Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
Ann Calfas
joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Veteran in-house attorney Ann Calfas has joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as a partner, expanding its Los Angeles based labor and employment practice, the firm announced Tuesday.
"I actually had been a client of MSK for over 20 years. So, I had gotten to know several of the labor and employment partners over that time and I just believe that they are the best in their field and are just great, great colleagues to work with," said Calfas of her decision to join the firm.
Calfas most recently was executive vice president of labor relations and employment litigation for Fox Entertainment Group and was the company's chief labor negotiator. She departed from the company in connection with its sale to Disney, she said.
Calfas was involved in negotiations with the Directors Guild, Writers Guild, the Screen Actors Guild and The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. These opportunities have given her a unique advantage in the industry, she said.
"Normally the outside lawyers aren't in the room when all of these contracts get negotiated," Calfas explained. "So to have actually been in the room during the negotiations is a really unique perspective and I think it also gave me an opportunity to really develop expertise about the ecosystem of the entertainment business and how to partner with clients from both the legal and business perspective."
During her 24 years with the company, Calfas also was senior vice president, vice president, senior counsel and counsel for the employment litigation department.
Outside of her practice, she is a trustee of the AFTRA Retirement Fund, which provides retirement benefits to radio and television artists.
"I love being part of a relatively small group of attorneys and executives that have devoted a lot of their careers to understanding the studio labor world," she said. "There are maybe 40 people that really know these contracts in and out and so I really like having that substantive expertise to offer to clients."
Address
2049 Century Park East 18th Floor
Los Angeles, 90067 USA
T:
(310) 312-3738
Ropes & Gray LLP
Elizabeth Rahn Gallucci
was promoted to partner of Ropes & Gray LLP in San Francisco.
Gallucci specializes in private equity and mergers and acquisitions. She advises clients in leveraged buyouts, sales and minority investments.
She is based in San Francisco.
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Roberta D. Repasy
joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as special counsel in San Diego.
Repasy specializes in estate planning, trust administration and tax.
She is based in San Diego
Address
525 B Street, Suite 2200
San Diego, 92101 USA
T:
(619) 906-5683
F:
(619) 788-5560
Latham & Watkins LLP
Kendall K. Johnson
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Century City.
promotes Kendall K. Johnson to partner Johnson focuses on corporate transactions related to entertainment, sports and media.
She is based in Century City.
David Mitry Ajalat
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Ajalat specializes in advising companies and financial institutions in corporate governance, venture financing, initial public offerings, securities, capital market transactions and mergers and acquisitions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Andrew Clark
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Clark focuses on cross border mergers and acquisitions, specifically technology and private equity backed transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Pablo Clarke
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Clarke is a member of the firm's real estate group and focuses on mortgage and mezzanine financing, preferred equity transactions and corporate real estate investment trust financing.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Kelly Smith Fayne
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco.
Fayne specializes in antitrust and competition litigation.
She is based in San Francisco.
Phillip S. Stoup
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco.
Stoup advises investment banks, private equity firms, both public and private companies in capital market matters.
He is based in San Francisco.
Dan Van Fleet
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco.
Fleet specializes in debt financing involving growth companies.
He is based in San Francisco.
John C. Williams
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco.
Williams advises life sciences and technology companies in matters including initial public offerings, direct listings, corporate governance and formations.
He is based in San Francisco.
Saad Khanani
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Silicon Valley.
Khanani focuses on mergers and acquisitions, complex strategic corporate transactions and venture capital investments.
He is based in Silicon Valley.
Michael R. Seringhaus
was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Silicon Valley.
Seringhaus focuses on life sciences and pharmaceutical patent litigation.
He is based in Silicon Valley.
Peter Durning
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Durning represents clients in commercial litigation, including copyright and antitrust disputes related to the music industry.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Scott Y. French
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
French advises clients in late-stage emerging company transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Jia Jia Huang
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Huang specializes in technology transactions related to software, e-commerce, information technology, retail, life sciences, media and entertainment.
She is based in Los Angeles.
William A. Kessler
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Kessler advises public and private companies in transactional tax matters including spinoff transactions and securities offerings.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Nima H. Mohebbi
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Mohebbi focuses on high stakes litigation such as the prosecution and defense of complex commercial disputes on behalf of media, technology, finance and e-commerce companies.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Thomas W. Yeh
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles.
Yeh represents clients in patent and trade secret matters in court and before the U.S. International Trade Commission.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Anthony Gostanian
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego.
Gostanian represents companies and underwriters in capital-raising transactions.
He is based in San Diego.
Patrick C. Justman
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego.
Justman focuses on intellectual property litigation, enforcement, prosecution, management and counseling.
He is based in San Diego.
Seth F. Richardson
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego.
Richardson specializes in the development and financing of infrastructure projects such as renewable energy projects.
He is based in San Diego.
Amy E. Speros
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego.
Speros advises clients in regulatory, compliance and transactional matters related to the U.S. Food and Drug administration and other federal agencies.
She is based in San Diego.
Arielle R. Singh
was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Silicon Valley.
Singh focuses on technology and intellectual property transactions including licensing and commercial agreements.
She is based in Silicon Valley.
2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission
Kary Marshall
joined 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission as chief counsel in Sacramento.
Marshall specializes in data security and privacy.
She is based in Sacramento.
Brownlie Hansen LLP
Robert W. Brownlie
as managing partner and founding partner
in San Diego
Brownlie specializes in complex business, securities and corporate litigation.
He is based in San Diego.
Ryan T. Hansen
as founding partner
in San Diego
Hansen focuses on crisis management, civil litigation and appeals.
He is based in San Diego.
Address
10920 Via Frontera, Suite 550
San Diego, 92127 USA
T:
(858) 877-0322
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Elizabeth Pipkin
joined Law Foundation of Silicon Valley as president in San Jose.
Pipkin is a managing partner at McManis Faulkner and specializes in litigation related to technology, trade secrets, business disputes and civil rights.
She is based in San Jose
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel
Nazar A. Ghosseiri
joined Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel as counsel in San Mateo.
Ghosseiri focuses on estate planning, trust administrations, probate and conservatorships.
She is based in San Mateo.
Address
177 Bovet Road, 6th Floor
San Mateo, 94402 USA
T:
(650) 963-2172
F:
(650) 963-2171
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Loretta Miranda
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief deputy tribal advisor and special counsel for the governor's office of the tribal advisor in Cherry Valley.
Miranda previously was general counsel of the Karuk Tribe.
She is based in Cherry Valley.
Arent Fox LLP
James Williams
joined Arent Fox LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Williams advises consumer brands and private equity companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, formation and governance.
He is based in Los Angeles
Address
555 West Fifth Street, 48th Floor
Los Angeles , 90013 USA
T:
(213) 443-7617
F:
(213) 629-7401
Holland & Knight LLP
Alexis Alonzo
joined Holland & Knight LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Alonzo specializes in complex real estate transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
400 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, 90071 USA
T:
(213) 896-2400
F:
(213) 989-6245
White & Case LLP
Brody Greenwald
as partner
Greenwald moves to the firm's Los Angeles office from Washington D.C. He advises clients in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations.
Address
550 Flower St #2700
Los Angeles, 90071 US
T:
(121) 281-9257
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
Rick L. Frimmer
joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as shareholder in San Diego.
Frimmer advises clients in restructuring of municipal and corporate debt and equity.
He is based in San Diego.
Address
4365 Executive Drive. Suite 1500
San Diego, 92121 United States
T:
(858) 926-3000
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Brent D. Sokol
joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as shareholder in Los Angeles.
Veteran intellectual property litigator Brent D. Sokol joined Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in Los Angeles after almost 20 years with Jones Day.
"Almost unique amongst law firms, Greenberg Traurig has first tier recognition and a deep bench in copyright, patent and trademark litigation, which makes it an excellent fit for my practice," said Sokol, who joined the firm Oct. 20.
His familiarity with the firm and its quality of services also made the opportunity stand out, he added.
During his 27 years of practice, Sokol has represented clients on both sides of intellectual property disputes.
Sokol specializes in medical device and biotechnology patent litigation, where he leverages his background as a biomedical engineer. He also focuses on bringing and defending copyright and trademark infringement cases.
"I've always been a very verbal person and going into a law practice, particularly one involving patents, sort of combined two aspects of my interest and personality," he explained.
Outside his practice, Sokol is a frequent speaker on global restructuring of intellectual property assets and is a member of the International Trademark Association. He is also a longtime member and associate national commissioner of The Anti-Defamation League, where he ran the summer associate research program for about 10 years.
Address
1840 Century Park East Suite 1900
Los Angeles, 90067 USA
T:
(310) 586-7700
F:
(310) 586-7800
Fox Rothschild LLP
Heidy Vaquerano
joined Fox Rothschild LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Vaquerano is an entertainment attorney with a focus on intellectual property and transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
10259 Constellation Blvd. Suite 900
Los Angeles, 90067
T:
(310) 598-4150
Miller Starr Regalia
James L Swearingen
joined Miller Starr Regalia as associate in Walnut Creek.
Swearingen handles all phases of litigation in California federal and state courts for a broad range of commercial litigation matters. MSR's Litigation Practice represents Fortune 500 companies, government, developers, homebuilders, financial institutions, title insurers, property owners/managers, retailers, manufacturers and REITs related to business, real property, commercial, environmental, construction & insurance disputes.
Address
1331 N. California Blvd.
Walnut Creek, 94596
T:
(925) 935-9400
JAMS
Alan G. Perkins
joined JAMS as neutral in Sacramento.
A former Sacramento Superior Court judge for 15 years, Perkins will handle business and commercial disputes.
He is based in Sacramento.
Address
1415 L Street Suite 700
Sacramento, 95814 USA
T:
(916) 830-7102
F:
(916) 565-7780
Horvitz & Levy
Lacey Estudillo
joined Horvitz & Levy as associate in San Francisco.
Estudillo returned to the firm after completing a clerkships with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit with Judge Carlos Bea and the United States District Court, Central District of California with Judge André Birotte, Jr.
Holland & Knight LLP
Abraham Joshua Colman
joined Holland & Knight LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Colman is a financial services litigator and specializes in class actions and individual claims nationally related to violations of federal and state statutes.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Raymond Y. Kim
joined Holland & Knight LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.
Kim specializes in consumer class action defense involving federal and state statutes.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
400 S. Hope Street, 8th Floor
Los Angeles, 90071 USA
T:
(213) 896-2400
F:
(213) 896-2450
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Peter David Ballance
joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Ballance advises lenders, borrowers, developers and property owners in national commercial real estate transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
2029 Century Park East
Los Angeles, 90067-3086 USA
T:
(310) 556-5865
F:
(310) 556-5959
Tyz Law Group
Olivia Clavio
joined Tyz Law Group as trademark attorney in San Francisco, CA.
Clavio is a trademark attorney. She advises and provides strategic business counseling to Silicon Valley startups and Fortune 500 companies on trademark portfolios.
Address
4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 1400
San Francisco, 94111 USA
T:
(415) 766-3530
World Affairs
Dean Fealk
joined World Affairs as trustee in San Francisco.
Fealk is managing partner of DLA Piper's San Francisco office and a member of the global equity practice.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
DLA Piper LLP (US), 555 Mission St Ste 2400
San Francisco, 94105-0933 USA
T:
(415) 836-2521
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Lawrence Hafetz
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the california department of toxic substances control in Los Angeles.
Hafetz is the former chief deputy at the Los Angeles Office of the County Counsel.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Claire Tauriainen
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as general counsel at the california housing finance agency in El Dorado Hills.
Tauriainen has been general counsel since 2018. Prior to her appointment, she was assistant general counsel at the agency.
She is based in El Dorado Hills.
Tyrone Buckley
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as assistant deputy director of fair housing at the california department of housing and community development in Sacramento.
Buckley was a senior policy specialist at the agency since 2019.
He is based in Sacramento.
Judith M. Cias
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the state board of education in Sacramento.
Cias has held the position since 2011. She is the former associate general counsel and director of policy services at the California School Boards Association.
She is based in Sacramento.
Rigel S. Massaro
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as deputy legal counsel and deputy policy director for the office of planning and research at the state board of education in Sacramento.
Massaro was previously senior legislative counsel at Public Advocates.
She is based in Sacramento.
James B. Damrell
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as assistant commissioner of legislation and regulations at the department of real estate in Sacramento.
Damrell was formerly vice president of business development at Peers & Co.
He is based in Sacramento.
Anastasia Baskerville
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the california department of resources and recycling and recovery in Sacramento.
Previously, Baskerville was an attorney at the Department of Housing and Community Development.
She is based in Sacramento.
Nixon Peabody LLP
Leah Goldberg
joined Nixon Peabody LLP as counsel in San Francisco.
Goldberg advises clients on repurposing and reusing contaminated properties.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
One Embarcadero Center 32nd floor
San Francisco, 94111 USA
T:
(415) 984-8234
F:
(833) 370-0825
Atheria Law
Susannah Eichele
joined Atheria Law as senior associate in Los Angeles.
Eichele has experience litigating insurance coverage cases involving various types of insurance policies. She represents insurers in claims involving cyber and privacy issues, including data and security breaches.
Address
1019 E. 4th Place, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, 90013 United States
T:
(213) 224-6958
Atheria Law
Yevgenia Altman
joined Atheria Law as senior associate in San Francisco.
Altman focuses on representing insurers with respect to technology, media, intellectual property, and privacy claims, including privacy breaches and data security.
Address
595 Market Street
San Francisco, 94105 United States
T:
(415) 278-7119
Buchalter
C. Dennis Loomis
joined Buchalter as of counsel in Los Angeles.
Loomis is an intellectual property adviser and litigator.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
1000 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1500
Los Angeles, 90017-1730 USA
T:
(213) 891-0700
F:
(213) 896-0400
Farella Braun + Martel
Alexis Sinclair
joined Farella Braun + Martel as special counsel in San Francisco.
Sinclair represents lenders and borrowers in financial transactions.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
235 Montgomery Street, 17th Floor
San Francisco, 94104
T:
(415) 954-4404
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
April Abele Isaacson
joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Isaacson returned to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton as a partner in San Francisco as part of a five-attorney national life science patent litigation team from DLA Piper.
The firm announced the addition of the team on Oct. 14.
Isaacson, who practiced at DLA Piper for nine months, specializes in generic drugs and biologics litigation, as well as commercial and licensing disputes related to life sciences.
"It was really about going to Kilpatrick Townsend for me," Isaacson commented on the move. " I actually had previously worked at the firm and that's where I made partner."
The firm's deep technical bench, expertise and outstanding trial team were what made the opportunity stand out, she said.
"For me, quite frankly, it's a homecoming. There's many people that worked there back when I was with the firm previously, which to me speaks to the ... firm's culture and environment."
Isaacson practiced at a predecessor of Kilkpatrick Townsend from 2002 to 2007.
Over the course of her career, she has worked at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Goodwin Procter LLP and Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, and as in-house counsel to pharmaceutical company Impax Laboratories.
That experience, she said, has helped her understand clients.
"My unique selling point is that my perspective comes from both having been outside counsel as well as in-house counsel," she said. "I understand kind of the business of the business and some of the pain points that you may face when you're inside a company in terms of being a consumer of legal services."
Isaacson, a Navy veteran, is passionate about her pro bono work for veterans and is an active member of CalVet Women Veterans Division. Accompanying her in the move to Kilpatrick Townsend were counsel Abby Markeson, based in Seattle, New York partners Brian David O'Reilly and Michael Enzo Furrow, and counsel Erica W. Kuo.
Address
2 Embarcadero Ctr, Ste 1900
San Francisco, 94111-3904 USA
T:
(415) 273-8306
F:
(415) 354-3519
California Western School of Law
Michael J. Whitton
was promoted to as chairman of the board of trustees of California Western School of Law in San Diego.
Whitton is a partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP and has been a member of the board since 2014.
He is based in San Diego.