Jones Day
Celeste M. Brecht
joined Jones Day as partner in Los Angeles.
Brecht specializes in representing pharmaceutical, health care, consumer products, media, entertainment and transportation companies in civil disputes.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Ramanda Luper
joined Jones Day as associate in Los Angeles.
Luper specializes in business litigation.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
555 S Flower St Fl 50
Los Angeles, 90071-2452 USA
T:
(213) 243-2116
F:
(213) 243-2539
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Julia Montgomery
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as general counsel of the california agricultural labor relations board in Sacramento.
Montgomery has served in the role since 2016 and was previously with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
She is based in Sacramento.
Address
1325 J St Ste 1900-A
Sacramento, 95814 USA
T:
(916) 653-2690
F:
(916) 653-2743
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Becky S. James
joined Dykema Gossett PLLC as member in Austin, TX and Los Angeles, CA.
James specializes in white collar criminal defense, civil and criminal appeals.
She is based in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas.
Address
333 South Grand Avenue Suite 2100
Los Angeles, 90071 United States
T:
(213) 457-1800
F:
(213) 457-1850
Ropers Majeski
Chantel E. Lafrades
was promoted to of counsel of Ropers Majeski in San Francisco.
Lafrades specializes in litigation with a focus on personal injury, premises liability, construction and property disputes.
She is based in San Francisco.
Ropers Majeski
Marie E. Sobieski
was promoted to of counsel of Ropers Majeski in San Jose.
Sobieski focuses on intellectual property with a focus on general, patent and trademark litigation.
She is based in San Jose.
Ropers Majeski
Pascale Gagnon
was promoted to partner of Ropers Majeski in Los Angeles.
Gagnon advises clients in professional liability matters, as well as business and commercial litigation.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Ropers Majeski
Briana J. Bramer
was promoted to of counsel of Ropers Majeski in Los Angeles.
Bramer specializes in complex civil litigation and premises and product liability.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Snell & Wilmer LLP
Monique Lashbrook
joined Snell & Wilmer LLP as partner in San Diego.
Lashbrook specializes in real estate acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, commercial mortgage financing, commercial leasing for industrial and retail spaces and property management matters.
She is based in San Diego.
Address
4320 La Jolla Village Drive Suite 205
San Diego, 92122 USA
T:
(858) 434-5020
Snell & Wilmer LLP
Christopher D. Bright
joined Snell & Wilmer LLP as partner in Orange County.
Bright specializes in litigating patent cases. He has experience handling patent licensing negotiations, patent due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, as well as inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
He is based in Orange County.
Address
600 Anton Blvd, Ste 1400
Costa Mesa, 92626-7689 USA
T:
(714) 427-7799
F:
(714) 427-7799
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Camille K. Binon
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as legal adviser at the public employment relations board in Sacramento.
Binon has been an attorney at the board since 2019 and formerly was at the California Department of Human Resources.
She is based in Sacramento.
Sheena J. Farro
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as legal adviser to the chair of the public employment relations board.
Farro has served as a regional attorney for the board since 2015.
She is based in Sacramento.
Shuo Shuonan Chen
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as member of the mental health services oversight and accountability commission in Berkeley.
Chen is a lecturer at UC Berkeley and a general partner at IOVC investment company. She earned her law degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
She is based in Berkeley.
Geneva E. Thompson
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as assistant secretary for tribal affairs at the california natural resources agency in Arcata.
Thompson is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and associate general counsel to the Yurok Tribe since 2019.
She is based in Arcata.
Danielle A. Lucido
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel of the division of occupational safety and health at the california department of industrial relations in Albany.
Lucido has been chief counsel at the Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20, CIO & CLC since 2010.
She is based in Albany.
Goldberg Segalla LLP
Brenda Ho
joined Goldberg Segalla LLP as associate in Irvine.
Ho counsels and defends employers, insurers and third-party administrators in workers' compensation matters.
She is based in Irvine.
Address
2600 Michelson Dr Ste 900
Irvine, 92612-6507 USA
T:
(949) 271-3338
Miller Starr Regalia
Mitchell Khurin
joined Miller Starr Regalia as associate in Walnut Creek.
Khurin focuses on commercial real estate transactions including leasing, acquisitions and dispositions.
He is based in Walnut Creek.
Address
1331 N. California Blvd.
Walnut Creek, 94596
T:
(925) 935-9400
President Joseph Biden
Doug Parker
joined President Joseph Biden as director of the occupational safety and health administration in Oakland.
Parker led the state's Division of Occupational Safety and Health and previously worked at the Mine Safety and Health Administration during President Barack Obama's administration.
He is based in Oakland.
Berger Kahn ALC
Bonnie J. Bennett
joined Berger Kahn ALC in Berger Kahn.
Wildfire litigator Bonnie J. Bennett joined Berger Kahn in Irvine as senior counsel. A graduate of Chapman University Fowler School of Law, she specializes in litigating subrogation claims on behalf of insurance companies.
She has handled claims related to the North Bay and Camp Fires against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., as well as the Thomas, Rye and Woolsey Fires against Southern California Edison Co. She worked alongside
Berger Kahn's managing partner Craig Simon in claims involving the Woolsey and Thomas Fires. "Bonnie is a perfect fit for our subrogation practice, which is why I personally recruited her," Simon said in a prepared statement.
Bennett joined the firm April 12 from Tyson & Mendes LLP in Los Angeles, where she had practiced since January.
According to Bennett, her past experience working with Simon and the firm were what attracted her to the opportunity, as well as the opportunity to return to Orange County.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and the entire group," Bennett said. "Knowing how hard they work and how successful they are was part of the attraction."
Bennett formerly specialized in high stakes litigation, defending general contractors, developers and insurers and said subrogation was something she "somewhat fell into." "Getting an opportunity to switch from defense work to plaintiffs' work was an interesting opportunity and I really took to it and have enjoyed doing it ever since," she said. "Getting to the root cause of the different fires is always an interesting process."
Bennett previously practiced at Stutman Law, Hall Griffin LLP, Koeller, Nebeker, Carlson & Haluck and Baker & Baker APC.
Address
1 Park Plz, Ste 340
Irvine, 92614-2511 USA
T:
(949) 474-1880
F:
(949) 313-5029
Womble Bond Dickinson US LLP
Steve Levitan
joined Womble Bond Dickinson US LLP as partner in Silicon Valley.
Levitan specializes in patent, trade secret, trademark and technology contract disputes.
He is based in Silicon Valley.
Address
1841 Page Mill Road, Suite 200
Palo Alto, 94304 USA
T:
(408) 341-3045
WithersWorldwide
Christine E. Brown
joined WithersWorldwide as special counsel in San Francisco.
Brown focuses on wealth, estate planning, succession and philanthropy matters. She also has experience as fiduciary counsel on trust and estate administration.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
505 Sansome Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, 94111 USA
T:
(415) 872-3200
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates
Abraham A. Tabaie
was promoted to partner of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates in Palo Alto.
Tabaie specializes in commercial business litigation involving trade secret misappropriation, privacy, products liability and unfair competition.
He is based in Palo Alto.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Camilo Echavarria
was promoted to member of the executive committee of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Los Angeles.
Echavarria is partner in charge of the Los Angeles office and is a member of the firm's diversity executive
council.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Jean L. Tom
was promoted to member of the executive committee of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in San Francisco.
Tom is a partner and co-chair of the attorneys of color affinity group.
She is based in San Francisco.
Data Trace Publishing Company
Alan R. Seher
joined Data Trace Publishing Company as author of the california estate and gift tax planning forms and practice manual in San Francisco.
Seher is a certified specialist in taxation by the State Bar and is partner at Niesar & Vestal LLP.
He is based in San Francisco.
Public Counsel
Mónica Ramírez Almadani
joined Public Counsel as president and ceo in Los Angeles.
Almadani succeeds Margaret Morrow effective June 1 and is a law professor and co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at UC Irvine School of Law.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
610 South Ardmore Avenue
Los Angeles, 90005 USA
T:
(213) 385-2977
F:
(213) 385-9089
Sanders Roberts LLP
Robert K. Dixon
joined Sanders Roberts LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Dixon specializes in products liability, personal injury, wrongful death and complex litigation.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
1055 West 7th Street Suite 3200
Los Angeles, 90017 USA
T:
(213) 426-5000
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan
Dwain Woodley
was promoted to assistant district attorney of San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan in San Diego.
Woodley is the first African American to hold the job. He was previously chief deputy district attorney.
He is based in San Diego.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Robert "Bob" J. McGahan
joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as partner in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C..
McGahan specializes in government enforcement, white collar criminal defense and high exposure civil litigation matters.
He is based in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Address
19191 South Vermont Avenue Suite 900
Torrance, 90502 USA
T:
(424) 221-7400
F:
(424) 221-7499
Ropes & Gray LLP
Torrey J. McClary
joined Ropes & Gray LLP as partner in San Francisco.
McClary advises health care and technology companies and real estate investment trusts in mergers and acquisitions and transformational transactions.
She is based in San Francisco.
Ranee Adipat
joined Ropes & Gray LLP as counsel in San Francisco.
Adipat specializes in transactional law involving health care entities.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
Three Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, 94111-4006 USA
T:
(415) 315-6300
F:
(415) 315-6350
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
Rosanna Marrero Neagle
was promoted to partner of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP in San Francisco.
Neagle specializes in corporate and commercial matters and is the former vice president of legal affairs at Nestlé USA.
She is based in San Francisco.
Irell & Manella LLP
Andrei Iancu
joined Irell & Manella LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Iancu is the former undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in President Donald Trump's administration.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
1800 Avenue of the Stars Suite 900
Los Angeles, 90067-4276 USA
T:
(310) 203-7537
F:
(310) 203-719
Desmarais LLP
Gabrielle E. Higgins
joined Desmarais LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Desmarais LLP expanded its Bay Area intellectual property capabilities with the addition of partner Gabrielle E. Higgins. She is the firm's first lateral partner hire in its San Francisco office, which opened in 2019.
"In some ways for me it's like coming full circle and coming home," said Higgins. "I started at Fish & Neave in New York, an IP litigation boutique that had a 250-year history representing companies such as the Wright Brothers and General Electric."
She added, she was attracted to returning to a firm of intellectual property trial lawyers who work together and have similar practices, as well as the opportunity to help build out the firm's Bay Area presence.
Including her time at Fish & Neave before its merger with Ropes & Gray in 2007, she was with that firm for 30 years.
During her time at Fish & Neave, she spent some time working with John Desmarais, founder of Desmarais LLP, and was one of nine attorneys that helped the firm establish its first West Coast office in the Bay Area.
With over three decades of patent litigation experience, Higgins has represented leading technology companies such as Apple, Google and Samsung before the board's Patent Trial and Appeal Board as well as federal court.
She is a member of the board's Bar Association, currently serving on the programming committee, and nonprofit ChIPs, which focuses on advancing and connecting women in technology, law and policy. She also is dedicated to mentoring the next generation and partners with her clients and friends to host
breakfasts and lunches for young women just beginning their intellectual property careers.
Address
101 California St, Ste 3070
San Francisco, 94111-5817 USA
T:
(415) 573-1902
Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP
Tanganica J Turner
joined Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP as associate in Los Angeles.
Turner specializes in labor and employment litigation.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
624 S. Grand Ave. Suite 2000
Los Angeles, 90017 United States
T:
(213) 629-7600
F:
(213) 624-1376
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Ulysses Hui
joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as partner in Silicon Valley.
Hui specializes in commercial technology transactions.
He is based in Silicon Valley.
Address
505 Montgomery Street Suite 800
San Francisco, 94111-6533 USA
T:
(650) 352-6420
Paul Hastings LLP
Sean Monroe
joined Paul Hastings LLP as partner in Century City.
Monroe specializes in mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions in the entertainment and media industries.
He is based in Century City.
Address
1999 Avenue of the Stars, 27th Floor
Los Angeles, 90067 United States
T:
(310) 620-5700