Emily M. Karlberg was promoted to partner of Ropes & Gray LLP in San Francisco.

Specializing in intellectual property, Karlberg guides clients through complex private equity deals and strategic transactions, with expertise in carve-outs. Her practice combines deep knowledge of technology and consumer brands with extensive transaction experience. She structures and negotiates strategic partnerships across borders, including joint ventures, licensing agreements, and collaborative ventures. Karlberg provides critical IP and technology counsel for emerging companies, from initial formation through corporate partnerships, systems integration, and product commercialization.

Alfred C. Tierney joined Stradling Yocca as partner in Newport Beach.

Tierney focuses his practice on securities enforcement, regulation, and compliance matters. He has significant experience navigating complex issues faced by asset managers, private and registered funds, broker-dealers, public companies, executives, and boards of directors in connection with SEC, FINRA and other government investigations and examinations, litigations, internal investigations, and the development and implementation of effective compliance programs. Prior to joining the firm, he served for over 10 years with the SEC as senior counsel in the Division of Enforcement, including over six years in the Asset Management Unit, and in the Division of Investment Management's Chief Counsel's Office.

David Andersen joined Barnes & Thornburg as partner in Los Angeles.

Andersen's practice is primarily concentrated in the middle market but includes transactions ranging from small acquisitions and divestitures by emerging growth companies to platform acquisitions and billion-dollar exits. Andersen has represented clients in a variety of industries, with an emphasis on media and entertainment, technology, and healthcare.

Nima Mohebbi joined Sidley Austin as partner in Century City.

Mohebbi is a recognized trial lawyer who focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, counseling clients on unsettled issues in connection with the growing intersection between entertainment content development and technology, including digital assets, artificial intelligence (AI), gaming, and intellectual property, including in film and music. He represents studios, and artists in disputes and transactions with billions of dollars at stake, including jury trials.

Sarah J. Guske joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Guske is a first-chair trial lawyer who counsels technology clients and other Fortune 500 companies in patent litigation in U.S. district courts and the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) trials. In her practice, focused on high-stakes competitor litigation, she leverages her technical background in electrical engineering and physics and her trial experience to serve clients in the San Francisco Bay Area of California and beyond in the United States.

Danielle C. Foster joined Jackson Lewis P.C. as principal in Los Angeles.

Foster focuses her practice on defending private companies and public entities in complex litigation, with a particular emphasis on employment actions brought under Title VII, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Labor Code.

Emily G. Horrigan joined Melmed Law Group as associate in San Diego.

Horrigan represents employees navigating complex disputes against powerful employers. Her client-centered approach is rooted in empathy and clear communication, ensuring clients feel supported and heard throughout the legal process.

Tom Stout joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Stout has more than 15 years of trial experience, including as a federal prosecutor and as a litigator at a California firm he co-founded before joining DWT. His expertise in white-collar defense, government investigations, and complex litigation delivers top-tier results for businesses, executives, and entrepreneurs in key sectors across the Bay Area and beyond.

James G. Perry joined Atticus Injury Law, P.C. as senior trial lawyer in Irvine.

Perry comes with a decade of experience as a prosecutor, primarily with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and a proven record of accomplishment in civil and criminal law. Perry brings a wealth of expertise to the firm's personal injury practice. He has written extensively on various topics, including the intersection of the Fifth Amendment and civil discovery, spoliation of evidence, and state and federal public records requests. He is actively involved in the legal community. He serves on the Top Gun Event Committee for the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association and Education Committee with the Orange County Bar Association. He holds board positions with the Consumer Attorneys of California's Inland Empire Chapter. Perry is also a member of several other bar associations, including the San Bernardino and Riverside County Association.

Melanie L. Chaney was promoted to firm co-managing partner of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.

Chaney's leadership journey has been shaped by a practical and comprehensive approach that emphasizes listening to and valuing the input of all team members. Her ability to foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders underscores her recognition of the importance of teamwork in achieving successful outcomes. Her exceptional listening skills are a cornerstone of her leadership style, going beyond mere hearing to actively understand, validate, and appreciate the viewpoints of others. This empathetic approach fosters an inclusive environment where individuals feel heard, valued, and motivated to contribute their best. Navigating complex situations and guiding diverse groups toward shared goals, Chaney's bona fide approach ensures that all stakeholders feel involved, engaged, and invested in the collaborative process. This fosters a strong team spirit and unity among stakeholders, impacting her firm, clients, and colleagues.

Sonya Goodwin joined Signature Resolution as neutral in Los Angeles.

Goodwin's career is defined by her ability to transform disputes into productive dialogues. Her specialization includes resolving employment disputes involving single-plaintiff, multi-party, class-actions, and representative actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Her approach emphasizes the importance of building trust with clients, a quality she honed during her years as a litigator.

Bryan Hudson joined Hanson Bridgett as counsel in San Francisco.

Hudson brings an extensive legal background, and strong business acumen to the Health Section. His broad skillset includes notable experience in corporate governance, strategic transactions, risk and crisis management, operations support and regulatory compliance, among others, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the firm's Chambers-ranked Health Section.

Megan Gess joined Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth as partner in Newport Beach.

Gess advises companies on complex M&A, corporate governance, private equity, securities, and commercial transactions. Her experience spans a broad range of industries, including food and beverage, financial services, technology, healthcare and life sciences.  In particular, she has a deep understanding of and extensive experience in the wine industry, having completed several successful M&A deals for local and regional vintners.

Tory Polin was promoted to partner of Quarles & Brady in San Diego.

Polin, a Labor & Employment attorney, represents public and private employers across a broad range of sectors, including defense, biotech, communications, retail and education. She is a seasoned litigator with extensive courtroom and first-chair jury trial experience. Her practice covers all aspects of labor and employment litigation, advice and counseling, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour matters. Polin earned a B.A. from UCLA and J.D. from University of San Diego School of Law.

Aaron Schu was promoted to partner of Quarles & Brady in San Diego.

Schu is a Labor and employment attorney and represents a broad range of public and private employers in all facets of labor and employment law. He has significant experience resolving employee mobility and intellectual property matters on behalf of employers and defending employers in whistleblowing, wrongful termination, wage and hour, discrimination, and harassment matters throughout California. Schu received a B.A. from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Christina Snider was promoted to partner of Quarles & Brady in San Diego.

Snider a Labor and employment attorney who defends her clients in employment and business lawsuits, ranging from wage and hour class actions to contract disputes. She also counsels on employment law compliance. Her clients have included Fortune 50 corporations, local businesses in various industries and sectors, and public entities.

Matthew J Frauenfeld joined Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. as associate in Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney (San Francisco).

Frauenfeld represents clients in litigation in a variety of areas including professional liability and commercial litigation. He also advises clients on corporate and data privacy compliance. As a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), he advises clients in matters involving privacy and cyber security. As a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP) with the Society Corporate Compliance and Ethics (CCEP) he advises on corporate governance and ABAC issues (Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery).

Jessica S High was promoted to special counsel of Duane Morris in San Diego.

High counsels private sector colleges and universities in their many specialized relationships, including state and federal regulation matters, accreditation compliance and advocacy, and student and employee disputes and concerns. Before becoming an attorney, she spent over a decade employed by private sector colleges in their financial aid, admissions, accounting, student services and human resources departments.

James Nikraftar joined Miller Barondess, LLP as associate in Los Angeles.

Nikraftar is a business litigator with a background representing diverse clientele in matters including contract disputes, fraud, consumer protection, labor disputes, business torts, and appellate concerns.

Kelly Shea Delvac joined Miller Barondess, LLP as associate in Los Angeles.

Delvac is a litigation and appellate associate representing individuals and entities in a wide range of matters. Prior to joining Miller Barondess, Kelly clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Margo A. Rocconi.

Daniel L. Riordan joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP as associate in San Diego.

Riordan specializes in representing clients in commercial litigation and various business-related disputes. His practice spanned various legal matters, including breach of contract actions, officer and director liability cases, and derivative lawsuits. Riordan also handled partnership disagreements, real estate conflicts, and professional liability litigation. His expertise extended to unfair competition claims, trade secret protection, and securities litigation, providing comprehensive legal support across multiple facets of business law.

Rajiv Dharnidharka joined Foley & Lardner LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Dharnidharka navigates business disputes and potential disputes, focusing on intellectual property, technology, and general corporate matters through counseling, negotiation, litigation, arbitration, and mediation. His main practice areas are trade secret and software copyright litigation, and he is an established thought leader on domestic and international technology issues.

Jeanette Barzelay joined Foley & Lardner LLP as partner in San Francisco.

Barzelay is an experienced commercial litigator focusing on complex business disputes involving various sectors and legal issues. With a demonstrated track record representing and advising clients in commercial pre-litigation and litigation matters in state and federal court, Barzelay represents clients in commercial matters involving trade secret and technology disputes, contractual disputes, employment mobility, unfair competition, and related business torts.

Nolan S. Armstrong joined Signature Resolution as neutral in Los Angeles.

Armstrong managed civil litigation cases across State and Federal courts, including personal injury, landlord-tenant disputes, and employment defense. He is recognized for leading the defense in a class action against a real estate investment trust over ADA violations. A Thurgood Marshall Scholar, Armstrong earned his juris doctorate from The George Washington University Law School in 2005 and has served as President of the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada (ADCNCN).

Patrick F. Veasy joined Stoel Rives LLP as partner in Sacramento.

Veasy advises and represents clients from public and private sectors in environmental compliance matters, enforcement actions, and litigation. His practice specializes in water quality issues, including under the California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and federal Clean Water Act (CWA).

Steven H. Goldberg joined Stoel Rives LLP as partner in Sacramento.

Goldberg is a leading attorney in environmental litigation and compliance in California. With more than thirty-five years of experience, Goldberg is known as a strategic, effective, and responsive advocate with exceptional communication skills. He is known to negotiate and resolve complex disputes and is often selected by other attorneys and their clients as common counsel or liaison counsel for multiple-party lawsuits.

Melissa A. Thorme joined Stoel Rives LLP as partner in Sacramento.

Thorme counsels industrial and municipal clients in addressing environmental compliance challenges and negotiating or litigating regulatory enforcement actions. With nearly 35 years' experience, Thorme advises business entities, including food processors, lumber companies, agricultural companies, contractors, marinas and boat yards, auto dismantlers, small manufacturing companies, and oil field waste-produced water facilities, in addition to sanitation districts, counties, and cities throughout California on matters related to NPDES, wastewater, and recycled water discharge permitting and waivers, TMDLs, and enforcement actions brought by regulatory agencies or in Clean Water Act/Proposition 65 citizen suits.

Nicole E. Granquist joined Stoel Rives LLP as partner in Sacramento.

Granquist is among a select group of attorneys in California who specialize exclusively in water quality regulatory compliance, enforcement defense, and litigation. Described by clients as a “powerhouse” who has a “tremendous grasp of the complex scientific, legal, and political issues” involved in California water quality regulation and litigation, her tenacity, creativity, and pragmatic approach have consistently delivered exceptional results for her statewide municipal and industrial clients, earning her respect and credibility with both regulators and opposing counsel. She routinely negotiates NPDES Permits, waste discharge requirements (WDRs), and water reclamation requirements with the state board and regional water boards for municipal wastewater, industrial process water, and all types of stormwater discharges and reclamation projects.

Tariq I. Boulad joined Rogers Joseph O'Donnell PC as associate in San Francisco.

Boulad focuses his practice on representing retailers, manufacturers and commercial property owners in a wide range of disputes arising under State and Federal law, including California's Proposition 65 and the federal CERCLA statute.

Gregory Oleson joined Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP as partner in San Diego.

Oelson specializes in commercial real estate, handling acquisitions, sales, entitlements, and development for developers at local, regional, and national levels across all stages of transactions. He provides counsel to both lenders and borrowers on loan modifications, workouts, and the preparation of commercial loan documentation.

Thomas F Mazzucco was promoted to shareholder of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. in San Francisco.

Mazzucco concentrates his practice in the areas of white-collar defense and government investigations, intellectual property litigation, and business litigation. He represents businesses and individuals in all phases of civil litigation, as well as advising professionals, executives, and businesses in civil and criminal proceedings involving California and Federal agencies. He has represented executives and professionals in matters before numerous governmental agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as in both civil and criminal matters and before the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the State of California Department of Justice. He has also represented clients in federal court litigation, in disputes before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board, and in arbitration proceedings involving domain names.

Laura Rose Grealish was promoted to director of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. in San Francisco.

Grealish's practice includes the defense of professional liability matters involving lawyers and real estate professionals, construction defect, corporate disputes, personal injury, and wrongful death. Last month, she successfully obtained a defense verdict for her client in the face of a $36 million demand following a jury trial.

Adriana R. Ochoa joined Snell & Wilmer as partner in San Diego.

Ochoa will be part of the firm's Special Litigation and Compliance practice group, where she will concentrate on providing guidance to private clients and public agencies, including healthcare districts and water and wastewater authorities, regarding governance, operational, and other public law matters, including the acquisition and negotiation of public services. Her experience incorporates the Ralph M. Brown Act, California Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, Government Code 1090, California Voting Rights Act, Proposition 218, public works contracting, operational and business issues, as well as litigation.