Brian Adair Sutherland was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Reed Smith LLP announced Brian Adair Sutherland has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Sutherland, an attorney in the firm's appellate group, briefs and argues appeals and class action matters in federal and state courts.

Bryan Lakeith Hawkins was promoted to partner of Stoel Rives LLP in Sacramento.

Stoel Rives LLP announced Bryan Lakeith Hawkins has been promoted to partner in Sacramento. Hawkins represents employers in employment-related litigation in court and before administrative agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. His practice also involves counseling employers on employment-related issues, including handbooks and policies. Hawkins also provides counseling on labor issues, such as advising employers on how to effectively respond to union organizing campaigns, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, and manage the employer/union relationship.

James Mark Neudecker was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Reed Smith LLP announced James Mark Neudecker has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Neudecker is a member of the firm's complex litigation group. His practice focuses on commercial litigation and arbitrations for companies in a variety of business sectors, including financial services, transportation, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, hospitality, and most recently, the on-demand gig economy.

Dommond Edward Lonnie was promoted to director of automotive industry group of Dykema Gossett LLP in Los Angeles.

Dykema Gossett LLP announced Dommond Edward Lonnie was appointed director of the firm's automotive industry group. Based in the firm's Los Angeles office, Dommond represents domestic and foreign automobile/mobility manufacturers in product liability, class action, toxic tort, and commercial litigation matters.

Michael Lange Lawhead joined Baker & Hostetler LLP as partner in Costa Mesa.

Baker & Hostetler LLP announced Michael Lange Lawhead has joined as a corporate partner in Costa Mesa. Lawhead represents public companies in equity and debt securities transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance and compliance. Lawhead has a particular focus on healthcare and life sciences. He also represents privately held companies in offerings of preferred equity and venture capital funds as investors in such transactions

Jared Brooks Grauer was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP in Silicon Valley.

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP announced Jared Brooks Grauer has been promoted to partner in Silicon Valley. Grauer represents technology companies in all phases of their life cycle. His practice focuses on strategic advisory, corporate governance, securities law compliance, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions and other transactions. He also regularly advises many venture capital firms in their investments.

Ashley Lynn Shively was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Reed Smith LLP announced Ashley Lynn Shively has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Shively is a member of the firm's financial industry group. She represents financial institutions and businesses in consumer class and individual actions, including fair lending, privacy, credit reporting, debt collection, false advertising, and unfair business practices.

Michael Heath was promoted to partner of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP in Los Angeles.

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian LLP announced Michael Heath has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Heath represents emerging growth companies, technology incubators and venture funds with a focus on venture financing, debt financing, mergers and acquisitions, token investments and corporate governance matters.

Maxwell Vaughn Pritt was promoted to partner of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in Oakland.

Boies Schiller Flexner LLP announced Maxwell Vaughn Pritt has been promoted to partner in Oakland. Pritt represents plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state court in matters including antitrust, unfair competition, class action, contract, securities, civil rights, and other disputes.

Caroline Powell Donelan was promoted to partner of Blank Rome LLP in Los Angeles.

Blank Rome LLP announced Caroline Powell Donelan has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Donelan counsels and defends domestic and foreign corporations in all areas of employment law compliance and litigation, including wage and hour class actions, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, trade secret disputes, data protection, and alleged fiduciary breaches.

Kirsten Diane Wolff was promoted to partner of Sideman & Bancroft LLP in San Francisco.

Sideman & Bancroft LLP announced Kirsten Diane Wolff has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Her practice focuses on estate planning, estate and trust administration, estate and gift taxation, charitable gift planning and probate for individual clients. She also representing trustees and other fiduciaries on issues relating to California state income taxation of trusts. Additionally, Wolff assists clients with philanthropic planning and advises on ongoing tax and administration issues.

Jeffrey Harlan Reeves joined Umberg Zipser LLP as partner in Irvine.

Umberg Zipser LLP announced Jeffrey Harlan Reeves has joined as partner in Irvine. Reeves is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on litigating complex business disputes in the trial and appellate courts, as well alternative dispute resolution settings. He represents companies from the sports, nutrition, apparel, life sciences, entertainment and other industries in business and tort cases, including handling high-profile endorsement contract disputes, trade secret misappropriation cases, and data breach class actions.

Jerry Alan Behnke was promoted to partner of Larson O'Brien LLP in Los Angeles.

Jerry Behnke is an experienced trial lawyer and former Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) and Deputy District Attorney. He litigates white collar criminal and complex commercial matters for Larson O'Brien LLP. He has investigated, prosecuted, and defended a wide array of criminal matters, including public corruption, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, financial services fraud, and tax violations. Mr. Behnke graduated cum laude from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles where he was a member of the law review.

Melissa A. Meister was promoted to counsel of Larson O'Brien LLP in Los Angeles.

Melissa A. Meister is an experienced trial lawyer. She handles white collar defense and complex commercial matters at Larson O’Brien LLP, including civil and criminal False Claims Act litigation, internal investigations, public corruption, and fraud disputes. Ms. Meister previously served as a trial attorney in the False Claims Section of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California. Ms. Meister clerked for the Honorable William C. Canby of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She graduated summa cum laude from The University of Arizona College of Law where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and law review.

Richard (R.C.) Harlan was promoted to counsel of Larson O'Brien LLP in Los Angeles.

Harlan has extensive experience handling complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts and arbitration, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He represents clients in several industries, including manufacturing, entertainment, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Mr. Harlan also has experience litigating wrongful death claims and mass tort litigation. Mr. Harlan clerked for the Honorable Boyce F. Martin, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeal for the Sixth Circuit and is a cum laude graduate of Boston University School of Law and Claremont McKenna College.

Eric Richard Bardwell was promoted to partner of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP in Irvine.

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP announced Eric Richard Bardwell has been promoted to partner in Irvine. Bardwell's practice focuses on all aspects of wealth transfer planning, including estate planning and charitable planning. He also provides tax strategies to business owners in the sale of their businesses, and in succession planning.

Kathryn Diane Zajec Domin was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Kathryn Diane Zajec Domin has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Domin is a member of the firm's business litigation section, where her practice focuses on litigation involving a variety of industries and topics, including real estate transactions, landlord tenant disputes, misrepresentation and fraud, business interference claims, defamation, soft intellectual property disputes, unfair business practices, and class action defense.

Benjamin Charles Deming was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Benjamin Charles Deming has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Deming is a member of the firm's trial section. His practice focuses on patent, trademark, unfair competition and corporate litigation. Deming also represents clients in patent and trademark prosecution and appeal matters before the Patent and Trademark Office. His clients are found in the high tech, medical device, food and drug, textile, automotive, and consumer products industries.

Deja Marie Hemingway was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Deja Marie Hemingway has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Hemingway is a member of the firm's real estate department. She handles a variety of commercial real estate transactions with particular expertise in handling all aspects of real estate financing, leasing and purchase and sale transactions. Hemingway frequently handles commercial real estate finance transactions on behalf of borrowers, including acquisition, construction and permanent financing for developers, credit facilities, and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loans.

Robert Adam Dillaway was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Robert Adam Dillaway has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Dillaway is member of the firm's real estate section, where he represents borrowers and lenders in connection with real estate secured financing transactions. His practice also includes representing buyers and sellers in connection with the acquisition and disposition of real property, retail and mixed use developments, as well as representing landlords and tenants in connection with the drafting and negotiation of commercial leases.

Alisha Anne Patterson was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Alisha Anne Patterson has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Patterson is a member of the firm's government & regulatory law section. She provides strategic counsel to, and litigates on behalf of, public agencies and private clients, including California cities, property owners, and developers. She is currently Assistant City Attorney for Irvine, Laguna Woods and Duarte. Patterson helps clients navigate the intersection of land use and civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Federal Fair Housing Act, and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Brian Stretch joined Sidley Austin LLP as partner in Sidley Austin LLP in San Francisco.

White Collar: Government Litigation & Investigations practice

Kimberly Ellen Hood was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Sacramento.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Kimberly Ellen Hood was promoted to partner in Sacramento. Hood is a member of the firm's municipal law practice group and handles all aspects of public law, with a focus on public agency litigation, including Proposition 218, the Public Records Act and eminent domain. She also serves as the interim city attorney to the City of Galt and the assistant city attorney for the cities of Davis and Paso Robles.

Michael Max Page was promoted to partner of Rutan & Tucker LLP in Costa Mesa.

Rutan & Tucker LLP announced Michael Max Page has been promoted to partner in Costa Mesa. Page is a member of the firm's corporate and tax Section, practicing in the areas of tax planning and tax controversy, mergers & acquisitions, and corporate transactions. He assists clients in the technology, apparel, manufacturing, retail and real estate industries with various issues including Federal, state, and international tax matters, forming, buying and selling businesses, and raising capital.

Michael J. Maurer was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Los Angeles.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Michael J. Maurer has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Maurer is a member of the firm's municipal law practice group. In addition to advising cities on the legalities of their day-to-day operations, he provides guidance on land use, public infrastructure and construction, and open government and ethics laws.Maurer serves as city attorney for the cities of La Habra Heights and San Jacinto and as assistant city attorney for the cities of Avalon and Arcadia. He provides general counsel services to a number of special districts, as well.

John Peter Schaedel joined The Scali Law Firm as partner in Los Angeles.

The Scali Law Firm announced John Peter "Jack" Schaedel has joined as partner in Los Angeles. Schaedel represents and counsels employers in labor and employment matters such as: discrimination and harassment law, wage and hour regulations, family and medical leave, handbook development and enforcement.

Brian Edward Whitley was promoted to partner of Best Best & Krieger LLP in Indian Wells.

Best Best & Krieger LLP announced Brian Edward Whitley has been promoted to partner in Indian Wells. Whitley is a member of the firm's business practice group. He represents local and national banks and borrowers in various loan transactions, nonprofit corporations and other businesses in tax-exempt financing transactions, and a variety of other clients in business and real estate matters.