Nancy Hilu was promoted to partner of Hanson Bridgett LLP in Los Angeles.

Hilu advises and represents private and public companies, tax-exempt organizations and governmental entities on all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation. She counsels clients on the design, implementation, and continued legal and regulatory compliance of their retirement plans and other benefit programs. Hilu also represents clients on matters before the Internal Revenue Service.

Ka-On Li was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Silicon Valley.

Li is a member of the firm's intellectual property/technology transactions practice. She focuses her practice on commercial transactions for clients active in the technology, medical, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, education, media and entertainment fields. Li advises both customers and service providers in strategic front-end and back-end technology contracting.

Debra Beth Vernon joined VLP Law Group LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Vernon is a member of the firm's corporate practice. She specializes in startup formation and capitalization, financings, corporate venture, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and corporate governance.

David Enrique Amaya was promoted to partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP in San Diego.

Amaya represents clients in a range of industries, including healthcare, retail and education. His practice is focused on advising employers in both union and non-union settings and defending them in matters including discrimination litigation and wage and hour class actions. Amaya also works with companies to develop creative and business-oriented solutions that resolve workplace issues.

Sarah G. Conway was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.

Conway is a member of the firm's business & tort litigation practice. She represents corporations, businesses, and individuals in commercial litigation matters involving product liability, contracts, fraud, consumer class actions, deceptive trade practices, health care, securities and financial products, and business torts. Conway has defended clients in bench and jury trials as well as in arbitrations.

Benedict O. Kwon joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as partner in Orange County.

Kwon is a member of the firm's corporate practice group, focusing on fund formation and taxation.

Benedict Kwon joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter @ Hampton as partner in Orange County.

Kwon's practice focuses on private equity fund and hedge fund formation and structuring, as well as domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

Jennifer W. Chang joined Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg & Bagley LLP (HechtSolberg) as associate in San Diego.

Chang will be involved in all real estate matters with an emphasis on acquisitions, dispositions and leasing transactions.

Yaron Shaham joined Kahana & Feld as partner in Kahana & Feld (Santa Ana).

Shahan is a general litigator with a focus on banking and financial services, and bankruptcy in the mortgage and lending industries.

Sarah Kroll-Rosenbaum was promoted to partner of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP in Los Angeles - Century City.

Kroll-Rosenbaum's practice focuses on complex employment litigation in the federal courts, particularly class actions and PAGA matters, she has considerable experience providing clients with strategic advice and representing them in major litigation and board level matters.

Matthew Chase Wickersham joined Alston & Bird LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.

Wickersham's practice focuses on commercial litigation, with an emphasis on environmental litigation and regulatory practice.

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.

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.

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.

Erik Christopher Olson was promoted to partner of Farella Braun & Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Farella Braun & Martel LLP announced Erik Christopher Olson has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Olson litigates patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade dress, and right of publicity infringement actions, as well as disputes over licensing royalties and ownership of intellectual property.

Amanda Dorothy Hairston was promoted to partner of Farella Braun & Martel LLP in San Francisco.

Farella Braun & Martel LLP announced Amanda Dorothy Hairston has been promoted to partner in San Francisco. Hairston represents corporate policyholders in insurance coverage disputes. Her clients include companies in the technology, healthcare, retail, and financial services industries.

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.

Margaret Johnson was promoted to partner of Foley & Mansfield PLLP in Los Angeles.

Foley & Mansfield PLLP announced Margaret Johnson has been promoted to partner in Los Angeles. Johnson focuses her practice on product liability and toxic/mass tort litigation.