Kristin Hobbs was promoted to partner of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP in Claremont.

Hobbs' practice is in the area of insurance bad faith, personal injury and class actions.

Tad T. Egawa joined The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency as general counsel in Sacramento.

Egawa has been chief counsel at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration since 2017. He was general counsel at the California Department of Housing and Community Development from 2015 to 2017, assistant commissioner of legal affairs at the California Bureau of Real Estate from 2013 to 2015, deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2009 to 2013 and a shareholder at McDonough, Holland and Allen PC in 2009, where he was of counsel in 2007 and 2008. Egawa was assistant general counsel at the Ryland Group Inc. from 2004 to 2007 and an associate at Jeffer, Mangels, Butler and Marmaro LLP from 1999 to 2004, at Tuttle and Taylor from 1998 to 1999 and at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton LLP from 1996 to 1997. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Law.

Lila Mirrashidi joined The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency as deputy secretary of business and consumer relations in Sacramento.

Mirrashidi has served as deputy commissioner of policy at the California Department of Business Oversight since 2018, where she was deputy commissioner of legal (business regulations) from 2013 to 2018. Mirrashidi was deputy commissioner of business regulations at the California Department of Corporations from 2012 to 2013, deputy appointments secretary in the Office of Gov. Jerry Brown from 2011 to 2012 and deputy research director on the Jerry Brown for Governor Campaign from 2009 to 2010. Mirrashidi graduated from UC Hastings College of the Law.

Eric M. Gruzen joined JML Law, APLC as partner in Woodland Hills.

Gruzen has extensive employment experience, helping employees in employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, wage theft as well as class actions. He worked for many years defending management-side cases and now brings that knowledge to the employee side to represent employees whose rights have been violated.

Kelly D. Fair was promoted to partner of Dentons in San Francisco.

Fair is co-leader of the firm's U.S. cannabis group and focuses on representing cannabis and hemp industry clients in a broad range of regulatory matters and commercial transactions. She also represents insurance and financial services clients in all phases of complex commercial litigation and cybersecurity and data protection.

Tania M. Moyron was promoted to partner of Dentons in Los Angeles.

Moyron represents chapter 11 debtors, creditors’ and equity committees, liquidating trustees, principals, and secured and unsecured creditors in all aspects of corporate bankruptcy, as well as asset purchasers in bankruptcy and receivership cases.
Her client base includes a variety of industries, including health care, retail, entertainment, trucking, real estate and restaurant franchise industries.

Sara Dutschke Setshwaelo was promoted to partner of Dentons in San Francisco.

Dutschke Setshwaelo advises and supports tribal clients on complex matters involving tribal sovereignty and governance, government-to-government relations and business and economic development, which includes gaming, energy, conventional and bond financing, and tax analysis.

Anthony Pacheco joined Vedder Price P.C. as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Pacheco focuses on white-collar criminal defense, internal investigations and complex business litigation, including civil and criminal trials.

Fred W. Alvarez joined Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Alvarez combines a distinct blend of employment law experience, public service and legal profession leadership. He has had an active individual and class action litigation practice devoted to defending employers in trial and on appeal in claims brought by private and governmental parties and by former senior executives.

Colleen D. Calkins joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Calkins works with families and individuals in trust matters, complex probate administration, and legal estate planning. Clients rely on her to create and implement tailored plans for varied levels of wealth as well as the coordination of their business and estate planning. She also represents individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations on general business transactions and taxation.

Eric J. Wu was promoted to partner of Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl LLC in El Segundo.

Wu focuses his practice on California business and labor & employment law matters. He regularly advises companies on business and corporate transactional matters and Wu's clients include small to mid-market companies in the aerospace, entertainment, food production, manufacturing, medicine, retail, service, technology, and transportation industries. He is a Notre Dame Law School alumnus.

Nicole McLaughlin joined Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP as partner in Long Beach.

McLaughlin is a litigation attorney with a focus on environmental and complex commercial litigation. She has handled a wide array of cases, including environmental, breach-of-contract, franchise dispute, premise liability and intellectual property matters.

Artin Betpera was promoted to partner of Womble Bond Dickinson LLP in Costa Mesa.

Betpera represents financial services companies in high stakes litigation in federal and state courts and specializes in Telephone Consumer Protection Act litigation. He is a Chapman University School of Law alumnus.

Kasey J. Curtis was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

At the trial level, Curtis represented clients in commercial disputes, class actions and international arbitrations. He has authored more than 50 appellate briefs and argued appeals before the state Court of Appeal and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a Pepperdine University School of Law alumnus.

Mara D. Curtis was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

Curtis focuses on counseling and litigating wage and hour matters and is experienced in representing employers in state and federal court. She has handled putative and/or certified class actions alleging overtime, minimum wage, meal and rest period, waiting time penalty and wage statement claims. She is a UCLA School of Law alumna.

Seth B. Herring was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Herring specializes in intellectual property litigation, specifically in patent, trademark, and copyright. He has represented computer software and hardware, wireless networks, and medical devices clients. He is a UC Hastings College of the Law alumnus.

Simon L. Yang was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Yang represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour, business torts, and class action matters.

Aaron Belzer was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Belzer focuses on counseling and defending public and private companies in general and complex commercial disputes in both state and federal courts.

Kathleen McConnell was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in San Francisco.

McConnell focuses on data analytics, electronic discovery, information governance, and data privacy.

Ryan Pinkston was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in San Francisco.

Pinkston has handled disputes involving a variety of subject matters, including bankruptcy litigation, corporate reorganizations and liquidations, receiverships, director and officer liability, complex fraud and business torts, commercial litigation, and health care and pension plan fraud.

Christine S. Kim was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Kim handles a variety of commercial real estate transactions for private funds, financial institutions, pension funds, insurance companies and other companies.

Galina Krivitsky was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Krivitsky’s practice concentrates on a variety of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, financing transactions as well as loan assumptions, construction and permanent real estate financing, and all aspects of due diligence.

Richard Y. Chen joined Seyfarth Shaw LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Chen's practice focuses on a broad range of labor and employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge disputes arising under Title VII and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. He is an experienced litigator, handling jury trials, administrative hearings and mediations. Chen represents Fortune 1000 companies in a variety of industries.

Corey Cabral was promoted to senior counsel of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in Sacramento.

Cabral represents local, regional and national employers in all aspects of California labor and employment law and related litigation. He has extensive experience with litigation involving claims of individual wage and hour violations, gender, disability and age discrimination, retaliation, harassment, defamation and wrongful termination.

Lisa Barnett Sween was promoted to office managing partner of Jackson Lewis P.C. in San Francisco.

Sween joined Jackson Lewis in 2014 and said she's been continually impressed by the firm's commitment to its clients as well as the inclusive nature of the firm itself.
"It is gratifying to see how the San Francisco roster has grown to include so many talented and diverse attorneys," Sween said in a statement.
Sween represents employers in all aspects of employment law and litigation, including state and federal employment harassment and discrimination litigation, wrongful discharge litigation, FMLA, CFRA, ADA, and wage and hour litigation.
As office managing principal in San Francisco, she hopes to expand the firm's labor and preventative practices as well as its employee benefits, class actions and complex litigation and wage and hour practice groups.
Sween succeeds Fraser McAlpine, who stepped down to focus on his litigation practice.

Drew R. Hansen joined Nossaman LLP as partner in Orange County.

Hansen will serve as co-chair of the firm's employment practice group and chair of the firm's trucking, logistics and warehouse industry practice group. He is an employment lawyer and business litigator specializing in defending companies against wage and hour class actions, PAGA claims, individual employment disputes, complex commercial lawsuits, and unfair business practice claims.

Roy Z. Silva joined Nossaman LLP as partner in Orange County.

Silva will serve as co-chair of the firm’s employment practice group. His areas of expertise include mortgage banking/lender liability, employment counseling and litigation, and appellate litigation. He represents clients in regulated industries throughout California.

Seth M. Goldstein joined Nossaman LLP as of counsel in Orange County.

Goldstein focuses on the representation of employers, particularly those in the transportation industry, with an emphasis on the defense of class and collective actions and other complex matters.

Todd A. Pickles joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.

Pickles represents clients in white-collar matters and investigations as well as in business litigation, tort, employment, constitutional, and environmental claims.

Charles O. Thompson joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as shareholder in San Francisco.

Thompson focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling representing clients through all phases of class actions and single plaintiff cases.

Camarin E.B. Madigan joined Perkins Coie LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Madigan is a member of the firm's real estate and land use practice. She advises developers, landowners, lenders, and public agencies on acquisitions and dispositions and leasing for complex development projects and commercial properties, as well as land use entitlements and environmental permits.

Bryan K. Basso was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson in Silicon Valley.

Basso represents both plaintiffs and defendants, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies, in complex patent litigation in U.S. district courts, the International Trade Commission and at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Katherine D. Prescott was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson in Silicon Valley.

Prescott focuses on patent and trade secret litigation with an emphasis on software, network and internet technologies. She has experience before federal courts nationwide and has handled all aspects of litigation.

Quynh K. Vu was promoted to partner of Kaufhold Gaskin LLP in San Francisco.

Vu focuses her practice on complex civil litigation in federal and state courts across the country.

Samuel J. Park was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Park focuses on class actions, complex commercial cases and arbitrations, and regulatory matters involving the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, fraud, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, business interference, and breach of contract. His industry experience spans insurance, financial services, food processing and nutritional supplements. Park is a University of San Francisco School of Law alumnus.

Courtney M. Wright was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Wright focuses on real estate finance and capital markets, representing institutional lenders, investment banks, mezzanine funds, and portfolio lenders in originating commercial mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, and loan restructurings for all asset classes. Wright is a Fordham University School of Law alumna.

Ryan Fox joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as associate in San Francisco.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton announced today the addition of Ryan Fox as an associate in the firm's San Francisco office. He joins the Trademark and Copyright Team in the firm's internationally-recognized Intellectual Property Department.

Mr. Fox focuses his practice on copyright and trademark law. He handles all aspects of brand protection including trademark counseling and prosecution, anti-counterfeiting strategy, gray market, civil and online enforcement, and global investigations.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Fox worked as an intern and then an associate at a law firm based in San Francisco, California in its Intellectual Property and Brand Integrity and Innovation groups. Previously, he was in the agent training program in the Motion Picture Literature Department at William Morris Endeavor in Beverly Hills, California and later worked in feature film development at Kurtzman/Orci Productions in Universal City, California and Twentieth Century Fox in Los Angeles, California.

Mr. Fox earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law where he served as Senior Notes Editor for the Hastings Law Journal. He received his B.A., with Distinction and Honors, in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of Michigan.

Kevin E. Vickers was promoted to special counsel of Baker Botts in San Francisco.

Vickers focuses on legislative and environmental matters. His work includes water, waste, air and endangered species issues, as well as planning and development laws.

Thomas Mathew joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as associate in Silicon Valley (Menlo Park).

He joins as an Associate in the Medical and Mechanical Devices Team in the firm's internationally recognized Intellectual Property Department. Mr. Mathew focuses his practice on patent prosecution and counseling in a variety of technologies including medical devices and computer software and hardware technology. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate in the Palo Alto office of an AmLaw 50 firm. Mr. Mathew earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, where he served as the Managing Online Content Editor for the Texas Law Review. He received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Zachary S. Fayne was promoted to partner of Arnold & Porter in San Francisco.

Fayne is a member of the Environmental practice. He graduated from Harvard Law School.

Nicholas H. Lee was promoted to partner of Arnold & Porter in Los Angeles.

Lee is a member of the Intellectual Property practice. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Eric S. Jones was promoted to shareholder of Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner PC in Westlake Village.

Jones practices corporate and business law. He counsels privately held companies and their owners in structuring, negotiating, and closing strategic transactions. Jones graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and has an LLM in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

Jonathan H. Harder joined Dickinson Wright LLP as of counsel in Palo Alto.

Harder focuses on the full life cycle of patents. His experience extends to a wide range of computer technologies, including virtualization, content sharing/ management platforms, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, optimization, smart home environments, autonomous vehicles, internet technologies, productivity applications, and memory devices. He has a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

John Chiang joined Ideal Legal Group Inc. as of counsel in Los Angeles.

Chiang served as the California State Treasurer from 2014 to 2019, and as state Controller from 2007 to 2015.