Skanthan Vivekananda joined O'Melveny & Myers LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Vivekananda has more than 20 years of experience advising clients on structured finance, derivatives, and investment management. He focuses his practice on the formation and structuring of cash and synthetic CLOs and other securitization vehicles, as well as other credit-focused investment funds.

Tom Ara joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as a partner in Los Angeles. The move was Jun. 4, 2025.

Ara's practice focuses on domestic and international transactions across entertainment, sports and media. He represents a broad range of clients in M&A and financing transactions, including private equity firms, investors, sovereigns, lenders and borrowers. Additionally, he advises entertainment companies worldwide on strategic deals and complex corporate and commercial transactions, handling billions of dollars of transactions for media properties and major sports media rights, among other high-profile deals.

Matt Ashby joined Kirkland & Ellis LLP as a partner in Los Angeles, Century City.

Ashby focuses his practice on complex litigation defense. For more than a decade, he has served as local and national trial counsel for some of the largest U.S. companies in the government contracting, chemical, pharmaceutical, construction, maritime, and automotive industries. He brings a unique perspective to client service based on his prior experience as a certified public accountant in California.

Julia Romano joined Kirkland & Ellis LLP as a partner in Los Angeles, Century City.

Romano is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and litigator, with extensive experience in products liability and California law. She has a proven track record of success for her clients in a wide range of complex litigation matters, including medical device, pharmaceutical, toxic tort and other product liability and tort cases.

Samuel Jo joined Greenberg Traurig LLP as a shareholder in San Diego.

Jo focuses his practice on complex commercial and licensing agreements, as well as technology product and platform development, integration, launch, and counseling, with a particular emphasis on emerging technologies such as machine learning and AI, quantum computing, aerospace, custom Silicon applications, and Internet of Things.

Stacey Geis joined Crowell & Moring LLP as a counsel in San Francisco. The move was May 29, 2025.

Geis recently served at EPA headquarters, first as a senior advisor, then as a deputy assistant administrator. During her tenure, she helped to lead the 2,800-person Office of Enforcement & Compliance Assurance and implement policy goals, including addressing climate change, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and revitalization of EPA's enforcement and compliance programs throughout the country. Most notably, Geis helped create EPA's Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Policy, provided guidance on EPA's National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives, and helped implement two recent Supreme Court decisions -- Sackett v. EPA, which limited the definition of wetlands under the Clean Water Act; and SEC v. Jarkesy, which limited the scope of federal administrative proceedings.

At Crowell, Geis' practice will focus on advising clients on a broad range of environmental and policy matters, including compliance assistance, corporate governance, and risk and crisis management. She will also advise on compliance and enforcement issues, including internal investigations, pre-filing negotiations, and litigation as needed.

Claire-Lise Y. Kutlay joined Miller Barondess, LLP as a counsel in Los Angeles. The move was May 12, 2025.

Kutlay is an accomplished trial lawyer with experience litigating cases in a broad range of practice areas, including labor and employment, fraud, business torts, defamation, real estate, contracts, business partnership disputes, and trade secret misappropriation.

Kathryn C. Kafka joined Miller Barondess, LLP as an associate in Los Angeles. The move was May 5, 2025.

Kafka is a litigation attorney with experience handling matters involving real estate, land use, contracts, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts, and commercial lease disputes.

Christian P. Erwin joined Miller Barondess, LLP as an associate in Los Angeles. The move was May 1, 2025.

Erwin is a litigation attorney whose practice focuses on patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation. He has represented clients across a range of industries, including semiconductor manufacturing and fabrication, digital radios, computer software, bitcoin mining, and medical devices.

Andrew W. Cheng joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as a partner in Los Angeles. The move was May 27, 2025.

A member of Gibson Dunn's Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group and the Liability Management and Special Situations Practice Group, Cheng focuses on distressed-related financings, including rescue and DIP financings, representing lenders in liability management transactions, restructuring of syndicated secured credit facilities, and sponsor-side acquisition financings.

DJ Moore joined Paul Hastings LLP as a partner in Century City. The move was May 27, 2025.

Moore specializes in securing and defending land use and environmental approvals for major development, infrastructure, and energy projects. He represents developers, institutions, and utilities before local, state, and federal agencies, navigating complex regulatory frameworks including CEQA, NEPA, the Coastal Act, Clean Air and Water Acts, and others. Moore's portfolio includes high-profile projects such as the Western Hemisphere's largest seawater desalination plant, sports stadiums, research facilities, urban skyscrapers, and energy infrastructure, showcasing his expertise in managing both approvals and litigation for diverse, large-scale developments.

Beth Gordie joined Paul Hastings LLP as a partner in Century City.

Gordie advises landowners, developers, and institutional investors on land use, environmental, and infrastructure matters, with a focus on entitlements, permitting, and regulatory compliance. She guides clients through every stage of the development process, addressing legal, political, and community concerns while navigating complex local, state, and federal regulations, including CEQA, NEPA, and zoning laws. Her work spans high-profile projects such as stadiums, hospitals, transportation infrastructure, and solar facilities. As a registered lobbyist with strong ties to public agencies in California, she brings strategic insight from her leadership roles in regional advocacy and community organizations.

Winston Stromberg joined Paul Hastings LLP as a partner in Century City.

Stromberg represents developers, utilities, institutions, and property owners in securing land use entitlements and environmental approvals for complex real estate, energy, and infrastructure projects, with a strong emphasis on related litigation. He is experienced in navigating regulatory frameworks such as CEQA, NEPA, and the California Coastal Act, and has first-chaired many high-stakes trials and appeals. Stromberg advises clients through all development stages—from site diligence and entitlements to compliance and dispute resolution—often managing politically sensitive and heavily opposed projects. He is also a skilled negotiator, adept at brokering complex agreements with agencies and stakeholders to advance large-scale developments.

Benjamin Hanelin joined Paul Hastings LLP as a partner in Century City.

Hanelin focuses on environmental and land use law, including CEQA and the California Coastal Act. He advises clients on regulatory approvals and litigates writ of mandamus cases in California trial and appellate courts for infrastructure, energy, and real estate projects. Hanelin also provides strategic counsel on administrative and governmental law, drawing on experience that includes clerking for Chief Judge Irma E. Gonzalez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Lauren Paull joined Paul Hastings LLP as a partner in Century City.

Paull advises landowners and developers on land use, environmental, and real estate development matters, with a focus on navigating complex entitlement processes and regulatory frameworks such as CEQA, the California Coastal Act, and the Subdivision Map Act. She has extensive experience managing large-scale, multi-jurisdictional projects—ranging from sports and entertainment complexes to energy facilities and mixed-use developments—that involve legal, political, and community considerations. A registered lobbyist, Paull also regularly advocates for clients before local agencies and commissions.

Jay C. Gandhi joined Phillips Alternative Dispute Resolutions Enterprises (PADRE) as a neutral. The move was May 30, 2025.

Gandhi has successfully resolved many high-profile cases, including the $1.2 billion Discover settlement related to card misclassification, the $725 million class action settlement accusing Facebook of allowing Cambridge Analytica to access user data, and the $648 million Monsanto class action settlement over environmental contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls.

He Gandhi previously served for eight years as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Central District of California, the nation's largest federal court. At the Court, he oversaw its ADR program and its mediation panel of more than 200 neutrals. He also served as a partner at Paul Hastings LLP and spent 12 years litigating high-profile, high-dollar commercial cases and MDL/class actions in a variety of state and federal jurisdictions across the nation.

John Babala joined Seyfarth Shaw LLP as a partner in Century City. The move was May 28, 2025.

With over 30 years of experience, Babala brings deep expertise in complex transactions, financings, and cross-border matters. He has represented clients from numerous global markets, including Asia, Europe, and Africa, and has advised on M&A deals, joint ventures, licensing, and equity/debt financing. His background also includes serving as outside general counsel to businesses in regulated sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, and finance.

Seyfarth's Corporate Department has more than 100 lawyers across the firm's offices in the U.S. and internationally.

Melissa A. Meister joined Kabat Chapman & Ozmer LLP as a counsel in Los Angeles.

Meister is an experienced trial and appellate litigator who has tried cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts across the country. She specializes in labor and employment counseling and litigation, including class action, wage and hour, and trade secrets matters. Meister also has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and white-collar defense matters. As a former Department of Justice trial attorney and assistant U.S. attorney, Meister has extensive experience conducting internal investigations.

David Segre joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as a partner in Palo Alto.

Segre advises technology companies through all stages of growth, including venture capital financings, public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance, as well as disclosure and SEC compliance. He also counsels venture capital firms and investment banks on a range of transactional matters. Notably, Segre was one of the lead partners on the teams that represented Google, Square, and Tesla in their initial public offerings and Asana on its direct listing. Throughout his career, he has represented Google in over 100 acquisitions.

Matthew L. Friedrich joined Polsinelli LLP as a principal in Los Angeles.

Friedrich draws on deep market knowledge and long-standing relationships to deliver practical, business-oriented advice. He advises clients on a broad spectrum of commercial real estate transactions, spanning various asset types and markets nationwide. He works with private equity firms, family offices, institutional investment advisors, REITs and real estate operating companies on a range of matters.

Alexander M. Gamez was promoted to partner of Boucher LLP in Woodland Hills. The promotion is effective May 22, 2025.

Gamez represents survivors of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and employment discrimination in civil litigation, and prosecutes class and PAGA representative actions against employers who violate California and federal wage and hour laws. He has successfully resolved cases on behalf of the firm's clients through settlements and trial. In 2022, he obtained an over $24 million jury verdict in favor of two brothers against an adult cousin who sexually abused them during their childhood.

Gamez graduated cum laude from California State University, Fullerton in 2012, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Thereafter, in 2015, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. During law school, he clerked for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, served as a student coordinator for the National Lawyers Guild Court Watch Program, and was a member of the Public Interest Law Committee. He also obtained numerous awards and distinctions during law school for his public interest and pro bono efforts.

Ashley King joined Kibler Fowler & Cave LLP as an associate in Los Angeles. The move was May 12, 2025.

King represents clients in a broad range of complex litigation, employment, and white-collar matters. Known for her strategic mindset and meticulous attention to detail, King combines a practical, solution-oriented approach with a strong understanding of the broader business landscape in which her clients operate.

Joshua D. Hess joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in San Francisco.

Hess' national litigation practice focuses on securities litigation, with a particular emphasis on defending asset managers in class action litigation, white collar and shareholder litigation, internal investigations and civil and criminal price-fixing cases. He regularly represents companies, boards and individuals in high-stakes shareholder disputes and corporate governance litigation in Delaware courts and across the country. Over the course of his career, Hess has represented major financial institutions, investment firms and public companies in complex commercial and regulatory disputes. His experience includes leading internal investigations, defending clients in SEC enforcement matters, litigating cases involving securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, antitrust conspiracy and corporate governance issues.

Gurpreet S. Bal joined Foley & Lardner LLP as a partner in Silicon Valley.

Bal's clients represent a broad spectrum of the technology sector, including leaders and investors in the artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital health, fintech, enterprise security, consumer tech, food innovation, and social enterprise, among others. He is known for his practical, forward-thinking approach to complex transactions and possesses a deep understanding of the challenges faced by leading and leading-edge companies, their investors, and supporters.

Shaalu Mehra joined Foley & Lardner LLP as a partner in Silicon Valley.

Mehra guides clients through complex corporate and technology transactions, focusing his practice on emerging company venture capital, corporate venture capital, multinational joint ventures, technology procurement, and intellectual property acquisition and licensing. With clients spanning Fortune 50 multinationals making critical technology investments to technology and digital health care start-ups backed by Tier 1 venture capital, Mehra leverages his background in computer science research and software development to navigate transactional matters for clients, including for FAANG companies, automakers, energy producers, telecos, chipmakers, and more.

Jessica Nall joined Withers as a partner.

Nall focuses her practice on protecting technology innovators, founders, and executives facing existential challenges and threats of all kinds. Drawing on decades of experience defending high stakes matters, she has successfully guided many of the tech industry's most prominent leaders through complex government investigations, threatened and actual litigation, and reputational crises that threatened their and their companies' futures and their personal legacies.

Moriah Sage Radin joined Kaplan Marino as a counsel in Los Angeles.

Radin is a skilled criminal defense attorney with extensive experience representing individuals in both federal and state courts. Radin's practice focuses on white collar crimes and helping clients facing government investigation. She brings to her practice significant trial experience in state and federal courts, sentencing advocacy with high stakes, as well as state and federal appeals and post-conviction litigation.

Josh Escovedo was promoted to co-managing shareholder of Buchalter in Sacramento. The promotion is effective May 12, 2025.

Escovedo is a seasoned litigator with a practice spanning intellectual property, real estate, business, and sports law. Buchalter said he had quickly established himself as a leader within the firm and a key contributor to the Sacramento office's momentum. His practice includes complex commercial litigation such as breach of contract, shareholder disputes, and fraud actions, along with deep experience in trademark and copyright litigation and transactions.

Retired judge Stephanie Bowick joined Signature Resolution as a neutral in Los Angeles. The move was May 12, 2025.

Judge Bowick (Ret.) has joined Signature Resolution's panel of neutrals as a mediator, arbitrator, and judicial & discovery referee. She brings over 34 years of experience as both a judge and attorney, with a distinguished background in public service and private practice. Her honor previously served on the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 2009 to 2024, where she presided over a wide range of civil matters, including complex business litigation, employment, real estate, insurance/bad faith, professional liability, and personal injury. Her thoughtful rulings and steady courtroom management earned her a glowing reputation all throughout California.

Alexandria Hobson-Choi joined Kaufman Dolowich as a partner in Los Angeles.

Hobson-Choi concentrates her practice in labor and employment law and consumer financial services. She defends clients in a range of employment matters including wage and hour violations, workplace discrimination, retaliation, harassment and wrongful termination. She also represents employers in collective Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) actions and defends claims under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

Simon Levy joined Frost Brown Todd as a partner in San Francisco. The move was May 12, 2025.

Levy is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on civil litigation matters related to securities, employment, and general business litigation. In his securities practice, he represents broker-dealer firms and other licensed individuals in the securities industry, having personally handled dozens of successful securities arbitrations. He has extensive experience advising employers on compliance with employment laws, rules and regulations, including wage and hour laws, and issues involving employee hiring and discipline.

Will Rollins joined King & Spalding LLP as a partner in Los Angeles.

Rollins is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California who tried high-profile cases arising out of complex criminal and national security investigations. He also prosecuted white collar crimes, as well as multiple gang and cartel cases. Rollins led dozens of grand jury investigations, conducted direct and cross examinations of witnesses (including experts), and wrote and argued appeals before the 9th Circuit. He later joined the National Security Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office, where he specialized in counterterrorism and counterintelligence. Rollins received awards for exceptional trial and investigative work from the Director of National Intelligence, FBI, IRS, DEA, Secret Service, and the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. After leaving the Department of Justice, Rollins became a major-party nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 41st District. In his previous private practice at other major law firms, Rollins represented tech companies in complex commercial litigation. He also counseled the leaders of private equity firms and hedge funds in partnership and investment disputes.

Robert (Bob) L. Nelson joined Polsinelli as a shareholder in San Francisco.

Robert (Bob) L. Nelson Jr. has joined Polsinelli as a principal in its San Francisco office.

Considered one of the foremost energy and infrastructure attorneys in the world, Nelson has led on some of the world's most significant transactions for landmark projects in this highly active and rapidly expanding practice area.

With a distinguished career spanning several decades, Nelson has been instrumental in the development and financing of more than 150 energy and infrastructure projects, including numerous high-profile initiatives that have received global attention. He advises clients, including project sponsors and strategic/private equity investors), on project construction, development, finance, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and private equity in sectors including power, oil and gas/LNG, infrastructure and mining.

Mark Worthge joined Kaufman Dolowich as a partner in Torrance.

Worthge focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, employment law, financial services, commercial litigation and general liability defense. His construction practice of more than 30 years includes representing clients in complex claims through settlement, mediation, arbitration and trial. More broadly, he defends commercial and residential landlords, real property owners, public entities, developers, design professionals, contractors, and subcontractors in a variety of legal matters including defense of claims for extra costs, mechanics' liens, bidding issues, scheduling and delay, construction defects, ADA/ Unruh Act violations, OSHA violations, Common Interest Development/HOA litigation, and construction site accidents. He also advises clients on risk mitigation issues through contract negotiations and business practices.

John Andrew Scheerer as a partner in Los Angeles.

John Scheerer focuses his practice exclusively on trusts, estates and conservatorship litigation. He has successfully handled a variety of matters before the Probate Department of the Superior Court. He has also handled appeals in the California Court of Appeal, resulting in multiple successful appellate decisions. Mr. Scheerer represents beneficiaries, trustees, professional fiduciaries and non-profit institutions such as national universities. He balances clever advocacy with an unbiased and realistic assessment of each of his client's cases in order to provide the most cost-effective favorable outcome.

Gregory R. Reed joined Hanson Bridgett LLP as a partner in San Francisco / Washington D.C.. The move was April 24, 2025.

Gregory Reed is an experienced litigator, regulatory attorney and legislative advocate with a national practice spanning both federal and state levels. His clients have included small business owners, national manufacturers, large government contractors, national transportation companies, and trade associations. He prioritizes a holistic approach to achieving his clients' goals, bridging his work across the legal, regulatory and legislative arenas.

He most recently served as Executive Director and Transportation Counsel for the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association, the national trade association representing the companies that comprise the United States Postal Service's $5 billion surface transportation network. In this role, he advocated before Congress, federal agencies, and the USPS to promote fair treatment and economic sustainability for postal transportation contractors. He also advised logistics and transportation companies on regulatory changes, contracting strategies, and how to navigate the evolving procurement practices of one of the nation's largest government contracting authorities.

Prior to joining NSRMCA, he represented the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) in high-stakes litigation and regulatory advocacy aimed at protecting the interests of independent truck drivers and small carriers. He has litigated cases in both trial and appellate courts--including drafting amicus briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court--and regularly contributes to transportation industry publications.

With deep expertise in government affairs, regulatory analysis, administrative law, and both trial and appellate litigation, Greg is a trusted voice in shaping transportation policy and defending the rights of industry stakeholders nationwide.