Downey Brand LLP, added Karen D. Bettencourt, Ryan C. Wood, Shaye Harrington, Mariah Shultz, and Sophia Strong to the firm's Litigation Department. Corinne Gartner and Kimberly Norvell join the firm's Business Department. G. Braiden Chadwick and Joshua Baker join the firm's Natural Resources Department. Downey Brand LLP also named five new partners, effective January 1, 2006. Andrew Collier, Nicole Granquist, Jennifer Harder, Tom Henry, and John O'Malley were all elevated to the partnership.

Karen Bettencourt received her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2004, and her B.A. from University of California, San Diego in 2000. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Bettencourt was a Law Clerk for Judge Garland E. Burrell, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California.

Ryan Wood received his J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2004 and his B.A. from California State University Sacramento in 2001. Wood is also a senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Naval Reserve with twelve years of military experience. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Wood was an associate attorney with Porter Scott Weiberg & Delehant, PC, in Sacramento.

Shaye Harrington received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2005 and her B.S. from the University of California at Davis. Harrington is a former extern for Judge Damrell, Jr. of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California.

Mariah Shultz received her J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University in 2005 and her B.A. from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. In Baton Rouge, she served as a law clerk for Keogh, Cox and Wilson.

Sophia Strong received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2005 and her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Strong was an extern to the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Corinne Gartner received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2005 and her B.A. from Whitman College. She served as a legal intern for the Office of the Attorney General, State of California Department of Justice. Gartner's practice will focus on corporate and nonprofit law.

Kimberly Norvell received her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2005 and her B.A. from the University of Texas. At Pacific McGeorge, she served as a teaching assistant. She will practice corporate law out of the firm's Stockton Office.

Braiden Chadwick received his J.D. from Loyola Law School in 2003, and his B.A. from the University of Utah in 2000. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Chadwick was an associate attorney with the Zumbrun Law Firm in Sacramento. His practice will focus on mining and land use law, and he will practice in the firm's Roseville office.

Joshua Baker received his J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2005 and his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He served as a law clerk for the Law Offices of Sieving & Momjian LLP. Baker's practice will focus on natural resources law.

Andrew Collier joined Downey Brand as an associate in 2002. His practice focuses on general civil litigation with an emphasis on commercial and insolvency law. He received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1997. In 1990, he received a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley.

Nicole Granquist joined Downey Brand as an associate in 1998. She received her J.D. from the University of Oregon, School of Law in 1998, and received a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego in 1995. Her practice focuses on environmental law with a specialized emphasis in water quality regulation and litigation.

Jennifer Harder joined Downey Brand as an associate in 1999. She is a 1998 graduate of the University of California, Davis School of Law. She earned a B.A. from the University of California, Davis in 1993. Harder is a former law clerk for Justice Alexander O. Bryner of the Alaska Supreme Court. Her law practice focuses on water law, the California Environmental Quality Act, and endangered species law.

Tom Henry joined Downey Brand as an associate in 1999. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 1998 and his B.B.A. from the University of Texas in 1982. Henry's law practice emphasizes land use and mining.

John O'Malley joined Downey Brand as an associate in 1999. He is a Certified Family Law Specialist with the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 1998 and his B.A. from the California State University, Fresno in 1993. He is a former Judicial Extern for the Honorable David E. Levi of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. O'Malley's law practice focuses on family law.