Zach Howe joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP as a partner in San Diego.

Howe's practice focuses on appellate litigation. During his career, Zach has presented oral argument over 50 times in various appeals courts, including the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Ohio and intermediate appellate courts in Ohio and Texas. His experience includes handling a wide variety of civil and criminal appellate matters. Beyond appeals, Howe is a seasoned trial attorney with 11 jury trials to his name and years of experience as a former federal prosecutor. Drawing on that experience, Howe also supports clients in white collar and high-stakes civil litigation matters, government and internal investigations, and corporate compliance counseling.

Jenica Maldonado joined Hanson Bridgett LLP as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Mar. 9, 2026.

Maldonado is an experienced labor and employment attorney who advises public and private sector clients on sensitive, high-stakes workplace and governance issues. Known as a strategic partner to her clients, she helps them navigate not only complex legal challenges but also the practical, political and business considerations that often accompany employment disputes and organizational decisions.

Her practice includes advice and counseling, labor negotiations, workplace investigations, litigation, arbitration and training. She has extensive experience handling matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disability accommodations, leaves of absence, whistleblower claims, due process and First Amendment issues, as well as labor law matters affecting unionized and nonunion workforces. She also frequently advises public safety agencies on issues specific to sworn personnel.

In addition to her labor and employment practice, Maldonado advises public agencies on government law matters, including California's open meeting and public records laws, political conflicts of interest and ethics compliance. She also serves as general counsel to special districts and nonprofit organizations, providing day-to-day guidance on governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.

Gary R. Selvin joined ADR Services Inc. as a neutral in Oakland and San Francisco.

Selvin brings more than 40 years of experience in insurance coverage, bad faith, and complex civil litigation to his work as a neutral. Before transitioning to mediation, he was a partner at Selvin Wraith LLP in Oakland, where he represented insurers, businesses, and other clients in complex insurance coverage and civil litigation matters in state and federal courts. Over the course of his career, he handled a wide range of disputes involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death, habitability, construction defects, professional liability, and institutional coverage claims.

Terrence R. Allen joined Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a partner in Costa Mesa.

Allen's experience spans public and private mergers, asset acquisitions and dispositions (including "carve-out" transactions), joint ventures, and venture capital investments. He also specializes in leveraged recapitalizations and corporate reorganizations. Terry has represented entrepreneurs and executives in negotiating and implementing employment, retention, and incentive agreements. Additionally, he advises clients on corporate governance and disclosure issues. Allen has managed transactions across nearly all major industries, including cross-border acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, public company transactions, and the purchase and sale of over 100 privately held businesses, many of which are family-owned companies with significant regional and national operations.

Andrew Hagopian joined Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a partner in Costa Mesa.

Before joining the firm, Hagopian served as the chief legal officer at Xponential Fitness, a NYSE-listed health and wellness franchise holding company with nearly 3,000 locations in the U.S. and abroad, spanning over 25 countries. In this position, he offered strategic legal and business guidance to executive leadership. He has also held roles as general counsel and other legal leadership at both public and private growth companies, including a biotech and manufacturing startup and a private sports betting entertainment firm. This experience provides him with a practical understanding of how business priorities, operational factors, and legal risks converge in dynamic environments.

Megan Gess joined Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a partner in Costa Mesa.

Gess has extensive experience guiding clients through sophisticated M&A, private equity, and commercial transactions. Her experience spans retail and consumer products, real estate, technology, healthcare, financial services, and life sciences, giving her a broad perspective on the business and regulatory considerations that shape corporate decision-making. Clients appreciate Megan’s thoughtful approach, her genuine interest in their business goals, and her talent for crafting solutions that move deals forward. She takes the time to understand the context behind each transaction and works closely with clients to develop creative, practical strategies for complex challenges.

Anne Marie Ellis was promoted to office managing partner of Buchalter in Orange County. The promotion is effective March 2, 2026.

In addition to her new role, Ellis serves as the firm's California chair of the Products Liability Practice Group and chair of the Chemical Law & Proposition 65 Industry Group.

Whether defending claims as trial counsel, managing risks associated with allegations of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, or establishing strategies to prevent and defend California's Proposition 65 claims, Ellis has a reputation for practicality and efficiency in complex, high exposure investigations, litigation, trials and regulatory matters.

Daniel Gunning was promoted to co-managing partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo in San Diego.

Wilson Turner Kosmo has elevated employment litigator Gunning to co-managing partner, joining Carolina Bravo-Karimi in leading the certified women-owned California firm as it marks its 35th anniversary. A member of the firm since 2011 and a partner since 2017, Gunning leads in the Employment Law practice and was selected by fellow partners for his client advocacy, mentorship and leadership within the firm. He represents employers ranging from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes discrimination, harassment and retaliation matters. Active in the broader legal community, Gunning serves on the University of San Diego Alumni Board of Directors, participates in the University of Notre Dame Law School's alumni mentorship program and is treasurer of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers Executive Committee.

Linda M. Burrow joined JAMS as a neutral in Century City. The move was March 4, 2026.

Burrow most recently served as vice president and global head of litigation at Netflix from 2021 to 2025, following her role as director of litigation from 2018 to 2021. At Netflix, she was responsible for advising senior executives and developing dispute resolution strategies. She previously worked at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and spent more than a decade at Caldwell, Leslie & Proctor, PC. She began her legal career at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP after clerking on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Based in the Century City Resolution Center, Burrow will serve as a mediator, arbitrator, court-appointed neutral (special master/referee) and neutral evaluator, handling business and commercial, employment, entertainment, intellectual property, and international and cross-border matters.

Hyura Choi joined Johnson & Johnson LLP as a senior counsel in Beverly Hills. The move was Feb. 23, 2026.

Choi is a seasoned attorney with deep experience in civil litigation and appellate practice, securing meaningful wins for clients ranging from high‑net‑worth individuals and start-ups to hedge funds and public companies. She most recently served as senior in-house counsel at a global REIT, where she led strategy on high‑stakes disputes, managed complex portfolios of outside counsel, and advised senior leadership on emerging regulatory and legislative developments while building cross‑functional compliance frameworks

David A. Rawi was promoted to partner of Lagerlof LLP in Encino.

Rawi's specialized expertise is in healthcare, where his practice encompasses both clinical providers and the business infrastructure involved in the delivery of modern healthcare. He advises individual licensed providers, medical groups, healthcare facilities, Management Services Organizations, and other medical related businesses navigating complex regulatory and operational environments. His healthcare practice includes reimbursement disputes and payor-provider negotiations, ownership and partnership disputes, compliance actions, service and employment contract negotiations, medical staff credentialing matters, and business restructuring.

Dylan J. Meier joined Miller Barondess, LLP as an associate in Los Angeles. The move was Jan. 22, 2026.

Meier is a litigator with broad experience in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters across the insurance, banking, technology, media, and entertainment sectors.

Maxwell B. Gordon joined Miller Barondess, LLP as an associate in Los Angeles.

Gordon is a litigator with experience achieving favorable results in business disputes and government enforcement actions.

Daniel V. Kohls joined Signature Resolution as a neutral in San Francisco. The move was March 2, 2026.

Kohls' practice at Signature Resolution focuses on business and commercial litigation, professional liability, legal malpractice, and insurance claims litigation. Known for his steady presence, candor and his empathy, Kohls is particularly skilled at translating dense legal positions into realistic pathways for all parties aiming to find resolution. His style as a neutral is characterized by thorough preparation and his commitment to helping individuals, especially those who may have felt overlooked during litigation, feel genuinely seen and understood in mediation.

Allison M. Hirsh was promoted to partner in San Diego of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Hirsh is a member of the Tax, Employee Benefits and Trusts and Estates practice group. Her practice focuses on estate planning, gift and estate taxation, business succession planning, trust administration, charitable giving and other complex trust and estate matters.

Lyle W. LeBlang was promoted to partner in San Diego of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

LeBlang is a member of the Corporate practice group, focusing on U.S. and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He advises clients across a wide range of industries, from startups to well-established public and private companies, on joint ventures, the establishment of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships, business restructurings, corporate governance and commercial contracts.

James Y. Hurt was promoted to partner in San Diego of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Hurt is a member of the Intellectual Property practice group. He is a seasoned attorney specializing in high-tech patent litigation matters related to internet technologies, wireless communications, integrated circuits and mobile device technologies. A registered patent attorney, he also prosecutes patents and represents clients across the online gambling, fintech and wireless industries.

Brooke Miller was promoted to partner in San Diego of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Miller is a member of the Real Estate practice group. Her practice centers on land use and entitlements, where she represents developers seeking government approvals for complex, large-scale projects including housing developments, mixed-use communities and energy infrastructure.

Daniel F. De La Cruz was promoted to partner in San Diego of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

De La Cruz is a member of the Labor and Employment practice group. He represents employers in wage and hour class actions, as well as discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation and harassment lawsuits. He also advises management teams on wage-and-hour issues, leave laws, workplace violence prevention, the disability accommodation process and discipline and termination.

Fangzhou Qiu was promoted to partner in Silicon Valley of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Qiu is a member of the Intellectual Property practice group. He represents high-tech companies on patent litigation and strategic patent portfolio development.

Kendal E. Fletcher was promoted to partner in Silicon Valley of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Fletcher is a member of the Business Trial practice group and Private Wealth and Fiduciary Litigation industry team. She represents individuals, families, professional fiduciaries, trustees, beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, creditors, corporations, non-profit organizations, conservators and guardians in a wide range of disputes at both the superior court and appellate court levels.

Gal Gressel was promoted to partner in San Francisco of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Gressel is a member of the Labor and Employment practice group. He handles noncompete, trade secret and employment disputes, from single-plaintiff litigation to the defense of multiple, overlapping class and PAGA actions.

Kristen Richer was elected chair of the litigation department of the Los Angeles office of Barnes & Thornburg. Their tenure is effective March 2, 2026.

As a litigator, Richer's focus is on defending Fortune 500 companies, including some of the nation's most recognizable drug, device, consumer products manufacturers, and national retail pharmacy chains, in various consumer products, commercial, and product liability litigation. As Litigation chair, Richer will oversee the ongoing strategic growth and development of the firm's Litigation Department, establish firmwide policies and programs for the practice, manage recruitment and attorney development, and ensure the department continues to meet and surpass the firm's standards of excellence in client service.

Amanda K. Monroe tapped to lead Michelman & Robinson's Labor & Employment Department.

Monroe, based in Los Angeles, represents employers in workplace disputes and helps businesses reduce litigation risk, defending management in matters such as wage-and-hour claims, class actions, PAGA cases, and allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She also handles administrative proceedings before agencies including the California Labor Commissioner, EEOC, Department of Labor and OSHA, while advising companies on employment compliance, workplace investigations, hiring and terminations, WARN Act layoffs, wage audits and workforce reductions.

As practice leader, Monroewill oversee the structure, staffing, and professional development of her team, which requires both strategic vision and daily leadership.

Nalani L. Crisologo was promoted to partner of Shook Hardy & Bacon in Los Angeles.

Crisologo focuses her practice on product liability matters of all types, including warranty, product injury, product defect and marketing class actions, and appeals. She also manages defense efforts in parallel class action opt out cases. Crisologo specializes in developing and advancing creative arguments to limit class action and opt out litigation exposure. For example, she crafted and argued a novel motion to limit class action tolling in parallel class action opt out cases. She has also pioneered arguments to allow automakers to enforce arbitration clauses contained in California automotive sales contracts.

Karyn L. Ihara was promoted to partner of Shook Hardy & Bacon in Los Angeles.

Ihara's practice has consisted primarily of defending automotive companies in consumer actions in federal and state courts, as well as arbitration. She has won a jury trial, a bench trial and two arbitration hearings. Her experience includes providing strategic advice to clients, defending complex discovery matters, as well as significant motion work. As part of her practice, she has regularly attended court hearings, conducts and defends depositions, attends vehicle inspections, participates in mediations and settlement conferences and negotiates settlements.

Jimmy Y. Park was promoted to partner of Shook Hardy & Bacon in Los Angeles.

Park represents business clients in commercial litigation matters. His experience includes representing major Global 500 companies in product liability and consumer warranty litigation. He has represented some of the world's best-known automotive manufacturers and distributors, and has experience representing his clients in multidistrict litigation and coordinated proceedings in California and nationwide. Park's experience includes a secondment with a major automotive distributor managing product liability cases.

Shane B. Kolding was promoted to partner of Shook Hardy & Bacon in San Francisco.

Kolding focuses his practice on product liability litigation. He has experience in all aspects of civil litigation, in both federal and state court. He served one year after law school as a legal research attorney at the San Francisco Superior Court, where he conducted research and ex parte hearings for judges.

Melina Manetti was promoted to partner of Shook Hardy & Bacon in San Francisco.

Manetti focuses her practice on defending companies in class actions and product liability litigation. She represents manufacturers of a wide variety of products, including automotives, medical devices, personal care products, consumer goods and chemicals. Manetti also represents clients facing complex commercial litigation issues and high-stakes business disputes in financial services, insurance, commercial real estate and other industries. In addition, Manetti has partnered with clients to defend against labeling and advertising claims and claims under California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Prop 65). Her experience spans all stages of litigation, from initial filing, through discovery and motion practice, to trial and appeal.

Diana Aguilar joined O'Melveny & Myers LLP as a partner in San Francisco.

Aguilar is a skilled litigator and trial attorney with comprehensive experience in large-scale antitrust litigations and merger review. Prior to joining O'Melveny, she served at the DOJ, where she was a key member of the litigation and trial teams for United States v. Google, one of the most significant antitrust cases in a generation. She led the Government's arguments related to search, data, and artificial intelligence, showcasing her ability to distill complex factual issues for the trier of fact. Given her wealth of litigation experience, Aguilar was called upon to oversee significant parts of this landmark case, including discovery, expert workflows, and motion briefing. During both the liability and remedies trials, Aguilar first chaired the examination and cross examination of various key expert and fact witnesses. Her work at the DOJ earned her the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service (2024) and the Assistant Attorney General's Award of Distinction (2023).

Rosely George was promoted to of counsel of Kaufman Dolowich in Los Angeles.

George focuses her practice on insurance defense litigation, professional liability including defense of lawyers, real estate brokers and other business professionals and employment liability defense, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour claims. She also has extensive experience in conducting depositions, settlement negotiations and trial preparation. Additionally, she represents places of accommodation in website, and brick and mortar accessibility claims brought under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and state and local laws.

Angela A. Jones joined Janus Law as a counsel in Mission Hills. The move was Dec. 2, 2025.

Jones rejoined the private sector after retiring from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court after 26 years of service to the Court as a judicial law clerk. Jones brings her decades of experience to Janus Law, helping to expand the firm's ability to service its clients. Jones received her JD from University of San Diego.

Tara Narayanan joined Hanson Bridgett LLP as a partner in San Francisco.

Narayanan provides comprehensive legal counsel to clients throughout the lifecycle of a wide array of projects, from large-scale and boutique residential condominiums to mixed-use planned communities, high-rise mixed-use developments, industrial and commercial parks, senior living residences and facilities, affordable housing, and cohousing.

Susan L. Daly joined Hanson Bridgett LLP as a partner in San Diego.

Daly is committed to guiding clients through the complexities of residential and commercial real estate projects. Her experience includes a wide range of subdivided land developments throughout California, such as condominiums, planned communities, standard subdivisions, mixed-use developments, high-rise buildings, and commercial condominiums. She has in-depth knowledge of residential master-planned communities, development projects, condominium communities, resort developments, golf course neighborhoods, and custom home ventures. Additionally, she expertly handles the process of obtaining public reports from the California Department of Real Estate and acquiring approvals from city and county planning agencies.

Jocelyn M. Soriano joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani as a partner in San Francisco.

Soriano has over 25 years of experience in managing mass and complex environmental and toxic tort litigation on behalf of product suppliers and premise owners, with an emphasis on asbestos, silica and talc claims, as well as diacetyl and PFAS claims. Jocelyn has also represented clients in breach of contract/habitability claims, construction claims and claims involving alleged ADA ("Americans with Disabilities Act") violations. As part of her practice, Jocelyn integrates effective and early evaluation of high exposure cases, balancing risk management for the client.

Bryan M. Wittlin was promoted to partner in Century City of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Wittlin is a member of the Business Trial practice group and Private Wealth and Fiduciary Litigation industry team. He represents trustees, beneficiaries, heirs, creditors and others in matters involving probate, trust and will contests, breach of fiduciary duty and financial elder abuse claims, disputed accountings, conservatorships and other litigated matters.

Segun Aluko was promoted to partner in Century City of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Aluko is a member of the Entertainment, Technology and Advertising and Corporate practice groups. He represents major entertainment clients—including Amazon MGM Studios, Disney Television Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Skydance Sports—across the full value chain of audiovisual content, from development and rights acquisition through production, financing, distribution and licensing, and also counsels entertainment and technology clients on corporate matters including M&A, joint ventures and venture capital transactions.

Meghan K. McCormick was promoted to partner in Century City of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

McCormick is a member of the Business Trial practice group and Private Wealth and Fiduciary Litigation team. She represents clients in high-profile celebrity and trust and estate disputes, including trust and will contests, breach of fiduciary cases, elder abuse cases, conservatorships, guardianships and other fiduciary matters.

Anne-Marie D. Dao was promoted to partner in Orange County of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Dao is a member of the Intellectual Property and Business Trial practice groups and the Privacy and Cybersecurity industry team. She defends clients in individual, class, and enforcement actions relating to privacy, data breaches, and data processing practices in state and federal courts nationwide. She also litigates claims alleging violations of privacy-adjacent consumer protection statutes, including state and federal laws concerning false advertising and unfair competition.

Rabia A. Paracha was promoted to partner in Orange County of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP effective March 1.

Paracha is a seasoned real estate attorney at Sheppard who serves as lead counsel on high-value, complex transactions nationwide. She led the successful closing of more than $4 billion in transactions last year alone, advising investors, developers and national operators across the United States.

Eric W. Nimmo joined Murtaugh as an associate in Irvine. The move was Feb. 26, 2026.

Nimmo's practice is focused on trust and estate litigation and complex business disputes. He represents trustees, beneficiaries, business owners, and other high-net-worth individuals in contested matters involving breach of fiduciary duty, trust administration disputes, ownership conflicts, and related civil litigation. Eric approaches each matter with a practical, strategic mindset aimed at protecting client interests while positioning cases for efficient resolution.

Ashley Bolduc was promoted to partner of Cummins & White, LLP in Newport Beach.

Bolduc is a key member of the firm's corporate and transactional practice, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities matters, and complex business transactions. Since joining Cummins & White in 2017, she has become a trusted advisor to business owners, executives, and investors, known for guiding clients through high-stakes matters with a practical, strategic approach focused on long-term business objectives.

Kimberly Kismeth Chemerinsky joined Rushing McCarl LLP as a partner in Santa Monica. The move was Feb. 24, 2026.

Chemerinsky represents businesses in high-stakes disputes, including regulatory investigations, class actions, and complex contract and tort matters, in federal and state courts and in arbitration.

She represented UnitedHealth Group and OptumRx in the largest federal multidistrict litigation in U.S. history; secured a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision for Stanford University affirming dismissal of a $468 million False Claims Act action; won a full acquittal after a six-week federal jury trial for a former Nomura Securities bond trader; and secured the exoneration of a man who had spent 12 years in prison following a wrongful conviction.

Dena L. Klotz was promoted to partner of Lagerlof LLP in Encino.

Klotz advises individuals, families, family offices and closely held business owners on sophisticated wealth planning, trust administration, real estate matters, long-term asset protection and significant life transactions. She brings a multidisciplinary perspective shaped by her experience in law, real estate and family therapy.

A graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law, Klotz has been a member of the State Bar of California since 1994. She previously worked as a licensed Realtor in the San Fernando Valley and holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Phillips Graduate University. Earlier in her career, she practiced as a therapist, focusing on conflict resolution for families and couples. She later returned to legal practice, integrating her understanding of family dynamics with her legal expertise to counsel clients on complex personal, financial and intergenerational matters.

Kevin E. Thelen joined Bostwick & Associates as a senior counsel in Bakersfield.

Thelen has 20 years of experience in complex medical malpractice and catastrophic injury litigation. His practice focuses on cases involving serious injury and wrongful medical conduct. He has served as lead trial counsel in more than a dozen medical malpractice jury trials in California and has handled matters requiring detailed medical analysis, expert coordination and extensive trial preparation.

He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Justin Powers joined Bostwick & Associates as an associate in Sacramento.

Powers joins Bostwick & Associates as an associate attorney representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. For more than five years, he has focused on medical malpractice and catastrophic injury matters, developing cases supported by medical and technical evidence. He works closely with expert witnesses to present complex information clearly and effectively.

Michael Dreibelbis was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Mar. 1, 2026.

Dreibelbis is a member of the Environment, Land & Resources Practice. He advises private equity sponsors, investors and project developers on complex offtake agreements and energy transition investments, with a focus on carbon capture and sequestration, low-carbon fuel supply and certification, California cap-and-trade compliance, and voluntary carbon offset transactions.

Christopher (Topher) Michail was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 3, 2026.

Michail is a member of the Structured Finance Practice. He advises asset managers, banks, business development companies, financial institutions and borrowers on a range of financing transactions, including collateralized loan obligations, secured and unsecured credit facilities, acquisition financings, structured vehicle financings, asset securitizations and joint venture origination platforms.