Community News

Wilson Turner Kosmo, one of the largest women-owned law firms in California, is home to 14 attorneys selected for inclusion on the 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers list that includes no more than 5 percent of attorneys in the region. The firm’s named partners were all recognized: Claudette G. Wilson for employment litigation (defense), Vickie E. Turner for personal injury (products defense) and Frederick W. Kosmo, Jr. for business litigation. Partners Carolina Bravo-Karimi, Michael S. Kalt, Lois M. Kosch, Robin A. Wofford and Leonid M. Zilberman were acknowledged for their employment litigation (defense) practices, while partner Meryl C. Maneker was celebrated for her practice in defense of class actions. This year also saw five WTK attorneys being recognized as Rising Stars.

Trust and estate planning, tax, and nonprofit attorney Julie Dewberry has rejoined Higgs Fletcher & Mack (HFM), effective May 3, 2021. In her practice, Dewberry advises domestic and international families, entrepreneurs, and executives on the tax-efficient accumulation, preservation, and transfer of assets. In addition, her work includes mitigating interfamily disputes, planning for spendthrift children, and creating practical solutions to novel problems. She has experience in the design, operation, and succession of family-owned businesses, and she also represents nonprofit organizations, assisting them in their formation, obtaining tax-exempt status, and their ongoing operations. Dewberry is licensed in both California and Virginia. “Julie is a fantastic attorney,” said Steve Cologne, HFM’s Managing Partner. “We are excited to welcome Julie back to Higgs Fletcher & Mack and look forward to working with her again.”

Expanding its partnership, CaseyGerry —a San Diego-based personal injury and complex litigation law firm—has promoted Srinivas Hanumadass to partner. Hanumadass, who concentrates his practice on serious personal injury, is a “much-welcomed addition to our growing partnership,” said CaseyGerry’s managing partner, David S. Casey, Jr. “Since joining our firm as an associate attorney in 2015, he has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to his clients and our firm, attaining numerous multi-million results. He is also a proactive community leader and has focused his efforts on promoting diversity in the legal profession.” He served two terms as president of the South Asian Bar Association, one term as vice president of the San Diego County Bar Association and was past scholarship committee chair of the Lawyers Club of San Diego.

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP has welcomed partner of counsel David Marion as the newest member of the firm’s national Corporate department and Mergers & Acquisitions practice group. He will practice out of Dinsmore’s growing San Diego office. He joins from Nossaman LLP and is the second attorney to come to Dinsmore in San Diego in as many months, following commercial litigation associate Meredith Montrose earlier this spring. “Dinsmore’s outstanding reputation, national platform and growing corporate department are a great fit for me and my client relationships,” Marion said. “I am thrilled to join Dinsmore and look forward to all the benefits the firm’s resources will provide to my contacts.” Marion has practiced for over 20 years, representing corporations, LLCs and partnerships with formation, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, intellectual property licensing and general corporate and contract matters. His clients span a diverse array of industries, including food and beverage, technology, manufacturing, sports, consumer products and telecommunications.

Judicate West, one of California’s leading providers of private dispute resolution services, welcomes retired San Diego County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey B. Barton to its roster of neutrals. He is based in the San Diego office and available for mediations, arbitrations, and private judging assignments statewide. “We are thrilled to add Judge Barton to our exclusive roster of neutrals. During his 40-year legal career both as an attorney and a superior court judge, he has gained the reputation for excelling in everything that he does, and he will be a tremendous addition to our roster,” said Mark Kaufman, Executive Vice President of Market Development with Judicate West. “Judge Barton has exhibited exceptional leadership as a Judge and, prior to his appointment to the bench, as a trial attorney in the San Diego and statewide legal community, and we are certain he will be a great fit for our clients statewide.”

Butterfield Schechter LLP’s Founding Partners Robert K. Butterfield and Marc S. Schechter have been included in the 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers list. This is a first for Mr. Butterfield, and this is Mr. Schechter’s ninth year to be included on the list of Super Lawyers. Mr. Butterfield specializes in employee benefits, ERISA, and estate planning. Mr. Schechter specializes in employee benefits, ERISA, and business matters, with special emphasis on ESOP transactions. Mr. Schechter is admitted to practice before the courts of California and New Jersey; the United States District Court for the Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of California; the United States Tax Court; the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals; and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Employee Benefits-Taxation Section, State Bar of California; Taxation Section, San Diego County Bar Association; and a former member of the Legislative and Regulatory Advisory Committee, ESOP Association of America. Partner Corey F. Schechter has been recognized on the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2016 and 2018-2021. Mr. Schechter’s practice focuses on employee benefits law (ERISA) and executive compensation matters, ERISA litigation, qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), and business and employment law. Mr. Schechter is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of California, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a current member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the Western Pension and Benefits Council—San Diego Chapter, and the Business Law and Tax Law sections of the State Bar of California. This is Partner Paul D. Woodard’s second year to be recognized and included on the Super Lawyer’s Rising Stars list. Mr. Woodard’s practice focuses on employee benefits law, employee stock ownership plan, pension, profit sharing and 401(k) plans, ERISA litigation, business law and litigation, qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), estate planning and trust litigation. Mr. Woodard is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern, Central, and Eastern Districts of California; the United States Tax Court; and the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. Mr. Woodard also serves as President of the Western Pension & Benefits Council, San Diego.

Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP (HFM) has awarded its annual diversity scholarship to second-year California Western School of Law (CWSL) student Matthew Jensen. Jensen received the scholarship at a virtual event on March 24. HFM has been granting scholarships in support of diversity and inclusion efforts to local law students for several years. This year’s $5,000 diversity scholarship was funded by contributions from HFM’s attorneys in addition to a contribution from the Firm. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are a priority for Higgs Fletcher & Mack and creating a diversity pipeline is critical for the legal profession,” said Partner Susan Hack, Chair of the HFM’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “We are proud to award Matthew with our 2021 Diversity scholarship. I believe he will be a great lawyer and will help further diversity initiatives in our community.”

Johnson Fistel is pleased to announce the addition of Johnathan M. Scott to its San Diego office. His practice will focus on complex commercial and business litigation. Mr. Scott earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law, graduating cum laude. In law school, he was recognized for his excellent writing skills, receiving the National Order of the Scribes award, and serving as the Executive Lead Articles Editor for the California Western Law Review. Mr. Scott also served as a teaching assistant in legal writing I and received the American Jurisprudence award for obtaining the highest grade in the class in legal writing I, legal writing II, and business entity finance. Prior to law school, Mr. Scott earned his MBA from Gonzaga University. “I am excited to not only practice and serve clients within my area of interest but to join such a respected law firm,” said Jonathan.

Noonan Lance Boyer & Banach LLP has announced that four of its partners are on the 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers list. Notably, David Noonan is recognized in the “Top 10 San Diego Attorneys” list; James Lance is listed in the “Top 50 San Diego Attorneys”; and Ethan Boyer and Micaela Banach both made the “San Diego Super Lawyers” list for business litigation. Meeting Super Lawyers’ rigorous standards, these four NoonanLance partners selected have considerable expertise in all aspects of commercial litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants and taking on some of California’s most challenging cases. NoonanLance attorneys are some of San Diego’s most experienced commercial litigators, handling a wide range of cases in state and federal court, as well as arbitration.