Attorney Matthew Vazin has joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack's business litigation and employment law practice groups in San Diego, effective May 8. Vazin represents clients in a range of employment matters, and also provides compliance advice and conducts anti-harassment and sexual harassment prevention training. His litigation experience includes developing case strategies, drafting pleadings and settlement agreements, and deposing plaintiffs and third-party witnesses. His employment law experience also includes taking depositions, conducting discovery, drafting demurrers and motions to strike, and handling communications with clients and opposing counsel.

Fisher Phillips announced that Andrew Sommer has joined the firm as a partner in the Los Angeles office and Wendy Baker has rejoined the firm as of counsel also in Los Angeles. Sommer has more than 20 years of employment litigation experience with national law firms and was most recently a partner at Conn Maciel Carey where he served as Managing Partner of its California practice. Sommer represents companies in a variety of workplace disputes involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination as well as wage and hour collective and class actions. Baker previously served as a partner with Fisher Phillips from 2007-2011 before assuming the role of in-house employment counsel for Education Management Corporation. With over two decades of experience in labor and employment law, she is returning to Fisher Phillips where she will be part of the advice and counsel team providing advice to employers regarding leaves of absence, wage-hour compliance and discipline/terminations.