Thomas Del Monte was promoted to partner in Santa Rosa. The promotion was effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Del Monte has been an integral member of SMT's legal team since joining the firm, where he has focused on business and real estate matters. He brings deep experience covering virtually all standard business law matters, including business sales, corporate structure and governance, ownership and buy-sell agreements, debt and equity financings, securities law, equity compensation, IP strategy, contract drafting and negotiation, and real property transactions.

Kevin Thomas O'Connor joined Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP in Santa Rosa. The move was Jul. 15, 2025.

O'Connor has devoted his legal career exclusively to trusts and estates, bringing a deep and compassionate understanding of the needs of families navigating estate planning and administration. At SMT, he joins an experienced team that includes Ashlee Hellman, Barbara Gallagher, Mark Miller, Candice Raposo, and Carmen Sinigiani. Together, the department assists clients with the full spectrum of estate planning, including the preparation of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and trust and probate administration.

Walker Macon was promoted to partner of Berger Kahn ALC in Lake Forest. The promotion was effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Macon focuses his practice on insurance coverage, including reimbursement and coverage-related litigation. His practice also includes employment, entertainment, and other business-related contracts. Macon joined Berger Kahn while he was in law school and has built a strong reputation for his work in insurance coverage matters. He has authored several articles published in Reuters and Westlaw Today, addressing complex coverage issues and policy interpretation.

Joshua Praw was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Francisco. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Praw is a civil litigator specializing in toxic tort, product liability, and commercial general liability matters. He is a member of the Toxic Tort Practice.

Jacqueline V. McCalla was promoted to partner of Newmeyer Dillion in Walnut Creek.

McCalla focuses her practice on business and construction litigation. In her practice, Jacqueline takes pride in assisting businesses of all sizes and entrepreneurs in various matters, whether it be a pre-litigation matter or in litigation, from case inception through trial. She represents developers, builders, and contractors in complex, multi-party disputes involving a variety of residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties.

A. Michael Sabongui was promoted to partner of YOKA | SMITH LLP in Irvine.

Sabongui earned his law degree from California Western School of Law and began his career in 1995 at the New York City District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor in the Special Victims and Sex Crimes Unit. After defending physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice matters at Heidell, Pittoni, Murphy & Bach, he relocated to California in 2000 to join Rinos & Martin, where he handled public entity, civil rights, and complex general liability defense. He joined Yoka Smith LLP in 2021 and is based in the firm's Orange County office, focusing on catastrophic general liability matters.

Padmini Cheruvu was promoted to partner of Donahue Fitzgerald. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Cheruvu assists clients in securing, protecting, and enforcing their intellectual property rights. She has experience in a wide variety of matters, including registering trademarks and copyrights and prosecuting and defending trademark infringement, copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and business disputes in state and federal courts. Cheruvu is a member of the Alameda County Bar Association and the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California. She received her J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco in 2014, where she was the operations editor for the UC Law SF's Communications and Entertainment Law Journal and a staff editor for the UC Law SF's Science and Technology Law Journal. She earned her B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2011.

Emily Yip was promoted to partner of Donahue Fitzgerald. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Yip is a State Bar of California-certified specialist in family law. She handles family law matters including divorce, premarital and post-marital agreements, and cohabitation agreements, and she is a trusted advisor to individuals and families navigating complex legal matters related to estate planning, wealth transfer, tax planning, and trust and estate litigation. Yip is a founding executive board member of the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association and a past co-chair of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area’ Solo and Small Firm Committee. She is a member of the Family Law sections for the Alameda, San Francisco, San Diego and Beverly Hills bar associations. Yip earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Greg Cheng was elected managing director of the San Francisco office of Ogletree Deakins. His tenure is effective Jan. 26, 2026.

Cheng has been elected to serve as one of the two managing directors for Ogletree Deakins. He is a shareholder in the firm's San Francisco office and a former member of the firm's Board of Directors. He joins Managing Shareholder Liz Washko and Managing Director Mark Diana on the Executive Committee of Ogletree Deakins' Board of Directors, which is responsible for the firm's strategic direction and daily operations. Cheng has been with Ogletree Deakins since 2006 and has exclusively practiced management-side labor and employment law in California for his entire career. As an experienced litigator, Cheng has handled hundreds of matters for employers in state and federal courts, arbitration, and before administrative agencies.

Mark Johnson was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Johnson is a litigator who represents a wide variety of businesses and individuals in civil litigation matters ranging from toxic torts to sexual assault. He is a member of the Complex Tort & General Casualty Practice.

Philip W Woo was elected managing partner of the Palo Alto office of Duane Morris LLP. His tenure was effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Woo succeeds Brian L. Johnsrud, who has served in the role since 2023 and has become chair of the firm's Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. Woo focuses his practice on patent law, with extensive experience in patent litigation, prosecution, and proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He holds a J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Noah Metz joined Shartsis Friese LLP as a partner. The move was Jan. 21, 2026.

Metz counsels clients of all sizes across different sectors solve their tax problems in business transactions. He advises on mergers and acquisitions, operating agreements, investment fund formation, entity tax structuring, and opportunity zones. Over the past five years, Metz has worked on more than 200 M&A transactions, with typical deal sizes ranging from $20M to $75M. Most recently with a tax-focused legal boutique, he began his career as a corporate tax attorney with a pair of Big Law firms.

Bryan Kirsh was promoted to shareholder of Shegerian & Associates in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 29, 2026.

Kirsh represents employees in complex employment litigation involving disability discrimination and retaliation. He has secured landmark results for clients, including an eight-figure disability discrimination jury verdict and a seven-figure disability retaliation jury verdict. Kirsh is known for his strategic case development, disciplined advocacy, and commanding grasp of employment litigation.

John David was promoted to shareholder of Shegerian & Associates in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 29, 2026.

David is a seasoned trial lawyer with extensive experience in employment litigation involving gender discrimination, disability discrimination, and retaliation. He has played a leading role in securing major plaintiff jury verdicts and is known for his strategic advocacy and strong courtroom presence. In 2025 alone, David obtained four plaintiff verdicts.

Rosie Zilifyan was promoted to shareholder of Shegerian & Associates in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 29, 2026.

Zilifyan is an accomplished employment litigator who represents plaintiffs in matters involving wrongful termination and workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She has taken a leading role in managing the firm's sexual assault cases and has argued before the California Courts of Appeal. Zilifyan has secured substantial recoveries for clients, including multiple seven-figure settlements involving disability, sexual harassment, and retaliation claims.

Miko Sargizian was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Irvine.

Sargizian defends employers, including Fortune 500 companies, against claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She is particularly experienced in navigating sensitive and high-exposure claims involving sexual harassment, sexual battery, and workplace assault, with a focus on protecting client reputation and minimizing litigation risk. She also handles complex wage and hour matters, including class actions and PAGA representative actions, involving alleged violations of overtime, meal and rest periods, and off-the-clock work.

Nolan McCready was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Irvine.

McCready has experience defending employers in state and federal courts, as well as private arbitration, in a wide range of employment related matters including: complex wage and hour class and representative action; single-plaintiff claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, administrative hearings before the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; ERISA class action breach of fiduciary duty excessive fee class actions; and COBRA litigation. McCready also works with in-house counsel and human resources departments to provide advice on all aspects of employment law.

James A. Becerra was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Century City.

Becerra focuses his practice on advising and defending employers in matters involving trade secret misappropriation, theft of confidential information, unfair competition, breach of employment agreements, wage and hour class actions, and claims of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. He litigates cases before courts and government agencies in California and nationwide, handling matters from investigation and discovery through trial and appeal. Becerra also regularly works with in-house counsel, human resources, and executives to develop practical strategies that reduce litigation risk, including protecting confidential information, drafting and enforcing employment and restrictive covenant agreements, auditing wage and hour practices, and investigating workplace complaints, discipline, and terminations.

Donna Leung was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in Century City.

Leung represents and counsels employers in various industries in a broad range of employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour claims. She has experience representing employers in state and federal courts, including single plaintiff, multiplaintiff, and representative and class action lawsuits.

Jocelyn D. Hannah was promoted to shareholder of Littler Mendelson P.C. in San Diego.

Hannah is an experienced litigator who represents employers across a broad range of industries and has successfully defended matters in state and federal courts and in contractual arbitration. She regularly appears before California state courts and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of California at both the trial and appellate levels, with a practice focused on litigation and trials, class actions, wage and hour matters, discrimination and harassment, unfair competition and trade secrets, and appellate advocacy.

Carole Buckner was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Buckner defends clients against claims related to professional liability, business, and real estate matters. She also has extensive experience defending employers and conducting workplace investigations. She is a member of the Professional Liability & Services and Employment & Labor Practices.

Diane S. Rice joined Joseph Saveri Law Firm as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Jan. 27, 2026.

Rice has more than 35 years of experience as a formidable trial lawyer handling complex, high-stakes litigation across the United States. She is widely recognized for her strategic judgment in matters involving alleged anticompetitive conduct and market-distorting behavior. Her litigation experience includes representing plaintiffs and defendants alike, from individual consumers to Fortune 500 corporations, giving her a comprehensive understanding of how complex cases are built, defended, and ultimately won.

Diana Maier joined Signature Resolution as a neutral in San Fransisco. The move was effective Jan. 21, 2026.

Maier leverages three decades of experience spanning mediation, employment litigation on both the defense and plaintiff sides, workplace investigations, public defense, and policy advising. This unique career path has equipped her to approach complex disputes with compassion, transparency, and wisdom. Maier's practice at Signature Resolution centers on employment disputes of all kinds as well as workplace mediations. Maier will also mediate most other kinds of civil matters, such as contract law, business, and landlord-tenant disputes. Maier's background as both plaintiff and defense employment counsel ensures inherent balance and impartiality. This combined with her extensive experience resolving highly nuanced workplace issues, allows her to identify underlying issues and guide discussions toward informed, productive settlements.

Julianne Pinter joined Signature Resolution as a neutral in Los Angeles, CA. The move was effective Jan. 21, 2026.

With over 30 years of experience as a trial and appellate attorney, Pinter has participated in more than 1,000 mediations and arbitrations, giving her exceptional depth of experience navigating complex disputes with empathy, clarity, and practical insight. At Signature Resolution, Pinter focuses on matters spanning employment, entertainment, and technology disputes, as well as trade secrets, non-profit, healthcare, and complex business matters. She draws on her experience representing clients ranging from Fortune 25 and Fortune 500 companies to emerging start-ups and nonprofits and has achieved multimillion-dollar judgments and settlements for claimants.

Joshua M. Robbins joined Crowell & Moring LLP as a partner in Irvine. The move was Jan. 15, 2026.

Robbins has extensive courtroom experience in both the public sector as an assistant U.S. attorney in Southern California, and in private practice, where he regularly engages in "bet-the-company" litigation on behalf of sophisticated clients and high-profile individuals. Robbins represents businesses and individuals in the life sciences, technology, and financial industries in cases involving allegations of fraud, kickbacks, unfair competition, and other sensitive issues. He has first-chaired dozens of trials to verdict or arbitration award and led dozens of appeals in both civil and criminal cases, on issues in areas including antitrust, patent, health care fraud, and technology licensing. At Crowell, Robbins' practice will center around civil litigation and affirmative recovery fraud cases, with a focus on the health care and life sciences industries.

Kenneth Kecskes joined Cox, Castle & Nicholson as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Jan. 2, 2026.

Kecskes is a seasoned real estate and land use attorney who advises clients on complex matters throughout California. With nearly 30 years of experience, he represents U.S. and international investors, corporate end-users, developers, and public and private entities across a wide range of asset classes and project types

Chyi "Gary" Chen joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch LLP as a partner in Irvine. The move was Jan. 13, 2026.

Chen advises on a broad range of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity financings, commercial agreements, and general corporate matters. He brings significant experience in leading domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, particularly in Asia, as he speaks fluent Mandarin and has lived and worked in China and Taiwan.

John Metzidis was promoted to counsel of Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Metzidis brings significant trial-level litigation experience to his appellate practice, giving him a practical, strategic perspective. Metzidis graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and served as an extern to Judge James V. Selna of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Hyongsoon Kim joined Morrison & Foerster LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Kim defends clients in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on high-value class actions and product-liability matters. His track record includes multiple class-certification denials as well as favorable dismissals at both the pleadings and summary-judgment stages. He has guided clients through class actions involving unfair-business-practices and false-advertising statutes in jurisdictions including California, New York, Texas, Michigan, Florida, and beyond. Hyongsoon also represents clients in litigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Videotape Privacy Protection Act, and various securities-law claims.

Paul Lin joined Morrison & Foerster LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Lin advises clients on complex, cross-border transactions, including M&A, strategic investments, joint ventures, takeovers, real estate, and corporate finance. He also acts as outside general counsel for many clients, managing litigation relating to commercial disputes, antitrust, international trade, intellectual property, class action matters, and other areas.

Courtney R Arbucci was promoted to partner of YOKA |SMITH LLP. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Arbucci has successfully defended a wide range of matters, including construction defect, toxic tort, and catastrophic injury claims. She later joined the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Central Trials, Criminal Litigation Branch, where she litigated multiple cases through jury trials, before moving to a large Los Angeles firm representing government entities and law enforcement in Section 1983 civil rights actions in state and federal court. Throughout her career, she has represented manufacturers of diverse products--from industrial equipment and suspended scaffolds to recreational equipment and electrical systems--as well as trash and recycling facilities, landowners, corporations, and restaurants in general liability matters involving slip-and-falls, automobile collisions, and catastrophic injuries.

Ian Samson was promoted to partner of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Samson has played a key role in many of the firm's most significant matters and focuses his practice on high-stakes personal injury and wrongful death litigation throughout California and Nevada. Samson joined the firm in January 2019 and serves as a lead attorney in its Nevada practice. He has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in recoveries for plaintiffs in California and Nevada, including: a $35 million products liability settlement for burn injuries; a $28.5 million settlement against Victor Elementary School District for a child catastrophically injured in a pedestrian accident; a $17.5 million settlement against Rebel Oil for a motorcyclist struck by a tanker truck; a $15.95 million settlement against a homeowners' association for injuries caused by defective playground equipment; an $8 million jury verdict followed by a $10.5 million settlement for a special needs teacher served chemical cleaner instead of beer at a Clark County casino; and a $9 million settlement for a woman injured in a collision with a Garda armored truck. Samson currently serves on the team litigating PSR's Social Media Cases (JCCP 5255) against Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Snap (Snapchat), Google (YouTube) and ByteDance (TikTok).

Lindsey Herzik was promoted to partner of Finch, Thornton & Baird in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Herzik's practice spans all phases of dispute resolution, from pre-litigation strategy through trial, arbitration, judgment, and appeal. Herzik regularly handles complex public and private works matters, owner and general contractor disputes, subcontractor and joint-venture disputes, contract defaults, surety bond and Miller Act claims, writs, and lien law. Her clients include general contractors, specialty subcontractors, developers, and real property asset holders.

Scott Bennett was promoted to partner of Finch, Thornton & Baird in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Bennett's construction practice emphasizes efficient and effective resolution of claims, disputes, and collections. His clients include general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and general businesses.

Thomas Diamond was promoted to partner of Finch, Thornton & Baird in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Diamond's construction practice focuses on resolving disputes involving public and private works, surety bond claims, and collections. He also represents businesses and individuals in a broad range of commercial disputes.

Cory DiBene was promoted to partner of Finch, Thornton & Baird in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

DiBene's practice includes public and private construction claims and disputes, insurance coverage, real estate matters, and commercial litigation. His clients include general contractors, specialty subcontractors, engineering firms, and owners.

Daniel Spencer was promoted to partner of Finch, Thornton & Baird in San Diego. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Spencer's practice focuses on construction claims and disputes, federal procurement and claims, collection remedies, contract requirements, and other construction-related litigation and transactions. He represents general contractors, owners, developers, specialty subcontractors, and material suppliers. With a background spanning engineering, technology, and business administration--combined with professional experience working for two Fortune 500 government contractors, Spencer is uniquely equipped to address the business and legal challenges faced by construction clients.

Marco A. Pulido was promoted to counsel of Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

A former chair of the Orange County Bar Association's Appellate Law Section, Pulido has nearly a decade of experience litigating complex appeals in California and federal courts, including high-stakes business, employment, public-entity, and negligence matters. He graduated from UC Irvine School of Law, served as a law clerk to Judge Bruce J. McGiverin of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and as an extern to Justice Richard M. Aronson of the 4th District Court of Appeal.

Laura Lim was promoted to counsel of Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP in Los Angeles. The promotion is effective Jan. 1, 2026.

After graduating from UC Berkeley School of Law, Lim served as a research attorney for Justice John S. Wiley Jr. of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, and a law clerk to Judge George H. Wu of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. As an associate at GMSR, Lim briefed cases before the California Supreme Court, California Courts of Appeal, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.