Seyfarth Shaw has added a patent litigation team, all former Thelen people. The team is led by partner Breton A. Bocchieri, who brings along attorneys Brien B. Kirk and Nguyen Huu Nguyen.

Paul Hasting has lost its immigration team to new venture BAL Global Corporate Immigration. Those leaving Paul Hastings include: Daryl R. Buffenstein, Deborah Marlowe, Bo Cooper and Kyle Sherman.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has added attorney Michael A. Molano. Molano, who joins from Mayor Brown, will concentrate his practice in Silicon Valley within the Intellectual Property practice group. In 1993, he received his J.D. from St. Louis School of Law, and attended Northwestern University where he received a B.S. In Electrical Engineering. Molano is currently a registered patent attorney.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is proud to announce that corporate attorney, Kirt W. Shuldberg has joined the firm’s San Diego/Del Mar office. He devotes his practice to corporate and securities law. Previously, Shuldberg was with Heller Ehrman. He makes Sheppard’s 12th partner to join from Heller Ehrman this year.

Winston & Strawn has added Maria Rodriguez to its Los Angeles office. Rodriguez, an labor and employment litigaiton, will join as partner. She joins from Seyfarth Shaw, where she was also partner.

Covington & Burling has expanded its firm with 50 lawyers from Heller Ehrman. The attorneys joining the firm are widespread: 14 partners, six counsel, and even more associates. Covington has also announced their plans to launch two new offices in California: Silicon Valley and San Diego. But, that is not the last we will hear of Covington’s additions. There are still more potential laterals waiting in the wings.

Source: www.legaltimes.typepad.com

Renowned trusts and estates lawyer, Andrew Katenstein, has joined the law firm of Proskauer Rose LLP. Katenstein is now as Partner and member of the firm’s newly developed fiduciary Litigation practice group. He will work with the Personal Development Planning Department, which has been ranked as one of the nation’s best by Chambers USA. Katenstein was previously with Katten, Muchin, Rosenman LLP in their Los Angeles office.

Source: www.businesswire.com

Hunton & Williams has been busy. The firm won over 8 employment lawyers from Akin Gump and is launching an office in San Francisco. Of the 8, four are partners, and four are associates. Laura Franze, joining co-chair of the employment group, will work out of Los Angeles and Dallas. Roland Juarez will also join the Los Angeles office. The San Francisco office will be led by poached partner, Fraser McAlpine, who will also be based out of Houston. Also in San Franisco, Brett Burns joins as partner, and Anna Suh as associate. Justin Smith, Richard Cortez and Jennifer Reith, all associates, will join the Dallas office.

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges has snagged an in-house litigator from Samsung Electronics. John Kim, previously senior intellectual property litigation counsel for the company, has joined the firm’s Silicon Valley office. starting June 9th. Kim has an excellent academic record, having graduating Cornell University with a mechanical engineering degree, and having received his J.D. from American University Washington College of Law. http://www.law.com/jsp/ihc/PubArticleIHC.jsp?id=1202422258508

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has hired a partner from Akin Gump for its executive compensation and employee benefits group. Tristan Brown joins as Partner in Simpon Thacher’s Palo Alto office. The firm welcomes him with open arms.

Source: www.earthtimes.org