Laura L. McDaniels joined Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP as partner in Silicon Valley.

McDaniels has a uniquely broad executive compensation and benefits practice, advising large public corporations, emerging growth companies and private equity and other investors. Her experience spans the full spectrum of general compensation and benefits issues, including executive and equity compensation plan design and tax structuring, employment and separation contracts, public company disclosures, and corporate governance issues and best practices. She has vast experience guiding companies through mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, de-SPAC transactions, spin-offs, joint ventures, and other transactions.

Komal Chokshi joined City Attorney of San Francisco as director of dei in San Francisco.

Chokshi has joined the San Francisco City Attorney's Office as its first director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, where she will design and implement all office DEI initiatives. She has extensive experience devising and coordinating DEI programs at public and private law firms.

Johua Birenbaum joined Allen & Overy LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Birenbaum advises clients on complex matters related to both public and private companies and across mergers & acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, strategic acquisitions, and equity financing. His expertise spans a broad range of industries, including technology, consumer products and services, manufacturing (including automotive, aerospace and defense) and healthcare.

Yejee Marilyn Kim joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP as of counsel in Orange County and Los Angeles.

Kim's practice focuses on corporate governance and securities compliance as well as a wider corporate transactional work, such as public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity matters.

Robby S. Naoufal joined Miller Barondess LLP as associate in Los Angeles.

Naoufal's practice primarily focuses on complex commercial litigation, regulatory inquiries, and corporate investigations. He has represented clients in consumer class actions, shareholder class action and derivative suits, executive employment disputes, partnership disputes, anti-corruption investigations, and securities enforcement actions, including through formal U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and NYSE Regulation inquiries.

Chris Y. Chen joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as shareholder in Newport Beach.

Chen focuses his practice in the areas of corporate and securities, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and commercial contracts, represents entrepreneurs, private businesses, publicly traded corporations and public agencies in various transactional and compliance matters, and frequently serves as the outside general counsel to his clients.

Pace McCaskill joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as shareholder in Newport Beach.

McCaskill represents emerging and established companies in a broad range of corporate and transactional matters, including venture capital financings, public securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions transactions, joint ventures and other strategic initiatives, Securities Act and Exchange Act reporting, and corporate governance matters.

Kapri Saunders was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Francisco.

Saunders advises clients on disputes arising out of business contracts, consumer fraud and protection, mortgage lending and real estate transactions, public corruption, violation of federal criminal statutes, and investigations involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) regulations, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations.

Paul C. Hines was promoted to partner q of Jones Day in San Francisco.

Hines' practice focuses on resolution of complex cross-border disputes and trade issues. Paul's experience spans a wide range of fora, industries, and substantive legal regimes. He has represented clients in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations under ICC, ICDR, UNCITRAL, LCIA, and ICSID rules; in cross-border litigation in U.S. courts; and before U.S. regulators in matters relating to international commercial transactions. He has represented clients in disputes in the oil and gas, commodity chemicals, mining, construction, banking, wine and spirits, agriculture, and heavy manufacturing industries in relation to claims arising under contracts, treaties and customary international law, foreign laws, and U.S. antiterrorism, international trade, antitrust, intellectual property, and tort law.

Jeremy Cleveland was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Silicon Valley.

Cleveland represents domestic and international companies in public and private equity and debt securities offerings, venture capital (VC) financings, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). He also represents companies in connection with day-to-day disclosure obligations, corporate governance matters, securities laws, stock exchange rules and regulations, and periodic reporting responsibilities.

Kunyong Yang was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Diego.

Yang focuses his practice on the development and management of global patent portfolios involving pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology innovations. He guides clients from the early stages of patent portfolio development, through the product development process, to the development of late-stage life cycle management strategies and regulatory extension opportunities. A particular focus of his practice is advising clients regarding intellectual property matters for small molecule drugs.

Koree B. Wooley was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Diego.

Wooley is a litigator and counselor who represents employers in all aspects of complex employment litigation, including class and collective actions, representative actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), state and federal discrimination, retaliation and harassment matters, and trade secret misappropriation cases. She has acted as second-chair trial counsel in bench and jury trials as well as in private arbitration for whistleblower, discrimination, and trade secrets claims. She also has extensive experience in all phases of pretrial litigation, from fact and expert discovery through summary judgment, class certification, and mediation.

Eric Tung was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.

Tung focuses his practice on appeals and motions practice in commercial litigation. He has drafted briefs and motions in federal and state courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitrations and mediations. He has argued on numerous occasions in federal and state courts around the country at the trial and appellate levels, including the Ninth Circuit, D.C. Circuit, Seventh Circuit, and Florida Supreme Court. His clients include telecommunications, energy, banking, real estate, construction, entertainment, and digital currency companies.

Amanda P Ellison was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.

Ellison focuses her practice on representing policyholders in pursuing insurance claims and litigation. She has been involved in complex, high-stakes insurance coverage claims relating to numerous types of coverage, including commercial general liability, errors and omissions, property, and directors and officers liability insurance. Amanda has also represented corporate clients in a wide variety of civil litigation, including consumer class actions, contract disputes, and business torts. She has extensive experience in numerous aspects of litigation, including case management, discovery, pretrial motions, summary judgment, and appeals.

David A. Ciarlo was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.

Ciarlo represents clients in high-stakes, complex business litigation involving a wide range of legal issues, including contract disputes, business torts, securities litigation, and contested bankruptcy matters. He has experience in nearly every aspect of litigation, including pretrial discovery, briefing and motions practice, and trial preparation.

Ryan D. Ball was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Irvine.

Ball represents public and private companies in complex litigation throughout the United States. His practice focuses on matters involving commercial and business disputes, data privacy and cybersecurity, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition.

Ann T. Rossum was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Irvine.

Rossum's practice focuses on commercial litigation, with an emphasis in class action defense. She has prosecuted and defended claims involving products liability, trade secrets misappropriation, health care, antitrust, contract disputes, consumer protection, and cybersecurity and data privacy. She is experienced in all aspects of litigation, including trial and appeals.

Cyndi J. Claxton joined Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel as attorney in San Jose.

Claxton is a versatile business litigator with federal and state court experience. Her practice includes patent litigation, trade secrets, unfair competition, contract claims, and construction defects.

Zeeshan Ahmedani joined Allen & Overy LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Ahmedani represents fund sponsors on the establishment of management companies and compensation arrangements, as well as on U.S. regulatory issues, including investment advisory, investment company and Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 related matters.

Carolina Juarez joined Hone Maxwell LLP as partner in San Diego.

Juarez's practice focuses on U.S. corporate law for businesses of all sizes and types. Carolina has provided skilled guidance on everything from joint ventures for real estate projects to manufacturing deals for more than two decades

Cameron Davidson joined Hone Maxwell LLP as associate in San Diego.

Davidson applies his familiarity and understanding of U.S. and international tax laws to help clients find the right solution to their tax questions.

Michael P. Burns joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as partner in San Diego.

Burns represents builders, developers, and investors on a variety of real estate transactions, including leasing, purchase and sale agreements, and development transactions. His corporate work includes advising clients in structuring and negotiating complex merger, acquisition, disposition, joint venture, reorganization, and finance transactions.

Natham Whitaker was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles.

Whitaker represents private equity sponsors, public and private companies, and debt providers on domestic and cross-border leveraged financings, asset-based financings, senior secured lending, unsecured investment-grade debt, and complex restructurings.

Britt Lovejoy was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in San Francisco.

Lovejoy provides clients seeking to navigate complex licensing and other business disputes nuanced legal advice informed by her deep knowledge of the technology and digital media markets, and her experience representing companies in high-stakes litigation against their direct competitors, suppliers, and downstream buyers.

Richard Kim was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in Silicon Valley.

Kim advises public and private companies in the life sciences and technology industries. He also represents underwriters in securities offerings. His practice has a particular emphasis on capital markets matters, and he represents issuers and investment banks on various matters including initial public offerings and follow-on and secondary offerings.

Steven B. Lesan was promoted to partner of Latham & Watkins in San Diego.

Lesan represents policyholders in high-stakes insurance coverage and bad faith disputes involving a wide range of environmental, property, casualty, investment, and professional liability matters. He has extensive experience in state and federal courts, securing coverage for clients under virtually every type of insurance available, including comprehensive general liability, directors and officers liability, cyber, errors and omissions, environmental impairment liability, builders risk, film production, business interruption claims, and property policies.

Tiffany E. Taubman was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins in Century City.

Taubman advises clients on the acquisition, disposition, and financing of commercial properties and real estate portfolios.

Lucas I. Quass was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins in Orange County.

Quass is a transactional and litigation lawyer who helps clients secure water rights and supplies as well as obtain and defend land use and environmental approvals for infrastructure, energy, and development projects.

Alexandra Welch McArthur was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins in Century City.

McArthur represents private and public companies in a broad range of industries including food and beverage, digital media and technology, consumer retail, and entertainment, as well as private equity funds and financial institutions.

Achraf Farraj was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins in San Diego.

Farraj advises clients on a broad range of real estate and finance transactions, including property acquisitions and dispositions, secured lending, hotel, casino, and energy development and financing, joint ventures, and commercial leasing.

Allison S. Blanco was promoted to counsel of Latham & Watkins in Orange County.

Blanco’s practice focuses on intellectual property, with experience in complex disputes relating to trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and licensing, as well as sports, entertainment and media litigation.

Hedyeh (Chelsea) Tirgardoon joined BraunHagey & Borden, LLP as attorney in San Francisco.

Tirgardoon has represented clients in a broad range of litigation matters in state and federal courts across the nation. While attending UC Irvine School of Law, she participated in the Intellectual Property, Arts and Technology Clinic, Civil Rights Litigation Clinic, and Labor Law Practicum Clinic. She assisted in drafting motions and amicus briefs and participated in oral arguments before California state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tirgardoon also was an executive editor of the U.C. Irvine Journal of International, Transnational, and Comparative Law and served as a student liaison to the California Senate Select Committee on the Growing Impact of Artificial Intelligence.

Judge Emily E. Vasquez joined Judicate West as neutral in Sacramento, CA.

Judicate West has added Judge Emily E. Vasquez, formerly of the Sacramento County Superior Court, to its roster of neutrals. Judge Vasquez has more than 44 years of legal experience, highlighted by 20 years on the Sacramento County Superior Court Bench. During her tenure, she presided over a general trial department that encompassed criminal and civil jury trials, bench trials and preliminary hearings, and complex civil litigation. She has decided hundreds of cases involving a wide range of constitutional, statutory, and other legal questions, including presiding over a combined total of nearly 400 civil and criminal jury trials.

N. Asir Fiola joined Wilson Elser as partner in Los Angeles.

Fiola will focus his practice on legal matters in the areas of trucking, transportation and general liability, as well as product liability and toxic tort. With almost 20 years of trial experience, he has represented insurance and private clients in all areas of civil litigation, including cases arising out of automobile accidents, construction accidents, construction defects, subrogation claims, breach of contract and premises liability.

Celeena B. Pompeo joined Wilson Elser as partner in Los Angeles.

Pompeo represents insurance carriers, corporations and small business owners in the defense of personal injury suits, including cases arising out of catastrophic injury. Her clients include national corporations, several among the giants in their industries. She has particular experience representing insurance carriers and businesses in disputes that involve multi-party trucking and transportation cases and product liability.

Samantha Rifkin joined Miller Barondess LLP as associate in Los Angeles.

Prior to joining Miller Barondess, Rifkin was a certified law clerk for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, where she assisted prosecutors in the Major Crimes Division on a high-profile, first-degree murder case. She also conducted preliminary hearings at the Airport Branch Office.

Michele Floyd joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Floyd has extensive experience defending actions brought under California's Unfair Competition Law (UCL), False Advertising Law (FAL), and similar statutes of other states and has handled complex commercial actions in federal and state courts across the country

Benjamin Fuchs joined Knox Ricksen LLP as associate in Walnut Creek.

Fuchs has more than four years of litigation experience, having tried numerous labor and employment matters, including wage and hour violations, workplace safety issues and worker misclassifications, and representing labor unions and members before various state and federal agencies.

Mariana Acedo joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as associate in San Diego.

Acedo brings a variety of transactional experience to the Firm, including work on cross-border transactions, business formation, filings and restructuring, drafting operating agreements and resolutions. Her experience also includes work on mergers and acquisitions, conducting corporate maintenance and assisting with commercial real estate matters, including representing clients in overseas investments. Acedo is licensed to practice law both in the state of California and in Mexico.

Koryn K. Sheppard joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as associate in San Diego.

Sheppard is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Earlier in her career, Sheppard became a Minor's Counsel, which required specialized training allowing her to represent children in family law cases. She also has considerable experience handling divorces for military families.

Ryan M. Simone joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as associate in San Diego.

Simone’s experience includes complex civil litigation, catastrophic personal injury including traumatic brain injury, and construction-defect litigation. Simone has advised, negotiated, and advocated for numerous policyholders in insurance coverage litigation disputes against insurers. He has also practiced bad faith insurance litigation, environmental and toxic tort litigation, as well as general business and commercial litigation.

Juan E. Zúñiga was promoted to managing partner of Rimon, P.C. in San Diego.

Zúñiga's practice is focused on buying and selling real estate, resort and hospitality transactions, mergers & acquisitions, overseas distribution agreements, international joint ventures, foreign trade and commerce, workouts of distressed assets, lending and investment issues. He has been particularly sought out for his handling of cross-border transactions, especially in Latin America.

John Pavolotsky joined Stoel Rives LLP as of counsel in San Francisco.

Pavolotsky's practice will focus on advising clients regarding privacy and data security matters and on structuring and negotiating complex technology transactions, including inbound and outbound hardware and software licensing and strategic collaboration and development agreements.

Jennie Wang VonCannon joined Crowell & Moring LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

VonCannon is a partner in the Los Angeles office and is a member of the firm's White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement and Privacy & Cybersecurity groups. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and has previously served for over 11 years as an assistant U.S. attorney and was appointed the deputy chief of the Cyber & Intellectual Property Crimes Section of the National Security Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Winnie Ward joined Rimon, P.C. as partner in Sacramento.

Ward advises commercial real estate clients in all facets of the industry, from national real estate investment trusts to local commercial developers. She specializes in leasing transactions, and she has drafted and negotiated literally thousands of lease documents, ranging from small retail tenants to single-tenant office buildings in excess of 170,000 square feet.

Stephanie Reynolds joined Fisher & Phillips LLP as partner in San Diego.

Reynolds brings more than two decades of experience representing employers in complex employment litigation in state and federal courts across California. She has represented clients in matters involving wrongful termination, harassment, employment discrimination, retaliation, misclassification, equal pay, and wage and hour claims.

Jaye Heybl joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as shareholder in Westlake Village.

Heybl is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and focuses on patent and trademark prosecution and litigation in federal and state courts, as well as before the USPTO. He has prosecuted patents in a variety of technologies including semiconductors, electronics, communications and computer related technologies, as well as mechanical matters.

Jill Heybl joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as of counsel in Westlake Village.

Heybl practices extensively in trademark and trade dress prosecution. She has expertise in trademark watching, trademark clearance and infringement investigations and opinions, trademark disputes, and U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings such as appeals, oppositions, and cancellations. She represents clientele from various technologies focusing on consumer products and services. Jill practices regularly before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office prosecuting trademark applications and advises clients worldwide on securing their intellectual property rights.

Jordan R. Ferguson was promoted to partner of Locke Lord LLP in Los Angeles.

Ferguson has extensive experience defending and prosecuting claims on behalf of employers on individual, representative and class-wide claims before state and federal courts, in private arbitration and before governmental agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement

Sanjay Bansal joined Kaufman Dolowich Voluck, LLP as co-managing partner in Los Angeles.

Bansal concentrates his practice in the areas of labor and employment law. He represents and counsels' clients regarding class action wage and hour cases, whistleblower, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) matters. He advises and defends clients who are the target of wrongful termination actions as well as harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims. He handles contract negotiations and disputes, grievance hearings and writ of mandamus actions.

Brian C. Bunger joined Holland & Knight LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Bunger has more than 30 years of experience in environmental, air and climate law, with a particular focus on environmental administrative law and litigation and has vast experience handling litigation matters, including arguing cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts.