Sander Alvarez joined Hunt Ortmann Palffy Nieves Darling & Mah Inc. as senior counsel in Pasadena.

Alvarez focuses on insurance litigation and appeals involving all types of first- and third-party insurance policies, including commercial general liability, products liability, D&O and E&O, environmental pollution liability and cyber liability, among others. He counsels clients on general tort litigation matters and has particular expertise in the areas of environmental coverage litigation.

Aaron J. Flores was promoted to shareholder of Hunt Ortmann Palffy Nieves Darling & Mah Inc. in Pasadena.

Flores has been involved in the construction industry for more than two decades, representing businesses and public agencies across all industry sectors, including heavy industrial, transportation, infrastructure, architectural and engineering, commercial, retail and residential.

Nathan A. Cohen was promoted to partner of Peckar & Abramson P.C. in Los Angeles.

Cohen focuses on construction law, commercial litigation, real estate, corporate compliance and internal investigations.

Deborah L. Stein joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Stein is a complex commercial litigator with experience in matters spanning cybersecurity, trade secrets, insurance and reinsurance, securities and consumer class actions, joint venture disputes, and business practice disputes. She also regularly advises clients on False Claims Act matters and whistleblower allegations of fraud.

Drew R. Hansen joined Nossaman LLP as partner in Orange County.

Hansen will serve as co-chair of the firm's employment practice group and chair of the firm's trucking, logistics and warehouse industry practice group. He is an employment lawyer and business litigator specializing in defending companies against wage and hour class actions, PAGA claims, individual employment disputes, complex commercial lawsuits, and unfair business practice claims.

Roy Z. Silva joined Nossaman LLP as partner in Orange County.

Silva will serve as co-chair of the firm’s employment practice group. His areas of expertise include mortgage banking/lender liability, employment counseling and litigation, and appellate litigation. He represents clients in regulated industries throughout California.

Seth M. Goldstein joined Nossaman LLP as of counsel in Orange County.

Goldstein focuses on the representation of employers, particularly those in the transportation industry, with an emphasis on the defense of class and collective actions and other complex matters.

Eric M. Gruzen joined JML Law, APLC as partner in Woodland Hills.

Gruzen has extensive employment experience, helping employees in employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, wage theft as well as class actions. He worked for many years defending management-side cases and now brings that knowledge to the employee side to represent employees whose rights have been violated.

Tad T. Egawa joined The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency as general counsel in Sacramento.

Egawa has been chief counsel at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration since 2017. He was general counsel at the California Department of Housing and Community Development from 2015 to 2017, assistant commissioner of legal affairs at the California Bureau of Real Estate from 2013 to 2015, deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2009 to 2013 and a shareholder at McDonough, Holland and Allen PC in 2009, where he was of counsel in 2007 and 2008. Egawa was assistant general counsel at the Ryland Group Inc. from 2004 to 2007 and an associate at Jeffer, Mangels, Butler and Marmaro LLP from 1999 to 2004, at Tuttle and Taylor from 1998 to 1999 and at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton LLP from 1996 to 1997. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Law.

Lila Mirrashidi joined The California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency as deputy secretary of business and consumer relations in Sacramento.

Mirrashidi has served as deputy commissioner of policy at the California Department of Business Oversight since 2018, where she was deputy commissioner of legal (business regulations) from 2013 to 2018. Mirrashidi was deputy commissioner of business regulations at the California Department of Corporations from 2012 to 2013, deputy appointments secretary in the Office of Gov. Jerry Brown from 2011 to 2012 and deputy research director on the Jerry Brown for Governor Campaign from 2009 to 2010. Mirrashidi graduated from UC Hastings College of the Law.

Jon D. Feldhammer joined Baker Botts LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Feldhammer represents businesses and high net-worth individuals in tax disputes covering the range of income, estate and gift, international, and employment tax issues at the IRS and California administrative levels and before federal and state courts.

Kasey J. Curtis was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

At the trial level, Curtis represented clients in commercial disputes, class actions and international arbitrations. He has authored more than 50 appellate briefs and argued appeals before the state Court of Appeal and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a Pepperdine University School of Law alumnus.

Mara D. Curtis was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in Los Angeles.

Curtis focuses on counseling and litigating wage and hour matters and is experienced in representing employers in state and federal court. She has handled putative and/or certified class actions alleging overtime, minimum wage, meal and rest period, waiting time penalty and wage statement claims. She is a UCLA School of Law alumna.

Seth B. Herring was promoted to partner of Reed Smith LLP in San Francisco.

Herring specializes in intellectual property litigation, specifically in patent, trademark, and copyright. He has represented computer software and hardware, wireless networks, and medical devices clients. He is a UC Hastings College of the Law alumnus.

Shaye Diveley was promoted to principal of Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson PLC in Oakland.

Diveley is a member of the firm's land use and environmental law practice group. She has more than 17 years of experience with complex issues involving land use and zoning, and natural resources and environmental law compliance and litigation.

Zoë K. Wilhelm was promoted to partner of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Los Angeles.

Wilhelm has a diverse litigation practice with a focus on class actions, accounting and valuation litigation, and general business disputes. She handles complex financial issues, including those related to allocations, the valuation of pass-through entities, and discount rates.

Eric J. Wu was promoted to partner of Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl LLC in El Segundo.

Wu focuses his practice on California business and labor & employment law matters. He regularly advises companies on business and corporate transactional matters and Wu's clients include small to mid-market companies in the aerospace, entertainment, food production, manufacturing, medicine, retail, service, technology, and transportation industries. He is a Notre Dame Law School alumnus.

Nicolas P. Martin was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP in San Francisco.

Martin defends companies and individuals sued in products liability, premises liability, toxic tort and general litigation matters. His clients include national and local manufacturers, retailers, property owners and entrepreneurs in a wide variety of service, sales and products industries.

Tae S. Um was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP in Los Angeles.

Um represents corporations and the insurance industry in coverage disputes, primarily in the areas of directors’ and officers’ liability as well as professional and general liability claims. He has also defended clients in professional liability and general liability suits.

David J. Aveni was promoted to partner of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP in San Diego.

Aveni defends clients in a wide variety of securities proceedings, including securities class actions and other civil litigation, enforcement proceedings involving the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory entities, defense of securities arbitrations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and internal investigations related to securities and accounting misconduct.

Steven P. Braccini joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as partner in Palo Alto.

Braccini's practice focuses on trust, probate, fiduciary and conservatorship litigation, including will contests, trust contests, removal and surcharge actions, contested conservatorships, accounting disputes, financial elder abuse actions, reformation or modification actions, tax controversy and related civil claims.

Elizabeth A. Frohlich joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Frohlich represents banks and securities broker-dealers in complex, high-stakes civil and criminal actions in federal and state courts and arbitrations and is particularly experienced with litigation involving asset-backed securities.

Anthony Pacheco joined Vedder Price P.C. as shareholder in Los Angeles.

Pacheco focuses on white-collar criminal defense, internal investigations and complex business litigation, including civil and criminal trials.

Fred W. Alvarez joined Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Alvarez combines a distinct blend of employment law experience, public service and legal profession leadership. He has had an active individual and class action litigation practice devoted to defending employers in trial and on appeal in claims brought by private and governmental parties and by former senior executives.

Colleen D. Calkins joined Akerman LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Calkins works with families and individuals in trust matters, complex probate administration, and legal estate planning. Clients rely on her to create and implement tailored plans for varied levels of wealth as well as the coordination of their business and estate planning. She also represents individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations on general business transactions and taxation.

Kelly D. Fair was promoted to partner of Dentons in San Francisco.

Fair is co-leader of the firm's U.S. cannabis group and focuses on representing cannabis and hemp industry clients in a broad range of regulatory matters and commercial transactions. She also represents insurance and financial services clients in all phases of complex commercial litigation and cybersecurity and data protection.

Tania M. Moyron was promoted to partner of Dentons in Los Angeles.

Moyron represents chapter 11 debtors, creditors’ and equity committees, liquidating trustees, principals, and secured and unsecured creditors in all aspects of corporate bankruptcy, as well as asset purchasers in bankruptcy and receivership cases.
Her client base includes a variety of industries, including health care, retail, entertainment, trucking, real estate and restaurant franchise industries.

Sara Dutschke Setshwaelo was promoted to partner of Dentons in San Francisco.

Dutschke Setshwaelo advises and supports tribal clients on complex matters involving tribal sovereignty and governance, government-to-government relations and business and economic development, which includes gaming, energy, conventional and bond financing, and tax analysis.

Artin Betpera was promoted to partner of Womble Bond Dickinson LLP in Costa Mesa.

Betpera represents financial services companies in high stakes litigation in federal and state courts and specializes in Telephone Consumer Protection Act litigation. He is a Chapman University School of Law alumnus.

Quynh K. Vu was promoted to partner of Kaufhold Gaskin LLP in San Francisco.

Vu focuses her practice on complex civil litigation in federal and state courts across the country.

Bryan K. Basso was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson in Silicon Valley.

Basso represents both plaintiffs and defendants, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies, in complex patent litigation in U.S. district courts, the International Trade Commission and at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Katherine D. Prescott was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson in Silicon Valley.

Prescott focuses on patent and trade secret litigation with an emphasis on software, network and internet technologies. She has experience before federal courts nationwide and has handled all aspects of litigation.

Camarin E.B. Madigan joined Perkins Coie LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Madigan is a member of the firm's real estate and land use practice. She advises developers, landowners, lenders, and public agencies on acquisitions and dispositions and leasing for complex development projects and commercial properties, as well as land use entitlements and environmental permits.

Todd A. Pickles joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as of counsel in Los Angeles.

Pickles represents clients in white-collar matters and investigations as well as in business litigation, tort, employment, constitutional, and environmental claims.

Charles O. Thompson joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as shareholder in San Francisco.

Thompson focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling representing clients through all phases of class actions and single plaintiff cases.

Ryan Fox joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as associate in San Francisco.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton announced today the addition of Ryan Fox as an associate in the firm's San Francisco office. He joins the Trademark and Copyright Team in the firm's internationally-recognized Intellectual Property Department.

Mr. Fox focuses his practice on copyright and trademark law. He handles all aspects of brand protection including trademark counseling and prosecution, anti-counterfeiting strategy, gray market, civil and online enforcement, and global investigations.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Fox worked as an intern and then an associate at a law firm based in San Francisco, California in its Intellectual Property and Brand Integrity and Innovation groups. Previously, he was in the agent training program in the Motion Picture Literature Department at William Morris Endeavor in Beverly Hills, California and later worked in feature film development at Kurtzman/Orci Productions in Universal City, California and Twentieth Century Fox in Los Angeles, California.

Mr. Fox earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law where he served as Senior Notes Editor for the Hastings Law Journal. He received his B.A., with Distinction and Honors, in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of Michigan.

Kevin E. Vickers was promoted to special counsel of Baker Botts in San Francisco.

Vickers focuses on legislative and environmental matters. His work includes water, waste, air and endangered species issues, as well as planning and development laws.

Samuel J. Park was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Park focuses on class actions, complex commercial cases and arbitrations, and regulatory matters involving the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, fraud, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, business interference, and breach of contract. His industry experience spans insurance, financial services, food processing and nutritional supplements. Park is a University of San Francisco School of Law alumnus.

Courtney M. Wright was promoted to partner of Alston & Bird LLP in Los Angeles.

Wright focuses on real estate finance and capital markets, representing institutional lenders, investment banks, mezzanine funds, and portfolio lenders in originating commercial mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, and loan restructurings for all asset classes. Wright is a Fordham University School of Law alumna.

Zachary S. Fayne was promoted to partner of Arnold & Porter in San Francisco.

Fayne is a member of the Environmental practice. He graduated from Harvard Law School.

Nicholas H. Lee was promoted to partner of Arnold & Porter in Los Angeles.

Lee is a member of the Intellectual Property practice. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Thomas Mathew joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as associate in Silicon Valley (Menlo Park).

He joins as an Associate in the Medical and Mechanical Devices Team in the firm's internationally recognized Intellectual Property Department. Mr. Mathew focuses his practice on patent prosecution and counseling in a variety of technologies including medical devices and computer software and hardware technology. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate in the Palo Alto office of an AmLaw 50 firm. Mr. Mathew earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, where he served as the Managing Online Content Editor for the Texas Law Review. He received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Eric S. Jones was promoted to shareholder of Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner PC in Westlake Village.

Jones practices corporate and business law. He counsels privately held companies and their owners in structuring, negotiating, and closing strategic transactions. Jones graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and has an LLM in Taxation from New York University School of Law.