A team of leading intellectual property lawyers has joined Kaye Scholer LLP in the firm’s Silicon Valley office, bringing to the firm extensive patent litigation experience in the Life Sciences and Technology industries. The group is led by Deborah Fishman, who joins as a partner, and includes Krista Carter and Katie Scott, who join as counsel.

“The Life Sciences sector is becoming increasingly complex, requiring a range of legal services,” says Firm Managing Partner Michael Solow. “Deborah’s addition to our Life Sciences and Intellectual Property teams extends a dynamic and unique advantage to our clients.” (more…)

www.kayescholer.com

Vedder Price is pleased to announce the addition of two experienced attorneys to the firm’s Los Angeles office. Richard C. Pugh, Jr. joins the Finance & Transactions group and Lisa M. Simonetti strengthens the Litigation group—both as Shareholders. (more…)

www.vedderprice.com

Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Laura Reathaford has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the national Labor and Employment Practice Group. With a focus on management-side employment litigation, Ms. Reathaford specializes in wage and hour collective and class actions, including representative actions under the Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”). Ms. Reathaford comes from Proskauer Rose in Los Angeles where she was Special Counsel. (more…)

www.venable.com

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (Orrick) announced today that Amy K. Van Zant has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) practice as a partner in its Silicon Valley office. Ms. Van Zant adds a roster of world class clients and tremendous trial experience to Orrick’s market-leading IP practice. (more…)

www.orrick.com

Nixon Peabody continues to add depth and breadth in Los Angeles. On the heels of announcing the arrival of a four-attorney Fashion & Entertainment team, Justin X. Thompson joins Nixon Peabody’s Southern California office bringing with him a growing real estate practice and a wealth of experience handling real estate transactions of all shapes and sizes. Justin is leaving his position as a partner in the Land, Environmental and Natural Resources group at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, where he was also a co-chair of the firm’s Hospitality practice. (more…)

www.nixonpeabody.com

In the continued expansion of its corporate and financial services practices, Rimon Law has added Benjamin L. Douglas as a partner in its San Francisco office.

Mr. Douglas counsels businesses in all areas of asset management, including private investment advisers, hedge, real estate, and venture funds, mutual fund managers, and firms with hybrid businesses (such as private fund advisers that also sub-advise mutual funds). He handles matters ranging from fund formation, regulatory compliance and service provider relationships, to complex sales and acquisitions of asset management businesses. (more…)

rimonlaw.com

Thompson Coburn is pleased to announce that John Viola has joined the firm in our Los Angeles office and will be practicing in our Labor and Employment group. John previously was a member at Dykema.

John has more than 35 years of experience defending clients in trial and appellate courts across the country and counseling them on a variety of legal issues critical to their business operations. (more…)

www.thompsoncoburn.com

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has increased its attorney ranks in San Diego with the arrival of shareholder Amy Todd-Gher from the Oakland, CA-based firm Valdez Todd & Doyle LLP. Todd-Gher brings with her an extensive employment litigation practice and is the latest lateral addition to the firm following recent attorney hires in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Miami and the firm’s new office in Portland, Maine. (more…)

Akin Gump today announced that David S. Phelps has joined the firm as a partner in its firmwide real estate practice, resident in Los Angeles. Mr. Phelps, who has nearly three decades of industry experience, primarily represents private equity funds, capital market clients and other institutional investors in the acquisition, development, financing and restructuring of various projects, with an emphasis on the hospitality sector. He joins from Paul Hastings where he was co-chair of the Global Hospitality Practice Group.

“David is a terrific addition to our deep and experienced real estate finance practice,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “His skills and background complement the work our real estate team does for clients across the firm. I am delighted to welcome him as a partner.” (more…)

www.akingump.com

PIB Law, a full-service law firm, is now serving clients coast-to-coast with the opening of its office in Orange County, California. On February 2, 2015 the firm announced the office opening at 695 Town Center Drive, 16th floor in Costa Mesa, California. (more…)

www.piblaw.com

Kathleen Smalley, who represents clients in complex transactions and high-stakes litigation with an emphasis on matters concerning governance of both public and private companies, has joined Locke Lord as a Partner in Los Angeles. She will be part of the Firm’s Finance, Banking and Real Estate Department and its Real Estate Practice Group. (more…)

www.lockelord.com

Scott M. Pearson, who focuses on complex business litigation and regulatory enforcement with an emphasis on the financial services industry, has joined Ballard Spahr’s nationally recognized Consumer Financial Services Group as a partner in Los Angeles, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today.

Mr. Pearson is well-known for his work in handling consumer financial services litigation, particularly consumer class actions. During his 20-year career, he has prevailed in more than 75 class-action lawsuits, many of which involved overlapping claims and multiple jurisdictions. His clients span the financial services industry, from global banks and credit card issuers to community banks and specialty finance companies. They also include Internet companies, manufacturers, and other firms that regularly interact with consumers. (more…)

www.coxsmith.com