Studios,where we explore the ins andouts of Southern California’s constantly evolving professional sphere
To that, we’re excited forour readers to learn more about Radiant,anElSegundo tech companydedicated to the next generationofnuclear power: microreactors. These nextgeneration power stations, compact enoughtobetransported across the planet (oreveninto space)are being built righthere in the region,with multiple companies all vying for theprize.
Chiu
DougBernauer,CEO and Tori Shivanandan, COO,ofRadiant. PhotobyRingo
In addition, we lookathow unique AI applications areaiding everyonefromrestaurateurs to lawyers andstreamlining business operations whileproviding maximum return to their clients. Plus, the legalprofession itselfisbeing reshaped by this technology– read on to see whatlawyers aredoing to use this as an advantage for theirclients
You’llalsofind alist of the TopHospitalsinSouthern California ranked by revenue.These dedicated centers of healing represent notonlyanenormouseconomic driver for the Southland, but they're also where you’ll find some of the mostdedicated medical professionalsonthe planet, working long hourstoservethe wellness needs of adiverseand major region.
As with every Business by LA Times Studios issue,wealso featurethis month’sbiggest corporatemoves,land deals,M&A movement and, new forJuly, thebiggest in venture capital awards to up-and-coming unicorn businesses.
Continue reading forall of Southern California’s need-to-know professionalinsights, be theymicro or macro
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OC-BasedGenesis Bank to CompleteAcquisition of Beverly Hills-Headquartered Excel Bank
Thebankwilloperate as Genesis in BeverlyHills as well as in Temecula fortheir IE headquarters
Orange County-based Genesis Bankhas announcedthat it has receivedall necessary regulatory approvals,as well as approvals from the shareholders of Excel Bank (a trade nameofEHNational Bank), to completeits previously announced agreement to acquireExcel
“Overthese past coupleofmonths,wehave been able to gaina deeper understanding of Excel’smarketpresence,client base,team talent, products andservices,and we areenthusiastic about this ‘in-market’acquisition,”saidStephenH Gordon, chairmanand chief executive officer of Genesis Bank.
“Weplan to leverage Excel’sprime banking office located in BeverlyHills in the Rolex buildingat9420 Wilshire Blvd. at Canon Dr.as Genesis Bank’sLos Angelesheadquarters and in Temecula at 27720Jefferson Ave. along the 15/215 Freeway corridor as the Bank’sInland Empire headquarters. We have already strategizedaroundthe numerous opportunities to do more business with existing andprospective clientsofGenesisBank andExcel Bank, utilizing ourleadingtechnologyplatform and comprehensive depositoryand treasury cash management products, services and solutions.”
“Weare excited to hit the groundrunning once we officially close this acquisition,while making an even greater impact on the communitieswe serve across Southern California. Accordingly, we greatlylook forward to welcomingExcel Bank’s
clients to Genesis Bank andour expanded team andmarket presence,” added Gordon.
“Weare pleasedtohave received all necessary regulatoryand shareholder approvals, thereby enabling Genesis Bank to move forward to complete andclose the acquisition of Excel Bank in mid-June 2025,”hesaid. “Additionally, we are targeted to seamlessly complete the systems integration of Excel’score banking platform shortlyfollowing the completion of the acquisition, which willenableExcel clients to thenimmediately access andutilize Genesis Bank’ssuite of sophisticated commercial banking products, services and solutions, all supported by talented bankers anddelivered through atechnologyplatform thatisonpar with larger money-center banks.”
GenesisBankfocuses on serving the financial needsofsmall-tomid-sized businesses and owners and investors in income-producing multifamily and commercial real estate located in the bank’starget markets of LosAngeles, Orange, Riverside andSan Bernardino counties. The bank’sproducts,services and solutions primarily include traditional commercial business, Small Business Administration (SBA), income property and owner-occupied commercial real estate loan anddeposit products, as well as treasury management, escrow and Section 1031 exchange services and solutions.
Foundedin2005, ExcelBank is known for serving small businesses andtheir owners, multifamily and commercial real estate investors, owners and their operations, as well as propertymanagement companiesand homeowners associations across Southern California.
At press time,the transaction wasexpected to close imminently and is subject to Excel Bank receiving approvals from regulators and shareholdersaswell as satisfying customary closing conditions.Genesis Bank wasadvised in this transaction by its legal counsel, Holland & Knight LLP.Excel Bank was advised in this transactionbyits legalcounsel, RichardE.Knecht, attorney at law. ▐
-Paul Williams
G GlobalAmbition: LosAngeles-Based Businesses Are MakingTheir Mark Around theWorld
by ghts ategies iving global expansion.
AECOM:Building theWorldFrom DTLA AECOM, headquartered in Downtown LosAngeles, is one of the world'slargest infrastructure consulting firms. Nowwith more than
50,000 employees acrossover150 countries, AECOM is astrong exampleofhow an L.A.-based company canleadonthe worldstage
AECOM’sexpertise spansarchitecture, engineering, construction management and environmental services. The firm hasalready worked on high-profileinternational projects, including the London 2012 Olympic Park,Qatar’s transportation systemsfor the2022 FIFAWorld Cup andurban planning projects in China, Singapore andthe MiddleEast.
LosAngeles’ reputationfor infrastructure challengesand opportunities–everythingfrom transportation to sustainablebuilding –has served as alaunchpadfor AECOM’sglobal expertise.
As cities around theworld wrestle with rapid urbanization, climatechange andthe need forsmart infrastructure,AECOM’s solutions, developedand tested in L.A., find eagermarkets abroad.
TheWalt DisneyCompany: ExportingCulture and Creativity
Despite the fact that TheWaltDisneyCompany is headquarteredinBurbank, its culturalfootprint is undeniably global –and it’sa footprint that continues to grow. Through its movies, television shows, merchandise andtheme parks, Disney
has created one of the most recognizable and belovedbrands on the planet
Disney’sinternationalventures areimmense.The company operates theme parksinParis, Tokyo, Hong Kong andShanghai.Its mediaand streaming services –Disney+,ESPN+ andHulu– are rapidly expanding into markets across Europe, Latin Americaand Asia. In India, Disney has taken adominant position through its acquisitionofStarIndia, andbyextension,its popular streaming platform Hotstar.
This global dominance is not accidental. Disney tailors its storytelling, branding andmarketing to fit localcultures while maintaining its core values of family-friendly entertainment.
Snap Inc.: ALocal Tech Company with Global Eyes
SnapInc., the parent companyofSnapchat, is headquarteredinSanta Monica. Though best known forits ephemeral messagingapp popular amongGen Z, Snap’s ambitions anduser base arefar from local.
Snapchat is used by over400 milliondailyactive users around the globe,with particularlystrong penetration in France,the U.K., Saudi Arabia andIndia.Snaphas nowestablished offices in London, Paris,Toronto, Dubaiand Sydneyto support its internationalgrowth. In India, where
mobile-first communicationreignssupreme, Snap hasadapted itsproduct and marketing to resonate with local trends andcultures.
Snap’s global approach also includespartnerships with regional contentcreators and localizedaugmented reality(AR) features that tapintoeverything from cricket fandoms in India to Ramadancelebrations in the Middle East.
Beyond Meat: Scaling aSustainable Future Across Borders
El Segundo-based Beyond Meat hasredefined the plant-based food industrywithits meat alternatives that look, cook andtaste likereal meat. While thecompanystarted in Southern California, itsmission to combatclimatechange, reduce animal agricultureand improve global healthhas found eager audiences across continents.
Beyond Meat nowoperates in over 80 countries, with strongfootholds in Europe,Chinaand Latin America.The companyhas formed strategic partnerships with global fast-food giantssuch as McDonald’s, PizzaHut andKFC to introduce plant-based items in internationalmarkets.
Notably,Beyond Meat hasopened aproduction facility in the Netherlands to better serve its European customers and reduce shipping-related emissions. In China, the companyhas partnered with Starbucksand YumChina to reachhealthconscious, environmentally aware consumersin megacitieslikeShanghaiand Beijing.
Forever 21:Fashion that Travelsthe World
Forever 21 started as amodest store in L.A.’s Highland Park neighborhood in 1984, but it quicklyevolved intoafast-fashion powerhouse At itspeak, the companyoperated over 800stores in nearly 60 countries.
Though the companyhas undergone restructuring in recent years, closing its U.S. retail locations, itsglobal presence remains significant. Forever 21 hasstores and online retail operations in markets includingJapan, Mexico,the Philippines, South Koreaand the Middle East. Its success in international markets hasbeen tied to itsabilitytoadapt to regional fashion trends while maintaining itscore valueofaffordability
Global customersare drawntothe “California cool” aestheticthatunderpins much of its product line
Riot Games: Exporting L.A.'s Gaming Culture Worldwide Riot Games, based in West LosAngeles, is the creator of League of Legends, one of the most
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Is AI aCareer Threatora Competitive Edge?
WhyLawyers andFirms areRacingto Become Tech Experts
sartificial intelligence promisestoreshape the legal profession,much of the conversation centers on which jobs will disappear. But attorneys looking to securetheir future mayneed to flip the script: Rather than viewing AI as athreat, successful lawyers arebecoming subjectmatter experts in the technology itself
“Tobeeffective counselors, attorneysworking at theforefront of innovation needtounderstand the relevant technology at adeep level,” said Zachary M. Briers, apartner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP focusingoncomplex technologyand intellectual propertyissues
“When it comes to technology companies, almost all difficult legal issues turn on granular distinctions in technological advancements. Thisis particularly true with new platform technologies, suchasAI, which defyconventional legal analyses,”Briers added
Thisneed will only increase as litigation around artificial intelligence becomes morecomplex, accordingtoNathanielL.Bach, apartner at Manatt,Phelps &Phillips,LLP
“The more alawsuitor advice implicatesthe inner workings of an AI model, themoreattorneys will need to know to properly advise clients,ask the right questions of adversaries, andexplain the technology to courts in bothaccurateand persuasive ways,”said Bach.
Having more than “a surface-level understanding” of AI may even be amatter of professional
competence,said DanielB.Garrie, amediator, arbitrator andspecial master with JAMS, an alternative dispute resolutionprovider. He is also afounderand partner of Law& Forensics, alegal engineering firm.
“Lawyers areethically obligatedtostay abreast of technological advancementsunder theABA’s ModelRule 1.1, Comment8,” said Garrie
“A deeper comprehension of how AI systems function,including their design,datadependencies, andoperational limitations,iscrucial for providing competentadvice,particularlyinareas like eDiscovery, dataprivacy andintellectualproperty disputes,”hecontinued.
Beyond helping to win cases andcomplyingwith ethical obligations,understanding AI couldbe amajor career booster.David Lisson, the head of Davis Polk &Wardwell LLP's GenAI litigation initiative,said that the AI space represented abig opportunityfor attorneys at thestart of theircareer –a waytostand outfrom thepack.
“I alwaysthink the keytoasuccessfuljunior associate is beinganexpertinsomething. And this is an area that youcan really dig into,”hesaid.
“If youcome andfigureout what this model is doingand how it's doing it, you'll be the one that the senior attorney comes to,right?And you'll be the onethatthe client comestobecause you're the onethatunderstands what'sactually going on.”
From abranding perspective,atleast,firms appear to understandthe value in highlighting the AI credentialsoftheir attorneys.Over the pasttwo years, aflurry of AI practice groups hasemerged in Californiaand elsewhere.But experts, including
thosewho head up these groups, acknowledge that thisstrategy will need to evolve.
“This trend has begun and will continue,but these groups will almost certainly evolve to be increasingly specialized over time,asitbecomes clear that ‘AI’ is fartoo broad acategory to usefully defineapractice,” Keith Enright, cochairofGibson, Dunn &Crutcher LLP’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Group said.
Bach said that AI practice groups were both“anecessityand acalling card” for many firms. To be effective, these groups wouldneed to encompasspractice areas spanning intellectual property,privacy and technology
“The AI space is too bigand moves too fast for any one lawyer to know everything,”hesaid.
That’sa sentiment shared by PeterH Werner,co-chairofCooley LLP’sglobalemerging companies and venture capital practice group
He said that the recent emergence of AI practice groupswas “similar to havingan‘internet’ practice group in the 1990s.”
“Some firms are forming ‘AIpractice groups’ tosignaltothe market that they’re focused on AI-related things. But the ubiquityofAIand
JHVEPhoto -stock.adobe.com
related technologies will mean that thework that is doneineverypractice will be impacted by AI,” he said.
He added that Cooley insteadhas “aninterdisciplinary, interdepartmentalinternal task force that’sintended tobea clearinghouseto coordinateour work on AI-related matters, many of which implicate multiplepractices.”
Briers said thatwhile “most major firms now have apractice group that is dedicated to AI-related issues,”itwas “not enough that afew attorneys at each firm become familiarwith this disruptivetechnology.Itneeds to be afirm-wide initiative.”
Attorneys whowishto become AI-literate have options. Lawschools appear attuned to the fact that there will be an increasing demand forsuch knowledge
A2024 survey from the AmericanBar Association found that more thanhalf of respondentschoolsnow offer classesonAI. Manyof these initialefforts focus on introducing students to the appropriate andethical useofAItools in their practice
However,some go further: UC Berkeley, forexample, will begin offering aspecialization in AI law andregulation this summeraspart ofits executivetrack LLM program,including aunitonthe fundamentals of AI technology.The curriculumfor
the new certificatewas designedinconsultation with an advisorygroup of industryleaders,including representatives from Anthropic andMeta.
Other schools are offering shorterstandalone graduate certificates or programs in artificial intelligence forlegal practitioners,includingUSC Gould School of Lawand HarvardLaw School.
Beyond theseprograms, attorneys withan existing science,technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM)background might be at an advantagetotheir colleaguesinanAIworld, though legal experts disagreeonthe significance of this
“TheshifttoAIisindeed an opportunityfor attorneys with abackground in computer science, data science,orengineeringareas to gain adistinct advantage in understanding thenuances of AI-relatedlegal challenges,”Garrie said
“AsAIlegal work often intersects with technical fields likecybersecurity, data analytics andsoftware licensing, firms mayincreasingly value and recruitlegal talent with such dual credentials.This intersectional expertise enhances both client trust and legal efficacy,” he added.
Clinton Ehrlich, apartner at TrialLawyers for Justice who is amember of theU.S.9th Circuit Court of Appeals Artificial Intelligence Committee andhas acomputer sciencebackground,said lawyers working on AI casesorissues wasanalogous to lawyers working in the patent space, where many attorneys have aSTEM background
“This is an area of the lawwhere skills are required beyond thosethatmost generalists have,”Ehrlich said.
“It doesn'tmean that ageneralist couldn't be involved on ateam that'slitigating acase involving questions about AI, butIthink it's very important to have at leastone team member with really deep domain knowledgeofhow these systems work,sothat youaren't justtranslating everything through the medium of popular science,” he said.
Others were more circumspect, emphasizing that awillingness to learn andengagewas farmore important than prior education experience
Werner saidthatattorneys “don’t necessarily need atechnical degree for most things,but you need curiosity. Thebestlawyers arequick studies. We work with cutting edge technologyand lifesciences companies, using complexmethodologies to do complicated things.”
He predictedthatasthe lawand technology become increasingly intertwined,wecould witness “hybrid teams of people at firms that include lawyers andtechnologists that collectively
pitch for anddeliver service to clients–think e-discovery on steroids.”
According to Enright, “Intellectual fluidityand the abilitytoframe questionseffectivelywillbevastly more valuable than aSTEMbackground.”
VivekMohan,the other co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s artificial intelligence practice,saidthat whenever he talkstolaw students andrecent graduatesinterested in thepractice area, he tells them, “I look for ongoing, demonstrated interest. Certainly, an undergraduate degree in arelated area is astrongsignalofinterest.”
Buthecautioned that an attorney’sroleis“not to substitute ourselvesfor theengineers or AI researchers at ourcompanies.Itistolisten carefully,ask probing questionsand then provide the best legaladvice we can.”
He addedthatattorneys interested in AI should getcomfortable with occasionally not knowing whatisgoing on with AI models,given even their engineers arenot alwaysable to explain how amodelreached aparticular answer
“Learn whatyou can, butyou have to be able to getcomfortable with operating in an environment that carries acertaindegree of uncertainty,” he advised.
The other riskofoveremphasizing prior education?Instilling asensethat technologicalstasisis acceptable,saidBriers
“Anengineering background might be helpfulin understanding thesenew technologies,but it’s not necessary. In my experience,too manyattorneys who lacka STEM background useitasanexcuse to notlearn new technologicalskills.They do so to thedetriment of their clients’ interests,” he said. ▐
-JackNeedham, Associate Editor,Daily Journal
The LosAngeles/San FranciscoDaily Journal is apublication for lawyerspracticing in California, featuringupdates on thecourts, regulatory changes, theState Barand thelegal community at large.
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Innovativeapps aredisrupting unexpected industries by taking advantage of machinelearning
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer confined to the realm of tech companies or data-driven startups –it’s rapidly transforming some of the most unexpected corners of the business world. Fromautomating irrigation systems in agriculture to enhancing the expertise of sommeliers, streamlining compliance in corporate law to assisting in precision dentistry, AI innovations are making surprising inroads across awide range of industries.
Theseapplications go beyond efficiency–they’re reshaping workflows,decision-making andeven
customer experiences. Thefollowing examples
illustrate how AI is redefining what’spossible in sectors that,until recently,seemed farremoved from the cutting edge of technology.
Here area fewL.A.-based companies thatoffer AI-driven solutionsdesigned toenhance work and lifeina number of surprisingways.
Asurvey conducted by L.A.-based DRINKS, apioneeringplatform foralcohole-commerce, revealedthat76% of consumersenvision AI significantly shapingalcoholshoppingwithin the next five years.This surveyof 1,000 U.S. consumers,commissioned by DRINKS andconducted by Dynata,found that 31% of adults over the age of 21 have alreadyused AI to aid in alcoholselection, and71% would be interested in adopting the technology if offered by liquor stores andonline retailers.
While44% of consumers currently believeAIcan recommend abottle of wine or liquorfor personal enjoyment, the interest in AI-powered recommendations extends to social settings as well. Over40% of consumers would trustAI-suggested drink pairings at arestaurant, 26%would letthe technology determine acocktailorder at abar and 39% would allow it to select drinksfor aparty or gathering. Meanwhile,only30% of consumers find human expert advice “very important” to alcohol purchases.
“Consumers are looking at howtechnologycan make their lives easier, andinthis case,the insights of an AI ‘sommelier’ canmakealcohol lessintimidating,”saidBarry Collier, co-founder and head of R&DatDRINKS.“For example, the ‘rules of wine’might makesomeonehesitate to ask questions or trya new bottle.But AI that understands their individualpreferencescan help pick the ‘right’ drink for theoccasionand give the buyer confidence that they'llenjoytheir purchase.”
DRINKS' patented AI-powered wine recommendationsystemisa steptowardtransforming the
waypeoplediscover, select andpurchase their favoritebottles
“Our patented PAIR (PredictiveAIRetailing) technologyuses AI to dissect every wine label to analyze color palettes,fonts, imageryand dozens more elements of design. We usethese features to predict theemotional responseitwill spark(like romantic, adventurous,elegant or perhapsquirky),” saidCollier.“By tailoring recommendations around thesefeelings,we've driven a50-plus-percent lift in click-through rates over traditional‘Youmay alsolike’ recommendations Andwhen youpairtheseinsightswitha virtual sommelier that allows thecustomer to describe their taste preferences or desires in natural language, youunlockthe truepowerofconversational commerce.”
AI-Driven SoilDrops Puts the “I”inIrrigation L.A.-basedSoilDrops,a forward-thinking startup dedicatedtosustainable andeffortless irrigation,recently announced thelaunch of itsSmart Irrigation Starter Kit. Debuting on Earth Day, the SoilDrops systemcombines precisesoilmoisture
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AI Transforms BrandStorytelling atCannesLions
LA TimesStudios andMonks collaborated at theCannesLions festival to host aseriesofdiscussions on thetransformativeimpactofAIonbrands in arapidly evolving economy. Held from June 16-20atLes MonksCafe, these sessionsexploredhow AI-drivenorchestration influencesefficiency, transparency andawareness throughout thebrand journey, from ideation to delivery
Brand Is Back: Brand Storytelling & Consumer Impact
Onekey panel, "Brand is Back:Brand Storytelling &Consumer Impact,"brought together industry leaders to discuss thepower of brands in shapingculture and influencingconsumers. Anna Magzanyan, president of LA Times Studios, opened the discussionbyemphasizing the importance of impactfulstorytelling.
Lauren Wood, president of TheYogiFoundation, highlighted thelink betweenstorytelling and community development, stating, "Wemust bridgestorytellingand regenerationtocreate real change." Amy Powell,president of VICE Studios, addressedthe challenges brands face inresonatingwithskeptical audiences. Ziad Ahmed,headofNextGen at UTA, underscored the power of personal narratives inbranding, whileAdam Faze,co-founder of Gymnasium, discussed adapting storytellingfor thedigital
landscape.The session concluded withan explorationofhow authentic brandstories can build deeper consumerconnections and drive meaningful impact
FusionIsthe New FWord: HotAF– Fireside Chat with CommonwealthFusion Systems
In afireside chat titled "Fusion Is theNew F Word,"Kristen Berke, VP of entertainment and brandedcontent partnerships at LA Times Studios, moderated adiscussionwith Joe Paluska, CMO, andJennine Willett, creative director,from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS).They explored thetransformative potential of fusion energy andhow to make this complex topic accessible.
Paluskahumorously set the stage, stating, "Fusionisthe newFword...it'shot AF," before tracing fusion research back to Sir Arthur Eddington's 1920 theory that the sun's energy comes from fusion.Willettclarifiedfusion as "the power of thesun andthe stars,"emphasizing its clean, limitless andsafenature. She explained howit"creates astarand holds it inside"through plasma at extremetemperatures. Thepanel discussedthe historical challenges of scaling fusion and the recent $9-billion investment in research. Paluskaand Willettshared their vision for using innovativemarketing to demystifyfusion energy, aiming to sparkpublic curiosity and drive change in clean energy.The conversationhighlighted the urgent need to communicate fusion's benefits for broaderpublicunderstanding
TheFuture of Creativity &AI: AFireside with Sir Martin Sorrell& will.i.am "The Future of Creativity&AI" panel featured acompelling conversationbetween Sir Martin Sorrell,executive chairmanofS4Capital, and will.i.am, founder andCEO of FYI.AI. This fireside chat exploredhow artificialintelligence can transformthe creative landscape,highlighting how brands andleaderscan engage audiences and influence cultural narratives. The discussion emphasized the intersection of technology and imagination, showcasing howinnovators can redefine collaborationand inspire change Attendees learnedabout the democratizationof knowledge,the evolutionofcreative processes and how AI can enhance rather than replace human creativity
will.i.am shared personalreflections on his upbringing, acknowledging his grandmother's legacyand his mother'ssacrifices as asingle parent.Heexpressed concern forhis brother's education, noting, "Everything youjust learned in schoolprobably won'tapply moving forward, but you still have the fundamentals."Hehighlighted the evolving role of womeninsociety, stressing theirleadership in empathyand compassion, which are urgently needed in AI.Describing himself as "ambitious,audacious, curious andhyper imaginative," will.i.am showcased his commitment to creativityand innovation. The sessionoffered athought-provoking perspective on the intersectionoftechnology andcreativity, underscoring the essential role of empathy andcommunityin shapingapositive future.
will.i.amand SirMartinSorrell
Adam Faze, Ziad Ahmed, Amy Powell and Lauren Wood
Kristen Berke, JoePaluskaand Jennine Willett
Knowledge Is Power: TheReal ROIofMedia Transparencyinthe Era of AI
In "Knowledge Is Power: TheRealROI of MediaTransparencyinthe Era of AI," panelists discussed the evolving landscape of media transparency andthe necessityfor real-time performance visibility in marketing. Moderated by LindaCronin, EVPand global head of media at Monks, the panel included Meredith Zhang, measurement partneratTikTok; Millie Chu, senior directorofmediaanalytics at T-Mobile; andJay Pattisall,VPand principal analyst at Forrester Theyexploredhow CMOsneed "Bloomberg Terminal"-like toolsfor continuous insights into brandcontent, stressingthata lackofvisibility couldhinder success by 2025
Zhang emphasized that "radical visibility"is essential foreffective decision-making, comparing the need formedia insights to financial decision-making tools. She noted challenges in measuring effectiveness,explaining that traditionalmetrics often fail to capture the nonlinear consumer journey, especially on platforms like TikTok.
Chusupportedthis, stating that real-time media performance information is currently "more idealistic than realistic."She stressed that achieving effective transparency requires substantial investment in infrastructureand acommitment to data-driven insights. Pattisall advocated for a"360view" of mediaperformance,desiring "more real-time MM" and"full loop attribution" to assess how all marketingelements work together
The panelcollectively underscoredthe growing importance of mediatransparencyand the need forsophisticated measurement strategies in arapidly evolving digital marketplace,concluding that without real-time insights, brands risk falling behind.
Future-Proof or Fall Behind: TheAIInvestments That Build Resilient Brands
This panelatCannes exploredhow companies leverage AI forgrowth andefficiency,focusing on smarttechnology investments forbusiness resilience.Lewis Smithingham,SVP of strategic industries at Monks, moderated thediscussion with Bobby Mohr,VPofrevenueatTwelveLabs; Matt Carter, head of industryatAWS; Jamie Allan, directorofadtech &digital marketing industries at NVIDIA;and ChristianFraser,broadcaster andwriter at the BBC.
The paneladdressed AIintegrationchallenges andopportunities. Carterhighlightedthat "around 80%ofAIprojects that fail do so not because of modelperformance,but because of the data foundations that theyare builton."
He stressed the importance of centralizing and organizing accessibledata, stating, "You need to make thatdataaccessibleand interoperable," to combine diverse data types effectivelyfor AI initiatives.
Mohr discussed Twelve Labs'video AI capabilities, emphasizing the need for brandstoadopt cutting-edge technologies to streamline processes andenhance viewer experiences,warning that failure to do so risksfalling behind. Allan noted that whiledataisabundant, itsstrategic organization is crucial,aligningwith Carter’s points on data readiness. Fraser highlighted the necessityfor mediacompaniestoengage audiences personally,emphasizing AI'srolein understanding preferences andtailoring content.
The discussionalsotouched on misconceptions about datavalue,with panelists agreeing that notall data holds equal weight andfocusing on high-ROIdataisessential for effective AI strategies.
PlayinginPerfectSync: Orchestrating AI and Creative Intelligence
The "Playing in Perfect Sync:OrchestratingAI andCreative Intelligence"panel featured experts from Monks, NVIDIA andAWS,focusing on the criticalroleofcreative intelligence in marketing Moderated by BruceBiegel, senior managing partneratWinterberryGroup,the discussion included Dave Carey, global EVP studio & embedded solutions at Monks; Matt Groshong, business development director for AdTech & MarTech at NVIDIA;VictoriaMilo, SVPofmedia solutions &emerging technologyatMonks;and
Jon Williams, global head of agency partner development at AWS.
Thespeakershighlighted how AI innovationand strategicpartnerships enhancemarketing operations andstreamline the contentsupply chain, especially as marketers demandhigh-quality contentdelivered quickly.
Careynoted thateconomic pressures for reduced spending and cost efficiency aredriving the need for creative intelligence,pushing companiestoadapt quickly to AI and automation. Groshong emphasized the rapid pace of technological advancement, stating,"Thespeed at which technologyisadvancing today means thatwhatyou couldn't do last week even is now possibletodoata level that really surpasses what youwere abletodoeven amonth, two months ago,"underscoring the urgency of embracing change.
Milo shared insights on collaborativeteamefforts andleveragingplatforms like Meta,Google andTikTok, which are pushing for more creative innovationtocomplementtheiralgorithms. She stated that thedemandfor smarter,purposedriven creativeisanincreasing requirement, fosteringdiscussions about maximizing data andinvesting wisely in creative assets. Williams underscored the significanceofpersonalization in driving business growth, asserting, "The leaders in [personalization] aregrowing at 10 points ayearfaster than laggards."Heexplained thataligning the valueofcreativeassets with audienceinteractions presents aprofound
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Anna Magzanyan, Robert Nathan Fried, Meridith Rojas and BrendanRipp
JLL’s Renovated DowntownOffice Offersa Breath of Fresh Air
Brokerage firm JLL moved into arenovatedoffice inDowntown LosAngeles that drastically differs from its prior office –and itsnearly300 offices worldwide
Thenew office hasmany perks and amenitiesthat are highly covetedby companies that support in-officeand hybrid work environments.
“Wewere lookingatalternatives because work patterns haveshifted,” saidCharlie Smith, seniormanaging directorand broker lead, LosAngeles region.“It’sreally important, especially for the youngergeneration. We designed it with an indoor-outdoor feel with aloggiaarea. Everyone is super happy andreallyenjoysit.”
JLL worked witharchitecture firmGensler to redesign thespace.Every decision wasmadewith along-term vision in mindtoensurethatthere wasnowastedspace in the office.The firm did
away with assignedseating and created private spaces that canbeutilized forconfidential calls andmeetings.
Another change removed the reception deskin lieu of ahotel-likelobby. That allowed it to have alarge area foremployee and client gatherings.For example, it hosted ahappy hour for arealestategroup in the new office forabout 70 people,and Smith expects to have more events in the office regularly
The biggest change,however,may be the additionofoutdoor spaceatits 13th-floor office It openedupa portion of the building with an outdoor “loggia” that offers arespite from the indoor office space forlunch or meetings but doesn’t requireanelevator ride.This type of renovation is expensive,but the cost waspartially mitigated by the firm’sredesign, which consolidated from 26,000 squarefeet to 14,000 squarefeet. Smith said the firm looked at many different options andeven briefly considered closing its downtown office,but it does lots of business in the areaand
the quality of the buildingsmakes it an attractive office location.
“I’msuper optimistic about downtown. Seven buildings traded with new owners who have alower basis and will be able to spendcapital,” Smith said. “Nothaving an officehere was anonstarter.”
Work Perks
Office design trends that hadtaken hold before the pandemic by some companieshave accelerated as companieswork to attractand retain employees and bring them back intothe office.According to arecent Gallup poll, 52%of employees work in ahybrid capacitywhile 21% work exclusively in the office. Theremaining 27% work remotely exclusively. Companiesare looking to add abroad array of amenities that foster aculture of collaboration in an effort to support in-officework.
“Offices need tomakepeople feel great about being there.Insome ways,theyfeellikea boutique hotelorsocialclub,”saidMaryFaria,studio director at Gensler. She said that there arethree keyareasoffocus forcompanies:food, fun and health and wellness.
Thefood areacan include specialty beverages, such as cold brew on taporkombucha. Nugget ice machines havealsobecome popular.Some companies or landlords offer discounted lunch
delivery programsand take-home dinners canbe offered to employees
Thefun bucket starts with club rooms that completely reimagine thelunchroom. Theyinclude large televisionswith videogame consoles, dart boards andevengolf simulators. Companiesstill offer family picnics,but in-officeactivities such as craftmaking, wine tasting andpet daysare more common.
Lastly,companies arefocused on personal space for health andwell-being. Somecompanies have addedprayer rooms or other private areas. However,accesstofreshair is key. Roll-up garage doorsare alsopopular for ground-floor offices,and rooftop pickleball courtshave been addedinplace of helipads. There areoptions for those on theupper floorsofskyscrapers,such as outdoor balconies or baysofwindows being addedtotraditionalofficebuildings
“It’sabig refresher without having to go down 40 floors,”Faria said. ▐
-David Nusbaum
Photos courtesyofJLL
Photo by James Warner
CRE Roundup
JRK Property Holdings Acquires Chase Knolls in Sherman OaksasPartof$315-Million Investment
LosAngeles-based JRK PropertyHoldings acquired Chase Knolls in ShermanOaksand ahigh-rise apartment tower in Washington, D.C., in separate transactions for an aggregate of$315million
“Our team excelsatidentifying fundamentally sound, undervalued opportunitiesthatoffer the best attractive risk-adjusted returns,whichishow we came to acquireanolder suburban garden-style community andluxury urban high-riseinthe same fund,” said Danny Lippman, president of JRK, in a statement.
Chase Knolls is a401-unitgarden-styleapartment community in Sherman Oaks that wasbuiltin 1949 with 260units. It wasexpandedin2021with 141additional units along with aclubhouse, resort-stylepool andspa. In Washington, D.C., the company acquired luxury high-riseWestEnd25,
a283-unit property that was the company’s entry into the Washington, D.C. market.
Sourced from JRK PropertyHoldings.
California Retail Portfolio Sold for $306 Million InvenTrust Properties Corp.sold aportfolio comprised of five SouthernCaliforniashopping centers for approximately $306million. The properties included River Oaks in SantaClarita,Bear Creek VillageCenter in Wildomar,Pavilion at LaQuintain La Quinta, Campus Marketplace in SanMarcos and OldGrove Marketplace in Oceanside
“This transaction is atestament to our team's unwavering focus on portfolio optimization and strategic capitalallocation,”said DJ Busch, chief executive and president of InvenTrust Properties, in astatement. The 600,000 square foot portfolio was acquired by investment firmNuveen, which engage Vestar to provide property management and leasing services. The grocery-anchored portfolio hasoccupancy rates exceeding 98%. These
fiveproperties bring Vestar’sSouthern California footprint to more than 8.5 million squarefeet.
Sourced from InvenTrust Properties Corp
Terreno Realty Corp.Acquires Santa Ana Property for $49.5 Million
Terreno RealtyCorp.acquired 3500 W. MacArthur Blvd. in SantaAna for $49.5 million. The 134,000-square-foot warehouse was fully leased to HomeDepot andsits on 12.1acres of industrial-zoned land. This acquisition follows an earlier acquisition in June of a34,000-square-foot industrial flexbuilding locatedat11100 HindryAve in LosAngelesfor $10 million.
Sourced from Terreno RealtyCorp
Reseda Apartments Acquired for $51 Million by Beverly Hills Investment Firm
The Candlewood North apartment complexin Northridge was acquired by Beverly Hills-based Post Investment Group for $51.1million, or $270,000 per unit. The 189-unitcommunity at 9830 Reseda Blvd. had been acquired by the seller,Waterton, for $43.6 million in 2016.
The three-story, three-building apartment complex wasoriginally built in 1964.Itislocatednearthe Northridge Fashion Center.Amenities include renovated interiors, redesigned lobbyand corridors, controlled buildingaccess, covered parking and asundeck.
Sourced from Post Investment Group
Costco Acquires Orange County Sites with Plans for New Store and Fuel Costco WholesaleCorp.madetwo separate acquisitions recently in Orange Countywith plans to add anew store anda fueling center.Itacquired the former Bed Bath &Beyond building located at 25732 El Paseo in Mission Viejo for $14.4 million andplans to teardownthe building to construct anew fueling center with 40 pumping stations
In Lake Forest, it acquired the shuttered Regal CinemaatFoothill RanchTowne Centrefor $12.5 million andfiled plans with the city to replace it with a160,811-square-foot store on the16-acre site.Thatproperty would include atire center.The theater closed in September 2024.
Sourced from Costco Wholesale Corp ▐
-David Nusbaum
To view or share this content online, use this QR code.
Photo courtesy of JRKProperty Holdings
VC Roundup
Nominal Raises $75Million Series BRound for Hardware Testing Nominal, aLos Angelesfirm foundedbyengineerswithexperience at severalmajoraerospace and defense firms, raised $75million in aSeries Bround led by Sequoia Capital, withsignificant participation from Lightspeed VenturePartners and continuedsupportfromLux Capital,General Catalyst,FoundersFund andadditional investors.
Programs across aerospace, defense,energy andadvanced manufacturing, including AndurilIndustries, ShieldAI, and the U.S. Air Force,use Nominaltoanalyze hardwaredata, surface anomalies,and keep criticalhardware mission-ready.
"Weare in the business of making testingsimpler, moreefficientand cost-effective for ourcustomers,"said Cameron McCord, chiefexecutive and co-founder of Nominal,inastatement.
Sourced from Nominal.
SimpleClosure Raises $15 Million Focused on Startup Shutdowns
As more companies faceeconomic headwinds, SantaMonica startup SimpleClosure raised $15million to help startups shut down more easily.SimpleClosure’s Series Afundinground wasled by TTVCapital and includesparticipation from existinginvestorsInfinity Ventures, Anthemis
Global,Foxe Capital,VeraEquity, andnew investors The LegalTechFund andCarta, as well as additional angels. The companyhas now raised more than $20 million since inception at atime when startups arefacing delayed IPOs, stalled M&A, and apotential newwave of shutdowns.
“The realityisthat90% of startupsdon't make it, andshutting down remains the unspoken but necessarypart of entrepreneurship.We hope companies never needus, butifthey do, we're here to helpthemdoitthe right way,” said Dori Yona,chiefexecutive and founder of SimpleClosure,ina statement.
Sourcedfrom SimpleClosure.
LosAngeles Logistics FirmWarp Raises
$10 Million
Warp,a technology-powered middle-mile logistics company, raised $10million in aSeries Around led by Up.Partners andBlue Bear Capital.This funding round brings Warp’s total to $22million since its inception in 2021.The companywill utilize capital to expand itsAIsystemsand launch afully robotic cross-dock. This facility automates the entire freight lifecycle frominbound receiving anddimensioning to smart sortation and outbound dispatch.Warpalready uses AI across routing,pricing, scheduling, visibility, andcustomer service to gainefficiencyand reduce costs.
“This roundisn’t aboutgrowing ateam. It is about multiplying output,”said DanielSokolovsky, chief executive and co-founderofWarp,inastatement
Sourcedfrom Warp
SenraSystemRaises$25 MillionSeriesA Round
Redondo Beach aerospace firm SenraSystems raised $25 million in aSeries Around to modernize wire harness design.The round wasled by Dylan Field &CIV with additional backing by General Catalyst, Sequoia, FoundersFund, a16z, 8VC, and Pax. Wireharnesses powerthe sensors, avionics,communications systems,and control surfaces that make modern technology possible SenraSystemswas founded in 2023 by former
SpaceX engineers Jordan Black (CEO) and Ben Shanahan (CTO)tocreate proprietarydesign software thatisutilized with an assembly-as-aservice modeltotransform how manufacturers design,procure, andproduce wire harnesses.
“The futureofAmerican manufacturing isn’t just automation–it’sconfiguration. We started Senra to solve along-standing, overlooked problem in the industrialsupply chain,”saidJordan Black, chief executive and co-founder of SenraSystems, in astatement
Sourced from SenraSystems.
Culver City Digital Asset ManagementPlatform
Stackup Raises
$4.2 Million
Stackup,aCulver City-based digital asset management platform designedtostreamline crypto operations for cryptobusinesses, raised a$4.2 2-million Seed funding roundled by 1kx, with participation fromY Combinator,GoodwaterCapital, Soma Capital, Amino Capital,and Digital Currency Group.The investment will accelerate thedevelopment of its platform, allowingthe team to continue developing solutionsthat simplifycrypto operations forbusinesses. Thecompany wasfounded in 2021.
“Our mission at Stackup is to provide businesses with thetools theyneed to manage their digital assets with thesamelevel of efficiencyand control they expect from traditional financial systems,”said JohnRising, chief executiveand co-founder of Stackup,ina statement.
Sourced from StackUp
Santa Monica’s ReflectOrbital Raises
$20 Millionfor Sunlight on Demand
Reflect Orbital, aSanta Monica-based space tech company, raised a$20-million Series Around to accelerate development of its satellite constellation designed to deliver sunlight on demand. The round wasled by LuxCapital, with participation from SequoiaCapital and Starship Ventures.
“Lux backssome of the most impressivehardware companies outthere,and theyshare our vision We couldn’task forbetter partners to join us in creating the future of light and energy, and together,we’ll get our first lux on the ground,”said BenNowack, chief executiveofReflect Orbital,in astatement.
Sourced from Reflect Orbital. ▐
-DavidNusbaum
Photo courtesy of SimpleClosure
Power to the People
Nuclear power startups are heating up in SouthernCalifornia,with ultra-portable microreactors the major player
Whatifyou could deliver amegawatt of energy anywhere in theworld acargo container could be shipped? ForanEl Segundo-based company, this sci-fi-sounding dreammay be much more “next Tuesday” than“next planet.”
Radiant, astartup that is repackaging and refining traditionalnucleartechnology into aportablemicroreactor,isonthe home stretchto development and testing of itsprototype reactor following a$165 million SeriesC fundinground (bringing totalraised capital to $225 million)and the hiring of keyexecutives, including Dr.Rita Baranwal,former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. Baranwal serves as Radiant’s chief nuclearofficer,and most recentlyworkedat Westinghouse on their modularreactor program. The company also hired MikeStarrettasits first chief revenue officer
In fact,the company recentlysignedanagreement to build 26 microreactors, including 20 units for an as-yet-undisclosedcustomer.
“Our focus is on the portabilityofnuclearpower because then youcould puta reactor in aplace where you would have neverimagined possible in the past,”said Doug Bernauer, chief executive and founder of Radiant. “Wehave ceramic-coated, poppy-seed-sizefueland heliumcoolant.That
combination meansyou can'thave aleakand you can'tdamage the environment –you cangive people theoption of pickinga nuclear reactor generator over adiesel generator.”
The company is on track to be thefirsttoto develop and test its1 megawatt (MW) Kaleidos microreactor at theU.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory,which is scheduled for next year.The research designand its constructionisbeing conductedbyateamthat has grown to about 100 employees.
Radiant Shines Bright
Radiant is amongfive nuclear developersthat were announced as recipientsofhigh-assay, low-enriched uranium to fuelreactor demonstrations. These companies, and ahandfulofothers, are racingtobefirst to marketwithnuclear microreactors, which offer aclean energysource that canbedeployed for avariety of usesthat typically rely on diesel generators. They produce about 100 to 1,000 times less electricity than conventional reactorsand canoperate independent of an electricgrid. Use cases include backup generatorsatinfrastructuresites, like hospitals to remote power needs in off-gridareas such as military bases, data centers, ships, desalinization plants and specificindustrial facilities.
The company expectsits nuclear microreactor to be competitive withdieselgenerators where diesel fuelispricedat$6.50 pergallon. That
priceisabove the average price fordiesel in the United States, but it canbewellbelow pricing for fuelinother countries and distantareas that rely on generators forpower. Microreactors canprovide asteady energy source at aconsistent price and will include enough fuelfor several years Nuclear fuel canbereplenished in aportable manner. Moreimportantly, the design has apassivecooling system that uses helium gasrather than water to cool the reactor. It is meltdownproof and leak-safe,ensuring protection of people and the surrounding environment.
Segundo,a former Hughes Aerospacewarehouse,about three yearsago,vacating aformer dance studiothatitused as an office.Leveling up in squarefootagewas essential,asthe company wasrapidly growing andneeded spacefor hardware to be delivered andthe team to expand. The new locationwas great becauseitoffered access to Southern California’svasttalentpool of engineers, but it wasinrough shape. Early employees satinthe dark as theyworked throughbuilding renovations thatadded heating andair conditioning. Even now,the company temporarily ranout of desksfor additionalstaff andShivanandan said thatshe plannedtosit in thekitchenfor several days until new desksarrived.
“We havethe funding,we havefuel, and we have the team ... Iliketo say we haveour shot on goal.”
–ToriShivanandan, COO, Radiant
Thegenesis of the companywas from the desiretoexplore space andinhabit Mars.Bernauer moved to California in 2007 to work as an engineer at SpaceX. The company washeadquartered in El Segundo at the time,and he worked on the Falcon 1rocket, Falcon 9rocketand other projects promoted by Elon Musk,such as Hyperloop and the Boring Company,before pivoting to Marscolonization plans. He investigated ways to power development on our neighbor planet, andnuclear power generation compared favorably to other power sources, like solar. However,therewere no companies that provided an off-the-shelf solution to launch asmall nuclear reactor into space.Heoriginally tried to develop
“Weneeded to make sufficientdesign progress to showthe Department of Energythatthissmall startup in SouthernCaliforniadeservesits portion of this precious material it holdsfor theindustry,” saidToriShivanandan, Radiantchief operating officer.“Now we have thefunding, we have fuel, andwehavethe team.We’re finalizing the design andgetting parts on order.I liketosay we have our shotongoal.”
Thatdesign hasbeen yearsinthe making. The company moved into its current buildinginEl
by Ringo Chiu
anuclear program withinSpaceX but eventually decided to createRadiant in 2019
“I started researching nuclear on nights and weekends, looking at Wikipedia,and my curiosity lead down the path of who candonuclearnow, how quicklycan they do it andwhatdoes it cost?” said Bernauer,who provided some of the initialcompanyfunding himself. “I was fully committed to making thisthing happen.”
Radiant is on target to constructits nuclearreactor and test it in 2026. With its recent round of funding,itanticipates that it hasraised enough to carryitthrough construction of aprototypeand testing in 2026 as well as the establishmentof alarger scale manufacturing facility to ramp up production. At full capacity,the companyexpects to build about 50 microreactors per year.
Photos
Photo
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M&A Roundup
This month’stop deals from around Southern California
CalabasasFirmTicketManagerAcquiredby
Private Equity Firm for$110Million
Private equity firm ValeasCapital Partners acquired amajoritystake in Calabasas-based TicketManager,anevent ticket andguest management services provider,for $110 million. TicketManager co-founder and chief executive Tony Knopp andCOO KenHanscom retained aminority interestinthe company
Shortly after the private equityinvestment, TicketManageracquiredsubstantially all the assets of Ovations, acorporate ticketingsolutions and hospitality platform.
“Ovations is atrailblazer in our industry, and we’re excited to welcome the teamand their loyal customerstothe TicketManagercommunity,”said Tony Knopp,chief executiveand co-founder of TicketManager,inastatement.
Sourced from TicketManager
Santa Ana Mortgage Company HomeXpress Acquired by Chimera Investment Corp. ChimeraInvestment Corp., aNew York-based real estate investment trust, agreed to acquire Santa Ana-based HomeXpress Mortgage Corp.from certain affiliatesofSeer CapitalManagement’s credit fund business and management sellers HomeXpress is an originatorofmortgage loan
products with anationwide presence across 46 states andWashington, D.C. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2025.
“Weare thrilled to welcome HomeXpress to the Chimera team,”saidPhillip J. KardisII, chief executive andpresident of Chimera,ina statement. “Bringing together Chimera’sstrong history of loan securitization, structured finance andthirdparty loanmanagementand advisory services with HomeXpress’loan origination platformis expected to create apowerful combination and enhance our enterprise value.”
Sourced from Chimera Investment Corp
Irvine’s Five Point Holdings Acquires
Hearthstone Residential for $59.25 Million
Irvine-based Five Point Holdings agreed to acquire a75% stakeinHearthstone Residential Holdings LLCfrom Hearthstone Inc. and The Mark and Lynn Porath 2000 Trust for $59.25 million. Five Pointagreed to pay$56.25 million in cash andupto$3million in stock. The acquisition isexpected to close by theend of the third quarter
“Hearthstone hasbuilt an impressive trackrecord over more than three decades, consistently delivering value through changing marketconditions, and we are veryexcited to bring thisexceptional platform and talented team into Five Point,”said DanHedigan,chief executive and president of Five Point, in astatement.
Sourced from Five Point Holdings.
LosAngeles Social Media Firm Snap Acquired Calendar App Saturn
LosAngeles-based Snap Inc. acquired Saturn, acalendar app for high schooland college students. Terms were not disclosed, but nearly 30 full-time Saturn employees will jointhe companyaspart of the acquisition
Saturn wasfounded by DylanDiamond, who serves as itsCEO,and MaxBaron, who serves as COO.Ithad previously raised capital from highprofileinvestors for its shareablecalendar app. It billed itself as thefirst calendar for high school and supports rotation calendars, block schedules, lunch waves andmodified schedules.
Sourced from Saturn.
Valencia Marketing Firm Hennessey Digital Acquired by Herringbone Digital
Herringbone Digital,adigital marketing platform backed by private equityfirm Trinity Hunt Partners, acquired Valencia-based Hennessey Digital,adigital marketing agencyserving law firms nationwide.This acquisition marks Herringbone Digital’s first investment in the legal marketingvertical
HennesseyDigital was founded in 2015 by Jason Hennesseytofocusonsearch engine optimization and other digital marketing services for law
firms, with afocus on personal injurypractices. The companyhad 125 employees who werefully remote at the time of the acquisition.
“This partnership represents atransformativenew chapter for HennesseyDigital and ourteam,"said Jason Hennessey, chief executiveand founder of HennesseyDigital,ina statement.
Sourced from HennesseyDigital.
Water Solutions Firm Phyn Acquired by Television Personality Jonathan Scott Phyn, an intelligent water solutions firm that wasowned by LosAngeles-basedBelkin, was acquired by agroup of investors led by entrepreneur andtelevision personality Jonathan Scott for $24.9 million. The investment will make Phyn an independent companyasitexpands with insurance,propertymanagement, building, utilities and home services.
“Assomeone who’s renovated more than athousand homes, I’veseen the damage ahidden leak cancause,”said Jonathan Scott, in astatement. “I’ve used Phyn in my own homes for years.”
Other investors include Intuit co-founder Tom Proulx, Silicon Valley investor David Marquardt andAllen Sands, founder of Icon Builders, anational leader in occupied affordable and multifamily housing.
Sourced from Phyn.
-David Nusbaum
Children’s Hospital of Orange County Adds Outpatient Tower
CHOC opened anine-story outpatienttower at its main campus in Orange
The tower houses 25 specialty clinics, advancedimaging, orthopedicrehabilitation and an entirefloordedicated to pediatric research.The 330,000-squarefoot tower opened inJune, although the fourth-floor oncology services will come online at alater date
“Weare deeply committed to supporting CHOC and itsmission to deliverworld-classpediatric care. By nurturing, supporting andsafeguarding children’s health, we addressthe broader factors that influence well-being,”said Bill Cheney,chief executive of SchoolsFirst FCU,ina statement.
“This new tower represents the next chapter in CHOC’s commitmenttoinnovation,excellence andcompassion,”saysKim Milstien,regional president, Orange County, Rady Children’sHealth. Thebuildingisprojected toserve approximately 168,000patients in its firstyearand more than 180,000 per year by 2030
CHOC partnered with children’s toymaker Mattel to bring play andimagination into every level of the tower. Thelobby and each floor havean immersive display dedicated toadifferentMattel brand, from Barbie to Hot Wheels, Polly Pocket and others. The tower’sdesign and constructionpartners include CannonDesign (architect/ designer), McCarthy BuildingCos.(general contractor) and Jacobs (projectmanagement).
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union announced a$3-milliongift to support the new tower.Inrecognition of this transformative donation, the first-floor lobby of the towerwas named the SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Lobby
The toweropened on the heels of amerger for theorganizations that operate Children’sHospital of Orange Countyand Rady Children's Hospital SanDiego,which closed on Dec. 31,2024. Each hospital maintains separatemedical staff,local governing boards and onsite leadership, but the merger is expected to support anetworkof primary andspecialty care centers that currently span sixcounties.
Notable Projects
Hospitals throughoutSouthern California have completed newhospital towers and facilities to expand access to healthcare. In January,Dignity Health opened anew patient tower at the318-bed CaliforniaHospitalMedical Center in Downtown LosAngeles.The four-story, 140,000-square-foot building featuresanexpanded emergencydepartment, anew trauma unit, aredesignedfamily birth centerand an advancedLevel III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The newmaternity care has28privatepostpartumrooms as well as 24 private rooms in the NICU,which replacedthe previous ward-style setupand offers more privacy for mothers and theirfamilies
“TheGrand Towerrepresents asignificant investmentinthe health andwell-being of our community,”said Jill Welton, marketpresident for DignityHealth, in astatement.
Later this year,UCI Health expects to open a350,000-square-foot, 144-bed hospital at its Irvine medical campus. Thehospital will feature 10 operating suites, alaboratory, advanced imaging andapharmacy
Meanwhile,work continues at Southwest Healthcare Inland Valley Hospital’s new sevenstory, 290,000-square-foot tower that will include 100 newpatient beds, bringing the campus'total number of beds to 202. Thehospital is expanding to supportRiversideCounty’sgrowing population. Set to complete in the fall of 2026,the tower will have 30 emergencyroom treatment bays, nine operating rooms, comprehensive imaging servicesand ancillary departments alongwith 72 medical/surgical beds, 18 ICUbeds and 10 universal beds. ▐
-DavidNusbaum
PhotocourtesyofCHOC
TopHospiTals in souTHern California
LATimes Studios presents the 50 largest hospitalsinSouthern California,ranked by net patient revenue.The list includes hospitals located in LosAngeles, Orange,San Bernardino,Riversideand Venturacounties. Data for the list was provided by theCalifornia Department of Health Care Services, thestate agency that oversees hospitals.
Cedars-SinaiMedical Center in LosAngelesisthe largest hospital in Southern California, with net patient revenue of $4.58billion in 2024. The nonprofit academic medical center is licensed for915 beds. It hasmore than 3,000 physiciansonstaff and employs more than16,000 people across its hospitals and medical network.
1
The largest hospital in OrangeCountyisthe UniversityofCalifornia IrvineMedical Center in the cityofOrange,with $2.31 billion in netpatient revenue in 2024. It is the primary teaching location for the UC Irvine School of Medicine and the flagship locationfor the 1,317-bed health system
Overall, the 50 largest hospitals in Southern Californiagenerated $54.4 billion in net patient revenue in 2024and operate 20,845licensed beds.
To view these lists online,visit latimes.com/b2b.
Please send corrections or inquiriesabout inclusioninfuture lists to business@latimes.com
TheCHLA-developed appwillcollect data forfutureresearch in machinelearningtodetectsleep disordersand help advance thestandards of pediatriccareinpainand sleepmedicine
Children's HospitalLos Angeles (CHLA)islaunching the first sleep registryinthe countryfor childrenusingApple Watch as well as anew data collection app calledWISE-HARE, or “Wearable Intelligent Sensor Enhancement
Home Apnea Risk Evaluation.”The app wasdeveloped to gather streams of high-fidelitydatafor future research, such as training machine learning algorithmsfrom Apple Watch datatodetect sleep disorders and provide crucial information to clinicians that inform patientcare decisions
“There arenot enough pediatricsleep study beds in the country, which inevitably results in delayed
care for children. In looking into solutions to solve this,itwas clearthatnoapplication currently on the market wouldgive us the immense amount of raw data needed to properly conduct sleep studiesonchildren at home without specialized equipment,”said Eugene Kim, MD,principal investigator andchiefofthe Division of Pain Medicineinthe Department of Anesthesiology andCritical Care Medicine.“At Children’s Hospital LosAngeles,weare always looking to pioneer the latest research and innovations with the goal of advancing the standards of pediatric care.We developed acustomapp with graduates from Apple’s DeveloperAcademy in Fortaleza, Brazil, who supported the integration of Apple technologies, including HealthKit. This will allow us to
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33]
USCand UCLA TeamUp forWorld’s
FirstHuman Bladder Transplant
Historic surgery, theresult of years of research at Keck Medicine of USCand UCLAHealth, opens the door for improved treatmentofnonfunctioning bladders
Surgeonsfrom Keck Medicine of USC and UCLAHealthhave performed the world’sfirst-in-human bladder transplant.The surgery wassuccessfully completed at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center earlierthis month in ajoint effort by Inderbir Gill, MD,founding executive director of USC Urology,and Nima Nassiri, MD, urologic transplant surgeon and director of the UCLA VascularizedComposite Bladder Allograft Transplant Program.
AGroundbreaking Moment in Medical History “This surgeryisahistoric momentinmedicine andstandstoimpact how we managecarefully selected patientswithhighly symptomatic ‘terminal’ bladders that arenolonger functioning,”said Gill,who is also chair andDistinguished Professor of Urologyand Shirleyand DonaldSkinner chair in Urologic CancerSurgerywiththe Keck School of MedicineofUSC. “Transplantationisalifesaving andlife-enhancingtreatmentoptionfor many conditions affecting majororgans, and now the bladder canbeadded to the list.”
“This first attempt at bladder transplantationhas been over four years in the making,”Nassiri said “For theappropriately selected patient, it is exciting to be able to offer anew potential option.”
Nassiri,formerly aurology residentwiththe Keck School andnow assistantprofessor of urology andkidney transplantation at UCLA, and Gill worked together for several years at theKeck School to developthe new surgical technique,
design aclinical trial and securethe necessaryregulatoryapprovals.
Numerous pre-clinical procedures were performed both at Keck Medical Center of USC and OneLegacy, Southern California’sorgan procurement organization, to preparefor this first-in-human bladder transplant.
AComplicatedYet Successful Surgery
Thepatient hadbeen dialysis-dependent forseven years. He lost the majorityof his bladder during surgeryto cancer resection over five years ago,leavingthe remainder of his adder too small and compromised function appropriately. Both of his ys were subsequently removed due cancer
these deficits, Drs. Gill and Nassiri performed acombined kidneyand bladder transplant, allowing the patient to immediately stop dialysis and produce urine for the first time in seven years. First the kidney, then the bladder, were transplanted. Thenew kidneywas then connectedtothe new bladder.The entire procedure took approximately eight hours
“The kidneyimmediatelymade alarge volume of urine,and the patient’skidneyfunction improved immediately,” Nassiriadded. “There wasno need for any dialysis after surgery,and the urine drained properly into the new bladder.”
“Despite thecomplexity of the case,everything wentaccording to plan and the surgerywas successful,” said Gill.“Thepatient is doing well, and we are satisfied with his clinical progress to date.”
The recoveryofthe kidneyand bladder from the donor wasperformed at OneLegacy’s Transplant RecoveryCenter in Azusa.All parts of the procedure,including surgeryand postsurgical monitoring during the transplantation, werealigned with the highest current clinical and research standards.
The Generous Hero Who Made it Possible
While the surgeons’achievement is historic, OneLegacy stresses that it is equally important to honorAmandaCordier: amother,wife, daughter andorgan donor.Without her –and her extraordinarygift of life –this moment would nothave been possible
Cordier was aregistered organ, eye andtissue donor.Her sudden passing lefta profound void for herloving family, including her seven-year-old
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Nima Nassiri, MD (L) and Inderbir Gill, MD (R) collaborated on years of clinical research to prepare for thehistoricsurgery
ExpertsWeigh In on theFood &Beverage Industry in 2025
With the everevolvingoperational changes that businesses in every sectorhave had to makeoverthe last few years,awhole new landscapehas emerged in the food and beverage sector in terms of tariff,legislative, employment,global conflictand supply chainissues
Sherry Jackman Partner
Greenberg GluskerLLP
Ming-Tai Huh
HeadofFood andBeverage Square
Arash Farin
CEO
Centerstone Capital
Even the most seasoned industry pros havefound themselves having to get creative to determine solutions in today’s complicated climate.Are shifts in protocols and bestpractices that have emerged temporary or here to stay?What should restaurants, manufacturers, distributors and vendors be focusing on in terms of new trends and standards?
To address these issues, as well as many other topics,weturned to three leading food and beverageindustryexperts fortheir thoughts, insights andassessments regarding the current stateand varioustrends theyhave been observing.
How is foodsafety impacting the food and beverageindustry?
SherryJackman: Food safetyconcerns –especially around heavymetals –are significantly impactingthe food andbeverageindustry. Heavy metals likelead, cadmium and arsenic occur naturally in soil and water,making them difficultto fullyeliminatefrom food ingredients despite strict sourcing and testing protocols. Thechallenge has grown due to globalsupply chain disruptions, whichhave forced companies to rely on alternative or less vetted suppliers. This increases the risk of receiving ingredients with elevated heavy metal levels, potentially exceeding regulatory limits. Such exceedances cantrigger recalls,
litigation and loss of consumer trust. In response, companies are ramping up testing,tightening supplieroversight and enhancing transparency throughoutthe supply chain to ensure compliance andprotect their brands.
Looking to the future,how doyou see the industry evolving over thenextfive years?
Ming-Tai Huh: The restaurant industry'sevolution overthe next five years willbe powered by AI, but not in theflashy, robots-flipping-burgersway that some predict. Instead, we'll see amoresubtle but profound transformation that starts with the basics. AI will firstmakeits mark by enhancing the systems restaurants alreadyuse –making inventory predictions more accurate, scheduling more efficient and menu pricing more dynamic These foundational improvements will pavethe way for more visible innovations like voiceAI and predictive kitchen systems.The keyisthat this transformation will be gradual and practical Thewinners in 2030 won't necessarilybethe restaurants with the most advanced technology but those whothoughtfully integrateAItosupport theirfundamentalmission:serving great food and creating exceptional diningexperiences.
What are consumers seeking from food & beverage companies in 2025?
Arash Farin: They seek anumber of things: 1) Health andwellness: Consumersprioritize nutritious, functional foodswith cleanlabels; 2) Sustainability andtransparency: Eco-conscious choicesdrive purchases. Consumerswantsustainably sourced ingredients,minimalpackagingand clearinfo on carbon footprints; 3) Convenience and digital experience: Seamless onlineordering, fast delivery anduser-friendly apps arecritical; 4) Affordable quality: Economic pressures push consumers toward value-drivenpurchases, but they still crave premium experiences. Affordable indulgences,likecraft coffee or artisanal snacks, are popular; 5) Unique and authentic experiences: Diners seek memorable,shareable momentssuch as immersive pop-up restaurants or culturally authentic flavors;6) Ethical practices:Support for brands aligning with social values is growing.
Consumers favor companies championingfair labor,diversity or community initiatives; and 7) Innovationand novelty: Interest in bold flavors, global cuisines (e.g., West African or Filipino fusion) and tech-driven productslikelab-grown meat or 3D-printeddesserts is rising
Whathas changed with food labeling compared to fiveyears ago?
SherryJackman: Food labeling has become amajor focusofconsumer classactionsand regulatory scrutiny over thepast five years Companies now face increased legal risk for using terms like“natural,” “clean”and “non-toxic” without clearqualification.Ingredient disclosures are under pressure,especiallyfor synthetics, and controversial compounds. Environmental claims, such as “sustainable”or“eco-friendly,”are also frequently challengedas“greenwashing.”Health claims not backed by strong scientificevidence, misleading pricingtactics like “fakediscounts” and deceptive packaging have all become litigation targets. As aresult,businesses must approach labeling and packagingwithgreater precision and legal oversight than ever before
What’syouradvice todayfor afledgling restaurateur looking to launch anew dining destination?
Ming-Tai Huh: Starting anew restaurant in 2025 takesmore than just agreat concept and killer menu.While exceptional food and hospitalityare still the heart of anysuccessfulrestaurant, today’swinners are the ones whocombine that passion withsmart data practicesfrom dayone Modern platforms likeSquare give you real-time insights into everything from food costs to labor percentages to menu performance,lettingyou make smart adjustments before smallissues
become bigproblems. Thegood news?You don't have to be adatascientist –today's tools make it easy to track the metrics that matter most. My advice is to startwith the fundamentals –great food, warmservice anda clear vision –but make data your constant companion. Because in today’s competitive landscape,the restaurants that thrive are the ones that combine culinary creativitywith business intelligence
Have globalconflicts affected the food and beverageindustry?
ArashFarin: Yes, global conflicts have significantly impactedthe food and beverage industry, particularly in recent years,with effects likely to persist in 2025.These impacts stem from disruptions in supply chains, price volatility and shifts in consumer behavior, driven by conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine warand tensions in the Middle East. Supply chain disruptions and ingredient shortages are big factors, forexample With the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine,a major exporterofwheat (4%ofglobalsupply),corn (13%) and sunflower oil(over 33%), sawits exports disrupted due to the ongoing war, particularly after theRussia-Ukraine grainagreement lapsed in 2023. This caused shortages andprice spikes for grains and oils, critical forproducts like bread, snacks and cooking oils.The waralso disrupted fertilizersupplies, as Russiaand Ukraine are key producers. ▐
-Paul Williams
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Paul Hastings Adds Five-Partner Real EstateTeamin LosAngeles
In amove that brings togetherone of the most highly regarded land use teams in Californiaand Paul Hastings'elitereal estate group, the firm announced the additionofpartners DJ Moore, Beth Gordie,Winston Stromberg, Benjamin Hanelin and Lauren PaullinLos Angeles. The team joins from Latham &Watkins, uniting two top-ranked Chamberspractices. The group has extensive experience advising landowners, developers, project sponsors, institutions and utilities throughout Californiaonsecuringthe full range of local, regional, state and federalapprovals necessary to permit and construct development and infrastructureprojects,aswell as compliance withall associated environmentallaws, including the National EnvironmentalPolicyAct,California
Environmental QualityAct, California Coastal Act, CleanWater Act,EndangeredSpecies Act and many others.
Thompson Coburn Names Wage &Hour Practice Team
Thompson Coburn LLP hasannounced asignificant expansion of itsLabor & Employmentpractice inLos Angeleswith the addition of three partners: MichaelS
Kun, Kevin D. Sullivan andBenjamin T. Runge; and two associates, Catherine Kang and Emilie Ho Kunwillco-chair theLabor &Employment practice groupwithHope Abramov and LauraJordan andleadthe firm’s Wage &Hourpractice, which focuses on representing employers in class, collective and representative actions dealing with pay practicesand related disputes. The five attorneys joining Thompson Coburn were previously
&Green, P.C., where Kunhad co-chair of the national group for more than 15 years.
MercuryInsurance
Names Steve Bennett Climate Science Team Leader MercuryInsurance, aleading provider of propertyand casualty insurance, has appointed Steve Bennett as its senior director of climate and catastrophe science.Inthis new position, he will build and leada teamdedicated to helping identifyways Mercuryand its policyholders can work together to better prepare for– andbemore resilient –in the face of increasingly severeclimate-driven weatherevents.Bennett joins Mercurywith over three decades of leadership at the nexus of extreme weather,climate riskand effectiverisk management.
RonMeraz to JoinCitiasWealth Regional Director
DavidPoole,the head of U.S. wealth management at Citi, hasshared that RonMeraz will be joining the Citi leadership team as wealth regional director of California/Nevada.Meraz joins from Merrill Lynch andisa well-known, seasoned industryleader who started his three-decade career as afinancial advisor,quickly reaching the management ranks.Hebrings areputation foroutstanding client andindustryconnections withbroad experience acrossthe Southwestern UnitedStates. He will oversee Citi’slocal wealth teams across more than 275 branches and help accelerate its growth strategybyoptimizing productivity, driving investments and maximizing referral opportunities. Meraz will officially join Citi in August whileFrank Consalo,headofnational sales, will continue to oversee Citi’sCalifornia market in the interim. ▐
-Paul Williams
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[Continued from page 7]
popular multiplayer gamesin the world.While thecompany wasfounded in L.A. andmaintains its headquarters here, it operates offices in over 20 countriesand hasa dominantglobal presence in esports.
In 2020,Riot launched Valorant, atactical shooter game that hasquickly gained popularityworldwide.Thankstoits cross-culturaldesign, robust onlineinfrastructure andstrongcommunity-building efforts, Riot continues to thriveinternationally while drawing from the deeppoolofcreative and engineeringtalent in LosAngeles.
Riot’sstrategy emphasizes localengagement. The company runs regional competitionsand events across Europe,SoutheastAsia, China and Latin America. In South Koreaand China –two of the largest esports markets –Riothas now developedpartnerships with local broadcasters, gaming influencers and educational institutionsto further entrench its brand.
Herbalife: AWellness Giant with Global Reach HeadquarteredinDTLA, Herbalife is aglobal nutrition and wellness company with apresence in more than90countries. The company sells dietary supplements,meal-replacementproducts and wellness solutions through anetwork of independent distributors.
Herbalife has adapted its business modeltofit different regulatory environments and cultural preferences. For example,inLatin Americaand Asia, Herbalife has launched localized product lines and tailored marketing strategies to appeal to regional wellnesstrends
Thecompany now operatesmajor manufacturing facilities in China, India and Brazil,helping to support itsoverseas supply chainsand reduce production costs.
Grindr: ASocial AppwithGlobalConnections
Grindr,headquartered in West Hollywood, is the world’smost popular socialnetworking/dating app for the LGBTQ+ community. With usersin nearly every country, Grindr hasmade an outsizedglobal impactfrom its L.A. base
The company’sleadership hasemphasized inclusion, privacy and safety– critical issues in
countries where LGBTQ+ rights maybelimited or under threat.Grindr has developed localization strategies that take into account language, laws andcultural sensitivities. It hasalsosupported advocacycampaigns around the world focused on health, civilrights andcommunity empowerment
Being rooted in one of theworld’s most progressive cities hasinformed Grindr’svoice and mission, enabling it to support LGBTQ+ users in both supportive and challenging environments.
Blizzard Entertainment (now part of Activision Blizzard): Gaming for aGlobal Audience
Originally founded in Irvineand nowoperating as partofSantaMonica-based Activision Blizzard, Blizzard Entertainment is behind some of the most iconic game franchises in the world, including WorldofWarcraft, Overwatch and Diablo
Blizzard has long focused on international markets, particularlyinAsia, where gaming is adeeplyintegrated partofdailylife.InChina and South Korea, Blizzard’sgames have massive user bases, andthe companyhas adapted content,servers and user experiences to meet localdemand.
The global esportsscenefor Overwatch and StarCraftissupported by infrastructure developed in L.A. but deployed globally,with tournaments held from Paris to Seoul.Blizzard’sdesign ethos –melding cinematicstorytelling with interactive gameplay –owes much to its proximity to theL.A. entertainment ecosystem –but is more and more frequently designed through aglobal lens.
GibsonDunn: Creative Legal Strategies on aGlobal Level
Global lawfirm Gibson Dunn’s Downtown Los Angeles office, founded in 1890,isthe firm’s original office andone of theoldest lawfirms in the city. Thefirm’s longstanding presence in LosAngeles has allowed Gibson Dunn to establish deep roots in the local community and well beyond.
The firm’s teamscraft anddeploycreativelegal strategies that are tailored to every matter, however complexorhigh stakes.With more than 2,000lawyers, spanning 21 offices worldwide and
dozens of practice areas, the firm strives to operate as aunified whole.
Gibson Dunn now has amarket-leading, integrated practice in the Middle East servicing both regional and international clients across avariety of practice areas and industries. The team’s 50-pluslawyers in the region practice English, New York, UAE(including DIFC and ADGM laws) and Saudi law. The firm hasrecently expanded significantly in the region, adding 15 new partners. This is the largest investment made by anyinternational firm during this time
WhyLos Angeles is aLaunchpad for Global Business
Several keyfactors make L.A. an ideal base for businesses with international aspirations:
• Port Infrastructure: The Port of LosAngeles and Port of Long Beach together form the busiest port complexinthe Western Hemisphere,enabling global trade for goods ranging from apparel to electronics.
• Multicultural Talent Pool: L.A. is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Companies benefit from bilingual and bicultural staff who can help tailor products and services to international markets.
• TimeZone Advantage: L.A.’s location makes it easier for companies to manage operations across the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and North America within asingle business day
• Creative Capital: Whether it’sfashion, film or app design, L.A.’s creative talent and energy inspire innovation that resonates across cultures and borders.
The World LookstoL.A. –and L.A. LooksBack LosAngeles maybebest known for its entertainment legacy,but today it’salsoa global business engine.From infrastructure and gaming to fashion andfood tech, L.A.-based companies are showing how local ingenuitycan scale to meet global needs.
As digital connectivity, environmental challenges and cultural exchange continue to redefine global commerce,the world will increasingly look to L.A. –not just for inspiration, but for leadership Judging by the trajectoryofmanyofthese companies, L.A. is readytodeliver ▐
-Paul Williams
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[Continued frompage11]
tracking, proactive lead detection and tailored plantcare guidancetosimplifylandscapingwhile significantly reducing water use and waste
“Water scarcity isn't an abstract future issue. It's here now and people need practicalsolutions,” said Daniel Zhao, founder and CEO of SoilDrops. “WebuiltSoilDrops for anyone who values efficiency andsustainability but doesn't wantthe hassle of complicated setups.Watering smarter should be simple andaccessiblefor everyone.”
Unliketraditional irrigation solutionsrelying on fixed schedulesorweather predictions, SoilDrops dynamically adjusts wateringbased on real-time moisture levels, preventing both underwatering and overwatering.
Additional standout features include abuilt-in, smart leak detectioncapabilitythatinstantly alerts homeownerstopotential issues, avoiding costly damage andwasted water.Homeowners can also leverage SoilDrops' extensive plant database via itsmobile app, receivingpersonalized watering recommendations tailored to their landscape's unique needs.
SoilDrops addressescritical,nationwidewater conservation challenges intensified by increasing drought conditions,allowing for healthy landscapes without wastefulwateringpractices
cineSearch for Business CouldMake“Mindless Scrolling” aThing of the Past LosAngeles-based Cineverse hasofficially launched "cineSearch forBusiness." The AI-powered content search anddiscovery tool is complete and now availablefor commercial licensing to OEMsand streamingplatforms, both through the company'sgrowingsales teamand throughGoogleCloudMarketplace
Thisisanadvanced searchtoolthat eliminates “binge scrolling” by effectivelyofferingviewers personalized content recommendations that do not rely on matching keywords foundinthe
title, cast andgenre,but aremore accurately determined by theuser'smood along with the content's theme,popularity,quality, tone,setting, style, music score,plot and micro-genre,among many other traits. In addition, aviewer'sprevious viewing history, likes/dislikes, saved watchlists, location, currentdateand other factors areused todetermine themost relevant movies.
cineSearch directly addresses keyissues affecting the streaming ecosystem, namelythe fact thatone third of streaming subscribers cancel aservice due to poor discovery; viewers spend an average of 10-plus minutes searchingfor what to watch, with 20% of viewersabandoningtheir search; and 50%are forced to rely on external social searches for their recommendations, taking them out of the platform's preferred user experience.Plus, cineSearch solves areal problem that is holding thestreaming industry back and costing it revenue –testing hasshown that it can decrease search time 90%, improve userretention 16% and increaserevenue apotential 24% per month.
Gavel Exec Provides an Advanced AI Assistant for Small L.A. Firms
L.A.-based Gavelhas unveiled Gavel Exec, asophisticated AI assistant embedded in Microsoft Word that is designed to perform at asenior-levelcapacity for small firms.
With aholistic approachtodocument review, GavelExechas been used by acohort of Gavel’s lawfirm customers for several months. They provided feedback to ensure accuracy and quality of the resultsand helped develop market benchmarksand playbooks, starting with corporate andrealestate law. Gavel Exec empowers
lawyers to perform arange of activities, including contract analysis andredlining, negotiation based on firm precedents and running playbookswith pre-defined rules.
GavelExecuses advanced, proprietaryAIagents that modelthe entire context of adocument, reference files, guidelines andprior behavior before taking anyaction, likeanassociate reviewing the whole case filebefore making anydecisions. ▐
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-Paul Williams
[Continued from page 19]
“I was blown away by their capabilityand vision. Thenuclear industry neededpeople from other sectors to come into nuclearbecause nuclear hadn’tbuilt anything new for alongtime,” said Dr.Rachel Slaybaugh, partneratDCVC, the Palo Alto-based venture capital firm that led the SeriesC round. Slaybaugh isa trained nuclear scientist who taught at theUniversityof California, Berkeley andpreviously served as an independent board member.“Radianthas gone very fast with not verymanyresources.”
TheMicroreactor Revolution
There is aflurryofactivityfromestablished companies and startupslooking to repackage nuclear energy at avariety ofreactor sizes. At the smallest level, both startups and established nuclear companiesare developing microreactors, which can be packaged and transported in ashipping container on atruck or evenin an aircraft and deployed ina relativelyshort amount of time
Manyofthese companiesare working withthe U.S. DepartmentofEnergy’sIdahoNational Laboratory, which is wheretheywilldemonstrateand testmicroreactor designs. They are designed to use low-enricheduraniumwith higher concentrations of uranium-235 than the fuel used in conventional reactors
Companies developing microreactors include Torrance-based Antares, whichopened anew 128,000-square-foot factory this year for researchand development, component manufacturing, and assemblyofits first microreactors. Thecompany is targeting testingby2027. It raised $30 million in Series Afinancinglast year,co-led by Alt Capand existing leadseed investor CaffeinatedCapital,with participation from Rogue,Uncommon Capital, Shrug, Banter Capital, BoxGroup andShine Capital.
On alarger scale, small modular reactors aretypically designedtobe connected to an
electric grid while providing 50 to 300 MW TerraPower,asmall modular reactor company thatwas foundedbyBill Gates, is developing Natrium,a next-generationnuclearpower plant. The Natrium reactoruses liquid sodium as acoolant rather than atraditional water-cooled reactor.Its first plantisa 345 MW facility that is currentlyunderconstructioninKemmerer, Wy., and includes astorage system thatcan boost output to 500MW. It is beingdeveloped as partofa public-privatepartnershipwiththe U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
In June,TerraPower announced that it raised an additional $650millioninfunding from both new investors, including NVentures, the venture capital armofNVIDIA, and current investors, including founderBillGates andHDHyundai, an industry leader in shipbuilding. Gateshas invested $1 billioninthe company.
“Our focus is on portability, because then you could put areactor in aplacewhere youwould have neverimagined possiblein thepast.”
–Doug Bernauer,CEO,Radiant
Not to be outdone,tech giants such as Microsoft, Google andAmazonhave also signed agreements to explore advanced nuclear technology.
APositively Charged Regulatory Environment
While this technology is expanding and the nextgeneration plants are exploring safer ways to coolreactors, conventional reactors have been phased out in California, and there have been veryfew new reactors builtnationwide,primarily due to theThreeMile Islandaccident in 1979 and changing economics.
In California, the SanOnofre Nuclear Generating Station waspermanently closed in 2013due to issues with its steamgenerators. Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which is operated by PG&E,is the only conventional nuclear powerplant in Californiaand wasinthe process of being
decommissioned,but astate decision to extend operations through at least2030 is in place with the possibilityoffurther extensions.
Public perception is changing due to increased power demands and the fragile electric grid in the UnitedStates. In June,New York Governor KathyHochul directed the state’s public electric utilitytodevelop and construct an advanced nuclear powerplant in Upstate New York with acapacity ofone gigawatt of electricity.
Furthermore, thenuclear industryhas received boosts fromthe Trump administration, which signedseveralexecutive orderstoadvance nuclearpower.Some Army installations could be powered by nuclearmicroreactors under aMay 2025 executive order calling fordeploying advanced nuclearreactortechnologies. The order, citing national security concerns, directs the Army to establish aprogram utilizing the technology andrequires operationofa nuclear reactoratadomestic militarybaseorinstallation by Sept. 30,2028.
It is one of aseries of orders thatseeksto increasethe amount of nuclearenergy produced in the United States, which is estimated to produce only about20% of its energy usage currently fromnuclearsources. Those orders build on earlier projects. In 2022, the Defense Department awardeda $300-million contractto Lynchburg, Virginia-based BWXTechnologies to developamicroreactor thatcouldbetransported by aC-17 cargo plane and set up to power amilitary basefor several yearsbefore refueling.
The U.S. militaryisastrong customer base for manyaerospace anddefense startups –and Radiant wasselected as afinalist by the Defense Innovation Unit fora potential contract to have its reactor on aU.S. militarybase–Bernauer still has hiseye towards the sky.
“Whatwehave to do is get reactors operating forabout five years andthen take the thing apart and inspect it to see what’s breaking and what’s working well.From there,wecan make extremely reliable reactors that canoperate anywhere,” said Bernauer.“Iwant to be able to eventually make the space reactorfor Elon (Musk), buttodothat, you need something highly reliable andtransportable.”
-DavidNusbaum
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[Continuedfrompage 13]
opportunityfor businessestoenhance their performanceand outcomes.
The panel emphasizedthe urgent need for enterprisestoadoptmore sophisticated, AI-driven creative strategies.Byintegrating technology andcreativity, brands can enhance customer experiences and maintainbrand integrity. The discussion highlighted that as technology evolves,creative work must adapt, focusingon collaboration and innovation.
Where Creativity Meets Automation: AI and the Future of Marketing Workflows
This panel focusedon the evolving relationship between creativityand AI-drivenautomation in marketingworkflows and how theseinnovations aretransforming content productionand reshaping team dynamics.
Tanya Bogin, EVP and global head of studio at Monks, moderated the session,which included insights from PatMurphy, founder andCEO at MurphyCobb;Hannah Elsakr,Intrapreneurfor GenAIatAdobe;OlgaMykhaylenko, SVPof operations at Monks; and Christine Maguire, global VP at Tripadvisor.
Mykhaylenkodiscussedthe shiftfrom individual creativity to collaborative team efforts,stating, “First of all, creative egoisshifting fromindividuals to teams. Productionisnolongerthe end of the line,but actually apartofthe creative engine.” She emphasizedthat the creative process now resembles software development, requiring consultative discovery, rapidprototyping and iterativetesting.
Elsakr highlighted the benefits of automation in reducing mundane tasks, stating, “I thinkit removes the drudgeryfrom creative work...we cut that process in half.” Hercomments underscored how AI enables teamstowork more efficiently, freeingthem to focus on strategic initiatives
Murphy noted how traditional roles within the creative process are transforming due to the needfor immediate feedback anditeration. He pointed out thatcreative directors andcollaboratorsmust now wait for final results before assessing work, changing their role.
Maguireechoed these sentiments,discussing how changing workflowsrequire marketers to adapt andcollaborate in new ways, increasing demand for agilityand responsiveness. The
discussion revealed asignificant evolution in marketing, whereAIenhances creativity, and teamsare empoweredtoinnovate andcollaborate moreeffectively.
Timeless, NotStatic: Evolving Brand Identity with Purpose
In "Timeless, Not Static: EvolvingBrand Identity withPurpose,"moderated by Anna Magzanyan, president of LA TimesStudios, industryleaders discussed how organizationscan maintain their core identitywhile adapting to market changes. Speakers includedBrendan Ripp, CEO of Pushly; MeridithRojas,CMO of VidaCorpNorth America; and Robert Nathan Fried, CEO of Niagen Bioscience
Magzanyanopened, emphasizing that "Themost resilient brands aren’t reinventing themselves every few years. They’re actually evolvingwith clarity,tension and purpose."
Ripp,with his digital publishing background, stated, “Authenticityisapractice.It’snot atagline,” and noted howAIhas changedaudience expectations, remarkingthatGoogle is now "an answer engine." Rojas discussedlaunchingMCO Beauty in the U.S., focusingoncommunity. She emphasized the need forbrands to be "a very diligentlistener" to consumer feedback. Fried offered aunique perspectiveonblending science and storytelling in brand identity, reinforcingthat stories mustresonate authentically to foster connection and trust
Their diverse experiencesillustrated that by remainingattunedtoaudiencesand values, brands caneffectively navigatea dynamic marketplace.
DigitalAlchemy:Transforming Experiences Through AI
The "Digital Alchemy:Transforming Experiences Through AI" panel, moderated by Anna Magzanyan, president of LA TimesStudios, exploredhow leadingcompaniesuse AI as acatalyst forcultural transformation. Industry leaders shared insights on AI's role in reshaping strategy, creativity, dataand growthinmodern brand-building.
Ganesha Rasiah, chief strategyofficer at HP, highlighted AI's abilitytoenhance speedand decision-making through internal and external analysis, significantly saving timeand bolstering strategic efforts. Patrick Marzullo, senior director of creative studio at Coinbase,discussedAI's
vital integration with creativity, emphasizing itsroleinreshaping creative challenges and fostering collaborative innovation. Michael Cohen,chief data &analytics officer at Plus Company, echoed similar themes, noting AI's transformation of marketing throughexplainable,actionable insights andits importance in shaping effective strategies through apredictive intelligence platform. Karan Chetal, chief growth officer,technology services at Monks, contributed arelevantperspective on howAI-driveninsights canenhance client engagement and empower salesteams, emphasizing AI's roleinpersonalizing interactions at scale for measurable business growth.
The panelists conveyed that thriving companies embrace innovationaspartoftheir culture. They illustrated thatAIaugments –not replaces –human creativityand strategic thinking, providing valuableinsights into navigating the evolving technological landscape while remaining grounded in core values.
These nine discussions at Cannes Lions reinforced the criticalimportance of authenticityand innovativestorytelling in an evolving landscape. Across panels, industryleadersemphasized that brands must forge genuine connections with consumers through impactfulnarratives while embracing new technologies to engage and inspire.Byprioritizing transparencyand collaboration, brands cannavigate challenges and drive meaningfulchange,ultimately shaping cultural narrativesand fostering deeper relationships with their audiences. ▐
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PatrickMarzullo,Michael Cohen, Karan Chetal and Ganesha Rasiah
[Continued from page 24]
create afirst-of-its-kind sleep registry, whichwill be used to train machine learning algorithmsfrom Apple Watch data to detectsleepdisorders and inform clinicians on theneed for ICU(Intensive Care Unit) admissionsfollowing surgery.”
Polysomnography(PSG) studies, in which patients are admittedtothe hospital overnight andnumeroussensors are placed on the patient whilethey sleep,are the gold-standard test for assessing sleep and are essential in the diagnosisof sleepdisorders suchassleep apnea.Theyare often needed to assessanestheticrisk before procedures, to help clinicians evaluate the risk of complications post-surgery. However,these tests are costly,have significant waitlistsand require childrentosleepinanunfamiliar environment at the hospital, which canleadtodifferentresults than achild sleeping comfortably at home
To launch this new registry, CHLA is enrolling childrenages 5to18years oldcurrently scheduled for aPSG study. Enrolled participants will use the WISE-HAREapp andwearan Apple Watch, in additiontothe standardPSG sensors. Results from the PSG and Apple Watch devices over the next year will be usedtotrain machine learning algorithms to detect high-risk sleep disorders, with the ultimate objective of providing patients and
Children's Hospital LosAngeles developedacustom app called WISE-HARE, or Wearable Intelligent Sensor Enhancement Home Apnea Risk Evaluation, to gather streams of high-fidelity data for future research, such as training machine learning algorithms from Apple Watch data to detect sleep disorders.
families with the abilitytoscreen for these highrisk sleep disorders at home without the need for special equipment.
“It wasimportant that the benefits of our research wouldbemade accessible forall patients. For this to happen, we needed adevice that was comfortable to wear,commercially availableand didn’t require special training to operate,”added Dr.Kim.“AppleWatch is adevice that many children and their parents arealready familiar with. The latest version met our requirements for aplatformthatallows us to collect and manage enormous amounts of data efficiently and securely.”
Throughout the course of atypical eight-hour sleep test,WISE-HARE will amass over 30 million lines of data per patient. As home to the Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (vPICU), adatahub for providers in pediatric intensive care units worldwide,CHLA and its team of data scientists are among thefew in the countrywith the expertise andinfrastructure required to manage this data.
“The WISE-HARE apphas the potential to help alleviate thedelaysand frustrations caused by the national shortage of pediatric sleep study beds in the coming years,”said Emily Gillett, MD, pulmonologist andsleep medicine specialist at CHLA. “The Sleep Center and Sleep Laboratory at Children’s Hospital LosAngeleswere among the first in the countrytofocus exclusively on sleep disorders in children, so it’sveryfitting thatour team at CHLA is pioneering this new sleep monitoring technology with the potential to streamline care for pediatric sleep patients.”
The registry was funded by the Robert J. Coury Family Foundation. WISE-HARE will be accessible as open-source softwareand made availableto researchers. ▐
-Paul Williams
[Continued frompage25]
son. Her husband, RyanCordier,shared,"She was such akind andgiving person,soitonly makes sense that she would continue to give all of herself to others,eveninher passing. Iamso proud of her decision andthe legacy shehas left behind. Because of that decision,somany lives will be impacted, and Oliver cansee that his mama truly is ahero.Inher short37years, she did so much morethanmanywill be able to do in awhole lifetime."
Cordier saved five lives through the donation of her kidneys, liver,heart, lungs andbladder.Her corneas and tissue also helped heal dozens more.Inher final act of love,she helped pavethe way for future bladder transplant procedures.
“OneLegacyisproud to have provided the financial support for theclinical research that made this groundbreaking transplant possible,” saidPrasadGarimella,CEO of OneLegacy. “OneLegacyprovided all research organs involvedinthe clinical trials, but none of this wouldhavebeen possiblewithoutthe generosity of the organdonors andfamilies who said ‘yes’to organ donation.”
How aBladder Transplant Can Benefit Patients
Millions of people around theglobe experience some degree of bladder disease anddysfunction. Some develop terminal bladders that areeither non-functioning and/or cause constantpain, repeated infections andother complications. Current treatment for severe terminal cases of bladder dysfunction or abladder that has been removed due to various conditions includes replacement or augmentation of the urinaryreservoir.These surgeries use aportion of apatient’s intestine to create anew bladder or apathway for the urine to exit the body.
“While these surgeries canbeeffective, they come with manyshort- and long-term risksthat compromise apatient’shealth such as recurrent infections, compromised kidney function and digestive issues,”saidGill
“A bladder transplant, on the other hand, delivers amore ‘normal’urinary reservoir andmay circumvent some of the challenges associated with using theintestine,” saidNassiri.
The biggest risksoforgan transplant are the body’spotential rejection of theorgan and side effects caused by the mandatory
immunosuppressive drugs given to prevent organ rejection.
“Because of the need for long-term immunosuppression, the best current candidates arethose with apre-existing organ transplantorthose who need acombined kidneyand bladder transplant,” said Nassiri.
As afirst-in-human attempt, there arenaturally many unknowns associated with the procedure, such as how well the transplanted bladder will function immediately andover time,and how much immunosuppressionwillultimately be needed.
“Despite theunknowns, our goal is to understand if bladder transplantation canhelp patients with severely compromised bladders lead healthier lives,”said Gill
Collaborative Research and Development
Leading to the Transplant
Bladder transplants have not been done previously,inpart because of the complicated vascularstructure of the pelvic areaand the technical complexity of the procedure.Aspart of the research anddevelopment stage,Drs. Gill and Nassirisuccessfully completed numerous practice transplantation surgeries at Keck Medical Center of USC, including the first-ever robotic bladder retrievalsand successfulrobotic transplantations in five recently deceased donors with cardiac function maintained on ventilator support.
Several non-robotic trial runs of bladder recovery were performed at OneLegacybyGill and Nassiri, allowing them to perfect the technique while working alongside multidisciplinarysurgical teams.
The bladder transplantwas done as part of aUCLA clinical trial.Gill and Nassiri hope to perform more bladder transplants together in the near future
Under Gill’sleadership,USC Urologyhas rapidly established itself as apioneer and worldleader in the most advanced robotic urologic oncologic surgeries for kidney, bladder,prostate, testicular andpenile cancers, and has achieved important milestones leveraging machine learning andartificial intelligence to optimize patient outcomes. ▐
-Paul Williams
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Organdonor Amanda Cordier.
The OrangeCounty Executive Forum &LeadershipAwards brings together the region’smost influential C-suite executives, legal leaders, and entrepreneursfor an exclusiveafternoon of meaningfulconnection andcelebration. Purchase Tickets: latimes.com/ocexec
