Blank Rome announced that Germain D. Labat has joined the firm as a partner in the corporate litigation practice in Los Angeles. A trial lawyer, Germain represents public and private companies in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Before joining Blank Rome, Germain was a partner at Greenspoon Marder. Germain handles a range of litigation matters, including securities litigation, commercial real estate litigation, residential foreclosure litigation, control disputes and other corporate governance matters, non-competes and other restrictive covenant matters, intellectual property litigation, breach of fiduciary duty claims, franchise disputes and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Judicate West announced that it has added Judge Claudia J. Silbar, formerly with the Superior Court of Orange County, to its roster of neutrals. Specializing in family law matters, Silbar is based in the Santa Ana office, and she is available as a mediator and private judge. Appointed by then-Governor Gray Davis in 2001, Silbar served on the Superior Court bench for 21 years, almost exclusively in family law. Prior to her bench appointment, she spent more than 12 years with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, handling felony jury trials, including sexual assault, gang violence and homicides. From her trial work and experience, Silbar was elevated to senior assistant, overseeing all felony trial units, excluding white collar crime.