McDermott Will & Emery promotes Tomer Konowiecki to partner
Tomer Konowiecki
McDermott Will & Emery
promotes Tomer Konowiecki to partner
Konowiecki advises clients on healthcare transactional matters. He has
experience transactions affecting with affecting healthcare providers, including
hospitals, health systems, nonprofit medical foundations, ambulatory
surgery centers and other entities. He is based in Los Angeles.
Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP

Kelly Siobhan Laffey
was promoted to senior counsel of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP in Sherman Oaks.
Kelly Siobhan Laffey is senior counsel of the firm and the Director of Business Affairs at the Preccelerator.
Kelly's practice focuses on advising emerging growth and middle market companies in the technology, digital, internet, interactive media (i.e., AR and VR), and entertainment industries. Kelly counsels clients on issues related to corporate governance and formation, venture capital and other financings, joint ventures, employee compensation, complex stockholder and operating agreements, securities law regulation and other general corporate matters. Kelly also advises investors and funds in connection with venture capital and other financings.
Kelly also counsels clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions matters, including asset and equity acquisitions and dispositions, cross-border transactions, spin-off transactions, secured lending transactions, financing restructurings and corporate reorganizations.
Drawing on her diverse work experience in the entertainment arena, including time spent with talent agencies, and music and television production companies, Kelly also assists on matters related to licensing, marketing, and exploitation of intellectual property rights.
Details
Since its inception in 2002, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP has worked alongside innovators and leaders of businesses large and small whose ideas are world changing. Our firm takes the long-term approach to our relationship with clients, partnering with them all along their evolutionary path, from idea to growth to exit, or whatever their future may hold. Our mission is, and has always been, to provide technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly-responsive and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business advisory perspective. With robust corporate, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and emerging growth, public securities, entertainment, business litigation and intellectual property practices, SA&M's attorneys assist clients with virtually every legal issue a business or an individual may face. We approach our practice from a team perspective, and every engagement receives our attorneys' full focus and the benefit of decades of collective wisdom and experience. Using that experience, our attorneys craft sophisticated innovative solutions to our clients' legal and business problems that keeps the future strategy and roadmap of a company in mind. Stubbs Alderton & Markiles is frequently recognized for excellence in the practice of law and outstanding commitment to the Southern California tech community. The firm, our practices, and our attorneys are honored by clients, other lawyers from around the country, national legal publications, and ranking organizations such as Best Lawyers' "Best Law Firms", inclusion in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, and many attorneys listed in Thomson Reuters's Super Lawyers.
Maynard Cooper & Gale LLP

Chitra Kalyanaraman
was promoted to partner of Maynard Cooper & Gale LLP in San Francisco.
Chitra, who was promoted to partner in January 2020, partners with her clients to build strategic patent portfolios, and has extensive experience drafting and prosecuting patents in the computer, electrical, and mechanical arts over a wide range of technical areas. She received her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, and she holds a B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University.
Details
Maynard Cooper is a nationally recognized law firm that resolves complex business challenges with integrated legal solutions drawn from more than 290 attorneys across its national footprint. Maynard Cooper serves clients across the United States and globally from its offices in Alabama (Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery), California (Los Angeles and San Francisco), New York (New York City), Tennessee (Nashville), Texas (Dallas), and Washington, D.C.
Dykema

Gregory K Jones
was promoted to member of Dykema in Los Angeles.
Jones concentrates his practice on bankruptcy cases and out-of-court restructurings. He represents lenders, creditors' committees, debtors, assignees for the benefit of creditors, purchasers of assets in bankruptcy cases, lessors, and defendants in preference and fraudulent transfer lawsuits. Jones is involved in the Financial Lawyers Conference, is a member of the James T. King Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, and served as Director of La Cañada Flintridge Education Foundation.
Details
Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 13 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients - from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies - to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service and exceptional value in every engagement.
Buchalter
Faith K. Bruins
joined Buchalter as shareholder in Holland & Knight.
Buchalter is pleased to announce that it has added Faith K. Bruins as Real Estate Shareholder in San Francisco.
Focusing her practice in the areas of tax-advantaged real estate investment, development and finance with an emphasis on equity investment in affordable multifamily housing projects eligible for federal and state tax credits and related benefits under the Internal Revenue Code, Faith Bruins' clients include syndicators, direct investors, for-profit and nonprofit developers and community development entities. She has also represented lenders and deal sponsors, aiding them in structuring complex tax credit transactions intended both to maximize financial and tax benefits and to have a positive impact on communities.
Ms. Bruins earned her J.D. at Boston College Law School and her LL.M in Taxation at Boston University School of Law. She received her B.A. from Middlebury College.
Thomas J. Speiss III
joined Buchalter as shareholder in Los Angeles.
Buchalter is pleased to announce that it has added Intellectual Property Shareholder Thomas J. Speiss III in the firm's Los Angeles office.
Thomas Speiss’ practice focuses on global IP strategies and portfolio management. He has developed particular skill in global trademark counseling and litigation, including the development and management of trademark portfolios and trademark rights online, as well as related copyright protection.
“In 2020, we plan to continue to strengthen our intellectual property capabilities,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter.” “I am so pleased to welcome Tom as his practice further enhances the legal services we offer our national and international business community clients.”
“My existing practice fits seamlessly with Buchalter’s impressive Intellectual Property and Litigation practices, and I am thrilled to join the Firm. The Firm’s substantial platform will allow me to better serve my clients by offering a full range of business services and an exceptional experience,” said Speiss.
Mr. Speiss earned his J.D from Villanova University School of Law in 1997, and his M.B.A from University of Southern California in 2005. He earned his B.S. from James Madison University in 1993.
Reed Smith LLP

Ernie A. Ocampo
was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Century City.
Ernie's practice focuses on transactional law, with an emphasis on entertainment and real estate development. Ernie has advised clients on an array of corporate matters, including equity and debt financings, formation and corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and day-to-day legal matters. Ernie's real estate development practice focuses on acquisitions, joint ventures and development of renewable energy facilities and commercial properties. He also advises clients in various stages of development - from start-ups to mature companies - in a broad range of transactions, with an emphasis in the entertainment, real estate and renewable energy industries.
Ernie is active in the Filipino-American community. He is a long-serving member of the Board of Governors for the Philippine American Bar Association and the Board of Directors of Los Angeles-Makati Sister City. He serves as pro bono outside counsel for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, the oldest Filipino-American community service organization in Los Angeles. He also currently serves on the Scholarship Committee of the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association, and co-hosts an annual welcome reception for first-year students who come to USC from the Philippines.

Jennifer R. Fearnow
was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.
Jennifer is an experienced commercial litigator. She counsels clients in resolving complex disputes in all phases of litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts and alternative dispute resolution forums. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, business disputes, and employment litigation.
Jennifer received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2006, where she was a Recipient of the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence: Negotiation and Mediation Practice. Jennifer serves Pro Bono on the Leadership Council for the Bar Association of San Francisco's Justice & Diversity Center.

LiLing Poh
was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Silicon Valley / San Francisco.
LiLing’s practice focuses on debt and equity financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate counseling. In her emerging companies practice, she provides exit strategy planning while looking after the full spectrum of a client's legal needs. She represents first-time and experienced investors as well as early-stage companies.
She has closed deals involving parties in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Australia, and represented clients across the health care, technology, life sciences, and food and beverage industries.
LiLing currently serves as corporate secretary for ChIPs, a nonprofit organization that advances and connects women in technology, law and policy. She has spoken on emerging companies issues, including as a panelist for the American Bar Association. Recently recognized by The Legal 500 USA as a 2018 and 2019 Next Generation Lawyer for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies.
LiLing studies at The George Washington University Law School, 2008, and Syracuse University College of Law, where she received her J.D. in 2007.

Anthony S. Newman
was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Los Angeles.
Anthony is a member of the firm's Global Commercial Disputes Group. His practice focuses on complex business and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on insurance coverage litigation, consumer class actions, health care litigation, oil and gas litigation, and general business disputes. Anthony has experience handling all aspects of civil trial work in state and federal court, as well as in various alternative dispute resolution forums (both domestic and international).
Anthony is a graduate of Duke University School of Law, where he received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2004.

Christopher O. Rivas
Christopher has substantial experience representing commercial entities in both litigation and transactional contexts. Christopher represents secured and unsecured creditors, financial institutions and banks in complex bankruptcy cases and appeals. Christopher regularly represents entities in transactions involving the purchase and sale of commercial entities in numerous sectors, including entities engaged in manufacturing, shipping, transportation, and energy. Christopher also represents entities in post-acquisition litigation relating to such transactions.
Christopher also has experience in both in-court and out-of-court restructurings and workouts, including Article 9 sales transactions, receiverships, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. He has represented creditors, creditors’ committees, bankruptcy trustees and debtors.
Christopher is admitted to the bar of the State of California, the United States District Courts for each of the Districts of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a 2005 graduate of the Loyola Law School and earned his B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2001.
Details
Reed Smith has promoted 64 lawyers, including 29 partners, across its global platform. More than half of the firm's 2020 class that advanced to partner and counsel are women, including two promoted to partner in San Francisco LiLing Poh, previously an associate, in the Global Corporate Group, and Jennifer Fearnow, previously counsel, in Global Commercial Disputes Practice. Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Our belief is that by delivering smarter and more creative legal services, we will not only enrich our clients' experiences with us, but also support them in achieving their business goals. Our long-standing relationships, international outlook, and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for the speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. For further information, please visit reedsmith.com. * * * Reed Smith has four offices in California: SAN FRANCISCO: Just as San Francisco is a key operational location for many of Reed Smith's clients, our San Francisco office is a linchpin in Reed Smith's global network. We understand and appreciate the unique needs of clients operating in the Bay Area's evolving technology-focused business environment. Serving a wide array of local, national and international clients, Reed Smith's San Francisco office provides transactional, litigation and counseling services in areas including complex commercial matters, financial services, intellectual property, health care, product liability, insurance recovery, state tax, real estate, environmental, and energy and natural resources. Our lawyers are active members of the Bay Area community, serving on the boards of a variety of local charities, volunteering in a multitude of community organizations, and placing a firm focus on providing pro bono services. SILICON VALLEY: Silicon Valley is a focal point of big ideas and boundary-pushing innovation, and Reed Smith supports the driven businesses of this region with the tailored, leading-edge legal advice they deserve. We offer full service representation with deep capabilities in technology, venture capital, intellectual property, trademark, finance, and life and health sciences. Our clients include a number of significant Silicon Valley companies and numerous early-stage and venture-capital-backed businesses and their investors. Our Silicon Valley lawyers include former entrepreneurs, in-house counsel and patent lawyers with advanced degrees in various disciplines at the heart of financial and technological development. Reed Smith supports Silicon Valley clients at every stage of growth - whether they are incorporating, seeking funding, planning their public offering or operating a large-scale public company. LOS ANGELES: Located in the heart of the city's Financial District, Reed Smith's Los Angeles team of litigators and business lawyers provides legal representation to the international businesses and industries that have fueled the historic and continued growth of America's west coast. The Los Angeles office's roster of industry-leading lawyers offers clients a depth of experience in financial services, energy, manufacturing and technology, biotech, pharmaceutical, labour, intellectual property matters and more. Furthermore, our Los Angeles office is renowned for representing clients in all aspects of appellate proceedings, including discretionary high court review. We are proud to offer dynamic legal experience as diverse and cutting-edge as the Southern California business landscape. In kinship with Reed Smith's commitment to driving progress, many partners and associates from our Los Angeles office teach at local business and law schools and serve as mentors in local and national professional associations. CENTURY CITY: Centrally located in an American hub of entertainment, media and technology, Reed Smith's Century City team is renowned for its work representing entertainment and corporate clients in both deals and disputes. Situated near Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and UCLA, our office serves clients across industries ranging from entertainment and hospitality to energy and real estate. Our Century City lawyers have garnered a reputation for excellence not only for client work but also civic involvement - dedicating many hours and resources to pro bono work, volunteer opportunities and service on the boards of local non-profits.
Hooper, Lundy & Bookman

Katrina Pagonis
was promoted to equity partner of Hooper, Lundy & Bookman in San Francisco.
Pagonis is Co-Chair of the firm's Regulatory Department and a nationally recognized expert on health reform, including price transparency, surprise billing, site neutral payment, and implementation of the Affordable Care Act's market reforms. Pagonis advises clients on the impact of health care reform, as well as emerging health care reform proposals (from repeal-and-replace to single payer) at the state and national levels. She also provides regulatory and strategic advice to health care providers concerning managed care issues more generally, including out-of-network reimbursement, network configuration, reference pricing and cost-sharing limits, managed care contracting, and enrollment assistance activities. In addition, she regularly assists health care providers with a broad range of regulatory and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement matters and litigation. Pagonis is a former judicial law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
Details
Founded in 1987, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman PC is the largest law firm in the country dedicated solely to the representation of health care providers and suppliers. With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, and Washington, D.C., and clients in all 50 states, we meet the business, litigation, regulatory, and government relations needs of a broad array of health care providers―ranging from the largest national health care organizations to community hospitals and individual physician practices. We are pleased to be ranked by Chambers USA as Tier One: Health Care, California, and #1 for the West Region on the ABA Health Law Section's 7th Annual "Regional Law Firm Recognition Top 10 List." For more information, please visit our website at www.health-law.com.
Perkins Coie LLP

Laura Zagar
was promoted to office managing partner of Perkins Coie LLP in San Francisco.
Laura Zagar is the Office Managing Partner of the San Francisco office and a Partner in the Environment, Energy & Resources practice.

Daphne Higgs
was promoted to office managing partner of Perkins Coie LLP in Palo Alto.
Daphne Higgs is the Office Managing Partner of the Palo Alto office and a Partner in the Technology Transactions & Privacy practice.

Mark Wicker
was promoted to office managing partner of Perkins Coie LLP in San Diego.
Mark Wicker is the Office Managing Partner of the San Diego office, a Partner in the Technology Transactions & Privacy practice and Chair of the Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Industry Group.
Details
Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients' success. With more than 1,100 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world's most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.
Carlton Fields

Christina M. Gagnier
joined Carlton Fields as shareholder in Los Angeles.
Carlton Fields' Trailblazing Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Welcomes Prominent Los Angeles Technology Lawyer Christina M. Gagnier
Los Angeles, Calif. - January 7, 2020 - Carlton Fields welcomes technology lawyer Christina M. Gagnier as a shareholder in the firm's growing Los Angeles office. An influential privacy law attorney, professor, and author, Gagnier is the newest addition to Carlton Fields' national Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice. Most notably, she served as a member of the Federal Communications Commission's Consumer Advisory Committee and the California attorney general's Cyber Exploitation Task Force. Gagnier's practice also encompasses blockchain technology, international regulatory affairs, technology transactions, and intellectual property.
Gagnier is the sixth attorney to join Carlton Fields' Los Angeles office in less than six months. She also expands the firm's trailblazing Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice, a group of experienced litigation and transactional attorneys who provide clients across industries with comprehensive counsel on complex, evolving, and multifaceted issues related to privacy, data security incidents and breaches, and related matters. The group's attorneys comprise former federal cybersecurity prosecutors and Certified Information Privacy Professionals (CIPP/US). They are active and hold leadership positions in data privacy and cybersecurity organizations including The Sedona Conference Working Group on Data Security and Privacy Liability. Their thought leadership is showcased in several innovative resources including a CCPA Toolkit, a GDPR Assessment App, and an e-book titled California Consumer Privacy Act: A Reference Guide for Compliance. Carlton Fields was also named one of the top 25 law firms in the nation for its Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice.
"Given California's strong presence in cyber issues, securing a lawyer of Christina's depth and breadth of experience adds to our capabilities both here on the West Coast and nationally," said Mark A. Neubauer, the firm's Los Angeles office managing shareholder. "We are extremely pleased she chose to join us and look forward to having her help us grow that burgeoning area of the law."
Added Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Co-Chair Joseph W. Swanson, "Christina brings a wealth of experience advising clients on privacy matters. She joins us at a time when California is taking the lead on privacy issues with the sweeping California Consumer Privacy Act taking effect on January 1. As other states follow suit with their own privacy legislation, Christina will be an invaluable resource to our clients."
Prior to joining Carlton Fields, Gagnier was managing partner at Gagnier Margossian, where she led the Internet, Intellectual Property, and Technology Practice. Her practice focuses on advising clients on digital strategy to help them navigate uncharted legal territory. Gagnier guides a variety of technology companies and consumer brands through emerging legal and policy issues such as digital currency, the sharing economy, network neutrality, and the ever-changing area of consumer privacy law.
"Carlton Fields has a deep bench of skilled lawyers in a variety of key areas for my clients, including intellectual property, labor and employment, and tax," Gagnier said. "I'm thrilled to serve my clients with a national platform."
Outside her practice, Gagnier is an adjunct professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Law, where she serves as clinical faculty for the Intellectual Property, Arts, and Technology Clinic. She teaches the only privacy law class offered at UCI Law. Gagnier's primary research involves cyber rights and the intersection of online and offline action.
Gagnier is a frequent speaker and author on issues involving internet law, particularly online harassment, including nonconsensual pornography and cyberbullying. She has authored articles in HuffPost's technology section and columns on legal ethics on the web and internet law topics for California Lawyer, and she served as the host for "Techwire" on the California Channel. Gagnier has appeared on NBC's "Press:Here" and on radio stations including KCBS in San Francisco and WCCO in Minneapolis, and she has been quoted by AlterNet, Ars Technica, The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, BuzzFeed, Inc., MIT Technology Review, MSNBC, NBC News, The New York Times, Politico, The Recorder, The Mercury News, TechCrunch, and The Verge.
Passionate about technology education, Gagnier serves as the CEO of the LINK Americas Foundation, which aims to improve digital literacy across the United States, Canada, and Central and South America. She is also the CEO of Know Before You Go, an organization that grants scholarships for college visits. In her local community, Gagnier serves as the secretary and member of the board of directors of the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is also the vice president of the governing board for the Chino Valley Unified School District and was one of the first candidates for public office to accept bitcoin.
Gagnier earned her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, her M.P.A. from the University of Southern California, and her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.
Details
Carlton Fields has more than 325 attorneys and government and financial services consultants serving clients from offices in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C. The firm is known for its national litigation practice, including class action defense, trial practice, white-collar representation, and high-stakes appeals; its insurance practice, including life and financial lines, property and casualty, reinsurance, and title insurance; its regulatory practice; and its handling of sophisticated business transactions and corporate counseling for domestic and international clients. For additional information, visit www.carltonfields.com. (Carlton Fields practices law in California through Carlton Fields, LLP.)
Address
2029 Century Park E Suite 1200 , Los Angeles 90067 USA
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Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC
Shannon R. Finley
Finley is a leader in the employment law group and represents corporate employers
in the defense of claims involving allegations of workplace discrimination,
harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination, as well as in large-scale
wage and hour class action litigation violations.
She is based in San Diego
Janice Y. Walshok
Walshok is a leader in the retail and transportation group and represents
large and small corporate clients in the defense of claims involving wrongful
death, serious injury, and product liability. Walshok has successfully tried cases
to verdict and has argued before the Second District Court of Appeal. She is
based in San Diego.
Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP
Patricia D. Belton
Belton focuses on management-side labor and employment matters. She represents
employers in litigation and advises them in all aspects of labor and employment
relations including wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment,
wrongful termination and relations between management and unions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Neill E. Brower
Brower represents clients throughout California in land use and environmental
matters, including permitting and regulatory compliance.
His practice involves advising clients on a range of state and federal regulations
as well as representing lenders in evaluations of potential construction and
bridge loans. He is based in Los Angeles.
Joseph J. Mellema
Mellema focuses on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property
rights including patent and trademark enforcement.
He has experience in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries,
representing companies in patent-related disputes, managing IP portfolios, and
conducting due diligence projects. He is based in Orange County.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Daniel W. Lynch
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
promotes Daniel W. Lynch to partner
Lynch leads the representation of clients in energy projects. Clients include
developers, commercial users, energy marketers, investors, financial institutions
and utilities. Lynch advises in derivative transactions, project finance and
development, energy marketing and trading, renewable
Vanessa F. Roman
promotes Vanessa F. Roman to partner
Roman advises clients in the entertainment industry on the production, financing
and distribution of film and television projects.
Roman has experience in virtual reality, augmented reality and other emerging
technologies within the entertainment space, and has trained and mentored
younger lawyers. She is based in Los Angeles.
Somach Simmons & Dunn

Richard S. Deitchman
was promoted to shareholder of Somach Simmons & Dunn in Sacramento.
Somach Simmons & Dunn is pleased to announce the promotion of Rich Deitchman to shareholder, effective January 1, 2020. Licensed in both Oregon and California, Rich focuses his practice on water rights and natural resources litigation. With a master's degree in hydrology, Rich works effectively with experts, such as environmental engineers and agricultural economists, to pinpoint scientific and economic factors that affect water cases. His experience spans water rights issues that impact Oregon, California, Texas, and New Mexico, including the ongoing Klamath Basin Adjudication in Oregon and the pending Texas v. New Mexico & Colorado litigation in the United States Supreme Court. Based in the firm's Sacramento office, Rich earned his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Andrew M. Hitchings
was promoted to managing shareholder of Somach Simmons & Dunn in Sacramento.
Somach Simmons & Dunn is pleased to name Andy Hitchings as the firm’s managing shareholder, effective January 1, 2020. He succeeds Theresa "Tess" Dunham in the role. With nearly three decades of working on California’s most complex water rights, water supply, and water quality issues, Andy also has developed substantial experience in state and federal court litigation, public agency law, CEQA/NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act. He has played an integral role in the renewal, implementation, and defense of Sacramento River Settlement Contracts. Andy has also focused on confirming water rights for recycled water projects and negotiating and implementing water transfer agreements. One of Andy’s key career achievements was briefing and arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court in 2001 and obtaining a unanimous ruling in his client’s favor. He serves on the Legal Affairs Committee for the Association of California Water Agencies.
Details
Simmons & Dunn is one of the largest boutique water law firms in the West, with offices in California, Colorado, and the District of Columbia. The firm's 25 attorneys represent public and private sector clients across a range of water, air and land disciplines, including litigation, transactional and public policy matters. Learn more at www.somachlaw.com.
Best Best & Krieger LLP

Ryan Baron
was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Irvine.
Ryan Baron provides strategic counsel to clients throughout California and the U.S. on utilities regulation, administrative law, environmental law and public agency governance matters. He is a member of the firm's Environmental Law & Natural Resources practice group, based in Irvine.
Details
Best Best & Krieger LLP is a national law firm that focuses on environmental, business, education, municipal and telecommunications law for public agency and private clients. With more than 200 attorneys, the law firm has 10 offices nationwide, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.bbklaw.com or follow @BBKlaw on Twitter or @BestBestKrieger on Facebook.
Dykema Gossett PLLC

Gregory K. Jones
was promoted to member of Dykema Gossett PLLC in Los Angeles.
Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced that its Executive Board elected Gregory K. Jones as a Member.
Mr. Jones is a member of the firm's Bankruptcy Practice Group and concentrates his practice on bankruptcy cases and out-of-court restructurings. He represents lenders, creditors' committees, debtors, assignees for the benefit of creditors, purchasers of assets in bankruptcy cases, lessors, and defendants in preference and fraudulent transfer lawsuits.
Mr. Jones is involved in the Financial Lawyers Conference, is a member of the James T. King Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, and served as Director of La Cañada Flintridge Education Foundation. He received both a J.D. and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Details
Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 13 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients - from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies - to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service and exceptional value in every engagement.
Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP

Daphne Bishop
was promoted to partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in Los Angeles.
Daphne Bishop, J.D., AWI-CH is chair of CDF's Internal Investigations Practice Group. Bishop has represented companies with California workforces for nearly two decades. Her experience advising and defending small to Fortune 500 companies across many industries against the gamut of employment-related claims offers her a unique advantage in helping companies prevent, uncover, investigate and resolve employee and institutional misconduct. Combining her litigation and counseling experience, Bishop's practice now focuses on providing internal investigation services as a neutral third-party investigator or a strategic advisor. She is a graduate of Yale College and received her law degree from the UCLA Law School. In addition, she received her certificate from the Association of Workplace Investigators in 2018.
Details
For more than 25 years, Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP (CDF) has distinguished itself as a top employment, labor and immigration law firm in California, representing businesses in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm employs over 45 attorneys in five California offices (San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento), who exclusively focus on labor and employment issues affecting California businesses, and provide timely, cost-effective and knowledgeable solutions to protect employers' time, dime and peace of mind. CDF was named one of the "Best Law Firms for Female Attorneys and Minority Attorneys" in Law360's 2018 and 2019 Glass Ceiling Report for firms with 20-149 attorneys.
Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP

Corey Cabral
was promoted to partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in Sacramento.
Corey Cabral represents local, regional and national employers in all aspects of California labor and employment law and related litigation. His counsel and litigation experience spans the full scope of employment law and workplace claims, ranging from wrongful termination, employment discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation to wage and hour and traditional labor-management relations matters. Cabral's practice emphasis is on complex and sophisticated wage and hour litigation. He frequently evaluates, develops strategies for and manages complex Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and class action lawsuits, including highly technical claims regarding suitable seating, regular rate of pay and overtime calculations, arbitration agreements, interstate commerce and wage statements. Cabral's clients operate in various industries, including retail, trucking, health care and emergency medical services. He is a graduate of San Jose State University and received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Details
For more than 25 years, Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP (CDF) has distinguished itself as a top employment, labor and immigration law firm in California, representing businesses in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm employs over 45 attorneys in five California offices (San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento), who exclusively focus on labor and employment issues affecting California businesses, and provide timely, cost-effective and knowledgeable solutions to protect employers' time, dime and peace of mind. CDF was named one of the "Best Law Firms for Female Attorneys and Minority Attorneys" in Law360's 2018 and 2019 Glass Ceiling Report for firms with 20-149 attorneys.
Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP

M. Leah Cameron
was promoted to partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in San Francisco.
M. Leah Cameron, a graduate of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Cameron is an experienced trial attorney, representing clients in class actions and single-plaintiff cases in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies. She was also a member of the CDF appellate team that secured the seminal California Supreme Court decision in Duran v. U.S. Bank, 59 Cal.4th 1 (2014), which helped shape class certification and trial management principles in overtime exemption cases.

Nicole Legrottaglie
was promoted to partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in Sacramento.
Nicole Legrottaglie aggressively defends her clients in a broad range of labor and employment claims, including class actions and single-plaintiff claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination and wage and hour litigation. In addition, Legrottaglie has significant experience in traditional labor law where she has effectively represented management in union disputes and successfully handled unfair labor practice charges and other administrative matters and hearings. A strong believer in educating her clients so they avoid litigation in the first place, she regularly provides preventative counseling to employers of all sizes. She is a graduate of Manhattan College and received her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Details
For more than 25 years, Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP (CDF) has distinguished itself as a top employment, labor and immigration law firm in California, representing businesses in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm employs over 45 attorneys in five California offices (San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento), who exclusively focus on labor and employment issues affecting California businesses, and provide timely, cost-effective and knowledgeable solutions to protect employers' time, dime and peace of mind. CDF was named one of the "Best Law Firms for Female Attorneys and Minority Attorneys" in Law360's 2018 and 2019 Glass Ceiling Report for firms with 20-149 attorneys.
Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP

Denisha McKenzie
was promoted to senior counsel of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in Irvine.
Denisha McKenzie has been elevated to Senior Counsel. McKenzie defends employers in all areas of labor and employment law in state and federal court, as well as before various administrative agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). McKenzie's practice has a special emphasis on vigorously defending alleged claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination. A significant portion of her practice also is dedicated to defending wage and hour single-plaintiff, class action and PAGA lawsuits. She is a graduate of Tufts University and received her J.D. from the University of California, Irvine School of Law.
Details
For more than 25 years, Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP (CDF) has distinguished itself as a top employment, labor and immigration law firm in California, representing businesses in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm employs over 45 attorneys in five California offices (San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento), who exclusively focus on labor and employment issues affecting California businesses, and provide timely, cost-effective and knowledgeable solutions to protect employers' time, dime and peace of mind. CDF was named one of the "Best Law Firms for Female Attorneys and Minority Attorneys" in Law360's 2018 and 2019 Glass Ceiling Report for firms with 20-149 attorneys.
Dykema Gossett PLLC

Dommond E. Lonnie
was promoted to percentage member of Dykema Gossett PLLC in Los Angeles.
Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced that its Executive Board elected Dommond E. Lonnie as a Percentage Member.
Mr. Lonnie, who is the Director of Dykema's nationally recognized Automotive Industry Group, is a seasoned trial attorney who provides aggressive and innovative legal representation for clients in product liability, class action, toxic tort, and commercial litigation. He has represented numerous domestic and foreign automobile/mobility manufacturers and has substantial expertise in crashworthiness, suspensions/tires/rollovers, airbags/restraints, fires, brakes, and fuel systems cases.
An experienced litigator and legal strategist, Mr. Lonnie implements litigation and investigation plans and manages all aspects of discovery for the successful resolution of lawsuits and claims. He has earned recognition in providing high level and cost-effective representation of corporate clients. He has substantial experience handling matters involving automotive crashworthiness, suspensions/tires/rollovers, airbags/restraints, fires, brakes, and fuel systems cases.
Details
Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 13 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients - from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies - to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service and exceptional value in every engagement.
Rutan & Tucker LLP

Michael Hellbusch
was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.
Mr. Hellbusch excels in several areas of law including cyber law, data security and privacy issues. He has a broad range of experience both as a transactional lawyer and as a litigator. He is co-chair of the Orange County Chapter of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). He is certified in U.S. privacy law (CIPP/US) and privacy management (CIPM) from the IAPP. He is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional--Europe (CIPP-E) and Certified Information Privacy Management (CIPM). He is a graduate of University of San Diego School of the Law and University of San Diego.

Peter Hering
was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.
Mr. Hering advises employers of all sizes on how to navigate the intricacies of California’s employment laws, in particular its complex wage and hour requirements. He divides his time between counseling employers on strategies for proactively assessing and minimizing litigation risk and representing employers facing a broad array of employment claims. He is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a managing editor with the UCLA Law Review, and Biola University, summa cum laude, member of the Order of Peter and Paul.

Justine Kastan
was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Palo Alto.
Based in the firm’s Palo Alto office, Ms. Kastan works with developers and contractors on matters involving construction law, infrastructure development, and public-private partnerships. In addition to her day-to-day construction law practice drafting contracts at all project phases, managing change order work and claims, and litigating, Justine has also represented builders in connection with complex and trailblazing P3s such as the Long Beach Civic Center, UC Merced 2020 Campus, and Los Angeles Convention Center projects. Justine’s prior work experience includes externships at both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of California. She is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, School of Law and Harvard University, cum laude.

Allison Lemoine-Bui
was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.
Ms. LeMoine-Bui specializes in affordable housing and economic development. She regularly advises public entities and developers regarding affordable housing transactions and real property transactional matters, and has negotiated and drafted numerous agreements, including affordable housing agreements, ground leases, statutory development agreements, purchase and sale and economic development agreements, and various other general municipal contracts. She is also Deputy City Attorney for Irvine and La Quinta. She is a graduate of Chapman University School of Law, Valedictorian; magna cum laude; Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and University of California, Los Angeles.

Christina V. McSparron
was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.
Ms. McSparron works closely with individual and corporate clients across the country, at all stages in the life cycle of the business. In her practice, she regularly acts as general outside counsel and advises on diverse matters such as entity structuring, corporate governance, mergers, acquisitions, debt and equity financing, licensing and general business operations. She regularly advises entrepreneurs and executives in the automotive, technology, restaurant, food and beverage, manufacturing and retail industries. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and University of Minnesota Law School, where she was an editor of the Minnesota Law Review.
Details
Rutan & Tucker's practice extends nationwide, while maintaining our connection to the fabric of California. Rutan & Tucker continues to distinguish itself as one of California's largest full-service law firms, as it has for decades, with a significant presence in Orange County, Silicon Valley and San Francisco.
Buckley LLP
Sherry-Maria S. Safchuk
was promoted to counsel of Buckley LLP in Los Angeles.
Safchuk provides counsel in regulatory and compliance issues and support in complex litigation and government investigations. Safchuk also helps clients on privacy issues. She received her law degree from George Washington University.
Ali M. Abugheida
was promoted to counsel of Buckley LLP in Los Angeles.
Abugheida focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and government enforcement matters, where he represents both corporate and individual clients. He received his law degree from the University of Southern California.
Tucker Ellis LLP
Ndubisi A. Ezeolu
was promoted to partner of Tucker Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.
Ezeolu focuses his practice on representing and advising businesses, municipalities and public entities in trial and appellate courts and before government agencies.
Anthony D. Brosamle
was promoted to partner of Tucker Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.
Brosamle is a member of the firm's Trial Department. He represents business clients in product liability and other personal injury litigation, construction defect litigation, commercial litigation, consumer class action, and employment litigation and counseling.
Valeria Golodnitska
was promoted to counsel of Tucker Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.
Golodnitska represents clients in cases involving product liability, personal injury and wrongful death. She also defends clients in general commercial litigation matters. Golodnitska received her law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
Mark L. Hejinian
was promoted to partner of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP in San Francisco.
Hejinian focuses his practice on commercial litigation matters. He counsels clients in several businesses, such as the telecom and insurance industries. He is also active in Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP's pro bono efforts and is a member of its Pro Bono Committee. He also represents clients in white collar criminal investigations. He is based in San Fransisco.
Robert B. Hodil
was promoted to partner of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP in San Francisco.
Hodil focuses his practice on land use entitlements and real estate development. He represents developers, hospitals, sports teams and nonprofits in the process of developing property.
Hons Yung
was promoted to partner of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP in San Francisco.
Yung counsels high-net-worth individuals and businesses with tax, estate and succession planning. Yung helps clients to minimize estate, gift, income, and property taxes. Hons also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in trust and probate administrations.
Lowenstein & Weatherwax LLP

Gregory R. Smith
joined Lowenstein & Weatherwax LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.
Smith practiced at Irell & Manella LLP for five decades, where he founded the firm's appellate group. He has appeared in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, the Delaware Supreme Court, the Nevada Supreme Court, and various courts of appeal, including the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and California Courts of Appeal.
"Joining the firm not only enables me to practice law with friends and former colleagues but also to help build the firm's growing appellate practice. That has been my specialty for many years, and I have always enjoyed its intellectual challenge," Smith said.
As of counsel, Smith said he hopes to bring skills he has developed over the years "to assist younger lawyers in the development of those skills, and in this way to bring an important benefit to the firm's clients."
Smith is a member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and was previously Chair of the California State Bar Committee on Appellate Courts.
Smith received his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he served on the Harvard Law Review and graduated magna cum laude. He completed his bachelor's degree at Claremont Men's College, where he was summa cum laude, and his master's degree at the London School of Economics.
Smith is also an active member in several charitable organizations and is a founder and President of Westwood Kehilla Synagogue.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for me to do something that I love so much with an extraordinary group of lawyers amongst whom I count many friends," Smith said. "What more could I ask for?"
Haynes and Boone LLP
David B. Clark
was promoted to partner of Haynes and Boone LLP in Costa Mesa.
Clark is a trial attorney who focuses on helping clients solve complex business disputes. Clark represents clients in various industries, including software, hardware, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and higher education. He received his law degree from USC Gould School of Law.
Miller Haga Law Group LLP (formerly Berke Miller Law Group)
Ian H. Haga
as name partner
in Los Angeles
Haga has been a partner for two years and is now name partner at Miller Haga, previously known as Berke Miller Law Group. He represents the firm in corporate and business transactional matters. He started his career as in-house counsel at an insurance brokerage, where he advised clients in the entertainment industry.
Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson PLC
Shiraz D. Tangri
was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson PLC in Los Angeles.
Tangri focuses his practice on real estate development, infrastructure, and transportation projects. He received his law degree from Georgetown University.
Jenny L. Riggs
was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson PLC in Los Angeles.
Riggs has extensive state and federal court litigation experience on behalf of municipalities, counties, special districts, businesses and non-profit organizations. She received her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.
Kristopher J. Kokotaylo
was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson PLC in Oakland.
Kokotaylo provides advice and guidance on the complete range of challenges that municipalities, counties, special districts and public agencies face as they implement their missions and mandates. He received his law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Newmeyer Dillion LLP
Michael T. Krueger
was promoted to partner of Newmeyer Dillion LLP in Walnut Creek.
Krueger represents companies in creating business solutions that minimize risks and to accomplish their objectives. Krueger advises in complex business negotiations, real estate ventures including Opportunity Zone projects, mergers and acquisitions, bank finance and private equity transactions. He graduated from Valparaiso School of Law.
Jason L. Morris
was promoted to partner of Newmeyer Dillion LLP in Newport Beach.
Morris represents companies in labor and employment law and business litigation. Morris has served eight years on active duty in United States Marine Corps as a Judge Advocate, both in the Pentagon advising senior military and civilian leaders and has represented more than 300 cases as a trial attorney. He earned his law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Meyers Nave

Kristopher Kokotaylo
was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave in Oakland.
Meyers Nave proudly announces the elevation of Kristopher Kokotaylo to Principal, effective January 1, 2020.
Kokotaylo joined Meyers Nave in 2013 as a member of the Municipal & Special District Law Practice Group. He provides advice and guidance on the complete range of challenges that municipalities, counties, special districts and public agencies face as they implement their missions and mandates. He currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Union City, Assistant City Attorney for the City of San Leandro, Interim City Attorney for the City of Newark, General Counsel for the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, and District Counsel for the Stege Sanitary District. Kris focuses his practice on land use, real estate, construction, constitutional law, code enforcement, the Public Records Act, and the Brown Act. He provides advice on governance and daily operations issues as well as public policy development and long-term planning matters. Kris serves on the Board of Directors for Spectrum Community Services, a nonprofit that assists low-income and disadvantaged individuals, families and seniors in their efforts to live independently. Kris is a member of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area and the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California.

Jenny L. Riggs
was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave in Los Angeles.
Meyers Nave proudly announces the elevation of Jenny Riggs to Principal, effective January 1, 2020.
Riggs joined Meyers Nave in 2013 as a member of the Trial and Litigation Practice Group. She has extensive state and federal court litigation experience on behalf of municipalities, counties, special districts, businesses and non-profit organizations. Jenny’s expertise includes single- and multi-plaintiff cases involving constitutional law, government corruption, land use, zoning, catastrophic disasters, eminent domain and inverse condemnation, coastal issues, environmental claims, Public Records Act and Brown Act compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, employment law, and civil rights claims for violations of substantive and procedural due process. In addition to her skills in the courtroom examining witnesses and arguing motions, and her expert aptitude for taking and defending depositions, Jenny leads the development and management of Meyers Nave’s systems and protocols for discovery plans in complex matters and document intensive litigation. Jenny handles pre-trial litigation (including dispositive motions), pre-trial discovery, various stages of motion practice, and trial. Her complex litigation experience also includes multi-district cases and civil litigations that are intertwined with criminal actions. Jenny is a member of California Women Lawyers and the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.

Shiraz Tangri
was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave in Los Angeles.
Meyers Nave proudly announces the elevation of Shiraz Tangri to Principal, effective January 1, 2020.
Shiraz Tangri joined Meyers Nave in 2013 as a member of the Land Use and Environmental Law Practice Group. He focuses his practice on real estate development, infrastructure, and transportation projects. His experience includes all aspects of land use entitlements, litigation and compliance for public and private clients who are project developers, owners and/or operators. Shiraz fills a specialized niche within land use law, advising clients on major infrastructure, transportation, and urban in-fill projects, including housing, cultural and educational institutions, and transit-oriented development. He is well-versed in the myriad of issues that project development clients face regarding land use law, such as compliance with the Brown Act and other public meeting laws, green building, adaptive re-use, air quality and permitting, renewable energy, sustainable development and transportation planning. Shiraz’s areas of expertise cover the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and complex multi-party and multi-site litigation involving environmental claims, public-private partnerships, water rights, contaminated properties, toxic torts, and products liability issues. Shiraz is a member of the California Minority Counsel Program and the Mentor Program of the South Asian Bar Association of Southern California.
Details
Founded in 1986, Meyers Nave continues to expand its legal services throughout California with nearly 70 attorneys working in multidisciplinary teams in offices across the state providing regulatory, transaction and litigation services to public entities and private businesses. Law360 named Meyers Nave a "California Powerhouse" - "one of the leading firms for local governments and public agencies throughout the state as well as private clients... ." Many of our attorneys, practices and results have been featured in local, state and national news and professional ranking publications. Learn more at www.meyersnave.com.