Partner Marc Lewis was recently a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley Law. The spring course, Managing Difficult Legal Conversations, taught by Mark LeHocky, focuses on helping lawyers and clients navigate through problematic conversations around disputes and deals. Marc discussed his experience in effectively representing clients in the legal field.
Author: Caroline Recupero
Partner Paul Llewellyn was recently invited back onto Answering Legal’s podcast, Law Firm Reboot Camp, as a guest speaker. The panel, “How to Become a Better Leader for your Law Firm,” is available to be streamed on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Due to overwhelming demand and our continued growth, Lewis & Llewellyn is excited to announce that Marc Lewis has been appointed as the firm’s first Managing Partner, effective January 1, 2025. This marks an exciting new chapter for our firm as we continue to deliver exceptional legal services to our clients.
As one of the firm’s co-founders, Marc brings a wealth of experience and leadership to this role. He has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction, and we are confident that under Marc’s leadership, Lewis & Llewellyn will continue to thrive and uphold its reputation as one of California’s premier litigation boutiques.
Lewis & Llewellyn is thrilled to welcome our newest associate, Marjon Momand, to the firm!
Before joining Lewis & Llewellyn, Marjon practiced at Winston & Strawn LLP, where she represented clients from a broad range of industries, including financial services, automotive, technology, luxury retail, and consumer products. In addition to representing her clients in complex commercial litigation and intellectual property disputes, Marjon also maintained an active pro bono practice representing clients in immigration and Title IX matters.
Lewis & Llewellyn is delighted to announce that we have been ranked by Chambers & Partners in their inaugural Chambers Spotlight Guide for 2025.
Through Chambers and Partners’ thorough research, the accolade is awarded to small and medium-sized law firms that have demonstrated strong expertise in their respective areas. As Chambers noted, “Lewis & Llewellyn LLP is recognized for its excellent team of trial lawyers, handling both plaintiff and defendant work.” We are thrilled to be recognized in this year’s guide as a top litigation firm in California.
Last week Lewis & Llewellyn marked its 13th anniversary since the founding of the firm. We are thankful as ever to work with such a phenomenal group of people and look forward to the years ahead!
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New Laws in Effect in 2025
Several new laws and updates addressing key areas such as collaborative courts, artificial intelligence, access to justice, and juvenile protections are shaping the landscape of California’s judicial system. These changes aim to enhance rehabilitation, ensure transparency, and expand access to fair proceedings while aligning with evolving societal and technological needs. Below is a summary of the most notable updates, most of which took effect in January.
Artificial Intelligence
- CA Transparency Act (SB 942): AI businesses must identify AI-generated content starting January 1, 2026.
Collaborative Courts
- Drug Treatment Programs (AB 2106): Courts must order an available drug treatment or education program for defendants charged with drug offenses.
- Youth Court Referrals (SB 1005): Probation officers can refer cases to youth courts, with youth and family consent, instead of filing dependency or wardship petitions.
- Competency Determinations and Diversion (SB 1323, SB 1400):
- Courts can use written evaluations by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists for competency determinations.
- Felony defendants deemed incompetent may be referred to mental health diversion programs.
- For misdemeanor defendants, courts must consider diversion options or dismissal within specified timeframes.
- Treatment Court Guidelines (SB 910): Treatment courts must follow state and national guidelines, with updated drug court standards due by January 1, 2026.
- Veterans Court Diversion (SB 1025): Pretrial diversion programs in veterans’ courts now include felony offenses.
Juvenile Protections
- Restitution Fines for Minors (AB 1186): Minors cannot be charged restitution fines, and outstanding balances will become uncollectible after 10 years.
Earlier this month, Lewis & Llewellyn attorneys Evangeline A.Z. Burbidge and Nitesh Daryanani presented a CLE on Strategic Litigation: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Jury Trials and Arbitration. for the Beverly Hills Bar Association. The two discussed a comprehensive framework for navigating jury trials and arbitration as methods for dispute resolution and tailoring litigation strategies to clients’ needs.
The webinar is now available for CLE credit and can be viewed here.
On behalf of his alma mater, L&L Attorney John Frost recently hosted an alumni event for the University of Minnesota Law School at the Lewis & Llewellyn office in San Francisco. It was a great opportunity to connect with UMN alumni in the San Francisco Bay Area community.
Lewis & Llewellyn is dedicated to providing an opportunity for high-achieving young adults to explore their interest in the law. In furtherance of this mission, Lewis & Llewellyn created our Annual Fellowship to remove barriers and create opportunities for talented individuals with diverse experiences in the legal industry.
The fellowship is geared towards undergraduate students who want to see behind the scenes and gain valuable experience at California’s fastest growing litigation boutique. This individual will be working as a critical member of our team, assisting attorneys and staff with investigations, legal briefing, analyzing evidence, and much more across a wide variety of substantive legal areas in commercial litigation. The program will also offer opportunities to see the life cycle of a litigation, observe hearings and depositions, and receive one-on-one mentorship with our attorneys.
This fellowship is a paid opportunity.
Please send a resume and a short personal statement (250 words maximum) to careers@lewisllewellyn.com if you are interested in applying.
