Proskauer Rose LLP
Will S. Chuchawat
joined Proskauer Rose LLP as co-head of the global mergers and acquisitions practice in Los Angeles.
Partner Will S. Chuchawat joined Proskauer's Los Angeles office on Feb. 11 as co-head of the global mergers and acquisitions practice. He had been with Sheppard Mullin for 16 years and led the mergers and acquisitions group.
Chuchawat was attracted to the opportunity to join Proskauer due to its depth, strength in private equity and private capital, its culture and mindset, he said.
"They've got the same passion for exceeding expectations and delivering outstanding results for clients that I do," he explained.
Chuchawat described his practice as, "M&A all day, every day." His work includes buy and sell side transactions with a particular focus on private equity and leverage buyouts.
He also advises clients in growth equity and venture capital transactions. His clients include private equity funds, public companies, venture capital and private companies in the technology, health care, consumer, business services, industrial, aerospace, defense, life sciences, financial services and media business.
His most recent deals include advising Mercury Systems Inc. in its acquisition of Physical Optics Corp. and advising TRUaire on its sale to CSW Industrials Inc. for $360 million.
Outside of his practice, Chuchawat has been a board member since 2018 of YPO, a global leadership community of chief executives.
Address
2029 Century Park East, Suite 2400
Los Angeles, 90067-3010 USA
T:
(310) 284-4550
Knox Ricksen LLP
Taylor Steele
joined Knox Ricksen LLP in Walnut Creek.
Steele specializes in high stakes commercial disputes with a focus on health care fraud and whistleblower claims.
He is based in Walnut Creek.
Address
2033 N Main St, Ste 340
Walnut Creek, 94596-3727
T:
(925) 433-2509
GBG LLp
Jen Cornell
joined GBG LLp as partner in San Francisco.
Cornell specializes in California class and representative actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act with a focus on startups and technology companies.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
601 Montgomery Street, Suite 1150
San Francisco, 94111 USA
T:
(415) 603-5007
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Darcie Houck
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as member of the california public utilities commission in Davis.
Houck has been chief counsel for the California Energy Commission since 2019 and was previously an administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission.
She is based in Davis.
Jan Schori
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as member of the california independent system operator board of governors in Sacramento.
Schori was a member of the board of trustees of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. since 2009. She is a former of counsel at Downey Brand LLP.
She is based in Sacramento.
Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP
Laura J Ruettgers
joined Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP as partner and chair of the data privacy and cybersecurity practice in San Francisco.
Ruettgers represents insurance carriers in coverage disputes and litigation.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
425 California Street, Suite 2100
San Francisco, 94104 United States
T:
(415) 926-7600
F:
(415) 926-7601
Goe Forsythe & Hodges LLP
Charity J. Manee
was promoted to partner of Goe Forsythe & Hodges LLP in Irvine.
Manee specializes in debt restructuring, corporate Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations and bankruptcy and commercial litigation.
She is based in Irvine.
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Apalla U. Chopra
was promoted to co-chair of the litigation department of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Chopra focuses on litigating complex multiplaintiff and class action discrimination and wage and hour cases.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Eric A.S. Richards
was promoted to co-chair of the corporate department of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Richards specializes in project finance and infrastructure investment and development.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Eric Amdursky
was promoted to co-chair of the labor and employment practice of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Silicon Valley.
Amdursky focuses on high stakes litigation involving sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and executive compensation.
He is based in Silicon Valley.
Michael D. Hamilton
was promoted to chair of project development and real estate practice of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Hamilton specializes in real estate, finance and corporate restructuring transactions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Sabrina H. Strong
was promoted to co-chair of the product liability and mass torts practice of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Strong focuses on bet-the-company litigation in the pharmaceutical, consumer products, health care, media, entertainment and financial services industries.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Madhu Pocha
was promoted to managing partner of the century city office of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Pocha specializes in litigation.
He is based in Century City.
Daniel M. Petrocelli
was promoted to vice chair of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Petrocelli focuses on litigation related to sports, entertainment, intellectual property, unfair competition, business torts, securities and employment law. He also has experience in criminal defense.
He is based in Century City.
Molly M. Lens
was promoted to co-head of the entertainment, sports and media industry group of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Lens specializes in complex civil litigation, contract disputes, intellectual property, copyright, trademark, business torts, class actions, arbitration, securities matters and regulatory investigations related to the entertainment, media and financial services industries.
She is based in Century City.
Amy Siegel
was promoted to co-head of the entertainment, sports and media industry group of O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Century City.
Siegel advises clients in the acquisition, financing, exploitation and management of media related assets.
She is based in Century City.
Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl Inc.
Bruce J. McNeil
joined Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl Inc. as partner in Los Angeles.
McNeil specializes in employee benefits matters such as tax-qualified plans, executive and nonqualified deferred compensation plans and the tax aspects of equity, phantom equity, as well as employee benefits litigation.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
2041 Rosecrans Avenue Suite 300
El Segundo, 90245 USA
T:
(202) 978-7799
F:
(412) 227-5551
JAMS
Christopher Keele
joined JAMS as neutral in San Jose.
Keele specializes in business and commercial, health care, real property, environmental and personal injury disputes. He is a former commercial and complex disputes litigator.
He is based in San Jose.
Address
160 W. Santa Clara St., Suite 1600
San Jose, 95113 USA
T:
(408) 346-0736
F:
(408) 295-5267
California Lawyers Association
Terrance J. Evans
was promoted to chair of the litigation section of California Lawyers Association in Los Angeles and San Franciso.
Evans is a trial partner at Duane Morris LLP. He is vice chair of the firm's banking practice for the western United States and co chairs the diversity and inclusion committee.
He is based in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Sean M. Moran
joined Vinson & Elkins LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Moran specializes in asset finance with a focus on renewable energy, zero carbon and infrastructure assets.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Michael P. Joyce
joined Vinson & Elkins LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Joyce focuses his practice on energy and infrastructure finance.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Lauren A. Collins
joined Vinson & Elkins LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Collins focuses her tax practice on project finance with a focus on renewable energy and infrastructure assets
She is based in Los Angeles.
Josh Heideman
joined Vinson & Elkins LLP as counsel in Los Angeles.
Heideman specializes in renewable energy asset finance and acquisitions.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Trevor Shelton
joined Vinson & Elkins LLP as counsel in Los Angeles.
Shelton advises equity investors, lenders, sponsors and project developers in energy and project finance.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Address
633 West Fifth Street 26th Floor
Los Angeles, 90071 USA
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Suzanne M. Martindale
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as senior deputy commissioner of consumer financial protection at the california department of financial protection and innovation in Oakland.
Martindale was senior policy counsel and Western states legislative manager at Consumer Reports since 2010.
She is based in Oakland.
Edwin F. Lowry
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chair of the occupational safety and health appeals board in Sacramento.
Lowry has been a member of the board since 2011. He was a hearing officer for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and was a state deputy attorney general from 2005 to 2007.
He is based in Sacramento.
Pircher, Nichols & Meeks LLP
Eric B. Shortz
was promoted to partner of Pircher, Nichols & Meeks LLP in Los Angeles, CA.
Shortz specializes in transactional real estate with an emphasis on the representation of borrowers in complex financing.
He is based in Los Angeles.
Tyson & Mendes LLP
Kevin Gray
joined Tyson & Mendes LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Gray is a civil defense attorney and has tried more than 60 cases.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
371 Bel Marin Keys Blvd. Suite 100
Novato, 94949
T:
(628) 253-5070
F:
(415) 785-3165
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Vincent I. Parrett
joined Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP as partner in Menlo Park.
Parrett specializes in plaintiff and defendant business litigation including contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and other commercial disputes.
He is based in Menlo Park.
Address
1080 Marsh Road
Menlo Park, 94025 USA
T:
(650) 462-5324
F:
(650) 429-2028
Atheria Law
Nicole Shapiro
was promoted to partner of Atheria Law in San Francisco.
Shapiro represents insurers in complex errors and omission claims against professionals such as attorneys and accountants.
She is based in San Francisco.
Nicholas Lieberknecht
was promoted to partner of Atheria Law in San Francisco.
Lieberknecht specializes in representing insurers in disputes involving design professionals and construction companies such as errors and omission policies issued to architects and engineers.
He is based in San Francisco.
Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins
Monica Montgomery Steppe
joined Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins as member of the task force to study and develop reparation proposals for african americans in San Diego.
Steppe is a city council member and civil rights attorney.
She is based in San Diego.
Foley & Lardner LLP
Claire Marbelstone
was promoted to partner of Foley & Lardner LLP in Los Angeles.
Marbelstone specializes in advising hospitals, health systems, digital health providers and physician groups in regulatory and transactional matters.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Judicate West
Thomas G. Oesterreich
joined Judicate West as neutral in Santa Ana.
Oesterreich is a former personal injury attorney and has served as a volunteer arbitrator and mediator in Los Angeles County, Orange County and Riverside County Superior Courts.
He is based in Santa Ana.
Address
1851 East First Street Ste 1600
Santa Ana, 92705 USA
T:
(714) 834-1340
F:
(714) 834-1344
Atheria Law
Amanda Graham Brazinski
was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in San Francisco.
Brazinski advises insurers in cyber, privacy, technology and media claims.
She is based in San Francisco.
Tammy Chang
was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in Los Angeles.
Chang represents insurers in technology, media, intellectual property and privacy claims.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Aishlin Cook
was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in San Francisco.
Cook advises insurers in errors and omissions claims against attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals.
She is based in San Francisco.
EJ Kim
was promoted to senior counsel of Atheria Law in San Francisco.
Kim represents insurers in cyber and privacy claims.
She is based in San Francisco.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Michael Russell
joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as partner and colead of the mergers and acquisitions practice in Palo Alto and San Francisco.
Corporate partner Michael Russell has rejoined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati to colead the mergers and acquisitions practice. He previously was a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP for five years.
"I think it's worth noting I wasn't on the market," said Russell. "I was happy at Goodwin. I had a great experience and I really enjoyed working there."
Russell said he was approached by Robert Ishii, a longtime friend, about the opportunity to return to Wilson Sonsini. Ishii is now colead of the mergers and acquisitions practice alongside Russell.
"I have had that conversation off and on over the last five years with him," Russell added. "But what was a little different this time was that it was a little more concrete. I think that given the demand in the marketplace, both from Wilson's existing clients and externally, they decided that there were a number of areas that they wanted to make meaningful investments in to build out the practices, and mergers and acquisitions was one of them. So the outreach from Rob was not just, 'Hey, do you want to come back?' but, 'Do you want to come back and be part of this effort and initiative to build up the practice and help me do it?'"
Additionally, the ability to practice with attorneys he has known for the majority of his professional career attracted him to the opportunity, he added.
Russell previously was with Wilson Sonsini for 18 years as part of the corporate and securities practice. He joined the firm in 1998 from the San Francisco city attorney's office and became a partner in 2007.
Russell focuses on representing public and private companies and investors in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. His clients include technology and life sciences companies on both the buy and sell side of transactions. Notable companies he has worked with include Micron Technology Inc., Twitter, TiVo, Fitbit Inc., Slack Technologies Inc. and Sumo Logic.
Address
650 Page Mill Rd
Palo Alto, 94304-1050 USA
T:
(650) 493-9300
Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP
Andréanne Breton
joined Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP as associate in San Francisco.
Breton represents insurance companies in litigated and non-litigated coverage disputes.
She is based in San Francisco.
Address
101 Montgomery Street Suite 2300
San Francisco, 94104 USA
T:
(415) 890-5223
Gov. Gavin Newsom
Saralyn M. Ang-Olson
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief compliance officer at the california department of health care services in Sacramento.
Ang-Olson is a former senior assistant attorney general, director of the California Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, acting chief of civil prosecutions and supervising deputy attorney general in civil prosecutions.
She is based in Sacramento.
Lisa Niegel
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as chief counsel at the california department of rehabilitation in Sacramento.
Niegel has served as acting chief of the department since 2020. She was previously an attorney in the department from 2007 to 2020.
She is based in Sacramento.
Arthur “Ari” Krantz
joined Gov. Gavin Newsom as member of the california public employment relations board in Berkeley.
Krantz has served on the board since 2018. He is a pro bono attorney for the Centro Legal de La Raza Asylum Project since 2014.
He is based in Berkeley.
Higgs Fletcher & Mack
Jonathan A. Grissom
joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack as partner in San Diego.
Grissom specializes in nonprofit organizations, business and corporate law and tax.
He is based in San Diego.
Address
401 West A Street, Suite 2600
San Diego, 92101 USA
T:
(619) 236-1551
F:
(619) 696-1410
DLA Piper LLP
Richard Rahm
joined DLA Piper LLP as partner in San Francisco.
Rahm advises and represents employers in wage and hour class and collective actions, in addition to other complex litigation matters.
He is based in San Francisco.
Address
555 Mission St, Ste 2400
San Francisco, 94105-0922 USA
T:
(415) 638-2524
F:
(415) 659-7324
Judicate West
Daniel I. Spector
joined Judicate West as neutral in Sacramento.
Spector has served as a judge pro tem and a pro tem settlement conference judge for the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2000.
He is based in Sacramento.
Address
980 9th Street Suite 2200
Sacramento, 95814 USA
T:
(916) 394-8490
F:
(916) 394-8495
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP
Heidi Walas
joined Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP as partner in Redwood City.
Walas specializes in the representation of emerging growth companies and early stage investors in venture financings, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, technology transfers and general business matters.
She is based in Redwood City.
Address
550 Allerton Street
Redwood City, 94063 United States of America
T:
(650) 321-2400
Nixon Peabody LLP
Rachel L. Conn
was promoted to partner of Nixon Peabody LLP in San Francisco.
Conn specializes in labor and employment law. She represents and advises clients on matters related to the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
She is based in San Francisco.
Jade E. Turner-Bond
was promoted to partner of Nixon Peabody LLP in Los Angeles.
Turner-Bond represents clients in the financing and refinancing of infrastructure and capital improvements projects for state and local municipal entities.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP
Allyson K Thompson
joined Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP as partner in Los Angeles.
Thompson specializes in employment litigation.
She is based in Los Angeles.
Address
11755 Wilshire Boulevrd
Los Angeles, 90025 US
T:
(301) 775-6511