Fisher & Phillips LLP
Christopher M. Ahearn
was promoted to partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP in Irvine.
Ahearn defends employers in all areas of employment law, focusing on complex class action and multi-party lawsuits and harassment and discrimination claims in courts and in arbitration. He counsels clients on wage and hour matters, discipline and termination, and employment policies and procedures. Ahearn also represents employers in claims brought under the California Private Attorneys General Act.
California Department of Business Oversight
Lila Mirrashidi
was promoted to deputy commissioner of policy of California Department of Business Oversight in Sacramento.
Lila Mirrashidi has been appointed deputy commissioner of policy at the California Department of Business Oversight, where she has been deputy commissioner of legal (business regulations) since 2013. Prior to that, Mirrashidi was deputy commissioner of business regulations at the California Department of Corporations from 2012 to 2013.
Jones Day
Kelly Vincent O'Donnell
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Diego.
O'Donnell is a member of the firm's business & tort litigation practice. He represents clients in federal and state courts in California and throughout the United States. His civil litigation practice encompasses a range of matters including antitrust and unfair competition, patent litigation and licensing disputes, business litigation, trade secret misappropriation, credit reporting, and product liability. He also defends companies facing government investigations involving possible violations of federal laws such as the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Hunt Ortmann Palffy Nieves Darling & Mah
JoLynn Marie Pollard
was promoted to shareholder of Hunt Ortmann Palffy Nieves Darling & Mah in Pasadena.
Hunt Ortmann Palffy Nieves Darling & Mah announced JoLynn Marie Pollard has been elevated to shareholder. Pollard represents clients facing challenges involving insurance, environmental, construction defect, business and complex tort litigation.
Foley & Mansfield PLLP
Mark David Sayre
was promoted to equity partner of Foley & Mansfield PLLP in Los Angeles.
Foley & Mansfield PLLP announced Mark David Sayre has been named equity partner. Sayre focuses his practice on product liability and toxic/mass tort litigation.
Foley & Mansfield PLLP
Margaret Johnson
was promoted to partner of Foley & Mansfield PLLP in Los Angeles.
Foley & Mansfield PLLP announced Margaret Johnson has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Johnson focuses her practice on product liability and toxic/mass tort litigation.
Farella Braun & Martel LLP
Amanda Dorothy Hairston
was promoted to partner of Farella Braun & Martel LLP in San Francisco.
Farella Braun & Martel LLP announced Amanda Dorothy Hairston has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Hairston represents corporate policyholders in insurance coverage disputes. Her clients include companies in the technology, healthcare, retail, and financial services industries.
Farella Braun & Martel LLP
Erik Christopher Olson
was promoted to partner of Farella Braun & Martel LLP in San Francisco.
Farella Braun & Martel LLP announced Erik Christopher Olson has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Olson litigates patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade dress, and right of publicity infringement actions, as well as disputes over licensing royalties and ownership of intellectual property.
Reed Smith LLP
Ashley Lynn Shively
was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.
Reed Smith LLP announced Ashley Lynn Shively has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Shively is a member of the firm's financial industry group. She represents financial institutions and businesses in consumer class and individual actions, including fair lending, privacy, credit reporting, debt collection, false advertising, and unfair business practices.
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP
Michael Heath
was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP in Los Angeles.
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP announced Michael Heath has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Heath represents emerging growth companies, technology incubators and venture funds with a focus on venture financing, debt financing, mergers and acquisitions, token investments and corporate governance matters.
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP
Jared Brooks Grauer
was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP in Silicon Valley.
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP announced Jared Brooks Grauer has been promoted to partner in Silicon Valley. Grauer represents technology companies in all phases of their life cycle. His practice focuses on strategic advisory, corporate governance, securities law compliance, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions and other transactions. He also regularly advises many venture capital firms in their investments.
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Michael Lange Lawhead
joined Baker & Hostetler LLP as partner in Costa Mesa.
Baker & Hostetler LLP announced Michael Lange Lawhead has joined as a corporate partner in Costa Mesa. Lawhead represents public companies in equity and debt securities transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance and compliance. Lawhead has a particular focus on healthcare and life sciences. He also represents privately held companies in offerings of preferred equity and venture capital funds as investors in such transactions
Address
600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 900 , Costa Mesa 92626-7221 United States
T:
(714) 754-6600
F:
(714) 754-6611
Dykema Gossett LLP
Dommond Edward Lonnie
was promoted to director of automotive industry group of Dykema Gossett LLP in Los Angeles.
Dykema Gossett LLP announced Dommond Edward Lonnie was appointed director of the firm's automotive industry group. Based in the firm's Los Angeles office, Dommond represents domestic and foreign automobile/mobility manufacturers in product liability, class action, toxic tort, and commercial litigation matters.
Reed Smith LLP
James Mark Neudecker
was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.
Reed Smith LLP announced James Mark Neudecker has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Neudecker is a member of the firm's complex litigation group. His practice focuses on commercial litigation and arbitrations for companies in a variety of business sectors, including financial services, transportation, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, hospitality, and most recently, the on-demand gig economy.
Stoel Rives LLP
Bryan Lakeith Hawkins
was promoted to partner of Stoel Rives LLP in Sacramento.
Stoel Rives LLP announced Bryan Lakeith Hawkins has been promoted to partner in Sacramento. Hawkins represents employers in employment-related litigation in court and before administrative agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. His practice also involves counseling employers on employment-related issues, including handbooks and policies. Hawkins also provides counseling on labor issues, such as advising employers on how to effectively respond to union organizing campaigns, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, and manage the employer/union relationship.
Reed Smith LLP
Brian Adair Sutherland
was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.
Reed Smith LLP announced Brian Adair Sutherland has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Sutherland, an attorney in the firm's appellate group, briefs and argues appeals and class action matters in federal and state courts.
King Holmes Paterno & Berliner, LLP
Joseph Michael Carlone
was promoted to partner of King Holmes Paterno & Berliner, LLP in Los Angeles.
King Holmes Paterno & Berliner, LLP announced Joseph Michael Carlone has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Carlone focuses his practice on entertainment law, handling matters including representing a broad range of artists and companies in all facets of the music, motion picture, television, merchandising, fashion and entertainment businesses.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Aaron Kyle Briggs
joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as of counsel in San Francisco.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP announced Aaron Kyle Briggs has joined as of counsel in San Francisco. Briggs is a member of the firm's securities regulation and corporate governance group. His responsibilities included board governance, investor outreach and shareholder activism, SEC reporting, proxy solicitation and annual shareholders meeting prep, and providing advice on executive compensation and proxy and financial disclosure matters.
Address
555 Mission St # 3000 , San Francisco 94105 United States
T:
(415) 393-8200
Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP
Teresa W. Ghali
was promoted to partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in San Francisco.
Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP, a labor and immigration law firm, announces the promotion of Teresa W. Ghali to partner in San Francisco. In her new leadership capacity, Ghali will advise and defend California employers against class actions and single plaintiff claims in federal and state courts, as well as administrative proceedings before the EEOC, DLSE, and DFEH.
Ghali's areas of practice include class actions, wage and hour issues, EEO litigation, and wrongful termination litigation. Her recent successes as an experienced trial and appellate attorney include obtaining: denial of class certification in Duran v. U.S. Bank (Alameda Cty. Sup. Ct. 2016); class decertification in Trahan v. U.S. Bank (N.D. Cal. 2015); and summary judgment in a single plaintiff wrongful termination action, Parker v. Comcast (N.D. Cal. 2017). Ghali has also resolved wage and hour claims before state administrative agencies and settled numerous single plaintiff lawsuits prior to and during litigation.
Ghali is a regular contributor to the California Employment Law Letter, a biweekly newsletter that keeps California in-house counsel, managers and HR professionals apprised of new statewide employment laws and developments. In 2010, Ghali spent two months as a volunteer Deputy District Attorney in Marin County, and in that capacity, prosecuted five jury trials and a bench trial to verdict.
Her stellar track record of defending employers in employment, breach of contract, and insurance matters has earned Ghali her place on the Super Lawyers Northern California Rising Star list for the past eight years, a recognition bestowed upon less than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state.
Ghali graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), where she served as editor of the Asian American Law Journal and was a board and founding member of the Chinese Law Society. She is also the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Awards in the Global Migration Seminar & International Human Right Clinic. Ghali received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish from University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Details
About Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP For more than 20 years, Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP has distinguished itself as one of the top employment, labor and immigration firms in California, representing employers in single-plaintiff and class action lawsuits and advising employers on related legal compliance and risk avoidance. The firm has five offices throughout California - in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, visit: www.CDFLaborLaw.com and find CDF on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more about how the firm protects California employers.
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP
Richard Van Swearingen
was promoted to senior counsel of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP in San Francisco.
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP announced Richard Van Swearingen has been promoted to senior counsel. Swearingen focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, employment law, civil rights issues, attorneys' fees applications, and appellate matters.
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bensen & Loewy, LLP
Gary Perl is retiring from Fragomen, Del Rey, Bensen & Loewy, LLP. Gary Perl
Details
Fragomen Announces the Retirement of Three Partners New York, NY. - Fragomen, the world's leading provider of immigration services worldwide and a member of both the Am Law 100 and the Am Law Global 100, announces the retirement of three Partners from the Firm. Patrick Quane has been with the Firm, based in New York, for more than 40 years. He became a Partner in 1977. Patrick conceived and headed up a dedicated legal team to provide representation of clients in all types of proceedings at local U.S. immigration offices and other government agencies involved in the immigration process. By working closely with these agencies over many years, he established important relationships with key government officials that continue to enable our firm to bring problematic, sensitive and urgent matters to the attention of the appropriate decision makers whenever it is necessary. Gary Perl is retiring from the position of Managing Partner of the San Diego office. Gary has been a Partner since 2004, when the former Hirson Wexler Perl LLP merged with the Firm. A native of South Africa, Gary has been involved in international law since the mid-1980s, and has practiced exclusively in the field of corporate immigration and nationality law for more than 25 years. Gary also managed the San Diego office's pro bono services provided to Casa Cornelia, a nonprofit organization in San Diego that provides legal services to women and children who have been the victims of abuse and who qualify for immigration benefits to remain in the United States. Stephen Green joined the Firm as a Partner in 2013, and has served the Firm in the Dubai, Frankfurt and Shanghai offices. Over his years with Fragomen he played a key role in organizing the Firm's EMEA conferences and a number of regional training events. Originally from the UK, prior to joining Fragomen Stephen worked at a number of Big Four accounting firms, where he worked and lived in Moscow, Bangkok, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The Joint Executive Committee extends its most sincere appreciation to Patrick, Gary and Stephen for their leadership and their dedication to subject matter expertise, client service and the strength of the Firm. About Fragomen Fragomen is recognized as the world's leading global corporate immigration services provider. The firm employs more than 500 attorneys, solicitors or similar immigration professionals, and over 2,500 additional immigration professionals and staff located in nearly 50 offices in 20 countries. In total, Fragomen provides immigration support in more than 170 countries. For more than 60 years, Fragomen has represented a broad range of companies, organizations, emerging businesses and individuals, working in partnership with clients to facilitate the hiring and transfer of employees worldwide. For detailed information about Fragomen, please visit www.fragomen.com.
Robins Kaplan LLP
Christine S. Yun Sauer
was promoted to principal of Robins Kaplan LLP in Silicon Valley.
Robins Kaplan LLP announced Christine Yun Sauer has been promoted to principal in Silicon Valley. Sauer is a legal technology strategist who practices as an intellectual property trial lawyer and legal technology consultant. She represents technology companies in multimillion-dollar litigation, with particular experience working with semiconductor fabrication/packaging and life science entities, including medical device, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies.
Cox, Castle & Nicholson
Andrea Saunders Rifenbark
was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson in Los Angeles.
Andrea Saunders Rifenbark's institutional investment practice focuses on acquisitions and dispositions as well as domestic and international joint ventures and financial transactions for pension funds and other institutional clients. During her tenure, Rifenbark has worked on many high-stakes matters, including the recent acquisition of a $610 million office park for one of the largest U.S. public pension funds. She also recently represented a group of foreign pension funds in the formation of a $600 million joint venture to acquire, develop and operate student housing projects near major universities throughout the United States.
Rifenbark is a nine-time Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, a 2017 Southern California Super Lawyer, an Up-and-Coming 50 Women Southern California Rising Star and she was recognized as one of "Five Associates to Watch" by the Daily Journal. She is a member of NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association's SoCal Chapter and National Multifamily Housing Council.
Elizabeth Willes
was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson in Los Angeles.
Willes represents real estate owners, investors and developers during all phases of the acquisition, development, management, leasing, financing and disposition of retail, residential (including multi-family and student housing), office and industrial properties. A significant amount of her current practice focuses on the representation of institutional investors and public pension funds in complex joint ventures and fund investment transactions involving hundreds of millions of dollars in commitments. With experience representing operators, developers and investors, Willes' balanced perspective helps clients achieve successful venture formation in an efficient manner.
Willes recently represented a student housing developer in the initial acquisition and joint venture with a local developer of land for redevelopment, and a subsequent joint venture with a New York-based hedge fund for development ,of a 1,039-bed, $193 million high-rise student housing project in San Jose, California. Her representative clients include San Diego-based Brixton Capital and Westcore Properties and El Segundo-based Griffin Capital Company, LLC. Willes is a member of the California Bar Association's Real Property Section, an Advisory Board Member of Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter, and the President of the Myanmar-Burma Children's Hope Fund.
Details
Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP delivers strategic legal counsel and services to developers, public agencies, energy companies, lenders, investors, joint ventures, pension funds, landlords, tenants, corporations, high net-worth individuals and others in the management of their complex real estate, business and litigation challenges. Founded in 1968, the firm has more than 130 attorneys in offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.coxcastle.com. Follow the firm on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP
Jared B. Grauer
was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in Silicon Valley.
Jared represents a variety of technology companies in all phases of their life cycle. His practice focuses on strategic advisory, corporate governance, securities law compliance, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions and other transactions. Jared also regularly advises many venture capital firms in their investments. Prior to joining Gunderson Dettmer, Jared co-founded Course Hero, Inc., the leading online learning platform for crowd-sourced study resources.
Mike Heath
was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in Los Angeles.
Mike co-founded the firm’s Los Angeles office in 2012. He represents emerging growth companies, technology incubators and venture funds with a focus on venture financing, debt financing, mergers and acquisitions, token investments and corporate governance matters. He represents clients in a wide range of industries.
Details
Gunderson Dettmer is the leading business law firm for venture capital and emerging growth companies globally. The firm brings unsurpassed commitment and experience to supporting entrepreneurs and investors in building game-changing companies and leading venture capital brands. With more than 220 attorneys in nine offices around the world, the firm is consistently recognized for leadership and excellence in its areas of practice by Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, Legal 500 and Pitchbook.
Akerman LLP
Caroline Hoadley Mankey joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Kanika Dziko Corley joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Details
Akerman Continues Los Angeles Growth with Team of IP and Commercial Litigation Partners LOS ANGELES -- Jan. 10, 2018 -- Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, continued the expansion of its Los Angeles office with intellectual property partner Caroline Mankey and commercial litigation partner Kanika Corley. They join from Sedgwick LLP, where Mankey chaired the Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Group. The lawyers join Akerman's Los Angeles team at a time when it has more than doubled in size since 2015 to 32 lawyers. In recent months, the office relocated to the CalEdison DTLA to accommodate continuing growth. "Caroline and Kanika are highly skilled lawyers who bring important depth to our intellectual property and commercial litigation team in Los Angeles and nationwide," said Lawrence Rochefort, chair of the Litigation Practice Group. "We look forward to making even greater contributions to our clients through their comprehensive knowledge of the entertainment, arts, fashion, retail, sports and technology sectors." "Caroline and Kanika add great value to Akerman's national IP and litigation platforms, as we expand our Los Angeles presence to meet the growing needs of our clients," said Sue Zabloudil, Los Angeles office managing partner. "In Los Angeles and nationwide, we remain focused on making Akerman a place where clients benefit from a diversity of ideas and experiences essential to advance their goals as well as our culture of collaborative innovation." Caroline Mankey Mankey is a seasoned trial lawyer representing clients in intellectual property matters in the entertainment, arts, fashion, retail and technology sectors. She focuses her practice on copyright, trademark, trade secret, design patent, licensing and other contract rights, and rights of publicity disputes. Her entertainment clients include motion picture studios and production companies, actors, comedians, television personalities, and artists. Mankey is recognized among the National Law Journal's 2017 list of Intellectual Property Trailblazers and among the Daily Journal's 2017 Top Intellectual Property Lawyers in California. She serves as chair of the Women Who Lead Board for the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel and as a board member of Female Executives in Media and Entertainment. Kanika Corley Corley is known for her broad-based business and entertainment litigation practice. Her clients include multimedia companies, musicians and other creatives, professional athletes, fashion brands, wine manufacturers, and hotels. She focuses her practice on commercial disputes as well as soft intellectual property litigation and prosecution for clients in the media, entertainment and sports sectors. Corley was named to the National Bar Association's Top 40 Under 40 Nation's Best Advocates list. In addition to her practice, she serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Southern California's Gould School of Law. Mankey and Corley are the latest lateral partners to join the Los Angeles team. Other recent additions include consumer financial partner Kathleen "Kitty" Ryan, a former Deputy Assistant Director for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Office of Regulations, and real estate transactional associate Christopher Muno, who represents operators, developers and investors in connection with the formation and structuring of real estate joint ventures and other investment vehicles. About Akerman Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized by Financial Times as among the most forward thinking firms in the industry. Its more than 650 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world's most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and overcome barriers to innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate, and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America. Akerman's Intellectual Property Practice Group serves clients worldwide in all areas of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and the Internet. Ranked nationally by U.S. News - Best Lawyers in intellectual property litigation, the group handles complex and high-profile cases spanning a range of industries, including technology, life sciences, fashion, entertainment and sports, and chemical, among others. More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.
Address
601 West Fifth Street, Suite 300 , Los Angeles 90071 United States
T:
(213) 688-9500
F:
(213) 627-6342
Holland & Knight LLP
Timothy Quinn Evans
was promoted to partner of Holland & Knight LLP in Los Angeles.
Holland & Knight LLP announced Timothy Quinn Evans has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Evans is a member of the firm's government section. He practices in the area of Native American law in several capacities, including tribal governmental, transactional and litigation work. Evans also frequently interacts with the federal regulatory agencies involved in tribal client matters.
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP
Michael Freedman
was promoted to senior counsel of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP in San Francisco.
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP announced Michael Freedman has been promoted to senior counsel. Freedman focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, employment law, constitutional and civil rights law, and appellate litigation.
VLP Law Group LLP
Debra Ann Schiff
joined VLP Law Group LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
VLP Law Group LLP announced Debra Ann Schiff has joined the firm's real estate practice group as a partner in Los Angeles. Schiff's practice focuses on commercial leasing with a special emphasis on high-rise developments. She has helped to develop and structure office leasing programs, guidelines and documentation for clients and projects throughout the country.
Address
6876 Batiquitos Dr , Carlsbad 92011-3917 United States
T:
(213) 261-0035
F:
(213) 261-0036
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP
Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld
was promoted to managing partner of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP in San Francisco.
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP announced Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld has been named managing partner. Grunfeld succeeds Mike Bien, who has held the position since the firm was founded in 1990. She focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on business, civil rights, and employment litigation.
Alston & Bird LLP
Jessica Leah Sharron
was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.
Alston & Bird LLP announced Jessica Leah Sharron has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Sharron is a member of the firm's construction & government contracts group. She represents large and small government contractors across a variety of industries on compliance with federal, state, and local procurement rules and regulations and in adversarial proceedings such as pre- and post-award bid protests and False Claims Act litigation. Additionally, she represents owners, developers, and contractors in public and commercial construction projects through all phases of construction contracts.