Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
Fabio E. Marino
joined Womble Bond Dickinson LLP as partner in Palo Alto.
Marino focuses his practice on high-stakes patent, trade secrets, and copyright cases across the United States, with an emphasis on computer-related technologies and arguing appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
Christopher A. Elliot
was promoted to partner of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP in Los Angeles.
Elliot specializes in commercial and entertainment litigation.
Louise Truong
was promoted to partner of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP in Los Angeles.
Truong represents employers ranging from Fortune 50 companies to start-ups in a variety of employment disputes and litigation involving wrongful termination, harassment, whistleblower, discrimination, trade secrets misappropriation, unfair competition, employee solicitation, and wage and hour class claims.
Stephen A. Blaker
was promoted to partner of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP.
Blaker’s practice is dedicated to handling employment and family-based nonimmigrant and immigrant petitions for a multitude of industries.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
David S. Hong
joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Hong specializes in the formation and operation of private funds across the spectrum of asset classes, including private equity, credit, real estate, venture capital, growth equity, hedge and hybrid funds.
Buchalter
Details
Occupying the entire 29th floor, Buchalter will move its approximately 70 attorneys and support staff to its new location by the end of March. This year, the firm is celebrating 40 years in San Francisco. Office Managing Shareholder Matthew Coving said, "We are ready for a change, and our new office has everything, from the central and accessible location to the efficient layout and modern amenities."
Address
425 Market Street , San Francisco
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Nicholas R. Fung
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Los Angeles.
Fung, a member of the Litigation Department and part of the Intellectual Property Group, advises clients on a broad range of intellectual property issues, with a focus on high-stakes patent litigation and trade secrets disputes.
Shai Kalansky
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Diego.
Kalansky, a member of the Corporate Department, focuses on corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions (representing both buyers and sellers), venture capital financings, and a broad range of securities offerings.
Ryan M. Keats
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco.
Keats represents companies and their officers and directors in securities class actions, shareholder derivative lawsuits and other high-stakes litigation.
Victor S. Liang
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco.
Liang, a member of the Finance Department and part of the Finance & Projects Group, represents borrowers, lenders, and other financial institutions in connection with domestic and cross-border financial transactions, including secured and unsecured financings, syndicated lending, asset and cash-flow based lending, warehouse facilities, acquisition finance, structured finance, leveraged finance, equipment finance and real estate backed loans.
Lee B. Shepard
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Palo Alto.
Shepard, a member of the Corporate Department, specializes in fund formation and transactions, as well as corporate and securities law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private financings, public offerings, and general corporate matters.
Lisa N. Silverman
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Palo Alto.
Silverman specializes in patent portfolio management and strategic patent counseling in the areas of chemistry and life sciences.
Roman A. Swoopes
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Palo Alto.
Swoopes specializes in patent and copyright litigation and counseling with a focus on computer software, hardware, and peripherals, data storage, digital imaging, consumer electronics, music, and graphic design.
David P. Zins
was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Los Angeles.
Zins advises and defends employers in wage-and-hour matters arising under state and federal law, with an emphasis on defeating class actions, Private Attorney General Act representative actions, and Fair Labor Standards Act collective actions filed against California employers.
Pasich LLP
Nathan M. Davis
was promoted to partner of Pasich LLP in Los Angeles.
Davis has extensive experience in complex, high-profile litigation, successfully representing clients from notable personalities in the entertainment industry to Fortune 500 companies.
Jacquelyn M. Mohr
was promoted to partner of Pasich LLP in Manhattan Beach.
Mohr represents commercial and individual clients in a wide range of complex coverage disputes, including coverage advice, pre-litigation disputes, international arbitrations, and coverage litigation.
Christopher T. Pasich
was promoted to partner of Pasich LLP in Los Angeles.
Pasich has litigated matters in state and federal courts nationwide, in addition to engaging in arbitrations in the United Kingdom and United States representing insureds.
Best Best & Krieger LLP
Eric L Garner
was promoted to managing partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Los Angeles.
Garner, based in Los Angeles, specializes in water rights and supply law.
Scott W Ditfurth
was promoted to member of firm executive committee of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Riverside.
Ditfurth, based in Riverside, handles public entity defense litigation and real property-related disputes for private
and public clients.
Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP
Jason E Grinnell
joined Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP as partner in Los Angeles (Century City).
Grinnell specializes in real estate transactions and financings. He handles acquisitions, dispositions and leasing
across multiple asset classes, with particular experience in the retail leasing.
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Nathan O. Greene
was promoted to senior counsel of Lowenstein Sandler LLP in Palo Alto.
Greene focuses on U.S. and international intellectual property asset procurement, management, and protection, including patent preparation, prosecution, and opinion work (patentability, invalidity, and noninfringement). He is experienced with trademark searches, clearance, and registration, and with copyright registration and protection.
Madhumita Datta
was promoted to counsel of Lowenstein Sandler LLP in Palo Alto.
Datta specializes in U.S. and international patent prosecution, patent portfolio management and counseling, analysis of patent validity and potential infringement.
Foley & Mansfield PLLP
Dustin J Priebe
was promoted to partner of Foley & Mansfield PLLP in Los Angeles.
Priebe is chair of the firm's Transportation Practice Group. He has acted as the first-chair attorney in several multiday
trials and handled numerous appeals.
Baker Botts LLP
Dino T Barajas
joined Baker Botts LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Barajas focuses on domestic and international project development and finance, with emphasis on infrastructure
projects, debt financings and M&A deals. He has extensive experience in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Stephen E. Tsoneff
joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as partner in Los Angeles (Century City).
Tsoneff specializes in entertainment law with a focus on advising content producers, distributors and financiers in
media and entertainment transactions, licensing, distribution, and rights acquisitions.
Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP
Courtney R Arbucci
was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Los Angeles.
Arbucci is a member of the Public Entity, Product Liability, General Liability, and Transportation Law practice
groups.
Patrick F McIntyre
was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Los Angeles.
McIntyre is a member of the Fire Litigation, General Liability, Product Liability and Transportation Law practice
groups.
Bethsaida C Obra-White
was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in San Diego.
Obra-White is involved in the Employment & Labor, Risk Management & Insurance Law, Transportation Law, General
Liability and Construction Law practice groups.
Kutak Rock LLP
Brian J. Wagner
was promoted to partner of Kutak Rock LLP in Irvine.
Wagner focuses on commercial, real estate, employment, and consumer finance litigation. He primarily represents lenders, real estate developers, property management companies, family offices, as well as small and mid-sized companies.
Best Best & Krieger LLP
Alison S Bassett
was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Walnut Creek.
Bassett represents health care districts, nonprofit health care systems, hospitals, medical groups and community
clinics in a variety of matters ranging from health care acquisitions and affiliations, real estate leasing arrangements,
and regulatory and compliance issues.
Whitney R Blackhurst
was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in San Diego.
Blackhurst specializes in public works disputes; eminent domain and inverse condemnation actions; fee, tax, assessment
and rate challenges; tort claims; real property disputes; land use and entitlement actions; mobile home rent
control challenges and title insurance disputes.
Rebecca A Chaparro
was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in San Diego.
Chaparro focuses on public infrastructure, with specific experience in public works construction law and public
contracting.
Todd R. Leishman
was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Ontario and Irvine.
Leishman handles complex real estate and regulatory matters for private and public clients.
Nicholaus W Norvell
was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in San Diego.
Norvell’s practice involves general counsel and special counsel services, advising clients on a full range of issues,
including the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, public contracting, governance policies and real
estate.
Christine N Wood
was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Wood, a certified e-discovery specialist, advises, educates and assists public agencies in developing procedures
and best practices to support the preservation, collection and production of electronically stored information.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Christopher Chatham
joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Chatham advises clients on a variety of corporate and litigation matters, including production issues, management strength, deal structuring, new media business, employment matters and other strategic planning and is general counsel to some of entertainment's most innovative stakeholders -- from well-known stars, directors and producers to independent production companies and large corporations.
Fitzgerald Knaier LLP
Keith M Cochran
was promoted to partner of Fitzgerald Knaier LLP in San Diego.
Cochran has extensive experience in business litigation and intellectual property disputes. In addition, he serves
as an arbitrator for the San Diego County Bar Association's fee dispute arbitration program and as a public arbitrator
for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Morgan E Smith
was promoted to partner of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP in Palo Alto.
Smith focuses on trademark, copyright, and false advertising litigation. She litigates cases and manages enforcement
efforts for some of the world's most renowned brands, representing clients in a diverse range of industries,
including sports equipment, apparel, food and beverage, travel, consumer electronics, personal healthcare, video
games, pet products and services, automotive, and telecommunications.
Irell & Manella LLP
Andrew J Strabone
was promoted to partner of Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles.
Strabone specializes in complex business disputes, with an emphasis on intellectual property and securities litigation.
Anthony Q Rowles
was promoted to partner of Irell & Manella LLP in Newport Beach.
Rowles specializes in patent litigation at the trial level and on appeal, Section 337 investigations at the U.S. International
Trade Commission and prosecution and post-grant review proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office.
King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano LLP
John G Snow
was promoted to partner of King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano LLP in Los Angeles.
Snow focuses on intellectual property disputes, securities fraud litigation, consumer class actions, False Claims
Act cases, government investigations, and other complex business disputes.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Christopher M. Dayans
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in San Francisco.
Dayans represents private companies and entrepreneurs in venture finance, mergers and acquisitions, and other general corporate matters. He regularly guides venture-backed companies through all stages of the complex corporate life cycle, from formation to funding to exit.
W. Joseph Anderson
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.
Anderson focuses on corporate transactional matters affecting the music and entertainment industries, as well as potential issues arising from intellectual property and corporate law.
Walter J. Stapleton
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.
Stapleton is an entertainment attorney focusing on the music, film, television and digital industries representing a wide range of clients, including artists, directors, producers,
composers, executives, audio studios, production companies, cable networks and media companies.
Colin M. McGrath
McGrath’s practice encompasses all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, with a primary emphasis on health care litigation.
Jessamyn E. Vedro
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.
Vedro handles complex, high-stakes business litigation for a variety of clients, with an emphasis on the health insurance and managed health care industries.
Jennifer J. Lynch
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Costa Mesa.
Lynch counsels and defends public agencies and private developers regarding complex state and federal environmental and land use laws, with an emphasis on the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Coastal Act and the National Environmental Policy Act
Alison R. Weinberg-Fahey
Weinberg-Fahey focuses on commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, development, joint ventures, construction, secured loans, and workouts. She also advises and represents property owners, developers, tenants, lenders and investors in retail, office, hospitality, aviation, and multifamily projects.
Kishan H. Barot
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.
Barot is a member of the litigation practice. He has prosecuted and defended a variety of business litigation cases, including employment, shareholder, real estate, and consumer protection actions.
Alexandra N. Krasovec
was promoted to partner of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP.
Krasovec advises clients on compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and defending class actions.
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Jeffrey D Diener
joined Baker & Hostetler LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Diener specializes in globally in the acquisition, finance, sale, development, management, restructuring and bankruptcy
of hospitality, life science, technology and other real estate assets and business.
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Joelle A Berle
was promoted to partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP in Los Angeles.
Berle specializes in high-stakes commercial disputes including breach of contract, business torts, environmental,
real estate, health care and securities matters.
Christopher M. Habashy
was promoted to partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP in Los Angeles.
Habashy specializes in all types of employment disputes, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation and
wrongful termination cases.
David J Richardson
was promoted to partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP in Los Angeles.
Richardson is a member of the firm’s national bankruptcy and restructuring and litigation teams. He focuses on
actions against corporate insiders for pre-petition or post-petition violations of fiduciary duties and related claims.
Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg & Bagley LLP
Sabrina D Johnson
joined Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg & Bagley LLP as associate in San Diego.
Johnson focuses on business and real estate litigation and risk management.
Address
600 West Broadway, Suite 800 , San Diego
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Sandra N. Bignone
joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP as associate in Los Angeles.
Bignone serves as general counsel for clients including a highly syndicated television talk show as well as a multimillion-dollar celebrity-consumer brand. Additionally, she regularly represents influencers in a variety of business deals and partnership opportunities.
Alston & Bird LLP
Alexander Akerman
was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.
Akerman focuses on high-stakes complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on class action defense, antitrust,
breach of contract, trade secret and intellectual property espionage, privacy, and unfair competition disputes.
Anoush Garakani
was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.
Garakani advises on mortgage banking and consumer finance, with a focus on counseling clients on compliance
with federal and state consumer financial protection laws and regulations, including the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau’s Mortgage Servicing Rules, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act, and Truth in Lending Act.
McGuireWoods LLP
Kevin B Frankel
joined McGuireWoods LLP as partner in San Francisco.
White collar defense, investigations and complex litigation
Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP

Andrew C. Myers
was promoted to partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP in San Diego.
Myers' practice focuses on representing a diverse corporate client base in business- and employment-related matters. Experienced in all phases of civil litigation, he has litigated extensively in both state and federal courts.
Details
Founded in 1977, Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP provides a full range of legal services to individuals and businesses of all sizes. The firm has 36 attorneys and offers a comprehensive mix of transactional and litigation services ranging from business and corporate law, finance, real estate and construction law, employment law, international law, taxation, trust and estates, family law, bankruptcy and insolvency to most types of business litigation and even personal injury.
Fitzgerald Knaier LLP

Keith Cochran
was promoted to partner of Fitzgerald Knaier LLP in San Diego.
Cochran has extensive experience in business litigation and intellectual property disputes. In addition, he serves as an arbitrator for the San Diego County Bar Association's fee dispute arbitration program. He also serves as a public arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Prior to joining Fitzgerald Knaier, Cochran practiced with Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps LLP where he defended clients in complex civil litigation matters.
Details
Fitzgerald Knaier LLP is a San Diego boutique litigation firm, focused exclusively on trying cases and handling controversies for its clients.
Miller Barondess, LLP

David W. Schecter
was promoted to partner of Miller Barondess, LLP in Los Angeles.
Schecter is a trial attorney and focuses on media, technology, entertainment and environmental litigation.