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.

Latham & Watkins LLP is pleased to announce that Kevin Ehrhart has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Finance Department. Ehrhart has a highly regarded transactional real estate practice focused on the acquisition and disposition of commercial office and industrial portfolios, as well as the development and financing of hotels and resorts, golf courses, retail and industrial centers, and residential communities located throughout the United States and Asia. He joins from Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis in Los Angeles, where he was a partner since 2005.

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) is pleased to announce the Firm’s most recent lateral addition, promotions, as well as new associates.

Loeb & Loeb LLP announced today that Bernard (Barney) R. Given II has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditor’s Rights Practice. He joins from the Los Angeles office of Frandzel Robins Bloom & Csato, L.C., where he was a shareholder specializing in bankruptcy and commercial litigation.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that Howard D. Fabrick has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Labor and Employment Law Department and Entertainment and Music Practice Group. Fabrick was previously a partner in the Los Angeles office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.