Jennifer A. Neill joined California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as assistant secretary for legal affairs and chief counsel in Sacramento.

Neill focuses on constitutional, correctional and appellate legal matters. She has experience as an attorney general for the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General and in the Correctional Writs and Appeals Section.

Anna K. Soliman joined Fiduciary Trust Company as trust counsel in Los Angeles.

Soliman's practice focuses on real estate plans and complex wealth transfer transactions. She has assisted clients in matters from trust administration and probate to Internal Revenue Service audits.

Susannah J. Braffman Amen joined Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Braffman Amen represents clients in a variety of family law cases such as dissolution of marriage, paternity, custody, post-judgement modifications, prenuptial agreements and domestic violence restraining orders.

Zeeshan A. Ahmedani was promoted to partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Los Angeles.

Ahmedani works to maintain an international practice focused on the organization and establishment of private investment funds in both onshore and offshore jurisdictions. This includes private equity funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds, hedge funds, distressed debt funds and hybrid funds.

Mitchell S. Kim joined Fox Rothschild LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Kim focuses his practice on resolving commercial disputes involving labor and employment, copyright, trademark and product liability matters such as clothing, retail and complex commercial liability defense. Being fluent in Korean, Kim also provide pro bono legal advice to fledgling businesses through the Korean American Apparel Manufacturers Association.

Diana T. Chao joined Goldberg Segalla LLP as special counsel in Irvine.

Chao's counsels and defends clients in general liability, catastrophic injury, toxic tort, construction and mass tort matters. She has defended developers, property owners, contractors, public entities and large corporations. Chao specializes in breach of contract, bad faith, reimbursement, contribution and subrogation claims.

David R. Callaway joined Goodwin Procter LLP as partner in Redwood City.

Callway, the former chief of the criminal division and head of the white collar unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, advises clients on a wide range of white collar cases, complex cross-border commercial litigation and internal investigations. He has handled federal, state and military criminal cases related to economic crime and securities fraud, national security, public corruption, cybercrime, trade secret, OFAC and export enforcement and money laundering.

Marc A. Jones joined Loeb & Loeb LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Jones has represented clients, such as private equity firms, strategic buyers, sellers, and issuers across many industries. Strategic acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, venture and growth capital financings are some of the matters he has handled along with corporate governance controversies, joint ventures, recapitalizations and restructurings, executive compensation and incentive equity matters.

Michael Wiener joined Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP as partner in Century City.

Wiener advises clients on tax, real estate and corporate aspects of complex business transactions that involve partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts and corporations. He has experience structuring tax-deferred 1031 exchanges and drafting complex partnership agreements and limited liability company operating agreements.

Warren J. Kessler joined Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP as partner in Century City.

Kessler has extensive experience with finding solutions to complex and complicated transactions as well as with real estate, partnership, limited liability company and finance matters. He also has practice structuring Qualified Opportunity Zone funds and businesses as well as with Section 1031 exchanges.

Anthony A. DiMonte joined Clark Hill PLC as member in Los Angeles.

DiMonte focuses on mergers and acquisitions, complex business transactions, regulatory compliance and general business matters. He has experience counseling businesses and individuals in sales and acquisitions, commercial transactions, corporate governance and compliance matters. DiMonte has also advised clients on vendor contracts, licensing agreements, real property, executive employment agreements and loss mitigation issues.

Paul W. Pitts was promoted to office managing partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Pitts focuses his practice on advising health care providers and life science companies on a wide range of business transactions and regulatory compliance matters. He often provides clients with guidance on fraud and abuse laws, payment and coverage rules, privacy and security laws, payment and coverage rules, privacy and security laws and participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Liseanne R. Kelly joined Littler Mendelson PC as shareholder in San Diego.

Kelly has extensive experience with multi-state compliance issues and assists clients in navigating state and local employment laws. Her practice also includes an emphasis on multi-state incentive compensation plan design and advising national employers on paid time off policies, leave administration and disability accommodation and wage and hour issues.

Gabriel R. Ravel joined California Health and Human Services Agency as general counsel in Sacramento.

Ravel, in his new role, will advise the director and chief deputy director on general legal matters, coordinate legal counsel and act as a liaison to other stakeholder groups and the governor's office. He has an understanding of health care reform and federal and state health insurance regulation.

Julie R. Gerchik was promoted to partner of Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shaprio LLP in Los Angeles.

Gerchik deals with various types of complex commercial matters while specializing in arbitration, business, class action, entertainment and general complex commercial matters. She has experience assisting clients such as international financial institutions, private equity firms, hedge funds and financial advisory firms.

Jennifer L. Cornell was promoted to partner of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in San Francisco.

Cornell focuses her practice on employment-related litigation and general business matters such as wage and hour class actions or pay equity lawsuits. She has a special emphasis in defending companies in complex class action matters in both the technology and retail sectors.

Andrew B. Serwin joined DLA Piper as partner in San Diego.

Serwin advises Fortune 500 and emerging companies on matters relating privacy, security, crisis management and national security. He focuses on international compliance, health privacy, mobile, behavioral advertising, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and wiretap issues, electronic marketing, social media and Federal Trade Commission requirement compliance.

Paul L. Tetzloff was promoted to managing partner of Newmeyer & Dillion LLP in Newport Beach.

Tetzloff has experience representing national and international corporations and individuals in a wide variety of matters involving high stakes litigation, risk management, contracts, investigations and government relations. He serves a variety of industries such as real estate, hospitality, commercial construction, insurance, health care, technology, financial services and homebuilding.

Kevin R. Ghassomian joined Venable LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Ghassomian's focuses on the personal legal needs of business owners, corporate executives, high-net-worth individuals and their families. He handles all aspects of domestic and international estate planning and specializes in tax minimization, asset protection, business succession and philanthropy.

Wynter L. Deagle was promoted to managing partner of Troutman Sanders LLP in San Diego.

Deagle's practice covers a multitude of business disputes including commercial litigation, corporate governance, fiduciary duties, class actions, internal investigations and First Amendment claims. She also advises companies to manage risks associated with their privacy, cybersecurity and information management practices.

Brian J. Nese was promoted to office managing partner of Stoel Rives LLP in San Diego.

As the former co-leader of the firm's Energy & Natural Resources Industry Group, Nese focused on representing renewable energy project developers, owners and operators in connection with project development, mergers and acquisitions, financing and related due diligence.

Michael W. McConnell joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as senior of counsel in Palo Alto.

McConnell is a constitutional law scholar, experience appellate litigator and former federal appellate judge. He specializes in topics such as securities, antitrust, administrative law, federal lands, First Amendment and criminal law and procedure.

Diane J. Mason joined Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Mason's practice focuses on trademark law and she assists clients with developing, maintaining and protecting their intellectual property portfolios. She also advises clients on the clearance of trademarks and works to enforce trademarks, copyrights and patents in federal and state courts.

Michael S. Chamberlin joined Baker & Hostetler LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Chamberlin regularly defends employers against claims involving unfair labor practice and labor contract violations, sexual harassment, various types of discrimination, whistleblowers and confidential trade secret matters. He has experience advising clients on employee and union relations matters, including contract administration, union organizing campaigns, contract negotiations and operating during labor disputes.

Melissa K. Peters joined Littler Mendelson PC as special counsel in Walnut Creek.

While with the Department of Industrial Relations, Peters gained an in-depth understanding of the regulations that apply to safety and health in the workplace. With this knowledge, she will be able to assist employers in complying with these requirements and provide counsel surrounding workplace incidents.

Philip R. Cosgrove joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as partner in Torrance.

Cosgrove concentrates on complex civil litigation, such as defending product liability, transportation matters and toxic tort cases. He also has served as counsel in automotive product liability cases for major manufacturers.

Ryan E. Cosgrove joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as partner in Torrance.

Cosgrove handles product and premises liability, transportation and general commercial litigation matters, including the defense of catastrophic injury claims involving manufacturers and suppliers of consumer products and automobiles. He is also experienced in appellate practice.