Erin Burke named Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's Irvine Office
The Firm has announced a series of leadership appointments in its California Region, effective July 1, 2022.
Erin Burke, a partner in the Business & Tort Litigation Practice, has been named Partner-in-Charge of the Irvine Office. Ms. Burke plays a key role in representing clients in large-scale product liability and toxic tort litigation matters. She has been at Jones Day for more than 25 years, starting as a summer associate in the Los Angeles Office in 1995. Ms. Burke has served in a number of leadership positions since joining the partnership in 2006, including the roles of Administrative Partner for the Los Angeles Office since 2011 and for the Irvine Office since 2019.
"Erin is a highly regarded litigator and she has earned both the trust and confidence of her colleagues in California in various leadership roles over the years," said Kevyn Orr, Partner-in-Charge of the United States for Jones Day. "The lawyers throughout our California Region serve the Firm's clients worldwide with excellence, and Erin will provide important leadership for us in Irvine."
Ms. Burke succeeds Richard Grabowski, who served as Partner-in-Charge of the Irvine Office since 2005, and led the office to significant growth over the past 17 years. Mr. Grabowski will continue to serve Jones Day clients as a partner in the Firm's Business & Tort Litigation Practice.
"Our Irvine lawyers serve clients ranging from large publicly traded corporations and banking institutions to private companies of varying sizes, including mid-market companies and emerging startups," said Karen Hewitt, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's California Region. "I am confident that the office will continue to provide excellent client service under Erin's leadership, and all of us welcome her into this important new role in Irvine."
The Firm announced two appointments to succeed Ms. Burke's dual roles as Administrative Partner for the Irvine and Los Angeles offices.
Ed Chang has been named Administrative Partner of the Irvine Office. Mr. Chang, a partner in the Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection Practice, represents clients in high-profile data breach class actions and major cybersecurity investigations. He was recognized as a "Top Cyber Lawyer" by the Daily Journal and a Cybersecurity & Privacy "Rising Star" by Law360. Mr. Chang has served the Irvine Office in various administrative roles, including as its Hiring Partner and its Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement Partner.
Liat Yamini has been named Administrative Partner of the Los Angeles Office. Ms. Yamini, a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice, defends Firm clients in class/representative wage and hour actions and individual discrimination actions. She has served as the Los Angeles Office's Hiring Partner since 2018 and has led initiatives to increase diversity within Jones Day as well as the broader legal profession. She was recognized among the Daily Journal's "Top Labor & Employment Lawyers" and the Los Angeles Business Journal's "Women of Influence: Attorneys." Ms. Yamini is also deeply involved in local community service and currently sits on the board of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
In addition, Tom Briggs, a partner on Jones Day's IP Licensing and Technology Transfers Team, was appointed to serve as head of transactions for California. He will provide cross-practice leadership for lawyers in the Firm's M&A, Private Equity, and Financial Markets practices along with others handling transactional work, including in the Intellectual Property, Energy, Real Estate, and Health Care & Life Sciences practices. Based in San Diego, Mr. Briggs advises clients in the areas of mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, investments, and IP transfers and licensing, with sector emphasis on pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, food, environment, sustainability, industrial chemicals, semiconductors, and software, among others.
