASCDC
Member I California Women Lawyers (CWL)
Member & Former Treasurer I Santa Barbara Defenders
Latina Lawyers Bar Association
Santa Barbara County Bar Association