Michael Russell joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as partner and colead of the mergers and acquisitions practice in Palo Alto and San Francisco.

Corporate partner Michael Russell has rejoined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati to colead the mergers and acquisitions practice. He previously was a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP for five years.
"I think it's worth noting I wasn't on the market," said Russell. "I was happy at Goodwin. I had a great experience and I really enjoyed working there."
Russell said he was approached by Robert Ishii, a longtime friend, about the opportunity to return to Wilson Sonsini. Ishii is now colead of the mergers and acquisitions practice alongside Russell.
"I have had that conversation off and on over the last five years with him," Russell added. "But what was a little different this time was that it was a little more concrete. I think that given the demand in the marketplace, both from Wilson's existing clients and externally, they decided that there were a number of areas that they wanted to make meaningful investments in to build out the practices, and mergers and acquisitions was one of them. So the outreach from Rob was not just, 'Hey, do you want to come back?' but, 'Do you want to come back and be part of this effort and initiative to build up the practice and help me do it?'"
Additionally, the ability to practice with attorneys he has known for the majority of his professional career attracted him to the opportunity, he added.
Russell previously was with Wilson Sonsini for 18 years as part of the corporate and securities practice. He joined the firm in 1998 from the San Francisco city attorney's office and became a partner in 2007.
Russell focuses on representing public and private companies and investors in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. His clients include technology and life sciences companies on both the buy and sell side of transactions. Notable companies he has worked with include Micron Technology Inc., Twitter, TiVo, Fitbit Inc., Slack Technologies Inc. and Sumo Logic.

Kevin Gray joined Tyson & Mendes LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Gray is a civil defense attorney and has tried more than 60 cases.
He is based in San Francisco.

Nicole Shapiro was promoted to partner of Atheria Law in San Francisco.

Shapiro represents insurers in complex errors and omission claims against professionals such as attorneys and accountants.
She is based in San Francisco.

Nicholas Lieberknecht was promoted to partner of Atheria Law in San Francisco.

Lieberknecht specializes in representing insurers in disputes involving design professionals and construction companies such as errors and omission policies issued to architects and engineers.
He is based in San Francisco.

Eric B. Shortz was promoted to partner of Pircher, Nichols & Meeks LLP in Los Angeles, CA.

Shortz specializes in transactional real estate with an emphasis on the representation of borrowers in complex financing.
He is based in Los Angeles.

Amanda Graham Brazinski was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in San Francisco.

Brazinski advises insurers in cyber, privacy, technology and media claims.
She is based in San Francisco.

Tammy Chang was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in Los Angeles.

Chang represents insurers in technology, media, intellectual property and privacy claims.
She is based in Los Angeles.

Aishlin Cook was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in San Francisco.

Cook advises insurers in errors and omissions claims against attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals.
She is based in San Francisco.

EJ Kim was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in San Francisco.

Kim represents insurers in cyber and privacy claims.
She is based in San Francisco.

Ashley B. Jordan was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

Jordan focuses on insurance recovery. She advises policyholders in negotiation, litigation or alternative dispute resolution.
She is based in Los Angeles.

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.

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.

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.

Dan J. Bulfer was promoted to partner of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Irvine.

Bulfer represents employers in labor and employment compliance and risk management issues like workplace investigations and corrective actions.
He is based in Irvine.

Alexandria M. Davidson was promoted to partner of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Irvine.

Davidson represents California public school districts as general counsel.
She is based in Irvine.

Scott K. Holbrook was promoted to shareholder of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Sacramento.

Holbrook advises school districts, county offices of education and community college districts in labor and personnel matters.
He is based in Sacramento.

Anthony P. Niccoli was promoted to shareholder of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Cerritos.

Niccoli represents contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and owners in construction issues such as licensing, contract drafting and negotiations.
He is based in Cerritos.

William A. Diedrich was promoted to shareholder of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo in Riverside.

Diedrich advises school districts, community college districts and public agencies in all aspects of labor and employment law.
He is based in Riverside.

Kristen Mah Rogers was promoted to partner of Olson Remcho in Oakland.

Rogers represents clients in litigation related to election law, education funding, public policy and constitutional issues.
She is based in Oakland.