Pepper Hamilton has continued its West Coast expansion by bringing on Howard Privette, who most recently served as the chair of Greenberg Gross's class action practice and managing partner of the Southern California firm's Los Angeles office.

Privette joined Pepper Hamilton's Orange County office two weeks ago as a partner in its trial and dispute resolution practice group. Prior to joining Greenberg Gross in 2016, he spent 13 years as a securities litigator at Paul Hastings.

“The firm has been in California for a little while now, and it has been growing,” said Privette, adding that he looked forward to working with Pamela Palmer, who joined Pepper Hamilton from Latham & Watkins in 2014 to co-lead its securities litigation practice in California.

Privette has more than 25 years of trial experience, with a particular focus on securities and class action litigation. He has represented national and international clients in a wide range of disputes involving business ownership issues, privacy and cybersecurity, whistleblower protection, unfair competition, false claims, trade secrets, and breaches of fiduciary duty.

“Securities litigation work, my practice, Pam's practice, have been really national in nature,” said Privette, noting that he represents clients based around the country.

Privette is the third partner to join Pepper Hamilton's Orange County office this year, after the additions of David Allen and Derek Dundas in the firm's corporate securities practice group. Allen joined the firm from K&L Gates, while Dundas was previously a partner at Rutan & Tucker.

“We have a rocking corporate and securities practice here in California,” said Palmer, who is also a partner in the trial and dispute resolution practice group. “Howard and I have practices that are very synergistic with that, so we are growing.”

With the addition of Privette, Pepper Hamilton's Orange County office, which was established in 2004, has a total of 13 attorneys. The Philadelphia-based Am Law 200 firm also has California offices in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. The Silicon Valley office launched five years ago with three IP litigation partners from Goodwin Procter and now has five lawyers. The Los Angeles office, which opened in 2012, counts 20 attorneys.