Max N. Wellman was promoted to partner of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Wellman provides strategic counseling in entertainment, technology, and business matters. He principally represents production companies, studios, influencers, talent management companies, and merchandising companies, as well as artists, entrepreneurs, consumer product brands, and technology start-ups.

Shannon E. Beamer was promoted to partner of Venable LLP in Los Angeles.

Beamer represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in complex litigation in state and federal courts nationwide. She has been a member of trial teams in national products liability litigation involving several international pharmaceutical manufacturers. She has worked with attorneys from around the country to coordinate overall strategy and the day-to-day handling of individual cases.

Moez Kaba was promoted to managing partner of Hueston Hennigan in Los Angeles and New York.

Kaba took the helm of the firm the same day Hueston Hennigan announced it had opened an office in New York. Kaba, who is gay and South Asian, has a perfect trial record, including obtaining the largest-ever trademark award and the largest Lanham Act Award in 2022 and a landmark trial win in 2021.

Jordan D Teti was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells in Los Angeles.

Teti represents clients in complex litigation matters and investigations, with a focus on securities, life sciences, and health care industries.

Corey T. Leggett was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells in San Francisco.

Leggett has handled every aspect of a technology dispute, from pre-litigation planning and strategy through jury trial and post-trial, including pleadings, fact and expert discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, and evidentiary motions. He has handled cases filed in district courts throughout the country, as well as at the International Trade Commission (ITC) and Patent Trial and Appeal Board at the U.S. Patent Office.

Bert Lao was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells in Los Angeles.

Lao has counseled innovator pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, investment groups, and contract research organizations on matters ranging from new drug approval to advertising and promotion compliance.

Jalpit Amin was promoted to counsel of Hogan Lovells in Silicon Valley.

Amin's corporate representation is focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital. He has significant experience advising clients in a broad range of industries, and frequently represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies in acquisitions, recapitalizations, and exit transactions.

Vassi Iliadis was promoted to partner of Hogan Lovells in Los Angeles.

Iliadis guides organizations in the technology, financial, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries in coordinating incident response, managing forensic investigations (including advising on issues of attorney-client privilege), responding to government inquiries and investigations, and leading highly sensitive internal investigations when an unexpected crisis arises impacting an organization's data privacy and cybersecurity.

LaVonne D. Lawson joined Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl, LLC as counsel in Los Angeles.

Lawson counsels small businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups, as well as large businesses and established companies, in state, federal, and international tax matters. She focuses her practice on tax reporting and compliance, tax controversy and litigation, and estate planning.

Will S Bennett was promoted to partner of Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. in Temecula.

Bennett focuses his practice on complex insurance recovery actions. His extensive experience includes serving as insurance coverage counsel for commercial, civil, and residential construction and real estate companies, non-profits, universities, manufacturers, retailers, jewelers, engineers, architects, rental companies, environmental companies, cannabis producers, farmers, food suppliers, solar companies, restaurants, and individuals.

Taylor A. Bloom was promoted to partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP in Costa Mesa.

Bloom has significant experience operating at the intersection of law, technology and business, with a keen focus on international data protection, data privacy and governance. A certified privacy professional (CIPP/E, CIPP/US and CIPM) and the former in-house counsel at an advertising technology company, Bloom's diverse strengths include coordinating and leading the implementation of global privacy and data security policies and programs; advising on compliance issues, negotiating agreements with vendors and business partners; and maintaining a deep knowledge of the advertising technology ecosystem and related privacy issues, including those surrounding geolocation and cross-device tracking interest based advertising practices.

Chardaie C. Charlemagne was promoted to partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP in San Francisco.

Charlemagne is an accomplished trial and appellate litigator who represents corporate defendants and individuals in high-stakes, complex litigation disputes and provides counsel involving contract disputes, financial fraud, and shareholder suits. She has extensive experience litigating trade secrets and noncompete, white collar matters involving government investigations, financial fraud, and securities fraud claims under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933.

Matthew D. Pearson was promoted to partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP in Costa Mesa.

Pearson concentrates his practice on class action defense and focuses primarily on the ever-growing and constantly evolving area of privacy. Having handled class actions from motion to dismiss through final appeal, he is highly experienced in all stages of class litigation.

Justin T. Yedor was promoted to partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP in Los Angeles.

Yedor provides advice and strategies for compliance with privacy requirements facing businesses in the retail, consumer services, entertainment, communications, financial and manufacturing sectors. He holds the CIPP/US credential as a certified information privacy professional. Yedor has advocated for clients in state and federal courts on a broad array of matters ranging from intellectual property disputes to products liability.

Melis Atalay was promoted to shareholder of Ogletree Deakins in Los Angeles.

Atalay focuses her practice on defending employers against putative class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) representative actions. She has successfully defended clients in a variety of industries against off-the-clock, meal and rest break, expense reimbursement, and overtime calculation claims. Atalay earned her J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law, her M.A. from Sabanci University, and her B.A. from UC Berkeley.

Ron C. Finley was promoted to shareholder of Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel in San Jose.

Finley is co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property and Privacy and Data Security Practice Group. He is a highly skilled and dedicated litigator who has represented corporations, partnerships, and individuals in high-stakes lawsuits in state, federal, and appellate courts, including many federal district courts around the U.S.

Julie Y. Wann was promoted to shareholder of Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel in San Jose.

Wann is a crucial contributor to the firm's Corporate, Tax, and Estates & Trusts practice groups. She focuses on individual, partnership, and corporate taxation, and the formation of limited liability companies, partnerships, corporations, and nonprofits. Wann works closely with her clients, advising them in estate and tax planning, wealth transfer, and estate and trust administration.

Dennis S. Zell was promoted to shareholder of Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel in San Jose.

Zell chairs the firm's Appellate practice group and is a key player in our Appellate, Business Litigation, and Trust and Estate Litigation practice areas. He is an accomplished attorney with over 25 years of civil litigation experience, including trial and appellate work in both California and Federal courts. Zell is a trial lawyer who represents clients in a variety of civil litigation matters including trusts, real estate transactions, commercial leases, business contracts, business torts, corporate governance disputes, and insurance.

Caitlin M. Jones was promoted to shareholder of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC in San Diego.

Jones is an experienced trial and litigation attorney who focuses her practice on professional liability and complex business and commercial litigation. She has handled a broad range of lawsuits representing individuals, attorneys, and business clients in state and federal courts. She is skilled in all aspects of litigation and has an outstanding record of successful resolutions in defending professional malpractice cases.

Matthew C. Smith was promoted to shareholder of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC in San Diego.

Smith represents individuals, attorneys, law firms, business clients, and community associations in a variety of complex litigation matters. He has significant experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including trials, arbitrations, and mediations and has served as lead and co-counsel in more than a dozen trials and arbitrations. He is also a speaker on issues including professional ethics in litigation and legal best practices.

Oliver J. Richards was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson in San Diego.

Richards is an intellectual property litigator who works with companies of all sizes and encompassing a wide range of technologies. From representing clients in high-stakes cases before the Federal Circuit to taking on non-practicing entities in high-volume litigation, Richards approaches all his matters with a formidable blend of efficiency and creativity.

Jared A. Smith was promoted to principal of Fish & Richardson in San Diego.

Smith has extensive experience in intellectual property litigation with an emphasis on patent litigation in the consumer electronics sector. His practice includes litigation in both U.S. District Court and the U.S. International Trade Commission across a diverse array of technologies, including consumer electronics, software, cyber security, and medical devices. 

Naomi A. Igra was promoted to counsel of Sidley Austin LLP in San Francisco.

Igra focuses her practice on a diverse range of civil and criminal matters, including antitrust and securities litigation, white collar criminal proceedings, consumer class actions, cases brought under the federal False Claims Act, and internal investigations.

Genevieve G. Weiner was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.

Weiner focuses her practice on representing debtors and lenders in various bankruptcy matters, general assignments, receiverships, and out of court restructurings and work-outs. She has represented clients across multiple industries including healthcare, retail, hospitality, and real estate.

Sean Raven was promoted to counsel of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.

Raven focuses on discovery within complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts, as well as white collar and internal investigations. He advises clients on information management and preservation, working with expert and fact witnesses, drafting substantive discovery motions, analysis of expansive data sets, and managing large-scale electronic discovery.

Sheri Porath Rockwell was promoted to counsel of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.

Rockwell focuses on privacy and cybersecurity law. She advises companies on privacy compliance and corporate data protection programs, including compliance with federal and state privacy laws.

Sarah A. Hemmendinger was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in San Francisco.

Hemmendinger focuses on securities and shareholder litigation, antitrust litigation, and ERISA class actions. She primarily represents clients in the life sciences, technology, and clean energy spaces. Sarah is an author of Sidley's annual review and analysis of developments in securities litigation in the life sciences sector, a resource used by in-house counsel, insurers and securities litigators.

Jennifer Oliver joined Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney as counsel in San Diego.

Oliver focuses her practice on complex litigation, specifically data breaches, defending consumer class actions, and antitrust. She has played active roles in several high-profile jury trials, serving as lead counsel in complex mediations, and arguing before courts at both the trial and appellate levels. She also often counsels clients on antitrust matters related to mergers and acquisitions. She has experience litigating monopolization claims, trade secrets, RICO conspiracies, securities fraud, unfair trade practices, breaches of contract and privacy matters. She holds an International Association of Privacy Professionals Certification and is a longtime privacy professional.

Timothy K. Daveler joined Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney as associate in San Diego.

Daveler represents commercial clients and healthcare providers in complex litigation. His clients include healthcare corporations and health systems, long-term care providers, assisted living facilities, and health systems across a broad spectrum of litigation matters, including corporate veil piercing litigation.

Ofelia M. Olmedo joined Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney as associate in San Diego.

Olmedo counsels and represents clients on a range of healthcare-related issues, including litigation and regulatory compliance matters. She has experience conducting internal investigations, drafting policies and agreements to facilitate regulatory compliance, and providing guidance on HIPAA and privacy laws.

Luke R. Ashworth was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.

Ashworth represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as acquisitive strategics, in acquiring, operating and, in the case of sponsors, exiting their company and asset investments.

John Lee was promoted to partner of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.

Lee joined Larson in 2020 and represents clients across a wide range of high-stakes cases in state and federal courts. His practice focuses on complex commercial disputes - including class actions, trade secret lawsuits, and securities cases - and white collar defense matters.

Andrew J. Bedigian was promoted to counsel of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.

Bedigian joined Larson in 2016. His practice focuses on complex civil and commercial disputes and white collar criminal defense. His experience includes defending oil and gas companies and financial institutions against federal and state investigations.

Jonathan Gershon was promoted to counsel of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.

Gerson joined Larson in 2021. His practice includes financial services litigation, intellectual property disputes, and high-stakes class actions. Jonathan also represents clients in white collar defense matters.

Daniel R. Lahana was promoted to counsel of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.

Lahana joined Larson in 2020. He has represented a wide range of clientele, from publicly traded businesses to individual physicians and hospitals.

Catherine S. Owens was promoted to counsel of Larson LLP in Los Angeles.

Owens joined Larson in 2021. She represents clients in complex commercial litigation and white collar defense, ranging from class actions to patent litigation and business disputes. .

Eric H. Geffner was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.

Geffner serves as a trusted advisor to clients, representing public and private companies and investors in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures, and other general corporate matters, with a focus on sports, entertainment, and media.

Daniel J. Belke was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Century City.

Belke focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity, including domestic and cross-border public company M&A (buy-side and sell-side), joint ventures, carve-out transactions, tender offers, and equity investments.

Rita M. Leong was promoted to partner of Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP in San Diego.

Leong helps employers of all sizes, and across industries, navigate California's intricate labor and employment laws. In her practice, she skillfully represents employers involved in complex workplace disputes involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims as well as wage-and-hour and class-action lawsuits.

Elizabeth Chiba Rein was promoted to partner of Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP in San Diego.

Rein has a reputation for obtaining favorable settlements for her clients by thoroughly analyzing the merits of cases at the early stages of litigation, effectively managing her time and aggressively advocating in informal settlement negotiations, mediations and court.

Todd Gilbert was promoted to counsel of Sidley Austin LLP in Los Angeles.

Gilbert focuses on U.S. securities offerings and a broad range of domestic and cross-border financing transactions. He has experience representing issuers, borrowers, and investment banks in debt and equity capital markets transactions, syndicated bank lending transactions, and secured lending transactions.

Sara M. Carian was promoted to partner of Sidley Austin LLP in Palo Alto.

Carian focuses on mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, stock and asset acquisitions and sales, carve-out transactions, and cross-border transactions. Sara also advises clients on general corporate and governance matters.

Jessica Lewis was promoted to partner of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in San Francisco.

Lewis' practice focuses on securities litigation and enforcement matters, as well as general commercial litigation. She represents public companies, financial institutions, and their officers and directors in complex individual, class action and derivative cases in federal and state court.

Sean Hanle was promoted to partner of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in Los Angeles.

Hanle represents clients in complex business and trust and estate litigation matters, as well as employment matters and consumer class actions.