Orange County’s biggest law firm has seven new partners.
Costa Mesa-based Rutan & Tucker LLP last week named Nela Bernstein, Mark Budensiek, Treg Julander, Todd Litfin, Cristy Lomezo Parker, Karen Walter and Lori Williams to its stable of partners, which now counts 80.
Bernstein is a member of Rutan’s real estate practice. Budensiek focuses on employment and labor law. Julander is a trial lawyer with experience in business law. Litfin and Walter have public law practices. Parker works on corporate and securities cases and Williams focuses on real estate.
Rutan also named Bruce Allen as chief marketing officer. Allen formerly worked with defunct law firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP and Big Four accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Earlier this year longtime corporate practice partner Tom Crane took over as managing partner of the firm. Crane replaced Jeffrey Oderman, who continued his government practice at the firm.
The change dovetailed with a push by Rutan to grow its corporate work. The firm is known for its large public law practice, representing a number of California cities.
In 2003, Rutan opened its first office outside OC in San Jose. Rutan counts 133 lawyers.
,Chris Cziborr
