A team of five Corporate/Securities and Intellectual Property attorneys has joined the AmLaw 100 law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP, boosting the firm’s presence in Southern California.

Joining Troutman Sanders from the Orange County office of Rutan & Tucker, LLP are partners Larry A. Cerutti, Susan Barricella Stabe and John T. Bradley, and associates Rushika Kumararatne and Erin R. Zaskoda.

“We are excited to have this talented and well-regarded group of lawyers join Troutman Sanders because it helps us instantly establish a top-rate corporate and securities practice here and bolsters our existing intellectual property expertise,” said Robert Pozin, managing partner of the Orange County office.  “We continue to seek exceptional lawyers to expand Troutman Sanders’ presence in the California market.”

Since 1993, the Orange County office has maintained a complex litigation and counseling practice for its clients with an emphasis on insurance, real estate finance, bankruptcy, business litigation, renewable energy and intellectual property law. With this new team, the office will have more than 30 attorneys.

“This expansion of the Orange County office is a critical step forward in Troutman Sanders’ long-term strategy to expand in California and on the West Coast,” said firm Chairman Robert W. Webb, Jr.  The law firm also has offices in San Diego and Portland, which complement its strong East Coast, Chicago and Asia presence.

Larry Cerutti, who led Rutan & Tucker’s corporate section, said his group was “attracted to Troutman Sanders because of the firm’s strong regional, national and international platform and the growth opportunities within a well-established organization.”

“This is a great fit for our attorneys and an opportunity we could not resist,” he added.

Cerutti has a diverse corporate and securities practice that is principally devoted to financing and acquisition transactions for public and private companies. He represents corporate issuers in connection with public and private securities offerings, preparation of reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, acquisition and general corporate matters, including corporate governance matters.

Stabe is an intellectual property attorney whose clients range from individuals to private and public companies. Her practice focuses on foreign and domestic trademark and copyright prosecution, enforcement of intellectual property, including domain name proceedings, opposition and cancellation actions, and trade secret and unfair competition disputes. She also advises clients with regard to merchandising and licensing issues and various intellectual property-related agreements.

Bradley has a corporate and securities practice that is supported by his significant experience in representing public and private clients across the range of development stages in a wide variety of matters, including public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Kumararatne represents both public and private clients in a variety of corporate and transactional matters, including registered securities offerings, private placements, securities regulation, SEC reporting and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, corporate governance and drafting, negotiating and interpreting contracts of all varieties, while Zaskoda specializes in intellectual property with an emphasis on domestic and foreign trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement, litigation support, due diligence with respect to corporate and other transactions, as well as advising clients concerning licensing and other intellectual property-related agreements.

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