David Deal, Holland & Knight senior counsel
Image: courtesy photo
Frank Vargas, Rimon partner
Image: courtesy photo
SAN FRANCISCO
David Deal has joined Holland & Knight as senior counsel. Deal, formerly the general counsel of Fairfield-based GeoVera Insurance Group, is a member of the firm's insurance industry team. He received his J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2003.
SILICON VALLEY
Rimon P.C. has added corporate attorney Frank Vargas as a partner in its Palo Alto office. Most recently with Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett, Vargas' practice includes business transactions and investment funds. He graduated from UC-Berkeley School of Law in 1986.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Jessica Pink has joined Safarian, Choi & Bolstad in Los Angeles as a partner. Pink, previously at Seyfarth Shaw, represents lenders, investors, owners, developers and property managers in connection with acquisitions, dispositions, financing, leasing and development. She earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 2000.
Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson has added Ernest "Ernie" Price as a principal in Los Angeles. Formerly with Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley, Price focuses on complex litigation and employment matters. He is a 1992 graduate of University of San Francisco School of Law.
James Walther has joined Arnold & Porter's corporate and securities and financial services practices as a senior counsel in its Los Angeles office. Walther, most recently with Mayer Brown, focuses on complex mergers, acquisitions and restructurings, and cross-border transactions. He graduated from UCLA School of Law in 1972.
Los Angeles-based Ideal Legal Group has added Michael Yuen and James Howard as associates.
Yuen, who focuses on civil and business litigation, was previously at Yanny & Smith and the Law Offices of Lottie Cohen. He received his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2009.
Howard, who previously served as a case assistant for Faegre & Benson, focuses on litigation and international law. He is a 2012 graduate of University of Wisconsin Law School.
Jeffrey Sklar and Andrew Kirsh have founded Sklar Kirsh, a Century City-based law firm concentrating on corporate and real estate transactional law.
Sklar, who chairs the firm's corporate department, was most recently with Sklar Law and Loeb & Loeb. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School in 2001.
Kirsh, who chairs the firm's real estate department, was previously with Raines Feldman and Goodwin Procter. He graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 2000.
Gilbert Holmes has been selected as the new dean of University of La Verne College of Law in Ontario. Holmes, a professor and former dean at University of Baltimore School of Law, will officially assume his duties on July 1. He received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1972.
Lauren Thibodeaux has been selected as a member of the 2013 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows program. Thibodeaux, an associate in Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton's Los Angeles office, focuses on management-side labor and employment law matters. She is a 2005 graduate of University of Southern California School of Law.
NEW PARTNERS
Carroll, Burdick & McDonough has elevated San Francisco attorney Gonzalo Martinez to partner. Martinez focuses on civil appeals and writs in state and federal courts. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2003.
San Francisco-based Kerr & Wagstaffe has elected Nancy Tompkins to the partnership. Tompkins, who joined the firm as of counsel in 2011, specializes in complex civil, patent and appellate cases. She graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 1990.
Please send news about partners or associates, appointments or awards by email to recorder-editor@alm.com, fax to 415-490-9997 or mail to On the Move, The Recorder, 1035 Market St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103.
