Joseph M. Welch joined Blank Rome LLP as partner in Orange County.

Welch represents secured and unsecured creditors in all elements of insolvency and bankruptcy matters and documents multimillion-dollar loan transactions secured by property and personal collateral. Additionally, he counsels clients in lending, leasing, and real estate matters. He has served as lead counsel in representing investors, large banks, lenders, and international and Fortune 100 companies.

Trevor R. Witt was promoted to partner of Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani in Woodland Hills.

Witt focuses his practice on representing employers before federal and state courts in both complex class actions and individual claims asserted by employees. He regularly advises and counsels clients about workplace issues, policies, and practices, providing out-of-the-box strategies for dealing with complex issues.

Vincent Gannuscio was promoted to partner of Roxborough, Pomerance, Nye & Adreani in Woodland Hills.

Gannuscio represents insureds in coverage and bad faith matters against insurers, worker’s compensation claims disputes, and has a wide-ranging business/commercial litigation practice. He has been part of some of RPNA’s most high-profile cases over his tenure.

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.

Ashley Breakfield was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Breakfield, a real estate transactional lawyer and former environmental litigator, represents large-scale urban developers, real estate investors, renewable energy companies, and private property owners in sophisticated land use and real estate matters.

Sushila Chanana was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Chanana, a high-stakes technology litigator, co-leads Farella's Platforms Initiative and Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice. She represents companies in general business litigation and IP matters, including trademark, copyright, trade secrets, patent, and privacy disputes.

Rebecca Stephens was promoted to partner of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Stephens, an employment advisor and litigator, co-leads Farella's Consumer Products Initiative. Rebecca counsels employers ranging from small businesses to global corporations on developing and implementing sound workplace policies, conducting investigations, managing accommodations and leaves of absence, and administering separations from employment.

Bailey Heaps was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Heaps represents clients in a range of high-stakes civil litigation. He has handled cases in federal and state courts throughout the country for several leading tech and biotech companies, including the former shareholders of FerroKin BioSciences, Scripps Research Institute, Calithera Biosciences, Nextiva, and Zscaler.

Katie Lynn Joyce was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Joyce has handled high-stakes commercial and intellectual-property matters in a wide range of industries and litigations, including for Netflix, Crexi, Google, Zscaler, Instacart, and Kitty Hawk. Katie Lynn has played a central role on several trial teams, including an arbitration that secured a multi-million-dollar award and recovered attorneys' fees for former shareholders of a tech company.

Chris Sun was promoted to partner of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Sun maintains a broad practice representing major corporations in matters ranging from complex commercial litigation, class action defense, and intellectual property disputes. Chris helped win a complete defense verdict in a rare class action trial threatening more than $150 million in damages against his client Public Storage.

Kristin Hucek was promoted to of counsel of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Hucek represents clients in high-stakes commercial disputes and a broad spectrum of intellectual property litigation. She has played a key role on several trial teams, including the team that defended Qualcomm against an antitrust lawsuit brought by the FTC that challenged the company's licensing practices, and on appeal, secured the reversal of the lower court's order granting a preliminary injunction in the case.

Ian Kanig was promoted to of counsel of Keker, Van Nest & Peters in San Francisco.

Kanig focuses his practice on complex civil cases, sophisticated commercial disputes, and civil rights actions. He has particular experience litigating in San Francisco federal court, where he recently secured a dismissal with prejudice for Google of a nationwide consumer class action alleging the secret collection of third-party app data from Android phones.

Cynthia G. Aaron joined Judicate West as neutral in San Diego.

Justice Aaron has nearly four decades of combined legal experience, including serving the last 20 years on the appellate bench. During her judicial tenure, she resolved all types of cases on appeal, including complex civil, probate and family law matters. Prior to her 2003 appointment to the Court of Appeal, she served as a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, a position she held for eight years.

Jonah M. Mekebri joined Duckor Metzger & Wynne, A Professional Law Corporation as associate in San Diego.

Mekebri served as a legal intern for the Placer County District Attorney's Office and held other positions with political offices and campaigns.

Nathaniel R. Smith joined Duckor Metzger & Wynne, A Professional Law Corporation as senior counsel in San Diego.

Smith focuses on finding the best outcomes for clients at the earliest litigation stage. Clients rely on him to help them navigate complex and difficult challenges. Utilizing his years of experience, including as a litigator at one of the nation’s largest law firms and as an in-house attorney, Smith works strategically to help individuals and businesses resolve disputes efficiently and with optimal outcomes.

James H. Sipple joined Duckor Metzger & Wynne, A Professional Law Corporation as shareholder in San Diego.

Sipple has more than 20 years of experience practicing business law and managing all aspects of trust and estates for clients. He advises clients in developing and implementing comprehensive estate plans and provides guidance on more advanced tax planning strategies for larger, tax-sensitive estates.

David Levine joined Harvest LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Levine is a veteran attorney with decades of industry experience and a particular expertise in the acquisition, management, financing and leasing of hotels and other hospitality products. He also has significant experience with all asset classes, including multifamily, single-family rental, hotel, industrial and office, and advises clients in a variety of matters involving real estate development, acquisition, construction, financing, land banking and joint venture transactions. Levine's clients include national and regional developers, REITs, institutional investors, public and private companies, and high-net-worth individuals.

Julie Scher joined Harvest LLP as associate in San Diego.

Concentrating on complex commercial litigation matters and internal investigations, Scher has represented a variety of clients across a wide array of businesses, including the commercial real estate, life sciences and healthcare industries. At Harvest, she focuses her practice on representing commercial real estate landlords in a wide variety of real estate-related disputes, and representing real estate owners, lenders and court-appointed receivers in workouts, bankruptcies and other high-stakes disputes.

David M. Keithly was promoted to partner of Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP in Irvine.

Keithly's practice focuses on complex business litigation, breach of warranty litigation, employment law counseling and litigation, and contract disputes. He has represented clients in high-stakes litigation matters in state and federal courts across the United States, including class action litigation.

Robert A. Schultz was promoted to partner of Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP in Irvine.

Schultz is an experienced complex commercial litigator and trial attorney who has represented and litigated against a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, mid-market companies, nascent startups, and individuals. Utilizing his business background, Bob has developed a keen sense for aligning his clients’ legal goals with their business goals and achieving both.

Sherry S. Hamilton was promoted to partner of Mortenson Taggart Adams LLP in Irvine.

Hamilton’s practice focuses on employment law, unfair competition, intellectual property rights, state and federal franchise laws, products liability, and general business disputes. Sherry has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including automotive, sports and fitness, security services, and restaurant and food services.

Agatha H. Liu joined Duane Morris LLP as partner in Silicon Valley.

Dr. Liu concentrates her practice on IP analysis, portfolio management and strategic counseling. She routinely advises investors, business owners and inventors on all areas of IP related to computer technology. Liu also speaks and writes extensively on different IP topics, such as eligibility for IP protection, IP protection for emerging technology and global IP protection. Prior to entering the legal profession, Liu held positions in technology and management consulting. She has a significant research background in artificial intelligence as applied to internet communications, database system management, computational biology and speech recognition.

R. Brent Wisner was promoted to managing partner of Wisner Baum LLP formerly Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, PC, in Los Angeles.

Wisner oversees all mass tort litigation, focusing on pharmaceutical product liability, toxic torts, and consumer fraud class actions.

Sharon Smith joined Goodwin Procter LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Smith focuses on complex trials, and business and intellectual property litigation, including trademark infringement, copyright infringement, patent infringement, false advertising, unfair business practices, business torts, trade secrets, fraud, defamation, and breach of contract matters. In the biotechnology, medical device and technology industries, she represents clients in high-stakes contested matters including 22 trials and arbitrations. She also represents clients across these industries in prosecuting, enforcing, and minimizing risk related to intellectual property and trade secret matters.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.