Kimberly Ellen Hood was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Sacramento.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Kimberly Ellen Hood was promoted to partner in Sacramento. Hood is a member of the firm's municipal law practice group and handles all aspects of public law, with a focus on public agency litigation, including Proposition 218, the Public Records Act and eminent domain. She also serves as the interim city attorney to the City of Galt and the assistant city attorney for the cities of Davis and Paso Robles.

Alisha Anne Patterson was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Alisha Anne Patterson has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Patterson is a member of the firm's government & regulatory law section. She provides strategic counsel to, and litigates on behalf of, public agencies and private clients, including California cities, property owners, and developers. She is currently Assistant City Attorney for Irvine, Laguna Woods and Duarte. Patterson helps clients navigate the intersection of land use and civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Federal Fair Housing Act, and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Robert Adam Dillaway was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Robert Adam Dillaway has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Dillaway is member of the firm's real estate section, where he represents borrowers and lenders in connection with real estate secured financing transactions. His practice also includes representing buyers and sellers in connection with the acquisition and disposition of real property, retail and mixed use developments, as well as representing landlords and tenants in connection with the drafting and negotiation of commercial leases.

Deja Marie Hemingway was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Deja Marie Hemingway has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Hemingway is a member of the firm's real estate department. She handles a variety of commercial real estate transactions with particular expertise in handling all aspects of real estate financing, leasing and purchase and sale transactions. Hemingway frequently handles commercial real estate finance transactions on behalf of borrowers, including acquisition, construction and permanent financing for developers, credit facilities, and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loans.

Benjamin Charles Deming was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Benjamin Charles Deming has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Deming is a member of the firm's trial section. His practice focuses on patent, trademark, unfair competition and corporate litigation. Deming also represents clients in patent and trademark prosecution and appeal matters before the Patent and Trademark Office. His clients are found in the high tech, medical device, food and drug, textile, automotive, and consumer products industries.

Kathryn Diane Zajec Domin was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Kathryn Diane Zajec Domin has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Domin is a member of the firm's business litigation section, where her practice focuses on litigation involving a variety of industries and topics, including real estate transactions, landlord tenant disputes, misrepresentation and fraud, business interference claims, defamation, soft intellectual property disputes, unfair business practices, and class action defense.

Tonissa May Agajanian was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Tonissa May Agajanian has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Agajanian is a member of the firm's real estate section, where she provides strategic counsel to property owners, lenders and commercial tenants on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions with an emphasis on financing, leasing, purchase and sale transactions and development.

Hyongsoon Kim was promoted to partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Irvine.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced Hyongsoon Kim has been promoted to partner in Irvine. Kim is a member of the firm's litigation practice and focuses on the defense of class action matters, including consumer and digital privacy/security class actions, complex commercial and business litigation matters, corporate governance and shareholder disputes, and bankruptcy litigation.

Ryan K M Wong was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco.

Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP announced Ryan K M Wong has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Wong represents clients in a broad range of complex commercial and intellectual property litigation matters.

Alissa Miller was promoted to partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Los Angeles.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced Alissa Miller has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Miller is a member of the firm's entertainment practice. She represents financial institutions, other financiers, producers and distributors with respect to their film, television and corporate activities. Among her clients are borrowers, distributors, studios, independent production companies, equity investors, high-net-worth individuals, digital platforms and completion guarantors. She also advises film and television clients in connection with tax-advantaged financing and co-production arrangements.

Justina Kahn Sessions was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP in San Francisco.

Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP announced Justina Kahn Sessions has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Sessions focuses her practice on commercial litigation, particularly intellectual property and antitrust matters. She has counseled individual clients and steered joint defense groups through complex patent disputes and high-stakes antitrust cases.

Peter Ian Altman was promoted to partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Los Angeles.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced Peter Ian Altman has been promoted to partner in the firm's white collar and government investigations practice. Altman represents investment management firms, private and public companies, and individuals in white collar and other government enforcement and regulatory matters, internal investigations and securities class action litigation.

Brian Stretch joined Sidley Austin LLP as partner in Sidley Austin LLP in San Francisco.

White Collar: Government Litigation & Investigations practice

Kathleen Celia Ryan joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Akerman LLP announced Kathleen Celia Ryan has joined the firm's consumer financial services practice as a partner in Los Angeles. Ryan focuses her practice on fair lending and regulatory compliance matters, particularly on issues related to the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Community Reinvestment Act, Truth in Lending Act, and UDAAP. She previously served as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Regulations.

Michael Max Page was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Michael Max Page has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Page is a member of the firm's corporate and tax Section, practicing in the areas of tax planning and tax controversy, mergers & acquisitions, and corporate transactions. He assists clients in the technology, apparel, manufacturing, retail and real estate industries with various issues including Federal, state, and international tax matters, forming, buying and selling businesses, and raising capital.

Christopher John Diaz was promoted to partner of Best, Best & Krieger LLP in Walnut Creek.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Christopher John Diaz was promoted to partner in Walnut Creek. Diaz is a member of the firm's municipal law practice group. He is a public agency attorney serving as city attorney to the cities of Los Altos and Milpitas and the Town of Colma, and district counsel for the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.

Brian Edward Whitley was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Indian Wells.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Brian Edward Whitley has been promoted to partner in Indian Wells. Whitley is a member of the firm's business practice group. He represents local and national banks and borrowers in various loan transactions, nonprofit corporations and other businesses in tax-exempt financing transactions, and a variety of other clients in business and real estate matters.

Meagan L. Verschueren was promoted to associate attorney of CaseyGerry in San Diego.

CaseyGerry has announced the addition of Meagan L. Verschueren as its newest associate attorney.Verschueren started out as a CaseyGerry legal clerk in 2015 and also worked for the firm as a contract attorney. In her new role as a full-time associate, Verschueren will work closely with partner Robert J. Francavilla on cases in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, product and premises liability, aviation litigation, wrongful death, elder abuse litigation and more.

Matthew Carter Nesburn was promoted to partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Los Angeles.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced Matthew Carter Nesburn has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Nesburn is a member of the firm's global project finance practice. He represents companies engaged in the development, construction, financing, acquisition and disposition of solar, wind and other energy projects as well as in all aspects of corporate structuring. He also represents clients in commercial real estate transactions.

Gregory G. Snarr was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Riverside.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Gregory G. Snarr has been promoted to partner in Riverside. Snarr is a member of the firm's eminent domain and business practice groups. His practice encompasses all aspects of business law and litigation, labor and employment, construction litigation, real-property acquisitions, eminent domain and inverse condemnation actions.

Ajit Singh Thind was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Ajit Singh Thind has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Thind is a member of the firm's government & regulatory law section. His practice includes both litigation and transactional matters, on behalf of public agencies and private entities. Thind currently serves as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Menifee and the City of Laguna Beach. He previously served as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of San Clemente.

John Peter Schaedel joined The Scali Law Firm as partner in Los Angeles.

The Scali Law Firm announced John Peter "Jack" Schaedel has joined as partner in Los Angeles. Schaedel represents and counsels employers in labor and employment matters such as: discrimination and harassment law, wage and hour regulations, family and medical leave, handbook development and enforcement.

Michael J. Maurer was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Los Angeles.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Michael J. Maurer has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Maurer is a member of the firm's municipal law practice group. In addition to advising cities on the legalities of their day-to-day operations, he provides guidance on land use, public infrastructure and construction, and open government and ethics laws.Maurer serves as city attorney for the cities of La Habra Heights and San Jacinto and as assistant city attorney for the cities of Avalon and Arcadia. He provides general counsel services to a number of special districts, as well.

Kathleen "Kitty" Celia Ryan joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the expansion of one of the largest U.S. legal teams dedicated to the financial services sector, representing clients in all 50 states. Its Consumer Financial Services Practice Group welcomed Kathleen "Kitty" Ryan from Buckley Sandler as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Ryan previously served as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Regulations. Prior to joining the CFPB, she was Senior Regulatory Counsel at JP Morgan Chase.

"Kitty's extensive experience as a regulator, combined with her work as in-house counsel, makes her an invaluable asset to our clients, particularly within the areas of CFPB rulemaking and compliance," said William Heller, chair of the Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. "Her impressive financial services background builds upon our team's national strengths in the home loan space and adds a deep understanding of laws governing bank and non-bank consumer debt originators and servicers."

Ryan focuses her practice on fair lending and regulatory compliance matters, particularly on issues related to the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Community Reinvestment Act, Truth in Lending Act, and UDAAP. She has applied her knowledge of regulations across the spectrum of consumer financial services and products -- including mortgages, auto loans, installment lending and prepaid cards.

During her time at CFPB Ryan oversaw the completion of the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rulemaking -- also known as Know Before You Owe -- and the HMDA rulemaking that completely rewrote Regulation C. She also oversaw the development of CFPB's debt collection rulemaking and extensive amendments to the CFPB's mortgage servicing rules, and is well-versed in the CFPB's 2017 small dollar lending rule. Ryan also advised on enforcement and supervisory matters -- including matters involving fair lending, RESPA and UDAAP.

As in-house counsel at JPMorgan Chase, Ryan analyzed a range of consumer financial products and practices across multiple business lines and provided legal and regulatory guidance and support. She also spent more than 10 years in the Federal Reserve Board's Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, where she led several TILA, ECOA, HMDA and CRA rulemakings, including the 2002-2004 HMDA amendments and the 2008 Regulation Z Higher-Priced Mortgage Loan amendments, as well as the mortgage loan originator compensation rules.

Ryan is the latest former CFPB official to join Akerman's Consumer Financial Services Practice Group. The team previously welcomed Washington, D.C., partners Mary "Molly" Calkins and Thomas J. Kearney. Calkins served under the CFPB's Division of Supervision, Enforcement & Fair Lending, as well as the Professional Liability & Financial Crimes Section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Company. Kearney served within the CFPB's Office of Regulations where he worked closely with Ryan.

Together with Ryan, they collectively enhance Akerman's team of federal and state compliance lawyers, including Tobias P. Moon, who brings deep in-house experience in servicing and originations from his work for Bank of America, Citi and Capital One. The team is well-positioned to provide regulatory compliance and enforcement guidance to consumer financial services providers -- including mortgage, Fintech and other small dollar installment lenders and servicers.

Ivan Puchalt was promoted to partner of Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP in Santa Monica.

Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP announced Ivan Puchalt has been promoted to partner, effective Jan. 1. Puchalt's trial practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury, insurance bad faith, products liability, wrongful death and municipal liability.

Margaret Grace Maraschino was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles.

Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP announced Margaret Grace Maraschino has been elected to partner in Los Angeles, effective Jan. 1. Maraschino's practice primarily focuses on labor and employment matters. She defends national and California companies against wage and hour class and collective actions, discrimination claims and termination challenges.