In a significant move towards increasing the power and depth of its Corporate Practice, Richardson & Patel LLP announced that Marc Jones, whose experience includes representing private equity and venture capital firms, has joined the firm as Partner in its Los Angeles office to launch and lead a new Private Equity Practice.

Goodwin Procter today announced that Terry D. Garnett and Vincent K. Yip have joined the firm’s Litigation Department in its Los Angeles office as partners in Goodwin’s Patent Litigation Practice. They will both focus on high-stakes patent litigation and licensing matters with an emphasis on the information technology industry.

As part of its ongoing expansion, the Los Angeles office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP has added three experienced real estate attorneys to DWT’s real estate practice group. The three new lawyers previously worked together at DLA Piper.

Steven G. Polard, a bankruptcy and commercial litigator with more than three decades of experience, has joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as a partner in our Los Angeles office.

Hogan Lovells announced today that Barry J. Thompson has joined its Litigation, Arbitration and Employment practice as a partner in the Los Angeles office.

The international law firm of Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is pleased to announce that Barry Leigh Weissman has joined the firm as a partner in its Insurance and Reinsurance Department. Weissman will base his practice in the firm’s office in Los Angeles.

Winston & Strawn LLP announced today that it has expanded its global intellectual property litigation group and regional capabilities in two major metropolitan markets with the addition of Michael J. Scheer as a partner in its New York and Los Angeles offices. He joins the firm from Dickstein Shapiro LLP.

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Ronald K. Sittler has joined the Firm as a partner in the Corporate Litigation group. Mr. Sittler has nearly 20 years of experience prosecuting and defending various types of complex commercial disputes, predominantly in the entertainment and media sector. He has successfully served as lead trial counsel in a number of jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. Mr. Sittler is based in the Firm’s Los Angeles office.

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) is pleased to welcome Stephen M. Nichols to MLA’s Litigation practice.  Nichols will be located in the firm’s Los Angeles office where he will focus on complex product liability and toxic tort lawsuits.

The international law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) and the California-based law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP (Luce Forward) have set a target merger date of March 1, 2012, following a recent vote by the firms’ partners. This combination will enhance the legal services provided to clients in litigation, real estate, insurance, government contracts, government affairs and corporate law. The merger will also strengthen MLA’s California foothold and increase Luce Forward’s national and international presence.