Carolina de Armas was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

De Armas works with Farella Braun + Martel's renewable energy, wine, and construction clients on a broad range of transactional matters. From mergers and acquisitions to day-to-day business management, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, and long-term planning, De Armas helps large and small clients navigate a strategic course efficiently, maximizing opportunity while managing risk.

Benjamin R. Buchwalter was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Buchwalter specializes in working with companies to manage and mitigate employment law risks to achieve their business goals. He has deep experience defending companies in single-plaintiff and class and representative action lawsuits related to discrimination, retaliation, harassment, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, and requests for accommodations. Through his experience defending companies of all sizes in litigation and as an in-house employment attorney, Buchwalter always strives to understand what is most important to his clients in order to reach the best company-tailored resolution of disputes.

Erik M. Silber joined Dykema Gossett PLLC as senior counsel in Los Angeles.

Silber's experience spans both trial and appellate courts, where he helps clients navigate complex legal issues, craft persuasive arguments, and protect their rights at every stage of litigation. He has argued 36 appeals before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and previously served as chief of the Post-Conviction and Special Litigation Section at the U.S. Attorney's Office. In addition, he has supervised, edited, and filed hundreds of appellate briefs and participated in hundreds of moot courts to prepare colleagues for oral argument. As a trial lawyer, Silber has served as lead or solo counsel in six federal cases and directly supervised more than 40 federal trials as acting chief and deputy chief of the General Crimes Section, offering strategic guidance on all phases of trial, including preservation of appellate issues. He has also taught as an adjunct professor of criminal procedure at USC Gould School of Law and lectured on white collar crime and appellate advocacy at Loyola Law School.

Tara Sullivan joined Holland & Knight as a partner in San Francisco.

Sullivan is a member of Holland & Knight's West Coast Land Use and Environment Group. Sullivan has more than 15 years of extensive land use and policy experience in urban planning, historic preservation and zoning, and her practice focuses on complex zoning matters in San Francisco, advising clients on environmental laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and historic preservation issues. She has worked on large mixed-use projects in San Francisco, assisted owners and developers create new housing and establish emerging technology businesses, as well as worked with developers to revitalize the downtown core following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matthew G. Jacobs joined Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP as a counsel in San Francisco.

Jacobs brings more than four decades of experience in complex litigation, government investigations, and public-sector leadership. Most recently, he served as general counsel of CalPERS, the nation's largest public pension fund, overseeing legal, compliance and risk, and information security functions, as well as the fund's affirmative and defensive litigation.

Hannah Kieschnick joined Gupta Wessler LLP as a counsel in San Francisco. The move was Jan. 5, 2026.

Kieschnick litigates complex public interest and plaintiff-side cases across the country. She formerly served as senior attorney at Public Justice, where she successfully achieved justice for last-mile delivery drivers in Adler v. Gruma Corp., and preserved consumers' right to seek relief in court against opaque digital contracting practices in Parisi v. GreenSky, LLC.

Rachel D. Kleinberg joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as a partner in Palo Alto.

Kleinberg's practice covers the U.S. federal tax aspects of a wide array of transactional matters, focusing on the representation of corporate and private equity clients on M&A and private equity transactions, including joint ventures, spinoffs, and reorganizations, as well as associated acquisition financing transactions. She has significant experience with royalty financing transactions, as well as financial products and derivatives. Kleinberg also advises clients on international restructurings and planning, debt workouts, and bankruptcy restructurings.

John D. Drdek was promoted to partner of Hahn Loeser & Parks in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Drdek is member of both the Litigation and Labor & Employment Groups and serves as a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He represents employers in complex litigation, including wage-and-hour class and representative actions, Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims, and multi-million-dollar employment disputes. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, Drdek has successfully defended clients across a range of industries. He advises employers on risk mitigation, compliance, and pre-litigation resolution of workplace disputes. Drdek earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School and his B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Trevor R. Witt was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Los Angeles.

Witt's experience includes handling a wide variety of employment matters, with an emphasis on complex wage and hour class actions and Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) claims. Witt guides employers through litigation and provides counsel on matters such as discrimination, harassment, employee discipline, and wage and hour compliance.

Peter M. Waneis was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Los Angeles.

Waneis' practice focuses on representing employers in all types of employment-related litigation in state and federal courts and in arbitration, with an emphasis on litigating individual and class action cases involving wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and related claims. While attending law school, Waneis clerked for Southern California Edison Company's Labor and Employment Section and was a legal intern at the Office of the Long Beach City Attorney.

Allen F. Acosta was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Los Angeles.

Acosta's practice focuses on representing employers in workplace and labor law matters, including preventive advice and counseling and representing employers in labor negotiations and arbitrations. Acosta advises clients on compliance with federal, state and local employment laws, including Family and Medical Leave Act, California Family Rights Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, National Labor Relations Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.

Jessica C. Shafer was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in San Francisco.

Shafer defends employers in high-stakes employment litigation and provides pragmatic counsel on day-to-day workplace issues and new and developing areas of the law. Shafer regularly represents companies in single-plaintiff matters involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, unfair competition, and trade secret misappropriation. She also handles class and representative actions, including claims under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), meal and rest break violations, off-the-clock work, and employee misclassification. Across her litigation practice, she has made dozens of appearances before courts, administrative agencies, arbitrators, and mediators.

Ronald Tran was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in San Francisco.

Tran regularly advocates on behalf of businesses that wind up in court, he is equally passionate about helping employers stay out of court. He does so through his preventative advice and counsel practice. Tran assists employers in their day-to-day management of their employees, including investigation of workplace complaints, training and development, discipline and termination, and severance negotiations.

Suzana I. Sinatra was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in San Diego.

Sinatra’s practice also includes providing advice and counsel to clients about offer letters and employment agreements, internal investigations, compliance with employment laws, reasonable accommodations, policy development, employee handbooks, disciplinary issues, and employee separation. With her in-depth knowledge of state and federal employment laws, she strives to help clients minimize risk and prevent matters from reaching litigation. She is a member of the California Advice and Counsel resource group, and Wage and Hour resource group.

Nikki L. Wilson Crary was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Orange County.

Wilson Crary's practice is focused on counseling in the areas of employment litigation on behalf of management, Title IX Compliance, sports compliance, health and safety issues in sports, NAIA and NCAA compliance. She regularly counsels educational institutions on Title IX Compliance as well as conducts Title IX Investigations. Wilson Crary also practices employment litigation on behalf of management as well as advice and counsel on all employment issues, including OSHA Compliance. She has litigated single and multi-plaintiff cases, in both state and federal courts, as well as before state administrative agencies, on all aspects of employment law from wage and hour to harassment, discrimination, and disabilities cases. She also practices before such tribunals as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Civil Rights Department, the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement and the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.

Kimberley L. Litzler was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Orange County.

Litzler's practice primarily focuses on representing employers in a broad range of employment law matters, including single plaintiff, class and representative matters. She also provides advice and counseling to clients on day-to-day workplace issues for clients throughout California. She is experienced in all stages of litigation, from case inception through trial or arbitration, and practices in both state and federal court. She served as second chair in a bench trial and has a proven track record of resolving a variety of class action/representative wage and hour claims and individual employment claims through mediation and direct negotiations.

Ben Herbert joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as a partner in Irvine. The move was Dec. 16, 2025.

Herbert brings significant experience in patent and trade secret litigation across a wide range of advanced technologies to an IP Litigation practice with a deep bench of seasoned litigators. He has represented technology companies in federal courts, before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. His work spans digital communications, semiconductor architecture, medical devices, and other complex systems. He also advises clients on strategic patent issues and licensing.

Rafick Issagholian was promoted to counsel of Goldberg Segalla in Los Angeles.

Issagholian focuses his practice on counseling and defending employers, insurers, and third-party administrators in workers' compensation matters. Issagholian handles all aspects of the litigation process from beginning to end, including pre-litigation discovery, depositions, hearings, petitions, mediations, settlement, and trial. He draws on experience representing clients in a variety of workers' compensation matters as well as personal injury matters while in civil practice.

Rebecca J. Lee was promoted to partner of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Lee defends clients facing labor and employment issues related to sexual harassment, gender and disability, discrimination claims, and wage and hour matters. Lee also counsels clients on myriad employment issues, including leave requests, termination decisions, accommodations, and employment policies. She routinely negotiates employments deals on behalf of employers for high-level executives. She has experience in wage and hour class actions, Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) cases, single-plaintiff cases in California federal and state courts, and arbitrations before JAMS and the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Prior to law school, Lee spent two years volunteering for the Peace Corps in Ecuador.

Bryan Weintrop was promoted to partner of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Weintrop practices complex commercial litigation for companies in the advertising, food and beverage, entertainment, car rental, real estate, and crypto-currency industries. Weintrop also has experience representing individuals in trust and estate litigation. Weintrop regularly represents clients in state and federal courts in a wide range of matters, including class actions, general business disputes, false advertising disputes, complex real estate transaction disputes, probate disputes, defamation defense, unfair competition defense, commercial unlawful detainer, and automotive repair regulatory defense. Weintrop also routinely briefs on complex issues before the California Court of Appeal and 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Matthew M. Wallace was promoted to counsel of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Wallace is a civil litigator who represents companies and individuals in complex cases in state and federal courts and before arbitrators. Wallace has represented clients in a variety of industries, including media and entertainment, pharmaceutical, cannabis, and professional services. He is particularly skilled at crafting compelling, persuasive legal arguments and framing clients' stories to their maximum advantage. He has drafted litigation documents, including pleadings, ex parte applications, discovery motions, and dispositive motions. He has also managed large-scale discovery and trial preparation.

Jeffrey A. Brand was promoted to counsel of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Brand has worked with employers of all sizes to defend them from a variety of employment lawsuits - from single-plaintiff cases to class action and representative action. Brand also provides his clients with practical employment advice on their day-to-day operations to help them navigate California's complicated employment laws.

Brian G. Fredkin was promoted to counsel of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Fredkin is certified by the State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization as a legal specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law. He focuses his practice on estate and income tax planning and trust and estate administration for high-net-worth individuals. Fredkin has designed and drafted revocable trusts, wills, advanced healthcare directives, durable powers of attorney, irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and grantor retained annuity trusts. He has obtained favorable private letter rulings, counseled clients through administration issues and tax exposures, and prepared and reviewed federal estate and gift tax returns.

Elizabeth M. Barket Kremser was promoted to counsel of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Barket Kremser advises clients on complex corporate transactions, commercial contracts, and general corporate matters, bringing experience in regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, corporate governance, intellectual property (IP), land use, and real estate to her growing practice. Barket Kremser represents clients from a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, technology, and cannabis. Her practice includes drafting and negotiating entity formation documents and other key business documents, as well as cornerstone commercial contracts.

Sarah Hoffman was promoted to counsel of Venable LLP in San Francisco.

Hoffman has represented clients in a wide range of environmental and land use matters, including litigating citizen suits, navigating the permitting process, and defending against agency enforcement actions. Hoffman has extensive experience working with the California Environmental Quality Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and California's Housing Accountability Act. She has represented both project developers and opponents, giving her insight into the litigation strategies employed on each side of environmental disputes.

Nicholas O. von der Lancken was promoted to partner of Dykema Gossett PLLC in Los Angeles.

Von der Lancken regularly represents clients in product liability, personal injury, and general business litigation matters. Von der Lancken works with domestic and international clients across a broad range of industries, including automotive, manufacturing, technology, consumer products, and professional services.

Samantha J. Hughes was promoted to partner of Dykema Gossett PLLC in Los Angeles.

Hughes understands that a skilled litigator needs to be quick thinking, strategic, collaborative, and client focused. She has seen cases through trial, successfully resolved numerous matters through dispositive law and motion work, and obtained many favorable resolutions through negotiated settlements. Her extensive litigation experience ensures that she evaluates each case on its merits and vigorously defends her clients' interests both in and out of the courtroom. Having served as general counsel on a client's in-house legal team, Hughes understands that each case carries its own unique circumstances, so she works closely with each client to determine the most favorable outcome.

Victor T. Chiu was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Chiu helps clients navigate novel legal issues at the intersection of intellectual property, software development, and advanced hardware systems. His practice centers on high-stakes copyright, contract, unfair competition, and technology-related litigation, including matters involving integrated-circuit design and verification and generative AI training systems.

Deeva V. Shah was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Shah represents technology companies and professionals in high-stakes commercial disputes, with a focus on intellectual property, complex contract litigation, and professional liability defense. She is known for disciplined and pragmatic case management, early risk assessment, and translating highly technical issues into clear litigation strategy.

Christine Zaleski was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Zaleski represents clients in complex commercial disputes, with a focus on defending technology companies in intellectual property matters. Her practice spans high-stakes contract, unfair competition, copyright, false advertising, and trade libel cases, as well as the defense of professional malpractice and fraud claims.

Niall Frizzell was promoted to counsel of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco.

Frizzell represents clients in complex commercial disputes across a wide range of industries and areas of law, including intellectual property, antitrust, contract, administrative law, arbitration, consumer protection, privacy, and constitutional litigation. He regularly litigates high-stakes financial, regulatory, and public-policy matters and is often engaged for his ability to master complex and novel subjects.

Candice Mai Khanh Nguyen was promoted to counsel of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco.

Nguyen represents clients that range from early-stage companies to Fortune 500 corporations in complex disputes. Her practice includes intellectual property, contract, and commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels, as well as arbitration proceedings involving sophisticated technologies and high financial stakes.

Esmailian was promoted to partner of YOKA | SMITH, LLP effective Jan. 13, 2026.

Esmailian represents businesses and individuals as plaintiffs and defendants in California state and federal courts and has tried numerous cases to verdict. She has also achieved appellate success, prevailing on all issues raised by the plaintiff after the trial court granted a motion to dismiss. Before joining Yoka | Smith, LLP, Esmailian served as in-house trial counsel and a supervising attorney for an insurance company, focusing on civil defense and personal injury litigation. During law school, she was a judicial extern to Judge Neil W. Bason of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and a law clerk in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Family Violence Division. She is deeply committed to pro bono work and has successfully organized an international conference bringing together legal scholars and practitioners to address access to international justice for victims.

Will Sterling was promoted to partner of Holland & Knight in San Francisco.

Sterling is a litigation attorney and a member of the West Coast Land Use and Environment Group. His practice focuses on the enforcement of California's recently strengthened housing laws, including the Housing Accountability Act (HAA), Builder's Remedy (Assembly Bill 1893), Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (Senate Bill 330), Permit Streamlining Act, Housing Element Law and California State Density Bonus Law.

Anna S. Ayar was promoted to partner of Holland & Knight in Century City.

Ayar is a real estate attorney in the Century City office, advising clients on balancing legal risk and business priorities in commercial real estate transactions across the U.S. With a deep understanding of property acquisition and real estate financing, Ayar guides clients through acquisitions, financings, joint ventures, leasing, development and disposition matters nationwide. She represents private and institutional investors, purchasers, owners, family offices and developers in complex transactions across a wide range of asset types, including office and industrial buildings, vacant land for development, multifamily, student housing, retail, mixed-use and hospitality projects.

Samuel J. Stone was promoted to partner of Holland & Knight in Los Angeles.

Stone is a trial attorney in the Los Angeles office and focuses his practice on high-stakes complex litigation and investigations, offering creative strategy to achieve goals in and out of litigation. He is a trusted advisor and crisis manager to some of the most successful companies in the world, including those in the financial services and banking, healthcare, advanced technology, defense and government, manufacturing and construction, transportation, and retail and hospitality industries. Stone's practice also includes advising on labor and employment matters for merger and acquisition (M&A) deals, representing management before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in collective bargaining negotiating and in labor-management arbitration.

Sean D. Willet was promoted to partner of Holland & Knight in Newport Beach.

Willet's practice focuses on providing asset management and leasing representation to institutional real estate funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other various ownership groups in connection with the ownership, operation, leasing and management of their retail, office and industrial real estate portfolios across the U.S. and in Canada.

Marco Quazzo joined Rogers Joseph O'Donnell, P.C. as a shareholder in San Francisco.

Quazzo has more than 30 years of experience handling business, corporate governance, shareholder and real estate litigation matters. He has represented some of the largest companies in the United States, as well as privately held businesses, high-net-worth individuals, directors and officers, founders and trustees. Maintaining a versatile commercial litigation practice, Quazzo regularly handles disputes involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and other business torts. He also litigates partnership and shareholder disputes, corporate governance matters and disputes arising from the sale, purchase or leasing of real property. Quazzo's experience includes litigation involving manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and other business entities. He represents clients in bench and jury trials, arbitrations and mediations.

Kevin M. Seibert joined JAMS as a neutral in Sacramento. The move was Jan. 12, 2026.

Judge Seibert joins after a decade on the Tuolumne County Superior Court and over 30 years in private practice. Appointed to the bench in 2015, Seibert served for 10 years on the Tuolumne County Superior Court, including roles as assistant presiding judge and presiding judge. Throughout his judicial career, he managed civil trial calendars, law and motion proceedings, and mandatory settlement conferences. While overseeing the court's civil calendars, he effectively resolved the majority of the hundreds of cases before him. Based in the Sacramento Resolution Center, Judge Seibert will work as an arbitrator, mediator, court-appointed neutral (such as a special master or referee), and neutral evaluator, handling cases in business and commercial law, real estate and property, construction, employment, professional liability, agriculture, banking, personal injury, and government sectors. He is available for sessions in person or virtually, serving clients nationwide and internationally.

Laurelly Dale was promoted to partner of MG+M in San Francisco

Dale, a seasoned litigator with more than 18 years of experience, has developed a defense practice with a concentration on representing insurers and insured entities at a national level in matters arising under the Child Victims' Act (CVA) and related abuse litigation. Her practice is dedicated to advising and defending organizations facing complex, high-exposure claims stemming from historical allegations of abuse.

Charles W. Jenkins was promoted to partner of MG+M in Los Angeles

Jenkins focuses his practice on asbestos litigation, general liability, product liability, construction defects and contract litigation. Jenkins has defended manufacturers and suppliers in cases involving asbestos, silica, benzene, formaldehyde, mold and other chemical substances. He represents manufacturers in product liability lawsuits involving commercial machinery, equipment and retail products. Jenkins' practice also involves negotiating the sales of various types of businesses.

Rachel H. Leonard was promoted to partner of MG+M in Walnut Creek

Leonard has considerable experience in all aspects of civil litigation, from claim inception through trial, defending parties in personal injury, premises liability, and various other general liability matters. She formerly served as a prosecutor for the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, where she tried numerous criminal jury trials to verdict. In addition to her trial experience, Leonard has extensive experience in law and motion practice, including targeted and successful motions for summary judgment, written discovery, depositions, discovery, oral argument, settlement conferences, mediations, and arbitrations. This significant litigation experience enables Leonard to efficiently identify the strengths and weaknesses of each case and realistically evaluate damages. Her considerable trial experience enables her to recognize which cases are appropriate for trial and which should be resolved.

Ryan L. Rystad was promoted to partner of MG+M in Irvine

Rystad has found success litigating a variety of complex legal matters. He has represented a wide variety of clients, including individuals and local business owners, as well as multinational corporations. His clients consistently rely on him to accurately gauge and limit any potential exposure and to proactively maximize their potential for success. He has experience with multi-party litigation and has achieved positive results for his clients inside and outside the courtroom through informal negotiations and mediation.

Jamie Sprague was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson in Orange County. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Sprague represents clients in complex commercial disputes, including contract claims, business torts, labor and employment matters, landlord-tenant and land use disputes, and multi-plaintiff mass torts involving nuisance, trespass, negligence, and environmental claims. She represents developers, investors, owners, and operators across industries including healthcare and life sciences, renewable energy, and construction.

Sprague has experience at all levels of federal and state civil litigation and in administrative proceedings. Her work includes drafting briefs and motions, managing complex discovery, working with expert witnesses, and taking and defending depositions. Her track record includes successfully arguing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a jury verdict, first-chairing multimillion-dollar disputes, and leading teams through trials, arbitrations, and appeals.

H. Whei Hsueh was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells in San Francisco

Hsueh represents a number of clients at the forefront of the technology industry in various intellectual property (IP) matters, including complex technology-focused commercial transactions, IP licensing, and patent counselling. Hsueh's law firm experience also includes five years of patent prosecution experience as a former patent agent at Hogan Lovells and another prominent firm in San Francisco.

Edward McNeilly was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells in Los Angeles.

McNeilly has represented clients in a range of areas in both the United Kingdom and the United States, including bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court restructurings, and finance deals. He draws upon his experience of practicing in the United Kingdom and in the United States to help debtors and creditors resolve their most complex stateside and international issues. Clients recognize McNeilly's tenacity and ability to develop practical solutions to their most complex matters.

Scott Laes was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Laes focuses on construction disputes, including defect and delay litigation, as well as related business, commercial, real estate, partnership, landlord-tenant, and insurance coverage matters in state and federal courts. He has extensive experience drafting and arguing briefs and motions, taking and defending depositions, and participating in arbitrations, judicial reference proceedings, and bench and jury trials.

Recently, Laes represented a developer in a complex multiparty construction action, prosecuting claims for defect, delay, and breach of contract while defending against a general contractor's breach of contract and indemnity claims. He has also assisted clients in the aftermath of the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.

Laura M. López was promoted to counsel of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles.

López has built a robust practice focused on complex civil litigation for clients across a wide range of industries, with a particular emphasis on technology and innovation-driven companies. She has significant experience developing and executing large-scale e-discovery strategies and brings rigor, efficiency and sound judgment to discovery management and production in high-stakes matters.

Matthew Sharp Menzie joined LightGabler LLP as a senior attorney in LightGabler LLP. The move was Dec. 1, 2025.

Menzie, former senior in-house employment law counsel at Forever 21, has experience advising and counseling businesses on human resources and employment law matters, and handling related litigation.

Steven J. French was promoted to counsel of Womble Bond Dickinson in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

French's practice focuses on patent prosecution. He has long been a close and trusted adviser to his clients regarding patent matters and handles all stages of patent prosecution, including helping his clients to identify patentable inventions, drafting applications, negotiating with patent examiners, and managing international patent portfolios.

Leanne Yu was promoted to counsel of Womble Bond Dickinson in San Francisco. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Yu focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, including defending banks and companies in individual and class actions brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), and related state laws.

Steven D. Moore joined Vinson & Elkins LLP as a partner in San Francisco.

Moore concentrates his practice on intellectual property and complex commercial litigation. He represents both companies and intellectual property owners in patent, trade secret, and related claims across various industries. He has extensive jury trial experience, including successful jury trials in the Northern District of California, District of Delaware, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. As lead trial counsel, he secured a defense verdict in a patent infringement case in the Western District of Texas. Additionally, as lead trial counsel in multiple patent infringement cases in the Eastern District of Texas, he has won approximately $101 million in jury verdicts for the patent owner.

Gillian H. Clow was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Clow focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer class actions. She has experience in various industries, including life insurance, food and beverage, technology and retail, and cases involving claims of breach of contract, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, RICO, fraud, unfair competition, and violations of Business & Professions Code Section 17200 and other tort claims. Clow has been engaged by online retailers to represent them in class actions and arbitrations alleging data and privacy violations. She also defends companies facing California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), and other privacy-related claims.

Daniel Dubin was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Dubin focuses his practice on cutting-edge, nationwide matters in unclaimed property and consumer protection. Dubin is a cross-practice litigator with significant experience representing clients in pre-litigation disputes during unclaimed property audits and voluntary disclosure agreement programs, as well as high-stakes cases against both public and private entities in state and federal courts. Dubin has litigated individual and class action cases spanning several topics including unclaimed property, unfair competition, deceptive practices, false advertising, and whistleblower claims.

Kaitlin (Katie) H. Owen was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Owen handles complex commercial and employment disputes with a focus on class and representative actions. Owen also represents businesses in wrongful termination and fair employment matters, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. She approaches cases practically and uses efficient and common-sense strategies to keep litigation in check.

Jamie N. Furst was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Furst focuses her practice on representing owners, large general contractors, and developers in negotiating contracts and during all stages of construction claims litigation. She has extensive experience representing clients in disputes over delays, extra work, defective work, changed conditions, and contract terminations. Furst also provides counseling to government contractors on a wide variety of public contracting matters involving federal, state, and local procurement rules and regulations, and in adversary proceedings, including pre- and post-award bid protests.

Jason Chu was promoted to counsel of Womble Bond Dickinson in Silicon Valley. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Chu focuses his practice in all aspects of IP matters including licensing, litigation support, and corporate due diligence for a broad range of industries, such as software, social networking, mobile applications, digital entertainment, hardware, life sciences, and biosimilars.

Harold Jones joined Ogletree Deakins as a shareholder in San Francisco. The move was Jan. 5, 2026.

For more than 20 years, Jones has advised employers on complex legal challenges, representing management across a wide range of industries, including financial services, hospitality, healthcare, biotechnology, staffing, manufacturing, retail, transportation, and technology. He defends employers of all sizes in civil actions before California state and federal courts, as well as state and federal administrative agencies.

Jones also maintains a robust advice-and-counsel practice, guiding employers through day-to-day California employment law issues. His work includes advising on background checks, leaves of absence, the interactive process, reasonable accommodations, wage and hour compliance, discipline and terminations, employee handbooks, and severance negotiations. He also conducts workplace investigations, drawing on a decade of experience as an Oakland police officer to design and lead thorough internal inquiries.