Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP

We proudly announce the elevation of 12 exceptional attorneys to the firm's partnership! 🌟 With their outstanding legal expertise and proven track records, we couldn't be prouder to have them on our team. Please join us in congratulating our 2025 partner class: •  Ashley Bane, New Orleans, LA  •  David Benton, Fresno, CA  •  John Darminio, White Plains, NY •  Clayton Goris, Raleigh, NC  •  Jay Jacobson, Denver, CO  •  Lee Jeansonne, Tampa, FL  •  Jeffery Rowe, Atlanta, GA  •  Melissa Saracyan, Los Angeles, CA  •  Sarah Serrano, San Diego, CA •  Kelli Steele, Atlanta, GA  •  Ryan Tarter, Portland, OR  •  Zachary Williams, Tampa, FL    Their dedication, legal expertise, and impressive accomplishments have distinguished them as true leaders in the legal field. We are honored to have such an extraordinary group of lawyers help drive our firm's success. Let's celebrate and welcome our new partners! #WSHB #TrialLawyers #PartnerPromotions #LegalExcellence #TeamSuccess #ProudMoment #CelebratingSuccess

We are excited to welcome the new year by announcing the promotion of 37 exceptional attorneys to senior counsel! Through their strong legal skills and case management abilities, our attorneys have made significant contributions and achievements that ensure we continue to provide top-notch legal services and foster solid client relationships.   Please join us in congratulating our newest senior counsel members: •  Ehsan Akbari, New York, NY •  Janell Alberto, Concord, CA •  Ivetta Arquell, Los Angeles, CA •  Juan Arrubla, Boca Raton, FL •  Brooke Atkinson, New York, NY •  Sarah E. Connor, Philadelphia, PA •  Andrew Cota, New York, NY •  Jasmine Davis, Jacksonville, FL •  Ali Delforoush, Concord, CA •  Meghan Dibbini, White Plains, NY •  Clyde Dunton-Gallagher, Miami, FL •  Jaclyn Erasmus, Rio Grande Valley, TX •  John Falgout, New Orleans, LA •  Caroline X. Feldstein, Esq., Glendale, CA •  Heather DeFalco, Los Angeles, CA •  Katherine Garcia, White Plains, NY •  Annie Hernandez, Orlando, FL •  Matthew Kaufmann, Portland, OR •  Charlene Lanez-Sharma, New York, NY •  Caitlin Mitchell, Sonoma County, CA •  Trent Leaf, Esq., Los Angeles, CA •  JAMIE LEE, Los Angeles, CA •  Zachary Lynch, Orange County, CA •  Tayler Martinez, Las Vegas, NV •  Alison McClave, Esq., Berkeley Heights, NJ •  Barbara Miller, Concord, CA •  Agustin Pina, Concord, CA •  Robert Yoshio Rhoten, Glendale, CA •  Amy Robertson, Mobile, AL •  Christine Robles, San Diego, CA •  Peter Schmid, Concord, CA •  Jennie Schwartz, Orlando, FL •  Christopher Seeman, New Orleans, LA •  Silverstein, Jenny, Concord, CA •  Tanner Stewart, Miami, FL •  Erica Summan, Concord, CA •  Jason Tom, Boca Raton, FL   Congratulations to all of them! 🎊👏  #WSHB #Promotions #SeniorCounsel #NewCounsel #LegalExcellence #TeamSuccess

As we celebrate the holiday season, we want to take a moment to thank our clients, colleagues, and partners for an incredible 2024. Your trust and collaboration inspire us to continually strive for excellence. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and peace. May the new year bring new opportunities, continued success, and good health for all. Here's to a prosperous 2025!

Congratulations to WSHB partner Nicholas M. Donzuso and senior associate Lauren Vicencio, Esq. for securing a motion for summary judgment for our client in a complex personal injury case in Philadelphia. The case involved allegations of improper streetlight installation, repair, or maintenance linked to a pedestrian collision, with the plaintiff seeking $650,000 in damages. Our firm attorneys skillfully demonstrated that our client fulfilled its contractual obligations with the city for streetlight maintenance and owed no duty to the plaintiff. The court agreed, granting summary judgment and absolving our client of liability.   Well done, team!   https://lnkd.in/grBcrxrn   #WSHB #WSHBPhiladelphia #LegalVictory #SummaryJudgment #ClientSuccess

WSHB welcomes litigation partner Robin A. Seelbach to our Raleigh, North Carolina, office! Robin has an impressive track record of achieving exceptional results in both early case resolutions and at trial. He is highly regarded for his legal expertise in various areas of complex civil litigation, including construction, insurance coverage, bad faith claims, transportation, and appellate matters. Please join us in welcoming Robin to WSHB! Click here to read more about him: https://lnkd.in/gknAfyBm. #WSHB #WSHBNC #WSHBRaleigh #WSHBNorthCarolina #NorthCarolina #TrialAttorneys

🌟 Exciting Career Opportunity 🌟 Our two Los Angeles County offices are seeking talented and motivated associate attorneys to join our growing team! We want to hear from you if you're passionate about civil litigation and thrive in a collaborative, innovative environment! Opportunities to handle a wide variety of litigation, including commercial, catastrophic injury, complex torts, construction, employment defense, business, transportation, habitability, medical malpractice, products liability, professional liability, and more. Find your passion, and come grow with us!   We offer a flexible work-from-home policy, a unique bonus structure, and opportunities for advancement. Whether you're a recent California Bar admittee or a seasoned attorney, all experience levels are welcome to apply. Send your resume today to jobs@wshblaw.com. #WSHB #LegalJobs #LosAngelesOpportunity #LawFirmHiring

The Illinois appellate court recently upheld the dismissal of defamation claims in a significant case related to the administration of New Market Tax Credit Programs. This case is an important reminder of the power and limits of absolute privilege in litigation. When accusations are made and reputations are at stake, the distinction between protected legal actions and actionable defamation can be razor-thin. WSHB partner Ryan Neri and senior associate Laura Nishimura discuss this topic in an article published in CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance) Magazine.   🔗 https://lnkd.in/gubnSvR6   #WSHB #CLMMagazine #IllinoisCourt #Defamation #NewMarketTaxCredit

We proudly announce a complete defense victory in a complex FINRA arbitration case! 🎉 Our team, led by partner Michelle Arbitrio and senior associate Seth N. Bursky, Esq., was successful in having all claims against our seasoned investment advisor client, who was accused of violating fiduciary duties, dismissed.   The FINRA arbitration panel confirmed that the advisor's strategies were appropriate and aligned with the claimant's investment objectives and market conditions. This result highlights WSHB's ability to deliver results for clients facing high-stakes arbitration and complex investment disputes.   A big shoutout to Michelle and Seth for their hard work building a compelling defense! 💼👏    Read more about the case here: https://lnkd.in/g4U4Kiuk.   #WSHB #LegalVictory #InvestmentAdvisory #FINRA #FiduciaryDuty #LawFirmExcellence #Arbitration #ClientSuccess #TeamWork #FinancialServices

Governor Kathy Hochul stands at a critical crossroads with the contentious SB485B legislation; the implications for New York's consumers, insurance, and business community are profound. This bill, previously vetoed twice, threatens to reshape the very foundation of wrongful death claims in the State. Should it pass, we risk inflating liability insurance costs and inadvertently fueling new claims and litigation throughout the State. In their comprehensive analysis, Tracy Abatemarco and James P. Tyrie, co-managing partners at WSHB, argue compellingly for the rejection of this legislation. Instead, they call on lawmakers to tackle pressing issues such as insurance fraud, litigation funding, and the unethical practices of certain individuals who exploit the system. These challenges force businesses into a defensive posture against fabricated claims and disrupt legitimate operations, wasting invaluable time and resources. Now is the time for thoughtful deliberation and strategic action. 👉 Read their insightful article here: https://lnkd.in/gJp-6PV6. #WSHB #TrialAttorneys #WSHBNY #GovernorHochul #WrongfulDeath #NewYorkLegislation #LiabilityInsurance #InsuranceFraud #BusinessImpact #LegalReform #NewYorkBusiness #LitigationFunding #DarkFunding #StrategicAction #ThoughtLeadership

🎉 Appellate Win Alert! 🎉 Breaking news! The California Court of Appeal has upheld a summary judgment in favor of our client in a high-stakes injury case involving a longshoreman at the Port of Long Beach. Facing a claim of $20 million for alleged traumatic brain and orthopedic injuries after a cargo rig tipped over, our client’s case was anything but ordinary. Thanks to the expert efforts of partner Keith E. Smith, who successfully filed the motion for summary judgment, and partner Steven Disharoon, our certified appellate specialist, who expertly navigated the appellate process, we achieved a rare complete dismissal of this complex case.  This decision not only highlights our commitment to justice but also reinforces the strength of our defense in challenging situations. This is a significant victory not only for our client, but our team at WSHB! Check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gsQPMjYX. #WSHB #AppellateLaw #AppellateLawyers #TrialAttorneys #LegalVictory #JusticePrevails #DefenseWins #SummaryJudgment #JusticeServed #TeamWSHB #LegalExcellence #CourtOfAppeal #DefenseWins