Marc S T Dworsky joined Reid Collins & Tsai as partner in Los Angeles.

Dworsky spent 25 years at Munger Tolles & Olson, LLP ("MTO"), specializing in bet-the-company, multi-billion-dollar lawsuits, primarily in the financial sector, and was the lead lawyer spearheading the nationwide defense of both Bank of America and Wells Fargo throughout the financial crisis. When the financial crisis wound down, Dworsky retired from MTO to reflect on the next stage of his career. After spending the past year consulting and focusing on business endeavors, Dworsky has decided to cross over to the plaintiff's side of the bar, joining Bill Reid, his former adversary and longtime friend at RCT, which Reid founded along with partners Jason Collins and Lisa Tsai in 2009.

"At this stage of my career, I am not driven by the financial rewards of the legal profession, nor the associated accolades. I have no interest in the business or bureaucracy of law. Instead, I am motivated by the intellectual stimulation of litigating sophisticated and often groundbreaking cases shoulder to shoulder with lawyers whom I deeply respect and have a special connection," Dworsky states. Reid adds, "From day one, we have had a mutual admiration for one another. The decision to join forces came about naturally and was inevitable to some degree."

As RCT continues to enhance its national reputation as a "go-to" high-stakes, plaintiff's contingency-fee firm, Dworsky's addition will only serve to propel the firm to even greater success. Longtime RCT client Scott Ellington, the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Highland Capital Management LP, describes the pairing of Dworsky and RCT as "really exciting," and explains, "What Marc brings to the table is a unique skillset. He's been the ultimate fixer, for lack of a better term, macro problem solver, dispute resolution expert, for extremely large corporate clients. Bill's team is the special forces unit of high-stakes, complex commercial litigation, and combining those two will be, in my opinion, an extremely formidable opponent for anyone, no matter what size and sophistication, to take on. They will be truly lethal."

"I have matters with RCT where Bill, another partner, and a couple associates, have taken on literally 40 timekeepers. And Bill's squad is able to bring them to their knees just like a special forces unit can wipe out a battalion by hiding and sniping them; Bill's guys have that ability. When you add Marc to that mix, with his experience navigating some of the most complex financial disputes in our lifetimes, you're talking about a very, very formidable unit," Ellington adds.

Brad Brian, a nationally renowned trial lawyer and longtime, senior partner at MTO, observes of his former partner, "Marc is a brilliant legal thinker and strategist who guided some of our clients through some of their thorniest problems in recent years. We were privileged to count Marc as a partner for over two decades, and we're grateful that he left some of his DNA at our firm. America's legal system depends on having smart, responsible, and ethical lawyers on both sides, and I'm sure Marc will be as formidable on the plaintiff side as he was helping so many of our clients. We wish him every continued success."

Dworsky observes, "Bill's approach to the law is the same as is mine. RCT cuts to the chase, focusing on the merits, rather than the noise. They're aggressive, but scrupulously ethical. Because of the amazing track record Bill and his team have earned, they've positioned themselves to be selective on the intake side, and, unlike most plaintiff's firms, when they approach their adversaries with an offer to negotiate pre-suit, it's backed up with the real promise, not an idle threat, to go to trial. And Bill is one hell of a trial lawyer."

Reid adds, "What clients want are results," and laments that, whether because of their egos or the misconception that suggesting a result-oriented discussion at the outset conveys a sign of weakness, bottom-line merits discussions do not seem to happen often or early enough. "Here at RCT, we shun all of that conventional wisdom and present all of our adversaries with a draft complaint and invite a business discussion prior to launching litigation. We do that as a matter of practice. This approach has served us well over the past nine years in reaching business-minded resolutions before ever filing suit," Reid says, adding, "Yet, there are many people who choose door number two and the public fight, and we have an entire docket of those cases."

"Marc's decision to join our firm both validates what Reid Collins & Tsai has accomplished in just under nine years and sets the stage for us to take our spot on the national stage for the years to come. I am delighted to call Marc a partner and look forward to what we can achieve together," Reid concludes.

RCT is a national trial boutique and plaintiff's contingency firm that focuses on complex business litigation with offices in Austin, Dallas, New York, Washington D.C., and now, with Dworsky, Southern California.

Kate Kraus joined Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP as tax partner in Los Angeles.

Kate has extensive experience in tax planning and structuring. She joins Allen Matkins after serving as a principal and head of partnership tax at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S. Kate previously was a member of the Partnership Transaction Planning & Economics Group in the National Tax Department of Ernst & Young LLP (EY) where she represented partnerships and their partners in matters involving formations, financing transactions, acquisitions, restructurings, debt workouts, and liquidations.

Kate's clients include real estate developers and real estate funds, private equity funds, hedge funds, Fortune 100 companies, mid-market companies, and high net worth individuals. Kate is also a leading authority on the new partnership audit rules that were enacted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. At Allen Matkins, Kate will be providing various tax planning advice, including structuring relating to Opportunity Zones and other provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Brittney L. Kubisch joined Jones Day as associate in Los Angeles.

Clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas; graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law

Brittney Lane Kubisch focuses on appellate advocacy and motions practice. She has assisted in researching and drafting briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Second Circuit, the Ninth Circuit, and the New York Court of Appeals on a variety of topics including regulatory issues, bankruptcy, and the Railway Labor Act. She also has experience in preparing motions on a range of subjects at the trial level including ERISA and the False Claims Act.

Prior to joining Jones Day, Brittney served as a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court and at the Sixth and Ninth Circuits.

Eric Tung joined Jones Day.

Clerked for Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, and, previously, Justice Antonin Scalia; graduated from University of Chicago Law School

Heidi E. Mayon joined Goodwin Procter LLP as partner in Silicon Valley.

Mayon practices corporate and securities law, with a focus on public offerings and other capital markets transactions. She works across a broad range of sectors and industries, including software, internet, life sciences, retail, telecommunications, hardware, and energy and clean technology. Mayon represents both corporations and investment banks in IPOs and complex capital markets transactions. She also advises late-stage private companies on the IPO process and represents public companies in corporate governance matters and reporting obligations.

"As our Northern California platform continues to grow in line with client and market demand, we are seeing more and more of our late-stage, public company and underwriter client base looking to Goodwin for capital markets capabilities and support," said Rick Kline, Co-Chair of Goodwin's Capital Markets practice and a partner in the firm's Technology Companies practice. "Heidi's extensive capital markets experience, especially as it relates to IPOs, corporate governance and reporting obligations, is a perfect fit for the needs of both our company and underwriter clients, across both technology and life sciences industries. We are thrilled to welcome Heidi to Goodwin."

Mayon is a frequent speaker on topics relating to capital markets transactions. She co-authored several chapters discussing IPO processes in the widely used treatise, Venture Capital and Public Offering Negotiation. She recently co-authored a chapter in the NYSE Entrepreneur's Roadmap: From Concept to IPO. She is a member of Law360's Capital Markets Advisory Board.

Mayon received her J.D. from the University of San Francisco and her B.A. from the University of San Diego. She is admitted to practice in California.

Mayon's appointment follows Goodwin's continued expansion in Northern California, where the firm recently welcomed some of the country's leading technology, life sciences, and private equity industry practitioners, including Josh Cook and Jon Novotny, Shane Albright, Darryl M. Woo, and Scott Joachim and David Johanson.

Arif Virji as partner in San Francisco

Arif Virji has joined Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck as a labor and employment and professional liability partner in its San Francisco office. Virji, who has three decades of experience, will also co-manage the San Francisco office with Katherine S. Catlos and take a leadership role in the firm's diversity efforts. Virji's employment practice includes litigating discrimination and harassment cases, handling retaliation, reasonable accommodation and wage and hour claims and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigations. He represents employers in class action lawsuits on a wide range of labor and employment law matters. He also provides day to day advice and counsel to employers on workplace issues.

Virji's professional liability practice focuses on the representation of lawyers, engineers and brokers. He also handles real estate issues including landlord-tenant disputes and commercial contracts.

Michael McConathy as of counsel in San Francisco

Michael McConathy focuses his practice on labor and employment, professional liability and business litigation.

Nathan Low as associate in San Francisco

Nathan Low has rejoined Fisher Phillips as an associate in its San Francisco office. He represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law, including wage and hour class and collective actions, PAGA claims, single-plaintiff claims and retaliation and wrongful termination claims. Low also has experience obtaining workplace violence restraining orders.

Arif Virji joined Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck as co-managing partner in San Francisco.

Virji's employment practice includes litigating discrimination and harassment cases, handling retaliation, reasonable accommodation and wage and hour claims and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigations. He represents employers in class action lawsuits on a wide range of labor and employment law matters. He also provides day to day advice and counsel to employers on workplace issues.

Virji's professional liability practice focuses on the representation of lawyers, engineers and brokers. He also handles real estate issues including landlord-tenant disputes and commercial contracts.

Prior to joining Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck, Virji was a labor and employment partner in the San Francisco office of Lynch, Gilardi & Grummer where he was also managing partner since 2002.

"Arif's talents as a labor and employment and professional liability attorney, managing partner with more than 15 years of experience and champion and advocate for diversity in the legal workforce make him a great asset in San Francisco and throughout the KDV national network," said Michael A. Kaufman, co-managing partner of the firm.

"Joining KDV will allow me to expand and enhance my practices with the support of a national platform, provide the resources to support my clients and play a significant role in the firm's diversity initiatives," said Virji. "Working with Katherine, who has a tremendous reputation in San Francisco, I look forward to helping the office get more involved in professional and legal organizations and grow the office in a way that makes smart business sense."

Virji earned his B.S. and J.D. from Southern Methodist University.

"KDV has an earned reputation throughout the Bay Area for our labor and employment, professional liability and insurance coverage practices and I am thrilled that Arif will be working side by side with me to enhance our presence," said Catlos. "I also look forward to Arif's support and ideas on our diversity focus."

Michael D. McConathy joined Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck as of counsel in San Francisco.

McConathy, who was of counsel at Lynch, Gilardi & Grummer, focuses his practice on labor and employment, professional liability and business litigation. McConathy earned his B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Glenn E. Solomon joined King & Spalding LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Solomon concentrates his national practice on complex business and corporate litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution, with particular focus on the health care industry on behalf of providers, and special expertise in managed care issues. His experience includes disputes involving managed care, contracting, management services, real estate, fraud and abuse, business relations, reimbursement, trade secrets, misappropriation, employment, unfair competition, telecommunications and discrimination.

Solomon has also successfully represented many prominent hospitals and health systems, medical groups, independent physician associations, management services organizations, and other health care providers and entities in dealings with health plans, insurance companies, ERISA plans, government-sponsored self-funded plans, qui tam relators, employees and the government. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude.

"We look forward to offering our clients the kind of top-to-bottom service that King & Spalding's national Healthcare platform can provide," said Solomon.

Daron L. Tooch joined King & Spalding LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Tooch is a healthcare litigation specialist and tries cases on behalf of healthcare providers in commercial litigation, contract disputes, commercial torts, unfair business transactions, whistleblower actions, wrongful terminations, sexual harassment actions, real estate disputes, white collar matters and intellectual property disputes. He has decades of trial experience, and has tried over 60 cases before juries, judges and arbitrators in federal, state and administrative courts. In 2017, Tooch obtained the second highest verdict for breach of contract claims in California.

He represents all types of providers, including hospitals, medical groups, physicians, pharmacies, laboratories, surgery centers, and home health companies in arbitrations and federal and state courts. Tooch obtained his undergraduate degree from University of California, Los Angeles, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

“We are excited to join the talented attorneys at King & Spalding so that we continue to focus on representing healthcare providers in California and throughout the country,” added Tooch.

Travis A Brooks joined Miller Starr Regalia as associate in Walnut Creek.

Travis Brooks' practice focuses on representing developers, investment groups, resource extraction and renewable energy companies in all areas of land use and environmental law. He advises clients and develops strategies to help them achieve their development, business and litigation goals and represents clients in civil trials and hearings in state, local, and federal forums.

Kenneth J. Baronsky joined Sidley Austin LLP as partner in Century City.

Mr. Baronsky has vast experience advising companies, private equity sponsors, executives, owners and board members. He joins from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, where he developed a sophisticated transactional practice and served as managing partner of its Los Angeles office and as its corporate practice group leader for more than a decade.

"I have watched with admiration as Sidley has built its outstanding team in Los Angeles, and now I have the great fortune to join them," said Kenneth Baronsky, a partner in Sidley's Century City office. "While I am based in Los Angeles, I work on deals involving companies and parties that might be located anywhere. So I am extremely excited to join a firm with a dominant local, national and international presence. I feel very confident about this platform, featuring highly talented colleagues with expertise across areas relevant to my clients, a vibrant service-oriented culture, and geographic reach. Sidley's highly collaborative approach enables me to work with the right people, wherever they are located, to best serve clients."

Mr. Baronsky, regarded as one of the elite corporate lawyers in Greater Los Angeles and in the U.S., advises on mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, equity and debt investments, restructurings and other corporate transactions. His work across industries, including gaming, media, healthcare and technology, and involvement with boards of directors and special committees on a variety of matters, has amplified his strong relationships with executives and established his reputation as a trusted legal adviser.

"Ken's arrival reaffirms Sidley's position in Los Angeles as the destination corporate practice for Wall Street lawyers," said Dan Clivner, co-leader of the firm's Private Equity practice and managing partner of the Los Angeles and Century City offices. "Ken is a class act and he brings a breadth of experience that is second-to-none. I'm thrilled he's joined our growing team here in Greater Los Angeles and around the world, and am eager for our clients to experience the benefits of Ken's knowledge and experience."

In addition to Mr. Baronsky, Sidley's Private Equity practice has recently attracted talented, highly regarded laterals including Adam Weinstein and Tony Feuerstein, who joined the global Private Equity and M&A practices as partners in New York in October. These additions signify the continued advancement of Sidley's strategy to build out its private equity capabilities. The firm has already realized significant success in expanding its Private Equity practice in Sidley's Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Houston, Dallas, Chicago and Boston offices, and globally in its London and Munich offices.

Stephanie Rothberg joined Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP as attorney in Santa Rosa.

Spaulding McCullough & Tansil welcomes Stephanie Rothberg as an attorney in the firm's civil litigation practice. Stephanie came to SMT with more than ten years of experience litigating cases throughout California including product liability, premises liability, and construction cases, as well as other claims. Stephanie graduated from Mount Holyoke College and earned her J.D. from Chapman University School of Law. Stephanie grew up in Lake County and currently resides in Calistoga with her husband.and daughter.

Vincent M. Pollmeier joined LTL Attorneys LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Intellectual property disputes

Frederick Schenk joined 22nd District Agricultural Association as director in San Diego.

California Governor Jerry Brown has announced the reappointment of CaseyGerry partner, Frederick Schenk, to the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego County Fair Board of Directors. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (DAA) oversees all operations at the state-owned fairgrounds in Del Mar, Calif.

The 22nd DAA has an important yearly economic impact on the region, creating thousands of jobs and business opportunities with year-round events such as the San Diego County Fair, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the high-profile music festival Kaaboo and numerous other community attractions. Members of the volunteer, nine-member board are appointed by the sitting governor to four-year terms.

A longtime San Diego resident, Schenk was originally appointed to the San Diego County Fair Board by former Governor Gray Davis in 2002 and reappointed by Governor Brown in 2011, serving as board president between 2013 and 2016.

Currently he also serves on the boards of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in San Diego and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

Schenk, who has been with CaseyGerry for more than 35 years, concentrates his practice on products/premises liability, catastrophic injury and asbestos litigation.

Schenk earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from UCLA, and a juris doctorate degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law. He has been practicing law for nearly 40 years.

Michael S. Lebovitz joined Mayer Brown LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Mr. Lebovitz focuses his practice on international business and tax planning matters. He advises on the tax aspects of international joint ventures, cross-border mergers, acquisitions and restructurings, international corporate finance and international tax planning matters. Mr. Lebovitz's practice also includes post-acquisition integration, pre-transaction restructuring and legal entity rationalization.

He is the sixth partner to join the Tax Transactions & Consulting Practice in 2018, following JoonBeom Pae, Zal Kumar and Thomas Humphreys in New York, Remmelt Reigersman in Palo Alto and Simon Rose in London. The Mayer Brown Tax Transactions & Consulting practice is part of Mayer Brown's global Tax practice, a team of over 400 tax advisors in the US, Europe, Asia and South America and one of the largest law firm based tax practices in the world.

Greg Wolff joined California Appellate Law Group LLP as counsel in San Francisco.

Greg Wolff spent the past 25 years as a chambers attorney to four California Supreme Court justices, and has more behind-the-scenes experience with the justices of the California Supreme Court than virtually any other private practitioner in the state.

He served as a Senior Judicial Attorney for retired Chief Justice Ron George for 10 years, the Head of Chambers for Justice Carlos Moreno for 10 years, the same role for Justice Goodwin Liu for 3 years, and then again for Justice Leondra Kruger for 4 years. Learn more at www.calapplaw.com/greg

Claudia Ribet joined California Appellate Law Group LLP in Los Angeles.

Claudia Ribet handles high-stakes family law appeals in Los Angeles, and is one of only three attorneys in California certified by the State Bar as a specialist in both appellate law and family law. Learn more at www.calapplaw.com/claudia.

Jeremy Dukmen joined Cozen O'Connor as member in Seattle.

Jeremy M. Dukmen, a patent attorney and former mechanical engineer, has joined Am Law 100 firm Cozen O'Connor in its fast-growing Seattle office as a member of its global intellectual property practice. Dukmen brings a strong background in patent portfolio management covering a vast array of domestic and global technologies. His addition to the firm makes the Seattle office Cozen O'Connor's fifth largest with over 30 attorneys and continues the rapid expansion of the firm's IP practice.

Brent T. Epstein was promoted to partner, effective january 1 of Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles.

Brent T. Epstein is a member of the Corporate Department who represents public and private companies and financial institutions in a variety of domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, including capital markets and M&A matters, as well as corporate governance matters. He has particular experience with complex transactions involving real estate investment trusts (REITs). He received his JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2008.

Drew Levin was promoted to partner, effective january 1 of Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles.

Drew Levin is a member of the Litigation & Trial Department whose practice focuses on insurance coverage, with a particular emphasis on representations and warranties insurance matters. He has significant experience negotiating all forms of transactional insurance, tax, and other liability policies, as well as pursuing claims under those policies on behalf of policyholders. He received his JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2009.

Gavin M. Masuda was promoted to partner, effective january 1 of Latham & Watkins in San Francisco.

Gavin M. Masuda is a member of the Litigation & Trial Department who focuses his practice on securities litigation, with a particular emphasis on accounting defense cases. He represents major accounting firms in connection with large corporate failures, financial frauds, and restatements, as well as companies facing securities class actions and shareholder derivative actions. He received his JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2008.

Nicole C. Valco was promoted to partner, effective january 1 of Latham & Watkins in San Francisco.

Nicole C. Valco is a member of the Litigation & Trial Department who advises on a variety of complex commercial litigation matters, including white collar, patent licensing, antitrust, and trade secrets cases. She has successfully represented clients in high-stakes federal and state matters, including numerous jury and bench trials. She received her JD from Harvard Law School in 2008.

Mark M. Bekheit was promoted to partner, effective january 1 of Latham & Watkins in Silicon Valley (Menlo Park).

Mark M. Bekheit is a member of the Corporate Department whose practice focuses on M&A and other strategic corporate transactions, primarily in the technology and life sciences industries. His experience includes public and private company mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, tender and exchange offers, joint ventures, and minority investments on behalf of strategic and private equity clients, as well as general corporate representation and strategic planning for companies. He received his JD from Harvard Law School in 2009.

Jason L. Daniels was promoted to counsel, effective january 1 of Latham & Watkins in San Francisco.

Jason L. Daniels is a member of the Litigation & Trial Department who concentrates his practice on antitrust and competition matters. He has significant experience helping clients clear complex mergers, respond to government investigations, and litigate disputes through trial across diverse industry sectors including technology, healthcare, life sciences, and retail. He also counsels clients on antitrust and competition issues such as distribution, pricing, and antitrust issues intersecting with intellectual property. He received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 2008.

Steven E. Green was promoted to counsel, effective january 1 of Latham & Watkins in Silicon Valley (Menlo Park).

Steven E. Green is a member of the Corporate Department who provides general corporate counseling related to emerging companies, with a particular focus on the life sciences and information technology sectors. He advises clients on both day-to-day matters and a range of transactions, including formations, venture capital financings, and M&A. He received his JD from the University of Chicago Law School in 2010.