Kathleen Celia Ryan joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Akerman LLP announced Kathleen Celia Ryan has joined the firm's consumer financial services practice as a partner in Los Angeles. Ryan focuses her practice on fair lending and regulatory compliance matters, particularly on issues related to the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Community Reinvestment Act, Truth in Lending Act, and UDAAP. She previously served as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Regulations.

Tonissa May Agajanian was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Tonissa May Agajanian has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Agajanian is a member of the firm's real estate section, where she provides strategic counsel to property owners, lenders and commercial tenants on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions with an emphasis on financing, leasing, purchase and sale transactions and development.

Kathryn Diane Zajec Domin was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Kathryn Diane Zajec Domin has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Domin is a member of the firm's business litigation section, where her practice focuses on litigation involving a variety of industries and topics, including real estate transactions, landlord tenant disputes, misrepresentation and fraud, business interference claims, defamation, soft intellectual property disputes, unfair business practices, and class action defense.

Benjamin Charles Deming was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Benjamin Charles Deming has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Deming is a member of the firm's trial section. His practice focuses on patent, trademark, unfair competition and corporate litigation. Deming also represents clients in patent and trademark prosecution and appeal matters before the Patent and Trademark Office. His clients are found in the high tech, medical device, food and drug, textile, automotive, and consumer products industries.

Ryan K M Wong was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco.

Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP announced Ryan K M Wong has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Wong represents clients in a broad range of complex commercial and intellectual property litigation matters.

Hyongsoon Kim was promoted to partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Irvine.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced Hyongsoon Kim has been promoted to partner in Irvine. Kim is a member of the firm's litigation practice and focuses on the defense of class action matters, including consumer and digital privacy/security class actions, complex commercial and business litigation matters, corporate governance and shareholder disputes, and bankruptcy litigation.

Brian Stretch joined Sidley Austin LLP as partner in Sidley Austin LLP in San Francisco.

White Collar: Government Litigation & Investigations practice

Peter Ian Altman was promoted to partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Los Angeles.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced Peter Ian Altman has been promoted to partner in the firm's white collar and government investigations practice. Altman represents investment management firms, private and public companies, and individuals in white collar and other government enforcement and regulatory matters, internal investigations and securities class action litigation.

Brian Edward Whitley was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Indian Wells.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Brian Edward Whitley has been promoted to partner in Indian Wells. Whitley is a member of the firm's business practice group. He represents local and national banks and borrowers in various loan transactions, nonprofit corporations and other businesses in tax-exempt financing transactions, and a variety of other clients in business and real estate matters.

Justina Kahn Sessions was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco.

Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP announced Justina Kahn Sessions has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Sessions focuses her practice on commercial litigation, particularly intellectual property and antitrust matters. She has counseled individual clients and steered joint defense groups through complex patent disputes and high-stakes antitrust cases.

Alissa Miller was promoted to partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Los Angeles.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced Alissa Miller has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Miller is a member of the firm's entertainment practice. She represents financial institutions, other financiers, producers and distributors with respect to their film, television and corporate activities. Among her clients are borrowers, distributors, studios, independent production companies, equity investors, high-net-worth individuals, digital platforms and completion guarantors. She also advises film and television clients in connection with tax-advantaged financing and co-production arrangements.

Kathleen "Kitty" Celia Ryan joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the expansion of one of the largest U.S. legal teams dedicated to the financial services sector, representing clients in all 50 states. Its Consumer Financial Services Practice Group welcomed Kathleen "Kitty" Ryan from Buckley Sandler as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Ryan previously served as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Regulations. Prior to joining the CFPB, she was Senior Regulatory Counsel at JP Morgan Chase.

"Kitty's extensive experience as a regulator, combined with her work as in-house counsel, makes her an invaluable asset to our clients, particularly within the areas of CFPB rulemaking and compliance," said William Heller, chair of the Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. "Her impressive financial services background builds upon our team's national strengths in the home loan space and adds a deep understanding of laws governing bank and non-bank consumer debt originators and servicers."

Ryan focuses her practice on fair lending and regulatory compliance matters, particularly on issues related to the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Community Reinvestment Act, Truth in Lending Act, and UDAAP. She has applied her knowledge of regulations across the spectrum of consumer financial services and products -- including mortgages, auto loans, installment lending and prepaid cards.

During her time at CFPB Ryan oversaw the completion of the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rulemaking -- also known as Know Before You Owe -- and the HMDA rulemaking that completely rewrote Regulation C. She also oversaw the development of CFPB's debt collection rulemaking and extensive amendments to the CFPB's mortgage servicing rules, and is well-versed in the CFPB's 2017 small dollar lending rule. Ryan also advised on enforcement and supervisory matters -- including matters involving fair lending, RESPA and UDAAP.

As in-house counsel at JPMorgan Chase, Ryan analyzed a range of consumer financial products and practices across multiple business lines and provided legal and regulatory guidance and support. She also spent more than 10 years in the Federal Reserve Board's Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, where she led several TILA, ECOA, HMDA and CRA rulemakings, including the 2002-2004 HMDA amendments and the 2008 Regulation Z Higher-Priced Mortgage Loan amendments, as well as the mortgage loan originator compensation rules.

Ryan is the latest former CFPB official to join Akerman's Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. The team previously welcomed Washington, D.C., partners Mary "Molly" Calkins and Thomas J. Kearney. Calkins served under the CFPB's Division of Supervision, Enforcement & Fair Lending, as well as the Professional Liability & Financial Crimes Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Company. Kearney served within the CFPB's Office of Regulations where he worked closely with Ryan.

Together with Ryan, they collectively enhance Akerman's team of federal and state compliance lawyers, including Tobias P. Moon, who brings deep in-house experience in servicing and originations from his work for Bank of America, Citi and Capital One. The team is well-positioned to provide regulatory compliance and enforcement guidance to consumer financial services providers -- including mortgage, Fintech and other small dollar installment lenders and servicers.

Ivan Puchalt was promoted to partner of Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP in Santa Monica.

Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP announced Ivan Puchalt has been promoted to partner, effective Jan. 1. Puchalt's trial practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury, insurance bad faith, products liability, wrongful death and municipal liability.

Adam Benjamin Weiss was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles.

Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP announced Adam Benjamin Weiss has been elected to partner in Los Angeles, effective Jan. 1. Weiss handles complex litigation matters, with a particular focus on representing corporations in cases involving mortgage-backed securities, corporate contracts, securities law issues and other finance-related matters.

John Robert Loftus was promoted to partner of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in Los Angeles.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP announced John Robert "Jake" Loftus has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Loftus has taken cases to arbitration and trial and handled SEC and FINRA regulatory investigations as well as several securities class actions.

Caitlin Morrow Bair was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in San Francisco.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP announced Caitlin Morrow Bair has been promoted to partner in San Francisco, effective Jan. 1. Bair is a member of the firm's health care and white collar criminal defense practices. Bair handles trade secrets litigation, class action suits, and contractual disputes.

Douglas Michael McManamon was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson, PLC in Oakland.

Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson, PLC announced Douglas Michael McManamon has been elevated to principal in Oakland. McManamon, who is a member of the firm's construction and facilities practice, assists clients across California with all significant aspects of construction law and litigation, from procurement to project close-out and dispute resolution.

Camille Hamilton Pating was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson, PLC in Oakland.

Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson, PLC announced Camille Hamilton Pating has been elevated to principal in Oakland. Pating, who is a member of the firm's labor and employment practice, advises employers on a full range of personnel matters and conducts training on anti-discrimination laws, social media regulation, data privacy and implicit bias.

Tara Seshadri Kaushik joined The Conference of California Public Utility Counsel as board member in San Francisco.

The Conference of California Public Utility Counsel announced Tara Seshadri Kaushik has been selected as the newest member of its board of directors. Kaushik is a member of Holland & Knight LLP's land use and environment group. She focuses her practice on regulatory matters, with a specific emphasis on energy, natural resources and the environment. Kaushik has advised and represented clients on numerous issues before state and public utilities commissions throughout the western United States as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Eric Stanley Casher was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave in Oakland.

Meyers Nave announced Eric Stanley Casher has been elevated to principal in Oakland. Casher is chair of the firm's diversity committee and a member of the firm's municipal & special district law practice. Casher advises on government ethics and conflicts of interest, workplace investigations, and all aspects of public contract procurement including competitive bidding, prevailing wage and complex public-private partnerships.

James Dubois Judah was promoted to partner of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in San Francisco.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP announced James Dubois Judah has been elected as partner in San Francisco, effective Jan. 1. Judah's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation with an emphasis on patent, trade secret, and copyright.

Marne Sue Sussman joined Holland & Knight LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Holland & Knight LLP announced Marne Sue Sussman has joined the firm's land use and environment group as a partner in San Francisco. Sussman focuses on environmental issues, including climate change and air quality matters, permitting, land use projects and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Arjun P. Rao was promoted to partner of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in Los Angeles.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP announced Arjun R. Rao has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Rao is a member of the firm's financial services litigation, regulation and enforcement group and handles a range of issues, including both compliance and counseling as well as defending litigation, including class actions, concerning the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Truth-In-Lending Act, and numerous provisions of state law and the Uniform Commercial Code.

Christine E. Ellice was promoted to special counsel of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in Los Angeles.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP announced Arjun R. Rao has been promoted to special counsel in Los Angeles. Ellice focuses on complex commercial litigation, representing private equity funds, investment management companies, investment banks, securities brokerage firms, national banks, and credit reporting agencies in court and in arbitration.

Christopher Todd Abernethy was promoted to partner of Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles.

Irell & Manella LLP announced Christopher Todd Abernethy has been elected to the firm's partnership in Los Angeles. Abernethy focuses on intellectual property and patent litigation, and his practice also includes inter partes review and other contested patent office proceedings, IP licensing and transactions, and IP due diligence during mergers and acquisitions.

Paul David Swanson was promoted to partner of Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles.

Irell & Manella LLP announced Paul David Swanson has been elected to the firm's partnership in Los Angeles. Swanson counsels clients with respect to corporate, intellectual property and entertainment-related transactions. He represents leading investment banks, producers and entertainment lenders in arranging and administering numerous multi-tranche debt and equity motion picture credit facilities.

Ian Robert Washburn was promoted to partner of Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles.

Irell & Manella LLP announced Ian Robert Washburn has been elected to the firm's partnership in Los Angeles. Washburn focuses on intellectual property and complex business litigation, and his practice also includes patent post-grant proceedings.

Jason Anthony Bassetti was promoted to counsel of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in Menlo Park.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP announced Jason Anthony Bassetti has been promoted to counsel in Northern California, effective Jan. 1. Bassetti is in the firm's corporate department, representing clients in capital markets and M&A transactions. He also advises clients on public reporting and corporate governance matters. His practice focuses primarily on transactions involving technology and life sciences companies.

Richard Stephen Hovath, Jr. joined Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP announced Richard Stephen Hovath, Jr. has joined the firm's securities and corporate governance litigation practice as a partner in San Francisco. Hovath focuses on representing directors and public companies in complex litigation involving alleged corporate misconduct or violations of federal securities laws.