Law firm Stradley Ronon launched an office in Southern California, marking the firm’s ninth office and first on the West Coast. The office, which is located in Long Beach, CA, will be led by partner-in-charge Esther E. Cho and include partners David D. Piper, Neal S. Robb, Melanie L. Ronen and Bentley P. Stansbury III. A team of five associates is also expected to join the firm. The group — which arrived from Keesal, Young & Logan — will focus on financial services, securities litigation, employment and commercial litigation.
“California has been a target location for us given its active litigation market and the fact that some of our largest financial services clients are based on the West Coast. Opening the office supports our current growth strategy and allows us to service clients more robustly,” Michael O’Mara, managing partner of Stradley Ronon, said. “We are thrilled to bring on this talented team of 10 lawyers to enhance our litigation practice, all of whom are highly regarded in the securities litigation and financial services industries.”
“Stradley Ronon has one of the largest and most widely respected financial services litigation practices in the U.S., so it’s an exciting opportunity to oversee the firm’s physical expansion in California while continuing to work alongside my esteemed colleagues,” Cho, who previously served as chair of Keesal, Young & Logan’s executive committee, said. “David, Neal, Melanie and Bentley are some of the most knowledgeable lawyers in the industry, and our shared commitment to client service and teamwork will undoubtedly drive growth and reinforce the firm’s reputation as a leader in the financial services space.”
Cho is litigator with a particular focus on securities and regulatory matters. She regularly represents financial services firms in state and federal court and before arbitral tribunals in proceedings involving violations of state and federal securities laws and related rules and regulations. Cho also has defended institutions and individuals in connection with regulatory investigations and enforcement actions.
Piper has more than two decades of experience advising individuals and global companies in commercial disputes, securities arbitration proceedings, privacy and cybersecurity matters, residential and commercial real estate issues, and all aspects of bankruptcy and insolvency.
Robb has more than three decades of experience representing financial services firms and their executives in an array of complex and high-stakes commercial and general business litigation. He routinely defends securities firms, investment banks, credit card issuers, lenders, brokers and financial advisers in judicial and arbitration proceedings.
Ronen represents employers across an array of industries, advising on all aspects of employment law, including hiring, promotion, termination, privacy, wage and hour, disability and protected leave, and retaliation and whistleblower issues. She also litigates single-plaintiff employment disputes in state and federal courts and arbitration, as well as complex, class and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) actions.
Stansbury III focuses on financial services litigation, handling proceedings in state and federal court and arbitration. He represents clients in securities, employment, commercial, real estate and probate disputes and has secured defense awards on behalf of broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, clearing firms, investment banks and financial advisers.
“Our new presence on the West Coast further cements our strong national foothold in the financial services industry and builds upon our firm’s dedication to expanding our litigation practice. These additions allow us to focus on growth in our core areas of investment management and business as well,” Jeffrey Lutsky, co-chair of Stradley Ronon, said.