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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lincoln D. Bandlow as co-founder in Los Angeles

Bandlow focuses his practice on litigating entertainment, media and intellectual property matters as well as do clearance work for motion pictures, television shows, books and other works. He represents clients in the motion picture, television, publishing, broadcasting, Internet and advertising fields. In addition, Bandlow represents several of the principal underwriters for the media and entertainment industry.

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

McConnell is a constitutional law scholar, experienced appellate litigator and former federal appellate judge. He specializes in constitutional law, history and first amendment matters. He has held leadership positions at Stanford Law School, the University of Chicago Law School and Utah Law School. He also was a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and New York University School of Law. Before Stanford, he also served as a judge on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Hon. Franz E. Miller joined JAMS Mediation, Arbitration and ADR Services as panel member in Irvine.

Miller is a former judge, who settled many cases that were expected to go to trial. He served as settlement officer on highly-contested matters. He will serve as an arbitrator, mediator and special master in a variety of practice areas, including appellate, business and commercial disputes as well as construction, employment, family law, personal injury, professional liability and real property matters.

Amy L. Bomse joined Rogers, Joseph, O'Donnell PC as shareholder in San Francisco.

Bomse has experience representing clients in business disputes and has substantial trial experience. She focuses on defending against claims of negligence, breach of duty and fee disputes. She also counsels law firms and corporations on compliance with legal ethics and risk management.

Nancy M. Chen joined Fenwick & West LLP as partner in Mountain View.

Chen advises clients, from startups to public companies, on executive compensation and employee benefits at every stage of growth. She has extended experience counseling clients on tax and securities issues related to equity-based compensation, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, employment agreements and deferred compensation arrangements.

Eve H.L. Wagner joined Signature Resolution LLP as panel member in Los Angeles.

Wagner primarily practices dispute resolution as a mediator and arbitrator who focuses on employment, entertainment, business and real estate disputes. She has resolved a variety of cases, ranging from single to multi-party and complex matters. Some of her specialty practice areas include discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, copyright infringement, breach of contract, fraud, international interference, breach of lease and unfair competition and collection disputes.

Elizabeth J. Wilgenburg was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City.

Wilgenburg's practice includes both lease transactions as well as acquisitions and dispositions. She focuses on representing landlords in connection with large lease transactions with technology-oriented tenants. She also represents owners in leasing sophisticated mixed-use retail, office and residential properties and development, build-to-suit office and industrial projects.

Ariel C. Shaeps was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in Century City.

Shaeps is a construction attorney with a specialty in complex commercial and residential development, including all facets of design and construction. He has worked with many architects and contractors to provide market guidance on many economic and “quasi-business” related issues. Shaeps also has experience on many real estate and commercial issues, such as review, analysis and preparation of documents associated with acquisition and leasing transactions.

Paul W. Nash was promoted to partner of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in San Francisco.

Nash focuses his practice on real estate matters, providing legal counsel on acquisitions, dispositions, financing and leasing matters. He represented buyers, sellers, borrowers, lenders and landlords in all facets of commercial property acquisition, financing, development, leasing and management.

Jeffrey D. Diener joined DLA Piper LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Diener represents private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, life science and technology clients as well as lenders and developers in acquisitions, dispositions and financings. He is also experienced in forming and negotiating joint ventures and representing creditors, buyers and debtors in various distress company situations and bankruptcy matters.

Patricia K. Conway joined Tyson & Mendes LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Conway is an experienced litigator who focuses on defense of construction, toxic tort, environmental and premises liability actions, representing manufacturer and contractor defendants. She has also represented plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury lawsuits and real estate professional negligence lawsuits.