Gabriel R. Ravel joined California Health and Human Services Agency as general counsel in Sacramento.

Ravel, in his new role, will advise the director and chief deputy director on general legal matters, coordinate legal counsel and act as a liaison to other stakeholder groups and the governor's office. He has an understanding of health care reform and federal and state health insurance regulation.

David R. Callaway joined Goodwin Procter LLP as partner in Redwood City.

Callway, the former chief of the criminal division and head of the white collar unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, advises clients on a wide range of white collar cases, complex cross-border commercial litigation and internal investigations. He has handled federal, state and military criminal cases related to economic crime and securities fraud, national security, public corruption, cybercrime, trade secret, OFAC and export enforcement and money laundering.

Julie R. Gerchik was promoted to partner of Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shaprio LLP in Los Angeles.

Gerchik deals with various types of complex commercial matters while specializing in arbitration, business, class action, entertainment and general complex commercial matters. She has experience assisting clients such as international financial institutions, private equity firms, hedge funds and financial advisory firms.

Jennifer L. Cornell was promoted to partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in San Francisco.

Cornell focuses her practice on employment-related litigation and general business matters such as wage and hour class actions or pay equity lawsuits. She has a special emphasis in defending companies in complex class action matters in both the technology and retail sectors.

Kevin R. Ghassomian joined Venable LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Ghassomian's focuses on the personal legal needs of business owners, corporate executives, high-net-worth individuals and their families. He handles all aspects of domestic and international estate planning and specializes in tax minimization, asset protection, business succession and philanthropy.

Andrew B. Serwin joined DLA Piper as partner in San Diego.

Serwin advises Fortune 500 and emerging companies on matters relating privacy, security, crisis management and national security. He focuses on international compliance, health privacy, mobile, behavioral advertising, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and wiretap issues, electronic marketing, social media and Federal Trade Commission requirement compliance.

Paul L. Tetzloff was promoted to managing partner of Newmeyer & Dillion LLP in Newport Beach.

Tetzloff has experience representing national and international corporations and individuals in a wide variety of matters involving high stakes litigation, risk management, contracts, investigations and government relations. He serves a variety of industries such as real estate, hospitality, commercial construction, insurance, health care, technology, financial services and homebuilding.

Diane J. Mason joined Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Mason's practice focuses on trademark law and she assists clients with developing, maintaining and protecting their intellectual property portfolios. She also advises clients on the clearance of trademarks and works to enforce trademarks, copyrights and patents in federal and state courts.

Michael S. Chamberlin joined Baker & Hostetler LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Chamberlin regularly defends employers against claims involving unfair labor practice and labor contract violations, sexual harassment, various types of discrimination, whistleblowers and confidential trade secret matters. He has experience advising clients on employee and union relations matters, including contract administration, union organizing campaigns, contract negotiations and operating during labor disputes.

Patricia K. Conway joined Tyson & Mendes LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Conway is an experienced litigator who focuses on defense of construction, toxic tort, environmental and premises liability actions, representing manufacturer and contractor defendants. She has also represented plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury lawsuits and real estate professional negligence lawsuits.

Nancy M. Chen joined Fenwick & West LLP as partner in Mountain View.

Chen advises clients, from startups to public companies, on executive compensation and employee benefits at every stage of growth. She has extended experience counseling clients on tax and securities issues related to equity-based compensation, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, employment agreements and deferred compensation arrangements.

Amy L. Bomse joined Rogers, Joseph, O'Donnell PC as shareholder in San Francisco.

Bomse has experience representing clients in business disputes and has substantial trial experience. She focuses on defending against claims of negligence, breach of duty and fee disputes. She also counsels law firms and corporations on compliance with legal ethics and risk management.

Hon. Franz E. Miller joined JAMS Mediation, Arbitration and ADR Services as panel member in Irvine.

Miller is a former judge, who settled many cases that were expected to go to trial. He served as settlement officer on highly-contested matters. He will serve as an arbitrator, mediator and special master in a variety of practice areas, including appellate, business and commercial disputes as well as construction, employment, family law, personal injury, professional liability and real property matters.

William H. Dance joined Sklar Kirsh LLP as senior counsel in Los Angeles.

Dance has an extensive background in complex, commercial litigation experience, including contract claims, real property controversies and entertainment intellectual property claims. He also handles business litigation, food and supplement labeling, regulation, safety and product liability.

Jeffrey D. Diener joined DLA Piper LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Diener represents private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, life science and technology clients as well as lenders and developers in acquisitions, dispositions and financings. He is also experienced in forming and negotiating joint ventures and representing creditors, buyers and debtors in various distress company situations and bankruptcy matters.

Christopher G. Van Gundy joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Van Gundy focuses on novel food and beverage products as well as cannabis. He represents clients involving class actions, general commercial disputes, regulatory advice, insurance issues and trademark litigation.

Lincoln D. Bandlow as co-founder in Los Angeles

Bandlow focuses his practice on litigating entertainment, media and intellectual property matters as well as do clearance work for motion pictures, television shows, books and other works. He represents clients in the motion picture, television, publishing, broadcasting, Internet and advertising fields. In addition, Bandlow represents several of the principal underwriters for the media and entertainment industry.

Eve H.L. Wagner joined Signature Resolution LLP as panel member in Los Angeles.

Wagner primarily practices dispute resolution as a mediator and arbitrator who focuses on employment, entertainment, business and real estate disputes. She has resolved a variety of cases, ranging from single to multi-party and complex matters. Some of her specialty practice areas include discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, copyright infringement, breach of contract, fraud, international interference, breach of lease and unfair competition and collection disputes.

Jeffrey J. Denham joined K&L Gates LLP as government affairs counselor in Washington D.C..

Denham, a four-term U.S. Congressman, will join the firm's public policy law practice, bringing significant transportation and infrastructure policy experience as well as agriculture, natural resources and energy knowledge. During his time as a state senator in California, he focused on issues that included education, government waste, agriculture and economic development.

Elizabeth J. Wilgenburg was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City.

Wilgenburg's practice includes both lease transactions as well as acquisitions and dispositions. She focuses on representing landlords in connection with large lease transactions with technology-oriented tenants. She also represents owners in leasing sophisticated mixed-use retail, office and residential properties and development, build-to-suit office and industrial projects.

Ariel C. Shaeps was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City.

Shaeps is a construction attorney with a specialty in complex commercial and residential development, including all facets of design and construction. He has worked with many architects and contractors to provide market guidance on many economic and “quasi-business” related issues. Shaeps also has experience on many real estate and commercial issues, such as review, analysis and preparation of documents associated with acquisition and leasing transactions.

Paul W. Nash was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in San Francisco.

Nash focuses his practice on real estate matters, providing legal counsel on acquisitions, dispositions, financing and leasing matters. He represented buyers, sellers, borrowers, lenders and landlords in all facets of commercial property acquisition, financing, development, leasing and management.

Tracy B. Rane joined Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP as special counsel in Los Angeles.

Rane is a trial lawyer with experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in complex litigation matters, including insurance, copyright, trademark, defamation, right of publicity, breach of contract and right of privacy issues.

Melissa K. Peters joined Littler Mendelson PC as special counsel in Walnut Creek.

While with the Department of Industrial Relations, Peters gained an in-depth understanding of the regulations that apply to safety and health in the workplace. With this knowledge, she will be able to assist employers in complying with these requirements and provide counsel surrounding workplace incidents.

Scott M. Pearson joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Pearson's practice focuses on litigating in the consumer financial services industry, defending clients against regulatory enforcement and class actions as well as counseling high-profile stakeholders on regulatory compliance issues. Some of his clients include national banks, financial services firms, institutional investors, sports and entertainment companies, real estate firms and prominent retail and consumer product companies.

Philip R. Cosgrove joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as partner in Torrance.

Cosgrove concentrates on complex civil litigation, such as defending product liability, transportation matters and toxic tort cases. He also has served as counsel in automotive product liability cases for major manufacturers.

Ryan E. Cosgrove joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as partner in Torrance.

Cosgrove handles product and premises liability, transportation and general commercial litigation matters, including the defense of catastrophic injury claims involving manufacturers and suppliers of consumer products and automobiles. He is also experienced in appellate practice.

Michael W. McConnell joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC as senior of counsel in Palo Alto.

McConnell is a constitutional law scholar, experienced appellate litigator and former federal appellate judge. He specializes in constitutional law, history and first amendment matters. He has held leadership positions at Stanford Law School, the University of Chicago Law School and Utah Law School. He also was a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and New York University School of Law. Before Stanford, he also served as a judge on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.