Dechert LLP
Benjamin M Sadun
was promoted to partner of Dechert LLP in Los Angeles.
Sadun handles product liability and mass tort disputes, securities and antitrust litigation.
Polsinelli LLP
Rebecca B Hoyes
joined Polsinelli LLP as shareholder in San Francisco.
Hoyes' litigation background includes extensive work representing hospitals and medical staff in peer review investigations, corrective action, hearings and appeals.
Address
Three Embarcadero Center, Suite 2400
San Francisco, 94111
Gov. Gavin Newsom
L. Carmen Ramirez
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as member of the central valley regional water quality control board in Sacramento.
Ramirez previously practiced law with the Law Offices of Kelsey and Ramirez and the Law Offices of Fagalde, Albertoni and Flores LLP.
Address
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, 95814
FitzGerald & Mulé LLP
Jana Balik FitzGerald
joined FitzGerald & Mulé LLP as senior associate in Indian Wells.
Ms. FitzGerald's practice experience has included litigation and all aspects of labor and employment law. She has worked on the defense of class actions, representative actions, and individual plaintiff lawsuits involving federal and California anti-discrimination and equal pay laws; California wage-and-hour laws; the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), and others. She has provided advice and counseling to numerous clients, and has conducted workplace training.
Details
FitzGerald & Mulé LLP is a preeminent labor and employment law practice based in Indian Wells, California that represents employers and individuals in all aspects of labor and employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour issues, wrongful termination, NLRB matters, and contract disputes. The firm's partners and associates assist employers in developing policies and practices to help them comply with the numerous labor and employment laws that affect their businesses. In addition, the firm has extensive experience in conducting confidential independent investigations.
Address
74-770 Highway 111, Suite 205
Indian Wells, 92210 USA
T:
(760) 325-5055
Stoel Rives LLP
Matthew D Segal
joined Stoel Rives LLP as partner in Sacramento.
Formerly the chief of the Special Prosecutions Unit in the Eastern District, Rives worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office for 17 years. He now focuses his practice on internal investigations, white-collar crime and antitrust litigation.
Address
500 Capitol Mall, Suite 1600
Sacramento, 95814
King & Spalding LLP
Kyle Gotchy
was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in Sacramento.
Practicing in the fields of regulation, operational issues, revenue cycles, transactions, investigation and enforcement proceedings, Gotchy works with hospitals, health systems and medical groups.
Benjamin T Jones
was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in San Francisco.
Jones litigates matters in arbitration and international disputes relating to energy, construction, technology and finance.
Jamie A Lang
was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in Los Angeles.
Lang represents clients in internal investigations as well as criminal and regulatory enforcement, with a focus on white-collar litigation.
Suzanne E Nero
was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in San Francisco.
Having represented Fortune 500 companies in commercial disputes at the state and federal level, Nero practices in complex commercial litigation related to antitrust and class actions.
Jonathan H Shin
was promoted to counsel of King & Spalding LLP in Los Angeles.
Shin litigates within the health care industry, overseeing disputes in trial and arbitration and responding to government investigations.
Akerman LLP
Rachel McRoskey
was promoted to special counsel of Akerman LLP in Miami.
Rachel McRoskey has been promoted to Special Counsel in Akerman's national Real Estate Practice Group. She has experience representing investors, owners, lenders, and developers in a range of local and national transactions, including shopping center development, acquisitions and dispositions, and public and private sector financing.
Details
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world's most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Jason E Mohr
was promoted to counsel of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in Los Angeles.
After graduating magna cum laude from University of Michigan Law School, Mohr joined the California bar in 2020. His practice focuses on real estate law.
Karen J Reyes
was promoted to counsel of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in Palo Alto.
Reyes works in corporate litigation and joined the California bar in 2012.
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel
Jeffrey J Crosswhite
joined Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel as attorney in Pleasanton.
Crosswhite's litigation background includes work in small and mid-sized business, high net worth families, real estate developers and public agencies. He has also
served in clerkships for judges in California and Oregon as well as city and county attorneys in Los Angeles, Portland and Marin County.
Address
6801 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 210
Pleasanton, 94566-7047
Blank Rome LLP
Bradley E Wolf
joined Blank Rome LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.
Wolf specializes in commercial law and transactional litigation on secured and unsecured debt financing. He has worked in many industries, including manufacturing, casino gaming and agricultural business.
Address
2029 Century Park East 6th Floor
Los Angeles, 90067
Loeb & Loeb LLP
Jessica S Isokawa
joined Loeb & Loeb LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Isokawa represents clients in consumer products, retail and health care. Her practice focuses on complex mergers and acquisitions, private equity and other corporate transactions.
Address
Two Embarcadero Center Suite 2320
San Francisco, 94111
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Mimi C Cheng
was promoted to partner of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in Los Angeles.
A University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School graduate, Cheng specializes in corporate litigation, investment-backed financing, fund finance, banking and credit.
Frederick W P De Albuquerque
was promoted to partner of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in Palo Alto.
A corporate attorney focusing on mergers and acquisitions, De Albuquerque earned his law degree with honors from University of Chicago Law School.
Mark W Myott
was promoted to partner of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in Palo Alto.
Formerly of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Mylott practices in corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Polsinelli LLP
Kristian J F Bornemann
joined Polsinelli LLP as principal in San Francisco.
Representing investment and commercial banks, life insurance companies, investment managers and mortgage bankers, Bornemann specializes in real estate financing transactions.
Address
Three Embarcadero Center, Suite 2400
San Francisco, 94111
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Alice B Reynolds
was promoted to president of the california public utilities commission of Gov. Gavin Newsom in Sacramento.
Reynolds worked as an attorney for various firms before becoming a California deputy attorney general in 2002. From there she became a deputy secretary and general counsel for the California Environmental Protection Agency before going on to advise Governors Jerry Brown and Newsom on energy matters.
Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP
Nicholas A Doloresco
was promoted to partner of Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP in Silicon Valley.
After participating in numerous high value transactions at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, private equity attorney Nicholas A. Doloresco has been elected to partner at the firm's Silicon Valley office.
Doloresco's connection to Weil goes back to his days at New York University, when he took a bankruptcy seminar with the firm's attorneys Harvey R. Miller and Michael F. Walsh. During this time he said he came to think of the firm as a "bankruptcy and restructuring powerhouse." When it came time to find his first legal job, he looked toward its Bay Area offices.
"I had the opportunity to talk to Weil partners Kyle C. Krpata and Craig Adas, and it was clear early on that Weil was the best place for me - a well-respected firm that has cultivated strong practices and great client relationships on the West Coast and beyond," Doloresco said in an interview.
Doloresco has advised client companies in transactional matters including mergers, acquisitions, equity investments and divestitures. He notably helped represent Applied Materials in a proposed $29 billion merger with Tokyo Electron Ltd., as well as Facebook in its $16 billion acquisition of WhatsApp.
"Many large, 'bet the company' deals take on a life of their own," Doloresco said. "They can be all-consuming and the amount of effort that goes into them on every level - associates, paralegals, partners and staff working across multiple offices and practice groups - is pretty amazing."
Krpata praised Doloresco's "excellence in every aspect of the job" in a prepared statement. "He has a broad skill set that enables him to handle all of the types of transactions we do in the Silicon Valley office -- from growth equity to traditional private equity, to public and private mergers and acquisitions,"
Krpata said. "He is a key member of our team and his election to partner is a significant part of our growth strategy."
Doloresco said he is gratified for the opportunity to handle a range of matters.
"It is exciting to work on large deals that make headlines, but my colleagues and I take tremendous pride in every matter we handle," he said. "Personally, I have had the good fortune of working with some great clients who are truly excited about how a deal is going to transform their company. They are really grateful for our help, and I'm very proud of those outcomes."
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Tom B Watson
joined Steptoe & Johnson LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Watson litigates complex cases relating to energy, finance, bankruptcy, human rights and cross-border disputes. He also has experience litigating whistleblower accounts under the False Claims Act.
Address
633 West Fifth Street Suite 1900
Los Angeles, 90071
Goodwin Procter LLP
Beni Surpin
joined Goodwin Procter LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Working in the life sciences practice, Surpin will continue his specialization in complex technology, intellectual property and commercial transactions for U.S. and international companies. His areas of skill include collaborations and licenses between companies, research and development agreements and joint ventures.
Address
601 South Figueroa Street Suite 4100
Los Angeles, 90017
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Paul I Barker
joined Kirkland & Ellis LLP as partner in San Francisco.
With a litigation career spanning continents, attorney Paul Barker is at the forefront of the especially timely and relevant field of environmental, social and governance law (ESG). Now, the former British barrister is bringing his expertise to the San Francisco office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP as a partner in the firm's ESG and impact practice group.
"I have several long standing connections with Kirkland and have always been impressed by how dynamic and pioneering the firm is," Barker said in an interview. "Alexandra Farmer has created an exceptional ESG and impact team in such a short space of time, so when I heard she was looking to grow the practice in the Bay Area I leapt at the opportunity."
Barker is a trained corporate attorney who practiced from Doughty Street Chambers in London. In this capacity he initially focused on public international law, finance and investment.
"My pathway to ESG practice was through my work at the London bar and at Stanford on a range of issues including international renewable energy disputes, international climate change law, and sustainable finance regulation," Barker said.
He prides himself on having litigated several cases where he feels his work has led to a positive social impact, in matters ranging from sovereign debt restructuring to business and human rights.
"I also think pro bono is very important, and have been grateful for the opportunity to work recently with Columbia Law School's Sabin Center on Climate Change, helping them draft model laws on deep decarbonization," he said.
Alexandra Farmer, the head of Kirkland's ESG and impact practice, praised Barker's skill in international arbitration, cross-border ESG and sustainable investment law.
"His multi-jurisdictional knowledge will be an asset," Farmer said in a company statement.
In joining up with Kirkland & Ellis, Barker hopes to harness his formidable ESG knowledge to aid the firm in navigating the uncertain terrain of climate-related
litigation.
"There is tremendous need from the private sector for thoughtful legal counsel in the context of climate strategies and disclosures, and sustainability linked incentives and financing, which is where I expect to spend a significant portion of my time, at least initially," Barker said. "In addition, I expect to leverage my international experience to support private funds clients in jurisdictions such as Asia, which are rapidly evolving on ESG and impact."
Address
555 California Street
San Francisco, 94104
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Heather S Nyong'o
as partner
Nyong'o specializes in antitrust litigation, and was notably a part of the legal team that won acquittal for Citigroup's former head of European spot foreign exchange trading, Rohan Ramchandani.
Address
1841 Page Mill Rd.
Palo Alto, 94304
Mayer Brown
Alexander G Davis
was promoted to partner of Mayer Brown in Los Angeles.
Davis practices in real estate law representing private equity funds, life insurance companies and publicly traded real estate investment trusts. He oversees purchase and sale transactions, mortgage and mezzanine financing and development oriented ventures.
Elspeth V Hansen
was promoted to partner of Mayer Brown in Palo Alto.
A former law clerk for U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez in San Diego, Hansen was also the executive editor for Harvard’s National Security Journal while in law school.
Stephanie M Hurst
was promoted to partner of Mayer Brown in Los Angeles.
Hurst deals with corporate and security matters ranging from U.S. and international commercial contracts to cross-border mergers and acquisitions and general corporate governance. She spent two years at Mayer Brown’s Hong Kong office advising on capital markets and mergers and acquisitions.
Xiaowen Qian
was promoted to counsel of Mayer Brown in Palo Alto.
Qian, a real estate law practitioner, previously worked with an international firm in Shanghai and Washington D.C.
David J Goett
was promoted to counsel of Mayer Brown in San Francisco.
As a member of the tax transactions and consulting practice, Goett specializes in the tax aspects of capital market offerings both domestic and international.
Alan F Velasco
was promoted to counsel of Mayer Brown in Palo Alto.
A former process engineer who worked for two medical device companies over a period of seven years, Velasco now specializes in transactions related to digital services, outsourcing and cloud computing, among others.
Knobbe Martens
Salima Merani
was promoted to co-chair of Knobbe Martens in Irvine.
Merani specializes in building patent portfolios for life sciences companies as well as conducting patent due diligence for investors.
Sabing H Lee
was promoted to co-chair of Knobbe Martens in Irvine.
Lee focuses on strategic patent procurement, portfolio management and other intellectual property related areas.
Sheila N Swaroop
was promoted to co-chair of Knobbe Martens in Irvine.
As a patent attorney, Swaroop works in pre-litigation strategy and enforcement. She also advises on litigation of disputes through trial and appeal in district court as well as the International Trade Commission and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Michael K Friedland
was promoted to co-chair of Knobbe Martens in Irvine.
Friedland practices in patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright cases. He has represented brand names in industries including consumer products, tactical products, computer software and finance.
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Warren J Biro
was promoted to partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Los Angeles.
Biro represents lenders to technology and life science companies while also coordinating support from venture capital and private equity.
Jonathan J Boustani
was promoted to partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Los Angeles.
Boustani has experience in complex commercial litigation in matters including creditor’s rights and insurance.
Garrett Scott Llewellyn
was promoted to partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Los Angeles.
Llewellyn deals with complex commercial litigation and class action defense. He has overseen disputes ranging from breach of contract and fiduciary duty to unfair competition and consumer fraud.
Noushan Noureddini
was promoted to partner of Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Los Angeles.
A defense attorney dealing with product liability and commercial litigation claims, Noureddini represents manufacturers, distributors and sellers of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer products.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Jenny G Liu
was promoted to partner of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in Palo Alto.
Liu represents clients in matters relating to public and private mergers and acquisitions, and also litigates private equity transactions and general corporate and security cases.
Nicholas M Reddick
was promoted to partner of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in San Francisco.
A former federal prosecutor, Reddick litigates matters including government investigations, congressional hearings, and multidimensional crises relating to sanctions and anti-corruption matters.
Shryne Group Inc.
Cary J.A.A. Berger
joined Shryne Group Inc. as chief legal officer in Los Angeles.
Berger is a former partner with Los Angeles firm Irell & Manella LLP, where he represented corporate and private equity clients. He has also worked as in-house counsel for a number of companies in California including Maker Studios and Broadcom.
Address
728 E Commercial St
Los Angeles, 90012
DLA Piper
Kenneth W Muller
joined DLA Piper as partner in San Francisco.
Muller represents private investment funds and growth companies in areas such as private equity real estate, venture capital, debt and secondary funds.
Address
555 Mission Street Suite 2400
San Francisco, 94105-2933
Covington & Burling LLP
Taisuke (Tai) Kimoto
joined Covington & Burling LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Taisuke (Tai) Kimoto co-leads the firm's Japan Practice, which advises a number of Japan's largest corporations as well as individuals, trade associations and governmental agencies on their most sensitive and complex legal challenges in the United States, Europe, China, and elsewhere. Drawing upon his long-standing relationships and robust business and legal networks in Japan, Tai serves as an ambassador of the firm to the Japanese business community and to global companies with interests in the Japanese market.
Tai is a corporate lawyer whose practice focuses on M&A transactions, general corporate matters, and real estate transactions for companies based in Japan. He also serves as an outside U.S. general counsel for a number of Japanese companies and in that capacity provides advice in many areas, including dispute resolution and employment. In 2021, Chambers Global has recognized him among the leading lawyers for Japan Corporate/M&A (expert based abroad in USA).
Tai completed his legal education at top Japanese and U.S. universities and has practiced at leading Japanese and U.S. law firms. Through this experience, he is fully bilingual/bicultural and is a trusted legal advisor, frequently advising on the difference between the U.S. and Japanese legal systems, and any cultural differences often embedded in cross border deals.
Address
1999 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, 90067-4643
Tucker Ellis LLP
Janie L Thompson
joined Tucker Ellis LLP as intellectual property counsel in Los Angeles.
Specializing in intellectual property and trademark law, Thompson has handled cases related to clearance, domestic and foreign prosecution, and portfolio management. She also counsels clients on regulatory compliance for online and print marketing.
Address
515 South Flower Street, Forty Second Floor
Los Angeles, 90071
JAMS
Renee E Wilson
joined JAMS as neutral in Irvine.
Wilson was an Orange County Superior Court commissioner for 22 years, overseeing thousands of family law trials. She has also handled cases related to domestic violence, parental rights and surrogacy.
Address
5 Park Plaza Suite 400
Irvine, 92614
Polsinelli LLP
Alex Polishuk
was promoted to shareholder of Polsinelli LLP in Los Angeles.
Polishuk specializes in employment litigation as well as labor and employment law. He has represented employees and employers in wage and hour,
wrongful termination and class action matters.
Pavel (Pasha) A. Sternberg
was promoted to shareholder of Polsinelli LLP in Los Angeles.
Before practicing law, Sternberg developed a full-scale privacy program at a large health care agency. He now litigates privacy and cybersecurity as well
as technology transactions.
Jacek M Wnuk
was promoted to shareholder of Polsinelli LLP in San Francisco.
Wnuk litigates cases related to electrical engineering, computer science, intellectual property, patent prosecution, unmanned aircraft systems and advanced
robotics. Before practicing law, Wnuk helped engineer autonomous vehicle technology for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Grand Challenge. He now assists in identifying patentable inventions and
building strong patent portfolios.
Michelman & Robinson LLP
Mona Hanna
was promoted to national litigation chair of Michelman & Robinson LLP in Irvine.
After 21 years and several precedent challenging cases at Michelman & Robinson LLP, Mona Hanna
has been named to head the firm's national litigation team.
Hanna was impressed by the newly formed Los Angeles firm when she faced one of its attorneys in
a high profile case. When she heard they were opening an office in Orange County she jumped at the chance to sign on as manager.
"I met the founding partners of the firm and I loved their entrepreneurial spirit and the fact that they felt
they could do anything that they put their mind to," Hanna said in a recent interview. "I felt like it was an
opportunity I had to take a chance with, and I'm obviously super glad I did."
As a specialist in class action and complex litigation, Hanna has made her name heading up precedent
challenging, multiparty, multijurisdictional cases. In one of her proudest moments, a case she successfully defended against appeal became a published, precedent-setting decision within the insurance industry. Adhav v. Midway Rent A Car Inc., 37 Cal. App. 5th 954 (Cal. App. 2019).
Sanford Michelman, co-founder and chairman of Michelman & Robinson LLP, said the firm is fortunate
to have "one of the premier litigators in the country" as its new national litigation chair.
"This year alone, Mona's been recognized as 'Orange County Lawyer of the Year (Litigation and Insurance)'
and included on a list of the 'Top 50 Women Lawyers in Southern California,'" Michelman said in a
statement. "This recognition was based upon her work defending newsworthy class action cases and 'bet the company' litigation matters, her uncanny ability to secure early-stage dismissals and defeat high-exposure class certified cases, and a remarkable string of courtroom victories. Truth be told, when it comes to big name litigators handling the most consequential of matters, there's no one finer than Mona Hanna."
Hanna's goal is to shepherd the litigation team through the uncertain times presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"For the first time we're all practicing law remotely, taking remote hearings, appearing remotely in federal court, state court, arbitrations, mediations, and now even trials are being conducted remotely," Hanna said. "It provides us with a real challenge: How do we continue to be the powerhouse litigators that we're known to be in a new medium?"
The newly minted chair says she plans to meet these challenges with training sessions on how to effectively use exhibits and presentations in a remote setting.
"That's definitely one of the goals I've set for myself, is to take advantage of the challenges that our industry has been faced with and use it to our advantage to better serve our clients," Hanna said.