Gov. Gavin Newsom
Jeremy A. Avila
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the department of aging in San Jose.
Avila has been deputy county counsel at the Santa Clara County Counsel's office since 2019.
He is based in San Jose.
East Bay Trust and Estate Lawyers
Ryan J. Szczepanik
was promoted to president of East Bay Trust and Estate Lawyers in Orinda.
Szczepanik is a principal at Hartog, Baer & Hand APC and is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law.
He is based in Orinda.
Blank Rome LLP
Anthony (Tony) R. Callobre
joined Blank Rome LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Callobre specializes in representing lenders and borrowers in commercial loan transactions particularly asset-based lending and fund finance.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
1000 Wilshire Blvd Ste 1500
Los Angeles, 90017-1730 USA
T:
(213) 891-5024
F:
(213) 630-5773
CDF Labor Law LLP
Corey J. Cabral
was promoted to chair of cdf's paga litigation practice group of CDF Labor Law LLP in Sacramento.
Cabral focuses on defending employers in high stakes PAGA lawsuits.
He is based in Sacramento.
Pircher, Nichols & Meeks LLP
Justin C. Adofina
joined Pircher, Nichols & Meeks LLP as associate in Los Angeles.
Adofina is a member of the real estate department and is a former federal sector clerk in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Hearings Unit.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
1901 Avenue Of The Stars, Ste 1200
Los Angeles, 90067-6013 USA
T:
(310) 201-8985
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Aileen McGrath
joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as senior counsel in San Francisco.
Aileen McGrath, the former co-chief of appellate litigation in the San Francisco City Attorney's Office, has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in San Francisco.
"I've been familiar with Pratik Shah's work from his very earliest days," said McGrath of her decision to move. "Pratik was an assistant to the Solicitor General when I was a law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer and I remember watching him do some of his very first arguments many years ago at the court. So I had followed his career with interest over the years and this past fall, when I first began thinking about possible next steps, a mutual acquaintance of ours mentioned that he thought that I might be a natural fit for Pratik's Supreme Court and appellate group at Akin Gump."
McGrath added, she and Shah discussed the opportunity further in terms of what opportunities there were for her to leverage her state and federal experience litigating in the California courts as part of the practice group.
"I started thinking about next steps in the fall," she added. "During my last few years at the city attorney's office, I focused heavily on the office's lawsuits against the federal government, against the Trump administration in particular. My old office filed lawsuits on a range of topics ranging from sanctuary city issues to LGBT issues to health care and the like and with the election in the fall it became clear that kind of work would naturally start to transition and so I began thinking about next steps that would enable me to do that same kind of high stakes, high importance rapid pace litigation in the federal appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court as I had been doing."
Her move to Akin Gump is McGrath's return to private practice, she formerly was an associate at Goodwin Procter LLP before joining the city's attorney's office in 2012.
She had been with the office until her move to Akin Gump except for a year stint in 2015, where she served as a chambers attorney for Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar of the Supreme Court of California.
She also served as a law clerk to U.S. Court Appeals Judge Michael Boudin of the 1st Circuit in Boston and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer following her graduation from Harvard Law School.
Address
580 California St, Ste 1500
San Francisco, 94104-1036 USA
T:
(515) 765-9553
JAMS
Keith D. Koeller
joined JAMS as neutral in Irvine.
Koeller was a founding partner of the firm and specialized in litigation. At Jams, he will focus on business and commercial, construction, construction defect, insurance, personal injury and torts and real property disputes.
He is based in Irvine.
Address
5 Park Plaza, Suite 400
Irvine, 92614 USA
T:
(714) 937-8256
F:
(714) 939-8710
Loeb & Loeb LLP
Jorge Arciniega
joined Loeb & Loeb LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Arciniega focuses on complex trademark and copyright matters including the registration and enforcement of global intellectual property portfolios and licensing and co-branding endorsement agreements.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
10100 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 2200
Los Angeles, 90067 USA
T:
(310) 282-2262
F:
(310) 282-2200
Mayer Brown LLP
Vivek K. Mohan
joined Mayer Brown LLP as partner in Palo Alto and San Francisco.
Mohan specializes in cybersecurity and data privacy. He previously led the information security law team at Apple. He is based in Palo Alto and San Francisco.
Address
3000 El Camino Real # 2-300
Palo Alto, 94306 USA
T:
(650) 331-2054
Roberts Disability Law
Michelle L. Roberts
as founding partner
in Oakland
Roberts specializes in ERISA litigation with a focus on representing employees in benefit disputes.
She is based in Oakland.
Address
66 Franklin Street, Suite 300
Oakland, 94607 USA
T:
(510) 230-2090
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
Thomas N. McCormick
as managing partner
McCormick specializes in employment litigation, complex commercial disputes and class action litigation.
He is based in Newport Beach.
Cory D. Catignani
as partner
Catignani previously practiced vin Ohio and will now practice out of the Newport Beach office. He specializes in advising employers in employment matters related to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Family and Medical Act Leave and various other employment laws.
He is based in Newport Beach.
Jocelyn Hoffman
Hoffman represents employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge and wage-and-hour litigation.
She is based in Newport Beach.
Address
4675 MacArthur Court Suite 700
Newport Beach, 92660 USA
T:
(949) 526-7900
F:
(949) 526-7901
Judicate West
Robert J. O'Hair
joined Judicate West as neutral in Sacramento.
O'Hair is a certified family law specialist and has been a private judge for 15 years for settlements and trials in Northern California. He is also a former judge pro tem for both the Sacramento County.
He is based in Sacramento.
Address
980 9th Street Suite 2200
Sacramento, 95814 USA
T:
(916) 394-8490
F:
(916) 394-8495
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Michael R. Guerrero
joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Guerrero specializes in advising clients in consumer protection and consumer financial services issues.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
350 S Grand Ave Ste 3600
Los Angeles, 90071-3476 USA
T:
(213) 614-7384
Nixon Peabody LLP
Richard L. Shamos
joined Nixon Peabody LLP as counsel in Los Angeles.
Shamos specializes in private investment products and fund formation.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
300 South Grand Avenue Suite 4100
Los Angeles, 90071-3151 USA
T:
(213) 629-6157
F:
(833) 720-2061
Fisher Phillips LLP
Andrew Saxon
joined Fisher Phillips LLP as of counsel in Irvine.
Saxon advises employers in employment, class action and commercial matters.
He is based in Irvine.
Albert Lin
joined Fisher Phillips LLP as associate in Irvine.
Lin focuses on defending employers in workplace claims.
He is based in Irvine.
Address
2050 Main Street Suite 1000
Irvine, 92614 USA
T:
(949) 798-2194
F:
(949) 851-0152
Fisher Phillips LLP
Megan Clark
joined Fisher Phillips LLP as associate in San Francsico.
Clark represents employers in claims of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination, disability accommodation and retaliation.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
One Embarcadero Center Suite 2050
San Francisco, 94111-3712 USA
T:
(415) 490-9000
F:
(415) 490-9001
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Darcie Houck
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as member of the california public utilities commission in Davis.
Houck has been chief counsel for the California Energy Commission since 2019 and was previously an administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission.
She is based in Davis.
Jan Schori
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as member of the california independent system operator board of governors in Sacramento.
Schori was a member of the board of trustees of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. since 2009. She is a former of counsel at Downey Brand LLP.
She is based in Sacramento.
Proskauer Rose LLP
Will S. Chuchawat
joined Proskauer Rose LLP as co-head of the global mergers and acquisitions practice in Los Angeles.
Partner Will S. Chuchawat joined Proskauer's Los Angeles office on Feb. 11 as co-head of the global mergers and acquisitions practice. He had been with Sheppard Mullin for 16 years and led the mergers and acquisitions group.
Chuchawat was attracted to the opportunity to join Proskauer due to its depth, strength in private equity and private capital, its culture and mindset, he said.
"They've got the same passion for exceeding expectations and delivering outstanding results for clients that I do," he explained.
Chuchawat described his practice as, "M&A all day, every day." His work includes buy and sell side transactions with a particular focus on private equity and leverage buyouts.
He also advises clients in growth equity and venture capital transactions. His clients include private equity funds, public companies, venture capital and private companies in the technology, health care, consumer, business services, industrial, aerospace, defense, life sciences, financial services and media business.
His most recent deals include advising Mercury Systems Inc. in its acquisition of Physical Optics Corp. and advising TRUaire on its sale to CSW Industrials Inc. for $360 million.
Outside of his practice, Chuchawat has been a board member since 2018 of YPO, a global leadership community of chief executives.
Address
2029 Century Park East, Suite 2400
Los Angeles, 90067-3010 USA
T:
(310) 284-4550
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP
Daniel M. Hutchinson
was promoted to chair of the employment law practice group of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP in San Francisco.
Hutchinson specializes in employment litigation with a focus on complex class actions.
He is based in San Francisco.
Goe Forsythe & Hodges LLP
Charity J. Manee
was promoted to partner of Goe Forsythe & Hodges LLP in Irvine.
Manee specializes in debt restructuring, corporate Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations and bankruptcy and commercial litigation.
She is based in Irvine.
Knox Ricksen LLP
Taylor Steele
joined Knox Ricksen LLP in Walnut Creek.
Steele specializes in high stakes commercial disputes with a focus on health care fraud and whistleblower claims.
He is based in Walnut Creek.
Address
2033 N Main St, Ste 340
Walnut Creek, 94596-3727
T:
(925) 433-2509
Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl Inc.
Bruce J. McNeil
joined Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl Inc. as partner in Los Angeles.
McNeil specializes in employee benefits matters such as tax-qualified plans, executive and nonqualified deferred compensation plans and the tax aspects of equity, phantom equity, as well as employee benefits litigation.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
2041 Rosecrans Avenue Suite 300
El Segundo, 90245 USA
T:
(202) 978-7799
F:
(412) 227-5551
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Apalla U. Chopra
was promoted to co-chair of the litigation department of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Chopra focuses on litigating complex multiplaintiff and class action discrimination and wage and hour cases.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Eric A.S. Richards
was promoted to co-chair of the corporate department of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Richards specializes in project finance and infrastructure investment and development.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Eric Amdursky
was promoted to co-chair of the labor and employment practice of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Silicon Valley.
Amdursky focuses on high stakes litigation involving sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and executive compensation.
He is based in Silicon Valley.
Michael D. Hamilton
was promoted to chair of project development and real estate practice of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Hamilton specializes in real estate, finance and corporate restructuring transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Sabrina H. Strong
was promoted to co-chair of the product liability and mass torts practice of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Strong focuses on bet-the-company litigation in the pharmaceutical, consumer products, health care, media, entertainment and financial services industries.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Madhu Pocha
was promoted to managing partner of the century city office of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Pocha specializes in litigation.
He is based in Century City.
Daniel M. Petrocelli
was promoted to vice chair of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Petrocelli focuses on litigation related to sports, entertainment, intellectual property, unfair competition, business torts, securities and employment law. He also has experience in criminal defense.
He is based in Century City.
Molly M. Lens
was promoted to co-head of the entertainment, sports and media industry group of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Lens specializes in complex civil litigation, contract disputes, intellectual property, copyright, trademark, business torts, class actions, arbitration, securities matters and regulatory investigations related to the entertainment, media and financial services industries.
She is based in Century City.
Amy Siegel
was promoted to co-head of the entertainment, sports and media industry group of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Siegel advises clients in the acquisition, financing, exploitation and management of media related assets.
She is based in Century City.
Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP
Laura J Ruettgers
joined Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP as partner and chair of the data privacy and cybersecurity practice in San Francisco.
Ruettgers represents insurance carriers in coverage disputes and litigation.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
425 California Street, Suite 2100
San Francisco, 94104 United States
T:
(415) 926-7600
F:
(415) 926-7601
GBG LLp
Jen Cornell
joined GBG LLp as partner in San Francisco.
Cornell specializes in California class and representative actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act with a focus on startups and technology companies.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
601 Montgomery Street, Suite 1150
San Francisco, 94111 USA
T:
(415) 603-5007
California Lawyers Association
Terrance J. Evans
was promoted to chair of the litigation section of California Lawyers Association in Los Angeles and San Franciso.
Evans is a trial partner at Duane Morris LLP. He is vice chair of the firm's banking practice for the western United States and co chairs the diversity and inclusion committee.
He is based in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Suzanne M. Martindale
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as senior deputy commissioner of consumer financial protection at the california department of financial protection and innovation in Oakland.
Martindale was senior policy counsel and Western states legislative manager at Consumer Reports since 2010.
She is based in Oakland.
Edwin F. Lowry
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chair of the occupational safety and health appeals board in Sacramento.
Lowry has been a member of the board since 2011. He was a hearing officer for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and was a state deputy attorney general from 2005 to 2007.
He is based in Sacramento.
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Vincent I. Parrett
joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as partner in Menlo Park.
Parrett specializes in plaintiff and defendant business litigation including contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and other commercial disputes.
He is based in Menlo Park.
Address
1080 Marsh Road
Menlo Park, 94025 USA
T:
(650) 462-5324
F:
(650) 429-2028
Foley & Lardner LLP
Claire Marbelstone
was promoted to partner of Foley & Lardner LLP in Los Angeles.
Marbelstone specializes in advising hospitals, health systems, digital health providers and physician groups in regulatory and transactional matters.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Judicate West
Thomas G. Oesterreich
joined Judicate West as neutral in Santa Ana.
Oesterreich is a former personal injury attorney and has served as a volunteer arbitrator and mediator in Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County Superior Courts.
He is based in Santa Ana.
Address
1851 East First Street Ste 1600
Santa Ana, 92705 USA
T:
(714) 834-1340
F:
(714) 834-1344