Scott Joachim joined Paul Hastings LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

Joachim has led some of Silicon Valley's most prominent M&A deals, including Twitch Interactive, in its sale to Amazon; General Motors, in its acquisition of Cruise; Responsys, in its sale to Oracle; and Symantec, in its acquisition of Blue Coat Systems. His practice also focuses on fintech, representing many of the largest banks and other financial institutions-including Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo-in connection with consortia and other strategic transactions. Among other consortia deals, Joachim represented 35 banks in connection with a cross-border acquisition of blockchain company R3 and 15 banks in connection with an investment in Symphony Communications.

David Ambler joined Paul Hastings LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

Ambler’s practice focuses on representing high-growth emerging private and public technology companies in capital markets and other corporate transactions. He also represents underwriters such as Morgan Stanley & Co., Goldman Sachs & Co., and J.P. Morgan Securities and a number of leading venture funds.

Angela L. Dunning joined Cleary Gottlieb as partner in San Francisco.

Dunning's practice focuses on trademark, copyright, trade secrets, unfair competition, and other complex commercial litigation for the world's top companies. She has tried numerous cases to a jury verdict and has substantial experience in the federal appellate courts, including successful arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in high-profile, published cases. Dunning served as an assistant district attorney for the City and County of San Francisco under then-District Attorney Kamala Harris, prosecuting criminal cases. In 2022, she taught trademark law and branding at UC Berkeley School of Law.

Karin M. Cogbill joined Jackson Lewis P.C. as principal in Silicon Valley.

Cogbill represents and counsels employers in connection with all types of employment matters. She devotes a significant portion of her practice to representing employers in wage and hour litigation, with an emphasis on class, collective and PAGA actions, in state and federal courts throughout the U.S. Her experience also includes investigating and responding to claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation; ensuring compliant written policies and procedures; advising on leaves of absence and requests for accommodation; advising on wage and hour compliance; and representing employers before the Labor Commissioner and in wage and hour audits conducted by the Department of Labor.

Rob McCarthy joined Miller Barondess, LLP as associate in Los Angeles.

McCarthy has experience representing individuals and entities in complex and diverse litigation matters, including media and entertainment, intellectual property disputes, white collar investigations, data privacy and security, breach of contract, and mergers and acquisitions.

Elizabeth Weldon joined Haynes & Boone LLP as partner in Orange County.

Weldon is a certified specialist in franchise and distribution Law, The State Bar of California and, Board of Legal Specialization. In addition to her focus on representing franchisors, Weldon represents both large and small businesses in commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, tort, unfair competition, class action, commercial real estate, intellectual property disputes, such as patent, trademark, and trade dress claims, as well as other complex matters.

Julie E. Van Wert joined Cozen O'Connor as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Van Wert's background includes nearly three decades of handling intricate and often complicated corporate-level insurance coverage disputes, with an emphasis on professional liability, directors' and officers' liability, cyber defense, technology and media, and commercial general liability matters. Known for her ability to bring sometimes bitterly contested matters to an amicable resolution, Van Wert brings to the firm an aggressive and efficient litigation practice paired with a commitment to exploring all avenues of early resolution. She earned her J.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles, and her B.A. at University of California, Berkeley. She is joining the firm as a shareholder.

David M. Berke joined Cozen O'Connor as member in Los Angeles.

Berke, who joins the firm as a member, focuses on providing coverage analyses and litigating a range of coverage disputes involving employment practices, professional liability, cyber/technology, directors’ and officers’ insurance, commercial general liability, and media. He also has experience handling a range of ERISA and errors and omission (E&O) liability matters; providing oversight in litigated employment practices liability (EPL) and technology policies; and representing insurers in coverage and underlying action mediations. He earned his J.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jerome P. Doctors joined Cozen O'Connor as member in Los Angeles.

For the last 25 years, Doctors has provided insurers with guidance on complex risks and high-severity losses, offering insights into underwriting, coverage, and claims matters. Jerry represents insurers in disputes across a wide spectrum of issues arising under primary and excess policies, reinsurance coverages, cyber defense and coverage, and various areas of liability like toxic torts, products, construction, health care, professional liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, and environmental concerns. He earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Doctors joins the firm as a member.

Rangi Perera joined Cozen O'Connor as counsel in Los Angeles.

Perera, who joins the firm as counsel, focuses her practice primarily on representing companies in personal injury cases, construction defect cases, professional liability cases, insurance defense/coverage cases, and employment related claims. She has successfully litigated a wide range of business and commercial disputes in various state courts, and at trial. She earned her J.D. from Western State University College of Law and her B.A. in political science from the University of California, Riverside.

Thomas S. Lee was promoted to office managing partner of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP in San Francisco.

Lee's practice focuses on three main areas: transactional work, compliance counseling, and enforcement defense. In his transactional work, he represents buyers and sellers of real estate and corporate entities that are impacted by environmental conditions or related liability, with a particular focus on brownfield acquisition and redevelopment.

Judge John G. Evans joined Judicate West as neutral in Riverside.

Appointed in 2008 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Evans served 15 years on the Riverside County Superior Court. He has presided over 68 civil jury trials, including matters involving employment, construction defects, negligence, insurance and contract disputes. Evans also served six years as a probate judge, overseeing trials involving guardianships, conservatorships and trust and decedent estate trials, ranging from small estates to those exceeding $60 million dollars.

Debbie Birndorf joined Norton Rose Fulbright as partner in Los Angeles.

Birndorf represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including defense of harassment and discrimination claims, wage claims, wage and hours class actions, PAGA claims, disability claims, and misappropriation of trade secrets. She also provides counseling, drafts, and reviews employment contracts, severance agreements, employee handbooks, and personnel policies. She represents both individuals and large corporations in a broad range of industries, including electronics, manufacturing, computer software and hardware, printing, engineering, healthcare, pharmacy, and grocery stores.​

Alexis Bortniker joined Cooley LLP as partner in San Diego.

Bortniker advises digital health companies, healthcare providers, entrepreneurs, investors, and technology companies on emerging issues in the highly regulated healthcare space. She is a sought-after healthcare regulatory and transactional lawyer working with clients as they navigate the complex regulatory landscape - including joint ventures, regulatory considerations, payment structures, and complex business transactions. Bortniker also advises digital health providers on compliance issues, corporate practice considerations, and business structures.

Freddy Fonseca joined Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as counsel in Los Angeles.

Fonseca partners with clients in the insurance industry to provide guidance as they navigate complex litigation, regulatory, compliance and transactional matters. His in-house experience, combined with experience as a litigator in Los Angeles and Chicago, brings a uniquely informed perspective to develop strategic solutions for your business needs.

Leslie Miranda joined Hone Maxwell LLP as associate in San Diego.

Miranda handles tax controversy and international tax planning for clients in the United States and abroad. A Venezuelan native proficient in Spanish and English, Leslie helps individuals and businesses resolve tax problems efficiently and effectively and provides tax planning services that minimize tax issue risks.

Kamile Schroyer joined Hone Maxwell LLP as associate in San Diego.

Schroyer’s cross-cultural background serves as the foundation for her international corporate, asset planning, and tax law practice. Her experience includes assisting foreign entities with real property transactions and investments while ensuring compliance with U.S. tax reporting laws. She has assisted numerous clients from Mexico with significantly valued investments in the U.S.

Jason R. Stavely was promoted to partner of Quarles & Brady in San Diego.

Stavely is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He advises employers on a variety of labor, employment, and human resource matters and regularly defends employers in workplace-related litigation. He also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to both counseling clients and litigating claims concerning employee restrictive covenants and the protection of trade secrets.

Suzie M Tagliere was promoted to shareholder of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. in San Francisco.

Tagliere has extensive experience representing lawyers, accountants, corporate directors and officers, healthcare facilities, and physicians in professional liability defense. She further advises a broad range of individual and corporate clients concerning network information privacy and security and data breach response.

Jenny Tran joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as shareholder in Newport Beach.

Tran handles mergers & acquisitions, corporate and tax planning for owners of privately held businesses on entity design, risk management and allocation, corporate compliance and governance, operations, and succession planning. With her legal and tax background, she acts as outside general counsel to privately held businesses in a variety of industries, including aerospace, online digital media and communities, retail markets, healthcare, fashion, food, and beverage.

Hooshie Broomand was promoted to shareholder of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. in Sacramento.

For more than two decades, Broomand has been a top trial attorney in Northern California. He joined the Murphy Pearson team in Sacramento in early 2022. His practice includes general civil litigation with focuses on product defects, professional liability defense, construction, real estate, health care, employment, and high-end personal injury claims.

Claudia Ignacio was promoted to senior associate of Hone Maxwell LLP in San Diego.

Ignacio handles tax planning, compliance, and controversy issues. Her practice includes a wide array of international tax consulting matters, from U.S. investments and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to amnesty programs under the former Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP). She also defends clients in audits with the IRS, Franchise Tax Board (FTB), and other state taxing agencies. She assists clients in collection issues, including liens, levies, installment agreements, penalty abatement, injured spouse, and offers in compromise. Claudia is frequently invited to speak at conferences, tax-related events, and educational institutions.

Marisol Swadener was promoted to senior associate of Hone Maxwell LLP in San Diego.

Swadener defends clients in audits with the IRS and state taxing authorities, including the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), and the Employment Development Department (EDD). She works with clients on collection issues, including liens, levies, installment agreements, and offers in compromise. Additionally, Swadener advises on tax planning, compliance, and controversy, including various international tax consulting, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and IRS informational reporting matters.

Michael P. Alcan was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.

Alcan is a tax partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on the tax aspects of complex business transactions.

Radhika Kshatriya was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.

Kshatriya counsels private fund sponsors on regulatory issues that arise during fundraises, SEC examinations, corporate transactions, and ongoing operations. She has extensive experience with the application of federal and state securities laws to the asset management industry, including the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Ted McBride was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.

McBride advises on all matters relating to the formation, structuring, and operation of private investment funds and their management companies. In addition, Ted regularly advises clients on regulatory and risk management issues and has experience representing institutional clients with respect to their investments in private funds.

Andrew Morrill was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.

Morrill's primary focus is patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and copyright infringement. He has worked on cases in federal court and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Drew has played an integral role on a winning trial team, drafted multiple motions, and prepared for and assisted in the taking and defending of several depositions. He has worked alongside technical experts to develop a deep understanding of complex technologies, including mobile devices, spinal implants, and computer software.

Guirgis Nasief was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.

Nasief's practice focuses on representing private equity firms, private companies, and public companies on mergers and acquisitions and other complex transactions.

Kevin X. Wang was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.

Wang's practice focuses on high-stakes intellectual property and commercial disputes in federal court, administrative proceedings, and forums for alternative dispute resolution. Kevin has counseled clients on a wide range of technology, including computer networking, semiconductor devices, cybersecurity, water desalination systems, and interactive fitness equipment.

Nancy Zakiniaeiz was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Los Angeles.

Zakiniaeiz's practice focuses on acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and joint ventures for institutional investors, owners and developers.

Katherine Schloss Ackerman was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Ackerman is a corporate partner in the Bay Area office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Her practice is principally focused on the representation of private equity funds and their portfolio companies.

Anna Baxendale was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Baxendale is an investment funds partner in the Bay Area office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Philip C. Bush was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Bush represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies in all aspects of their businesses, with a focus on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, corporate governance, executive compensation matters, and other corporate matters. Philip has experience handling transactions ranging from several million dollars to multiple billions of dollars.

Matthew Dunnet was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Dunnet's practice focuses on representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies in various transactions, including leveraged and management buy-outs, sale transactions, minority investments, restructurings and financings.

Leahana Grimley was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Grimley's practice is focused on the representation of private equity funds and their portfolio companies on complex business transactions, including structuring and negotiating various strategic and leveraged acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, restructurings, incentive equity arrangements, and other general corporate matters.

Mary Kwan was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Kwan's practice focuses on the financial services industry, including private investment funds, investment advisers and investment companies.

Yan-Xin Li was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Li has represented clients in federal district courts and before the International Trade Commission and has worked on matters spanning diverse industries such as pharmaceutical drugs, specialty chemicals, manufacturing processes, nanopore sequencing, medical devices, magnetic tape and storage technology, and consumer products. Her litigation experience includes extensive motion practice, claim construction briefing and Markman hearings, defending and taking depositions, and witness preparation for trial testimony. In addition, she has a broad range of experience that extends across other aspects of intellectual property law—including post-grant proceedings; freedom-to-operate, validity, and infringement assessments; due diligence investigations; licensing disputes; domestic and foreign patent procurement; client counseling and opinion work; and portfolio management.

Garret Morin was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Morin's practice is focused primarily on the representation of private equity funds and their portfolio companies in all aspects of their businesses, including structuring and negotiating various strategic and leveraged acquisitions of public and private targets, going private transactions, divestures, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, equity financings, minority and venture capital investments, restructurings, executive compensation matters, corporate governance and other general corporate matters.

Zak Morozov was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Morozov's practice focuses on tax aspects of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, financings, private equity transactions, and private and public securities offerings.

Qasim Rasool was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Rasool's practice is primarily focused on private equity mergers and acquisitions, and he also represents private equity-owned companies in strategic mergers and acquisitions as well as routine corporate and governance matters.

Dr. Martin A. Schwertmann was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Schwertmann advises clients on the intellectual property and technology aspects of corporate transactions, including carve-outs, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity and venture capital investments, and restructuring and debt financing transactions. In addition to his transactional experience, he also advises clients on issues relating to data privacy (from a U.S. perspective and with respect to European privacy questions), the licensing of intellectual property, and other technology transactions.

Stephen M. Silva was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Silva has represented clients in a wide range of arbitrations, regulatory and governmental investigations, and in state and federal court in matters including employment disputes, accounting, commercial contracts, copyright, energy litigation, insider trading, shareholder litigation, trade secrets and consumer class actions.

Christina A. Wa was promoted to partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in San Francisco.

Wa is a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group and is a member of the San Francisco-based team that focuses on the Real Estate aspects of the firm's Private Equity, M&A, Energy and Infrastructure and Restructuring transactions. She has experience representing real estate private equity and institutional investors in all forms of commercial real estate acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing across the United States.

Conte C. Cicala joined International law firm Withers as special counsel in San Francisco.

Conte focuses his practice on commercial, maritime, transportation and trade litigation, and providing corporate and legal advice to companies in these fields. He has extensive first-chair experience representing his clients at trial, arbitration and before government agencies and boards. He has counseled companies during merger discussions, government investigations, major contract negotiations, labor disputes, expansion into new modes of carriage and at other key junctures. He also sat on the board of directors of an international shipping line for almost a decade.

David Chu joined Miller Starr Regalia as associate in Walnut Creek.

Chu has advised clients on sophisticated financing deals ranging in size from six to eight figures. He also advised on and structured crypto-related offerings under Regulation D and Regulation S and has advised clients on the tokenization of assets ranging from digital rewards to real estate.

Lynne S. Goldstein joined Valensi Rose PLC as attorney in Los Angeles.

Goldstein has extensive experience handling all aspects of commercial real estate leasing, purchase and sale transactions, and real estate finance. Lynne's leasing experience includes negotiations on behalf of landlords and tenants of offices, national restaurant locations and other retail and industrial properties.

Marta A. Alcumbrac joined Nemecek & Cole, A Professional Corporation as partner in Encino.

Alcumbrac is a certified legal malpractice specialist with over two decades of experience in handling professional liability matters. Marta handles a wide array of professional liability matters with a proven track record of success. She also represents attorneys in connection with State Bar matters as well as judicial officers before the Commission on Judicial Performance. She is a frequent speaker on litigation strategy and ethics issues. Alcumbrac is the immediate past president of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and has recently devoted much of her attention to creating the overwhelmingly successful Resolve Law LA Virtual MSC Program. She recently received the 2023 Excellence in Advocacy Award from the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

Babak Nikravesh joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP as shareholder in Silicon Valley.

Nikravesh focuses his practice on investment transactions and international tax planning. He advises institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, public sector pension funds, social security funds, and other global organizations, on investments in the United States and abroad. He structures inbound and outbound investment transactions across diverse asset classes, including funds, co-investments, and direct investments in private equity, infrastructure, venture capital, private credit, and real estate, and works closely with sponsors and managers of investment funds on formation, operational matters, and investments. He also represents universities and endowments on cross-border activities.

Paul Starita was promoted to partner of Singleton Schreiber in San Diego.

Before joining Singleton Schreiber, Starita was an assistant U.S. attorney for more than 18 years, both as a prosecutor and a civil attorney. He has tried more than 50 jury and bench trials in federal court. For 30 years, Starita served as a U.S. Marine on active duty and in the Reserve. As a Marine judge advocate, he served in a wide variety of roles, including lead counsel on Clean Air Act matters in the Marine Corps western region, military trial judge, and appellate judge on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.

Mark Fleming was promoted to partner of Singleton Schreiber in San Diego.

Fleming represents clients in the areas of mass torts, civil rights, and criminal defense. He is one of the few attorneys in the country to have tried over 100 cases before federal juries.

Gary Locurto was promoted to partner of Singleton Schreiber in San Diego.

LoCurto's primary focus is on wildfire litigation; however, he handles various aspects of civil litigation and personal injury.