Thomas Baxter joined Venable as counsel in the firm's corporate practice group. Baxter's experience focuses on matters regarding the distribution, production and finance for film and television studios, and multichannel video programming distributors. Previously, he was an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He will be based in the Los Angeles office.

RAND Corp. has appointed Robert Case as its vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Case had previously been RAND's associate general counsel from 2013-2015. Most recently, he had been ASRC Industrial Services' senior vice president and general counsel. Case is based in Santa Monica.

Nate Garhart joined Farella Braun + Martel as special counsel in the business transactions practice. Garhart specializes in maximizing the value of trademark and copyright properties, registering trademarks and copyrights and negotiating licenses for startups, companies and nonprofits. Previously, he was a partner at Cobalt.

Rex Hwang joined Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Hwang will be part of the litigation department and patent litigation groups. His practice focuses on intellectual property law covering a range of technologies and products. Previously, he was partner at Glaser Weil.

Kirkland & Ellis promoted 20 attorneys to partner in California in October. Los Angeles attorneys Kevin Bendix, Gavin Campbell, Annie Cheng, Faris Elrabie, Austin Glassman, Bianca Levin-Soler, Nichole Lopez-Tackett, Austin Norris, Benjamin Maxwell Sadun and W.F. Cody Sonntag were promoted to partner. Amir Freund and Jonathan Manor were promoted to partner in Palo Alto. Reza Dokhanchy, Jacob Johnston, Barry Le Vine, Natalie Logan, Austin Pollet, Kristen Reichenbach, Christopher Wynne and Heidi Yuen were promoted to partner in San Francisco.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld brought on Andrea Lucan as a partner in its global project finance practice group. Lucan focuses on project development and finance, and often represents companies in the development, financing, construction of solar power and other alternative energy projects. She will be based in the Los Angeles office. Previously, she was a partner at K&L Gates.

Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart brought on a team of five attorneys to its Los Angeles office. Equity shareholder Lyne Richardson, of counsel Catherine Hazany, counsel Glendy Lau, of counsel Julianne Pinter, and counsel Brittany Turner join the firm from Ford Harrison.

Norton Law Firm hired Matthew Turetzky as a senior associate in the San Francisco office. Turetzky's practice focuses on aspects of civil litigation in various jurisdictions in the country. Previously, he was an associate at Sheppard Mullin.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan brought on Robert Schwartz as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Schwartz has experience in copyright, trademark, unfair competition, royalties, first amendment, employment, and complex business disputes. Previously, he was a partner at Irell & Manella.

Winston & Strawn appointed two new office managing partners in California. Eva Davis, co-chair of the firm's private equity practice, will take over the Los Angeles office's duties as office managing partner. Robb Adkins, head of the firm's litigation in California and co-chair of the white-collar, regulatory defense and investigations practice, will become the San Francisco office managing partner.