Jesse Brody was promoted to equity partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Brody's practice includes ensuring legal compliance for companies in the technology, entertainment, advertising, retail, financial services, automotive and consumer products industries. He is primarily focused on advertising and marketing, privacy, e-commerce, and intellectual property matters.

Thomas Michael was promoted to equity partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Michael represents founding entrepreneurs and venture-backed companies at every phase of their life cycle. Having represented companies in over $1 billion of venture capital financing transactions, his practice focuses on venture capital and private equity growth stage financings as well as mergers and acquisitions and commercial transactions.

Brandon Reilly was promoted to equity partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Costa Mesa.

Reilly is a trusted go-to adviser on privacy and data security issues for a sophisticated client base, including consulting, counseling, regulatory enforcement and litigation. He is skilled at developing business-focused privacy and security frameworks aimed at mitigating future enforcement and litigation risk. Reilly's practice includes a wide array of consumer protection and privacy matters, including data privacy, security compliance and procedures, and data breach responses.

Matthew Williamson was promoted to equity partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Costa Mesa.

Williamson is an environmental lawyer who regularly advises clients on matters relating to complex permitting and enforcement matters and all other aspects of compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. He represents clients in litigation, administrative proceedings and enforcement actions, including on matters involving hazardous waste, water, clean air, FIFRA/pesticides, Prop 65 and natural resources, among others.

Sophia Yen was promoted to equity partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Yen represents clients in a variety of commercial sectors, counseling both lenders and borrowers in debt financing transactions. She also advises entertainment industry clients on debt and equity finance deals as well as other transactional matters.

Brandon Young was promoted to equity partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Young's practice focuses on representing clients in all phases of public and private procurement, including local, state and federal government contracts. He also has experience with commercial contracts involving bridges, tunnels, rail transit, nuclear remediation, information technology and various government service providers.

Megan Ingraham was promoted to managing director of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in San Francisco.

Ingraham advises health care leaders on priority issues related to their strategic direction, organizational transformation and the ever-evolving policy landscape. She works with large health systems, health plans, state and local governments, and foundations.

Sarah Moses was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Moses focuses her practice on a variety of complex litigation and commercial disputes. A significant portion of her practice is dedicated to white collar criminal defense work, representing high-net-worth individuals, politicians and companies in government investigations and prosecutions, and guiding companies through internal investigations.

Tara Shabahang was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in San Francisco.

Shabahang's practice focuses on real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, development, joint ventures, leasing, financing and construction.

Kier Wallis was promoted to managing director of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in San Francisco.

Wallis helps private and public clients navigate the rapidly evolving health care landscape. Using her knowledge of delivery system and payment reform, coverage and access, and health information technology and exchange, she assists clients in program development and implementation.

Jessica Wood was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Wood focuses her practice on intellectual property transactions, including domestic and foreign trademark prosecution, maintenance and enforcement, copyright registration and content protection, licensing and transfers of rights, domain name proceedings, ex parte and inter partes proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and litigation in U.S. Federal District Courts.

John Meller was promoted to counsel of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Meller's practice focuses on music transactions, including negotiating and drafting agreements in the music industry.

Cynthia G. Aaron joined Judicate West as neutral in San Diego.

Justice Aaron has nearly four decades of combined legal experience, including serving the last 20 years on the appellate bench. During her judicial tenure, she resolved all types of cases on appeal, including complex civil, probate and family law matters. Prior to her 2003 appointment to the Court of Appeal, she served as a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, a position she held for eight years.

David Levine joined Harvest LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Levine is a veteran attorney with decades of industry experience and a particular expertise in the acquisition, management, financing and leasing of hotels and other hospitality products. He also has significant experience with all asset classes, including multifamily, single-family rental, hotel, industrial and office, and advises clients in a variety of matters involving real estate development, acquisition, construction, financing, land banking and joint venture transactions. Levine's clients include national and regional developers, REITs, institutional investors, public and private companies, and high-net-worth individuals.

Julie Scher joined Harvest LLP as associate in San Diego.

Concentrating on complex commercial litigation matters and internal investigations, Scher has represented a variety of clients across a wide array of businesses, including the commercial real estate, life sciences and healthcare industries. At Harvest, she focuses her practice on representing commercial real estate landlords in a wide variety of real estate-related disputes, and representing real estate owners, lenders and court-appointed receivers in workouts, bankruptcies and other high-stakes disputes.

David M. Keithly was promoted to partner of Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP in Irvine.

Keithly's practice focuses on complex business litigation, breach of warranty litigation, employment law counseling and litigation, and contract disputes. He has represented clients in high-stakes litigation matters in state and federal courts across the United States, including class action litigation.

Robert A. Schultz was promoted to partner of Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP in Irvine.

Schultz is an experienced complex commercial litigator and trial attorney who has represented and litigated against a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, mid-market companies, nascent startups, and individuals. Utilizing his business background, Bob has developed a keen sense for aligning his clients’ legal goals with their business goals and achieving both.

Sherry S. Hamilton was promoted to partner of Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP in Irvine.

Hamilton’s practice focuses on employment law, unfair competition, intellectual property rights, state and federal franchise laws, products liability, and general business disputes. Sherry has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including automotive, sports and fitness, security services, and restaurant and food services.

Jonah M. Mekebri joined Duckor Metzger & Wynne, A Professional Law Corporation as associate in San Diego.

Mekebri served as a legal intern for the Placer County District Attorney's Office and held other positions with political offices and campaigns.

Nathaniel R. Smith joined Duckor Metzger & Wynne, A Professional Law Corporation as senior counsel in San Diego.

Smith focuses on finding the best outcomes for clients at the earliest litigation stage. Clients rely on him to help them navigate complex and difficult challenges. Utilizing his years of experience, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s largest law firms and as an in-house attorney, Smith works strategically to help individuals and businesses resolve disputes efficiently and with optimal outcomes.

James H. Sipple joined Duckor Metzger & Wynne, A Professional Law Corporation as shareholder in San Diego.

Sipple has more than 20 years of experience practicing business law and managing all aspects of trust and estates for clients. He advises clients in developing and implementing comprehensive estate plans and provides guidance on more advanced tax planning strategies for larger, tax-sensitive estates.

Ben Davis was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in Los Angeles.

Davis focuses his practice on achieving a resolution-oriented approach while representing large businesses in commercial transportation, complex tort and premises liability cases.

Shannon L. Santos was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in Los Angeles.

Santos handles a diverse range of matters on behalf of insurers, including coverage and extra-contractual litigation, coverage advice and defense of insurers.

Lisa S. Passalacqua was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Francisco.

Passalacqua maintains a civil litigation practice, with trial work defending product manufacturers, trucking and premises liability cases.

Juliana Salfiti was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Francisco.

Salfiti is an accomplished trial attorney with vast experience in complex and commercial litigation, insurance defense, transportation, toxic tort, premises liability, general business advice and counseling companies on risk management.

Marty B. Ready was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Diego.

Ready is an experienced litigation and trial attorney primarily focused on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation, including trade secret misappropriation, patent infringement, breach of fiduciary duty and business torts. In addition, as a registered patent attorney, he provides counsel to corporations to help reduce the risks of litigation and defend their intellectual property assets.

Justina L. Tate was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Diego.

Tate is licensed in California and Oregon, defends business entities and individuals against a range of complex personal injury and commercial tort matters involving technology, transportation, and products.

Trevor R. Witt was promoted to partner of Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani in Woodland Hills.

Witt focuses his practice on representing employers before federal and state courts in both complex class actions and individual claims asserted by employees. He regularly advises and counsels clients about workplace issues, policies, and practices, providing out-of-the-box strategies for dealing with complex issues.

Vincent Gannuscio was promoted to partner of Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani in Woodland Hills.

Gannuscio represents insureds in coverage and bad faith matters against insurers, worker’s compensation claims disputes, and has a wide-ranging business/commercial litigation practice. He has been part of some of RPNA’s most high-profile cases over his tenure.

Bailey Heaps was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Heaps represents clients in a range of high-stakes civil litigation. He has handled cases in federal and state courts throughout the country for several leading tech and biotech companies, including the former shareholders of FerroKin BioSciences, Scripps Research Institute, Calithera Biosciences, Nextiva, and Zscaler.

Katie Lynn Joyce was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Joyce has handled high-stakes commercial and intellectual-property matters in a wide range of industries and litigations, including for Netflix, Crexi, Google, Zscaler, Instacart, and Kitty Hawk. Katie Lynn has played a central role on several trial teams, including an arbitration that secured a multi-million-dollar award and recovered attorneys' fees for former shareholders of a tech company.

Chris Sun was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Sun maintains a broad practice representing major corporations in matters ranging from complex commercial litigation, class action defense, and intellectual property disputes. Chris helped win a complete defense verdict in a rare class action trial threatening more than $150 million in damages against his client Public Storage.

Kristin Hucek was promoted to of counsel of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Hucek represents clients in high-stakes commercial disputes and a broad spectrum of intellectual property litigation. She has played a key role on several trial teams, including the team that defended Qualcomm against an antitrust lawsuit brought by the FTC that challenged the company's licensing practices, and on appeal, secured the reversal of the lower court's order granting a preliminary injunction in the case.

Ian Kanig was promoted to of counsel of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Kanig focuses his practice on complex civil cases, sophisticated commercial disputes, and civil rights actions. He has particular experience litigating in San Francisco federal court, where he recently secured a dismissal with prejudice for Google of a nationwide consumer class action alleging the secret collection of third-party app data from Android phones.

Sharon Smith joined Goodwin Procter LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Smith focuses on complex trials, and business and intellectual property litigation, including trademark infringement, copyright infringement, patent infringement, false advertising, unfair business practices, business torts, trade secrets, fraud, defamation, and breach of contract matters. In the biotechnology, medical device and technology industries, she represents clients in high-stakes contested matters including 22 trials and arbitrations. She also represents clients across these industries in prosecuting, enforcing, and minimizing risk related to intellectual property and trade secret matters.

R. Brent Wisner was promoted to managing partner of Wisner Baum LLP formerly Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, PC, in Los Angeles.

Wisner oversees all mass tort litigation, focusing on pharmaceutical product liability, toxic torts, and consumer fraud class actions.

Ashley Breakfield was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Breakfield, a real estate transactional lawyer and former environmental litigator, represents large-scale urban developers, real estate investors, renewable energy companies, and private property owners in sophisticated land use and real estate matters.

Sushila Chanana was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Chanana, a high-stakes technology litigator, co-leads Farella's Platforms Initiative and Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice. She represents companies in general business litigation and IP matters, including trademark, copyright, trade secrets, patent, and privacy disputes.

Rebecca Stephens was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Stephens, an employment advisor and litigator, co-leads Farella's Consumer Products Initiative. Rebecca counsels employers ranging from small businesses to global corporations on developing and implementing sound workplace policies, conducting investigations, managing accommodations and leaves of absence, and administering separations from employment.

Agatha H. Liu joined Duane Morris LLP as partner in Silicon Valley.

Dr. Liu concentrates her practice on IP analysis, portfolio management and strategic counseling. She routinely advises investors, business owners and inventors on all areas of IP related to computer technology. Liu also speaks and writes extensively on different IP topics, such as eligibility for IP protection, IP protection for emerging technology and global IP protection. Prior to entering the legal profession, Liu held positions in technology and management consulting. She has a significant research background in artificial intelligence as applied to internet communications, database system management, computational biology and speech recognition.

Joseph M. Welch joined Blank Rome LLP as partner in Orange County.

Welch represents secured and unsecured creditors in all elements of insolvency and bankruptcy matters and documents multimillion-dollar loan transactions secured by property and personal collateral. Additionally, he counsels clients in lending, leasing, and real estate matters. He has served as lead counsel in representing investors, large banks, lenders, and international and Fortune 100 companies.

Jeffrey J. Gillard was promoted to partner of Everett Dorey LLP in Irvine, CA.

Gillard has extensive civil litigation experience defending private and public entities in the areas of product liability, premises liability, commercial litigation, catastrophic injury, toxic torts, and general liability matters in state and federal courts. His clients have included corporations, public agencies, school districts, cities as well as property owners, property managers, and manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of various products including sporting goods, construction equipment, bicycles, automobiles, tires, medical devices, industrial machinery, recreational vehicles, firearms, fitness facilities and fitness equipment.

Silvia C. Schaffer was promoted to partner of Everett Dorey LLP in Irvine, CA.

Schaffer's practice primarily focuses on complex catastrophic injury, product liability, transportation, medical malpractice cases, habitability/mold, and labor and employment, as well as providing employers consultation on best business and employer practices for risk mitigation.

Laura C. Williams was promoted to partner of Everett Dorey LLP in Irvine.

Williams focuses her practice in a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters, including general liability, toxic torts, asbestos, mold, product liability, personal injury, habitability, and catastrophic injury.

William "Bill" Metke was promoted to partner of The Mitzel Group in San Francisco.

Metke's practice focuses on all aspects of employment law counseling and litigation. His approach emphasizes anticipating and avoiding potential future risks while strategizing to foster workplace culture. He is a trusted counselor to small and mid-sized employers, supporting and advising clients across a wide range of industries, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. With 20 years of experience as a civil litigator, Bill has represented numerous clients before California and Federal courts, administrative bodies and in private arbitration.

Tracy O. Zinsou was promoted to partner of BraunHagey & Borden LLP in San Francisco.

Zinsou has extensive experience litigating high-stakes cases in state and federal courts across the country. She has successfully defended cases and prosecuted claims for clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, in a diverse range of complex commercial litigation cases, including intellectual property, false advertising, antitrust, insurance coverage, and other contract disputes. She has also defended businesses and individuals facing white-collar investigations and enforcement actions by various regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, and Federal Trade Commission, and advised clients on anti-corruption compliance issues. She maintains an active pro bono practice involving immigration, criminal, and First Amendment matters.

Amanda R. Wolin was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in Los Angeles.

Wolin specializes in representing different types of lenders, including national and regional banks, insurance companies and private lenders, in connection with real estate financing transactions. She has experience with a wide variety of real estate finance transactions, including acquisition and development loans, bridge loans, construction loans and mezzanine loans, and a broad range of product types, including commercial, multifamily, hotel, and retail projects. She also has experience with secondary market transactions, such as "loan-on-loan" deals, and asset management work, including loan assumptions and loan modifications. Throughout the course of a transaction, Wolin is an expert at structuring transactions, drafting and negotiating loan documents, analyzing diligence materials, and coordinating transaction logistics and closings.

Christopher T. Angelich joined Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as associate in San Diego, California.

Angelich joined SCMV's Business Department as a law clerk in 2021. He represents clients primarily in the areas of real property and business transactions. Prior to joining SCMV, Angelich was a corporate counsel extern at Nortek Security and Control (now Nice North America). He also served as a tax appeals assistance program representative for the University of San Diego State Sales and Use Tax Clinic, where he represented low-income clients in matters before the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he received the Dean's Honor Scholarship and served as senior editor of the San Diego International Law Journal. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration - finance and real estate, cum laude, from the Ohio State University.

Ben D'Alton joined Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as associate in San Diego, California.

D'Alton joined SCMV's Business Department as a law clerk in 2022. Also a member of the firm's Tax Department, his practice focuses on tax law, tax exempt organizations, business law and employee benefits. Prior to joining SCMV, D'Alton was a law clerk at Potente and a summer intern at Deloitte Tax LLP. He also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Larry A. Burns of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. He received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law and his bachelor's degree in business finance, cum laude, along with a certificate of entertainment management from the University of Montana.

Deborah Yates was promoted to partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP in San Diego, California.

Yates focuses her practice on family law matters and business disputes. She represents a wide range of clients in both state and federal courts, including businesses large and small and individuals in family law cases. Yates joined Solomon Ward in 2017 after several years practicing at a large law firm in Washington, D.C. She leverages her extensive business experience, including an MBA from the Wharton School, to serve clients. Yates is a member of the San Diego Family Law Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of San Diego and the Enright Inn of Court. Yates previously served on the executive committee of the San Diego County Bar Association's Civil Litigation Section. She received her law degree from the George Mason University School of Law, graduating first in class, and her Master of Business Administration degree, with the highest distinction and Palmer Scholar designation, from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Yates also received her bachelor's degree in management science and economics from the University of Maryland where she graduated as valedictorian.

Patrick Klingborg was promoted to partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP in San Diego.

Klingborg's practice focuses on matters related to mergers and acquisitions, equity financings, commercial transactions, and business formation. He represents clients in a wide variety of industries, including technology, hotels & hospitality, healthcare and others. Active in the community, Klingborg recently created a scholarship with his wife, Amy, to assist local high school students in need. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and his bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego.

John Scheerer was promoted to partner of Sacks Glazier Franklin & Lodise LLP in Los Angeles.

Scheerer practices exclusively in trusts, estates and conservatorship litigation. He has successfully handled a variety of matters before the Probate Department of the Superior Court as well as appeals in the California Court of Appeal, resulting in multiple successful appellate decisions

Craig W. Olshan was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in Silicon Valley (Redwood City).

Olshan advises clients on executive compensation and employee benefits issues in connection with complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, sales, spin-offs, public offerings, and other private and public business combinations.

Stephanie P. Lane was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Francisco.

Lane's practice focuses on representing emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycles and venture capital firms in their investment activities. She advises entrepreneurs on formation and corporate structuring matters and has significant experience advising technology companies on a wide range of corporate transactions, including venture capital financings and mergers and acquisitions.

Ryan M. Enchelmayer was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Diego.

Enchelmayer works with innovative life sciences and other technology-driven companies to research and develop, protect, manufacture, license and deploy their ideas, programs, products and services. His practice focuses primarily on advising, structuring and negotiating technology, life sciences and commercial transactions.

Jesse D. Birbach was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Francisco.

Birbach provides pragmatic, business-driven legal advice to early-stage technology companies that are often disadvantaged by unequal bargaining power. He specializes in product counselling, strategic alliances, data privacy, licensing and commercialization of intellectual property and technology assets.

Stephanie Roque-Hurtado joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as associate in San Francisco.

Roque-Hurtado counsels clients in a wide variety of matters relating to professional liability and civil litigation. While attending law school, she interned for the U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and the ACLU of Northern California. As a student, she was an editor on the University of San Francisco Law Review and a member of Moot Court.

Angela Yu was promoted to shareholder of Miller Starr Regalia in Walnut Creek.

Yu focuses her practice on complex business litigation in both federal and state courts. From 2014 through 2019, she was recognized as a "Northern California Super Lawyer - Rising Star" in business litigation.

Robert Roth was promoted to partner of Complex Appellate Litigation Group in San Francisco.

Roth is widely regarded as one of the leading family law appellate specialists in California. He has over 30 years' experience as an appellate practitioner and more than 25 published (and scores of unpublished) appellate opinions to his name.

Kelly Hagemann was promoted to partner of Michelman & Robinson, LLP in Orange County.

Hagemann has gained extensive experience navigating clients through network agreement breaches, improperly denied claims, Special Investigations Unit actions, illegal and unauthorized recoupments, and various pre-payment reviews and payor delay tactics. She has also tried and resolved numerous administrative actions brought by the California Department of Health Care Services and the California Department of Insurance.

Kevin Kim was promoted to partner of Michelman & Robinson, LLP in Orange County.

Kim primarily focuses his practice representing individual and institutional clients in a wide array of general and complex business disputes, including matters involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition

Rex Heinke was promoted to partner of Complex Appellate Litigation Group in Los Angeles.

Heinke is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced appellate practitioners in California, and among the best in the nation. He has argued more than 150 appeals in federal and state courts across the country. He is regularly called on to defend major corporations and high-profile individuals in some of their most hotly contested appellate matters.

Judge Stephen M. Moloney joined Judicate West as neutral in Los Angeles.

Moloney, based in Los Angeles, is available as a mediator, arbitrator and private judge for matters statewide. With a legal career spanning 47 years, Moloney was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009. During his judicial tenure, he served assignments in the criminal, family law and civil trial departments, where he conducted a multitude of settlements conferences in personal injury, medical negligence, insurance, and employment cases.