COMMUNITY news nLatham & Watkins LLP is representing Conatus Pharmaceuticals in its initial public offering. Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a California-based biotechnology company, is focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines to treat liver disease. Latham & Watkins LLP is advising Conatus in the offering with CHESTON LARSON an attorney team led from the firm’s San Diego office by partner Cheston Larson with associates Matthew Bush and Christopher Geissinger. Advice has also been provided on intellectual property matters by partner Steven Chinowsky and associate Karmen Parhar in San Diego; on regulatory matters by partner Ben Haas and associate Elizabeth Richards in Washington, D.C.; on tax matters by partner Laurence Stein in Los Angeles; and on employee benefits matters by counsel Holly Bauer in San Diego and Michelle Khoury in Los Angeles. n John Morrell, managing partner at Higgs Fletcher & Mack, a San Diego law firm since 1939, was named one of 20 “Men Who Make a Difference” by San Diego Metro Magazine. Morrell was selected based on his exceptional firm management that resulted in unprecedented growth, as JOHN MORRELL well as the significant contributions he has made in the community. Under Morrell’s leadership, Higgs Fletcher & Mack hired 23 attorneys in the last two years, seven of whom are females, and even through the economic downturn, the company has not had any professional layoffs since he became Chairman in 1997. Morrell has also taken a strategic approach to practice group expansion to now include Immigration & Nationality, Environmental Law, and Hotels, Restaurant & Tourism, which includes the fast-growing area of craft brewing. Through the firm, Morrell has spearheaded an initiative to match every staff contribution to the United Way dollar for dollar. He also has overseen their annual Diversity Scholarship program, an annual $10,000 grant to a minority or female law student enrolled at USD Law School, and this year has expanded its diversity giving to include California Western School of Law.
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nThe San Diego-based law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek has announced it has acquired The Trademark Group, a La Jolla-based law firm specializing in trademark protection and enforcement. Marnie Barnhorst, The Trademark Group founding attorney, joins SCMV as Of Counsel. Since its inception in 1997, The Trademark Group JOHN ALSPAUGH has built a highly regarded law practice, having handled nearly 10,000 domestic and international trademarks and executing thousands of trademark searches. “The addition of The Trademark Group to our firm reflects our continuing growth and commitment to providing the most effective and comprehensive legal services,” states John Alspaugh, a SCMV partner and leader of the firm’s intellectual property team. “We look forward to working with Marnie and ensuring a seamless transition for her clients.” The expanded practice will focus on trademark clearance, registration, and enforcement on a worldwide basis. The Trademark Group has relationships with foreign attorneys who assist with foreign filings in more than 120 countries, enabling SCMV to expand its existing trademark practice with additional strength in international trademark law.
GEORGE MILLER
nShustak & Partners is proud to announce that George C. Miller was recently named as a Semi-Finalist for the San Diego Daily Transcript’s “Top Attorneys 2013” publication in the Corporate Litigation category. Through its “Top Attorneys” publication, The Transcript conducts a peer voting process to determine the best lawyers in private, corporate, academic and government practice in
San Diego County. George’s practice focuses primarily on securities arbitrations, business and corporate litigation, employment litigation, contractual and real property disputes and judgment collection proceedings. George routinely appears before California state and federal courts and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration Division in litigations and arbitrations and has substantial trial experience. Mr. Miller was also recently named a 2013 “Rising Star” by International-Referral, one of the world’s largest exclusive networks of professional services organizations. The award recognizes the highest quality attorneys at both domestic and international law firms who represent the future of the international legal community.
Attorney Journal | Volume 121 , 2013
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