Withers has expanded its capabilities in Los Angeles with the hire of partners Deborah Greaves and Joe Tagliaferro and Special Counsel Barry Brust. The new hires add IP, employment, asset management, corporate and finance services to the firm's California team as part of a major growth strategy in the US.
Jeremy Wakeham, head of the Withers' Business division, comments: "These are hugely exciting new hires for us as we continue to grow the corporate, funds and IP services we offer our clients in California. Importantly, they also complement our focus on key sectors such as tech, entertainment and fashion, and will be of great use to our clients in those areas. We are continuing to look for strategic partner and team hires in the US as we build up our strengths to meet the needs of our clients."
Deborah joins Withers from Brutzkus Gubner, where she has worked with leading clients in the fashion, consumer goods, retail, and entertainment sectors. She also worked with Gina Bibby, who joined the firm in LA as an IP and fashion tech partner in November 2019. Deborah's practice extends across IP, corporate compliance and governance, data privacy, regulatory compliance, commercial and employment advice, and international transactions.
In the course of her career, Deborah has worked as General Counsel at top apparel companies, including international brand True Religion Apparel. She has also served as the Chair and as an advisor to the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association Intellectual Property Law Section and helped to launch Loyola Law School’s Fashion Law Program, where she currently serves as an adjunct professor.
Joe Tagliaferro and Barry Brust join Withers from Sichenzia Ross Ference and immediately prior to that from CKR Law LLP, where Joe was Global Co-Chair of Corporates and Securities Practice. Over the past 20 years, they have worked in the media, entertainment, sports and hospitality sectors, advising entrepreneurs, high net worth investors, investment funds, asset managers, family offices, and businesses from emerging to multinational companies.
Michael Brophy, managing director of Withers’ LA office, adds: "Joe, Barry and Deborah are each fantastic additions to our team in LA, significantly broadening the services we can offer our clients here. Bringing corporate and additional IP strengths to the team has been a long term ambition in our growth plan."
Their practice includes advising on corporate finance, securities and regulatory matters, investment fund formation, public and private securities offerings, securities regulatory defense and government investigations, asset based lending, corporate governance and real estate financing transactions.
Withers has been operating in California since 2014, when the firm launched in San Francisco. Offices in LA, San Diego and Rancho Santa Fe followed in 2015, when a large team of partners, associates and business services staff joined from McKenna Long & Aldridge and has been growing steadily across all practice areas in the ensuing years.
