Kirstin Ault joined California Appellate Law Group LLP as counsel in Los Angeles.

Ault served in the Department of Justice for 20 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. Her practice is focused on high-end criminal appeals, appeals related to civil litigation and consulting on pre-trial, trial, and post-trial criminal litigation and sentencing. She is based in Los Angeles.

Eugenia Steele was promoted to managing attorney of TORKLAW in Los Angeles.

Steele is a senior associate, who focuses her practice on personal injury. She has handled matters related to motor vehicle accidents, products liability, sexual assault, medical malpractice and wrongful termination. She is based in Los Angeles.

Philip Albert joined Haynes and Boone LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

Patent prosecution veteran Philip Albert joined Haynes and Boone's intellectual property practice
group as partner.

Based in Palo Alto at the moment, Albert will join the firm's new downtown San Francisco office. Haynes and Boone has not announced the new office's opening date yet.

"It's an exciting opportunity to help Haynes and Boone expand their presence in the Bay Area and in San Francisco in particular," said Albert in a phone interview.

The opportunity to help Haynes and Boone expand its presence in San Francisco as well as the firm's depth and platform, were what drew Albert to the firm, he said.

Albert joined the firm from Davis Wright Tremaine, where he practiced for seven years. Before his stint at Davis Wright Tremaine, he spent nearly 22 years at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, where he began his career as a lawyer.

Albert was part of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and founded Galt Engineering Inc. before he went to law school. He said his background in engineering is essential to the work he does for his clients.

"[C]lients pretty much expect that I know what their technologists are talking about," he said.

A career in law was the opportunity to constantly learn about new technology and the ability to serve as a "translator between the legal sphere and the tech sphere," he said.

Today, Albert represents companies, ranging from startups to large businesses within the software sector, in patent prosecution and intellectual property transactions.

In addition to his legal practice, Albert is a member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates, and handles pro bono immigration cases.

The ability to have an early view into developing technology and ensuring clients' assets are properly protected are his favorite aspects of his practice.

"I'm asked to understand clients' business, legal issues and technology and I have to constantly merge all three of those together," he said. "Clients want to know what protections they have for their technology and also they want to know whether it makes sense to have [protections] as part of their business model.."

His first day with Haynes and Boone was July 6.

Lindsay Tabaian was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins in Los Angeles.

Tabaian advises clients on land use and environmental law. She is based in Los Angeles.

Britney Willhite was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins in Orange County.

Willhite focuses on commercial real estate transactions. She is based in Irvine.

Helen Christakos joined Fenwick & West LLP as counsel in Mountain View.

After four years with Alston & Bird, Christakos joined Fenwick & West's privacy and cybersecurity practice group as counsel in Mountain View on June 29.

She provides counsel for clients developing products and services that utilize data to ensure compliance with the law. She does work related to large M&A transactions that have privacy and data security components. Advising clients in preparing privacy and cybersecurity policies as well as data breaches is another area of focus.

Her clients range from small startups to large, established public companies within the technology and
life sciences sector.

"I really enjoyed my time at Alston & Bird. It's been a wonderful experience for me and I think it'll be sort of a great chapter as I look back upon my career," she said.

Fenwick's focus on tech and life sciences clients attracted her to the firm, she said.

"Fenwick also has a really unique privacy practice and they've built an integrated team of both lawyers and professionals who have a lot of industry experience and we work together to provide a comprehensive solution for clients and I think that's really unique in the industry. And that's something that really attracted me to Fenwick," she added.

She said hopes to continue to build out her practice on Fenwick's platform.

Christakos is an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, where she teaches a cybersecurity law class she designed.

"The technology is often 10 steps ahead of the law and the law hasn't really anticipated where the technology is going to go. So bridging that gap between what the technology companies are doing and where the law is at is fascinating," she said. "It's brain food and I love working on problems like that."

Tim C Hsu was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins in Los Angeles.

Hsu represents clients in disputes involving creditors' rights, environmental litigation and general commercial and appellate matters. He is based in Los Angeles.

Johnathan L Lorenzen was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins in San Diego.

Lorenzen represents buyers and sellers in the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, development of properties, receivership matters and ongoing maintenance and management of projects. He is based in San Diego.

Aviva J. Gilbert was promoted to co-chair of white collar defense and internal corporate investigations group of Farella Braun + Martel in San Francisco.

Gilbert is a senior associate. She represents individuals and businesses in federal and state civil enforcement, investigation and criminal justice matters. She is based in San Francisco.

Janice W. Reicher was promoted to co-chair of white collar defense and internal corporate investigations group of Farella Braun + Martel in San Francisco.

Reicher is a senior associate. She focuses her practice on white collar defense and complex business litigation. She is based in San Francisco.

Brian Michel was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins in Century City.

Michel focuses on real estate transactional matters. He represents both landlords and tenants. He is based in Century City.

James Pearl joined Paul Hastings LLP as partner in Century City.

Pearl joins the firm's entertainment and media litigation practice. He is based in Century City.

David Strong joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as partner in Palo Alto.

Strong joined the firm's tax and tax equity practice group as partner in Palo Alto. He joined the firm on June 22 from Morrison & Foerster.

Strong's transactional tax practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital investments and restructurings and distressed situations.

His clients include both public and private companies ranging from very large, international businesses in industries including media and entertainment, healthcare, manufacturing and industrial services, technology and life sciences.

Prior to the move, he served as co-chair of Morrison & Foerster's tax department and federal tax practice for six years. He was managing partner of Morrison & Foerster's Denver office and was a member of its board of directors.

"I have the highest regard for the firm. It was a wonderful experience for me and I think a great chapter in my career," said Strong of Morrison & Foerster. Wilson Sonsini's needs matched his skill set and he was attracted to the firm's entrepreneurial culture as well as its client base, Strong said. "I think my historical leadership experience was attractive to [Wilson Sonsini] in relation to its tax practice, really helping to along with other senior members of the group to really grow and expand the practice," said Strong.

Strong added he felt the timing was right for the move and that both he and the firm viewed the move as "a strategic long term play."

As partner, Strong hopes to continue to build out his practice in the technology and life sciences sector in addition to helping the firm's tax practice continue to grow and expand.

What makes his practice unique, Strong said, is the value he puts on client service.

"I really, really value client service. I think that's why I've had such not only success, but I think enjoyment in my career," he said. "I really truly embrace adding value to a transactional situation, -- whether it's a merger or an acquisition or a joint venture -- really helping entrepreneurs and business decision makers bring an idea to life and to do that in a tax efficient manner."