David Seidel was promoted to partner of Joseph Saveri Law Firm, LLP in San Francisco.

Seidel's practice focuses on litigating antitrust and consumer protection class actions. He was previously an associate at a large corporate law firm where he received significant litigation experience and invaluable mentorship in a broad-based practice.

While with the firm, Seidel has worked on many of its most prominent cases. On the Varsity All Star and Scholastic Cheer Market Price-Fixing Litigation, he has been a key player in developing strategy and briefing, including numerous motions regarding discovery, class certification, and summary judgment, which are pending Court determination. He has likewise been directly involved in motion strategy and briefing in Medical Center Employee No-Poach Litigation. The firm also recently filed a high-profile suit on behalf of gamers who would be adversely affected by reduced competition in the video game industry as a consequence of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc. Seidel has been instrumental in the case's development and strategy, including briefing and arguing before the Court against Microsoft's motion to dismiss and on plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction.

Seidel is also deeply committed to providing pro bono legal representation on compelling cases to those who cannot afford it. Through his pro bono work, he has represented Guatemalan and Cuban refugees fleeing violence and persecution in their claims for asylum, and represented veterans in seeking entitlement to benefits and discharge status upgrades.

Cory Birkhauser was promoted to partner of Stuart Kane LLP in Newport Beach, CA.

Birkhauser has experience in the acquisition and disposition of real estate, finance, joint venture agreements and fund formation, with an emphasis on taxation matters. His experience also includes structuring and drafting of complex commercial agreements, strategic alliance, and technology license agreements, as well as counseling on corporate transactions, including seed stage, venture capital, venture debt and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate governance matters.

Thuy T. Nguyen was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Nguyen is a member of the firm's Real Estate Group. With a focus on complex commercial real estate transactions, she represents institutional developers, owners, lenders, buyers, and sellers in transactions involving acquisition, disposition, leasing, and secured finance throughout California and the United States. Nguyen specializes in representing real estate investment trusts and other institutional clients in acquisitions and sale-leaseback transactions of net lease properties, often involving major multistate portfolios of properties and under extremely aggressive timelines. She advises clients in all stages of a transaction, from the structuring of the deal, to the management of diligence, to the negotiation of key documents, including purchase and sale agreements and long-term lease agreements. She also has experience in transactions involving the acquisition and development of renewable energy facilities, including wind, solar, and battery storage projects.

Douglas L. Ropel was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Sacramento.

Ropel advises and represents employers in a broad range of labor and employment matters arising under both state and federal laws, concentrating his practice in the areas of Discrimination and harassment, litigation and trials, and whistleblowing and retaliation. Ropel served as an Explosives Ordnance Disposal Technician in the U.S. Air Force both active duty and continues to serve as a reservist.

Laura E. Devane was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Fresno.

Devane advises and represents employers in a broad range of employment matters. Laura devotes a substantial amount of her practice to drafting arbitration agreements and works closely with clients to roll out employee agreements and policies. She regularly appears in California federal and state courts, as well as before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.

Michael Adams was promoted to managing partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

Adams is a trial attorney with more than 25 years of experience trying cases to jury verdict. He has particular expertise in unfair competition litigation, including trademark infringement, false advertising, trade secret misappropriation, antitrust, patent infringement, and copyright infringement. He is also highly experienced in a wide array of business disputes involving fraud, partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract. He is especially experienced in class action defense of consumer protection statutes. Michael has successfully tried dozens of cases to jury verdicts involving diverse matters such as intellectual property infringement, wrongful death, bank robbery, breach of contract, and fraud.

Steve Barbieri was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Palo Alto.

Barbieri focuses his practice on commercial and construction litigation. Prior to joining Rutan & Tucker, he worked for nearly seven years at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office as a trial attorney, in which he advised governmental clients and tried multiple matters related to the California dependency system.

Golsa Honarfar was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

Honarfar handles a variety of business and civil litigation matters. She has worked on numerous cases involving class actions, business contracts, partnership disputes, real estate matters, judgment debtor examinations, unlawful detainers, probate matters, business and intentional torts, and intellectual property matters.

Marc A. McClain was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

McClain focuses on patent preparation, application and prosecution, intellectual property, and post-grant proceedings including inter partes review and post grant review. He has handled matters in various technological fields including augmented reality, video streaming, online learning, computer memory structures, and 3D model processing.

Morgan A. McCombe was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

McCombe is a corporate attorney who works on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate legal matters. His practice is centered on middle market transactions ranging between $5 million and $500 million, and he has experience representing buyers and sellers.

Matthew F. Murray was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Palo Alto.

Murray focuses on construction transactions, claims management, and litigation. As member of Rutan & Tucker's Chambers Band 2 construction law practice group, he routinely represents owner-developers, prime contractors, and subcontractors on both public infrastructure and private projects, including commercial and affordable housing, mixed-use, and industrial developments.

Alex Swanson was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

Swanson represents clients in a range of civil litigation including environmental litigation and life sciences, including mass toxic tort litigation, Proposition 65 defense, and CERCLA cost recovery actions. His practice also covers contract disputes, business torts, and patent litigation involving pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Stephen J. Squillario was promoted to partner of Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP in Los Angeles.

Squillario brings over 15 years of experience as a trial lawyer to his role as general counsel and partner at HCVT. Squillario's background includes providing counsel and representation to law firms and public accounting firms on such matters as professional liability, risk management, ethics, engagement agreements, contracts, billing issues, and intra-partnership disputes. Squillario also has extensive experience representing businesses of all sizes in California state and federal courts.

Mikaela Whitman joined McGuireWoods as partner in Los Angeles (Century City) and New York.

Whitman represents policyholders in disputes with insurance carriers and advises in-house counsel on mitigating risk and maximizing value from corporate insurance assets. She mediates and litigates insurance disputes across a range of commercial policies and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for corporate policyholders. That includes cases involving D&O claims, errors-omissions, sexual misconduct, business interruption losses, product recalls, media liability and other areas.

Matthew T. Arvizu was promoted to partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith, LLP in San Diego.

Arvizu focuses his practice on a wide variety of matters, including advising clients on trust and estate litigation, contract disputes, construction matters, real estate disputes, and business disputes. He has significant experience litigating in both state and federal courts and is licensed to practice law in California and Delaware.

Owen M. Praskievicz was promoted to partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith, LLP in San Diego.

Praskievicz represents clients in complex litigation involving commercial contracts, real estate, intellectual property, product label claims and other business torts. He has significant experience litigating in both state and federal courts and has argued before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and California Courts of Appeal.

T. Jack Morse, Jr. was promoted to senior attorney of Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Morse conducts investigations for private and public organizations, including law enforcement agencies, his area of specialty and one in which he provides additional police consulting and oversight services. Morse's expertise has been leveraged to educate on timely issues and investigate best practices. Prior to private practice, he spent several years in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division's Special Litigation Section, where he monitored and investigated law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, and other state institutions. He also spent time working at Orange County's Inspector General's office, where he focused on identifying and addressing high-risk potential liability issues.

Erika J. Gasaway was promoted to shareholder of Hopkins & Carley in San Jose.

Gasaway represents and advises professional fiduciaries, trustees, beneficiaries, high-net-worth individuals, families, and their businesses on a range of complex litigation matters, including undue influence, fiduciary duties, elder abuse, quiet title, easements, and partitions. Gasaway is a recognized author and speaker within the industry. She is an involved member of the California Lawyers Association's Trusts and Estate Section, Silicon Valley Bar Association, San Mateo County Bar Association, and the Rotary Club of San Jose.

Liam J. O'Connor was promoted to shareholder of Hopkins & Carley in San Jose.

O'Connor's practice focuses on creditor-side litigation, loan workouts, forbearance/loan modification agreements, loan sale agreements, real property, and mixed collateral foreclosures; Commercial Code Article 9 enforcement; real estate litigation, pre-judgment enforcement remedies such as writs of attachment and appointment of a receiver; and creditor-side bankruptcy. He has also developed extensive experience enforcing multi-million dollar judgments against individuals, corporations, and limited liability companies.

Jeffrey M. Ratinoff was promoted to shareholder of Hopkins & Carley in San Jose.

Ratinoff has extensive experience protecting and defending clients' intellectual property rights in trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, unfair competition, anti-piracy, false advertising, trade libel, and copyright infringement matters.

Vatche Zetjian was promoted to partner of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP in Los Angeles.

Zetjuan's practice focuses on complex trusts and estates litigation matters, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty, surcharge actions, trustee removal actions, will and trust contests, creditor's claims, conservatorship and guardianship proceedings, and elder abuse matters. He has represented fiduciaries, individuals, and charities in litigating these matters.

Nathan M. Shaw was promoted to partner of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP in Los Angeles.

Shaw counsels clients on a wide range of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, and commercial agreements. He is one of the firm’s leading technology attorneys, with expertise in the legal issues surrounding artificial intelligence, digital assets, and data privacy/security. His industry experience is diverse and includes software, hardware, consumer goods, media, entertainment, healthcare, and defense.

Caleb A. Gilbert was promoted to partner of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP in Los Angeles.

Gilbert's practice includes all areas of real estate and involves the complex issues associated with hotels, resorts, multi-family, single-family, and commercial buildings. Caleb advises clients with both a practical business and legal focus, representing individuals, investors, developers, lenders, private equity firms, REITs, and family offices in all aspects of real estate and hotel investment and development. He represents high net-worth individuals in residential real estate matters. He represents owners – including hospitality clients – in the purchase and sale, development, construction, financing, leasing, and sale-leaseback of properties. Caleb advises hospitality clients on franchising and on their operations and management agreements.

Taylor N. Burras was promoted to partner of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP in San Francisco.

Burras' practice focuses on representing management in all facets of labor and employment law, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, management/union relations, and wage and hour violations. She is skilled in all areas of the litigation process and represents employers in class action, collective action, and representative action, including PAGA litigation and single-plaintiff cases. She is also experienced with investigations and evidentiary hearings with administrative agencies, including the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), the Department of Fair Employment Housing (DFEH), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Employment Development Department (EDD).

Yakov P. Wiegmann was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Francisco.

Wiegmann has applied equal parts diligence, passion and careful reasoning to guide his clients through toxic tort litigation involving asbestos, pesticides, benzene and other chemicals, as well as product liability matters involving aircraft components, heavy equipment, child car seats, electronics, glass bottles and tools. He has represented companies and individuals in matters such as catastrophic personal injuries, business disputes, aviation accidents, consumer fraud claims and trust litigation. He has experience in every aspect of complex litigation from discovery to trial and appeal, as well as in settlement negotiations, arbitration and mediation.

Madonna Herman was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Francisco.

Herman defends California employers against claims in a variety of employment law litigation matters, including class actions, discrimination and harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, and retaliation. She also defends licensed California professionals in civil lawsuits and administrative claims, including real estate brokers, appraisers, lawyers, insurance agents, accountants, engineers, architects, contractors and subcontractors.

Sean M. Monks was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Diego.

Monks is a veteran trial lawyer recognized for success in all stages of litigation. He handles complex commercial matters such as state and federal derivative actions, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and related business torts. He also defends corporations and their officers and directors before the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, and in shareholder litigation. He represents clients in trade secret and non-compete litigation, consumer class actions, and other disputes among business partners.

Daniel S. Hurwitz was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in Los Angeles.

Hurwitz is an experienced litigator in such diverse areas as product liability, environmental, administrative law, trademark and copyright infringement, mass torts, e-commerce, premises liability and business litigation. He has represented multinational clients and litigated cases throughout California and in various high-risk jurisdictions throughout the country, including Illinois, Texas, Kentucky, Alabama and New York.

Valeria Granata was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in Los Angeles.

Granata represents established businesses and individuals in state, federal, and appellate courts. Her practice focuses on the defense of claims related to general liability, business litigation, real estate litigation, and cyber-security matters. She has achieved certification in the firm’s rigorous National Mock Trial Program, through which our most successful trial lawyers impart their knowledge to those destined to join their ranks.

Sierra Vierra was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Sacramento.

Vierra represents management in civil litigation and administrative proceedings involving employment law matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, workplace health and safety matters, and wage and hour issues. She litigates in federal and state courts, including class and representative actions, and represents employers in administrative proceedings, including appeals of Cal/OSHA and NV/OSHA citations. She also provides preventive advice and counsel on best practices and assists management with Cal/OSHA compliance and investigations.

Kaitlyn L. Lavaroni was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Sacramento.

Lavaroni has advised and represented employers in numerous aspects of employment law, including discipline and termination, discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, recruitment and hiring, due process, compliance, preventive practice, and wage-and-hour issues. She also conducts audits of policies and programs, revises employee handbooks, conducts workplace investigations, and performs education and training seminars.

Shane R. Larsen was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Sacramento.

Larsen's litigation practice includes retaliation, discrimination, hostile work environment, wrongful termination, unfair competition, and commercial litigation. His counseling practice includes advising clients regarding employment policies and practices on federal and state wage and hour laws, severance agreements, leaves of absence, and employment classifications.

Benjamin J. Schnayerson was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in San Francisco.

Schnayerson's practice focuses on defending employers faced with federal and state claims of retaliation, harassment, and discrimination, as well as whistleblower claims. He also has ample experience in defending employers against wage-and-hour class actions and California PAGA actions.

Paul J. Cohen was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Los Angeles.

Cohen's practice focuses on representing employers in all types of employment-related litigation in state and federal courts and in arbitration. He has broad experience litigating single plaintiff and class action cases involving wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and related claims.

Angela Quiles Nevarez was promoted to principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Los Angeles.

Nevarez's practice focuses on employment law and the challenges related to a wide range of employment issues. She regularly leads the defense in lawsuits and administrative proceedings brought against companies and managers involving a variety of claims, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation.

Alexandra Preece Barlow was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in San Diego.

Barlow is a member of the Litigation Department and the Class Actions and Mass Torts Group. She litigates complex product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, automobiles, and artificial intelligence, with significant experience managing challenging mass tort and class action cases from inception through trial.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Krista deBoer was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in San Diego.

DeBoer is an environmental attorney in the Litigation Department and the Class Actions and Mass Torts Group. She represents clients in environmental and toxic tort litigation and consumer class actions involving hazardous materials exposures and claims of health or environmental benefits and has broad experience in CERCLA and HSAA litigation and cost recovery. DeBoer also defends clients in regulatory enforcement actions and advises on compliance issues regarding hazardous materials management, California Title 20 energy efficiency regulation, California Air Resources Board regulations, and climate disclosure laws. She regularly works with companies to assess and mitigate risk related to green marketing and climate-related claims.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Benjamin T.R. Fox was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in San Francisco.

Fox is a member of the Transactions Department and the Mergers + Acquisitions Group. His practice focuses on representing startup to late-stage private companies and venture capital and private equity investors, as well as family offices, private foundations, and public charities in early-stage and late-stage financings, mergers, acquisitions, asset purchases and sales, joint ventures, and hybrid or “tandem” structuring arrangements between nonprofit and for-profit entities. Fox has extensive experience working with investors and companies in the climate technology and infrastructure and sustainability space. He regularly advises clients on creative legal structures with respect to aggregating and deploying capital to maximize impact and returns.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Rose S. Lee was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in Los Angeles.

Lee is a member of the Litigation Department and the IP Litigation Group. Her practice focuses on patent, copyright, and trade secret matters. Lee has litigated a wide range of high-technology cases for U.S.- and non-U.S.-based clients in U.S. federal courts and before the ITC. A registered patent attorney, Lee also represents clients in adversarial proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Christopher C. McKinnon was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in Palo Alto.

McKinnon is a member of the Transactions Department and the Emerging Companies + Venture Capital Group. He represents startups, venture capital investors, and private equity firms in corporate finance matters, including startup counseling, investments, M&A, and investment fund transactions. Prior to rejoining MoFo, McKinnon was associate general counsel and legal director at a leading global investment firm, where he oversaw a broad range of U.S. and cross-border transactions.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Andrew L. Perito was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in San Francisco.

Perito is a member of the Litigation Department and the IP Litigation Group. Perito is an experienced trial lawyer, with a focus on representing clients in patent litigation spanning a variety of technical areas and in related Patent Office proceedings and before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Perito has also represented clients in intellectual property disputes involving trade secret, trademark, copyright, and employee mobility issues, including internal investigations, arbitration, and litigation.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Meghan McLean Poon was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in Palo Alto.

Poon is a member of the Transactions Department and the Patent Strategy + Prosecution Group. As co-head of the firm’s Biotech practice group and member of the firm’s Life Science Steering Committee, she counsels clients on patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP due diligence in the areas of biotechnology and biologics. She has significant experience in diverse technologies, including antibodies, cell therapies, gene therapies, diagnostics, and gene-edited plants. Dr. Poon has extensive experience addressing complex obviousness-double patenting and subject matter eligibility issues impacting her clients’ patent portfolios and has filed numerous Patent Term Extension applications for her clients’ FDA-approved products.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Monica A. Rodriguez was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in Los Angeles.

Rodriguez is a member of the Litigation Department and the Employment + Labor Group. She advises and defends clients across a variety of industries, including retail, restaurant, software and technology, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and transportation and logistics. Rodriguez is a trusted advisor and regularly counsels clients in all facets of the employment relationship. She also has extensive experience representing clients in class and representative action lawsuits alleging wage-and-hour violations in state and federal court. Rodriguez also defends and advises clients on labor relations issues.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Shiri V. Shenhav was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in Palo Alto.

Shenhav is a member of the Transactions Department and the Mergers + Acquisitions Group. Shenhav maintains a corporate transactional practice focusing on mergers and acquisitions and equity investments in the technology industry for public and private companies. She regularly assists strategic buyers and private equity funds and their portfolio companies in a variety of domestic and cross-border transactions, including deal structuring and mechanics, stock and asset purchases, mergers, divestitures, and spin-offs. Shenhav also regularly represents companies with respect to their equity investments, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions, as well as general corporate counseling.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Cooper J. Spinelli was promoted to partner of Morrison Foerster LLP in San Francisco.

Spinelli is a member of the Litigation Department and Employment + Labor Groupo. His practice focuses on trade secrets and restrictive covenants, employee mobility and executive disputes, whistleblower claims, and general business litigation. Spinelli has represented clients in both affirmative and defensive trade secret misappropriation and employee mobility cases, including cases involving related IP issues. In addition, Spinelli has represented companies in highly sensitive matters involving involuntary and negotiated departures of chief executive and other senior officers.

MoFo named 27 lawyers throughout its offices globally, 10 in California.

Stefani B. Lenett joined Duckor Metzger & Wynne, APLC as senior counsel in San Diego.

Lenett works with a diverse range of clients, including blended families, the LGBTQ community and individuals facing challenging family dynamics across California. She handles estate planning for estates of all sizes. Her work also includes trust administration after the death of a trustee and handling probate court proceedings.

Lenett serves on the San Diego County Superior Court's Probate Bench/Bar Committee and as a court-appointed attorney. A veteran estate and probate law attorney, she was tapped to serve as the reviewing author of the Probate Attorneys of San Diego's PASD Probate Handbook 2023. Lenett is the president-elect of Temple Emanu-El, San Diego.

M. Lance Jasper joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as partner in Los Angeles (Century City).

As senior counsel in the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for more than a decade, Jasper conducted high-profile investigations and litigation involving public companies, investment advisers, broker-dealers and securities professionals, including an FCPA investigation that resulted in $1.8 billion in SEC remedies--one of the largest ever achieved by the agency. Jasper also advised senior SEC officials on complex securities matters, including violations and remedies in the asset management space.

Prior to serving in the SEC, Jasper practiced in the litigation department at Munger Tolles & Olson. Prior to that, he had federal clerkships in the Southern District of New York and 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Anthony (Tony) Weibell joined Mayer Brown LLP as partner in Palo Alto and San Francisco.

Weibell serves as lead litigation counsel for premier technology companies in diverse areas of complex civil litigation involving consumer class actions, privacy, e-commerce, intellectual property, antitrust, false advertising and contractual disputes. He is an arbitrator, special master, referee and a member of the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals and has adjudicated hundreds of civil matters by appointment and party stipulation. In recent years, he has represented leading internet and technology companies, such as Google, TikTok (ByteDance) and Roblox Corporation, in consumer class actions that have examined issues of first impression.

Weibell's practice also includes advising companies on compliance with consumer protection, privacy and internet law, such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), the Wiretap Act, the Stored Communications Act, the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), and other unfair competition and consumer protection laws.

Marcia Valadez Valente was promoted to partner of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP in San Francisco.

Valadez Valente is a trial attorney with a broad range of experience representing companies, individuals, and public entities in state and federal courts. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation with an emphasis on financial and commercial cases, and employment disputes. She also represents clients in matters brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. Valadez Valente is a member of the State Bars of California and New York and the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Federal Bar Association, and the Women's White Collar Defense Association. She maintains an active pro bono practice and is dedicated to serving her community. She serves on the executive board of the Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California Chapter, and is a member and co-chair of the Stanford Latino Alumni Association, Northern California Chapter.

Frank Busch joined Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Busch is an experienced litigator who has represented parties of every size in complex trial and appellate matters. He has experience with all phases of discovery, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, trial, and appeal, including a successful oral argument before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Busch also has significant experience in probate litigation, having represented both beneficiaries and fiduciaries in many litigated matters, including will contests, trust contests, accounting actions, attorney-in-fact litigation, and other related matters.

Ashley Weinstein-Carnes was promoted to partner of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP in San Francisco.

Weinstein-Carnes is a land use attorney focusing on complex entitlement and permitting for development projects throughout the Bay Area. Ashley's practice includes a wide range of product types and local jurisdictions. She has successfully obtained land use approvals for projects including mixed-use and multifamily residential developments, corporate R&D and office campuses, an NBA stadium, hospitals and medical facilities, and industrial facilities. She has significant experience utilizing California's evolving housing laws with a focused practice on streamlining strategies for residential and mixed-use residential projects; she regularly speaks and writes on changes in the regulatory landscape impacting housing production in California.

In addition to her law practice, Weinstein-Carnes is a faculty lecturer at the University of California, Haas School of Business, where she teaches an interdisciplinary graduate course to business, law and planning students on land development and investment issues. She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, serving on the Leadership Team of the Small Scale Development National Product Council and the Steering Committee of the San Francisco District Council Young Leaders Group, and a member and former Vice-President of the Berkeley Real Estate Alumni Association.

Chandra A. Beaton was promoted to partner of LightGabler LLP in Camarillo.

Beaton practices in the area of employment litigation on behalf of employers and managers. She has extensive civil litigation experience in both state and federal courts. Her litigation background encompasses a broad range of disputes, including construction defect and mold claims, personal injury defense, general and professional liability defense, intellectual property litigation, real estate litigation, business litigation, and homeowners association matters.

Ryan M. Haws was promoted to partner of LightGabler LLP in Camarillo.

Haws practices in the areas of employment law advice and counsel and employment litigation. With a background in social work and past legal experience with employment and family law matters, he focuses on proactive resolution of workplace disputes while aggressively defending his clients' interests, and provides guidance to employers on complying with legal standards while preserving business productivity and employee morale.

Michael H. Brody was promoted to partner of LightGabler LLP in Camarillo.

Since 2005, Brody's practice has focused on civil litigation, including representing a wide variety of clients in disputed employment and business matters. As lead trial counsel in numerous cases, he has successfully defended clients in both state and federal jury trials as well as arbitration. Brody has represented clients at all stages of litigation, from the initial claim through trial and in alternative dispute resolution.

Jamie N. Stein was promoted to partner of LightGabler LLP in Camarillo.

Stein litigates all areas of employment law in both state and federal court, with particular experience in the areas of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims, unfair business practices and PAGA actions. She has trial experience in both state and federal court, as well as binding arbitration. Since 2002, Stein has defended clients of varying sizes, with a high level of success in resolving cases favorably on summary judgment or by way of dismissal.

Angela V. Lopez was promoted to partner of LightGabler LLP in Camarillo.

Lopez practices in the areas of employment law advice and employment litigation. She represents employers in a broad spectrum of matters including day-to-day legal compliance as well as employee complaints of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, and leaves of absence.

Lopez is an expert investigator and regularly investigates workplace complaints as well as employee wrongdoing. She has successfully litigated employment matters in administrative forums as well as in state and federal court, and has efficiently resolved many matters through a variety of alternative dispute resolution methods.

Guinevere Jobson was promoted to general counsel-in-residence and chief operating officer of Pike+Pham PR & Marketing in San Francisco.

Jobson has more than 16 years of U.S. and global experience, most recently as general counsel of AI-powered digital advertising technology company Quantcast where she led all legal functions including privacy compliance and product counseling, intellectual property, regulatory affairs, disputes, commercial transactions, international expansion, and legal operations. She was also part of the company's executive leadership team, working across business units to set and execute high level strategic objectives.

Prior to her time at Quantcast, was an intellectual property and commercial litigator representing clients across technology, Internet, and digital media/entertainment sectors at Fenwick & West LLP. She spent a year as visiting attorney in the intellectual property department of Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) in Paris, where she advised on multi-jurisdiction, cross-border patent litigation and video game copyright enforcement programs.

Brent C. Lehman was promoted to partner of Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP in Los Angeles.

Lehman represents clients in the entertainment industry as well as in emerging technology markets. He brings more than 10 years of experience working with clients in the music, film, technology, and video game industries. He advises on intellectual property disputes, breach of contract, compensation issues, breach of fiduciary duty, white-collar defense, and fraud.

Before joining MWM in 2022, Lehman worked as a litigator at several boutique law firms in the greater Los Angeles region.

Michelle Roberts Gonzales was promoted to partner of Hogan Lovells in Los Angeles.

Roberts Gonzales has defended many companies in wage-and-hour class actions and high-stakes individual employment lawsuits. She has also helped lead internal investigations, helping clients understand and navigate difficult whistleblower and sexual harassment issues. She leads large teams across practice groups and jurisdictions in high-stakes investigations. She also regularly conducts due diligence on employment issues for corporate transactions, using her litigation and investigation experience to help clients understand and mitigate their risks.

Roberts Gonzales is among 28 lawyers Hogan Lovells elevated to partner, effective Jan. 1. The firm also promoted 59 attorneys to counsel.

Helen Y. Trac was promoted to partner of Hogan Lovells.

Trac has degrees in engineering and law. She helps clients navigate federal district courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the International Trade Commission. She is licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with a focus on patent proceedings such as inter partes review.

Trac is among 28 lawyers Hogan Lovells elevated to partner, effective Jan. 1. The firm also promoted 59 attorneys to counsel.

Roshni Patel was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells in Silicon Valley.

Patel counsels companies on industry standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), and evolving Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau standards related to privacy and data security.

Patel is among 59 attorneys Hogan Lovells promoted to counsel, effective Jan. 1. The firm also named 28 new partners.

Max Scott was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells.

Scott advises clients on matters related to the joint-development, licensing, acquisition, sale, use, and protection of IP and on IP protection strategies. He also assists with agreements for the provision of technology-related services, reseller agreements, and outsourcing and distribution agreements.

Scott is among 59 attorneys Hogan Lovells promoted to counsel, effective Jan. 1. The firm also named 28 new partners.

Danielle Drossel was promoted to partner of Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP in San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Barbara.

Drossel's practice concentrates on advancing peaceful workplaces, where organizations and employees can thrive. She is called upon by public and private entities for thorough investigations into claims of misconduct and to provide employee training on a wide range of workplace topics, including anti-bias, discrimination, harassment, equity and inclusion, and conflict-resolution. In addition to delivering high-quality neutral services to public and private entities across the state, she leverages her deep expertise to educate business and legal industry audiences on issues impacting workplace dynamics, such as managing multigenerational workforces, microaggressions, and situations that might involve competing legal standards.

She is an Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) member with Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) distinction and a board member at Congregation B'nai B'rith.

Shruti Bhutani Arora was promoted to partner of BakerHostetler in San Francisco.

Arora advises clients on privacy matters, including compliance with U.S. and global privacy laws and regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended from time to time, and the General Data Protection Regulation. She also helps clients prepare and negotiate complex technology contracts. She is one of 13 lawyers BakerHostetler promoted to partner across the nation.

Maryam Danishwar was promoted to partner of Clark Hill PLC in Los Angeles.

Danishwar represents clients in litigation and transactional matters related to interstate trucking and transportation accidents, employment disputes, claims against healthcare facilities, commercial landlord tenant disputes, subrogation claims, and other contractual disputes.

She is one of 12 attorneys Clark Hill promoted to partner nationally, including three in Los Angeles.

Marina Manoukian was promoted to partner of Clark Hill PLC in Los Angeles.

Manoukian focuses on civil litigation including business, real estate, and construction litigation, as well as family law litigation.

She is one of 12 attorneys Clark Hill promoted to partner nationally, including three in Los Angeles.

Paul F. Schmeltzer was promoted to parter of Clark Hill PLC in Los Angeles.

Schmeltzer counsels healthcare clients on regulatory matters including Federal and State pharmacy law, Fraud, Waste, and Abuse, Stark law, State and Federal Anti-Kickback Statutes, HIPAA, and EMTALA.

He is one of 12 attorneys Clark Hill promoted to partner nationally, including three in Los Angeles.

Lindsay Barstow was promoted to counsel of Saul Ewing LLP in Los Angeles.

Barstow is a real estate attorney who provides advice and counsel to Fortune 100 companies, including those in the industrial real estate, construction materials manufacturing and retail leasing industries. Barstow's experience with real estate transactions includes acquisitions/dispositions, due diligence reviews, leases, licenses, real estate financings, broker agreements and other day-to-day agreements affecting the ownership and leasing of real property. She also manages pre-litigation real estate disputes and defaults.

Saul Ewing elected nine attorneys to the firm's partnership and promoted 5 attorneys to counsel across the nation.

Veena Beglinger was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in San Francisco.

Beglinger is a real estate and land use attorney representing clients in all aspects of land development and real estate transactions and has a particular expertise in the renewable energy sector and water rights. She also advises clients on construction, operational, and property management related issues. One focus of her practice is site assembly, title and survey review, infrastructure development (sewer, water, etc.), and subdivision map act issues. Beglinger also has extensive experience advising both developers and lenders on a broad range of renewable energy projects.

Tyler Dockins was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in Orange County.

Dockins is a construction attorney primarily representing owners and contractors. He has negotiated and drafted billions of dollars in construction and design agreements, as well as consultant and land development contracts for multifamily, condominium, hotel, industrial, casino, retail, office, data center, luxury residential, medical and research facilities, public school and other public facilities, storage, and senior and assisted living facilities.

Rachel Jones was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in San Francisco.

Jones is a land use and natural resources attorney with a focus on land development and renewable energy projects. She advises clients at all stages of project development on public and private land. She guides clients through the local, state, and federal permitting and entitlement process, provides environmental due diligence for project finance transactions, and counsels clients with ongoing land use and natural resource compliance needs. Jones’ areas of expertise include environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, land use entitlements under California's Planning and Zoning Law, project approvals under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, compliance with federal and state species protection laws, and wetlands and waters regulation under state and federal law. She also has deep expertise with water supply planning, water conservation, water recycling, and the development of large water infrastructure projects.