Environmental lawyer Clifton J. McFarland has joined Downey Brand as a partner in its environmental law practice. McFarland comes to Downey Brand from the Los Angeles law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. His practice focuses on environmental and toxic tort litigation, regulatory challenges, contaminated property issues, environmental aspects of real estate transactions, water quality, underground storage tanks and Proposition 65 issues. McFarland received his J.D. from Columbia University, School of Law in 1988 and his B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.

Downey Brand LLP added two land use attorneys to its ranks. Nicolaas Pullin and Meghan Habersack join the firm as associate attorneys.

Pullin received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 2005 and his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego in 2002. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Pullin was a law clerk at Harowitz & Tigerman in San Francisco.

Habersack received her J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law in 2004 and her B.A. from The Master's College in 2001. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Habersack was an associate with Remy, Thomas, Moose and Manley LLP in Sacramento.

Krista Dunzweiler has joined Diepenbrock Harrison as an associate in the Litigation and Employment Law Departments. Her practice focuses on litigating complex issues in the area of employment law and advising employers on compliance with California and Federal labor and employment laws. Dunzweiler regularly conducts trainings for employers on topics such as prevention of sexual harassment, limiting the risk for claims of retaliation, and conducting effective workplace investigations. She also presents seminars for continuing education organizations for human resources professionals. Dunzweiler is a member of the Litigation and Labor and Employment sections of the State and Sacramento County Bar Associations. She is also a member of the Women Lawyers of Sacramento, the Association of Defense Counsel for Northern California and the Sacramento Area Human Resources Association. Dunzweiler obtained her B.A. from University of the Pacific in 1998, her M.A. from University of the Pacific in 2000, and her J.D. from McGeorge School of Law in 2003. Krista is licensed to practice in State and Federal District Courts in California.

David R. Rice joins Diepenbrock Harrison as an associate in the Land Use and Environmental Law Department. Rice represents a variety of private and public sector clients in natural resources and land use matters. His practice includes environmental compliance, water rights and water supply, water quality and endangered species issues. Rice obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2004. In law school, he received the Witkin Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Environmental Law. He also served as an editor for Environs Environmental Law Journal and as co-chair of the King Hall Legal Foundation. David obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Geography/Environmental Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1997. Rice is a member of the Environmental sections of both the State of California and Sacramento County Bar Associations. He is also a big brother with Big Brothers and Big Sisters and is a Teach for America Alumnus (Houston, TX 1999). Prior to joining Diepenbrock Harrison, Rice worked at Hefner, Stark & Marois, LLP in Sacramento.

Somach Simmons & Dunn, a Sacramento-based water and environmental law firm, announces the addition of two new attorneys.

Timothy J. Swickard joined the firm as a shareholder and will serve clients in the areas of brownfields redevelopment, land use, water quality and entitlement, hazardous waste and natural resources law. He previously served as Director and Chief Counsel of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Prior to his gubernatorial appointment at DTSC, Swickard was an attorney in private practice representing developers, community organizations, public agencies, agricultural business owners, private landowners and businesses in the areas of civil litigation, land use, natural resource regulation, environmental compliance and water law. Prior to his legal career, Swickard was the chief executive officer of a natural resource enhancement agribusiness. Swickard received his Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and was in the Traynor Honor Society for Academic Excellence.

Jonathan Schutz joined the firm as an associate in June. In his new position, Schutz will focus on all areas of water law, including water rights and water quality. He has published articles on the Clean Water Act and on water rights issues under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Schutz earned his Juris Doctor from the University of California at Davis in 2003 and served as co-editor-in-chief of Environs, the University's environmental law journal.

Cook Brown, LLP, announces that Erick C. Turner has joined the firm as an associate attorney in the practice of labor and employment on behalf of management clients. Mr. Turner earned a J.D. degree from Baylor University School of Law in 2005 and a B.A. from California Lutheran University in 1998. While in law school, Erick C. Turner served as a law clerk for the Honorable Alan Mayfield of the 74th State District Court in Waco, Texas. Prior to joining Cook Brown, Mr. Turner's practice was primarily focused on the defense of public entities and general civil litigation.

Woodruff, O'Hair & Posner, Inc. announces that Paula D. Salinger has been named Partner. Effective January 1, 2007, the firm will be known as Woodruff, O'Hair, Posner & Salinger, Inc. The primary practice of the firm is family law. Ms. Salinger joined the firm in 1992 as a Paralegal and became an Associate with the firm in December 2002. Ms. Salinger received a Bachelor of Arts degreed from California State University, Chico in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2002. She is a member of Women Lawyers of Sacramento, the Sacramento County Bar Association, and the Family Law Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association. Ms. Salinger also participates in the Pro-Bono Mediation Volunteer Program at the Sacramento Superior Court, Family Court, and is the founder and facilitator of Lawyers New to Family Law, a monthly forum providing support and education to lawyers beginning their Family Law practice. In addition to her practice related activities, Ms. Salinger serves on the Board of Directors for The Keaton Raphael Memorial, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting local children and families with their fight against pediatric cancer (www.childcancer. org).

Palmer Kazanjian LLP and Wohl Sammis & Perkins LLP have merged to form a law firm, Palmer Kazanjian Wohl Perkins LLP. The merger also represents "a blend of powerful reputations," said partner Christopher F. Wohl, referring to his father, Alvin R. Wohl, and Larry M. Kazanjian.

Kazanjian, who represents employers in union labor relations, labor and employment litigation, and related counseling, practiced in Sacramento with Littler Mendelson from 1987 to 2000 before forming his own firm with Mendelson colleague Floyd J. Palmer. Palmer's name fronts the new firm's letterhead in memoriam.

Alvin Wohl is an accomplished trial and appellate advocate who has practiced business litigation for more than 40 years. He will be of counsel in the firm.

Along with Kazanjian, PKWP's other named partners are Christopher Wohl, a seasoned trial attorney who has practiced business and employment litigation since 1994; Robin K. Perkins, an 18-year veteran of trial and appellate courts who also specializes in business and employment litigation; and Treaver K. Hodson, who has represented employers in all aspects of employment law litigation and counseling since 1995. Rounding out the firm are Meriam Hamilton, a senior associate, and Heather Candy. The firm also utilizes Julie Gonzales, of counsel, who focuses on employment law counseling and litigation and George F. Cicotte, of counsel, who specializes in ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) and employee benefits.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP has been recognized by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) as "Law Firm of the Year" for 2006. The award, presented at the organization's recent 31st Annual Convention in San Francisco, honors Seyfarth Shaw for the firm's leadership role in supporting diversity efforts in the workplace and its firm-wide commitment to attorney participation in regional and national bar associations and other organizations that promote diversity in the legal profession and in the community.

Seyfarth Shaw's diversity initiatives include a national Diversity Action Team, which researches and formulates policies and practices aimed at facilitating diversity and further strengthening the firm's recognition as a role model throughout the legal profession and various communities. The firm's Lawyer Development Committee identifies training opportunities and addresses unique challenges confronting female and minority attorneys to attract, recruit, retain and advance diverse attorneys throughout its offices.