Courtney Ann Winzeler joined Kahana & Feld LLP as partner in Santa Ana.

Construction Defect, Insurance Defense, General Liability and Real Estate Litigation

Noah P. Perch-Ahern joined Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

His experience includes jury and bench trials relating to contaminated land, water resources, and water rights, litigation involving CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and public utilities, NEPA and CEQA compliance strategies for renewable energy and industrial expansion projects, and compliance and regulatory counseling related to a large variety of energy and environmental matters such as air quality, wetlands, brownfields, cap and trade markets, and clean tech projects.

Anthony DiPietra joined GladstoneWeisberg ALC as of counsel in Dallas.

GLADSTONE WEISBERG WELCOMES BACK ANTHONY DI PIETRA

We are delighted to announce that Anthony DiPietra has become Of Counsel to GladstoneWeisberg.

Anthony practiced with us for several years in both California and Texas. After leaving to practice with another firm, he now has returned.

As a member of both the California and Texas state bars, Anthony has extensive experience litigating cases in federal and state courts across the country. He has successfully represented clients in litigation in the entertainment industry, and also has excelled in handling the defense of bad faith litigation, products liability suits, and general commercial litigation. He provides coverage advice on complex insurance issues involving both first and third party coverages, and is adept at taking examinations under oath and assisting insurers in fraud investigation.

Anthony graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and received his law degree at the George Washington University Law School where he graduated cum laude and was a published member of the Law Review. Anthony was recognized as a "Rising Star" from 2014 to 2016 by the Super Lawyers magazine. The magazine also listed him as one of the Up and Coming 100 on the 2015 Southern California Rising Stars List.

Brent A. Hawkins joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as partner in San Francisco and Palo Alto.

One of seven intellectual property litigation attorneys joining Morgan Lewis from McDermott Will & Emery, Hawkins has a broad practice offering a full range of IP services, including litigation and trial work, counseling, licensing and procurement.

"I've always admired Morgan Lewis and its lawyers and have known quite a few and crossed paths with them over the years," Hawkins said. "Their commitment to IP and their investments in the growth of IP and understanding the forward trends is really what drew me to them."

With a background in engineering, Hawkins represents clients in a range of technology industries, including computer networking, consumer electronics, software, mechanical devices and pharmaceutical products. He prosecutes patent applications and has served as lead counsel in trademark, patent, unfair competition and copyright disputes. Hawkins said he was attracted to the firm's collaborative culture as well as the breadth and depth of their IP group.

"I'm excited about joining Morgan Lewis and continuing to service those clients I've served in the past and new clients I'll work with at Morgan Lewis," he said.

He is based in San Francisco and Palo Alto.

Gretchen A. Ramos joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as shareholder in San Francisco.

Privacy and Cyber Attorney Gretchen Ramos Joins Greenberg Traurig's San Francisco Office

SAN FRANCISCO -- July 27, 2018-- The San Francisco office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added Gretchen A. Ramos as a shareholder in the Cybersecurity, Privacy & Crisis Management Practice. Ramos joins Greenberg Traurig from Squire Patton Boggs, where she was a partner in the Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice. Her practice focuses on providing strategic, practical advice on complex data privacy and cybersecurity issues and defending clients in regulatory actions and litigation.

"Gretchen's depth of experience in data privacy and cybersecurity in the U.S., Europe, and Asia is a tremendous asset to our clients in California and across the globe," said Michelle Ferreira, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's San Francisco office. "We recognize that navigating the complex web of data regulations and being prepared to address new security threats are among our clients' top priorities. We are excited to have Gretchen on board to support them."

Ramos counsels various size organizations, from large companies to start-ups, across a variety of industries--including health care and life sciences, technology, consumer products, manufacturing, and non-profits--on various privacy compliance issues, and assists them in preparing and handling all aspects of data breaches. She has represented clients in arbitrations and litigation, including class actions, in state and federal courts nationwide, which allows her to advise clients on the litigation risks in handling data protection issues.

She has extensive experience working with U.S.-based organizations, including various genetic data companies, on compliance, regulatory and product development issues related to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and U.S. laws.

"I am delighted to join Greenberg Traurig's San Francisco office, and to work with privacy trailblazers Francoise Gilbert and Ian Ballon," Ramos said. "The firm's robust privacy and cybersecurity practice as well as its global reach, deep understanding of tech-related issues and exceptional client service allows me to provide my clients with a full range of services."

In addition to Ramos, Greenberg recently added cybersecurity attorney Paul Ferrillo to its New York office.

About Greenberg Traurig's Cybersecurity, Privacy and Crisis Management Practice
Greenberg Traurig's Cybersecurity, Privacy and Crisis Management Practice is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of attorneys and professionals located throughout the world. The team is dedicated to developing strategies to address privacy, data security, and information management issues including privacy audits, policies and procedures, compliance with data security laws and industry standards, employee privacy, record retention/electronic discovery, cross-border data transfer, data breach readiness and response and litigation and dispute resolution, as well as the defense of data privacy, security breach, and TCPA class action suits.

Oren Bitan was promoted to shareholder of Buchalter in Los Angeles.

Products Liability
Litigation

Paul J. Fraidenburgh was promoted to shareholder of Buchalter in Orange County.

Litigation
Products Liability

Peter J. Felsenfeld was promoted to partner of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in San Francisco.

Peter Felsenfeld has been elected to partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, effective July 1. Mr. Felsenfeld, who practices in Hinshaw's San Francisco office, handles a broad range of litigation matters, including insurance coverage disputes, reinsurance, bad faith liability actions and other commercial matters.

Adrian Rich joined Perkins Coie LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

Adrian Rich has more than 15 years of experience counseling high-growth, emerging companies and their investors. With an education in biomedical engineering and economics and a lifelong passion for computers and programming, Adrian brings a deep technological understanding and a unique approach to counseling clients from inception to exit, as they undertake financial and strategic investments, licensing, strategic partnerships, acquisitions and public offerings, as well routine corporate matters. He tackles complex negotiations and issues, including deal structuring, reorganizations and down-rounds, using strong quantitative skills, coupled with creative problem solving.

Shana E. Ramirez joined Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP as partner in commercial finance practice in Los Angeles.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced today that it has expanded its Commercial Finance practice with the addition of Shana E. Ramirez as a partner in the firm's Los Angeles - Century City office.

"Shana's outstanding skills and experience in handling complex financial transactions will be an asset to our excellent Commercial Finance group," said Katten Chairman Roger P. Furey.

Ramirez represents financial institutions, corporate and private equity clients in a variety of financings and arrangements, including acquisition finance, asset-based credit facilities and general corporate matters. She counsels clients on matters of leveraged finance, subordinated financings, investment grade credit facilities, subscription facilities, transactions involving real estate and intercreditor arrangements. Her experience spans a variety of industries and businesses with multijurisdictional operations, including technology, entertainment, health care, real estate, hospitality and leisure.

"We continue to build our dynamic team in a way that expands client services that help meet important business objectives," said Michael Jacobson, national head of Katten's Commercial Finance practice. "Shana is an ideal fit for our group, and we're excited to work with her."

Ramirez has a strong history of pro bono service in Southern California, ranging from assisting domestic violence victims with U visa applications to helping families with adoption petitions.

Elizabeth Valentina joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Greenberg Traurig Expands Litigation Practice with Addition of Former Fox VP Elizabeth Valentina

LOS ANGELES -- July 23, 2018-- Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added leading intellectual property litigator Elizabeth Valentina as a shareholder in its Litigation Practice. Valentina previously worked at Fox Entertainment Group, where she led global precedent-setting litigation in the online content and platform space. She joins Greenberg Traurig's Los Angeles office, as part of the Media and Entertainment Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation Groups.

"This is exciting news for both Greenberg Traurig and our Litigation Practice," said Ian C. Ballon, who co-chairs Greenberg Traurig's Global Intellectual Property and Technology Practice. "The addition of a litigator with Elizabeth's talent and experience is in keeping with our growth strategy and our commitment to provide clients with high-level, sophisticated service in one place."

"We are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth to Greenberg Traurig," said Global Litigation Practice Co-Chair Jeff E. Scott and Gregory A. Fishman, who co-manage the firm's Los Angeles Office. "Her experience in complex disputes throughout the entertainment and tech industries makes her an incredible asset to serve our clients."

Valentina is an experienced litigator who represents clients in commercial and intellectual property matters, including copyright, DMCA, platform and digital content issues, and Internet-related disputes. She has experience handling complex litigation matters for major movie studios, global entertainment companies, publishers, and apparel and toy designers. She also counsels clients on global copyright, digital distribution and licensing, online services, and intermediary liability issues.

As a Vice President at Fox Entertainment Group, Valentina initiated and ran ground-breaking litigation, investigations, and criminal referrals related to online content, including streaming services and apps, platforms, devices, and intermediaries. She litigated prominent cases including Aereo, VidAngel, ivi, FilmOn, Isohunt, Hotfile and RealDVD. She also filed amicus briefs in many major cases involving copyright, content protection, and DMCA safe harbors including Kirtsaeng, Lenz, ReDigi and Vernor/Blizzard. She also managed cases internationally, such as, iinet (Australia), Hernandez and Popcorntime (Canada), Megaupload (New Zealand), Xunlei (China) and various matters relating to intermediaries throughout Asia and Europe.

"Greenberg Traurig's reputation as a litigation powerhouse combined with its strength in both entertainment and technology matters, stellar cultural values, and practice and geographic diversity made this a clear choice for me," Valentina said. "I look forward to contributing to the firm and working hand-in-hand with its 38 offices worldwide."

Since leaving Fox, Valentina has been advising tech companies, start-ups and emerging growth entities and teaching copyright law at USC Gould School of Law. She is admitted to practice in California, New York and Ontario (Canada).

Valentina is a frequent speaker on content protection and technology issues at industry conferences and at universities and previously served as trustee of the Los Angeles Copyright Society. She received her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from New York University, and B.A. with joint honors in English (Film and Communications) and Philosophy from McGill University.

About Greenberg Traurig's Litigation Practice
Greenberg Traurig's Litigation Practice includes a team of more than 600 attorneys. The firm's trial lawyers regularly appear in state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as in appellate courts and before international arbitration panels. They work closely with in-house counsel to develop a strategy that best fits a litigation cost and proficiency model appropriate to the client's unique needs and goals.

Media Contact: Andrew Dubbins dubbinsa@gtlaw.com 310.586.7783

Heidy Vaquerano joined Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin LLP as senior associate in West Los Angeles.

Heidy Vaquerano is a senior associate in the Los Angeles office of Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP with over 16 years of experience in entertainment law and intellectual property matters. Ms. Vaquerano has represented various clients in the music industry, film and TV, and tech industries. She has extensive experience drafting and negotiating complex agreements in development, production and distribution of intellectual property.

Daniel C. Heaton joined Richardson Ober as associate attorney in Pasadena.

Community Association and Real Estate Litigation

Christine S. Shin joined Russ August & Kabat as partner in Russ August & Kabat (Los Angeles).

Mergers & acquisitions, private equity, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Robert Taitz was promoted to partner of Tyson & Mendes LLP in San Francisco.

Civil defense firm Tyson & Mendes LLP has elevated Robert Taitz to partner in its San Francisco office. An experienced litigator, Taitz's practice focuses on general liability and commercial litigation, representing individuals and businesses in California state and federal district courts.

Taitz has defended numerous insurance matters throughout his 25-year career, including personal injury, premises liability, product liability, cargo litigation, construction defect, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud. His expertise in the transportation industry representing some of the largest cargo carriers in the country in commercial litigation matters has also led to successful arguments before both the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prior to joining Tyson & Mendes, Taitz worked as an attorney at Skane Wilcox LLP in San Francisco. He also owned his own practice for nearly 20 years in Greenbrae, serving as national counsel for DHL Express.

Taitz earned his bachelor's degree in business economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara before moving on to earn his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law.

Marissa Hurwitz Alguire joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, continued its rapid growth of the Los Angeles office with the hiring of partner Marissa Alguire in the Labor and Employment Practice Group. Alguire is the sixth management-side employment lawyer to join Akerman's Los Angeles team since January, expanding the office's bench strengths in all aspects of California employment law. Alguire represents employers in all aspects of employment litigation, with an emphasis on defending clients against claims of harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour and PAGA issues, and class actions, before federal and state courts and in arbitration. Alguire also provides day-to-day advice and counseling to employers on a wide variety of employment issues. Alguire joins Akerman's Los Angeles office at a time when it has nearly tripled since 2015, reaching 37 lawyers and business professionals now located at the CalEdison DTLA to accommodate continuing growth.

Gregory W. Knopp was promoted to partner in charge of the firm's los angeles office of Akin Gump in Los Angeles.

Mr. Knopp is a partner in the firm's labor and employment practice, where he primarily focuses on class and collective actions and other complex disputes. Since 2010, he has been named as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA in the area of labor and employment and has been named multiple times by the Daily Journal among the "Top Labor & Employment Lawyers" for his class action defense work. In addition to his role as partner in charge of the Los Angeles office, Mr. Knopp also serves as a member of the firm's management committee and previously served on its partnership admissions committee.

Robert Taitz was promoted to partner of Tyson & Mendes LLP in San Francisco.

Civil defense firm Tyson & Mendes LLP has elevated Robert Taitz to partner in its San Francisco office. An experienced litigator, Taitz's practice focuses on general liability and commercial litigation, representing individuals and businesses in California state and federal district courts.

Taitz has defended numerous insurance matters throughout his 25-year career, including personal injury, premises liability, product liability, cargo litigation, construction defect, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud. His expertise in the transportation industry representing some of the largest cargo carriers in the country in commercial litigation matters has also led to successful arguments before both the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prior to joining Tyson & Mendes, Taitz worked as an attorney at Skane Wilcox LLP in San Francisco. He also owned his own practice for nearly 20 years in Greenbrae, serving as national counsel for DHL Express.

Taitz earned his bachelor's degree in business economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara before moving on to earn his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law.

Tim Freudenberger was promoted to founding partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in Irvine.

Freudenberger represents California and national employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and related litigation, with a special emphasis on defending wage and hour, and employment discrimination class action lawsuits, and other complex employment litigation matters.

Thomas J. Daly was promoted to co-practice group leader of the firm's intellectual property practice group of Lewis Roca in Glendale.

Daly has more than 25 years of experience in intellectual property with a focus on patent and trademark litigation. He works with clients to implement strategies designed to obtain and protect trademarks and patents critical to their businesses. He also handles matters pertaining to licensing and patent portfolio management for medical devices, chemical processing and pharmaceutical companies, among others. Daly has served in numerous leadership positions, including serving as former president of the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association and former president of the Pasadena Bar Association. Currently, he serves as a mentor at the Los Angeles County Business Technology Center and serves on the editorial board of Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine.

Stephanie M. Barnett as founding partner in Los Angeles

Stephanie, a founding partner of Shebby Barnett LLP, is a family law attorney representing high-net-worth individuals in a variety of domestic matters, including divorce, custody, premarital and post-nuptial agreements, and paternity. She is certified as a Specialist in Family Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Stephanie handles cases involving multi-layered business structures, complex domestic and international investments, extensive real estate holdings, stock options and other intricate compensation packages, law practices, medical practices, family trusts and foundations, characterization of retirement assets, personal conduct restraining orders, custody and visitation of minor children, parentage (paternity), spousal support and child support.

Prior to forming Shebby Barnett LLP, Stephanie was a Partner of Jaffe and Clemens, a preeminent family law firm in Beverly Hills, where she practiced for 13 years from 2005 through 2018. Prior to 2005, Stephanie was a law clerk with the Family Law Department of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Working concurrently with five family law judges and court commissioners, Stephanie addressed a wide variety of complex legal matters that affect parents, children and divorcing spouses, as well as more specialized matters such as same-sex partner disputes over child custody, the putative spouse doctrine, calculation and determination of spousal and child support arrearages, routine and convoluted discovery disputes, and requests to seal the public court file in high-profile cases.

In the community, Stephanie serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law, a non-profit organization that provides legal education and pro bono legal services for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the Los Angeles community, including victims of domestic abuse. She also previously served as an officer on the Executive Committee of The John Thomas Dye School Parents' Association Board of Directors. Stephanie currently volunteers as a Daily Settlement Officer for the Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section. Daily Settlement Officers are experienced family law attorneys who volunteer their time to assist the Los Angeles Superior Court in resolving family law cases via mediation.

David P. Shebby as founding partner in Los Angeles

Mr. Shebby is a Certified Family Law Specialist and founding partner of Shebby | Barnett LLP. Mr. Shebby’s legal career has benefitted from a rigorous academic experience. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1993 and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1990.

A rare commodity in the Family Law community, Mr. Shebby is a highly experienced trial lawyer. He has decades of trial experience, and has litigated scores of jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations to verdict.

Los Angeles Magazine recognized Mr. Shebby as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” for 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. He has received an AV® Preeminent™ peer ranking (the highest possible rating) with regard to both Family Law and Civil Litigation. Mr. Shebby has published articles and lectured for the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, the American Inns of Court, and other organizations.

Mr. Shebby is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors for the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law. He is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Family Law Executive Committee. Mr. Shebby previously served his Catholic community as the chair of the Parish Council at St. Mark Catholic Church in Venice, California, and is a member of the Los Angeles Catholic Lawyers Association and a volunteer for Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles.

Kristen K. Hirashima as partner in Los Angeles

Kristen is certified as a Specialist in Family Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Kristen achieved her specialist status after being in practice for only five years, the earliest possible time to receive such a designation. Kristen attributes her exceptional work ethic to many years of rising before dawn to work on her family’s strawberry farm in Oxnard where her family still lives today.

Prior to Shebby | Barnett LLP, Kristen was a Partner at Jacobson Scully Shebby LLP, handling complex child custody disputes, division and characterization of assets and debts, calculation of child and spousal support, business valuations, paternity disputes, and domestic violence actions.

Kristen developed her passion for family law during her time as a judicial extern for the Los Angeles Superior Court, Department 7 and participant in the Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt & Klein Summer Associate Program.

Kristen volunteers as a Pro Bono Attorney for the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law and the Korean American Bar Association’s monthly clinic. Kristen also dedicates countless hours every week volunteering her time at Culver City Presbyterian Church.

Kristen earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she was a Certified Law School Student at the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy to represent juveniles in children’s court accused of committing crimes. Kristen also served as the Vice President of the Women’s Law Association. Kristen graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a B.A. in Social Science. At Cal Poly, Kristen competed as a Division I Track and Field Scholarship sprinter in the 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m, and 4 x 400m races.

Sean Matsler joined Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP as land use partner in Irvine, California.

Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a preeminent full-service law firm focused on real estate in the United States, today announced that Sean Matsler has joined the firm as its newest land use partner. Matsler brings 15 years of experience securing entitlements for myriad real estate clients to bolster the firm's robust land use practice, a group that earned the 2018 National Tier 1 Law Firm of the Year for Land Use and Zoning Law in the 2018 U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" rankings.

Matsler's practice focuses on securing entitlements for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional real estate development projects. He advises clients on some of the country's most challenging real estate regulations such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Coastal Act and local planning and zoning regulations.

Recent and ongoing projects under Matsler's strategic legal guidance include four large residential and mixed-use projects in Newport Beach; the revitalization of Dana Point Harbor; an 80-unit residential project in Yorba Linda; a 250-unit infill multifamily development in Santa Ana; a 100-unit senior housing project in North Tustin and a 3 million-square-foot industrial, retail and office complex in Eastvale.

Prior to Cox, Castle & Nicholson, Matsler was a land use partner for distinguished global law firms. He was recognized with Public Counsel's 2013 Pro Bono of the Year Award, was named a Southern California "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers the same year and earned the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California's 2009 Religious Liberty Award. Matsler earned his juris doctor from University of Southern California and his bachelor's degrees in history and political science from University of California, Berkeley.