Michael G. Polis and Daniel L. Egan have been elected partners at Wilke, Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney LLP. Polis joined Wilke, Fleury as an Associate in 1994. A UCLA graduate, he earned his law degree at McGeorge School of Law. His practice includes corporate, tax and health care law He is a CPA, an adjunct faculty member of California State University, Sacramento, and has written numerous articles on health care law in California.

Daniel Egan has been of counsel with Wilke Fleury since mid-2000. He graduated from U.C. Davis and Boalt Hall School of Law. He primarily works in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors' rights and unfair business practice litigation. He has written several books and articles on agricultural labor law in California.

Downey, Brand, Seymour & Rohwer LLP, has named six new partners. Scott McElhern has been an associate with the firm since 1997. He practices civil litigation, focusing much of his practice on business and construction litigation. He received his JD in 1994 from Santa Clara University School of Law and his BA in 1991 from the University of California, Davis.

Lisa Ruth joined the firm in 1994 as an associate. She practices business and intellectual property law. She received her JD in 1994 from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and her BA in 1979 from the University of California Davis.

Scott Shapiro has been an associate with the law firm since 1994 when he received his JD from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College. In 1990, he earned a BS from Cook College and Rutgers University. He practices natural resources law with a focus on water issues.

Robert Soran came to Downey Brand in 2000 when he joined the firm of counsel. His practice focuses on environmental compliance and litigation. He received his JD from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1993 and his BA from California State University, Stanislaus in 1990.

Michael Thomas has been an associate with the firm since 1998. He is a litigator, whose practice focuses on business, construction and intellectual property. He received his JD in 1994 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and his BS in 1989 from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Thomas is registered to practice before the U.S Patent and Trademark office.

Melissa Thorme has been with Downey Brand as counsel since 2000. Prior to that, she had been with the law firm Beveridge and Diamond in Sacramento. She received her LL.M in 1992 from Tulane University School of Law, her J.D. in 1990 from the University of California, Davis, as well as an MS there in 1998 and her BS from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1985. Her practice focuses on environmental law, with an emphasis on water quality.

Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP is pleased to announce that attorney Scott Pink has joined the firm's Intellectual Property practice as special counsel. Pink's practice focuses on intellectual property counseling and protection, e-commerce and Internet law, media law and publishing law and counseling on strategic alliances and general corporate matters. He is current chair of the Sacramento County Bar Association Intellectual Property Section and immediate past chair of the Intellectual Property Committee in the American Corporate Counsel Association. Pink received his JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1983 and his BA, magna cum laude, from Harvard University.

McDonough, Holland & Allen's health care practice has added a new attorney. Stephen C. Ruehmann has joined the firm effective August 2001, bringing litigation experience in federal and state courts and before administrative tribunals. Previously, he was partner at Hunter Richey, DiBenedetto & Eisenbeis, LLP. Ruehmann successfully represented a variety of healthcare providers. He also serves as chairman of the Board of Directors for Crossroads Diversified Services, a multi-million dollar, non-profit organization dedicated to providing employment opportunities to disabled individuals.

John C. Barnes has joined McDonough, Holland & Allen. He has experience in a wide variety of contract, real estate, environmental, and employment disputes. Barnes previously served as a Jesse M. Unruh Fellow in the California State Assembly, where he worked in the office of Assemblywoman Dion Aroner. Barnes assisted in drafting and analyzing legislation related to child welfare programs, elder abuse prevention programs, and adoption assistance. He received his JD in 2001 from McGeorge School of Law, and holds a BA in political science from University of California, San Diego.

Robert E. Moss, Jr. has joined Vision Services Plan (VSP) as deputy general counsel. Prior to joining VSP, Robert was in private practice for 11 years with an emphasis on business, corporate, real estate, construction, and personal injury. A graduate of McGeorge School of Law, Moss received his BS from Colorado State University.

Best, Best & Krieger LLP is pleased to announce that William E. ("Rick") Robinson has joined the firm as a senior attorney. Robinson's practice emphasizes commercial, real estate and creditor's rights litigation, employment law, and insurance law and regulation. He received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and earned his law degree from the University of Santa Clara where he was articles editor of the Santa Clara Law Review.