Nicole Lopez joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Apr. 23, 2026.

Lopez joins from Meta Platforms, where she was global director of youth safety policy and led global youth litigation strategy. At Orrick, she will advise clients on child safety and policy issues as part of the firm's Public Policy and Online Safety teams. Her work will focus on: (1) legal and regulatory compliance at the state, federal, and international levels; (2) advocacy for pro-competitive, innovation-friendly laws and regulations; (3) representation in investigations and inquiries before state attorneys general and federal agencies; and (4) strategy for high-stakes litigation and appeals.

At Meta, Lopez developed compliance strategy and product implementation across the company's apps. She oversaw youth safety and well-being policy and led a team shaping product strategy and launches, including Teen Accounts, 13+ content experiences, VR for users under 13, generative AI initiatives, and cross-platform well-being features. She testified before U.S. state legislatures and the European Parliament, and worked with lawmakers, regulators, and attorneys general in the U.S., EU, Middle East, and Asia.

Lopez also led Meta's global youth litigation strategy. Earlier, she spent eight years as a California prosecutor, handling joint state and federal investigations, trying more than 50 misdemeanor and felony cases, and prosecuting child abuse, exploitation, and endangerment. She began her career in private practice.

Marissa M. Grabowski joined Miller Barondess, LLP as an associate in Los Angeles.

Grabowski is an experienced trial attorney who has handled complex, high-stakes litigation at the intersection of science, regulation, and industry. Her multi-jurisdictional background enables her to anticipate regulatory developments shaping emerging markets across state and federal landscapes.

Julia M. Staudinger joined Miller Barondess, LLP as an associate in Los Angeles.

Staudinger is a litigator with experience representing clients across a range of employment, labor, and complex civil matters, including defending employers in single-plaintiff, class action, and PAGA cases.

Christopher Foster joined Jones Day as a partner in San Francisco.

Foster advises leading companies on a broad range of labor and employment matters, with a focus on traditional labor law, union organizing and decertification campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations and unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He protects brands and operations across industries, especially in technology, manufacturing, media and entertainment, and healthcare. In addition, Foster advises clients on labor and employment issues arising in corporate transactions and workforce restructurings.

Jason Galaif joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch LLP as a partner in Irvine. The move was April 20, 2026.

Jason advises high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners on private wealth planning, with a focus on tax-efficient estate planning, trust structuring, and succession strategies across industries including closely held businesses, real estate, and investment holdings. He brings nearly a decade of experience, along with an LLM in Taxation and experience as a certified public accountant (CPA), enabling him to develop sophisticated, tax-driven strategies that integrate legal, financial, and business considerations. His clients include entrepreneurs; private equity, hedge fund, and venture capital principals; real estate investors; business owners; and executives. He also works with trustees, executors, and beneficiaries on the administration of trusts and estates.

Jeffrey V. Rocha joined Knox Ricksen LLP as a counsel. The move was April 6, 2026.

Rocha has more than a decade of experience involving commercial and securities litigation matters, as well as complex, multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud qui tam actions. He has handled matters from initial pleadings through discovery and trial or settlement. Rocha also has experience advising businesses and their leaders on contract interpretation, fiduciary duties, governance disputes and statutory compliance. Before law school, he worked for a national brokerage firm as a series 7 and 63 licensed stockbroker. Rocha began his legal career as an associate with Knox Ricksen

Andrew A. Chan joined McGuireWoods LLP as a partner in San Francisco.

Chan guides clients through fund formation and structuring, sponsor liquidity transactions and sponsor-level economic planning. He also advises on tax considerations arising from M&A deals, credit facilities and a wide variety of other business transactions. In addition, he represents investors in connection with private investment funds.

Eurie Hwang joined Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP (CGS3) as an associate in San Diego. The move was April 16, 2026.

Hwang has a deep familiarity with both the litigation and transactional sides of commercial real estate law. Her practice includes title review, corporate governance and commercial leasing, as well as strategic advocacy and risk management in leasing matters across all asset classes.

Ronald Resch joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in Los Angeles.

Resch focuses his practice on the financial structuring of joint ventures and limited partnerships, applying a unique blend of entrepreneurial insight and corporate precision. He provides his clients with the consulting services they need to fully capitalize on emerging market opportunities.

David Gitman joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in Los Angeles.

Gitman focuses on federal income taxation and the tax aspects of high-value real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, private placements, syndications, joint ventures, and 1031 exchanges. He also advises on property tax issues related to transfers of interests in entities that own California real estate.

His practice covers the full lifecycle of business entities--from formation and operation to dissolution--with an emphasis on partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. He advises on structuring to address both immediate and long-term tax considerations.

Robert Barnes joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in Los Angeles.

Barnes handles trials and appeals in state and federal courts, as well as domestic and international arbitrations, administrative proceedings, and mediations. His work includes disputes among shareholders and partners in closely held companies and commercial matters involving trade secrets and unfair competition.

He has experience in real estate disputes arising from acquisitions, sales, development, leasing, and boundary issues. He also advises on labor and employment matters, including executive contracts and claims involving wrongful discharge, harassment, discrimination, and embezzlement, and has handled net profit and contract disputes in the entertainment industry.

Andrew V. Jablon joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in Los Angeles.

Jablon applies technical knowledge to complex legal matters, with experience securing seven-figure settlements and developing strategic approaches to high-profile cases. He focuses on practical, cost-conscious solutions to protect clients' interests in litigation and through ongoing counsel.

Sandra Khalili joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in Los Angeles.

Khalili represents high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients in matters across California, the United States, and international markets. She has experience with provisional remedies, including prejudgment attachments and writs of possession, as well as dispositive motions, using them to resolve matters efficiently.

Her work includes favorable verdicts, judgments, settlements, dismissals, and appellate outcomes, including published opinions. She also advises clients on pre-litigation strategy and alternative dispute resolution to address disputes efficiently.

Stacey Knox joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in Los Angeles.

Knox represents clients in state and federal courts through all phases of litigation, including arbitration, mediation, and trial. He has briefed and argued multiple matters before the California Courts of Appeal.

He has practiced at large law firms and has represented Fortune 500 companies in the pharmaceutical, energy, and insurance industries, as well as regional businesses, entertainers, athletes, and high-net-worth individuals.

Nicolas Ramniceanu joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in Los Angeles.

Ramniceanu guides clients through the complexities of transactional and real estate law. He specializes in structuring strategic joint ventures, partnerships, and syndications, as well as the full lifecycle of development projects, acquisitions, dispositions, and sophisticated financing and leasing arrangements. His practice extends beyond the real estate sector to provide general corporate counsel to various business enterprises, advising on organizational matters, sales and capital raises.

Michael C. Baum joined Greenspoon Marder as a counsel in Los Angeles.

Baum's practice serves clients across the sector, including fabric mills, printers, converters, importers, designers, manufacturers, factors, and national retail chains. He advises on both litigation and transactional matters, working with clients from startups to global companies across all stages of their operations.

Richard “Rick” S. Friedman joined Greenspoon Marder as a counsel in Los Angeles.

Friedman’s practice encompasses the full spectrum of sophisticated real estate vehicles, including joint ventures, syndications and cross-border transactions. Beyond traditional deal-making, he is recognized for his strategic restructurings, specifically in the repositioning and recapitalization of underperforming commercial assets to maximize value for his clients.

Joseph J.M. Orabona joined Glaser Weil as a partner in San Diego.

Orabona has tried more than 40 federal felony cases, argued nine matters before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, authored more than 30 appellate briefs, and served as lead prosecutor in over 1,500 criminal cases. His work includes evidentiary strategy, financial analysis, and complex investigations involving multi-defendant cases, international issues, and electronic and forensic evidence.

He represents clients in criminal and civil matters, including parallel regulatory proceedings, and handles sensitive investigations with attention to reputational and business considerations.

Pramode Chiruvolu was promoted to partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Palo Alto.

Chiruvolu has extensive experience advising on matters involving emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital health and biotechnology, the internet of things and 5G networks. He holds a degree in biomedical engineering and has particular experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences and other related complex transactions. He also previously worked as a network and computer engineer for the Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate, a part of the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Command, focusing on neural networks and distributed computing.

Kristin M. Davis was promoted to partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Palo Alto.

Davis has extensive experience in the design, modification and negotiation of compensation arrangements, including employment agreements, and equity- and cash-based incentive plans and separation agreements. She also advises clients on corporate governance matters and SEC guidelines governing executive compensation disclosure and reporting. She counsels on tax planning with respect to golden parachute excise tax issues, limitations on the deductibility of executive compensation, and the tax rules and consequences relating to nonqualified deferred compensation.

Christopher P. Hammond was promoted to partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Palo Alto.

Hammond is a corporate attorney who concentrates in mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, investments and general corporate law matters across the technology and infrastructure sectors.

Anoush D. Sarkissian was promoted to partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Los Angeles.

Sarkissian represents clients in a range of complex real estate matters. Her practice includes portfolio and single-asset acquisitions, dispositions of various classes of real estate assets, joint ventures, financings, developments and leases. Her clients include institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, lenders, borrowers, buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, and developers. She has also been involved in various alternative energy transactions involving wind and solar farms, and the development and financing of transmission facilities.

Holly J. Fujie joined ADR Services, Inc. as a neutral in Los Angeles.

Judge Fujie brings more than 40 years of experience spanning complex civil litigation, private practice and over a decade on the Los Angeles Superior Court, where she earned a reputation for her thoughtful, fair and disciplined approach to high stakes matters. Prior to joining the bench, she was an equity partner at Buchalter, handling sophisticated business disputes across a wide range of industries.

As a mediator, Judge Fujie is known for her ability to quickly identify barriers to resolution and guide parties toward practical, efficient outcomes. Combining deep legal insight with a high degree of emotional intelligence, she is particularly effective in complex cases where negotiations have stalled, or non-legal dynamics are at play. A former president of the State Bar of California, she brings exceptional leadership, credibility and judgment to every matter she handles.

Megan K. Smith joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Smith is a trial lawyer who has secured results for clients in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitrations and agency proceedings. She represents companies and individuals in business disputes, employment investigations and litigation, intellectual property and trade secret matters, and criminal and regulatory investigations, and advises on a range of civil litigation issues.

Her clients span industries including technology, finance, retail, entertainment, sports, media, fashion, energy, hospitality, insurance, real estate, and life sciences. She also maintains a pro bono practice, representing clients at the trial and appellate levels.

Leif M. Dautch joined Morrison Foerster as a partner in San Francisco.

Dautch spent seven years as a deputy attorney general in the California Attorney General's Office, where he prosecuted hundreds of cases, argued before the California Supreme Court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and served in supervisory and policy advisory roles.

Dautch most recently served as chief of the Organized Crime Strike Force in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, supervising a team of prosecutors and handling investigations involving wire fraud, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, money laundering, and racketeering. He also has first-chair federal trial experience and practices in the Northern District of California, contributing to the firm's trial and regulatory work.

Aurora Gallardo joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as an associate in San Diego.

Gallardo has extensive experience drafting demand letters, briefs, motions, and discovery materials in both state and federal courts, and has argued key motions in bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of both debtors and creditors, including motions to dismiss and for relief from stay. Her practice also includes handling complex real estate disputes, multi-party mediations, and business dissolutions, where she has guided clients through all phases of the wind-down process, including negotiating with creditors and resolving related disputes. She also has experience in securities litigation and enforcement, tax law, and housing disputes.

Jordan M. Steele joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as an associate in San Diego.

Steele has considerable experience representing consumers, institutions, and shareholders in complex, high-stakes litigation across federal and state courts. Prior to joining HFM, his practice focused on multi-state class actions involving consumer fraud, data privacy, breach of contract, securities, and antitrust matters. He has managed all phases of litigation, including case investigation, drafting pleadings and motions, discovery, settlement, and mediation.

Lydia C. Engel joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as an associate in Los Angeles. The move was March 24, 2026.

Engel received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law, where she focused on coursework in Business Law and Media, Entertainment, Technology, and Sports Law (METS). She earned her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University (B.A., Music (Voice); B.A., Citizenship & Civic Engagement).

Prior to joining the firm, Engel worked as a law clerk and gained experience in a variety of civil litigation matters, including disputes involving right of publicity and copyright. She is admitted to practice law in California.

Vanessa C. Yuen joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as an associate in San Francisco. The move was March 24, 2026.

Yuen's practice focuses on tax and professional liability matters. She brings a strong background in complex tax planning and advisory work, particularly involving high-net-worth individuals and closely held entities.

David Menninger joined Buchalter as a special counsel in Los Angeles. The move was April 3, 2026.

Menninger, a former deputy federal public defender and federal judicial clerk at both the district and appellate levels, brings an insider's perspective to complex, high‑stakes cases involving fraud, tax, money laundering, and immigration‑related charges. His record includes a high‑profile jury acquittal that garnered national media attention, a not guilty verdict in a category where such outcomes occur in only 0.03% of cases, and many pretrial dismissals of indictments, as well as post‑conviction work that compelled the government to vacate a wrongful murder conviction.

William D. Randall joined Everett Dorey LLP as a partner in Irvine.

Randall's practice focuses on complex, high-exposure defense litigation and the development and application of trial strategy at all stages of a case. He has a diverse litigation background, including personal injury, premises liability, product liability, wrongful death, habitability, and environmental law. With multiple jury trials to verdict and countless successful pre-trial settlements of complex matters, Randall brings extensive litigation experience to each matter he handles.

Marcus Wu joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as a partner in San Francisco.

Wu represents private and public companies in the design, implementation, and administration of retirement and deferred compensation plans, including defined benefit and defined contribution arrangements such as 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans. He also advises on equity compensation programs, including omnibus incentive plans, employee stock purchase plans, and performance share arrangements, as well as health and welfare benefit plans, Section 125 cafeteria plans, and severance programs. He counsels clients on compliance, governance, and risk mitigation under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and related federal and state laws.

Retired federal judge Roger T. Benitez joined ADR Services Inc. as a neutral in San Diego.

Benitez served as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California from 2004 to 2026, where he presided over high-stakes matters including multidistrict litigation, class actions, patent and intellectual property disputes, securities and antitrust cases, and large commercial controversies. Appointed by the chief justice to the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, he also oversaw coordinated federal proceedings nationwide and served as a transferee judge in multiple MDL cases. Known for his pragmatic and direct approach, Judge Benitez has conducted hundreds of settlement conferences and early neutral evaluations, helping parties resolve complex disputes efficiently. His extensive judicial and litigation background positions him to serve effectively as a mediator, arbitrator, and special master in sophisticated matters.

Robert L. Meyerhoff joined Venable LLP as a counsel in Los Angeles.

Meyerhoff brings extensive private-sector and government experience to representing individuals and entities facing legal challenges. Clients value his ability to distill complex statutes, regulations and contracts into clear, actionable choices -- and his creative approach to resolving disputes in ways that protect their interests and reputation.

Spencer S. Persson joined BakerHostetler as a partner in Los Angeles.

Persson focuses his practice on defending litigation involving data breaches, phishing scams, wiretapping and the loss of sensitive personally identifying information. He has achieved success throughout his career defeating motions for class certification and obtaining early resolution of common law claims and claims under statutes such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, the California Invasion of Privacy Act and California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act. In addition, Persson has extensive experience defending claims under privacy statutes such as the Video Privacy Protection Act, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, and California's Customer Records Act. He has also successfully defended a variety of clients in false advertising, breach of contract and fraud matters.

Erich A. Knorr was promoted to shareholder of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation.

Knorr leads the Tempe, Arizona office of Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation. He is a licensed to practice in Arizona and California. His practice focuses on workplace investigations related to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct.

Kaila Sergent joined Latham & Watkins as a partner in Los Angeles.

Sergent represents owners, operators, developers, investors, and other entities in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions across asset classes, including industrials, life sciences, healthcare, office, multifamily, hotels, retail, student housing, and senior housing. Her data center experience spans large-scale data center campuses, powered shell and build-to-suit structures, and multi-jurisdictional portfolios.

Eric H. Geffner joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Geffner advises private companies and investors in M&A, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures and other corporate transactions, with a focus on sports, entertainment and media. His work includes representing professional sports teams with day-to-day business operations, equity financings, sponsorship deals, licensing deals and stadium and practice facility deals, among other matters. He also represents individuals, groups and private equity firms on investments in, and acquisitions of, major professional sports teams around the world, including expansion teams.

Leo Q. Li joined McGuireWoods LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Li is an employment attorney in McGuireWoods' Los Angeles office. His practice focuses on defending employers in wage and hour class, collective and PAGA actions, as well as claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination. He also advises employers on day-to-day workforce issues and employment-related disputes.

Karen Liao was elected co-office managing partner of the Orange County office of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP.

Liao is a trial attorney whose practice focuses on defending health clubs, sports facilities, attractions, retailers and theaters in matters involving general liability, premises liability and business litigation. She has experience representing clients on both sides of litigation and has tried cases to verdict.

Lawrence D. Esten was elected co-office managing partner of the Orange County office of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP.

Esten launched the firm's Orange County office in 1995 and served as its managing partner for 16 years. He has a diverse practice that includes a focus on professional liability defense, premises and products cases, and special investigation unit (SIU) matters. Esten is also a member of the firm's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Committee.

Rebecca Reed joined Cox, Castle & Nicholson as a partner in San Diego. The move was March 30, 2026.

Reed handles a broad range of complex disputes on behalf of developers and landowners. Her practice includes litigation involving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Coastal Act, planning and zoning laws, and the Subdivision Map Act. She also represents clients in disputes involving boundary lines, easements, covenants and restrictions, deeds, purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, trespass and nuisance, adverse possession, and inverse condemnation.