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

Madjidi is a leading plaintiffs' attorney with extensive experience in complex employment litigation. She handles matters from pre-litigation through trial and appeal and has successfully litigated cases nationwide in both State and Federal courts. Madjidi has tried two employment cases to nine-figure jury verdicts, including the largest age discrimination verdict in history, and has played a central role in achieving record-setting outcomes for employees.

Aram Ordubegian of ArentFox Schiff, has been named managing partner of the firm's Los Angeles office.

Ordubegian is a bankruptcy attorney and leader of the firm's Financial Restructuring & Bankruptcy practice and has worked in the Los Angeles office for more than 15 years. He has experience in reorganization, bankruptcy litigation, and appeals across a range of insolvency matters. Ordubegian advises financially distressed businesses and high-net-worth individuals, as well as asset purchasers, individual and corporate creditors, creditors' committees, and trustees before, during, and after bankruptcy proceedings. He is involved with several professional organizations, including the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Crescenta Valley Town Council.

Ordubegian succeeds Aaron Jacoby, who will continue his practice and his role as chair of ArentFox Schiff's Automotive & Transportation industry group. Both attorneys serve on the firm's Executive Committee.

Daniel A. Cribbs was promoted to shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Los Angeles.

Cribbs focuses his practice on complex construction litigation, representing developers and general contractors in high-exposure commercial, residential and public works disputes. His career has included defending claims involving water intrusion, structural defects, freeway expansions, subterranean construction and multimillion-dollar commercial and residential projects.

Amanda J. Fornwalt was promoted to shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Los Angeles.

Fornwalt focuses her practice on civil litigation, catastrophic injury, habitability claims, employment matters, and business law. She leads the firm’s habitability practice group and has extensive experience resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration and litigation.

Brian D. Kahn was promoted to shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Los Angeles.

Kahn focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, business matters and the representation of general contractors and developers in disputes across California. He has extensive experience handling construction, business, and toxic tort litigation, and has represented clients in trials, arbitrations and mediations throughout the state.

Ron P. Van was promoted to shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Los Angeles.

Van focuses his practice on complex civil and business litigation, with an emphasis on defending developers and general contractors in construction-related matters throughout California. He has successfully handled hundreds of cases involving a wide range of projects including residential communities, condominiums, commercial and mixed-use high-rise buildings, hotels, universities, casinos and large-scale infrastructure.

Daniel H. Butler was promoted to shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Los Angeles.

Butler focuses his practice on the defense of financial professionals, business managers, and attorneys. He has experience handling all facets of complex professional responsibility and has successfully resolved numerous cases for private clients and insurance carriers.

Christine E. Coverdale was promoted to shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Los Angeles.

Coverdale has significant trial and litigation experience in a large landscape involving media, entertainment, business and intellectual property disputes in the motion picture, music publishing, gaming, advertising, sports, and technology arenas. She brings real-world experience and an analytical perspective that provides her with a unique insight into her clients’ litigation needs and enables her to provide steadfast advocacy, authentic analysis and ethical representation of her clients’ interests.

Amy K. Pennington was promoted to shareholder of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Los Angeles.

Pennington focuses her practice on complex construction defect matters. She has extensive experience representing individuals, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies in both the pre-litigation and litigation phases. Amy develops litigation strategy, manages multi-party claims, negotiates favorable settlements, and achieves successful outcomes at mediation, arbitration, and trial.

Matt D'Abusco joined Judicate West as a neutral in Orange County. The move was Feb. 2, 2026.

D'Abusco is a seasoned litigator and subject-matter expert in employment law, having spent his nearly 20-year legal career handling disputes involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, leaves of absence, wrongful termination, wage and hour, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) matters. He began his career on the defense side, representing businesses ranging in size from family-owned operations to Fortune 500 corporations. D'Abusco later founded and ran a plaintiff's employment firm, where he successfully represented hundreds of clients in individual, class, and complex cases. In 2024, D'Abusco launched a dedicated ADR practice, D'Abusco Mediation. Collectively, as both a litigator and mediator, D'Abusco has participated in over 750 mediations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael J. Shepard joined Farmer Brownstein Jaeger Goldstein Siegel & Shepard LLP as a partner in San Francisco. The move was Jan. 6, 2026.

Shepard, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, represents individuals in criminal matters, tries criminal and civil cases, conducts independent investigations, argues appeals, and takes on a wide range of public-interest causes. A former prosecutor, he brings a deep understanding of how cases are built--and how to stop them before charges are filed. He has tried more than 40 cases and prevailed in the vast majority.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.