Comings and Goings
Tonkon Torp: Parna Mehrbani, a partner specializing in intellectual property enforcement, has been appointed co-chair of its Information Privacy & Security Practice Group. “Parna is an incredibly talented attorney,” Darcy Norville, managing partner at Tonkon Torp, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to have her direct her leadership skills toward providing our clients with assured guidance in this area of law, which is becoming more important by the day.” Mehrbani joined the firm just this year.
King & Spalding: Livia Kiser and Michael Shortnacy are two litigators who have joined the firm in its Trial and Global Disputes practice group as partners. Kiser will join Spalding’s Chicago office, and Shortnacy will be based in Los Angeles. “Liv and Michael’s practices and industry focuses support King & Spalding’s strategy of growing our national class action defense trial platform,” Andy Bayman, head of the group both Kiser and Shortnacy will be joining, said in a press release.
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto: The firm announced July 20 the opening of a new office in Ho Chi Minh City, part of their expansion in Southeast Asia. “MHM has been advising Japanese clients in Vietnam for many years and our presence in HCMC will significantly enhance our capability to serve our clients, responding to the increased demand from them for legal services in Vietnam,” Takuya Eguchi, the firm’s senior corporate partner, said in a release. “Through this expansion, together with our Japan and ASEAN offices, we will be able to provide constant on the ground assistance and respond to our clients’ needs faster.”
Awards and Honors
Howard & Howard: Michael R. Lied, a labor and employment litigator, has been reappointed the co-chair of the American Bar Association, Howard announced July 19. Lied has served as a member of the ABA since 1983. “Mr. Lied will continue working to promote the goals and core values of the Section of Litigation, as well as advancing the Section’s work through commitment to engaging the diverse members of the divisions, committees and task forces within the Section,” the firm wrote in a release.
Industry News
Howarth & Smith: Suzelle M. Smith, the attorney for the 102-year-old actress Olivia de Havilland, expressed disappointment to Deadline July 12 after the California Supreme Court rejected a petition put forward by her client against FX Networks and Ryan Murphy. According to Havilland, the television show produced by that network, Feud: Bette and Joan, used her image and her name without permission. The legal team is reportedly deciding whether to move forward with the petition in a higher court.
