Appointment deepens the relationship between Rooted Owl and Pawsible Ventures following the pet health brand’s selection for Pawsible’s inaugural cohort earlier this year

New York, NY, October 10, 2026

Rooted Owl, a science-backed pet supplement brand built to standards comparable to premium human supplementation, today announced that Alex Chieng, Co-Founder of Pawsible Ventures, has joined the company’s Advisory Board.

The appointment builds on an existing relationship between Chieng and Rooted Owl. Earlier this year, Rooted Owl was selected as one of eight companies in Pawsible Ventures’ inaugural cohort, chosen from hundreds of applicants around the world. The cohort brought together companies working across veterinary infrastructure, diagnostics, AI-enabled care, preventative health, and consumer wellness.

“Alex recognized early what we are building at Rooted Owl and the opportunity to raise the standard for pet supplementation,” said Karan Madan, Founder and CEO of Rooted Owl. “His experience across veterinary technology, pet health investing, and company building brings an important perspective as we scale the brand, expand our distribution, and continue investing in science and product innovation. We’re very pleased to welcome him to our Advisory Board.”

“We selected Rooted Owl for Pawsible’s inaugural cohort because the company represents where we believe the pet supplement category is heading — toward stronger science, standardized ingredients, rigorous manufacturing standards, and a veterinary-led approach to formulation,” said Alex Chieng. “I’m excited to deepen our relationship and work with Karan, Dr. Royal, and the broader Rooted Owl team as they enter their next stage of growth.”

Chieng is Co-Founder and CEO of Pawsible Ventures, a venture fund and studio focused on backing and building early-stage companies across animal health and pet care. Previously, he co-founded and led Vetsie, a veterinary telemedicine and AI platform, overseeing its expansion across Canada and the United States and its participation in the Mars Petcare-backed Leap Venture Studio program. He also advises companies across the animal health sector, helping founders refine their commercial strategies, build industry partnerships and navigate early-stage growth.

Rooted Owl’s Advisory Board

Chieng joins three existing Rooted Owl advisors whose experience spans veterinary medicine, animal welfare, consumer investing, and global brand building:

Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, CVA, CVNN, CIVTN, FACVBM — Senior Veterinary Advisor and Head of Nutrition. A nationally recognized integrative veterinarian, author, and formulator who leads the scientific development of Rooted Owl’s portfolio.

Nikki Ferraro — Founder of Much Love Animal Rescue, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit founded in 1999 that has placed more than 5,000 animals into loving homes. Ferraro brings extensive animal-welfare experience, grassroots advocacy, and a direct connection to the pet-parent community.

Dirk Donath — Managing Partner at L Catterton, focused on Latin America. Donath brings decades of experience in consumer investing, retail, and global brand building. L Catterton has an extensive track record in the pet category across pet food, veterinary services, retail, and consumer wellness, including investments in Petlove, PetVet Care Centers, JustFoodForDogs, Wellness Pet Food, Canidae, and Butternut Box. Prior to L Catterton, Donath led McKinsey’s Latin American Consumer Goods and Retail Practice and founded Farmacity, Argentina’s leading retail pharmacy chain.

“Our Advisory Board reflects the capabilities we believe will matter most in Rooted Owl’s next phase,” added Madan. “Dr. Royal brings clinical and nutritional expertise; Alex brings a builder and investor’s perspective on the future of pet health; Nikki keeps us closely connected to animal welfare and the pet-parent community; and Dirk brings decades of experience scaling consumer businesses globally. Together, they give us an exceptional range of perspectives as we continue to grow across North America and beyond.”

About Rooted Owl

Rooted Owl is a science-backed pet supplement brand focused on efficacy, formulation quality, and precise delivery. Its products are formulated with clinically studied ingredients and standardized extracts, manufactured in GMP-compliant facilities, and made without unnecessary fillers. Rooted Owl carries the NASC Quality Seal and was selected for Pawsible Ventures’ inaugural cohort in April 2026 from hundreds of global applicants.

Rooted Owl is currently sold through Chewy, Amazon, PetSmart Online, Petco Mexico (150 stores), Tomlinson’s Feed (Texas), and VSI, with VSI distribution scaling to 2,000 stores in 2027. For more information, visit rootedowl.com.

About Pawsible Ventures

Pawsible Ventures is a venture fund and studio dedicated to backing and co-building the next generation of animal-health and wellness companies. Co-founded by Shafin Diamond Tejani and Alex Chieng and backed by Victory Square Technologies, Pawsible combines capital, industry expertise, and commercialization support to help founders build and scale companies across the global pet-health ecosystem.

Media Contact Details
Florencia Nijensohn Head of Marketing & Communications, Rooted Owl
Email: Send Email

Tim Scott earns San Diego Super Lawyers recognition for the 15th year; Marcus Bourassa named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for the 5th year, as the firm behind an $85 million civil rights verdict and record wrongful-death settlement against San Diego County continues to set the standard

San Diego, CA

McKenzie Scott PC, the San Diego civil rights and criminal defense law firm known for record-setting results against government agencies, today announced that two of its trial attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers. Founding partner Tim Scott has been selected to the 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers list, marking his 15th year receiving the honor, and trial attorney Marcus Bourassa has been selected to the 2027 San Diego Rising Stars list, marking his 5th year of recognition.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service, selects attorneys through a patented process that combines peer nominations, independent research, and evaluation of professional accomplishments. No more than 5% of attorneys nationwide are named to a regional Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are named to a regional Rising Stars list, which recognizes outstanding lawyers who are 40 or younger or have been in practice 10 years or less. Both attorneys will be featured in the San Diego Super Lawyers magazine, scheduled for publication on March 18, 2027.

Together, the two selections reflect the depth of a trial team that has secured some of the largest police misconduct, jail death, and wrongful death results in California history while maintaining one of the region’s most active federal criminal defense trial practices.

Tim Scott: 15 Years as a San Diego Super Lawyer

A graduate of Stanford Law School, San Diego civil rights attorney Tim Scott has defended people’s constitutional rights in the courtroom for more than 20 years. He began his career as a trial attorney with Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. before co-founding McKenzie Scott PC with Michele Akemi McKenzie. Peers have consistently recognized him as a San Diego Super Lawyer and Southern California Super Lawyer in both trial-court and appellate categories.

Scott served as lead trial counsel in K.J.P. v. County of San Diego, which produced an $85 million verdict, at the time the largest wrongful-death verdict against police in American history. As a criminal defense lawyer, he has approximately 80 civil and criminal jury trials to his credit, with acquittals, mistrials, or reversals on appeal in approximately three-quarters of his criminal cases. His Ninth Circuit appellate record includes reversals in securities fraud, wire fraud, RICO, bank robbery, and identity theft cases, and extensive litigation surrounding Fourth Amendment issues.

Scott is also the co-author, with retired federal district judge Larry A. Burns, of The Ninth Circuit Criminal Handbook (LexisNexis/Matthew Bender), a criminal law restatement relied on by practitioners and judges throughout the Ninth Circuit. The San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association named him its 2016 Trial Lawyer of the Year.

Marcus Bourassa: 5 Years as a Super Lawyers Rising Star

Trial attorney Marcus Bourassa holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School. Between his studies, he served as an intelligence officer in the United States Marine Corps, deploying to Afghanistan. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Christina A. Snyder of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, then joined the federal defender’s office in San Diego, where he tried numerous cases to verdict, argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and earned numerous federal felony dismissals.

Bourassa practices across the firm’s civil rights and federal criminal defense groups. He served as co-counsel in the Brian Umana police shooting case, which produced the largest police wrongful death settlement in National City history, and is admitted to practice in California state and federal courts and the Ninth Circuit.

A Record of Landmark Civil Rights Results

The recognition follows a series of record-setting case results that have made McKenzie Scott PC one of the most recognized civil rights law firms in California. In each case below, the firm took on a government agency over a preventable death and secured the largest result of its kind for the jurisdiction involved.

$85 Million Verdict: K.J.P. v. County of San Diego (Lucky Phounsy)

In 2022, a jury awarded $85 million to the family of Lucky Phounsy after finding San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies responsible for his death. Phounsy called 911 in 2015 during a mental health crisis; deputies tased, struck, and hogtied him before restraining him face down in an ambulance, where his heart stopped. Tim Scott tried the case to verdict with co-counsel Mark F. Fleming. At the time, it was the largest police death verdict in U.S. history.

$16 Million Settlement: Estate of Hayden Schuck v. County of San Diego

In October 2025, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a $16 million settlement for the family of 22-year-old William Hayden Schuck, who died of dehydration and untreated drug withdrawal after six days in San Diego Central Jail. It is the largest wrongful death settlement against San Diego County in its history and resulted in mandatory deputy training reforms on recognizing mental illness and substance withdrawal. Tim Scott was lead counsel on the McKenzie Scott trial team that represented the Schuck family. Learn more about the firm’s jail injury and in-custody death practice.

$1 Million Settlement: The Brian Umana Case, National City

In February 2025, the National City Council approved a $1 million settlement, reportedly the largest police wrongful death payment in the city’s history, over the 2021 shooting death of Brian Umana, a 28-year-old father shot at least ten times by officers during a mental health crisis. Tim Scott and Marcus Bourassa served as co-counsel alongside civil rights attorney Emily Howe of the Law Offices of Emily E. Howe.

Federal Criminal Defense Trial Experience

McKenzie Scott PC’s federal criminal defense practice is built largely from alumni of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., the office appointed to represent people accused of federal crimes in the Southern District of California, one of the busiest federal criminal dockets in the country. Across more than 80 jury trials, approximately three-quarters of the firm’s criminal trials have resulted in acquittals, hung juries, or success on appeal.

The firm defends clients in federal and state investigations and prosecutions, including:

• White-collar crimes, including wire, mail, bank, and securities fraud
• Money laundering and honest services fraud
• Insurance fraud and health care fraud
• Border arrests, drug trafficking, and immigration offenses
• Firearms, RICO, theft of trade secrets, and cybercrime charges
• Federal appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Who at McKenzie Scott PC was selected to 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers?

Founding partner Tim Scott was selected to the 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers list, his 15th year of Super Lawyers recognition. Trial attorney Marcus Bourassa was selected to the 2027 San Diego Rising Stars list, his 5th year of recognition.

What is the difference between Super Lawyers and Rising Stars?

Super Lawyers recognizes no more than 5% of attorneys in each region. Rising Stars recognizes no more than 2.5% of attorneys in each region who are 40 or younger or have practiced 10 years or less. Both lists are based on peer input, independent research, and professional achievement.

What is the largest wrongful death settlement against San Diego County?

The largest wrongful death settlement against San Diego County in its history is the $16 million settlement McKenzie Scott PC secured in 2025 for the family of Hayden Schuck, who died in San Diego Central Jail custody.

What was the largest police in-custody death verdict in the United States?

In 2022, a San Diego jury awarded $85 million to the family of Lucky Phounsy in K.J.P. v. County of San Diego. At the time, it was the largest police death verdict in American history. McKenzie Scott PC founding partner Tim Scott tried the case.

Does McKenzie Scott PC handle federal criminal defense cases?

Yes. McKenzie Scott PC is a San Diego federal criminal defense firm whose attorneys trained at Federal Defenders of San Diego. The firm handles white-collar crimes, insurance fraud, money laundering, border arrests, drug trafficking, and firearms cases, along with federal appeals in the Ninth Circuit.

How do I contact a San Diego civil rights or criminal defense attorney at McKenzie Scott PC?

Call McKenzie Scott PC at (619) 794-0451 or request a free case evaluation online. The firm’s office is located at 1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, California 92101.

About McKenzie Scott PC

Led by founding partners Michele Akemi McKenzie and Tim Scott and protecting civil rights and providing criminal defense since 2000, McKenzie Scott PC is a San Diego trial firm that fights for the little guy against the power of government and corporate money. The firm represents clients throughout Southern California in civil rights litigation, including police misconduct, jail injury and in-custody death, and police-involved dog shooting cases; criminal defense and federal criminal defense; and personal injury, wrongful death, and employment law matters. Meet the full team of trial attorneys, review featured cases and trial results, or see the firm in the news. Attorneys seeking to co-counsel may visit the attorney referrals page.

Media Contact Information

Jason Kitchen
McKenzie Scott PC
1350 Columbia Street, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92101
[email protected]
Phone: (619) 794-0451
Web: mckenziescott.com

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are selections made by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business.

LOS ANGELES, CA

Kelsie Kimberlin, a popular American Ukrainian singer and foundation director, traveled to Ukraine to film a movie chronicling her quest to find answers about the death of her 21-year-old cousin, Andrii Rachok, after he was killed by terrorists.  Kelsie spent a month in Ukraine, including all along the frontline, amidst drones and missile attacks, to seek absolution and forgiveness.   She realized that every Ukrainian has felt the pain of loss, but they remain committed to victory over the enemy.  She tells the stories of ordinary citizens who fight the demogorgon in their own way.  

Kelsie is the only international artist to be permitted to travel to the frontline to film a movie.  Her music videos about Ukraine have generated millions of YouTube views, and her songs have received global radio play and thousands of articles.  “Everyone needs to see my movie to understand the effect of the war on ordinary citizens,” said Kelsie.  “We all need to come together to defeat the terrorists.”

After the screenings of October 9th and 10th at 7:30 and October 11th at 3:20, Kelsie will answer questions from the audience about the film and Ukraine.  Tickets for the screenings are available here.  https://www.laemmle.com/film/last-message