Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Russell “Rusty” Weiss has joined the firm as a partner in Los Angeles. Mr. Weiss has built a substantial practice focused on the convergence of entertainment and technology. He is a member of the firm’s Technology & Intellectual Property (IP) Transactions practice and Media and Entertainment industry group and is based in Century City. More >>

James J. Thompson has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice group, based in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Thompson joins from Snell & Wilmer. More >>

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Richard S. Petretti has joined the firm as a partner and will be a member of its expanding media and entertainment group. He will be based in the firm’s Century City office. Mr. Petretti is a highly experienced finance lawyer who concentrates his practice on transactions in the media and entertainment industry and leveraged financings. More >>

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Jack S. Yeh has joined the firm in Los Angeles as a partner in its Complex Commercial Litigation practice. He will be based in Sidley’s Century City office. Mr. Yeh is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented some of the largest companies in the world. More >>

Jeffrey L. Kateman has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice group and co-leader of the firm’s Private Equity team, based in the firm’s Century City office. Kateman joins from Latham & Watkins.

More >>

Akin Gump today announced that James E. Fitzgerald has joined the firm as a partner in its litigation practice in Los Angeles. Mr. Fitzgerald, who has tried more than 40 trials in federal and state courts over the course of his career and handled more than 20 arbitrations, comes to Akin Gump from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. More >>

Sedgwick is pleased to announce that Edward Stumpp, previously senior counsel with the firm, has rejoined as a partner in its Los Angeles office within its Healthcare Group. Stumpp’s practice is primarily focused on the representation of healthcare providers and medical groups in a variety of litigation ranging from managed care liability and medical malpractice to service contracts, ERISA matters and Mental Health Parity Act claims. He also has extensive experience in handling various payer-provider disputes. More >>

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Vijay S. Sekhon has joined the firm as a partner in Century City. He will be a member of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity practices and will focus on handling transactions for public and private companies, and private equity firms. Mr. Sekhon joins a rapidly growing team of lawyers in Century City, as Sidley continues to focus on strategic growth in Los Angeles. More >>

David Quinto and Scott Commerson, two highly experienced IP lawyers with particular knowledge of the entertainment arena, have joined the Los Angeles office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. More >>

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP announced a prominent new member of its leading project finance and renewable energy team with the addition of Tax partner Michael O’Hara Duff, who joins the firm’s Los Angeles office. More >>