Samir J Abdelnour was promoted to senior counsel of Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco.

Abdelnour advises and represents clients in regulatory environmental enforcement actions, remediation of contaminated properties, land use entitlement and permit proceedings, litigation over water rights and product labeling.

Matthew Chase Wickersham joined Alston & Bird LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.

Wickersham's practice focuses on commercial litigation, with an emphasis on environmental litigation and regulatory practice.

Jason Corbitt Wright was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.

Wright is a member of the firm's business & tort litigation practice. His practice focuses on defending companies in consumer class actions - particularly matters involving claims based on unfair competition laws and the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act. In addition, Wright has represented companies in civil and criminal investigations by the government.

Mark Easton Earnest was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Irvine.

Earnest is a member of the firm's labor & employment practice. He focuses on helping his clients implement correct employment policies to avoid litigation. Earnest also defends companies against class actions and individual lawsuits alleging wage/hour and accessibility violations, as well as litigating trade secret and employee mobility issues.

Angela Maechelle Clements was promoted to senior counsel of Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco.

Clements represents private and public employers in litigation and counseling matters involving all aspects of employment law, including issues such as wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, harassment investigations, management of leaves of absence and reasonable accommodation, and other personnel issues. She also represents public agencies in disciplinary actions and grievances, unfair labor practice charges, and other collective bargaining agreement disputes.

Usama Kahf was promoted to partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP in Irvine.

Kahf is a member of the firm's electronic discovery committee. He represents employers in matters of workplace privacy, data security, unfair competition, and trade secret theft and corporate espionage, both on the plaintiff and defense side. He also defends employers in wage and hour, harassment and discrimination cases. Additionally, Kahf conducts training for clients on effective performance management strategies, prevention of harassment and compliance with state and federal employment laws.

Nathan Vern Okelberry was promoted to partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.

Okelberry focuses his practice on employment litigation, with an emphasis on defending businesses, from startups to large corporations, against disability access claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He defends clients against discrimination, harassment, retaliation and termination claims and wage and hour matters. Okelberry also advises employers concerning wage and hour matters, employee leave management, internal investigations and other day-to-day employment and legal issues.

Jeffrey David Dintzer joined Alston & Bird LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Alston & Bird LLP announced Jeffrey David Dintzer has joined as partner in Los Angeles. Dintzer focuses on administrative proceedings and traditional civil litigation involving the environment, land use entitlements, and oil and gas. In particular, his experience representing oil and gas producers translates into insights and practical advice valued by clients dealing with agency oversight and in civil disputes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.