Lolly Enriquez as Partner in Los Angeles from Richards, Watson & Gershon.

Enriquez focuses her practice on public finance. She has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, issuer counsel, underwriter's counsel and bank counsel in a wide variety of bond financings, including water and wastewater revenue bonds, lease revenue bonds, Mello-Roos CFD special tax bonds, assessment bonds, school district bonds, tax allocation bonds, 501(c)(3) financings, certificates of participation and equipment leases.

William Mentlik as Mediator in Los Angeles from Lerner David LLP.

Mentlik now focuses his practice on mediating complex IP disputes. Most notably, he has successfully mediated disputes involving domestic and international IP litigation and patent portfolio licensing, including SEP/FRAND disputes between large international technology companies and Hatch-Waxman disputes. His skills as a mediator also derives from his experience as an IP appellate practitioner, which required him to combine a thorough knowledge of the case record with a proven penchant for thinking on his feet.

Mark Lezama as Partner & Leader of Diversity Committee in Irvine

Lezama has served for years on the firm's Diversity Committee. Alongside Chief Diversity and Talent Development Officer Terra Davis, the Committee is responsible for guiding Knobbe Martens' overall diversity strategy and advancing efforts around equity and inclusiveness, including work with eight affinity groups across the firm. Lezama is President of the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law, an organization committed to increasing diversity and inclusion within the Orange County legal community.

Timothy A. Spangler as Partner in Los Angeles from Dechert LLP.

Spangler focuses his legal practice on the intersection of alternative investment management and financial technology innovations. He assists his clients with the formation, structuring and negotiation of private investment vehicles across numerous jurisdictions around the world. He regularly advises fund sponsors and promoters on the structuring and launch of hedge funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds, as well as with respect to their co-investment arrangements, internal partnerships and personal investments.

Kristina D. Lawson as Health Workforce Education and Training Council in California State Appointment

Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Lawson to the Health Workforce Education and Training Council. Lawson has been Managing Partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP since 2021 and a Partner there since 2017. She was a member of the Walnut Creek City Council from 2010 to 2014, serving as Mayor of the city in 2014. Lawson is President of the Medical Board of California and has served as a member since 2015. She was also President of the Board from 2020 to 2023. She is the first woman to be elected as Managing Partner in Hanson Bridgett's 65+ year history.

Brian D. Israel as Partner in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. from Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.

Israel is co-chair of the Environmental Litigation practice at Paul Hastings, which is based in the firm's Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles offices. His practice focuses broadly on environmental litigation, crisis management, and counseling--including climate-related issues--and he is one of the nation's leading lawyers for Natural Resource Damages (NRD) claims. He has successfully litigated and/or resolved over one hundred environmental matters. Among other areas, he specializes in cases brought under federal and state environmental laws related to contaminated sites, including toxic tort lawsuits. He represents multiple Fortune 500 companies in some of the largest and most complex environmental matters across the country. He was lead counsel to BP in relation to Deepwater Horizon environmental issues and was one of the lead attorneys at the Deepwater Horizon Clean Water Act (CWA) penalty trial.

Ivo Keller as Partner in San Francisco from SSL Law Firm LLP.

Keller has built an impressive portfolio of expertise, handling a wide range of high-stakes litigation and complex bankruptcy cases. His adeptness at navigating the intricacies of real estate law, ranging from environmental challenges and eminent domain proceedings to boundary disputes and HOA governance, sets him apart as a leader in the field. Keller has also built a nationwide practice representing landlords and other creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. He has represented everything from large institutional investors to small businesses in case venues ranging from San Diego to Connecticut.

Caroline K. Nam as Associate in LightGabler LLP

Nam litigates disputed matters in all aspects of employment law, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, PAGA representative actions and class actions. Nam earned her B.A., magna cum laude, in Theological Studies from Biola University and her J.D. from Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law

Benjamin F. Fraser as Associate in LightGabler LLP

Fraser represents employers in a broad range of employment disputes, including single-plaintiff actions, wage and hour cases, class actions, claims under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and disability access cases. Fraser graduated cum laude from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo with a B.A. in Economics. He earned his J.D. from the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, graduating cum laude.

Ravneet "Nitu" Sandhu as Associate in LightGabler LLP

Sandhu represents employers in workplace issues, including discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination claims and wage and hour disputes and provides guidance on compliance with state and federal labor and employment laws. Sandhu graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Criminology, Law and Society and Political Science and received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law.

Chancellor D. Nobles as Associate in LightGabler LLP

Nobles litigates all types of employment claims in state and federal courts throughout California. Nobles graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Political Science and received his J.D. from Loyola Law School.

Jared R. Sohn as Associate in LightGabler LLP

Sohn litigates employment, labor, and business-related matters. He works with companies by providing advice and counsel on workplace issues to reduce liability and achieve compliance. Sohn graduated from the University of Miami Herbert Business School with a B.A. in Business Administration and a concentration in Political Science and received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jason Edlinger as Associate in LightGabler LLP

Edlinger has experience in nearly all stages of litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including trial, mediation and arbitration. Edlinger graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in Philosophy and received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Breann Cortes as Associate in LightGabler LLP

Cortes provides legal counsel in wage and hour issues, harassment and discrimination training, handbook drafting and updates, and guidance on disciplinary actions, termination, investigations and leaves of absence. Cortes graduated with a B.A. in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton, and obtained her J.D. from Concord Law School.

Michael Shonafelt as Shareholder in Los Angeles from Newmeyer & Dillion LLP.

Shonafelt advises landowners, developers, lenders, receiverships, and public agencies on all aspects of zoning and land use, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Coastal Act, general plan amendments and zone changes, conditional use permits (CUPs), subdivision maps, variances, development agreements, wetlands issues, and coastal development permits (CDPs). He is also well-versed in California housing laws.

Erika Mayshar as Shareholder in Orange County from McDermott Will & Emery.

Mayshar's clients include sophisticated tax-exempt organizations across the country facing complex legal and tax issues and ultra-high-net-worth individuals deploying philanthropic capital. She advises philanthropists, foundations, and family offices on making significant charitable contributions, creating succession structures, and enhancing their philanthropic impact. Mayshar works with corporate foundations to develop philanthropy models such as employee assistance funds, disaster relief efforts, and research grant programs.

Tracy S. Combs as Shareholder in San Francisco from U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.

Combs counsels corporations, financial institutions, and individuals regarding complex investigations, litigation, and regulatory matters, including those involving the SEC, the Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and other law enforcement agencies and financial regulators.

Chad Hummel as Principal in Los Angeles from Law Offices of Chad Hummel.

Hummel has tried and won landmark cases in the entertainment, mortgage banking, hospitality, telecommunications, advertising, and fashion industries. He also advises public and private companies on compliance, regulatory investigations, and actions by governmental agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the CFPB, the SEC, and multiple state attorneys general.

Roger C. Rappoport as Partner in San Diego from Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.

Rappoport is a seasoned advisor to startups and emerging growth companies and the investors who finance them, guiding clients from inception through exit. With over two decades of experience in the startup ecosystem, He focuses on venture capital and angel investor financings, including convertible notes, SAFEs, and other debt financings. His knowledge extends to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution, development, manufacturing, and licensing transactions, as well as executive compensation and establishing equity incentive plans.

Sean Morrissey as Of Counsel in Irvine from Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo LLP.

Morrissey is a seasoned legal professional whose career is marked by a steadfast commitment to excellence, strategic litigation management, and successful client advocacy. Morrissey has shown an exceptional ability to navigate complex litigation processes, from initial client consultations to the execution of sophisticated legal strategies. His expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of practice areas, including business and contractual disputes, collection matters, landlord-tenant issues, and employee disputes. He has been instrumental in directing cases through pre-litigation settlement strategies, initiating and defending lawsuits, and managing appeals. Notably, Sean Morrissey has achieved significant victories, such as settling multimillion-dollar claims for nominal amounts and obtaining summary judgments that were upheld on appeal.

Luis E. Lorenzana as Office Managing Shareholder in San Diego

Lorenzana represents a wide range of employers in complex, single plaintiff and class action employment litigation before state and federal courts and agencies. Lorenzana regularly defends employers against wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination (disparate treatment and disparate impact), sexual harassment and battery, pay equity, failure to accommodate, PAGA, and wage and hour claims.

Robert J. Wilger as Office Managing Shareholder in San Jose

Wilger represents clients in all aspects of employment law, including civil lawsuits and administrative proceedings involving allegations of wrongful termination, discrimination, and other claims arising out of employment disputes.

Ali Hmoud as Associate in San Diego from Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP .

Hmoud has experience representing corporations in a broad range of employment matters, including wage and hour, PAGA, class action, FEHA, employee benefits, equal pay, and medical leave and disability accommodations. He has also represented clients in various insurance defense litigation matters, in areas including employment, personal injury, and environmental toxic torts.

Denise M. Glagau as California Managing Partner in San Francisco

Glagau's practice focuses on advising multinational companies on complex tax and legal issues associated with offering employee share plans and other incentive compensation programs globally. She has authored several articles and frequently speaks on topics of interest for legal and other professionals dealing with share plan issues. She is a member of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP) and Global Equity Organization (GEO). She is a ranked practitioner by Chambers USA in the area of Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. She is also a member of the firm's Financial Institutions and Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Groups.

Michael E. Brewer as North America Employment & Compensation Practice Chair in San Francisco

Brewer most recently served as managing partner of the firm's California offices, and he is also chair of the firm's Global Employment & Compensation practice. A trial lawyer who represents global and domestic clients, he has tried class action and single-plaintiff employment cases before judges, juries, and arbitrators for more than two decades.

Lesley D. Holland as Neutral in Sacramento from Herum Crabtree Suntag Attorneys.

Holland retired from the San Joaquin County Superior Court in 2019. He was elected as presiding judge in 2014 and was named the court's first supervising judge for the Civil Division in 2011, serving through 2014. Holland spent the last several years as of counsel at Herum Crabtree Suntag Attorneys, where he devoted his practice to alternative dispute resolution services in civil matters with emphasis on probate/trusts and estates, business/contractual, construction, employment, professional malpractice, real estate and personal injury disputes. Holland spent the first 18 years of his career in private practice, trying commercial, products liability and construction defect matters.

Brandon Gantus as Partner in San Francisco from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Gantus focuses on representing public and private companies on benefits and compensation matters. He has particular experience counseling technology and life sciences companies on benefits and compensation aspects of mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions, including many high-profile deals in recent years.

Trinity Taylor as Associate in San Francisco from McManis Faulkner.

Taylor has extensive experience defending employers against claims involving wage and hour disputes; wrongful termination, harassment, and retaliation; unlawful discrimination; and unfair competition. She also litigates cases involving breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Marc Koonin as Of Counsel in San Francisco

Koonin regularly advises employers on a broad range of employment related matters, including multistate compliance issues and workplace safety issues. He has defended employers in cases alleging employment discrimination and harassment, failure to accommodate disabilities, wrongful termination, whistleblower and other retaliation claims, wage and hour claims, ERISA violations, defamation, and violation of various leave laws. Koonin also represents employers before administrative agencies, including the California Occupational Safety & Health Appeals Board, as well as in traditional labor matters such as collective bargaining, avoiding and defending complaints of unfair labor practices, and labor grievance arbitration.

David L. Cheng as Office Managing Partner in Los Angeles

Cheng has practiced employment law in California for almost 20 years, focusing on complex business disputes and wage and hour class and collective action cases brought under federal and state law. He co-leads the firm's Wage & Hour practice group and serves as editor for the Class and Collective Actions module of FordHarrison's Labor & Employment Law Sourcebook.

Eric Francisconi as Partner in Newport Beach, CA from Shulman Bastian Friedman & Bui LLP .

Francisconi focuses his practice on complex business and commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and probate litigation. In his nearly 30 years of practice, most of his cases pertain to contracts, trade secrets, unfair competition, fraud, fiduciary duties, real property estates, employment, commercial landlord rights, the rights and responsibilities of participants in corporations/LLCs/partnerships, construction law, insurance bad faith, and bankruptcy. Francisconi advises and represents clients and individuals such as hospitality companies, commercial landlords, construction companies, health care professionals, pharmaceutical companies, real estate brokers, homeowners, business owners, and investors.

Daniel C. Lorenzen as Partner in Westlake Village from Venable LLP.

Lorenzen has considerable experience advising clients who are the core of Stradling's business, including general partners of private equity, venture capital, and other funds. He also represents business founders and frequently advises on valuation and qualified small business stock opportunities. He also helps his cross-border contacts on tax and estate planning matters, such as applying Japanese inheritance taxes to U.S. assets, qualifying for foreign estate treatment, and implementing cross-border estate plans.

Jerome "Jerry" Ku as Partner in San Francisco from Gunderson Dettmer.

Ku represents early-stage and emerging growth companies, venture capital and private equity firms, and other clients in California and beyond. Ku counsels clients in heavily regulated industries on their most complex transactions, including high-dollar investments, high-value M&A deals, debt/equity financings, commercial contracts, and corporate formation and governance matters. His clients include leading companies in the energy, mobility, telecom, food and beverage, entertainment, and healthcare sectors, with a focus on both traditional and emerging tech, such as AI, SaaS, semiconductors, and blockchain.

Aaron Gbewonyo as Managing Attorney in Los Angeles

Gbewonyo has built a reputation for his diligence and hard work on behalf of his clients. He exemplifies what it means to effectively litigate cases, which has allowed him to secure significant settlements for his clients while also helping those around him. The firm said his promotion to managing attorney is a testament to his substantial contributions to the firm and the promising future that lies ahead.

Stephen A. Cazares as Partner in Los Angeles from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

Cazares is a former assistant U.S. attorney who has tried 17 federal jury trials to verdict. He represents companies, their executives, and others confronted with regulatory investigations, fraud litigation, and state and local prosecutions, including matters before the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission. He also conducts internal investigations relating to allegations of securities and regulatory compliance violations, as well as allegations of misconduct by whistleblowers.

Ehsun Forghany as Partner in San Francisco from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Forghany provides business-focused counsel to clients in the fashion & retail, engineering, medical device, and consumer products sectors. He advises clients on risk-reduction strategies during product development, helps guide product launches, and is known for curating creative and comprehensive IP protection for commercialized product designs.

Gabrielle Cuskelly as Partner in Century City from Sidley Austin.

Cuskelly guides private equity funds, management companies, investment banks, institutional lenders, life insurance companies, and other real estate investors through cross-border and domestic real estate finance and other real estate transactions. She has significant expertise in organizing permanent, bridge, or construction mortgage and mezzanine loans, negotiating inter-creditor and co-lender relationships, joint ventures, and portfolio and "one-off" acquisitions and dispositions.