Joseph A Ferrentino joined JAMS as a neutral in Orange County. The move was Nov. 13, 2025.

Ferrentino served as a partner at Newmeyer Dillion for 24 years. He led the firm's construction department and handled disputes in areas including real estate, business, insurance coverage, and complex, multiparty matters. He tried and arbitrated cases in nine counties, from San Diego to Sacramento, on behalf of claimants and defendants. Throughout his practice, Ferrentino managed extensive pretrial discovery, tried high-stakes cases to verdict, briefed and argued matters before courts of appeal and obtained hundreds of favorable settlements. Based in the Orange County Resolution Center, Ferrentino will serve as a mediator, court-appointed neutral (referee/special master) and neutral evaluator, handling business and commercial, construction defect, insurance and real estate matters. He is available to conduct sessions in person, as well as virtually, for clients in the western U.S.

Brent Lehman was promoted to partner of Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Nov. 7, 2025.

Lehman has been named West Coast litigation chair. A recognized leader in business disputes, Lehman focuses his practice on entertainment and commercial litigation, representing clients across the entertainment industry and emerging technology sectors. In his new role, Lehman will lead litigation matters in MWM's Los Angeles office--the firm's second largest--and help expand its award-winning litigation team serving clients throughout California and the West Coast. Lehman represents clients from the music, film, technology, and video game industries in matters involving intellectual property disputes, business breakups, unpaid contingent compensation, breach of fiduciary duty, white-collar defense, and fraud. He frequently publishes commentary on copyright law, emerging technology, and how new case law and rulings will impact creators in the entertainment industry.

Andrew Radsch joined Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP as a partner in San Francisco.

Radsch specializes in complex patent and trade secret disputes in federal courts across the country, at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and at the International Trade Commission. He regularly advises plaintiffs and defendants on litigation matters across a range of industries and technologies, including network security, wireless communications, cloud computing, streaming media and semiconductors.

Alessandro Nolfo joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as an associate.

Nolfo's practice includes representing clients in complex business and franchise disputes. Nolfo's extensive experience in business litigation encompasses a wide array of essential skills for effectively navigating the complexities of corporate and franchise disputes. He is adept at representing clients in state and federal court proceedings, including mediation, arbitration, and trials. His experience includes resolving issues related to breach of contract, fraud, intellectual property disputes, and employment law matters. In addition, Nolfo possesses in-depth expertise in drafting and negotiating contracts, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, and managing risk assessments for various business transactions.

Justin Hassani joined Cummins & White, LLP as an associate in Newport Beach. The move was Nov. 3, 2025.

Hassani returns to his home state of California after building a legal career in Florida. He began his legal journey clerking for a county court judge in Coral Gables, Miami, before passing the Florida Bar in 2015. He then joined a prominent firm in the Fort Myers area, where he focused on real property litigation. Following the pandemic, Hassani continued to expand his civil litigation practice on Florida's east coast, honing his expertise in real property, intellectual property, and judgment enforcement matters.

Matthew Busch was promoted to partner of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in Los Angeles.

Busch has substantial experience representing clients in complex business litigation, including commercial, intellectual property, and trust and estate disputes. Busch has handled all aspects of litigation in state and federal courts for individuals and national and international companies, including pre-trial and trial practice, motion practice, fact and expert discovery, witness preparation, and mediation. During law school, he served as a judicial extern to Judge Dolly M. Gee of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Rodney S. Diggs was elected president & managing partner of the Los Angeles office of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs. His tenure was effective Aug. 21, 2025.

Diggs joined Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs, California's oldest Black-owned law firm, as partner in 2016, became a named partner in 2019, and was appointed president & managing partner in 2025. His leadership reflects more than 15 years of distinguished legal practice, national recognition, and a proven track record of extraordinary results. Diggs has secured more than $250 million in verdicts and settlements over his career. His practice encompasses civil rights, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, employment law, sports and entertainment, municipal liability, high-stakes commercial litigation, and international matters. He is known for his strategic insight, courtroom skill, and ability to prevail in cases involving complex facts, public scrutiny, institutional defendants, and substantial damages exposure.

Greg Erickson joined Goldberg Segalla as a partner in San Francisco.

Erickson is an accomplished trial and appellate attorney with a wealth of experience representing maritime transportation companies throughout the United States. He has been responsible for legal matters impacting the day-to-day operations of maritime companies from litigation to complex transactional matters, and served as outside general counsel for a maritime operator doing business in the U.S., the Caribbean and South America. For more than 25 years, He has been providing insightful, well-reasoned counsel to individuals and corporations to minimize their legal exposure, building a track record of resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation and litigation.

Bria Myles joined Goldberg Segalla as an associate in Los Angeles.

Myles counsels and defends regional and national retailers, hotels and resorts, restaurants and other businesses in the retail and hospitality industries on a variety of litigated matters, including general liability, premises liability, negligent security, and other claims. She is engaged in all aspects of litigation, preparing cases for filing, conducting depositions, drafting pleadings, motions and briefs, and participating in trials, arbitration and mediation.

Dana Alden Fox joins BD&J, PC. as a partner in Los Angeles. The move is effective Jan. 5, 2026.

Fox is managing partner of BD&J's Police Use of Force and Police Shooting practice. He works primarily in high-profile catastrophic injury, wrongful death, police use of force, premises liability, sexual assault, and product defect cases. While he has spent most of his career defending individuals and entities in personal injury matters, he now brings his expertise to BD&J to champion plaintiffs in their pursuit of fair compensation.

Matthew C. Donahue joined Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP as an associate in Burlingame.

Donahue focuses on personal injury, wrongful death, mass torts, and other complex civil litigation. Before joining the firm, Donahue worked as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco where he prosecuted complex felony and domestic violence cases. He has tried nine cases to verdict. He also teaches Trial Advocacy at UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings).

Donahue received his J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law and his B.A. from George Washington University. After law school, he clerked for Judge Sally D. Adkins on the Maryland Supreme Court.

Bryan Corbaz joined Knox Ricksen LLP as an associate in Walnut Creek. The move was Nov. 10, 2025.

Corbaz has managed a diverse caseload of insurance defense litigation and appeals cases, including construction liability, product liability, construction defect, and complex property claims. He has drafted and responded to discovery requests, defended depositions and engaged in extensive motion practice across various jurisdictions.

Brian M. Metcalf joined Cappello & Noel LLP as an associate in Santa Barbara. The move was Nov. 10, 2025.

Brian Metcalf's practice includes representing corporate and individual clients in complex financial litigation, civil and business disputes, bankruptcy and restructuring matters, and litigation involving fraud, fiduciary duty, contractual, corporate governance, real estate, and other civil and business matters.

Daniel Gherardi was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco, Menlo Park. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Securities and M&A Litigation Practice, Gherardi represents and advises public and private companies, executives, and boards of directors in securities class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, contract disputes, government investigations, and other complex litigation matters.

Robin Gushman was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco, Menlo Park. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Antitrust & Competition Practice, Gushman represents public and private companies in antitrust litigation, government investigations, and complex commercial disputes, including consumer class actions and matters involving monopolization, conspiracy, unfair competition, and merger-related claims.

Lauren Lefcoe was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco, Mednlo Park. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice, Lefcoe represents publicly traded and privately held companies at all stages on M&A, dispositions, carve-outs, controlling and minority investments, and other strategic corporate transactions across a range of industries, with a particular focus on the technology and life sciences sectors.

Shane Alexander was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Banking & Private Credit Practice, Alexander represents private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers in complex domestic and cross-border financing transactions, including syndicated and private credit financings, acquisition and carve-out financings, asset-based and cash flow facilities, liability management transactions, debt restructurings, and workouts.

Harris (Hai) Pham was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Banking & Private Credit Practice, Pham represents banks, direct lenders, and corporate borrowers on a range of complex financing transactions, including acquisition financings, recurring-revenue based financings, cross-border transactions, and restructurings.

Will Schildknecht was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Connectivity, Privacy & Information Practice, Schildknecht advises companies on managing risk in the development of innovative technology, maintaining effective compliance programs, and navigating government and internal investigations, with a focus on AI, privacy, cybersecurity, and consumer protection.

Shannon Cheng was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Costa Mesa. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the M&A and Private Equity Practice, Cheng advises public and private companies in the technology, healthcare and life sciences, and aerospace industries on M&A transactions and corporate governance matters.

Christian Hollweg was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Emerging Companies & Growth Practice, Hollweg advises emerging growth companies and venture capital investors on transactional and operational matters throughout the company life cycle, including formation and structuring, equity and debt financings, corporate governance, and exit strategies.

Sarah G. Hartman joined Glaser Weil as a partner in Glaser Weil, Newport Beach and Century City Offices.

Hartman's practice spans a wide range of critical business and commercial litigation, including breach of fiduciary duty, partnership disputes, fraud, breach of contract, unfair competition, insurance coverage, products liability, employment litigation, class action defense and false advertising. She also advises clients in entertainment and media disputes, as well as in matters involving the hospitality sector.

With significant experience in intellectual property litigation, Hartman has handled patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret disputes in federal courts nationwide, before the U.S. International Trade Commission and in appeals to the Federal Circuit. Her work covers technologies ranging from computer networking and LED lighting to mobile applications and automotive audio systems.

Prior to joining Glaser Weil, Hartman practiced at leading national and international law firms, advancing from associate to partner while managing complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions. Hartman earned her J.D., Order of the Coif, from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she served as managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California.

Chen Chen was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco, Menlo Park. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice, Chen represents public and private life sciences companies in strategic and commercial transactions involving complex intellectual property issues, with a focus on licensing, partnering, and collaboration transactions.

Zuzanna (Zuza) Gruca was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Francisco, Menlo Park. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Capital Markets Practice, Gruca advises public and private companies and investment banks on capital-raising transactions, including IPOs, follow-on equity offerings, notes offerings, and financings, and on securities, disclosure, and corporate governance matters.

Thomas Alcorn was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Banking & Private Credit Practice, Alcorn represents institutional arrangers, lenders, and equity sponsors in cross-border financing transactions, restructurings, and acquisition and recapitalization, asset-based, NAV, recurring revenue-based, subscription line, and working capital financings.

Kathryn Harrington was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Transactional Tax Practice, Harrington advises clients on the US federal income tax consequences of structured financings, securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and bank and private credit financings.

Greg Swartz was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice, Swartz represents clients in commercial disputes and regulatory enforcement proceedings, including contract disputes, unfair competition claims, corporate governance and partnership disputes, government investigations, and antitrust litigation across a range of industries.

Katherine Webb was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles, New York. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Banking & Private Credit Practice, Webb represents direct lenders, banks, and other financial institutions, as well as corporate borrowers and other private and public entities in financing transactions, including cross-border and domestic facilities, investment grade facilities, direct lending transactions, acquisition financings, syndicated loans, secured transactions, asset-based loans, and margin loan financings.

Roland Young was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Structured Finance Practice, Young represents asset managers, business development companies, and financial institutions in financing transactions, including fund financings, asset-backed lending facilities, collateralized loan obligations, direct lending and origination platforms, asset securitizations, and joint venture financings.

Laura Zabele was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles, Boston. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice, Zabele advises and represents clients in litigation involving employment law matters, pay equity, whistleblower retaliation, discrimination and harassment, breach of contract and wrongful termination, employee mobility and IP, leave and accommodation, wage/hour issues, and the California Private Attorneys General Act.

Yanyan Zhou was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice, Zhou advises private equity firms, physician practices, life sciences and digital health companies, hospitals, and strategic investors on transactions and regulatory matters in the healthcare industry, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic affiliations, joint ventures, regulatory approvals, licensing, and compliance.

Melanie Grindle was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice, Grindle represents clients in IP disputes, with a particular focus on trademark, trade dress, and trade secret litigation, across industry sectors.

Corey McGehee was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins LLP in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A member of the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice, McGehee represents clients in insurance coverage disputes, bad-faith litigation, and environmental and regulatory disputes, including first- and third-party insurance disputes, business interruption, commercial general liability, director and officer liability, product liability, toxic tort, and complex commercial matters.

C.B. Rome joined Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP as an associate in Los Angeles. The move was Nov. 10, 2025.

C.B. focuses her practice on representing companies and executives in internal and government-facing investigations, white collar defense and regulatory enforcement matters, and complex commercial litigation. She has conducted internal investigations and defended inquiries led by a range of criminal and regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

She has also worked on complex commercial litigation matters involving breach of contract, consumer protection, and intellectual property disputes. Her representative matters include advising a global auction house on an internal investigation of senior executive misconduct, representing a global manufacturer and distributor in connection with a criminal investigation by the DOJ pertaining to alleged consumer product safety violations, and defending a senior executive against a federal investigation regarding alleged conspiracy to circumvent FDA regulations.

C.B. earned her J.D., cum laude, from Loyola Law School, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and recognized as a Sayre Macneil Scholar. She served as chief note and comment editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, co-vice chair of Loyola's LGBTQ student organization, OUTlaw, participated in Loyola's Project for the Innocent, and was a research assistant to Professor Laurie Levenson. Before joining BKLW, C.B. practiced in the Investigations & White Collar Defense Group at Morrison Foerster.

Sarah E. Diamond joined Miller Barondess, LLP as a counsel in Los Angeles. The move was Oct. 27, 2025.

Diamond is a trial lawyer and business litigator with broad experience in civil litigation, including the entertainment and financial services industries, breach of contract cases, privacy class actions, IP disputes, securities class actions, and derivative cases.

Kimberly Carter joined Fisher Phillips as a partner in Woodland Hills. The move was Nov. 3, 2025.

Kimberly defends employers in all types and sizes of employment-related lawsuits, including wage and hour class and collective actions, Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims, employee misclassification, trade secret disputes, retaliation, whistleblower, workplace safety (OSHA), discrimination, harassment, data privacy, and other complex employment matters.

Kari Krusmark joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as a partner in Los Angeles. The move was Nov. 12, 2025.

Krusmark joined the firm's global technology transactions, outsourcing, and commercial contracts team with nearly 20 years of experience counseling clients on complex commercial and technology-driven deals. She has led clients through the structuring and negotiation of strategic, cutting-edge transactions involving digital transformation, outsourcing, cloud services, robotic automation, artificial intelligence solutions, platform modernization, strategic alliances, and other technology-related matters.

She advises clients across a wide range of industries, including apparel, automotive, consumer products, energy, engineering and construction, entertainment, financial services, foodservice, healthcare, insurance, hospitality, logistics, marketing, semiconductors, technology, and utilities. Krusmark is recognized for her leadership in an evolving market, guiding clients through every stage of the outsourcing lifecycle--from RFP development to renegotiations and dispute resolution.

Naumann Law Firm, PC, has a new office space in San Diego

The new office is at 10890 Thornmint Road, Ste. 200, San Diego, 92127. The phone number is (858) 792-7474

Naumann Law Firm specializes in insurance, construction-defect, and government-claim litigation. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages on behalf of homeowners associations and individual homeowners. Its attorneys have litigated against some of the nation's largest insurers, municipalities, and developers, handling claims arising from major disasters in Malibu, Studio City, San Clemente, Oceanside, Ventura, Carlsbad, San Diego, Cathedral City, and Palm Desert.

Hillary Arrow Booth joined Wilson Elser as a partner in Los Angeles.

Booth is a seasoned litigator and advisor who represents clients in jury trials, court trials, administrative hearings, arbitrations, and business transactions throughout California. Booth devotes much of her practice to serving the transportation industry, with clients ranging from large national companies to small local trucking businesses. Her broad experience includes handling claims involving the transport of goods, lost or damaged freight, commercial vehicle accidents, heavy equipment accidents, and commercial lease disputes. Booth's transportation work also includes advising and preparing contracts and agreements for shippers, brokers, and motor carriers related to freight transportation equipment leases, warehouse agreements, and service agreements used across multiple industries. Additionally, Booth has extensive experience litigating disputes over complex financial agreements, particularly those used in the logistics industry.

Joshua N. Levine joined Wilson Elser as a partner in Los Angeles.

Levine has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in all stages of the litigation process, including jury and court trials, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals. Levine is known for constructing supportable and understandable narratives out of cases that have complex histories and present highly technical issues. Levine has used those skills to guide clients through complicated environmental matters, including claims involving turn-of-the-century waste dumps, chlorinated solvent distribution centers, aerospace and semi-conductor manufacturing operations, eutrophic lakes, dry-cleaners, and recycling facilities.

Kimberly C. Carter joined Fisher & Phillips LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Carter represents employers - including Fortune 500 companies - in single-plaintiff actions, complex class actions, and PAGA representative matters. She has extensive experience handling claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. Her litigation practice spans state and federal courts, arbitration, and appearances before agencies such as the EEOC, California Civil Rights Department, Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, and Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. Clients value her ability to align legal strategy with their business goals, whether pursuing an early resolution or mounting a vigorous defense.

David C. Codell joined Fisher & Phillips LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.

Codell brings decades of high-stakes litigation experience to his representation of employers in labor and employment matters. His distinguished background spans trial and appellate courts, complex business disputes, constitutional issues, and class actions. Employers turn to Codell for strategic advocacy in appeals, litigation, and counseling, particularly when cases involve intricate constitutional or statutory questions.

Joshua Halen joined Fisher & Phillips LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.

Halen defends and advises employers in a wide range of workplace-related litigation matters in state and federal courts, with a focus on appellate matters. Halen's experience includes employment litigation, commercial disputes, trade secret and antitrust matters, and intellectual property disputes.

Andrew E. Westley joined Signature Resolution as a neutral in San Fransisco, CA. The move was Nov. 3, 2025.

Westley has been recognized for his thoughtful, people-centered approach to resolving complex landlord-tenant, business, employment, and real estate disputes. During his time as a lawyer, Westley represented clients in a wide range of civil disputes, from commercial contract and employment matters to landlord-tenant and real estate cases. In 1994, he founded his own law practice dedicated to housing justice and tenant advocacy, giving him unique insight into the challenges facing renters and property owners across Northern California.

Teresa K. Goebel joined Mayer Brown as a partner in San Francisco.

Goebel represents many of the world's leading hotel companies, focusing particularly on the acquisition, development, financing, management, and sale of hotels and mixed-use hospitality properties. She regularly negotiates, structures, and documents management agreements and equity and debt investments for hotels, resorts, and other mixed use hospitality projects throughout the world.

Benjamin T. Tschann joined Mayer Brown as a partner in San Francisco.

Tschann represents clients in real estate transactions across asset classes with intense operating business that are dependent on the real estate, including hotels and resorts, senior housing/assisted living, sports facilities, and industrial projects. His work covers structuring, negotiating, and documenting complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, debt financings, preferred equity and mezzanine financings, work-outs and restructurings, and short-sales. Ben also advises clients on key operating agreements such as hotel management agreements, franchise and strategic affiliations, operating agreements, asset management and project management agreements.

Dustin Calkins joined Mayer Brown as a partner in San Francisco.

Calkins leverages his significant experience in representing leading public and private, and national and international real estate investors, developers, operators and sponsors on a broad array of commercial assets, including industrial, mixed-use, multifamily, office, hospitality, sports venues, and retail properties.

Josh McLane joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

McLane focuses his practice on the tax aspects of complex transactions and reorganizations, with an emphasis on private equity, LBO, merger, acquisition and liability management transactions. He previously served as the general counsel and secretary of CareTrust REIT, Inc. (NYSE: CTRE).

Amanda C. Fitzsimmons joined Jones Day as a partner in San Diego.

Fitzsimmons is a privacy and cybersecurity litigator who represents technology companies, consumer platforms, and organizations operating in data-intensive and highly regulated environments. She handles high-stakes disputes and investigations involving data practices, biometrics, and AI-enabled products and systems. Her work includes defending class actions alleging unlawful data collection and biometric privacy violations, as well as advising companies responding to cybersecurity incidents and data breaches.