2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission
Kary Marshall
joined 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission as chief counsel in Sacramento.
Marshall specializes in data security and privacy.
She is based in Sacramento.
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Roberta D. Repasy
joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as special counsel in San Diego.
Repasy specializes in estate planning, trust administration and tax.
She is based in San Diego
Address
525 B Street, Suite 2200 , San Diego 92101 USA
T:
(619) 906-5683
F:
(619) 788-5560
Ropes & Gray LLP
Elizabeth Rahn Gallucci
was promoted to partner of Ropes & Gray LLP in San Francisco.
Gallucci specializes in private equity and mergers and acquisitions. She advises clients in leveraged buyouts, sales and minority investments.
She is based in San Francisco.
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

Ann Calfas
joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Veteran in-house attorney Ann Calfas has joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as a partner, expanding its Los Angeles based labor and employment practice, the firm announced Tuesday.
"I actually had been a client of MSK for over 20 years. So, I had gotten to know several of the labor and employment partners over that time and I just believe that they are the best in their field and are just great, great colleagues to work with," said Calfas of her decision to join the firm.
Calfas most recently was executive vice president of labor relations and employment litigation for Fox Entertainment Group and was the company's chief labor negotiator. She departed from the company in connection with its sale to Disney, she said.
Calfas was involved in negotiations with the Directors Guild, Writers Guild, the Screen Actors Guild and The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. These opportunities have given her a unique advantage in the industry, she said.
"Normally the outside lawyers aren't in the room when all of these contracts get negotiated," Calfas explained. "So to have actually been in the room during the negotiations is a really unique perspective and I think it also gave me an opportunity to really develop expertise about the ecosystem of the entertainment business and how to partner with clients from both the legal and business perspective."
During her 24 years with the company, Calfas also was senior vice president, vice president, senior counsel and counsel for the employment litigation department.
Outside of her practice, she is a trustee of the AFTRA Retirement Fund, which provides retirement benefits to radio and television artists.
"I love being part of a relatively small group of attorneys and executives that have devoted a lot of their careers to understanding the studio labor world," she said. "There are maybe 40 people that really know these contracts in and out and so I really like having that substantive expertise to offer to clients."
Address
2049 Century Park East 18th Floor , Los Angeles 90067 USA
T:
(310) 312-3738
California Lawyers Association
Carole J. Buckner
was promoted to member of legal ethics committee of California Lawyers Association in San Diego.
Buckner is a partner and general counsel at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.
She is based in San Diego.
Brownlie Hansen LLP
Robert W. Brownlie
as managing partner and founding partner
in San Diego
Brownlie specializes in complex business, securities and corporate litigation.
He is based in San Diego.
Ryan T. Hansen
as founding partner
in San Diego
Hansen focuses on crisis management, civil litigation and appeals.
He is based in San Diego.
Address
10920 Via Frontera, Suite 550 , San Diego 92127 USA
T:
(858) 877-0322
Munck Wllson Mandala, LLP

Paul Gelb
joined Munck Wllson Mandala, LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Gelb specializes in litigation and disputes related to brands, international operations and real estate assets.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
1925 Century Park East Ste 2300 , Los Angeles 90067 United States
T:
(310) 286-0377
JAMS
Laura C. Abrahamson
joined JAMS as neutral in Los Angeles.
Abrahamson handles a range of national and international disputes related to business, commercial, accounting, finance, employment, energy, engineering, entertainment and personal injury.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
555 W. 5th St., 32nd Floor , Los Angeles 90013 USA
T:
(213) 253-9706
F:
(213) 620-0100
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Brent D. Sokol
joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as shareholder in Los Angeles.
Veteran intellectual property litigator Brent D. Sokol joined Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in Los Angeles after almost 20 years with Jones Day.
"Almost unique amongst law firms, Greenberg Traurig has first tier recognition and a deep bench in copyright, patent and trademark litigation, which makes it an excellent fit for my practice," said Sokol, who joined the firm Oct. 20.
His familiarity with the firm and its quality of services also made the opportunity stand out, he added.
During his 27 years of practice, Sokol has represented clients on both sides of intellectual property disputes.
Sokol specializes in medical device and biotechnology patent litigation, where he leverages his background as a biomedical engineer. He also focuses on bringing and defending copyright and trademark infringement cases.
"I've always been a very verbal person and going into a law practice, particularly one involving patents, sort of combined two aspects of my interest and personality," he explained.
Outside his practice, Sokol is a frequent speaker on global restructuring of intellectual property assets and is a member of the International Trademark Association. He is also a longtime member and associate national commissioner of The Anti-Defamation League, where he ran the summer associate research program for about 10 years.
Address
1840 Century Park East Suite 1900 , Los Angeles 90067 USA
T:
(310) 586-7700
F:
(310) 586-7800
Holland & Knight LLP
Alexis Alonzo
joined Holland & Knight LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Alonzo specializes in complex real estate transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
400 South Hope Street , Los Angeles 90071 USA
T:
(213) 896-2400
F:
(213) 989-6245
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel
Nazar A. Ghosseiri
joined Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel as counsel in San Mateo.
Ghosseiri focuses on estate planning, trust administrations, probate and conservatorships.
She is based in San Mateo.
Address
177 Bovet Road, 6th Floor , San Mateo 94402 USA
T:
(650) 963-2172
F:
(650) 963-2171
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth

Rick L. Frimmer
joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as shareholder in San Diego.
Frimmer advises clients in restructuring of municipal and corporate debt and equity.
He is based in San Diego.
Address
4365 Executive Drive. Suite 1500 , San Diego 92121 United States
T:
(858) 926-3000
Arent Fox LLP
James Williams
joined Arent Fox LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Williams advises consumer brands and private equity companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, formation and governance.
He is based in Los Angeles
Address
555 West Fifth Street, 48th Floor , Los Angeles 90013 USA
T:
(213) 443-7617
F:
(213) 629-7401
White & Case LLP
Brody Greenwald
as partner
Greenwald moves to the firm's Los Angeles office from Washington D.C. He advises clients in international commercial and investor-state arbitrations.
Address
550 Flower St #2700 , Los Angeles 90071 US
T:
(121) 281-9257
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Loretta Miranda
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief deputy tribal advisor and special counsel for the governor's office of the tribal advisor in Cherry Valley.
Miranda previously was general counsel of the Karuk Tribe.
She is based in Cherry Valley.
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Elizabeth Pipkin
joined Law Foundation of Silicon Valley as president in San Jose.
Pipkin is a managing partner at McManis Faulkner and specializes in litigation related to technology, trade secrets, business disputes and civil rights.
She is based in San Jose
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Rima Badawiya
was promoted to chief diversity partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Bernardino.
Badawiya also is the co-chair of the health care, medical malpractice and long-term care and elder law practices and vice chair of the health care regulatory and compliance practice.
She is based in San Bernardino.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

Peter David Ballance
joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Ballance advises lenders, borrowers, developers and property owners in national commercial real estate transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
2029 Century Park East , Los Angeles 90067-3086 USA
T:
(310) 556-5865
F:
(310) 556-5959
Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP
Wendy Musell
joined Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP as of counsel in Oakland.
Musell represents employees in wage theft, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and whistleblower actions.
She is based in Oakland
Rebecca Kagin
joined Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP as of counsel in Oakland.
Kagin specializes in representing employees in workplace disputes including discrimination, harassment, retaliation and negotiations of severance agreements.
She is based in Oakland.
Address
180 Grand Avenue, Suite 1300 , Oakland 94612 USA
T:
(510) 318-7700
Nixon Peabody LLP
Leah Goldberg
joined Nixon Peabody LLP as counsel in San Francisco.
Goldberg advises clients on repurposing and reusing contaminated properties.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
One Embarcadero Center 32nd floor , San Francisco 94111 USA
T:
(415) 984-8234
F:
(833) 370-0825
Fox Rothschild LLP

Heidy Vaquerano
joined Fox Rothschild LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Vaquerano is an entertainment attorney with a focus on intellectual property and transactions.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
10259 Constellation Blvd. Suite 900 , Los Angeles 90067
T:
(310) 598-4150
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Lawrence Hafetz
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the california department of toxic substances control in Los Angeles.
Hafetz is the former chief deputy at the Los Angeles Office of the County Counsel.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Claire Tauriainen
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as general counsel at the california housing finance agency in El Dorado Hills.
Tauriainen has been general counsel since 2018. Prior to her appointment, she was assistant general counsel at the agency.
She is based in El Dorado Hills.
Tyrone Buckley
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as assistant deputy director of fair housing at the california department of housing and community development in Sacramento.
Buckley was a senior policy specialist at the agency since 2019.
He is based in Sacramento.
Judith M. Cias
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the state board of education in Sacramento.
Cias has held the position since 2011. She is the former associate general counsel and director of policy services at the California School Boards Association.
She is based in Sacramento.
Rigel S. Massaro
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as deputy legal counsel and deputy policy director for the office of planning and research at the state board of education in Sacramento.
Massaro was previously senior legislative counsel at Public Advocates.
She is based in Sacramento.
James B. Damrell
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as assistant commissioner of legislation and regulations at the department of real estate in Sacramento.
Damrell was formerly vice president of business development at Peers & Co.
He is based in Sacramento.
Anastasia Baskerville
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the california department of resources and recycling and recovery in Sacramento.
Previously, Baskerville was an attorney at the Department of Housing and Community Development.
She is based in Sacramento.
Shaw Law Group
J.R. Riddell
joined Shaw Law Group as of counsel in Sacramento.
Riddell specializes in conducting workplace investigations for public and private employers.
He is based in Sacramento.
Melissa Whitehead
joined Shaw Law Group as of counsel in Sacramento.
Whitehead advises employers, conducts workplace investigations and provides training to employers and human resources teams.
She is based in Sacramento.
Address
425 University Ave Ste 200 , Sacramento 95825-6509 USA
T:
(916) 640-2240
F:
(916) 640-2241
Horvitz & Levy

Lacey Estudillo
joined Horvitz & Levy as associate in San Francisco.
Estudillo returned to the firm after completing a clerkships with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit with Judge Carlos Bea and the United States District Court, Central District of California with Judge André Birotte, Jr.
California Western School of Law

Michael J. Whitton
was promoted to as chairman of the board of trustees of California Western School of Law in San Diego.
Whitton is a partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP and has been a member of the board since 2014.
He is based in San Diego.
Miller Starr Regalia

James L Swearingen
joined Miller Starr Regalia as associate in Walnut Creek.
Swearingen handles all phases of litigation in California federal and state courts for a broad range of commercial litigation matters. MSR's Litigation Practice represents Fortune 500 companies, government, developers, homebuilders, financial institutions, title insurers, property owners/managers, retailers, manufacturers and REITs related to business, real property, commercial, environmental, construction & insurance disputes.
Address
1331 N. California Blvd. , Walnut Creek 94596
T:
(925) 935-9400
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

April Abele Isaacson
joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Isaacson returned to Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton as a partner in San Francisco as part of a five-attorney national life science patent litigation team from DLA Piper.
The firm announced the addition of the team on Oct. 14.
Isaacson, who practiced at DLA Piper for nine months, specializes in generic drugs and biologics litigation, as well as commercial and licensing disputes related to life sciences.
"It was really about going to Kilpatrick Townsend for me," Isaacson commented on the move. " I actually had previously worked at the firm and that's where I made partner."
The firm's deep technical bench, expertise and outstanding trial team were what made the opportunity stand out, she said.
"For me, quite frankly, it's a homecoming. There's many people that worked there back when I was with the firm previously, which to me speaks to the ... firm's culture and environment."
Isaacson practiced at a predecessor of Kilkpatrick Townsend from 2002 to 2007.
Over the course of her career, she has worked at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Goodwin Procter LLP and Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, and as in-house counsel to pharmaceutical company Impax Laboratories.
That experience, she said, has helped her understand clients.
"My unique selling point is that my perspective comes from both having been outside counsel as well as in-house counsel," she said. "I understand kind of the business of the business and some of the pain points that you may face when you're inside a company in terms of being a consumer of legal services."
Isaacson, a Navy veteran, is passionate about her pro bono work for veterans and is an active member of CalVet Women Veterans Division. Accompanying her in the move to Kilpatrick Townsend were counsel Abby Markeson, based in Seattle, New York partners Brian David O'Reilly and Michael Enzo Furrow, and counsel Erica W. Kuo.
Address
2 Embarcadero Ctr, Ste 1900 , San Francisco 94111-3904 USA
T:
(415) 273-8306
F:
(415) 354-3519
Buchalter
C. Dennis Loomis
joined Buchalter as of counsel in Los Angeles.
Loomis is an intellectual property adviser and litigator.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
1000 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1500 , Los Angeles 90017-1730 USA
T:
(213) 891-0700
F:
(213) 896-0400
Tyz Law Group

Olivia Clavio
joined Tyz Law Group as trademark attorney in San Francisco, CA.
Clavio is a trademark attorney. She advises and provides strategic business counseling to Silicon Valley startups and Fortune 500 companies on trademark portfolios.
Address
4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 1400 , San Francisco 94111 USA
T:
(415) 766-3530
World Affairs
Dean Fealk
joined World Affairs as trustee in San Francisco.
Fealk is managing partner of DLA Piper's San Francisco office and a member of the global equity practice.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
DLA Piper LLP (US), 555 Mission St Ste 2400 , San Francisco 94105-0933 USA
T:
(415) 836-2521