Kilpatrick Townsend’s San Diego office volunteered to help clean Moonlight Beach with the Surfrider Foundation, an organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches last month. Melissa Patterson, Will Gorman, Shelton Austin, Bill Shaffer, and Mike Manzano joined the nearly 100 volunteers, who spent a Saturday morning maintaining the beauty and cleanliness of one of San Diego’s finest beaches.
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Koji Fukumura, chair of Cooley’s securities litigation practice and member of the firm’s Management Committee, recently became the 45th chair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation. The Section is the ABA’s largest section, with more than 50,000 members and more than 40 active committees. Fukumura had served a one-year term as chair-elect and was elected chair at the conclusion of last month’s ABA annual meeting.
“Koji is a natural leader within Cooley and a dedicated and active member of the ABA,” said Michael Attanasio, chair of Cooley’s global litigation department. “We are proud of his elevation and incredibly supportive of him as he carries on the section’s mission of providing valuable resources for all practitioners, in particular the next generation of courtroom advocates.”
Fukumura has one of the most active securities defense practices in the U.S. He has 20 years’ experience in complex commercial litigation, including the defense of securities class actions, derivative lawsuits, M&A-related class actions and government investigations. He also regularly conducts internal investigations for boards as well as their audit or special litigation committees.
“I am excited to serve our members and the profession as chair of the Section of Litigation,” said Fukumura. “I cannot recall a time in the last 50 years when it was more important to be a lawyer and protect the institutions and ideals that are fundamental to our democracy.”
The mission of the ABA Section of Litigation is to provide litigators of all practice areas the resources needed to become successful and experienced advocates.
Fukumura’s practice includes representing companies such as Qualcomm, GNC Holdings, Stratasys, LG Electronics, Cricket Wireless, Horizon Pharmaceuticals, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, MannKind, Brocade, Tremor Video, Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Volcano, Gemstar TV-Guide and SAIC.
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Hali Anderson has joined Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP as a senior associate, and Nicole Ambrosetti and Alexandra Preece have joined the firm as associates.
Anderson joins the firm’s Employment Practice Group. Her practice includes various types of labor and employment litigation, including wage and hour class-action lawsuits; discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation and harassment lawsuits; and administrative litigation and collective bargaining matters. Prior to joining Wilson Turner Kosmo, Anderson was a labor and employment associate at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP.
Ambrosetti joins the firm’s Business, Product Liability and Warranty Practice Groups. She represents manufacturers and other corporate clients in business disputes, product liability and other complex litigation. Prior to joining Wilson Turner Kosmo, Ambrosetti was an associate at Crowell & Moring LLP in Orange County.
Preece joins the firm’s Product Liability and Warranty Practice Groups. She represents businesses in a variety of matters involving product liability, personal injury, wrongful death and breach of warranty. Prior to joining Wilson Turner Kosmo, Preece was an associate at Gordon and Rees LLP representing clients in commercial litigation matters.
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Kandace P. Watson has joined the San Diego-Del Mar office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice group. Watson joins from Kilpatrick Townsend, where she headed the Mergers, Acquisitions, Securities and Corporate Team in Southern California and led the Corporate Department’s Southern California Chemical & Life Sciences and Medical Devices Teams.
Watson was recognized by 2016 Legal 500 in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Buyouts category, and has extensive experience representing companies, corporate boards and executives in complex transactions in intellectual property (IP) intensive industries, including biomedical, biotechnology, chemical, health care, pharmaceutical, software and technology. Her expertise includes board governance and director and officer duties, complex commercial transactions, consortium agreements, corporate spin-offs and reorganizations.
“Kandace is an outstanding transactional attorney and excellent addition to our corporate practice group,” said Jon W. Newby, vice chairman of Sheppard Mullin. “She brings substantial corporate and IP licensing expertise, along with an energy and client-driven focus that fits well with us, in Del Mar and firmwide.”
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The San Diego Inn of Court is a nonprofit established in 1973 by the Hon. Louis M. Welsh. It is dedicated to the practical training and education of trial attorneys.
The Inn provides a unique opportunity for student lawyers to practice what they learn in class at courtroom sessions presided over by distinguished judges and experienced attorneys. No other program combines outstanding lectures-demonstrations with our unique “learn by actual practice at the courthouse” approach.
This fall’s Trial Practice Program begins, September 28, and runs through October 24. The deadline to register is September 20, and seating is limited. For more information, the organization’s website is www.sandiegoinnofcourt.com or you can email organizers at sdinnofcourt@gmail.com.
Randy Frisch is in-house counsel for the National University System. He can be reached at rcfrisch@msn.com
