Ellen Robbins joined Akerman LLP as partner, litigation practice group in Los Angeles.

Ellen Robbins is a trial lawyer with extensive experience litigating in both state and federal court on behalf of public and private companies all over the world. She focuses her practice on complex commercial disputes and patent litigation. Her work includes commercial matters such as breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition, alter ego, securities law, product liability, class actions, insolvency, and misappropriation. Robbin's experience also encompasses intellectual property, patent litigation, and handling several matters before the International Trade Commission. Among her most notable representation, Robbins served as trial counsel in five district court and ITC proceedings in the Microsoft/Motorola smart phone patent litigation, including a landmark bench trial setting a reasonable and non-discriminatory royalty for standard essentials patents and obtaining a jury verdict for Microsoft in the district court proceedings. Following a federal court bench trial involving issues of alter ego and fraudulent transfer, Ellen secured a $40 million judgement for a Fortune 500 company that was affirmed on appeal.

Frank Abramonte joined Cozen O'Connor as member in Seattle.

Frank Abramonte, a patent attorney and former engineer, has joined Am Law 100 law firm Cozen O'Connor in Seattle as a member in its global intellectual property practice. Abramontecounsels a range of businesses from established public companies to early and late stage startup businesses, and specializes in patent procurement and patent portfolio strategizing in electrical, software, electro-mechanical engineering and medical device related technologies.

Sarah Kelly-Kilgore was promoted to partner of Greenberg Gross LLP in Los Angeles.

Greenberg Gross LLP, a high-stakes business litigation law firm, is pleased to announce the elevation of Sarah Kelly-Kilgore to Partner. Kilgore handles trial and appellate matters for public and private companies, high-level executives, and celebrities. Since joining Greenberg Gross in March 2017, Kilgore has led a number of the firm's most high-profile cases, including a multimillion-dollar fraudulent-transfer action, an employment action on behalf of an in-house attorney involving claims of workplace retaliation, and several major breach-of-contract actions. Kilgore is lead counsel on the firm's two cases currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, both of which involve significant First Amendment issues.

Kilgore's practice focuses on complex business litigation matters, including private litigation in state and federal court, regulatory and enforcement actions, and sensitive internal investigations.

Allison Martin Rhodes was promoted to president of Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers.

Rhodes is a partner at Holland & Knight LLP and co-chair of the firm's legal profession team. She was named president of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers at the organization's annual meeting in Chicago in early August.

Rhodes focuses her practice on legal ethics and risk management, law firm organization and attorney discipline defense. She advises both law firms and lawyers on ethical and fiduciary issues related to lateral hiring, law firm dissolution and expulsion matters. Rhodes represents lawyers and law firms in litigation among themselves. She is based in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles.

Darren Donnelly joined Polsinelli LLP as principal in Silicon Valley.

Donnelly focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, representing clients in patent and intellectual property disputes. He joins Polsinelli's intelletual property department in Silicon Valley.

"The footprint and recognition of Polsinelli in the Bay Area on the West Coast is growing," he said. "It's a really dynamic practice with strong depth in intellectual property and technology, so it's a practice that fits my practice and one that I'm excited to join."

Donnelly also advises companies on patent portfolio development, licensing, enforcement strategies and patent and litigation risk related to investments, acquisitions and initial public offerings.

His clients include technology companies innovating in computing and networking. He said Polsinelli's growth in its intellectual property and technology groups was attractive to him.

"Being able to leverage the value and depth of those capabilities for those clients I have now is a great opportunity for those clients, and I'm really looking forward to contributing to the nationwide practice of Polsinelli in other intellectual property and technology matters," he said.

Casey Kempner joined Patterson + Sheridan LLP as associate in San Diego.

Kempner's practice will focus on preparing and prosecuting patents for electronic, medical and mechanical devices.

Walter Wu, M.D. joined Dorsey & Whitney LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP is pleased to announce that Walter Wu, M.D., has joined the firm's patent group in Palo Alto as a partner.

Dr. Wu specializes in patent prosecution and portfolio strategy for emerging companies in the life sciences, and patent due diligence for life science investors. His clients and target companies are active in the digital health, medical diagnostics, bioinformatics, ophthalmic, wound care and ears, nose, and throat fields. His transactional experience includes Alcon's licensing of the Google Smart Lens technology and Auris Surgical Robotic's acquisition of Hansen Medical. He has developed patent strategies for inter partes reviews and litigation matters involving surgical robots and prosthetic limbs, and is an expert on clinical, marketing and biostatistical issues relating to biotech and pharmaceutical patent litigation, including trial experience in Pfizer Inc. v. Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. involving Lipitor.

Dr. Wu received a B.S. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his medical degree from the UC Davis School of Medicine, where he was a UC Regents Scholar. During medical school, he completed policy fellowships at the National Governors Association and the Food and Drug Administration. He is a licensed physician and was board-certified in internal medicine from 2000 to 2010. Before attending law school, he was a chief resident and clinical instructor at the UCLA School of Medicine. He received his J.D. degree from the UCLA School of Law.

Christine Magarian as partner in Los Angeles

Christine Magarian has 20 years of experience in complex insurance coverage, tort, and construction defect and business litigation. She has litigated toxic and environmental tort coverage actions and defense matters and handles construction defect, premises liability and professional liability coverage cases as well. She has also litigated complex business and general litigation cases. Magarian's professional liability practice at KDV will focus on coverage litigation and coverage advice involving E&O and D&O matters.

Peter V. Hogan joined Buchalter as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Mr. Hogan, a member of the Corporate Practice Group, represents middle market and emerging growth companies in initial public offerings, second offerings, mergers and acquisitions, angel and venture capital financing, 1934 Act reporting obligations, as well as the interests of broker-dealers.

As a member of the Litigation Practice Group, Dennis Raglin has over 20 years of experience as a litigator and concentrates his practice on defending clients in the areas of products liability, including medical device and pharmaceuticals, and in all types of general and complex litigation. He also counsels and defends clients in California's Proposition 65 right-to-know chemical warnings law, as well as state and national chemical compliance laws and regulations generally.

Dennis Raglin joined Buchalter as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Mr. Raglin’s clients span a wide range of industries, including representing clients who manufacture and distribute products that include implantable and prescription medical devices, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, biologics, baby and toddler formula, nutritional supplements and food products, durable medical equipment, heavy equipment, automobiles, personal care goods and cosmetics, pet care products, household goods, sporting goods and water gear. He earned his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from the University of California, Riverside.

Manita Rawat was promoted to managing partner of Duane Morris LLP in Palo Alto.

In her five years at Duane Morris, Rawat has grown her practice, focusing on patent prosecution and portfolio management as well as support for patent litigation.

"I look forward to working with this great group of attorneys that are in the office, supporting each of their practices and fulfilling the goal of the firm to grow this office and be able to recruit and obtain legal talent in Silicon Valley as well as work closely with the other California offices in the firm," Rawat said.

With a technical background in applied mathematics with a concentration in computer science, aerospace engineering and statistical analysis, as well as biochemistry, she primarily represents clients in mechanical, aerospace and software technologies. She also has experience in trademark and copyright prosecution and patent licensing and transactional matters.

As one of a few female managing partners in Silicon Valley, Rawat believes her appointment is "a step forward."

"I hope it sends a great message to the community and other women attorneys and diverse attorneys," she said. "They too can become leaders within their organization."

Courtney A. Winzeler joined Kahana & Feld LLP as partner in Santa Ana.

construction/real estate, insurance defense, and general liability

Manita Rawat was promoted to managing partner, duane morris silicon valley office of Duane Morris LLP in Palo Alto.

Duane Morris LLP has appointed Manita Rawat managing partner of the firm's Silicon Valley office. Rawat practices primarily in the area of intellectual property law and litigation. She has a strong technical background in applied mathematics with a concentration in computer science, aerospace engineering and statistical analysis, as well as biochemistry.

As a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Rawat has significant experience in patent preparation and prosecution, and patent office post-grant proceedings (including inter-partes review and reexamination), working primarily with mechanical, aerospace and software technologies. She also has significant experience with trademark and copyright prosecution, patent and trademark litigation, and commercial litigation. Rawat counsels her clients in a variety issues related to intellectual property, including patentability analysis, invalidity opinions, portfolio management and analysis of pre-litigation matters. She also assists clients in patent licensing and transactional matters, including structuring, negotiating and drafting agreements.

Rawat is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., 2005) and a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno (B.S., 2001). She also studied at St. Peter's College of University of Oxford, United Kingdom, through the Intellectual Property Law Scholars Program.