Brian T. Seltzer was promoted to chairman of the board of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek in San Diego.

Seltzer is a longtime shareholder and also chief operating officer of the firm. His practice encompasses real property, business law and commercial financing with a particular emphasis in real property transactions.

Ranjini Acharya was promoted to partner of K&L Gates LLP in Palo Alto.

Acharya focuses on complex patent litigation, trade secrets misappropriation, and copyright disputes in federal courts and before the International Trade Commission.

Ruth Delaney was promoted to partner of K&L Gates LLP in Los Angeles.

Delaney counsels domestic and offshore private fund advisers on organizational, regulatory, and compliance issues, including forming hedge funds, negotiating agreements, and structuring of funds.

Todd A. Lorenz joined Squire Patton Boggs as partner in San Francisco.

Lorenz is a member of the firm's intellectual property and technology practice. He has extensive experience in the life sci-ences sector with a particular focus on patent prosecution, counseling and IP transactions.

John W. Martin

Martin has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets and complex technology transactions. In his new role, Martin said he aims to grow the firm in a strategically focused way.

Alan J. Hart was promoted to partner of Ropers Majeski Kohn Bentley PC in Los Angeles.

Hart is a member of the firm's business and commercial litigation and intellectual property law practices. He represents and advises clients in commercial litigation and intellectual property matters involving issues including defense of business torts, contract disputes, false advertising, defamation, construction, products liability, trademark and patent litigation, labor disputes and insurance.

Spiros E. Fousekis was promoted to partner of Ropers Majeski Kohn Bentley PC in Redwood City.

Fousekis practices in the firm’s business and commercial litigation, employment law and corporate law practice areas. He works closely with employers, tackling labor and employment law issues such as harassment, discrimination and retaliation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act; wrongful termination, wage and hour matters; meal and rest period disputes; whistleblower retaliation claims; the California Private Attorneys General Act; and employee-independent contractor classification disputes.

German A. Marcucci was promoted to partner of Ropers Majeski Kohn Bentley PC in Los Angeles.

Marcucci practices in the firm's business and commercial litigation, employment law and insurance services areas. He regularly handles litigation involving personal injury and property damage claims occurring in commercial settings, including in relation to premises design and conditions, fire suppression systems and private security personnel. He also advises clients on liability, damages, insurance coverage and insurance bad faith matters.

Christian E. Mammen joined Womble Bond Dickinson LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

Mammen has more than 20 years of experience representing tech sector companies in complex patent litigation. His specific experience includes serving as lead counsel in patent infringement cases and other IP disputes. In addition, he guides clients in federal patent appeals.

Lee C. Cheng joined Maschoff Brennan as shareholder in Irvine.

Cheng's practice spans a broad array of disciplines, from corporate transactional work, M&A, governance, to intellectual property, licensing and litigation management and advice. He has delivered uniquely positive outcomes for clients in both commercial and intellectual property litigation matters. Lee is regarded as a national expert on defending companies against frivolous patent assertions and other types of extortionary litigation.

Charles S. Barquist joined Maschoff Brennan as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Barquist is a trial lawyer and IP litigator. His practice is focused on business litigation including patents and other intellectual property, antitrust and unfair competition, and dispute resolution for technology companies.

Kate S. Gold joined Proskauer Rose LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Gold is a partner in the firm's labor and employment department. She has represented clients in all types of employment-related suits, including class and collective actions, discrimination and harassment, non-compete and wage-hour matters. In addition to litigating, she routinely counsels clients on matters involving the full range of state and federal employment issues.

Katherine L. McDaniel joined Arendsen Cane Molnar LLP as head of intellectual property department in Beverly Hills.

McDaniel focuses her practice on trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, rights of publicity, domain names and related intellectual property for clients that are usually startups and small- to medium-sized companies.

Matthew A. Portnoff joined Venable LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Portnoff is a member of the firm's corporate and business transactions tax practices. He focuses on federal, state, and local tax matters as well as a broad range of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, real estate taxation, tax credits and tax-exempt financing, nonprofit taxation, and general business planning. In addition to his transactional practice, Portnoff regularly handles tax controversy issues in judicial and administrative forums at the federal, state, and local levels. He also has significant experience representing clients investing and operating in the commercial cannabis industry in accordance with applicable state laws.

Ohyoung Denny Kwon joined Covington & Burling LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Kwon represents numerous public and private companies, private equity firms, and investment banks in a wide range of M&A transactions. His transactional experience includes the acquisition and sale of domestic and foreign public companies, private companies, divisions, and other assets for cash, stock, and other consideration, structured as mergers, stock sales, asset sales, mergers of equals, leveraged buy-outs, going-private transactions, tender offers, unsolicited offers, and proxy contests.

Gene E. Berk joined Buchalter as of counsel in Sacramento.

Berk is a member of the firm's health care practice group. He represents major health care entities and has led significant acquisitions in the expansion, reconstruction and implementation of various hospitals, surgery centers and medical groups throughout the United States.

James Andrew Caprile joined Buchalter as shareholder in Sacramento.

Caprile is a member of the firm’s health care practice group. He represents clients in the healthcare sector on a wide range of issues, including business transactions, hospital and ambulatory surgical center syndications, and the formation, sale and merger of medical practices and management service organizations.

Beth J. Jay joined Horvitz & Levy LLP as of counsel in San Francisco.

Jay served as the principal attorney to three California chief justices and brings 35 years of Supreme Court and three years of federal appellate court insights to Horvitz & Levy's clients. In her role as senior adviser to the chief justice, Jay led and participated in numerous Supreme Court, Judicial Council, and State Bar committees focusing on judicial ethics issues such as multi-jurisdictional practice, insurance legislation, and court procedures.

Andrea L. Russi joined Horvitz & Levy LLP as senior counsel in San Francisco.

Russi has served as a staff attorney to Presiding Justice Ignazio Ruvolo (retired) in the 1st District Court of Appeal. She also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California, where she was a member of the criminal appeals section.

Tia Boatman-Patterson was promoted to senior adviser on housing of California Housing Finance Agency in Sacramento.

Boatman-Patterson will continue to serve as Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency, where she has served since 2014. Boatman-Patterson was general counsel at the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency from 2009 to 2014 and special assistant to California State Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez from 2004 to 2008 and to California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass from 2008 to 2009.

Christina E. Snider was promoted to tribal advisor of The Native American Heritage Commission in Auburn.

Snider has been reappointed tribal adviser in the Office of the Governor and Executive Secretary to the Native American Heritage Commission. Snider is a member of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians and has served as an Indian Child Welfare Act representative for the tribe since 2017. She was of counsel at Ceiba Legal LLP from 2016 to 2017, staff attorney at the National Congress of American Indians from 2015 to 2016, a legal fellow at the Wishtoyo Foundation in 2014 and a law clerk in the Office of Tribal Justice at the U.S. Department of Justice in 2012.

John T. A. Rosenthal joined Klinedinst PC as senior counsel in Los Angeles.

Rosenthal represents clients in a wide variety of litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country as well as before various regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office, and the Federal Trade Commission.

Stacy R. Horth-Neubert joined Sidley Austin LLP as counsel in Los Angeles.

Horth-Neubert focuses her practice on commercial litigation, multi-district litigation and class actions, federal and state appeals, international arbitration, and administrative appeals. She has advised clients on matters including state and local regulation, commercial contact disputes, and unfair business practices and false advertising. Horth-Neubert has also represented several internet-based enterprises and large companies in such industries as design, entertainment, fashion, and travel and leisure.

Scott E. Adamson joined Alston & Bird LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Adamson represents public and private strategic and financial buyers and sellers, emerging businesses, and family offices and business owners in transactions spanning leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, 363 asset sales, and going-private deals.

Thomas J. Betts was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Diego.

Betts is a member of the firm's workers' compensation practice. He represents self-insured employers, third party administrators, and carriers at Workers' Compensation Appeals Boards throughout California.

Aldo E. Ibarra was promoted to partner of Nixon Peabody LLP in San Francisco.

Ibarra represents clients in the areas of wildfire litigation and tree law, construction defect, bankruptcy and personal injury. He also works with special servicers in connection with the recovery of bank loans.

Christopher M. Mooney was promoted to partner of Nixon Peabody LLP in San Francisco.

Mooney focuses his practice on strategic patent counseling, patent prosecution and patent litigation. He advises large companies to maximize the value of their IP assets and works with well-funded startups to build strategic patent portfolios for defensive and offensive purposes.

Edward J. Campbell was promoted to partner of Nixon Peabody LLP in Los Angeles.

Campbell handles regulatory and transactional matters involving the acquisition, financing, development, asset management, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable and multifamily housing developments using low-income tax credits, various U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidy programs and Federal Housing Administration loan products.

Angelica Valencia was promoted to partner of Nixon Peabody LLP in Los Angeles.

Valencia serves as bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel in financings involving multifamily housing projects, utilities, transportation, nonprofits, higher education and student loans. Puerto Rico is a key area of focus for Valencia. She serves as bond counsel to a number of different agencies in the U.S. territory in issuance of bonds and other financings. She also serves as counsel to the Build America Bureau, which provides financing for a range of transportation projects across the United States.

Tina L. Baravarian was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

Baravarian is a member of the firm's products liability practice.

Elizabeth A. Burns was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Burns is a member of the firm’s health care practice. She specializes in the defense of health care providers including acute care and sub acute hospitals, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, physicians, nurses, group homes for the disabled, home health agencies, residential board and care homes and other health care facilities.

Christopher D. Chaplin was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

Chaplin focuses his practice in the defense of general liability matters involving personal injury, premises liability, wrongful death and catastrophic loss.

Amy R. Freeland was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Bernardino.

Freeland is a member of the firm’s construction practice. Her practice focuses on matters including construction defect litigation, product liability and general liability.

Kristine M. Scribner was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in Sacramento.

Scribner is a member of the firm’s general liability practice. She handles a variety of cases including those in the area of general liability, public entity defense, professional liability and employment law. She represents a variety of clients, including local businesses and entrepreneurs and various California public entities in matters involving fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, entity dissolution, real property rights, California Government Tort Claims, intellectual property and trademark registration.

Lovee D. Sarenas was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

Sarenas is a member of the firm’s bankruptcy & insolvency practice. She has represented corporate and individual debtors, turnaround professionals and creditors in chapter 11 reorganizations, out-of-court workouts, corporate wind downs, and chapter 7 liquidations. Corporate clients range from small businesses to publicly traded corporations and startups in the retail, winery and technology-based industries.

Roxanne Reyna was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Bernardino.

Reyna is a member of the firm’s health care practice. She focuses on health care defense, including elder abuse and medical malpractice. Reyna has experience in the defense of longterm care facilities, hospitals, physicians, and residential care facilities. She also has experience in general liability and personal injury actions.

Marcus J. Lee was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Lee is a member of the firm’s labor & employment and Korean business and litigation practices. He represents and counsels employers in all employment-related matters – litigation, risk management and policy preparation.

Jacqueline G. Go was promoted to partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Go is a member of the firm’s workers’ compensation practice.

Joan M. Lewis joined Judicate West as neutral.

Judicate West has added retired San Diego County Superior Court Judge Joan M. Lewis to its roster of neutrals. During her time on the bench, Lewis spent five years in the Family Law division, and for the last 15 years until her retirement, she presided over a Civil Independent Calendar. She also handled a multitude of settlement conferences in both the Civil and Family Law divisions throughout her time on the bench. Prior to her appointment, Lewis tried civil cases in private practice for 10 years, focused on representing health care professionals in medical malpractice lawsuits.

Lisa Barnett Sween was promoted to office managing partner of Jackson Lewis P.C. in San Francisco.

Sween joined Jackson Lewis in 2014 and said she's been continually impressed by the firm's commitment to its clients as well as the inclusive nature of the firm itself.
"It is gratifying to see how the San Francisco roster has grown to include so many talented and diverse attorneys," Sween said in a statement.
Sween represents employers in all aspects of employment law and litigation, including state and federal employment harassment and discrimination litigation, wrongful discharge litigation, FMLA, CFRA, ADA, and wage and hour litigation.
As office managing principal in San Francisco, she hopes to expand the firm's labor and preventative practices as well as its employee benefits, class actions and complex litigation and wage and hour practice groups.
Sween succeeds Fraser McAlpine, who stepped down to focus on his litigation practice.

Annette F. Mijanovic was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in Los Angeles.

Mijanovic is a member of the firm's business solutions, products liability, and transportation practice groups. Her client base ranges from Fortune 500 companies and national motor carriers to regional carriers and local businesses. She has experience in all facets of litigation, including serving as lead counsel in trials involving transportation and commercial litigation disputes in state and federal court.

Sarah Ann Marsey was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in San Francisco.

Marsey is a member of the firm’s construction law, food safety, general liability, professional liability, and appellate practice groups. She has experience handling all aspects of litigation, including managing and directing discovery, preparing and arguing motions, taking and defending depositions, second-chairing trials and arbitrations, and writing appeal briefs.

Renata L. Hoddinott was promoted to partner of Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP in San Francisco.

Hoddinott focuses her practice on professional liability, general liability, risk management & insurance law and transportation law. She has experience representing clients in general and business litigation, labor and employment, real estate, product liability, professional liability, negligence, and premises liability matters.

Corey Cabral was promoted to senior counsel of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP in Sacramento.

Cabral represents local, regional and national employers in all aspects of California labor and employment law and related litigation. He has extensive experience with litigation involving claims of individual wage and hour violations, gender, disability and age discrimination, retaliation, harassment, defamation and wrongful termination.

Richard Y. Chen joined Seyfarth Shaw LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Chen's practice focuses on a broad range of labor and employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge disputes arising under Title VII and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. He is an experienced litigator, handling jury trials, administrative hearings and mediations. Chen represents Fortune 1000 companies in a variety of industries.

Simon L. Yang was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Yang represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour, business torts, and class action matters.

Aaron Belzer was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Belzer focuses on counseling and defending public and private companies in general and complex commercial disputes in both state and federal courts.

Kathleen McConnell was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in San Francisco.

McConnell focuses on data analytics, electronic discovery, information governance, and data privacy.

Ryan Pinkston was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in San Francisco.

Pinkston has handled disputes involving a variety of subject matters, including bankruptcy litigation, corporate reorganizations and liquidations, receiverships, director and officer liability, complex fraud and business torts, commercial litigation, and health care and pension plan fraud.

Christine S. Kim was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Kim handles a variety of commercial real estate transactions for private funds, financial institutions, pension funds, insurance companies and other companies.

Galina Krivitsky was promoted to partner of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Los Angeles.

Krivitsky’s practice concentrates on a variety of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, financing transactions as well as loan assumptions, construction and permanent real estate financing, and all aspects of due diligence.

Nicole McLaughlin joined Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP as partner in Long Beach.

McLaughlin is a litigation attorney with a focus on environmental and complex commercial litigation. She has handled a wide array of cases, including environmental, breach-of-contract, franchise dispute, premise liability and intellectual property matters.

Kristin Hobbs was promoted to partner of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP in Claremont.

Hobbs' practice is in the area of insurance bad faith, personal injury and class actions.