On the Move

Downey Brand loses six attorneys, managing partner steps down

A group of attorneys have departed Sacramento-based Downey Brand LLP to launch a land use boutique in Roseville. The new firm, Mitchell Chadwick LLP, includes former Downey partners Patrick G. Mitchell and G. Braiden Chadwick, along with four Downey associates and a former Downey associate who recently left the firm. Downey managing partner Kevin M. O'Brien also stepped down from his role to focus on his water law practice. He has held the position since 2012.

Winston snags private equity specialist

Eva H. Davis, the partner who launched Kirkland & Ellis LLP's Los Angeles corporate practice nearly 15 years ago, jumped to Winston & Strawn LLP. Davis joined the firm's Los Angeles office as head of its West Coast private equity practice. Davis represents middle-market private equity funds and their portfolio companies in transactions.

Liner brings on deals attorney from Beverly Hills boutique

Deals attorney Robert L. Kahan has moved to Liner LLP as partner in the firm's Los Angeles office. Kahan focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities, franchising and general corporate matters. He joins from Eisner Kahan Gorry Chapman Ross & Jaffe PC, now known as Eisner Jaffe Gorry Chapman & Ross PC, where he led the firm's corporate practice.

Sheppard land use attorney heads to Brown Rudnick

Brown Rudnick LLP has nabbed land use specialist Geoffrey K. Willis from Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. Willis joins the firm's Irvine office as a partner. He focuses on the transactions, regulations and litigation surrounding land use and environmental matters, including the use and reuse of real estate and the development of public infrastructure projects.

Patent litigators join Perkins in San Diego

Perkins Coie LLP has picked up patent litigators Joseph P. Reid and Thomas Millikan as partners in San Diego. The two join from intellectual property boutique Gartman Law Group. Reid has handled patent suits for a variety of industries, including computer software, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce. Millikan represents established and emerging companies and small investors in patent litigation, and he also counsels companies on IP matters.

Tapjoy hires new legal department head

After more than a decade as GC of mobile software provider Symphony Teleca Corp., Laura D. Weinstein has jumped to mobile ad platform Tapjoy Inc. in San Francisco. Weinstein, who was named general counsel, senior vice president and corporate secretary, will handle the company's global, corporate and business unit legal affairs. She succeeds Alexis Klemish, who departed Tapjoy in September for Twitter Inc.

LA boutique loses attorney to Herbalife, adds litigator

Herbalife International has picked up Henry Wang as senior vice president and associate general counsel. Wang was formerly a name partner at Los Angeles-based Lee Tran Liang & Wang LLP. The firm, now known as Lee Tran & Liang LLP, has added complex commercial litigator Damian Martinez. Martinez, a former federal prosecutor, was previously a name partner at Corbin, Athey & Martinez LLP.

Employer rights firm sees partnership changes

San Francisco-based Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe LLP has added its first new partners in seven years. The firm brought on Chaya Mandelbaum from Sanford Heisler LLP. Mandelbaum handles individual and class action employment cases. John T. Mullan, who has been with Rudy Exelrod for more than a decade, was promoted to partner. Mullan focuses on wage and hour class action litigation and the negotiation of individual employment law claims. Rudy Exelrod also recently appointed firm veteran David Lowe to managing partner.

Loeb & Loeb grabs real estate company GC

Adam I. Knowlton, senior vice president and general counsel for Younan Properties Inc., has jumped to Loeb & Loeb LLP as senior counsel in Los Angeles. Knowlton represents institutional investors, property owners, developers and lenders in commercial real estate transactions and litigation.

Manatt entertainment attorney moves to boutique

Los Angeles-based King, Holmes, Paterno & Berliner LLP has brought on entertainment attorney Daniel Stuart as partner. Stuart represents recording artists, producers and publishing companies in a variety of legal matters. He was previously of counsel at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP.

Beverly Hills boutique gains new partners

Family law firm Hersh, Mannis & Bogen LLP has added James Michael Simon as partner in its Beverly Hills office. Simon was previously a sole practitioner. The firm also promoted family law attorney Adam Philip Lipsic to partner. Lipsic graduated from the Pepperdine University School of Law.

DLA Piper picks up attorney for San Diego, Chicago

DLA Piper has brought on Gregory Manter as partner in the firm's technology, sourcing and commercial practice. Manter, who joins from Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago, will split his time between DLA Piper's Chicago and San Diego offices. He handles technology transactions and strategic sourcing matters.

Attorneys climb Orrick partnership ranks

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP lifted 15 attorneys to partner across its offices, including eight in California. Duane Beasley moved up in Los Angeles. Erin M. Connell, Zachary S. Finley, Anik Guha, Eric Matthew Hairston and Darren S. Teshima moved up in San Francisco. Analea J. Patterson and Bryan D. Victor moved up in Sacramento.

Construction attorney elevated in San Jose

Miller, Morton, Caillat & Nevis LLP has named construction attorney Eric McAllister to its partnership. McAllister, who joined the firm in 2007, represents property owners, developers and general contracts in construction litigation. He is located in the firm's San Jose office.

Kinsella Weitzman taps two attorneys for partner

Two attorneys have climbed to partner at Santa Monica-based Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP. Amber Melius practices business, intellectual property and entertainment litigation. David Swift handles intellectual property, complex business, entertainment and white collar criminal defense litigation.

Burlingame firm appoints co-presidents

Burlingame-based Carr, McClellan, Ingersoll, Thompson & Horn PLC have appointed partners Lisa Stalteri and Edward Willig as the firm's co-presidents. The two replace Mark Cassanego, who served as president for 18 years.

K&L Gates' San Diego and Irvine offices to merge

K&L Gates LLP plans to shutter its San Diego office by September. The four-attorney outpost will merge with the firm's Irvine office, which has 35 attorneys. The San Diego office was opened in 2008 by Chicago-based Bell Boyd & Lloyd LLP, which merged with K&L Gates the following year.

- Kylie Reynolds

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