Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Daniel M. Kolkey
After 28 years as a partner at Gibson Dunn and five years as a justice of the 3rd District California Court of Appeal, San Francisco based appellate lawyer Daniel M. Kolkey retired at the end of the year.
"There's an expectation that partners will retire at age 68, to make room for the younger partners, but it was also time for a change," said Kolkey in an interview.
"I'm interested in focusing on things that particularly interest me. Particularly I'd like to write about California public policy -- I've been doing a bit of that already this year -- as well as on foreign affairs."
Kolkey plans to leave the door open when it comes to practicing law and said he is open to consulting and possibly writing briefs in the future.
Kolkey's 43 years in practice includes civil actions and litigation on a range of law, from tax to constitutional issues. He has expertise in the California Constitution and procedure, government law and ballot initiatives.
He drafted two constitutional measures, co-authoring California's international arbitration law and a recent law that allows foreign and out-of-state attorneys to represent clients in international commercial arbitrations in California.
At Gibson Dunn, he was co-chair of the appellate and constitutional law group and was chair of the appellate rules subcommittee of the Judicial Council of California for six years.
In addition to his time on the appellate court, he was legal affairs secretary and counsel to Gov. Pete Wilson during his second term and as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's negotiator under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Kolkey said he has enjoyed most the thrill and creativity of appellate litigation, particularly in the high stakes cases he has handled related to public policy. He mentioned in particular arguing for both Governors Wilson and Schwarzenegger on redistricting before the California Supreme Court.
"I've also enjoyed drafting two initiative measures that were adopted by the California voters and are now part of the California Constitution," he added. "I can technically say that I've written part of the California Constitution."
Klinedinst PC
Robert R. Martinez
joined Klinedinst PC as attorney in Irvine.
Martinez represents institutional clients in a wide range of civil matters, including general commercial liability, consumer law and title litigation.
He is based in Irvine.
Address
2 Park Plaza, Suite 1250 , Irvine 92614 United States
T:
(714) 542-1800
F:
(714) 542-3592
Hueston Hennigan LLP
Michael Behrens
was promoted to of counsel of Hueston Hennigan LLP in Los Angeles.
Behrens is a commercial litigator and has experience with disputes related to contracts, professional malpractice, toxic torts, corporate executive employment disputes, defamation, health care fraud and labor unions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Johnston & Hutchinson LLP (formerly Johnston Hutchinson & Lira LLP)
FisherBroyles LLP
David Mesa
joined FisherBroyles LLP as partner in Palo Alto.
David Mesa joined FisherBroyles as a partner this month, expanding the firm's Palo Alto litigation practice. He moved from Steptoe & Johnson, where he practiced three years in the products liability, commercial litigation and retail and e-commerce groups.
"FisherBroyles is a stellar law firm. It provides my clients with a broader platform and a larger national footprint, and for me, the opportunity to work with the firm's impeccable trial bench to defend clients nationally," said Mesa in an interview. "It's a global firm with world class partners. Whatever my clients are facing when a problem arises, even if I'm not an expert in the area, we have a diversely talented and experienced bench, who can help the client solve whatever those problems are. ... The firm was touted as a fantastic place to work with a collaborative culture amongst the partners and I agree 100%."
He was attracted to the flexibility and autonomy of the partnership and its distributed, cloud-based structure that allows him to spend extra time with his young children, Mesa said.
"I have the freedom to choose to work from home, which means I get to spend more time with my family," he added. "I have a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old and that extra time really means the world to me."
Mesa specializes in complex civil disputes with a focus on defending manufacturers and retailers. He has experience representing clients in products liability and commercial business disputes, as well as injury and wrongful death lawsuits, consumer class actions and enforcement actions by government agencies.
"From my summer associate program at Sedgwick in 2006 up until today, all I've ever done is litigation for manufacturers and retailers," he said.
Mesa was with Sedgwick LLP for 10 years before joining Steptoe in 2018.
Outside of his practice, Mesa is active in bar associations, which he considers his second family. In the past, he has been president of the National Filipino Lawyers Association and board member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Currently, he is in his third year on the board of the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association and is on the judiciary committee of the National Filipino Lawyers Association and the California chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
Address
530 Lytton Ave, Fl 2 , Palo Alto 94301-1541 USA
T:
(415) 915-4415
F:
(415) 890-4845
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Veronica Lah
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.
Lah specializes in corporate and financial transactions including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets and corporate finance.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth P. Levin
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.
Levin is a member of the firm's real estate group. She advises clients in a broad range of matters including loan restructures, leasing and acquisitions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Justine Daniels
was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Daniels is a litigator and has experience in intellectual property, personal injury and contract disputes.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Noah K. Kornblith
was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in San Francisco.
Kornblith advises clients in mergers and acquisitions, private equity leveraged buyouts, unsolicited bids and shareholder activism work.
He is based in San Francisco.
Stephen McIntyre
was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
McIntyre specializes in antitrust within the pharmaceutical, consumer electronics and entertainment industries.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Brittany Rogers
was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Rogers is a member of the firm’s securities litigation practice and handles matters from fraud and derivative cases to merger and acquisition litigation.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Jonathan P. Schneller
was promoted to partner of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Schneller specializes in complex litigation with a focus on multi-jurisdiction mass torts, class actions and insurance and employment disputes.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP
Frances Brower
was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Irvine.
Brower specializes in litigation related to premises liability, commercial disputes, elder abuse and products liability.
She is based in Irvine.
Kristian B. Moriarty
was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Irvine.
Moriarty is a litigator and a member of the firm's risk management and insurance law, transportation and products liability practice groups. He has experience handling disputes related to insurance coverage and trucking accidents.
He is based in Irvine.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Shawtina F. Lewis
was promoted to partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Los Angeles.
Lewis specializes in defending clients in product liability, toxic tort and automotive warranty litigation. She also advises clients in California Proposition 65 compliance.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Larson LLP
Dana M. Howard
was promoted to partner of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.
Howard represents clients in contact, intellectual property, entertainment, employment and fraud disputes.
She is based in Los Angeles.
A. Alexander Lowder
was promoted to partner of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.
Lowder focuses on representation of clients in white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, as well as complex breach of contract matters, class actions and civil rights disputes.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Jen C. Won
was promoted to counsel of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.
Won specializes in complex commercial disputes and white collar criminal investigations and defense.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Emilie J. Zuccolotto
was promoted to counsel of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.
Zuccolotto focuses on employment and business disputes such as discrimination
and wrongful termination claims, wage and hour class actions and
consumer class actions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Signature Resolution LLC
Louis M. Meisinger
was promoted to executive chairman of Signature Resolution LLC in Los Angeles.
Meisinger is a former Los Angeles superior court judge and co-founder of Signature Resolution.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Sidley Austin LLP
Sandra "Sandi" Knox
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Palo Alto.
Knox advises clients in technology and life sciences transactions, corporate governance and executive compensation matters. She is the founding lawyer of the firm's Palo Alto office and leads the corporate venture capital practice.
She is based in Palo Alto.
Payom M. Pirahesh
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.
Pirahesh is a member of the private equity and mergers and acquisitions practice groups. He specializes in the representation of private equity funds.
He is based in Century City.
Eric Schwartz
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.
Schwartz is a commercial litigator with a focus on complex business disputes such as theft of confidential information, breach of fiduciary duty, duty of loyalty and misappropriation of corporate opportunities.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Collin P. Wedel
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.
Wedel specializes in the representation of clients before the U.S. Supreme Court and the appellate courts.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Cooley LLP
Lauren Creel
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Palo Alto.
Creel advises start-ups and venture capital funds. She has experience in public offerings, SEC reporting and compliance, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
She is based in Palo Alto.
Megan Donohue
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in San Diego.
Donohue is a litigator and specializes in advertising and media disputes.
She is based in San Diego.
Kristine Forderer
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in San Francisco.
Forderer specializes in complex litigation. She represents clients in class actions and claims related to breach of contract, trade secrets, fraud, securities violations, privacy and unfair competition.
She is based in San Francisco.
Alex K. Kassai
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Palo Alto.
Kassai focuses on general business and corporate law. He advises companies on formations, private equity financings, public offerings, complex business transactions and mergers and acquisitions.
He is based in Palo Alto.
Sale Kwon
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Palo Alto.
Kwon specializes in securities and corporate law. He advises clients in corporate governance, venture financings, public offerings and mergers and acquisitions.
He is based in Palo Alto.
Anne Lieberman
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Los Angeles.
Lieberman advises public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions and other complex strategic transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Sara Semnani
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Los Angeles.
Semnani focuses on corporate and securities law. She advises companies on formation and financing activities, securities law compliance, corporate governance and other strategic transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Erin Trenda
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in San Diego.
Trenda specializes in contract and licensing disputes, intellectual property litigation and commercial tort claims.
She is based in San Diego.
Buchalter
Benjamin H. Heuer
was promoted to shareholder of Buchalter in San Francisco and Sacramento.
Heuer specializes in asset based lending, factoring, corporate finance and loan
workouts and restructurings.
He is based in San Francisco and Sacramento.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC
Lily Zhang
was promoted to member of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC in San Diego.
Zhang specializes in intellectual property with a focus on patent preparation and prosecution, as well as portfolio management.
She is based in San Diego.
Tali M. Tuchin
was promoted to member of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC in San Diego.
Tuchin advises clients in complex and strategic business and technology based transactions.
She is based in San Diego.
Melanie Ruthrauff Levy
was promoted to member of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC in San Diego.
Levy advises public and private companies in capital market transactions, fallen angel reverse mergers, corporate governance, public company reporting and mergers and acquisitions.
She is based in San Diego.
Spertus, Landes & Umhofer LLP
David Michaels
joined Spertus, Landes & Umhofer LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
David Michaels joined Spertus, Landes & Umhofer as a partner in Los Angeles from his solo practice.
"Matt Umhofer has been a good friend and mentor of mine since I started my career at Skadden," said Michaels in an interview. "I got staffed on a case with him and worked with him quite a bit when I was there - really enjoyed the experience - and he and I stayed in very close contact. He had mentioned over the last couple years a couple times in conversation that there was a potential seat for me at the firm if I was interested. That conversation started to become more serious in the last few months before I joined ... and I basically started talking to all the partners and was just incredibly impressed."
Michaels said he was also impressed by the caliber of attorneys and the firm's culture. How the attorneys felt about practicing there really attracted him to the opportunity, he said.
As a commercial litigator, Michaels specializes in corporate, securities and general business litigation. His clients are primarily middle market and emerging companies.
Prior to his two years in solo practice, he was a co-founder and principal of Kilometer Partners LLP for almost seven years. He joined Spertus, Landes & Umhofer earlier this month. Michaels has practiced at Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP and at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Los Angeles.
He also was a clerk to 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw and Vice Chancellor John W. Noble of the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Since joining the firm, Michaels has been focusing on transitioning his clients to the firm and building relationships with his new colleagues. He looks forward to growing his practice on the firm's platform and helping the firm grow.
"I like the sort of romantic or old school idea of being someone's attorney, someone's protector, so to speak," he added. "I sort of romanticize that a little bit when a client puts their faith in you in an area in which they're often really stressed, don't know that much about and depend on you to steer them through sometimes what is the hardest circumstance they have ever dealt with. That's my favorite part about my practice."
Address
617 West 7th Street, Suite 200 , Los Angeles 90017 USA
T:
(310) 826-4700
F:
(310) 826-4711
Jones Day
Elizabeth M. Burnside
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.
Burnside focuses on business and commercial litigation including consumer class actions, business and contract disputes and securities and environmental litigation.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Allison Crow
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Crow represents clients in labor and employment cases.
She is based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Kelsey A. Israel-Trummel
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Francisco.
Israel-Trummel represents employers in labor and employment claims including wage and hour, discrimination and wrongful termination.
She is based in San Francisco.
Brooke Schultz
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Diego.
Schultz represents companies in civil and criminal enforcement actions, as well as complex business litigation.
She is based in San Diego.
Lexi Adian Smith
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.
Smith focuses on intellectual property and advises clients in complex intellectual property disputes and licensing of intellectual property rights.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP
Lindsay Cooper
was promoted to partner of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in San Francisco.
Cooper focuses on complex, high-stakes intellectual property and antitrust litigation.
She is based in San Francisco.
David Elihu
was promoted to partner of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in Los Angeles.
Elihu specializes in complex commercial litigation with a focus on patent, antitrust and technical disputes.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Iman Lordgooei
was promoted to partner of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in San Francisco.
Lordgooei specializes in patent litigation. He has experience in unfair competition and trade secret misappropriation.
He is based in San Francisco.
California State Controller Betty T. Yee
Catharine B. Baker
joined California State Controller Betty T. Yee as member of the fair political practices commission in Pleasanton.
Baker is special counsel at Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel. She also represented the 16th State Assembly District from 2014 through 2018.
She is based in Pleasanton.
Address
6801 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 210 , Pleasanton 94566 USA
T:
(925) 224-7780
F:
(925) 224-7782
California Lawyers Association
Deborah Maddux
joined California Lawyers Association as chair of the labor and employment law section executive committee in Sacramento.
Maddux is senior managing and founding partner of Van Dermyden Maddux Law Corp.
She is based in Sacramento.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Jeremy D. Erickson
was promoted to partner of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in San Francisco.
Erickson advises clients on compensation and corporate governance issues.
He is based in San Francisco.
Vijay K. Toke
was promoted to partner of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in San Francisco.
Toke focuses on trademark, copyright and licensing disputes in court and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
He is based in San Francisco.
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Liane Randolph
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chair of the california air resources board in Oakland.
Randolph has been commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission since 2015 and is the former deputy secretary and general counsel at the California Natural Resources Agency.
She is based in Oakland.
Davina Hurt
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as california air resources board member.
Hurt has been a Belmont City Council member since 2015 and has had her own practice since 2005.
She is based in Belmont.
Gideon Kracov
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as california air resources board member in Los Angeles.
Kracov has had his own practice since 2004 and is a former deputy Los Angeles city attorney.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth Landsberg
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom in Sacramento.
Landsberg has been deputy director of the Help Center for the California Department of Managed Health Care since 2016 and is the former director of policy advocacy for the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
She is based in Sacramento.
Matt LaVere
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as supervisor for the 1st district of the ventura county board of supervisors in Ventura.
LaVere has been the mayor of the city of Ventura since 2018. He also has
been a principal at LaVere Huff LLP since 2018.
He is based in Ventura.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Rasheed McWilliams
joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
McWilliams specializes in intellectual property infringement litigation and defense of California Consumer Privacy Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act cases.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
865 S Figueroa St , Los Angeles 90017 United States
T:
(213) 633-8620
Cooper, White & Cooper LLP
Quinlan S. Tom
joined Cooper, White & Cooper LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Tom is a construction trial lawyer and represents general contractors, developers, homeowners, sureties, subcontractors, material suppliers and designers in construction and commercial business disputes.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
201 California St., 17th Floor, 24th Floor , San Francisco 94111 USA
T:
(415) 433-1900
Hopkins & Carley
Christine B. Redfield
joined Hopkins & Carley as of counsel in Palo Alto.
Hopkins & Carley announced the expansion of its intellectual property group in Palo Alto with the addition of Christine B. Redfield as of counsel on Dec. 8.
She rejoined the firm from Redfield IP Professional Corp., having previously practiced at the firm as an associate.
"I began my trademark practice at Hopkins & Carley and was there for seven years," said Redfield. "I'm excited to be rejoining the firm to help build out the intellectual property group with a robust international trademark practice."
"I am thrilled to be joining an exceptional team of trademark attorneys and paralegals, who are utilizing advanced technology platforms, research and analytics and tools that are transforming the practice," she added. "Hopkins & Carley's deep bench of talent with strong IP litigation, privacy, licensing and corporate practices was a draw for me. I was also impressed by the firm's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Lawyers from diverse backgrounds are essential to growing an international trademark practice."
Redfield advises clients in the development of their trademark rights, expansion of their portfolios and protection of their brands globally.
"I represent a range of companies from unicorns with billion-dollar valuations to entrepreneurs, who are developing their first brand," she said.
She has represented clients in the gaming, technology, construction, biotech, food and beverage, medical device, cosmetics, financial technology and apparel industries.
"Chris' unique skills and commitment to client service perfectly complement those of our growing IP team," said Chiara Portner, co-chair of the firm's intellectual property group. "With her robust trademark practice and the development of our data privacy and e-commerce practice, our IP group now offers a broad array of branding and marketing services to our clients on a unified platform."
Redfield has also practiced at K&L Gates LLP and Fenwick & West LLP.
Address
200 Page Mill Rd Ste 200 , Palo Alto 94306-2062
T:
(650) 804-7644
Rimon PC
Herman Enayati
joined Rimon PC as partner in Los Angeles.
Enayati specializes in real estate and advises owners, investors and operators in a variety of transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
2029 Century Park East Suite 400N , Los Angeles 90067 USA
T:
(213) 375-3811
F:
(213) 375-3811
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel
Maysa Saeed
joined Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel as associate in San Jose.
Saeed advises employers in employment law including litigation, advice and counsel.
Address
60 South Market Street, Suite 1400 , San Jose 95113 USA
T:
(408) 947-2434
F:
(408) 287-2583
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Philip Sheng
was promoted to counsel of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in Menlo Park.
Sheng focuses on intellectual property litigation. He advises clients in life sciences and pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, semiconductor integrated circuits and smartphone and tablet displays.
He is based in Menlo Park.
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Ruby Kazi
joined Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP as of counsel in San Francisco.
Kazi is a member of the firm's litigation practice group and specializes in commercial litigation.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
One Montgomery Tower; 120 Kearny Street #2700 , San Francisco 94104 United States
T:
(628) 600-2250
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Emily C. Curran-Huberty
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in San Francisco.
Curran-Huberty specializes in commercial litigation with a focus on antitrust.
She is based in San Francisco.
Karen A. Lorang
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.
Lorang specializes in real estate and land use transactions. She advises clients on large-scale development projects.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Matthew S. Schonholz
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles.
Schonholz specializes in tax law, including the tax structuring and documentation of public and private mergers, equity and asset acquisitions and dispositions, compensation and employment arrangements.
He is based in Los Angeles.
John L. Schwab
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles.
Schwab specializes in complex civil litigation with a focus on intellectual property disputes and the entertainment industry.
He is based in Los Angeles.