Tara R Burd was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego, CA.

Burd is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, bringing extensive probate and trust litigation experience, with a specific emphasis on complex trust litigation, probate avoidance estate planning, probate administration, and professional liability defense. She regularly practices in both civil court and probate court, and is familiar with the procedures and processes of each.

Jonathan C Cahill was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC.

Cahill is a business litigation attorney whose practice focuses primarily on complex lender liability, bankruptcy issues, and mortgage banking cases. He has represented a variety of clients including title insurance companies and lenders in title disputes and litigation involving loan transactions. Additionally, he has experience in AAA and JAMS arbitrations, settlement conferences, and mediations.

Amy P Chambers was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego, CA.

Chambers' practice focuses on professional liability defense, especially in the area of legal malpractice, as well as business litigation, products liability, and contract disputes. In her litigation practice, Chambers has had significant success at trial, and through pre-trial motions including demurrers, motions to strike, and motions for summary judgment.

Neeru Jindal was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in Los Angeles, CA.

Jindal is an experienced complex commercial and corporate litigation attorney skilled in state and federal pretrial and trial advocacy. Her practice includes a wide range of litigation matters, including consumer-facing disputes, finance, business disputes, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, and class action litigation.

Phillip E Stephan was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego, CA.

Stephan is a member of Klinedinst's Professional Liability, Employment, and Business and Commercial Litigation practice groups. He has represented startup and established companies, providing counsel regarding corporate governance, capital acquisition, contract drafting, strategic management, litigation, risk management, and intellectual property.

Irean Z Swan was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego, CA.

Swan's practice focuses on complex litigation, with a focus in intellectual property, business, and professional liability matters. She has significant federal and state litigation experience and success with trial, pre-trial, and post-trial motions including demurrers, motions to strike, motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and in limine motions.

Sidra Zaheer was promoted to shareholder and chair of ediscovery practice of Klinedinst PC in San Diego, CA.

Zaheer is Chair of Klinedinst's eDiscovery practice and a member of Klinedinst's Information Governance, Privacy and Data Security, and Professional Liability practice groups. She has extensive experience advising clients on complex electronic discovery issues, information governance and data management.

Loleena Ansari May joined Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP as partner in San Diego.

May's practice later shifted to exclusively conducting independent workplace investigations and assessments in the private and public employment sectors. For the last two and a half years, May served as an attorney investigator with a leading West Coast-based investigations law firm, investigating high-profile and complex workplace matters, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower retaliation, disability-related claims, workplace bullying and other misconduct for clients in the technology, health, sports, education, retail, nonprofit and government sectors.

David J. Beddingfield was promoted to partner of Loeb & Loeb LLP in Los Angeles.

Beddingfield handles high-stakes and complex commercial disputes, including representing companies, boards of directors, and executives in a diverse range of criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative matters; advising companies and independent directors on both complex and sensitive internal investigations and fiduciary obligations; and advising companies regarding electronic discovery and document retention obligations, strategies and cost-saving methods.

Brandon Cherry was promoted to partner of Loeb & Loeb LLP in Los Angeles.

Cherry focuses his practice on entertainment transactions, including media finance. He regularly represents independent production companies in all aspects of business and legal affairs, including the structuring, drafting and negotiation of agreements relating to the development, production, distribution and financing of entertainment projects. This experience includes drafting and negotiating agreements involving rights acquisition, talent deals, production services agreements and distribution agreements.

Patricia N. Whitten was promoted to partner of Loeb & Loeb LLP in Los Angeles.

Whitten focuses her practice on a wide range of commercial lending and banking transactions, including senior secured lending, unitranche, first and second lien, and ESOP transactions. Her experience includes representing financial institutions in structured finance and debt financing transactions for privately held and publicly owned corporate borrowers and companies. She also advises clients on multi-facility cross-border transactions, syndicated loan transactions, cash flow and asset-based financings, acquisition financings, and loan restructurings/workouts.

Elizabeth Tosaris joined Michelman & Robinson LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Tosaris' practice focuses on counseling insurers, HMOs, insurance producers, motor clubs, warranty companies and other entities regulated by Departments of Insurance in a variety of regulatory compliance matters.

Jared W. Speier was promoted to partner of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth in Santa Barbara.

Speier represents clients in several industries, including financial services, medical devices, retail, logistics, and manufacturing. He uses his varied experience to provide unique insights into how industries can benefit from lessons learned in other lines of business. Speier's experience in both state and federal court, as well as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and American Arbitration Association, allows him to assist clients in multiple lines of business in arbitration and civil litigation. Jared has defended and settled numerous matters in both state and federal court and various arbitral forums. He has also guided clients through matters filed with the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement from inception to resolution.

Amanda McFall was promoted to partner of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth in Newport Beach.

McFall represents companies, underwriters, and investors across a broad range of industries, including technology, life sciences, banking, e-commerce, and social media. Amanda advises clients on general corporate matters, complex commercial contracts, venture capital transactions, securities offerings, and Securities Act and Exchange Act reporting.

Jessica M. Marlow was promoted to senior partner of Weintraub Tobin in Los Angeles.

Marlow was elected to Weintraub Tobin Managing Board. She is one of the youngest senior partners in Weintraub's long history and a trailblazer in the merger of digital and traditional media. She has utilized her unique and relevant experience to benefit her clients, which include brand-name individuals and sophisticated organizations. She has consistently been at the forefront of cutting-edge deals in podcasts, endorsements, gaming, sports, merchandising, touring, publishing, licensing, and everything in between. Jessica's representation of clients exploring and expanding onto new platforms has contributed to shaping the legal world surrounding talent for a new generation. She works with her talent clients to structure multi-faceted careers and build brands from which they can expand to the ever-widening spectrum of entertainment and media. An established thought leader in all aspects of entertainment, she also assists public companies and institutional firms with the development and execution of strategic initiatives that span numerous entertainment categories, including digital media, branded content, toy and consumer product licensing, and storytelling marketing.

Ian R. Friedman joined Klindist PC as shareholder in San Diego.

Friedman represents business entities, as well as individuals in multi-million dollar disputes involving the ownership and operation of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. He also has previous experience litigating cases involving school bond issues, investment fraud, wrongful deaths, federal and state housing claims, real estate issues, ADA compliance and employment claims.

Carly J. English joined Klindist PC as associate in Irvine.

English's practice is focused on defending clients in the areas of general liability and insurance defense.

Gavin Holland joined Klindist PC as associate in Los Angeles.

Holland's practice focuses on pursuing and defending the rights of individuals, business owners, and corporations in complex civil litigation with an emphasis on commercial and consumer business disputes, copyright, trademark, right of publicity, entertainment law, and employment law.

William Yoo was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Los Angeles.

Yoo represents and counsels employers in all California Workers' Compensation matters. His practice primarily encompasses defending major employer corporations against workers' compensation claims with an emphasis on aggressive litigation. Yoo regularly advises employers regarding crossover problems concerning workers' compensation issues with all aspects of employment law, including independent contractor, COVID-19, leave and the review of audits of pending claims.

Sevag M. Shirvanian was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Century City.

Shirvanian focuses his practice on traditional labor law, representing employers in collective bargaining, labor arbitrations and all proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). His traditional labor practice also includes working with clients on positive employee-employer relations and representing clients in NLRB elections and campaigns.

Karimah J. Lamar was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in San Diego.

Lamar is a trial attorney and advises and defends clients in matters involving labor and employment law, and is devoted to helping employers navigate the complexities of employment law. Lamar has extensive experience representing clients in federal and state courts in disputes and allegations concerning wrongful termination, claims of discrimination and harassment, retaliation, wage and hour disputes, class actions, among others. She also handles matters before various administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Alyssa S. Gjedsted was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Los Angeles.

Gjedsted focuses her practice on representing and advising management on labor and employment matters including class, representative and single plaintiff actions. She defends companies of all sizes and in diverse industries involving claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour violations. Gjedsted has handled cases in state and federal court, as well as before administrative agencies, achieving favorable results, including multiple defense verdicts. As a skilled litigator, she partners with her clients to provide strategic and practical solutions accounting for both legal requirements and business needs. Gjedsted earned her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law, and her B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Kyra A. Buch was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Los Angeles.

Buch’s practice includes experience with matters related to leaves of absence, disability accommodation and other forms of paid and unpaid leaves. She has helped both small and national companies develop policies and procedures related to leave law, provided advice and counsel on individual matters, and assisted with crossover issues that often arise between workers’ compensation laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Kara Cole was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in San Diego.

Cole's practice involves employment law counseling as well as litigation defense of public and private entities. She defends employers against claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract, and derivative or related claims at the federal, state, and administrative levels. Cole has worked closely with trial partners in the Los Angeles and Orange County Superior Courts, resulting in complete defense verdicts on behalf of her clients. She also routinely defends employers and private businesses in response to Title III/ADA access claims related to both physical premises and websites and on an individual and class action basis.

Michael D. Capaldi joined Frost Brown Todd AlvaradoSmith as partner in Orange County.

Capaldi specializes in complex, high-stakes real estate transactions. In his practice of more than 20 years, he has guided financial organizations and institutional and entrepreneurial developers through complex property acquisitions and financings, the highly sensitive planning and entitlement stage of real property development, and challenging workouts and restructurings.

Tara R. Burd was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego.

Burd is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She brings extensive probate and trust litigation experience, with a specific emphasis on complex trust litigation, probate avoidance estate planning, probate administration, and professional liability defense. She regularly practices in both civil court and probate court, and is familiar with the procedures and processes of each.

Jonathan C. Cahill was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in Sacramento.

Cahill is a business litigation attorney whose practice focuses primarily on complex lender liability, bankruptcy issues, and mortgage banking cases. He has defended clients against lender liability litigation, including alleged violations of FCRA, FDCPA, RFDCPA, RESPA, TILA, UCL, and HBOR, and has represented a variety of clients, including title insurance companies and lenders in title disputes and litigation involving loan transactions. Additionally, he has experience in AAA and JAMS arbitrations, settlement conferences, and mediations.

Amy P. Chambers was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego.

Chambers has extensive experience representing businesses, employers, insurers, and individuals in California state and federal trial and appellate courts. Her practice focuses on professional liability defense, especially in the area of legal malpractice, as well as business litigation, product liability, and contract disputes.

Neeru Jindal was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in Los Angeles.

Jindal is an experienced complex commercial and corporate litigation attorney skilled in state and federal pretrial and trial advocacy. Her practice includes a wide range of litigation matters, including consumer-facing disputes, finance, business disputes, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, and class action litigation. She has in-depth experience with consumer protection statutes and privacy-related laws and regulations at the state and federal level.

Phillip E. Stephan was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego.

Stephan's practice focuses on professional liability, complex business litigation, class actions, antitrust, and unfair competition. He also represents startup and established companies, providing counsel regarding corporate governance, capital acquisition, contract drafting, strategic management, litigation, risk management, and intellectual property.

Irean Z. Swan was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego.

Swan's practice focuses on complex litigation, with a focus in intellectual property, business, and professional liability matters. She has significant federal and state litigation experience and success with trial, pre-trial, and post-trial motions including demurrers, motions to strike, motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and in limine motions.

Sidra Zaheer was promoted to shareholder of Klinedinst PC in San Diego.

Zaheer has extensive experience advising clients on complex electronic discovery issues, information governance, and data management and regularly advises clients on eDiscovery best practices and strategies at all stages of litigation, including the preservation of data, defensible collection of data, negotiation of ESI protocols, negotiation of search terms, optimizing document review workflows and production obligations under State and Federal Law. She also counsels clients on information governance matters, such as developing and implementing policies and procedures to manage their electronically stored information effectively and defensibly.

Kimberly M. Foster joined Hahn Loeser & Parks as of counsel in San Diego.

Foster has represented employers in a variety of workplace disputes and has advised them on compliance through employee handbook and policy reviews, advice with respect to leaves of absence, the interactive process, and wages and obligations owed under the California Labor Code. She also facilitates arbitration and severance agreements weighs in on employee relation matters, including performance management and separations, and conducts workplace investigations.

Kendall J. Newman joined Judicate West as neutral in Sacramento.

Newman is available nationwide as a mediator, arbitrator, and private judge. Newman has been active in an array of judicial organizations and committees, including serving as Chair (2023-2024) and Vice Chair (2021-2023) on the Magistrate Judge Executive Board and two stints on the Eastern District Judicial Advisory Committee (1995-2006; 2021-2024). He was a member of two Ninth Circuit committees, including the Pacific Islands Committee (2019-2024) and the ADR Committee (2011-2017). Newman is a former member of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association, the Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Court, the Louis M. Welch Inn of Court, and the Federal Bar Association, Sacramento Chapter. He has also spoken and taught on negotiations nationally and internationally for multiple legal organizations and conferences throughout his career.

Stephanie Alvarez Salgado joined Tyz Law Group as associate in Los Angeles.

Salgado focuses her practice on company-critical complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts, representing clients in matters involving a wide range of business disputes. At her previous firm, Salgado engaged in all aspects of litigation practice, handling disputes involving commercial transactions, wildfires, employment issues, antitrust issues, and trade secret disputes.

Duncan T. Justice joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP as associate in Los Angeles.

Justice focuses his practice on litigation in the areas of product liability, mass torts and toxic torts. He has successfully defended a range of clients from small-business owners to national corporations in complex matters involving environmental contamination, toxic torts and personal injury.

Ivy A. Wang joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Wang has deep experience in white-collar criminal and regulatory defense. She represents individuals and corporations in connection with all phases of investigations by federal and state enforcement authorities, from initial government contact through the end of trial proceedings. She also conducts internal investigations on behalf of corporations and governmental organizations. In addition, Wang litigates commercial disputes ranging from trade secrets and unfair business practices to contract disagreements in both state and federal court.

Jack Liebhaber joined Tyson & Mendes LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

His practice of 40 years focuses on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and fraud defense. During his career, he has served as lead counsel of record in more than 100 jury trials. Throughout his career, he has supervised numerous high-exposure and catastrophic cases, sometimes simultaneously, while maintaining the highest quality of defense and forming meaningful, long-term relationships with his clients.

Kyle W. Wilson joined Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP as associate in Santa Rosa.

Wilson is an experienced civil litigator with a wide-ranging skill set across a variety of practice areas. He has handled complex civil matters in both state and federal court and is comfortable with every aspect of the litigation process, including research, motion drafting, taking and defending depositions, oral arguments, settlement negotiations, trials, and appeals.

Curtis Vandermolen joined Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard as associate in Sacramento.

Vandermolen focuses his practice on federal Indian law with an emphasis on Indigenous environmental matters and the sovereignty of Indigenous nations. He facilitates collaboration between Indigenous nations and federal, state, and local governments on culturally appropriate and legally compliant actions at the intersection of Indigenous and environmental issues.

Margaret J.C. Salisbury joined Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard as associate in Sacramento.

Salisbury represents both public and private sector clients in general and commercial litigation matters, including debt collection actions, breach of contract, fraud, and real property disputes. In addition, she provides advice and counsel to private entities on general business matters and bankruptcy-related matters.

Edward Grutzmacher joined Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard as senior counsel in Sacramento.

Grutzmacher specializes in guiding public entities and private clients through all stages of land use entitlements, from the initial application to final administrative actions. His practice also includes planning and zoning, annexations, affordable housing, and compliance with environmental laws. He brings extensive litigation experience regarding the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the State Planning and Zoning Law, the Coastal Act, the Subdivision Map Act, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act, and the Mitigation Fee Act. He has a robust background in general municipal law and has successfully litigated cases involving elections law, transparency laws like the Public Records Act, and homelessness regulation.

Andreas L. Booher was promoted to shareholder of Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard in Sacramento.

Booher represents public sector clients with a focus on municipal governance, environmental law, water, land use issues, and joint powers authority formation and governance. He provides advice and counsel to public agencies on a broad range of issues, including advising environmental regulatory compliance, Brown Act, Public Records Act, and Political Reform Act compliance, and code enforcement, including issues related to cannabis and land use entitlement. He assists municipalities and special districts in negotiating, drafting, and reviewing agreements and developing ordinances and regulations and has experience acting in the capacity of general counsel to special district boards during public meetings.

Ian B. Sangster was promoted to shareholder of Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard in Sacramento.

Sangster has a diverse litigation background, having represented both public and private sector clients in a wide variety of issues, including wage and hour actions, employee discrimination, harassment and whistleblower claims, real estate disputes, and construction matters. He also has experience prosecuting and defending actions before administrative agencies, including the Public Employment Relations Board and the Department of Industrial Relations.

Edward Ulloa joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Ulloa defends clients in high-risk mass tort and product liability litigation across the United States, including asbestos, talc, e-cigarette and chemical exposure, flammable fabric, and automotive product liability actions. He has served as first-chair trial counsel in 50-plus jury trials in more than a dozen states.

William H. Gorrod joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Gorrod focuses his practice on providing practical and commercial solutions to challenging state and local tax (SALT) needs across the United States. Working with large corporate clients and partnership entities across several industries, he handles SALT planning, compliance, and corporate transactions.

Mark E. Bale was promoted to partner of Schwartz Semerdjian Cauley Schena & Bush LLP in San Diego.

Bale litigates civil matters with an emphasis on business, commercial, real estate, construction, and lender/creditor issues. He regularly handles complex, multi-million-dollar business and commercial matters in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts throughout California. He also advises clients in a variety of real estate matters, business purchase and sale transactions, and business entity formations and regularly drafts and negotiates a variety of complex legal documents and contracts.

Kristen M. Bush was promoted to named partner of Schwartz Semerdjian Cauley Schena & Bush LLP in San Diego.

Bush was elevated to named partner. She specializes in commercial litigation, representing individuals and businesses in contract disputes, professional liability, insurance coverage, construction defects, and other business torts. As an experienced litigator representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Bush focuses on efficient and effective resolution of legal disputes to achieve clients’ goals.

John A. Schena was promoted to named partner of Schwartz Semerdjian Cauley Schena & Bush LLP in San Diego.

Schena is a litigator focusing on business disputes, with an emphasis on fiduciary duty, contracts, commercial torts, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyright matters. He has successfully prosecuted and defended actions to final judgment on behalf of both public and private entities, as well as individuals. While the goal is often to achieve resolution prior to litigation, Schena has extensive experience in state and federal court and in alternative dispute resolution.

Kristina D. Lawson was promoted to managing partner of Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco.

Lawson, who is a former mayor of Walnut Creek, was re-elected by the board to serve a second 3-year term as managing partner of the firm. Lawson is the firm's first female managing partner and has helped usher in a new era of growth, innovation, and overall success. Her re-election is a clear validation of the forward-thinking values and inclusive strategies that have helped the firm evolve and succeed.

Bailey J. Mezan joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as associate in San Diego.

Mezan earned her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in May of 2023. She subsequently gained valuable experience in civil litigation, primarily in employment cases. While in law school, in addition to holding several clerkships at prominent law firms, Mezan served as a judicial extern for U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill Burkhardt of the Southern District of California. She also held a law clerk position with the San Diego office of Disability Rights California in the Civil Rights Practice Group.

Lizbeth E. Lopez joined Everett Dorey LLP as associate in Irvine.

Lopez is a graduate of Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. During law school, Lopez was on the Entertainment Law Review as one of three senior production editors. Additionally, she was part of the Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court and Event Coordinator for the Intellectual Property and Cybersecurity Law Society. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Chapman University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish Language.

Adam C. Witt joined Stoel Rives LLP as partner in San Diego.

Witt's practice focuses on real estate transactions and on drafting and negotiating construction contracts. He is skilled in drafting and negotiating a wide range of agreements and, if needed, resolving construction and business disputes. He also has experience guiding clients on business formation, operation, governance, and commercial transactions. He works with real estate developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and large and small business owners, investors, and lenders, among others.

Kenneth R. Whiting Jr. joined Stoel Rives LLP as of counsel in San Francisco.

Whiting brings 40 years of experience representing owners and developers in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, and sale of commercial and industrial properties., and both borrowers and lenders in secured lending transactions. He has significant experience in the real estate aspects of project finance, transactions involving railroad property, the leasing and subleasing of properties of all types, and the development and financing of sports and entertainment facilities. He has worked in-house as the principal real estate lawyer for Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) Railroad and as real estate counsel to Kenetech Windpower, Inc. He maintains an active pro bono practice advising several Bay Area nonprofit corporations and their grantees on real estate and business matters.

Kimberly Branscome joined Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Branscome, the former Los Angeles office managing partner at Dechert, focuses on complex litigation and trials involving product liability, professional liability, environmental and toxic torts, and securities matters. She has secured several high-profile product liability trial victories on behalf of leading multinational corporations across a broad range of sectors, including the pharmaceutical, consumer products, energy, and automotive industries.

Theresa Conduah joined Alston & Bird as partner in Los Angeles.

Conduah focuses her practice on trademark and copyright portfolio management, licensing, and enforcement strategies, and IP litigation. She has experience in the technology, consumer products, entertainment, and sports industries. She counsels clients in developing and scaling global IP portfolios, design patents, global brand protection, and anti-counterfeit programs. She has prosecuted of dozens of Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy cases before the National Arbitration Forum and the World Intellectual Property Organization.