Founder Alex Bowie is closing down boutique firm Bowie, Arneson & Wiles after 40 years, but will join Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo as of counsel. Also making the jump are attorneys Wendy Wiles, Robert Anslow, Brian Smith and Jeffrey Hoskinson, and associates Jeffrey Frey and Nicolle Falcis.

The California Appellate Law Group opened an office in downtown Los Angeles. The new location is staffed by two appellate attorneys: counsel John Derrick and counsel Sharon Baumgold.

Caroline Powell Donelan was promoted to partner in Blank Rome's Los Angeles office. Donelan's practice focuses on employment law compliance and litigation. She co-founded Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association, which provides a support network for attorneys who are parents.

Fisher Phillips has promoted seven attorneys to partner in California: Nathan Okelberry and Sarina Saluja in Los Angeles; Chris Ahearn, Colin Calvert and Usama Kahf in Irvine; David Amaya in San Diego; and Annie Lau in San Francisco. Okelberry, Saluja, Calvert, Kahf, Amaya and Lau were previously associates, and Ahearn was previously of counsel.

Miller Starr Regalia named Ella Gower as managing shareholder of the firm in Walnut Creek. Gower succeeds Anthony Leones, who had served in the role for six years. Gower started at Miller Starr as an intern in 2005, and joined the firm as an associate in 2006.

Hanson Bridgett promoted Nancy Hilu and Shannon Nessier to partners and Samir Abdelnour, Rachael Blucher and Angela Clements to senior counsel. Hilu is based in Los Angeles, and Blucher is based in Sacramento, with Nessier, Abdelnour and Blucher based in San Francisco.

Keker, Van Nest & Peters promoted Justina Sessions and Ryan Wong to partners in January. Sessions counsels clients on complex patent disputes and antitrust cases. Wong represents clients in complex commercial and intellectual property litigation matters. Both are based in San Francisco.

Littler Mendelson's Sacramento office grew to 12 attorneys after the addition of Nathaniel Jenkins and Simerdip Khangura. Jenkins previously was an attorney at a state workforce agency, and Khangura was based in Littler's downtown Los Angeles office.

Oakland-based trial attorney Maxwell Pritt has been promoted to partner at Boies Schiller Flexner. Pritt represents clients in high-stakes litigation in federal and state courts.

Five attorneys in California were promoted to partner at Morrison & Foerster in January: Megan Jennings and Claudia Vetesi in San Francisco, Ryan Malloy in Los Angeles, Eric Pai in Palo Alto, and Karen Potter in San Diego.

Baker & Hostetler promoted Shareef Farag to partner in its employment group. Farag focuses his practice on employment law issues and is based in Los Angeles.

VLP Law Group expanded its real estate practice with the addition of partner Debra Schiff in Los Angeles. Schiff's practice focuses on commercial leasing. Previously, Schiff was general counsel at the Shorenstein Co.

Sky Stanfield was promoted to partner at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger. Stanfield specializes in renewable energy law, and joined the firm as senior special counsel in 2015. She is based in San Francisco.

Sidley Austin announced that Brian Stretch is set to join its San Francisco office in February. Stretch stepped down as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California earlier this month.

Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld brought on a new associate and made several promotions. Gay Grunfeld took over firm leadership as managing partner. Previously, the role was held by Michael Bien, who had been managing partner since the firm's founding in 1990. Rosen Bien also promoted Michael Freedman and Van Swearingen to senior counsel, and hired associate Marc J. Shinn-Krantz.