Sidley Austin LLP
Sandra "Sandi" Knox
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Palo Alto.
Knox advises clients in technology and life sciences transactions, corporate governance and executive compensation matters. She is the founding lawyer of the firm's Palo Alto office and leads the corporate venture capital practice.
She is based in Palo Alto.
Payom M. Pirahesh
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.
Pirahesh is a member of the private equity and mergers and acquisitions practice groups. He specializes in the representation of private equity funds.
He is based in Century City.
Eric Schwartz
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.
Schwartz is a commercial litigator with a focus on complex business disputes such as theft of confidential information, breach of fiduciary duty, duty of loyalty and misappropriation of corporate opportunities.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Collin P. Wedel
was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.
Wedel specializes in the representation of clients before the U.S. Supreme Court and the appellate courts.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Jones Day
Elizabeth M. Burnside
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.
Burnside focuses on business and commercial litigation including consumer class actions, business and contract disputes and securities and environmental litigation.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Allison Crow
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Crow represents clients in labor and employment cases.
She is based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Kelsey A. Israel-Trummel
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Francisco.
Israel-Trummel represents employers in labor and employment claims including wage and hour, discrimination and wrongful termination.
She is based in San Francisco.
Brooke Schultz
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in San Diego.
Schultz represents companies in civil and criminal enforcement actions, as well as complex business litigation.
She is based in San Diego.
Lexi Adian Smith
was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.
Smith focuses on intellectual property and advises clients in complex intellectual property disputes and licensing of intellectual property rights.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Cooley LLP
Lauren Creel
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Palo Alto.
Creel advises start-ups and venture capital funds. She has experience in public offerings, SEC reporting and compliance, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
She is based in Palo Alto.
Megan Donohue
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in San Diego.
Donohue is a litigator and specializes in advertising and media disputes.
She is based in San Diego.
Kristine Forderer
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in San Francisco.
Forderer specializes in complex litigation. She represents clients in class actions and claims related to breach of contract, trade secrets, fraud, securities violations, privacy and unfair competition.
She is based in San Francisco.
Alex K. Kassai
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Palo Alto.
Kassai focuses on general business and corporate law. He advises companies on formations, private equity financings, public offerings, complex business transactions and mergers and acquisitions.
He is based in Palo Alto.
Sale Kwon
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Palo Alto.
Kwon specializes in securities and corporate law. He advises clients in corporate governance, venture financings, public offerings and mergers and acquisitions.
He is based in Palo Alto.
Anne Lieberman
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Los Angeles.
Lieberman advises public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions and other complex strategic transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Sara Semnani
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in Los Angeles.
Semnani focuses on corporate and securities law. She advises companies on formation and financing activities, securities law compliance, corporate governance and other strategic transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Erin Trenda
was promoted to partner of Cooley LLP in San Diego.
Trenda specializes in contract and licensing disputes, intellectual property litigation and commercial tort claims.
She is based in San Diego.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC
Lily Zhang
was promoted to member of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC in San Diego.
Zhang specializes in intellectual property with a focus on patent preparation and prosecution, as well as portfolio management.
She is based in San Diego.
Tali M. Tuchin
was promoted to member of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC in San Diego.
Tuchin advises clients in complex and strategic business and technology based transactions.
She is based in San Diego.
Melanie Ruthrauff Levy
was promoted to member of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC in San Diego.
Levy advises public and private companies in capital market transactions, fallen angel reverse mergers, corporate governance, public company reporting and mergers and acquisitions.
She is based in San Diego.
Spertus, Landes & Umhofer LLP
David Michaels
joined Spertus, Landes & Umhofer LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
David Michaels joined Spertus, Landes & Umhofer as a partner in Los Angeles from his solo practice.
"Matt Umhofer has been a good friend and mentor of mine since I started my career at Skadden," said Michaels in an interview. "I got staffed on a case with him and worked with him quite a bit when I was there - really enjoyed the experience - and he and I stayed in very close contact. He had mentioned over the last couple years a couple times in conversation that there was a potential seat for me at the firm if I was interested. That conversation started to become more serious in the last few months before I joined ... and I basically started talking to all the partners and was just incredibly impressed."
Michaels said he was also impressed by the caliber of attorneys and the firm's culture. How the attorneys felt about practicing there really attracted him to the opportunity, he said.
As a commercial litigator, Michaels specializes in corporate, securities and general business litigation. His clients are primarily middle market and emerging companies.
Prior to his two years in solo practice, he was a co-founder and principal of Kilometer Partners LLP for almost seven years. He joined Spertus, Landes & Umhofer earlier this month. Michaels has practiced at Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP and at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Los Angeles.
He also was a clerk to 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw and Vice Chancellor John W. Noble of the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Since joining the firm, Michaels has been focusing on transitioning his clients to the firm and building relationships with his new colleagues. He looks forward to growing his practice on the firm's platform and helping the firm grow.
"I like the sort of romantic or old school idea of being someone's attorney, someone's protector, so to speak," he added. "I sort of romanticize that a little bit when a client puts their faith in you in an area in which they're often really stressed, don't know that much about and depend on you to steer them through sometimes what is the hardest circumstance they have ever dealt with. That's my favorite part about my practice."
Address
617 West 7th Street, Suite 200 , Los Angeles 90017 USA
T:
(310) 826-4700
F:
(310) 826-4711
Rimon PC
Joseph Ferrucci
joined Rimon PC as partner in San Francisco.
Ferrucci focuses on trusts and estates, including the establishment and administration of trusts and advising on real property matters and Proposition 13 property tax planning.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
1 Embarcadero Ctr, Ste 400 , San Francisco 94111-3619 USA
T:
(415) 539-3292
Hopkins & Carley
Christine B. Redfield
joined Hopkins & Carley as of counsel in Palo Alto.
Hopkins & Carley announced the expansion of its intellectual property group in Palo Alto with the addition of Christine B. Redfield as of counsel on Dec. 8.
She rejoined the firm from Redfield IP Professional Corp., having previously practiced at the firm as an associate.
"I began my trademark practice at Hopkins & Carley and was there for seven years," said Redfield. "I'm excited to be rejoining the firm to help build out the intellectual property group with a robust international trademark practice."
"I am thrilled to be joining an exceptional team of trademark attorneys and paralegals, who are utilizing advanced technology platforms, research and analytics and tools that are transforming the practice," she added. "Hopkins & Carley's deep bench of talent with strong IP litigation, privacy, licensing and corporate practices was a draw for me. I was also impressed by the firm's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Lawyers from diverse backgrounds are essential to growing an international trademark practice."
Redfield advises clients in the development of their trademark rights, expansion of their portfolios and protection of their brands globally.
"I represent a range of companies from unicorns with billion-dollar valuations to entrepreneurs, who are developing their first brand," she said.
She has represented clients in the gaming, technology, construction, biotech, food and beverage, medical device, cosmetics, financial technology and apparel industries.
"Chris' unique skills and commitment to client service perfectly complement those of our growing IP team," said Chiara Portner, co-chair of the firm's intellectual property group. "With her robust trademark practice and the development of our data privacy and e-commerce practice, our IP group now offers a broad array of branding and marketing services to our clients on a unified platform."
Redfield has also practiced at K&L Gates LLP and Fenwick & West LLP.
Address
200 Page Mill Rd Ste 200 , Palo Alto 94306-2062
T:
(650) 804-7644
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Philip Sheng
was promoted to counsel of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in Menlo Park.
Sheng focuses on intellectual property litigation. He advises clients in life sciences and pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, semiconductor integrated circuits and smartphone and tablet displays.
He is based in Menlo Park.
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Ruby Kazi
joined Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP as of counsel in San Francisco.
Kazi is a member of the firm's litigation practice group and specializes in commercial litigation.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
One Montgomery Tower; 120 Kearny Street #2700 , San Francisco 94104 United States
T:
(628) 600-2250
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Emily C. Curran-Huberty
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in San Francisco.
Curran-Huberty specializes in commercial litigation with a focus on antitrust.
She is based in San Francisco.
Karen A. Lorang
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.
Lorang specializes in real estate and land use transactions. She advises clients on large-scale development projects.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Matthew S. Schonholz
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles.
Schonholz specializes in tax law, including the tax structuring and documentation of public and private mergers, equity and asset acquisitions and dispositions, compensation and employment arrangements.
He is based in Los Angeles.
John L. Schwab
was promoted to partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles.
Schwab specializes in complex civil litigation with a focus on intellectual property disputes and the entertainment industry.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Dechert LLP
Jonathan S. Tam
joined Dechert LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Tam specializes in representing pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer electronic companies in mass tort product liability litigation, consumer fraud cases and class actions.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
1 Bush St Ste 1600 , San Francisco 94104-4422 USA
T:
(415) 262-4500
F:
(415) 262-4555
California Lawyers Association
Deborah Maddux
joined California Lawyers Association as chair of the labor and employment law section executive committee in Sacramento.
Maddux is senior managing and founding partner of Van Dermyden Maddux Law Corp.
She is based in Sacramento.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Jeremy D. Erickson
was promoted to partner of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in San Francisco.
Erickson advises clients on compensation and corporate governance issues.
He is based in San Francisco.
Vijay K. Toke
was promoted to partner of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in San Francisco.
Toke focuses on trademark, copyright and licensing disputes in court and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
He is based in San Francisco.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Rasheed McWilliams
joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
McWilliams specializes in intellectual property infringement litigation and defense of California Consumer Privacy Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act cases.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
865 S Figueroa St , Los Angeles 90017 United States
T:
(213) 633-8620
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Liane Randolph
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chair of the california air resources board in Oakland.
Randolph has been commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission since 2015 and is the former deputy secretary and general counsel at the California Natural Resources Agency.
She is based in Oakland.
Davina Hurt
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as california air resources board member.
Hurt has been a Belmont City Council member since 2015 and has had her own practice since 2005.
She is based in Belmont.
Gideon Kracov
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as california air resources board member in Los Angeles.
Kracov has had his own practice since 2004 and is a former deputy Los Angeles city attorney.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth Landsberg
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom in Sacramento.
Landsberg has been deputy director of the Help Center for the California Department of Managed Health Care since 2016 and is the former director of policy advocacy for the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
She is based in Sacramento.
Matt LaVere
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as supervisor for the 1st district of the ventura county board of supervisors in Ventura.
LaVere has been the mayor of the city of Ventura since 2018. He also has
been a principal at LaVere Huff LLP since 2018.
He is based in Ventura.
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel
Maysa Saeed
joined Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel as associate in San Jose.
Saeed advises employers in employment law including litigation, advice and counsel.
Address
60 South Market Street, Suite 1400 , San Jose 95113 USA
T:
(408) 947-2434
F:
(408) 287-2583
Rimon PC
Herman Enayati
joined Rimon PC as partner in Los Angeles.
Enayati specializes in real estate and advises owners, investors and operators in a variety of transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
2029 Century Park East Suite 400N , Los Angeles 90067 USA
T:
(213) 375-3811
F:
(213) 375-3811
Cooper, White & Cooper LLP
Quinlan S. Tom
joined Cooper, White & Cooper LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Tom is a construction trial lawyer and represents general contractors, developers, homeowners, sureties, subcontractors, material suppliers and designers in construction and commercial business disputes.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
201 California St., 17th Floor, 24th Floor , San Francisco 94111 USA
T:
(415) 433-1900
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Nicholas S. Kawuka
joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as associate in San Diego.
Kawuka specializes in employment litigation including wage and hour class and representative actions.
Joshua E. Summers
joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as associate in San Diego.
Summers advises clients in mergers and acquisitions, private company financing transactions, as well as general corporate and securities matters.
Address
Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch, 525 B St, Ste 2200 , San Diego 92101-4474 USA
T:
(619) 238-1900
Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP
Frances M. O'Meara
joined Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
O'Meara focuses on malpractice, specifically in errors and omissions defense for attorneys, accountants, architects, insurance agents, real estate brokers and doctors.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
550 S Hope St Ste 2200 , Los Angeles 90071-3200 USA
T:
(213) 615-7000
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Dominika Korytek
joined McDermott Will & Emery LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Korytek focuses on advising technology companies in international tax planning matters.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
415 Mission Street Suite 5600 , San Francisco 94105-2533 USA
T:
(628) 218-3870
F:
(628) 232-3095
Jackson Lewis PC
Samantha N. Hoffman
was promoted to firm managing principal of Jackson Lewis PC.
Hoffman specializes in employment litigation and previously served as office managing principal of the firm's Orange County office.
She is based in Orange County.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Richard Kline
joined Latham & Watkins LLP as partner in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Kline advises companies and financial institutions in
corporate and securities matters.
He is based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Sarah Axtell
joined Latham & Watkins LLP as partner in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Axtell specializes in corporate and securities law in
the technology sector.
She is based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Address
140 Scott Drive , Menlo Park 94025 USA
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Micha Adler
joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as attorney in Irvine.
Adler specializes in U.S. and foreign patent prosecution.
He is based in Irvine.
Address
100 Spectrum Center Dr, Ste 520 , Irvine 92618-4968 USA
T:
(949) 346-8382
King & Spalding LLP
Vinay Kohli
was promoted to partner of King & Spalding LLP in Los Angeles.
Kohli represents healthcare industry clients in litigation. His clients include hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities and specialty physician groups.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Torene L.M. Schwab
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as deputy director and chief counsel at the california department of social services in Davis.
Schwab has served in the position since 2015. She has previously served as assistant chief counsel, senior staff counsel and staff counsel in the department.
She is based in Davis.
Karen F. Tynan
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as board member of the board of pilot commissioners for the bays of san francisco, san pablo and suisun in Fairfield.
Tynan's appointment is effective in January. She is currently of counsel at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC and specializes in employment law.
She is based in Fairfield.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Navneeta Rekhi
joined Latham & Watkins LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Rekhi joined Latham & Watkins LLP's mergers and acquisitions and private equity practices in San Francisco Dec. 1. Rekhi joined the firm from Kirkland & Ellis, where she practiced for just under 9 years.
"It was an opportunity to partner with a top tier platform and help [Latham] grow their presence in the Bay Area," Rekhi said of the move. "They are already doing great work, and I think this is an opportunity to kind of bring my strengths to bear in a place where there's already an incredible platform available."
The firm's breadth, depth, international platform and the ability to further her practice was what drew her to the opportunity at Latham, she said.
Rekhi describes her focus as a broad private equity practice.
The bulk of her work involves the representation of private equity funds and private companies in matters such as mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, distressed acquisitions, minority investments and in-court and out-of-court restructuring.
Notable work she has done in the past includes the representation of Oaktree Capital Management in its acquisition of apparel company Quiksilver as well as the representation of Quiksilver in its acquisition of Billabong.
"My favorite part is collaborating with clients and often parties on the other side to kind of obtain an outcome that both sides are pleased with," she added. "I just genuinely really enjoy the process of deal making and, especially in private equity, being creative to come up with the right solutions to hard problems."
Outside of her practice, Rekhi is involved in various outreach programs and initiatives through her alma maters and has been involved in educational programs focused on low-income youth in the U.S. and abroad.
Prior to Kirkland & Ellis, Rekhi was a corporate associate at Proskauer Rose LLP. She earned her J.D. from Northwestern California University School of Law.
Address
505 Montgomery St # 2000 , San Francisco 94111 USA
T:
(415) 391-0600
F:
(415) 395-8095
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Hiren Patel
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel of the california department of developmental services in Sacramento.
Patel has served as chief counsel since 2012. Previously, he was deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice.
He is based in Sacramento.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Michael Vernance
was promoted to partner of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in Palo Alto.
Vernance focuses on syndicated finance and commercial lending transactions such as acquisition, leveraged, investment grade and hybrid financings.
He is based in Palo Alto.
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Ryan S. Alexander
joined Dykema Gossett PLLC as member in Los Angeles.
Alexander specializes in corporate, commercial and technology transactional
matters.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
333 S Grand Ave, Ste 2100 , Los Angeles 90071-1525 USA
T:
(213) 457-1736
F:
(855) 245-1916