Paul G. Murtagh was promoted to a partner of Levinson Arshonsky Kurtz & Komsky, LLP in Sherman Oaks. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Murtagh's practice includes a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters including business litigation, unfair competition, government litigation, entertainment, insurance coverage disputes, defendant class actions, professional liability, and other business contract and tort claims.

Wesley Sze was promoted to a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Palo Alto. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Sze represents leading companies in a wide range of complex litigation in all phases of litigation, including pre-trial discovery and substantive motions practice. In particular, he has significant experience advising clients in the technology and media industries on matters involving federal and state consumer fraud claims and data privacy issues.

Andrew Robb was promoted to a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Palo Alto. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Robb's practice focuses on patent and other technology-based disputes. He has litigated numerous cases in a variety of forums, including the International Trade Commission, federal district court, and California state court.

Poonam G. Kumar was promoted to a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Kumar is a former federal prosecutor with significant trial experience and an extensive background in handling high-stakes criminal and civil matters across various practice areas. Her practice focuses on internal investigations, regulatory and criminal investigations, complex commercial litigation, and trials across various industries, including financial services, technology, media and entertainment, sports, telecommunications, energy, automotive, and healthcare. Her promotion to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Daniel Nowicki was promoted to a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Nowicki represents clients across a variety of industries in high-stakes trial and appellate matters and has secured victories for his clients before all levels of the federal court system--from district courts to the Supreme Court--and in numerous state courts. Nowicki also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California, where he was lead trial counsel on various criminal matters.

Frances Waldmann was promoted to a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Waldmann's practice focuses on advising companies on a wide range of matters related to artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, including product counseling and governance, regulatory enforcement, and high-stakes litigation. She has significant expertise advising technology-focused companies on global regulatory compliance with existing laws that affect AI-related technologies, such as the FTC Act, California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), state biometric privacy laws, and other federal, state, and international laws and regulations.

Sylvia Bokyung St. Clair was promoted to partner of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

St. Clair is a member of the firm's labor and employment practice group and represents employers in a broad range of employment matters arising under both state and federal laws and is recognized nationally for her work in employment law.

Zachary Shub-Essig was promoted to counsel of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Shub-Essig focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, equity offerings, and other financing-related transactions. He represents public and private corporations and other entities in various industries throughout the United States and abroad, including the technology and industrial sectors. His promotion to counsel is effective Jan. 1.

Anthony J. Friedman was promoted to counsel of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Friedman has experience representing private equity sponsors and companies on various transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and equity investments. In addition, he has experience representing investors and emerging growth companies on venture capital investments and private financing. He also regularly advises clients on general corporate and governance matters. His promotion to counsel is effective Jan. 1.

Rara Kang was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.

Kang focuses her practice on commercial litigation and disputes. As a full-service litigator, she counsels various industries, including consumer products and services, energy, oil and gas, apparel, food and dietary supplements, and real estate. Her experience spans all phases of litigation, from advising on pre-suit litigation risk management to guiding business decisions through fact investigation, discovery, and dispositive motion practice to trial and post-trial motions. Her promotion to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Ryan M. Hicks was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.

Hicks represents private equity firms and public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. He provides strategic counsel to clients across various industries, including entertainment, sports, media, and healthcare. His promotion to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Diana Ovsepian was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.

Ovsepian represents private equity firms, REITs, hedge funds, lenders, financial institutions, investment banks, institutional investors, hotel management companies, operators and other real estate investors in all facets of domestic and cross-border real estate, hospitality, and finance transactions. She provides counsel on a range of commercial real estate asset classes including hospitality, multi-family, industrial, office, retail, senior and assisted living, healthcare, and mixed-use properties. Her promotion to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Ellen E. Hunter was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in San Francisco.

Hunter advises clients on various corporate and securities issues including mergers and acquisitions involving public and private entities, capital markets transactions, asset acquisitions and dispositions, and corporate governance. She has worked with financial and strategic buyers and sellers in the technology, healthcare, life sciences, media, and food and beverage industries. Her promotion to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Kathleen E.M. Moriarty was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Los Angeles.

Moriarty is a litigator and a member of the firm's Transportation, Business Solutions and Risk Management & Insurance Law Practice Groups. She specializes in litigation involving premises liability, trucking collisions, contractual disputes and insurance coverage.

Armando Castro joined Lowenstein Sandler as partner in Silicon Valley.

Castro partners with a diverse portfolio of clients across their growth journey - from early-stage startups to established public companies. He also advises their boards, investors, and investment banks. His expertise spans multiple technology and life sciences sectors, including financial technology and payment systems, cybersecurity and enterprise software, pharmaceutical research and medical devices, healthcare technology and manufacturing, renewable energy solutions, enterprise and telecommunications networking, and wireless technologies and semiconductors.

John P. Zaimes joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP as shareholder in Los Angeles and Orange County. The move was Dec. 13, 2024.

Zaimes litigates for and counsels clients on all manner of labor and employment issues, focusing on wage and hour class action litigation matters in California across various industries. He also handles California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) matters, assisting clients through complex workplace safety and health administrative law litigation. In addition, Zaimes works on class action claims brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Matthew Noller was promoted to counsel of King & Spalding LLP in San Francisco.

Noller specializes in civil litigation and appeals, representing sophisticated business clients. He has played a key role in high-profile trials in both federal and state courts nationwide and has handled appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, and the highest courts of several states. His promotion to partner takes effect on Jan. 1.

James A. Unger was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in Los Angeles.

Unger is an experienced business trial lawyer focusing on complex litigation, including commercial disputes, consumer class actions, and high-stakes employment matters. Through trials, numerous successful dispositive motions, and creative resolution, He has achieved results for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups and individual investors in industries including technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and real estate. His elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Carter L. George was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in Los Angeles.

George focuses his practice on representing Fortune 100 and other entities in a wide range of complex litigation, including commercial disputes, toxic tort, automotive, and other product liability and tort cases. He has been a part of multiple trial teams in cases that have gone to verdict, and he frequently secures dismissals and summary adjudication in high-stakes civil litigation. His elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Ariana E. Fuller was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in Los Angeles.

Fuller is a member of the firm's Healthcare practice group. She specializes in managed care litigation and consumer class action defense on behalf of hospitals and other healthcare providers. Fuller has won several jury verdicts on behalf of hospitals against healthcare payers in out-of-network reimbursement disputes. Her elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Bailey J. Langner was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in San Francisco.

Langner defends tech companies, product manufacturers, and energy sector clients in product liability and personal injury cases. She litigates in state and federal court, including multi-district litigation (MDLs) and coordinates state proceedings, and represents clients in related government investigations. Her elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Andrew B. Still was promoted to partner of Snell & Wilmer LLP in Orange County. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Still concentrates his practice on business bankruptcy matters and related issues. He has a multi-faceted practice representing chapter 11 debtors-in-possession, as well as secured and unsecured creditors in all types of bankruptcy proceedings. Still also has significant experience representing defendants in bankruptcy avoidance actions and fraudulent transfer actions. His elevation to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Erin Denniston Leach was promoted to partner of Snell & Wilmer LLP in Orange County. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Leach's practice is concentrated in employment litigation and counseling. She provides clients with ongoing counseling on a wide range of personnel matters including hiring and termination decisions, employment agreements, policy drafting, wage and hour issues, and employee medical leave. His elevation to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Sarah Hibbard was promoted to counsel of Snell & Wilmer LLP in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Hibbard's focus includes general corporate governance, private debt and equity financings, and mergers and acquisitions, as well as structuring and negotiating intellectual property and commercial transactions such as licensing and tech transfers, collaborations, pre-clinical and clinical research, research and development activities, and manufacturing. Her elevation to counsel is effective Jan. 1.

Adam Ackerman was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.

Ackerman advises clients on various transactional matters, including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions and investments, joint ventures, split-offs, restructurings, and corporate governance matters. He has represented private equity funds, family- and individually owned businesses and other privately held and publicly traded companies across a broad range of industries, including the manufacturing, organization, technology, health care, agriculture, consumer products, energy, infrastructure, food, real estate, hospitality, and financial services sectors. His elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Benjamin Haber was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.

Haber is an intellectual property litigator who focuses on representing technology clients in complex patent and technology-intense matters. He has appeared in U.S. district and appellate courts and administrative fora, including the Patent and Trade and Appeal Board and the U.S. International Trade Commission. Haber has a degree in physics, and his experience includes representing clients in matters involving a wide array of technologies, including mobile communications, video processing, aerospace systems, and medical devices. His elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Kelly Wood was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Newport Beach.

Wood defends companies in a broad range of labor & employment matters, including those involving alleged disability and employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, government investigations, retaliation and wrongful termination actions, and trade secret misappropriation matters. Her elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Jessica Fluehr was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in San Francisco.

Fluehr advises public and private clients concerning the acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, operation, and management of all commercial real estate assets. Jessica has extensive experience representing borrowers in secured financing transactions, including mortgage and mezzanine loan originations, assumptions, modifications, and workouts. Her elevation to partner is effective Jan. 1.

Giovanni Saarman González was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. in San Francisco.

Saarman González represents clients in federal and state courts and administrative proceedings before government agencies, including the California Public Utilities Commission. He focuses his practice on representing and advising clients operating in regulated industries and is a key member of the firm's energy practice. His promotion to partner will take effect on Jan. 1.

Anne K. Conley was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. in Los Angeles.

Conley specializes in complex civil litigation and strategic client counseling, with a particular focus on the unique legal challenges confronting the media, entertainment, and technology sectors. She also brings substantial expertise in appellate advocacy and antitrust matters, representing a diverse range of clients. Her promotion to partner will take effect on Jan. 1.

Colin A. Devine was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. in Los Angeles.

Devine's practice centers on complex civil litigation, internal investigations, and white-collar criminal defense. He represents companies in high stakes matters, including multidistrict litigation, mass torts, and class actions across various industries. With expertise spanning every stage of legal disputes -- from investigations and pre-litigation strategy to litigation, trial, and appeal-- Devine delivers comprehensive and effective advocacy. His promotion to partner will take effect on Jan. 1.

David W. Moreshead was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. in Los Angeles.

Moreshead specializes in labor and employment litigation, as well as providing strategic counsel to clients. His extensive experience includes handling complex class and representative wage-and-hour cases, along with a diverse array of single-plaintiff claims involving wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. He has drafted and argued motions, overseen all aspects of discovery, and represented clients before the California Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His promotion to partner will take effect on Jan. 1.

Kristina A Hoban was promoted to partner of Kelly, Trotter & Franzen in Long Beach.

Hoban has distinguished herself as defense counsel in medical malpractice and elder abuse. With more than 13 years of experience, she has represented various individuals, including physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers, as well as medical groups and hospitals in Southern California.

Crystal Yu joined Rogers Joseph O'Donnell PC as associate in San Francisco.

Yu joins the RJO's Labor & Employment and Retail Industry Trade Regulation practice groups. Yu is a former summer associate and a previous San Francisco City Attorney's Office legal extern. She was also a judicial extern for Judge Samuel K. Feng of the San Francisco Superior Court. Before attending law school, Yu worked as a field representative and staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo. While in law school, she was involved in the Hastings Business Law Society and the Women's Law Society.

Jenny L. Dixon joined Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP as partner in San Diego.

Dixon represents individuals and companies in business and employment disputes, corporate and securities fraud, and violations of antitrust and competition laws. With over 25 years of experience in both the pursuit and defense of complex claims, Dixon has the experience to resolve clients' disputes, whether they are plaintiffs or defendants.

Benjamin G. Kassis joined Frost LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Kassis, a business litigator with a decade-plus career representing clients in entertainment, media, sports, entrepreneurship, and real estate, increases the firm's existing practice strengths on behalf of corporate, individual, and high-profile clients across media, entertainment, sports, and music. Kassis will continue to counsel high-profile clients such as filmmakers, professional athletes, musicians, producers, media distributors, marketing leaders, content creators, and media executives. He will also contribute to Frost LLP's growing appellate practice. 

Sergio Broholm was promoted to partner of Shartsis Friese LLP in San Francisco.

Broholm is a member of the firm's Corporate Group, representing founders, startups, executives, investors and publicly traded companies in mergers and acquisitions, emerging company representation, and general contractual and transactional matters. He also regularly advises blockchain and cryptocurrency clients on a range of transactional matters and outside general counsel work. Broholm maintains an active pro bono practice, spearheading a pro bono program at the firm to help formerly incarcerated individuals clean their conviction records.

Melissa Hung was promoted to partner of Shartsis Friese LLP in San Francisco.

Hung advises families and individuals by developing and implementing estate planning strategies to transfer assets in a thoughtful and tax-efficient manner. She also advises fiduciaries regarding trust and estate administrations. Her experience includes customizing revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and other vehicles to promote her clients’ goals. Hung is the membership chair and board director of the San Francisco Estate Planning Council.

Suzy Orza was promoted to partner of Shartsis Friese LLP in San Francisco.

Orza handles a wide range of business litigation in state and federal courts and in private arbitration, including breach of contract claims, partnership disputes, trade secret misappropriation claims and unfair competition claims. She has represented departments of the State of California, large public and private companies, small businesses, and individuals.

Joe Soliman was promoted to partner of Shartsis Friese LLP in San Francisco.

Soliman has substantial experience in the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of a broad range of real estate and finance transactions. He represents real estate clients in real estate transactions, including purchases, sales and financings of commercial properties including multifamily projects, large office buildings, large-scale residential development projects and commercial properties nationwide.

Bijal V. Vakil joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

Vakil represents publicly traded and venture-backed companies and has extensive experience in high-stakes intellectual property and technology litigation. He is an invaluable partner to major Silicon Valley and international technology companies and relentlessly works to protect intellectual property and foster success for those at the forefront of technological innovation.

Jody L. Bryson was promoted to partner of Perkins Coie LLP in Palo Alto.

Bryson guides clients through even the most complex personal and family circumstances to craft a unique strategy to accomplish their goals. Her estate planning practice includes the creation of revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives, as well as, associated documents to assist with entity formation, wealth transfer and asset protection. Her elevation to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Colin M. Fowler was promoted to partner of Perkins Coie LLP in Palo Alto.

Fowler focuses on thoroughly understanding clients' technology in order to offer strategic patent advice to meet business goals. He advises his clients, including financial services companies, manufacturers, and innovative technology companies, on matters concerning artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), bioinformatics tools, cybersecurity, blockchain and cryptography, cloud computing, virtual (VR), augmented (AR), and mixed realities (MR), video games, transistors, and nanoscale devices. His elevation to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Michelle W. Edwards was promoted to partner of Perkins Coie LLP in San Francisco.

Edwards represents companies throughout their life cycle, from formation through financings, growth through business combinations, and exit transactions. She also has broad experience counseling publicly listed companies on securities law, corporate governance, and compliance matters. Her elevation to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Krisha Yadav-Ranjan joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as associate in Sacramento.

Yadav-Ranjan is an associate attorney practicing out of the firm's Sacramento office. She represents clients on a variety of issues including intellectual property, products liability, and environmental litigation. Yadav-Ranjan is also a registered patent attorney.

John Pavolotsky was promoted to partner of Stoel Rives LLP in San Francisco.

Pavolotsky's practice focuses on advising clients regarding privacy and data security matters and on structuring and negotiating complex technology transactions, including inbound and outbound hardware and software licensing and strategic collaboration and development agreements. His elevation to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Lilly B. McKenna was promoted to partner of Stoel Rives LLP in San Francisco.

McKenna leverages her deep experience in state energy policy and regulation to guide clients through complex power procurement, rate, distributed resource, and electric transportation matters. She helps clients comply with and advocates for improvements to state energy policies. She regularly appears before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). She has appeared pro hac vice to advocate for clients in beneficial electrification cases in several other jurisdictions nationwide. Her elevation to the partnership is effective Jan. 1.

Lauren E Holappa joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as an associate in San Francisco.

Holappa is an associate practicing out of the San Francisco office counseling clients in a variety of matters in all forms of civil litigation with a focus on insurance defense.

Kai'Ree Kauneeisha Howard joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as an associate in San Francisco.

Howard is an associate practicing in the firm's San Francisco office counseling clients in a variety of matters relating to professional liability, employment, real estate, trust & estates, and all forms of civil litigation.

Matt Drenan joined Quarles & Brady LLP as partner in San Diego.

Drenan advises local, national and international clients on a wide range of labor, employment, transportation, logistics and commercial litigation matters, including single plaintiff, complex, class and representative action defense in both state and federal court. He is deeply experienced handling wage and hour compliance, class actions, Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation, single-plaintiff wage and hour disputes, and matters related to pay equity, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, religious exemption, executive compensation, federal and state leave law, and more.

Charles Whitman joined Quarles & Brady LLP as partner in San Diego.

Whitman advises business owners, employers and individuals on an array of workplace issues, business disputes, and government investigations and prosecutions. He handles all aspects of state and federal employment litigation, including wage and hour class and representative actions, Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation, and single plaintiff wage and hour disputes. Additionally, Whitman guides clients on federal and state discrimination, hostile work environment, bullying, sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation cases.

Richard N. Lozano joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as an associate in San Diego.

Lozano gained valuable experience representing shareholders harmed by corporate malfeasance through shareholder derivative litigation and securities fraud class actions. Lozano also previously worked as a law clerk in the business litigation practice group for a nationwide litigation firm.

Judge Morrison C. England joined Judicate West as neutral in Sacramento.

England has more than 40 years of combined legal experience, including nearly 30 years of serving California from the bench. He was appointed to the district court in 2002 by then-President George W. Bush following six years with the Sacramento County Superior Court, and he served as chief judge of the Eastern District of California from 2012-2016. He has presided over many matters including dependency and delinquency, criminal and civil.