On the Move

A weekly report of lawyer moves and law firm changes. Keep abreast of where movers and shakers are going and what they're doing.

2013-01-11 10:31:01 AM

SAN FRANCISCO

Hanson Bridgett has promoted Christine Hiler to senior counsel. Hiler, a member of the insurance recovery section, represents policyholders in connection with coverage disputes under general liability, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, general property and other policies. She graduated from University of San Francisco School of Law in 2006.

Steven Smith has joined Jones Day as a partner. Previously with O'Melveny & Myers, Smith is a member of the global disputes practice and focuses on the arbitration and litigation of complex international commercial disputes in a broad range of industries. He received his J.D. from UC-Berkeley School of Law in 1983 and his LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1986.

NEW PARTNERS

Hanson Bridgett has promoted Anne Hydorn, Annette Mathai-Jackson and Steven Miller to partner in the San Francisco office.

Hydorn is a member of the employee benefits section and advises private and public employers in benefits matters. She graduated from UC-Hastings law school in 2003.

Mathai-Jackson is a member of the real estate section and handles real estate acquisitions and dispositions, ground leases, and financing, development, leasing and management matters. She received her J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2002.

Steven Miller is a member of the public agency section and assists local government agencies, in particular commuter rail operators and transit districts, with a wide variety of legal issues. He graduated from UC-Hastings law school in 2004.

Morrison & Foerster has elected 15 lawyers to the partnership, including four in California.

Kevin Calia, a member of the securities litigation, enforcement and white-collar group in the litigation department, is based in San Francisco. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2003.

Rita Lin, a member of the financial services group in the litigation department, is based in San Francisco. She is a 2003 graduate of Harvard Law School.

Cary Miller, a member of the patent group in the business department, is based in San Diego. She graduated from Columbia Law School in 2002.

Colette Verkuil, a member of the litigation department, is based in Palo Alto. She earned her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2003.

Sidley Austin has elevated 26 lawyers to partner, including Ryan Sandrock in San Francisco and Joshua Hofheimer and Matthew Jorgenson in Los Angeles.

Sandrock focuses on antitrust litigation and counseling, as well as intellectual property, consumer class actions and other complex matters. He graduated from University of Chicago Law School in 2003.

Hofheimer focuses on representing clients in the agriculture, life sciences and information technology sectors. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1995.

Jorgenson focuses on patent litigation, client counseling concerning patent infringement and licensing, intellectual property due diligence and patent prosecution. He is a 2003 graduate of Harvard Law School.

Dickstein Shapiro has promoted Michael McGaughey to the partnership. McGaughey, based in Los Angeles, is a member of the insurance coverage practice and represents corporate policyholders in recovery efforts and litigation against insurance companies. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1998.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has elected 11 new partners, including Carlos Bermudez in Los Angeles. Bermudez is a member of the firm's corporate practice and focuses on acquisitions, mergers, corporate finance, securities and general corporate matters. He graduated from Stanford Law School in 2002.

Irell & Manella has elevated Alison Plessman and Glenn Vanzura to partner in the firm's Los Angeles office.

Plessman handles complex commercial litigation, representing clients in cases involving securities fraud, investment mismanagement, business torts and contract disputes, in addition to defending clients in criminal and regulatory enforcement actions. She received her J.D. in 2003 from Columbia Law School.

Vanzura represents companies, directors, officers and other individuals in securities litigation, complex business litigation, white-collar criminal matters and internal corporate investigations. He is a 2005 graduate of Stanford Law School.

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.