Eric Krause joined Venable LLP as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Mar. 11, 2025.

Krause leads patent and trade secret cases concerning technology ranging from semiconductor fabrication and design to IoT and cloud computing. He is a former electrical and computer engineer with extensive experience in BIOS, systems management, and network architecture,

Jeannine Yoo Sano joined Venable LLP as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Mar. 11, 2025.

Sano has over 30 years of experience handling patent and trade secret trials and appeals in technology fields such as mobile communications, video processing, graphics, operating systems, memory, power management, medical devices, and semiconductor manufacturing. She is a member of the Women Lawyers of the Eastern District of Texas Advisory Committee and has previously served as chair of the Patent Litigation and ITC Practice Committees of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property.

Matthew D. Pearson joined Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP as a partner in Irvine. The move was Feb. 12, 2025.

Pearson litigates a wide range of class actions nationwide, representing clients across media, automotive, healthcare, financial services, retail, and technology industries. His practice has a strong focus on privacy litigation, handling complex cases under California's Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), Unfair Competition Law, Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), and similar statutes across the U.S.

Pearson earned his J.D. from the University of California Davis School of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Chapman University.

Michael Diz joined Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as a partner in Silicon Valley. The move was Mar. 10, 2025.

Diz advises private equity firms, public and private companies, and special committees on mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, spinoffs and other transactions. He also counsels companies and boards on corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters. His experience spans industries including technology, media and telecommunications, industrials and consumer products.

Courtney O. Chambers was promoted to shareholder of Littler in San Francisco. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Chambers handles a diverse range of labor and employment matters with a primary focus on labor relations and defending clients in complex litigation. She represents clients in complex wage and hour class action and PAGA lawsuits, as well as in actions brought under Title VII and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, including claims for harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. Chambers has represented clients in a variety of different matters in state and federal court, as well as numerous administrative agencies. She has successfully defeated class certification, won motions to dismiss, negotiated favorable settlements and handled numerous appeals.

She assists in collective bargaining negotiations and unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board and California's Public Employment Relations Board. Chambers also has specific experience dealing with litigation matters in the context of a union-represented workforce.

In addition to her litigation and labor experience, Chambers regularly advises clients on employment issues, including developing and maintaining workplace policies, employee discipline and performance issues, disability accommodation, and various wage and hour issues. She works closely with company leaders, human resources and operations partners, and in-house legal departments from employers of all sizes. Chambers earned her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and her B.S. from Cornell University.

Christina G. Cordoza was promoted to shareholder of Littler in Walnut Creek. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Cordoza is a trusted legal adviser to business owners, in-house counsel, and human resources professionals on a broad range of HR and compliance workplace concerns, including leave and accommodation, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, terminations, and wage and hour issues.

As a former in-house employment lawyer and general counsel at a number of different companies, involving a broad range of industries such as biotech, healthcare, retail, technology and food manufacturing, Cordoza has the ability to leverage her experience to advise clients on employment-related risk while balancing business realities in an ever-changing legal landscape. Her background also includes designing contingent worker programs, international law and agency claims of all types. Cordoza earned her J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and two undergraduate degrees (economics and history) from UC Berkeley.

William A. Cosmopulos was promoted to shareholder of Littler in San Francisco. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

As a management-side employment attorney, Cosmopulos represents and advises company leaders, human resources and operations partners, and in-house legal departments on a broad range of employment and labor law matters. He assists employers of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to global corporations, to deter and defend employment-related lawsuits, while helping companies both prevent problems before they begin, and solving issues as quickly as possible.

Cosmopulos’ experience includes consulting on, investigating and defending issues of employment contracts, overtime, misclassification, commission pay, and wage and hour matters. Cosmopulos counsels companies on anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies, in addition to anti-retaliation techniques, and diversity and inclusion efforts. He has represented clients in both state and federal courts, as well as before various administrative agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, California Civil Rights Department, among others. Cosmopulos earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and his B.A. from Georgetown University.

Nathaniel H. Jenkins was promoted to shareholder of Littler in Sacramento. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Jenkins has focused his entire legal career on the representation of management in labor and employment law matters. He regularly handles the litigation of complex wage and hour class actions and representative actions arising under the California Labor Code and the California Private Attorneys General Act. Jenkins routinely provides advice and counsel to employers regarding compliance with the California Labor Code, particularly with respect to the intricate requirements for employers with nonexempt employees earning incentive-based compensation. Additionally, he advises and represents employers over claims of whistleblowing, retaliation, discrimination and harassment.

Jenkins works with large multinational corporations, as well as small, emerging and midsize businesses, in a variety of industries including, banking/finance, manufacturing, real estate, retail and technology. He builds meaningful relationships with his clients based on trust and reliability by prioritizing clear, responsive communication and developing a deep understanding of the unique needs of clients’ businesses and their workforce. Prior to joining Littler, Jenkins worked as an in-house attorney for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency’s Employment Training Panel, the state’s premier program that provides California employers with funds to train their workers and ensure that California businesses remain competitive. Jenkins earned his J.D., cum laude, from California Western School of Law and his B.A., from UC Santa Cruz.

Michael W. Nelson was promoted to shareholder of Littler in Walnut Creek. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Nelson represents and advises employers in a broad range of employment matters, including class actions, wage and hour claims, alternative dispute resolution, whistleblower retaliation, among others. He has successfully defended employers in trial, arbitration and administrative actions, and has extensive experience defending employers in statewide wage and hour class actions and representative actions brought under the California Labor Code and Private Attorneys General Act.

Nelson represents employers of all sizes ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, and spanning many industries including transportation, technology, retail, healthcare, construction and staffing agencies. In Nelson’s practice, he has negotiated and settled lawsuits ranging from single plaintiff litigation to class actions involving over 16,000 putative class members. Nelson earned his J.D. from UC Davis and his B.A. from Columbia University.

Joy C Rosenquist was promoted to shareholder of Littler in Sacramento. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Rosenquist serves as a California liaison for Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute® and focuses on California state legislative and regulatory developments in employment and labor law, as well as municipal ordinances and regulation of the workplace. She assists the employer community in understanding the impact California legislation before it becomes law. With Rosenquist’s unique background in governmental affairs and regulatory practice, having previously worked for the State of California for over a decade, she is skilled at representing public entities on all facets of statutory and municipal compliance and related litigation and ordinances.

Rosenquist has a varied skillset including her focus on the hospitality industry, with experience in the newly formed Fast Food Council, and the Fair workweek laws. She recently testified before the Assembly Judiciary Committee in opposition to a bill creating joint employer liability between franchisees and franchisors. Rosenquist also regularly counsels clients on nationwide pay transparency, having recently published an in-depth guide on LexisNexis. She frequently conducts webinars on new California legislation and local ordinances, pay transparency and California pay data filing, as well as advancements in the state’s regulation of artificial intelligence. Rosenquist earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and her B.A., with honors, from UC Davis.

Lee Sheldon was promoted to shareholder of Littler in San Francisco.

Sheldon is a civil litigation attorney, with a primary focus on employment law. He defends employers in a wide range of labor and employment disputes including wage and hour, harassment and discrimination claims, as well as disciplinary matters and retaliation and wrongful terminations. Sheldon’s clients include employers of all sizes, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. He has trial experience in both state and federal courts and also handles cases in front of administrative agencies including the California Labor Commissioner’s Office, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Additionally, he regularly counsels clients on a wide range of employment matters, including leaves of absences, medical accommodations, discipline and terminations. Sheldon earned his J.D., with Distinction, from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and his B.A. from UC Irvine.

Susan T. Ye was promoted to shareholder of Littler in San Jose. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Ye’s practice focuses on representing and advising employers and managers in a broad range of employment law actions in state and federal court as well as before administrative agencies. As an experienced litigator, she routinely defends companies of varying sizes against high-stakes matters, including those involving claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, as well as wage and hour class actions, and PAGA representative actions. Ye has been involved in all phases of legal disputes, including pre-litigation, pleadings, taking and defending depositions, mediation and settlement negotiations, trials, among others. She has also drafted and argued numerous prevailing motions and makes regular court appearances.

In addition to her litigation work, Ye has experience providing advice and counsel to employers concerning day-to-day employment issues, including hiring and screening practices, separation agreements, and development and review of company policies to identify risk and ensure compliance. Ye earned her J.D. from UC Davis School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, with Distinction, from UC Berkeley.

Sandy Y. Liu joined Knox Ricksen LLP as a counsel in Walnut Creek. The move was Mar. 3, 2025.

Liu has over two decades of litigation experience, and she has litigated and tried numerous matters involving construction defects, products liability, and personal injury. Since 2020, she has worked in-house for insurance carriers, evaluating, preparing for, and leading personal injury trials across Northern California.

Kevin Day joined Nossaman as a partner in Irvine. The move was Mar. 5, 2025.

Day focuses his practice on helping public entities, transportation agencies, publicly regulated utilities and private business owners resolve eminent domain and complex business disputes throughout California. He has worked on a variety of public projects, including roadway realignments, subterranean pipelines, electrical facilities, public transportation facilities, school campus acquisitions and the infrastructure and property rights necessary for the development, production and transmission of renewable energies throughout the state. Day has deep experience in all phases of public projects and heavily litigated eminent domain actions, including pre-project planning and acquisition, early project implementation and all aspects of eminent domain and inverse condemnation trial work. Day recently guided a water district through the lengthy extraction process from a joint powers authority allowing the development of a landmark water purification system to benefit its customers. In addition, Day has tried and arbitrated numerous complex business litigation matters throughout California.

Day is a member of the Orange County Bar Association - Business Section and the International Right of Way Association - Chapter 67. He holds a J.D. from the University of San Diego Law School and a B.A. from the University of San Diego.

Adrian M. Rich joined Gunderson Dettmer as a partner in Northern California (Redwood City). The move was Mar. 5, 2025.

Adrian Rich has joined Gunderson Dettmer as a new Life Sciences Partner based in the Northern California offices.

Rich's guidance spans from inception to exit, providing knowledgeable counsel as clients undertake financial and strategic investments, licensing, strategic partnerships, acquisitions and public offerings, and routine corporate matters. His education in biomedical engineering and economics, coupled with his lifelong passion for computers and programming, inform all aspects of his practice.

Shab Puri joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Mar. 4, 2025.

Over two decades of practice, Puri has counseled energy and technology clients on a wide range of high-value agreements that have helped drive the development of critical infrastructure projects, navigate supply chains, and create workable operation, maintenance, and service arrangements. He partners with energy industry clients in both the conventional and renewable generation sectors, focusing on solar, battery storage, biomass, wind and hydrogen projects, and has significant experience representing parties that include project developers, equipment suppliers, contractors, investors, and others.

Matthew Larrabee joined JAMS as a neutral in San Francisco. The move was Feb. 26, 2025.

Larrabee's experience includes almost 30 years in private practice at Heller Ehrman, where he served as firm chair, and 15 years with Dechert, where he served as the global chair of litigation practice and deputy firmwide chair for strategic growth. He has served as lead trial counsel for market leaders in a range of industries, representing both defendants and plaintiffs in eight- and nine-figure disputes in financial services and asset management litigation, securities and corporate governance disputes, mergers and acquisitions disputes, and professional liability, antitrust and other complex commercial litigation.

Larrabee will serve as an arbitrator and mediator, handling business and commercial, antitrust, agribusiness and food law, and securities matters.

Laurie H. Selkowitz joined Greenberg Glusker LLP as a partner in Los Angeles. The move was Feb. 20, 2025.

Selkowitz's practice focuses on the intersection of technology, privacy, and the law, helping clients navigate complex issues, compliance, and the evolving legal landscape of intellectual property law. She provides transactional support to national and international B2B and B2C entities ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies across various industries, including technology, media, telecommunications, consumer products, transportation, manufacturing, and retail. Selkowitz also has significant experience counseling clients on the development, implementation, and use of emerging technologies and platforms such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), ad-tech, and other innovative marketing technologies.

Heather M. Vigil was selected office managing shareholder of Littler in San Francsico. The promotion is effective Feb. 1, 2025.

Littler, the world's largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has appointed Heather M. Vigil as office managing shareholder of the firm's San Francisco office. Vigil succeeds Constance E. Norton who has stepped down to focus on her active litigation practice and other firm responsibilities. In addition to San Francisco, Vigil will continue her role as OMS in the Irvine and Portland, Oregon offices.

Vigil defends managers in employment litigation across federal and state courts, arbitration and administrative hearings. She advises international employers and has a strong record of success. Vigil also conducts training sessions and provides guidance on workplace investigations, terminations and disciplinary actions under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and California Labor Code. Additionally, she is dedicated to promoting inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace, previously serving as co-chair of Littler's Reunión affinity group and a regional lead liaison for the firm's Women's Leadership Initiative.

Vigil holds a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, an M.A. from the University of Amsterdam and a B.A. from San Jose State University.

Douglas Mirell joined Nolan Heimann LLP as a partner in Los Angeles. The move was Jan. 27, 2025.

Mirell has decades of legal expertise in media, entertainment, and civil rights. A seasoned litigator, Mirell has secured major victories in defamation, artificial intelligence, and digital rights cases, including contributions to California's deepfake laws and representation of SAG-AFTRA. His extensive experience spans high-profile litigation--such as the Hulk Hogan privacy case and a landmark retraction from The Atlantic--as well as entertainment clearance work for major film and television productions. A dedicated advocate for civil liberties, Mirell has played a key role in shaping legislation on digital media protections and publicity rights. With a deep understanding of the media industry's complexities, he remains committed to finding ethical, strategic solutions for his clients.

Paul B Salvaty joined Cohen Williams LLP as a partner in Los Angeles. The move was Feb. 26, 2025.

Salvaty is a veteran trial lawyer representing major companies and public agencies in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, antitrust, class action defense, mass tort, and other high-stakes business disputes nationwide. His diverse client base spans media and entertainment, technology, financial services, healthcare, sports, energy, aerospace, and government contracting. Salvaty has a proven track record in major trials and appeals, including defending Fox Corp. in the multibillion-dollar Dominion Voting Systems litigation, representing ITV in a $100+ million Duck Dynasty profit dispute, and defending Ozzy Osbourne in an antitrust case against AEG. He also represented Hunter Biden in matters involving illegal data access and tampering. Beyond the courtroom, Salvaty is an active leader in the legal community, serving on the boards of the Tahirih Justice Center and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, among others. Recognized for his litigation expertise, he was named the 2021 "Litigation Lawyer of the Year" by the Century City Bar Association and has been honored for his advocacy for underserved communities.

Brooke Hammond was promoted to shareholder of Littler in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Hammond focuses her practice on wage and hour, trials, class actions and PAGA litigation. She manages large wage and hour lawsuits and has experience with all aspects of the litigation process as well as managing multi-attorney and litigation support teams. Hammond has extensive trial experience at the highest level, having tried numerous cases in both state and federal court. She excels in witness care, ensuring that her clients are well-prepared and confident when they take the stand.

Hammond successfully argued an opposition to class certification in a case involving more than 10,000 putative employee class members and defeated the individual claims on summary judgement, saving the client hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties and damages. In addition to her wage and hour experience, Hammond has also litigated highly complex consumer class actions, commercial and contract disputes, and single plaintiff employment cases. Recently, she tried a complicated plaintiff disability discrimination arbitration matter involving claims for failure to provide a reasonable accommodation, retaliation, and failure to engage in the interactive process and won a complete defense verdict. Hammond earned her J.D. from Capital University Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, from The Ohio State University.

Brittany McCarthy was promoted to shareholder of Littler in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

McCarthy represents employers in a broad range of labor and employment litigation matters in state and federal court, and is an experienced litigator with an affinity for trial advocacy. McCarthy's practice focuses on California wage and hour matters, class actions, PAGA litigation, and pay equity. Recently, she obtained a complete defense ruling on behalf of a large California employer in an arbitration that included wage and hour and PAGA claims. Prior to joining Littler, McCarthy worked as a judicial law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. She also spent several years at a national law firm, defending companies in a variety of commercial business litigation matters and gaining trial and litigation experience.

McCarthy regularly advises national retailers on California wage and hour compliance and leads a team of attorneys to handle class and PAGA litigation. She is also an active member of Littler's Pay Equity Practice group and conducts audits for companies nationally and globally. In addition, McCarthy is an active member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and during law school, was involved in the San Diego Law Review. McCarthy earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and her B.A. from the UC San Diego.

Leif Cervantes de Reinstein joined O'Melveny & Myers LLP as a partner in Century City. The move was Feb. 24, 2025.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Cervantes de Reinstein has represented major entertainment studios, production companies, and media networks across the U.S., UK, EU, and Asia. His expertise spans media-related corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property-based investments, film and television financing, co-production agreements, and licensing deals. Additionally, he advises industry clients on business strategy and market risks.

Earlier in his career, he was head of Scripted Television Business and Legal Affairs at entertainment production company Fremantle.

Judith Shophet Sidkoff joined Sidley Austin LLP as a partner in Century City. The move was Feb. 25, 2025.

Sidkoff counsels manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of consumer products in connection with regulatory matters before and involving the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). She has extensive experience shepherding clients through regulatory investigations, defending against and navigating product recalls, developing comprehensive safety and compliance programs, and managing product risk at all stages.

Thomas Ryan Burns was promoted to partner of The Wallace Firm, PC in Encino. The promotion is effective Mar. 4, 2025.

Burns has nearly a decade of experience as a personal injury trial attorney, both for the defense and on behalf of plaintiffs. In his nearly 5 years at The Wallace Firm PC, Burns has accumulated an impressive track record of plaintiff results for the firm's injured clients, including numerous six and seven figure verdicts and settlements totaling in the mid-to-high eight figures.

Joseph W. Haney was promoted to partner of Nossaman in Irvine. The promotion is effective Feb. 24, 2025.

Haney will serve as co-chair of the firm's Real Estate Group. In his practice, he guides real estate owners and operators through all manner of complex real estate transactions. This includes the acquisition, development and operation of real property, as well as related leasing and financing issues. He negotiates and drafts purchase and sale agreements and conducts due diligence, including reviews of title and environmental and land use conditions. Haney advises developers on both small- and large-scale community projects requiring coordinated permitting across multiple government levels, including condominiums, hotels, retail spaces, parking structures and office buildings. He has extensive experience in preparing and reviewing entitlement applications, ensuring they are thorough and comply with all local and state regulations. Haney also negotiates and drafts purchase and sale agreements, conducting due diligence, which includes reviewing title, environmental factors and land use conditions. By working closely with developers and professional planners, he helps streamline the application process, minimize regulatory and entitlement risks, identify potential development obstacles and develop practical solutions.

Additionally, Haney regularly advises clients in the formation and structure of joint ventures. He provides counsel regarding the most tax-efficient method for structuring the ownership, acquisition and disposition of real estate. He guides his clients through tax-deferred exchanges, including reverse exchanges, build-to-suit exchanges and exchanges involving partnerships, limited liability companies and tenants-in-common arrangements.

Joan K. Archer was promoted to shareholder of Carlton Fields in Los Angeles.

Archer is a seasoned trial attorney who has been litigating complex intellectual property and business disputes for more than 25 years. She has had significant experience counseling on the unique problems and issues companies face through her five-year stint as general counsel at a technology company. Archer's clients view her as a trusted business and risk management adviser, counseling on a wide range of issues, including intellectual property portfolio strategy, trade secret protection, noncompete agreements, internal risk management and compliance, complex technology agreements, licensing, marketing, as well as privacy issues and general corporate legal strategy. As a first-chair trial attorney, she has won several bet-the-company cases including complex intellectual property, breach of contract, covenant not to compete, and product liability matters. She uniquely has substantive experience with Canadian cross-border litigation and compliance strategies.

Archer graduated from University of Kansas School of Law and has a Ph.D. in jury behavior from the University of Kansas.

Scott L. Menger was promoted to shareholder of Carlton Fields in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Feb. 24, 2025.

Menger is a commercial litigator with substantial experience in both state and federal courts in individual and class action litigation. Menger is frequently retained by clients to handle litigation involving complex or technical facts and legal issues, leading to a broad practice that includes representing clients in matters involving antitrust, commercial disputes such as claims for breach of contract and business torts, employment litigation, and Proposition 65 defense. He handles matters at all stages of litigation, including conducting depositions, arguing motions, defending clients at trial, and drafting appellate briefs.

He graduated from Loyola Law School.

Philip E. Cook joined JAMS as a neutral in Los Angeles. The move was Feb. 19, 2025.

Cook has more than 30 years of litigation and dispute resolution experience. He worked in private practice for many years, including almost 20 years at Jones Day and, most recently, at the firm he founded, The Cook Law Firm. His success in the courtroom runs the gamut of commercial litigation. Since 2004, he has served as a court-appointed settlement officer, mediator and early neutral evaluator for various courts, including the California Courts of Appeal, the Los Angeles County Superior Court and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. In 2021, he began serving as a judge pro tem for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

In his new role at JAMS, Mr. Cook will serve as an arbitrator, mediator, neutral evaluator and judge pro tem, handling business and commercial, class actions, employment, health care, insurance, intellectual property, products liability, real estate and real property, and securities matters. He is available to conduct sessions in person, as well as virtually, for clients in California, across the country and internationally.

Navid Morè joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as a shareholder in Los Angeles.

Morè focuses on commercial real estate transactions, including real estate finance, acquisitions and dispositions. He counsels clients through all stages of the investment cycle from acquisition, development, construction, bridge and permanent financing, stabilization and syndication, through disposition, as well as on a variety of corporate structuring and governance matters. Morè uses critical and nuanced analysis to efficiently achieve objectives and provide risk mitigation guidance to highly sophisticated clients including private equity funds, public pension funds, privately held companies, sponsors and high net worth individuals. Morè draws on his extensive transaction experience, understanding of clients' business objectives and overall practicality to efficiently and effectively distil and communicate complex ideas to client stakeholders.