Los Angeles, CA, January 18, 2024 — Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP (SA&M), one of Southern California's leading law firms, is pleased to announce that John De La Merced and Roger Lee have been promoted from Senior Counsel to Partner. Additionally, Cathleen Green, Jared Brenner, and Michael Bernet have been promoted from Associate to Senior Counsel. These promotions reflect the considerable and continued contributions of these attorneys to the firm.
John De La Merced, a key member of the Firm’s Business Litigation group, specializes in business, intellectual property, and real estate disputes. His comprehensive litigation experience encompasses all phases of the litigation process, including pre-litigation counseling, prosecuting and defending actions, negotiating settlements, and serving as trial counsel. Since joining the firm, John has been instrumental in securing favorable results on behalf of the firm and its clients on a variety of matters ranging from a partnership dispute involving a celebrity chef to bet-the-company litigation on behalf of a pharmaceutical development company.
Roger Lee specializes in advising emerging growth and middle-market companies across a diverse range of transactions. Roger regularly acts as outside general counsel to his clients, providing comprehensive guidance on any critical issues affecting his clients, with a focus on buy and sell-side mergers and acquisitions and all aspects of capital formation and debt and equity financing. His practice extends to start-ups, emerging growth, and middle-market companies, spanning various industries such as consumer products, software/tech, cybersecurity, restaurants, entertainment, and cleantech/renewable energy.
“John and Roger’s promotions underscore Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP's commitment to the very real career opportunities that exist here for talented lawyers who demonstrate passion, commitment, determination, technical excellence, and innovation in legal services,” said Scott Alderton, Managing Partner of SA&M. “John's outstanding contributions to our Business Litigation group have been pivotal, showcasing his proficiency in handling intricate disputes, preparing them for trial and delivering favorable outcomes. Roger's expertise in guiding emerging growth and middle-market companies through complex transactions, especially in mergers and acquisitions and financings, are second to none,” he added.
Cathleen Green, as Senior Counsel in the Firm's corporate and entertainment group, has showcased exceptional strategic acumen in guiding entertainment-based clients through a myriad of corporate and entertainment transactions. Her focus on joint ventures, finance, mergers and acquisitions, licensing, and endorsement/sponsorship transactions has cemented her reputation as a trusted advisor in the entertainment industry.
Jared Brenner’s elevation to Senior Counsel is a testament to his adeptness in advising technology companies and investors throughout their life cycles. His 2023 highlights include a significant growth equity financing transaction for the software startup SearchStax. Additionally, before returning to the Firm, he concluded five years as outside general counsel to Scite, a startup he incorporated and led through its successful acquisition by Research Solutions. His multifaceted expertise, spanning venture capital financings, licensing transactions, corporate governance, and securities law compliance, has been pivotal in supporting startups across various sectors. Jared’s entrepreneurial focus has led him to expand his practice into entertainment, with an emphasis on the intersection of music and technology.
Michael Bernet, also appointed as Senior Counsel, brings a wealth of litigation experience, particularly in intellectual property and general civil matters. His track record of successfully resolving complex business disputes, coupled with his comprehensive understanding of trademark, copyright, and other IP-related issues, has been instrumental in effectively safeguarding the interests of the Firm’s clients.
"Cathleen, Jared, and Michael have shown exceptional commitment in their respective practices, making significant contributions to our corporate, entertainment, and litigation groups. Their promotions are a direct acknowledgment of their valuable contributions to our Firm," said Alderton.
About Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP
Since its inception in 2002, SA&M’s mission statement has remained constant: to provide its clients with technically excellent legal services in a consistent, highly responsive, and service-oriented manner with an entrepreneurial and practical business advisory perspective.
With robust practices in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and emerging growth, public securities, digital media and entertainment, business litigation, and intellectual property, SA&M's attorneys assist clients with virtually every legal issue a business or an individual may face. SA&M's attorneys employ their collective wisdom and experience to craft sophisticated innovative solutions to clients' legal and business problems, always keeping in mind their business strategy and objectives.
SA&M is frequently recognized for excellence in the practice of law and its outstanding commitment to the Southern California tech community. The Firm, its practices, and its attorneys are honored by clients, other lawyers from around the country, national legal publications, and ranking organizations such as "Best Law Firms" ranked by Best Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, and Thomson Reuters' "Super Lawyers Magazine."
