COSTA MESA, Calif. – Rutan & Tucker LLP, the largest law firm based in Orange County, has elevated seven attorneys to the level of partner. The new partners in the full-service firm are Neila Bernstein, Mark Budensiek, Treg Julander, Todd O. Litfin, Cristy Lomenzo Parker, Karen Walter and Lori Williams. Rutan & Tucker now has 80 partners.
“The elevation of these talented attorneys to the status of partners comes at a great time in this firm’s history,” said Tom Crane, the firm’s managing partner. "As we go through an exciting new growth phase, these new partners will help assure our ability to take care of our clients - present and future."
A member of the firm’s Real Estate Section, Bernstein has extensive experience in a wide variety of real estate transactions, including acquisition, finance, leasing and disposition of commercial, retail and residential real estate. Her practice includes the representation of landlords and tenants, lenders and borrowers, and purchasers and sellers of real property. She received her law degree in 1980 from UCLA School of Law.
Budensiek practices in the firm’s Employment/Labor Law Section. His expertise includes helping companies of all sizes meet their business objectives while complying with the unique legal and regulatory challenges facing California employers. He has served as an officer in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He received his undergraduate degree with high distinction from the University of Iowa, and his law degree from Stanford Law School.
Julander practices in the firm’s Trial Section. His experience includes appellate practice in state and federal courts, complex business litigation, insurance coverage, environmental law, business torts, unfair competition and product liability. He formerly worked for Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in asbestos litigation and environmental insurance coverage litigation. He received his undergraduate degree from Weber State University in Political Science and Legal Studies, and graduated from George Washington University School of Law in 1994 with highest honors.
Litfin is a member of the firm's Public Law Section. His practice includes the representation of cities and other public entities, as well as private clients, in both litigation and transactional matters. He has extensive experience in litigation and transactional matters pertaining to municipal government and land use law, and is currently the assistant city attorney for the cities of Dana Point and Villa Park. He received his undergraduate from Harvard University in 1988, and his law degree from UCLA Law School in 1995, where he graduated in the top 10 percent.
Parker practices in the firm’s Corporate/Securities Section, focusing on general business transactions and counseling for a wide variety of publicly and privately held businesses, federal and state securities law compliance and reporting. She has represented issuers, underwriters, borrowers and lenders in public and private equity and debt financings, and is involved in mergers and acquisitions.
Parker earned her undergraduate degree from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in 1992, graduating summa cum laude, and her law degree cum laude in 1995 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Walter is a member of the firm’s Public Law Section. Her practice includes the representation of cities and school districts, as well as private clients, primarily in litigation matters. She is experienced in complex multi-party litigation and representing private clients in class-action litigation. She graduated from Stanford University in 1993 with honors and distinction. She also attended law school at Stanford University, receiving her law degree in 1996.
Williams originally joined Rutan & Tucker’s Real Estate Section as an associate in 1994 and rejoined the Section in January of 2003. She has a general real estate practice, representing clients in commercial, industrial development, commercial, industrial and office leasing, as well as venture work and financing. Her practice area also includes residential and multi-family development. She earned her undergraduate from the University of Southern California and her law degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific.