Debra Opri has emerged as the most  famous and widely recognized and respected female litigation attorney in the 21st Century, both in the courtroom and on television, famous for her high profile media cases including the Anna Nicole Smith paternity case, the Michael Jackson molestation trial, the David Hasselhoff divorce battle, and the James Brown sexual harassment trial.  For twenty years, Opri has famously distinguished herself from many other media attorneys in that she actually litigates her own cases.   
      Debra Opri is a renowned legal analyst both nationally and internationally, pursued commentator of news magazines and is now working on a book on the rights of  parents and children in custody and visitation matters.   Debra Opri is the founder and partner of Opri & Associates, a law firm she started in 1989, and has long been considered to be on the frontline as a preeminent and vocal litigation attorney for more than two decades on behalf of  her clients and causes, who come from every walk of life, some famous, most not famous but rather regular working people who need someone to fight for them.  Opri’s expertise is drawn from a wealth of knowledge on diverse cases ranging from divorce, palimony, custody, domestic violence and paternity as well as a substantial collection of civil and criminal cases she has worked on.  Debra Opri also has and uses her training and natural ability to emphasize the importance of the ‘media’s perspective’ as a vital component in many of her clients’ cases. 
     Debra Opri was born in a small suburban town in New Jersey.  Her formative years were spent in the tri-state area where she shared a passion for the law and the entertainment industry.  Debra Opri earned her undergraduate degree at New York University in Film/Television and Drama, also taking courses in political science.  Debra Opri relocated from New York City to Los Angeles in the 1980's, where she attended Whittier College School of Law, was a member of Law Review, was published, and graduated with a Juris Doctorate.  Today, Debra Opri is licensed to practice in California, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.  The Los Angeles Times recently honored Debra as one of Los Angeles Women’s Leaders in the Law for 2010.
      Debra Opri has always believed that being a good lawyer consists of being savvy, realistic and rooted in the legal realities of each case.  And, in those cases which involve the presence of the media, Opri believes that a clear understanding of the power of the media is something that must exist and it's involvement handled such to benefit and protect her clients.
     While the majority of Debra Opri's clients are normal everyday people, Opri is highly regarded both as a leading female attorney in the media and in the courtroom, with her reputation for fighting for parents' and children's rights well known, including the Anna Nicole Smith paternity battle which Opri successfully fought and won,  when Opri secured the rights of the natural father to have custody of his child.  
      Debra Opri is the only television commentator today who is most famous for having worked on a great many high profile cases with some of the biggest names in the entertainment business. Her clients have included the parents of Michael Jackson,  Joe and Katharine Jackson, for representation of their parental interests during Jackson’s alleged child molestation;  Jermaine Jackson,  brother of Michael Jackson,  during his divorce proceedings.   Opri also agreed to step into an ongoing high profile custody fight between Pamela Hasselhoff and David Hasselhoff, and vigorously defended Pamela in her custody case.  As well, Opri represented the ex girlfriend and mother of David Caruso's two minor children in his paternity and palimony cases.  One of the world's most famous cases was the Anna Nicole Smith paternity battle, with Debra Opri fighting both nationally and overseas, to secure Larry Birkhead his rights as the natural parent of his daughter, Dannielynn, and which ended successfully, thanks to Debra Opri's long term commitment to her client and his child, and the battle to preserve a parent's rights.
     Opri came to national attention as the Godfather of Soul's, James Brown's, attorney when she successfully defended him in a California sexual harassment trial which Opri won after a long contentious courtroom battle via a jury trial verdict.   Part of her effective strategy for James Brown during this case was offering the jury - and media - a new perspective of the iconic singer, differentiating his personal and professional life while maintaining his innocence.  Again, Opri’s steadfast commitment and efforts to both her client and his cause,  resulted in a landmark victory.  It was, in fact, the first time James Brown had ever successfully challenged a sexual harassment allegation, and after Opri's victory, the Godfather of Soul's career - and reputation - was reborn.  
     The majority of Debra Opri’s cases extend outside the realm of celebrity and to the average citizen who is in need of a passionate advocate when the system is not working for them.   Opri is most well regarded for her passion in fighting for and protecting parents and children’s rights.  Some of her cases include: her work on behalf of a 14-year-old who was sexually assaulted by her teacher resulting in a conviction. She represented Tyrone Brooks’ family, the unarmed 19-year-old that was shot to death by San Bernardino police resulting in a civil settlement with the City of San Bernardino. Opri also successfully challenged - on behalf of seven whistleblowers - the largest foster care agency in California (International Foster Family Agency), uncovering abuse of millions in organizational funds that were illegally allocated for personal use, rather than for those foster children’s' needs.  Currently, Opri is fighting for a natural single mother's rights over her child and against a non parent battle for custody and visitation rights in Orange County, California.  Debra Opri continues to believe that 'the fight must continue as long as there are parents and children in need.'  
     Debra Opri resides in Santa Monica, California, and continues to practice law through her firm Opri & Associates in Beverly Hills, California.   Debra Opri is also a regular commentator and legal analyst on television appearing in both New York, and Los Angeles.  Debra is currently working on a book about parent and child rights in custody matters.