Ben Davis was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in Los Angeles.

Davis focuses his practice on achieving a resolution-oriented approach while representing large businesses in commercial transportation, complex tort and premises liability cases.

Shannon L. Santos was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in Los Angeles.

Santos handles a diverse range of matters on behalf of insurers, including coverage and extra-contractual litigation, coverage advice and defense of insurers.

Lisa S. Passalacqua was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Francisco.

Passalacqua maintains a civil litigation practice, with trial work defending product manufacturers, trucking and premises liability cases.

Juliana Salfiti was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Francisco.

Salfiti is an accomplished trial attorney with vast experience in complex and commercial litigation, insurance defense, transportation, toxic tort, premises liability, general business advice and counseling companies on risk management.

Marty B. Ready was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Diego.

Ready is an experienced litigation and trial attorney primarily focused on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation, including trade secret misappropriation, patent infringement, breach of fiduciary duty and business torts. In addition, as a registered patent attorney, he provides counsel to corporations to help reduce the risks of litigation and defend their intellectual property assets.

Justina L. Tate was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Diego.

Tate is licensed in California and Oregon, defends business entities and individuals against a range of complex personal injury and commercial tort matters involving technology, transportation, and products.

Tony S Mekari joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as associate in San Francisco.

Mekari counsels individuals and businesses in all aspects of general civil litigation, business disputes and white collar criminal defense. He advises clients involved in civil, criminal and administrative investigations by California and Federal agencies. In law school, he was inducted into the Order of Barristers: a selective honor society that recognizes those who demonstrate exceptional skill in trial advocacy. In addition, he externed for two federal judges in California: Judge John A. Mendez and Judge Troy L. Nunley.

John Scheerer was promoted to partner of Sacks Glazier Franklin & Lodise LLP in Los Angeles.

Scheerer practices exclusively in trusts, estates and conservatorship litigation. He has successfully handled a variety of matters before the Probate Department of the Superior Court as well as appeals in the California Court of Appeal, resulting in multiple successful appellate decisions

Kelly Lucinda Galligan was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

Galligan is a corporate attorney with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and corporate governance. She has experience in an array of corporate transactions, including representing acquirers and target companies in stock and asset acquisitions and divestitures, mergers of privately held companies, joint venture transactions, and private equity investments. Her mergers and acquisitions practice is focused on the middle market with transaction values ranging between $5 million and $500 million. Galligan is a Past President of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association.

Samantha L.G. Papuchis was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

Papuchis is a litigator who specializes in class action defense, as well as litigation involving business contracts, business torts, and probate and trust disputes. Papuchis has significant experience in all aspects of litigation, from the pleading stage through trial. Prior to joining the firm, Papuchis served a federal clerkship for the Honorable Ronald M. Gould at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle, Washington.

Kelsey Quist was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

Quist is actively involved in all aspects of litigation through trial, with particular success in mediating and settling several high exposure cases. She works closely with many of Rutan's high profile city clients and is responsible for interfacing with and advising Rutan's city clients' police departments, which includes reviewing "Use of Force" policies, revising and negotiating contracts, defending Pitchess motions, advising executive staff on COVID-19 enforcement issues, and responding to subpoenas, discovery requests, and Public Records Act requests. She is also responsible for overseeing the training and implementation of Gun Violence Restraining Order programs amongst local law enforcement agencies designed to combat increased gun violence statewide.

Jordan Tessier was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Irvine.

Tessier advises commercial real estate professionals in all aspects of the acquisition and disposition process, including negotiating purchase agreements, advising during due diligence, performing title review, and ensuring a timely and organized closing. His practice also includes representing real estate owners in a variety of real estate financing transactions, including acquisition, construction and permanent real estate secured loans from banks, insurance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Additionally, he advises his clients on other general real estate matters, such as drafting and negotiating leases, CC&Rs, easements, and other commercial real estate documentation, advising clients on title insurance matters, and assisting in the structuring and formation of entities. His practice covers a wide range of asset types, including land, industrial, retail, office, multi-family housing and mixed-use developments. He is an active member of NAIOP, a graduate of the NAIOP Young Professionals Group, and a current member of the NAIOP YPG Alumni Committee.

Kelly Hagemann was promoted to partner of Michelman & Robinson, LLP in Orange County.

Hagemann has gained extensive experience navigating clients through network agreement breaches, improperly denied claims, Special Investigations Unit actions, illegal and unauthorized recoupments, and various pre-payment reviews and payor delay tactics. She has also tried and resolved numerous administrative actions brought by the California Department of Health Care Services and the California Department of Insurance.

Kevin Kim was promoted to partner of Michelman & Robinson, LLP in Orange County.

Kim primarily focuses his practice representing individual and institutional clients in a wide array of general and complex business disputes, including matters involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition

Craig W. Olshan was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in Silicon Valley (Redwood City).

Olshan advises clients on executive compensation and employee benefits issues in connection with complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, sales, spin-offs, public offerings, and other private and public business combinations.

Stephanie P. Lane was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Francisco.

Lane's practice focuses on representing emerging growth companies throughout their lifecycles and venture capital firms in their investment activities. She advises entrepreneurs on formation and corporate structuring matters and has significant experience advising technology companies on a wide range of corporate transactions, including venture capital financings and mergers and acquisitions.

Ryan M. Enchelmayer was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Diego.

Enchelmayer works with innovative life sciences and other technology-driven companies to research and develop, protect, manufacture, license and deploy their ideas, programs, products and services. His practice focuses primarily on advising, structuring and negotiating technology, life sciences and commercial transactions.

Jesse D. Birbach was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP in San Francisco.

Birbach provides pragmatic, business-driven legal advice to early-stage technology companies that are often disadvantaged by unequal bargaining power. He specializes in product counselling, strategic alliances, data privacy, licensing and commercialization of intellectual property and technology assets.

Judge Stephen M. Moloney joined Judicate West as neutral in Los Angeles.

Moloney, based in Los Angeles, is available as a mediator, arbitrator and private judge for matters statewide. With a legal career spanning 47 years, Moloney was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009. During his judicial tenure, he served assignments in the criminal, family law and civil trial departments, where he conducted a multitude of settlements conferences in personal injury, medical negligence, insurance, and employment cases.

William "Bill" Metke was promoted to partner of The Mitzel Group in San Francisco.

Metke's practice focuses on all aspects of employment law counseling and litigation. His approach emphasizes anticipating and avoiding potential future risks while strategizing to foster workplace culture. He is a trusted counselor to small and mid-sized employers, supporting and advising clients across a wide range of industries, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. With 20 years of experience as a civil litigator, Bill has represented numerous clients before California and Federal courts, administrative bodies and in private arbitration.

Christopher T. Angelich joined Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as associate in San Diego, California.

Angelich joined SCMV's Business Department as a law clerk in 2021. He represents clients primarily in the areas of real property and business transactions. Prior to joining SCMV, Angelich was a corporate counsel extern at Nortek Security and Control (now Nice North America). He also served as a tax appeals assistance program representative for the University of San Diego State Sales and Use Tax Clinic, where he represented low-income clients in matters before the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he received the Dean's Honor Scholarship and served as senior editor of the San Diego International Law Journal. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration - finance and real estate, cum laude, from the Ohio State University.

Ben D'Alton joined Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as associate in San Diego, California.

D'Alton joined SCMV's Business Department as a law clerk in 2022. Also a member of the firm's Tax Department, his practice focuses on tax law, tax exempt organizations, business law and employee benefits. Prior to joining SCMV, D'Alton was a law clerk at Potente and a summer intern at Deloitte Tax LLP. He also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Larry A. Burns of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. He received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law and his bachelor's degree in business finance, cum laude, along with a certificate of entertainment management from the University of Montana.

Deborah Yates was promoted to partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP in San Diego, California.

Yates focuses her practice on family law matters and business disputes. She represents a wide range of clients in both state and federal courts, including businesses large and small and individuals in family law cases. Yates joined Solomon Ward in 2017 after several years practicing at a large law firm in Washington, D.C. She leverages her extensive business experience, including an MBA from the Wharton School, to serve clients. Yates is a member of the San Diego Family Law Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of San Diego and the Enright Inn of Court. Yates previously served on the executive committee of the San Diego County Bar Association's Civil Litigation Section. She received her law degree from the George Mason University School of Law, graduating first in class, and her Master of Business Administration degree, with the highest distinction and Palmer Scholar designation, from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Yates also received her bachelor's degree in management science and economics from the University of Maryland where she graduated as valedictorian.

Patrick Klingborg was promoted to partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP in San Diego.

Klingborg's practice focuses on matters related to mergers and acquisitions, equity financings, commercial transactions, and business formation. He represents clients in a wide variety of industries, including technology, hotels & hospitality, healthcare and others. Active in the community, Klingborg recently created a scholarship with his wife, Amy, to assist local high school students in need. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and his bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego.

Whitney Erin Street was promoted to partner of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP in Berkeley.

Street has served in leadership positions for various multi-district litigation cases. She joined the firm in November 2021 and has been heavily involved in the firm's antitrust matters affecting the price of chicken and pork. She served as a member of the litigation team representing direct purchasers in In re: Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litig. and In re: Pork Antitrust Litig. To date, approximately $200 million has been obtained on behalf of direct purchasers in the Broilers matter, and $107.5 million has been obtained on behalf of direct purchasers in the Pork matter. Both cases are ongoing against remaining defendants.

Anthony W Raymundo was promoted to managing partner of Lowenstein Sandler in Palo Alto.

Raymundo counsels startups, early-stage companies, growth companies, and venture funds on corporate transactions. Clients benefit from his experience working closely with a host of other startups across their life cycles, from creation to operational matters and through exit. He also has negotiated numerous venture financings and is adept at navigating mergers and acquisitions.

Raymundo has led the firm's efforts in representing both investors and founders across the constantly expanding technology sector, supervising transactions involving Edtech, HRTech, and PropTech, to name a few. He has also been instrumental in growing Lowenstein's global practice, as illustrated by his work on such matters as the representation of Holberton, Inc., in its acquisition by African Leadership International.

Amanda R. Wolin was promoted to partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in Los Angeles.

Wolin specializes in representing different types of lenders, including national and regional banks, insurance companies and private lenders, in connection with real estate financing transactions. She has experience with a wide variety of real estate finance transactions, including acquisition and development loans, bridge loans, construction loans and mezzanine loans, and a broad range of product types, including commercial, multifamily, hotel, and retail projects. She also has experience with secondary market transactions, such as "loan-on-loan" deals, and asset management work, including loan assumptions and loan modifications. Throughout the course of a transaction, Wolin is an expert at structuring transactions, drafting and negotiating loan documents, analyzing diligence materials, and coordinating transaction logistics and closings.

Vick K. Mansourian was promoted to partner of Foley Mansfield in Los Angeles.

Mansourian concentrates his practice on products liability, toxic tort, and complex asbestos litigation. For over 20 years, he has defended companies in a wide range of industries, including manufacturers/suppliers of joint compounds, stucco, flooring, brakes, brake grinders, gaskets, wiring, pumps, valves, and roofing products.

Tracy O. Zinsou was promoted to partner of BraunHagey & Borden LLP in San Francisco.

Zinsou has extensive experience litigating high-stakes cases in state and federal courts across the country. She has successfully defended cases and prosecuted claims for clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, in a diverse range of complex commercial litigation cases, including intellectual property, false advertising, antitrust, insurance coverage, and other contract disputes. She has also defended businesses and individuals facing white-collar investigations and enforcement actions by various regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, and Federal Trade Commission, and advised clients on anti-corruption compliance issues. She maintains an active pro bono practice involving immigration, criminal, and First Amendment matters.

Jeffrey J. Gillard was promoted to partner of Everett Dorey LLP in Irvine, CA.

Gillard has extensive civil litigation experience defending private and public entities in the areas of product liability, premises liability, commercial litigation, catastrophic injury, toxic torts, and general liability matters in state and federal courts. His clients have included corporations, public agencies, school districts, cities as well as property owners, property managers, and manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of various products including sporting goods, construction equipment, bicycles, automobiles, tires, medical devices, industrial machinery, recreational vehicles, firearms, fitness facilities and fitness equipment.

Silvia C. Schaffer was promoted to partner of Everett Dorey LLP in Irvine, CA.

Schaffer's practice primarily focuses on complex catastrophic injury, product liability, transportation, medical malpractice cases, habitability/mold, and labor and employment, as well as providing employers consultation on best business and employer practices for risk mitigation.

Laura C. Williams was promoted to partner of Everett Dorey LLP in Irvine.

Williams focuses her practice in a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters, including general liability, toxic torts, asbestos, mold, product liability, personal injury, habitability, and catastrophic injury.

Robert Roth was promoted to partner of Complex Appellate Litigation Group in San Francisco.

Roth is widely regarded as one of the leading family law appellate specialists in California. He has over 30 years' experience as an appellate practitioner and more than 25 published (and scores of unpublished) appellate opinions to his name.

Rex Heinke was promoted to partner of Complex Appellate Litigation Group in Los Angeles.

Heinke is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced appellate practitioners in California, and among the best in the nation. He has argued more than 150 appeals in federal and state courts across the country. He is regularly called on to defend major corporations and high-profile individuals in some of their most hotly contested appellate matters.

Cheryl L Kozdrey was promoted to partner of Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. in Temecula.

Kozdrey represents national and local healthcare organizations through complex D&O coverage litigation, as well as commercial property and business interruption claims. In addition, she advises risk managers, in-house counsel, insurance brokers, and other industry professionals on optimal risk transfer strategies and insurance solutions, including key considerations for Commercial General Liability, Professional Liability, and Builders Risk policies.

Angela Yu was promoted to shareholder of Miller Starr Regalia in Walnut Creek.

Yu focuses her practice on complex business litigation in both federal and state courts. From 2014 through 2019, she was recognized as a "Northern California Super Lawyer - Rising Star" in business litigation.

Stephanie Roque-Hurtado joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as associate in San Francisco.

Roque-Hurtado counsels clients in a wide variety of matters relating to professional liability and civil litigation. While attending law school, she interned for the U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and the ACLU of Northern California. As a student, she was an editor on the University of San Francisco Law Review and a member of Moot Court.

Lauren Frank was promoted to counsel of Buckley LLP in Los Angeles.

Frank advises clients on matters relating to licensing, disclosures, and compliance with state and federal financial laws involving consumer and commercial finance products. She received her J.D. from the University of Southern California, and her B.A. from George Mason University.

Mitchell Grod was promoted to senior counsel of Buckley LLP in Los Angeles.

Grod represents depository institutions, mortgage lenders and brokers, automobile lenders and finance companies, and debt collectors in a range of state and federal regulatory matters. He received his J.D. from Boston University, and his B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Eli S. Diller was promoted to partner of Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP in Los Angeles.

Diller represents clients in a variety of commercial real estate matters throughout the United States. His work includes office, retail, and industrial leasing, representing both landlords and tenants of all sizes and sophistication levels. Eli has experience across asset classes, including industrial, office, retail, multifamily and hospitality properties.

Max N. Wellman was promoted to partner of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Wellman provides strategic counseling in entertainment, technology, and business matters. He principally represents production companies, studios, influencers, talent management companies, and merchandising companies, as well as artists, entrepreneurs, consumer product brands, and technology start-ups.

Shannon E. Beamer was promoted to partner of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Beamer represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in complex litigation in state and federal courts nationwide. She has been a member of trial teams in national products liability litigation involving several international pharmaceutical manufacturers. She has worked with attorneys from around the country to coordinate overall strategy and the day-to-day handling of individual cases.

Will S Bennett was promoted to partner of Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. in Temecula.

Bennett focuses his practice on complex insurance recovery actions. His extensive experience includes serving as insurance coverage counsel for commercial, civil, and residential construction and real estate companies, non-profits, universities, manufacturers, retailers, jewelers, engineers, architects, rental companies, environmental companies, cannabis producers, farmers, food suppliers, solar companies, restaurants, and individuals.

LaVonne D. Lawson joined Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl, LLC as counsel in Los Angeles.

Lawson counsels small businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups, as well as large businesses and established companies, in state, federal, and international tax matters. She focuses her practice on tax reporting and compliance, tax controversy and litigation, and estate planning.