Graham Christenson Mills was promoted to partner of Newmeyer & Dillon LLP in Walnut Creek.

Mills concentrates in the areas of complex insurance law with an emphasis on insurance recovery, construction litigation, real estate litigation, and business litigation.

Frank H. Busch was promoted to partner of Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP in San Francisco.

Busch's practice focuses on complex trial and appellate litigation. He represents companies, with state and local governments, in disputes including intellectual property, contracts, unfair competition, and trade secret issues in California state court and federal courts across the country.

Robert Kum joined Duane Morris LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Kum focuses his practice on complex litigation matters concerning catastrophic injuries and business disputes in various state and federal courts throughout the United States. He has handled dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, and has served as a mediator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Michael Louis Fox joined Duane Morris LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Fox represents energy companies, chemical and equipment manufacturers, construction companies and public entities in toxic tort, environmental release, general liability and serious personal injury matters.

Michael Portnov was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson PC in Redwood City.

Portnov focuses his practice on client counseling and preparing and prosecuting patent applications directed to computer-related technologies.

Parisa Farokhi Weiss was promoted to shareholder of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek in San Diego.

Weiss' practice includes estate planning and probate and trust administration, and representing clients in trust, estate and fiduciary litigation.

Annie Lau was promoted to partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP in San Francisco.

Lau defends employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, with an emphasis in single-plaintiff discrimination and harassment litigation claims. She represents construction firms and manufacturing and retail companies in wage and hour, disability and leave management matters, and layoff claims related to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Lau counsels employers on preventive strategies and compliance matters and assists in developing employee handbooks, policies and procedures.

Joel Michael Athey joined DLA Piper LLP as partner in Los Angeles.

Athey is a member of the firm's litigation practice. He focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement, private securities litigation, internal corporate investigations, banking and regulatory investigations and litigations, consumer protection matters and complex civil litigation.

Stuart Alexander Johnson joined Kesselman Brantly Stockinger LLP as partner in Manhattan Beach.

Johnson will head the firm's commercial real estate and partnership matters practice group.
Johnson and his team represent family-owned companies and large institutional clients in the acquisition, sale, development, and financing of a variety of real estate assets, including retail centers, office buildings, multifamily developments and industrial space.

Neil A. Warren was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson PC in Redwood City.

Warren focuses his practice on both federal district court litigation and practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board with client technologies relating to semiconductors, integrated circuits, medical devices, and computer software.

Michael Paul Shepherd was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson PC in Redwood City.

Shepherd focuses his practice on client counseling and patent prosecution in the areas of software and other computer-related technologies.

Mimi Ahn joined Kahana & Feld as associate in Kahana & Feld (Santa Ana).

Ahn specializes in general litigation, employment law and insurance defense.

Jillian F. Hayes joined CaseyGerry as associate attorney in San Diego.

She will concentrate her practice on serious personal injury.

Alyssa Williams joined CaseyGerry as associate attorney in San Diego.

William will focus on complex litigation, including class actions and mass torts

Shannon Marie Nessier was promoted to partner of Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco.

Nessier focuses her practice on the defense of product manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and premise owners in personal injury and defective product/premise litigation, and toxic tort matters. She also provides advice and litigation defense on matters involving product and food labeling claims, Organic labeling issues under COPA, and Proposition 65 claims.

Sarina Saluja was promoted to partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP in Los Angeles.

Saluja concentrates her practice on employment litigation and client counseling. She represents employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour matters and wrongful termination. Saluja also advises clients on employment compliance, internal investigations, discipline, terminations and wage and hour matters.

Christopher Dale Beatty was promoted to partner of Miller Barondess LLP in Los Angeles.

Beatty focuses his practice on finance and entertainment litigation. He has also handled antitrust, bankruptcy, trusts and estates, family disputes, employment, intellectual property and other complex business matters.

Shannon Marie Nessier was promoted to senior counsel of Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco.

Nessier focuses her practice on the defense of product manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and premise owners in personal injury and defective product/premise litigation, as well as toxic tort matters. She also provides advice and litigation defense on matters involving product and food labeling claims, Organic labeling issues under COPA, and Proposition 65 claims.

Colin P. Calvert was promoted to partner of Fisher & Phillips LLP in Irvine.

Calvert's practice covers all areas of labor and employment law, with a focus on claims of discrimination and harassment under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as well as class action wage and hour lawsuits. In addition to his litigation practice, he provides counseling to clients on various issues, including labor relations and workplace safety issues.

Angela Maechelle Clements was promoted to senior counsel of Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco.

Clements represents private and public employers in litigation and counseling matters involving all aspects of employment law, including issues such as wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, harassment investigations, management of leaves of absence and reasonable accommodation, and other personnel issues. She also represents public agencies in disciplinary actions and grievances, unfair labor practice charges, and other collective bargaining agreement disputes.

Mark Easton Earnest was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Irvine.

Earnest is a member of the firm's labor & employment practice. He focuses on helping his clients implement correct employment policies to avoid litigation. Earnest also defends companies against class actions and individual lawsuits alleging wage/hour and accessibility violations, as well as litigating trade secret and employee mobility issues.

Jason Corbitt Wright was promoted to partner of Jones Day in Los Angeles.

Wright is a member of the firm's business & tort litigation practice. His practice focuses on defending companies in consumer class actions - particularly matters involving claims based on unfair competition laws and the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act. In addition, Wright has represented companies in civil and criminal investigations by the government.

Aaron J. Weissman joined R. J. Ryan Law, APC as partner in Glendale.

Weissman focuses his practice on civil law & motion, related trial strategy and preparation, and resulting civil writs and appeals in a wide range of areas of civil litigation.

Jeffrey Glen Huron was promoted to office managing member of Dykema in Los Angeles.

Huron is a member of the firm's business litigation practice group. His clients range from successful individuals, financial institutions, lenders, real estate investors and developers, and receivers. In addition, Huron has significant experience in appellate matters.

Anne LaWer joined Littler Mendelson as shareholder in Littler/San Jose.

LaWer counsels employers on matters related to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Her practice also includes advising on Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor compliance programs, healthcare privacy and security, executive compensation matters, and employee benefits issues in mergers and acquisitions.