Stephen M. McLoughlin was promoted to partner of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Cerritos.

McLoughlin advises public and private agencies in transactional and litigation issues such as state community college districts in education related matters as well as providing counsel concerning compliance with Title IX.
He is based in Cerritos.

Susana P. Solano was promoted to partner of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Sacramento.

Solano advises employers and management in employment issues including prevention of employment discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations.
She is based in Sacramento.

Amber S. Healy was promoted to shareholder of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Cerritos.

Healy defends employers and management in employment claims including wage and hour class and representative actions, as well as unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, meal and rest break violation claims.
She is based in Cerritos.

Adrian Cyhan joined Stubbs Alderton & Markiles LLP as partner in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Cyhan is a patent attorney with a focus on identifying, protecting and leveraging intellectual property assets.
He is based in Sherman Oaks.

Heather N. Aune was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Diego.

Aune specializes in executive compensation and employee benefits issues for startups, emerging growth and public companies.
She is based in San Diego.

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

Gunderson represents emerging growth companies in initial public offerings, other capital market transactions and public company matters.
He is based in San Diego.

William Munoz as president and ceo in Sacramento

Munoz specialized in defending professionals in professional liability matters. The new arbitration and resolution firm focuses on professional liability, employment and personal injury matters throughout California.
He is based in Sacramento.

Nicholas G. Markman was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Francisco.

Markman specializes in representing emerging growth companies in the technology sector including consumer internet, software, telecommunications and entertainment technology. He also advises angel investors and venture capital firms.
He is based in San Francisco.

Benjamin Pelletier joined Haynes and Boone LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Benjamin Pelletier has joined Haynes and Boone's in San Francisco after spending the last three years at Venable LLP.
Pelletier, a patent attorney and former biochemical engineer, specializes in patent counseling and prosecution in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life science and medical device industries.
"The firm has just opened the San Francisco office and they have this digital health and precision medicine practice group with a couple of other practitioners, who are doing really exciting patent work for the same types of clients that I have, but in a slightly different area," said Pelletier. "My colleagues are focusing more on computer science aspects of some of these inventions, they're not doing the therapeutic molecule development work that I'm doing, but we have really complementary practices."
Pelletier added he was also attracted to the opportunity at Haynes and Boone because of the firm's focus on patent prosecution.
Formerly a biochemical engineer, Pelletier spent many years working in the manufacturing division at Genentech, a biotechnology company based in the Bay Area. Experience that has been beneficial to his current practice, he said.
"I was working on developing the processes for manufacturing a lot of the drugs that I now work on the patent side of," Pelletier added. "Oftentimes, my clients come to me with questions about how we can patent a drug, but also, if we can patent the manufacturing process that's related to the drug. So because I have a lot of experience in that field, I'm able to understand what they're doing and help them identify potential new inventions that could be protected with patents."
According to Pelletier, he decided to pursue a career in law because he wanted to be closer to the decision makers in the industry.
As a new member of the digital health and precision medicine practice group, Pelletier hopes to help expand and grow the group's footprint.
"Beyond that, I'd like to reach out to more of a national and international base of clients, once we expand the team and get the bandwidth to take on bigger types of matters," he said.

Allina M. Amuchie was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

Amuchie specializes in business and civil litigation.
She is based in Orange County.

Mohammed E. Elayan was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

Elayan advises clients in mergers and acquisitions, SEC reporting and compliance, financing, commercial and licensing agreements, corporate governance and entity structuring.
He is based in Orange County.

Lucas K. Hori was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

Hori specializes in business and civil litigation.
He is based in Orange County.

Seth M. Jessee was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

Jessee represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex business litigation.
He is based in Orange County.

Carrie A. MacIntosh was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Palo Alto.

MacIntosh focuses on construction, real estate and general commerce matters. She is a litigator and counsels clients in contract preparation, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution.
She is based in Palo Alto.

Jonathan D. Nomura was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

Nomura represents lenders and borrowers in single and multiple lender acquisitions, construction, term and affordable housing financing related to all property types.
He is based in Orange County.

Kyle M. St. James was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

St. James advises clients on patent strategy including in portfolio development and prosecution.
He is based in Orange County.

Bryan A. Wilbert was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

Wilbert represents financial institutions, private equity funds, developers and owners in commercial real estate matters such as acquisition, disposition, development, leasing and financing.
He is based in Orange County.

Meredith Williams was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County.

Williams specializes in trademark and copyright litigation, including trade secret misappropriation, false advertising and unfair competition, and advises clients on how to promote and defend brands and intellectual property.
She is based in Orange County.

Maxine D. Bayley was promoted to partner of Duane Morris LLP in San Francisco.

Bayley specializes in immigration law related to employment of foreign nationals. She also advises clients in family based permanent residence and naturalization.
She is based in San Francisco.

Meagan E. Garland was promoted to partner of Duane Morris LLP in San Diego.

Garland specializes in employment litigation. She advises startups, multi-jurisdictional and multinational employers in various industries, particularly in fashion and beauty.
She is based in San Diego.

Joseph J. Machi was promoted to partner of Duane Morris LLP in San Diego.

Machi focuses on complex transactions such as mergers and acquisitions and securities offerings, as well as general corporate matters.
He is based in San Diego.