The Law Offices of Jody C. Moore welcomes a new associate: Michael J. Mauro. Michael will be assisting Jody in prosecuting elder abuse claims and a groundbreaking class action she is prosecuting along with Gregory L. Johnson regarding the use of powerful medications inVenturaCountynursing homes without consent. Michael also has responsibilities for marketing and setting up speaking engagements and publicity

Nicholas Le Du and Anna Bijelic, both USC Law students, are clerking at Ferguson Case Orr Paterson. After graduating from Claremont McKenna College in 2008, Le Du worked in Jordan on humanitarian relief projects for internally displaced Iraqis, and then in Baghdad on a US-funded legislative strengthening program, where he was responsible for coordinating a training program for newly elected parliamentarians. Bijelic, who is involved with the law school’s Review of Law and Social Justice and the Entertainment Law Society, organized a school trip to the Sundance Film Festival and wrote a journal note examining the policy and practical implications of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Some of her recent expeditions include an Amazon River trek through Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, and a jet-ski safari around the Fijian islands. She will be studying in Gold Coast, Australia in the fall.

Kevin L. Dorhout has opened a private practice at2945 Townsgate Rd, Ste. 200, inWestlake Village. Dorhout’s legal focus is on family law, estate planning, probate, business and real estate matters.

Dorhout’s move to private practice follows work at firms inOxnard,Ventura,WestlakeVillageand a nearly four-year stint at the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. He has litigated all types of business, real estate and probate matters and advised clients on many complex and general legal issues including partnership disputes, breach of contract, lease disputes, neighbor/HOA disputes, unlawful detainer, collection matters and real estate transactions.  The Law Office of Kevin L. Dorhout can be reached at (805)206-8977, kevin@dorhoutlaw.com  or via www.dorhoutlaw.com

MUSEUMBUSINESS CONTACTS SOUGHT

CITATIONS editorial board member Panda Kroll will teach “The Museum: Culture, Business & Education,” an upper-division class for Business, Art and Education students at California StateUniversity,Channel Islandsthis Spring. Students will visit and study museums throughoutLos Angeles and Ventura Counties. Kroll is looking forward to collaborating with attorney Miles Lang, who is the CEO of the Chumash Indian Museum in Westlake Village. She asks that other VCBA members who are willing to share their museum contacts contact her at panda.kroll@csuci.edu.

James Procter, Lisa Shyer and Alan Wisotsky are pleased to announce the formation of Wisotsky, Procter & Shyer, effective September 1. The firm will continue serving selfinsured public entities and the insurance defense industry in both state and federal jurisdictions. Completing the versatile staff of attorneys are Jeffrey Held, Brian Keighron, Dirk DeGenna and Karen Harmeling, with offices at Financial Plaza Tower, 300 Esplanade Drive, Ste. 1500, Oxnard 93036. Phone: (805)278-0920, Fax:(805)278-0289, and website: www.wps-law.net .

Arnold, Bleuel, LaRochelle, Matthews, & Zirbel LLP is pleased to welcome Melissa H. Sayer as Senior Counsel to the firm. Ms. Sayer earned a B.A. from Eckerd College and a J.D. from Santa Clara University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1994. After practicing in the Silicon Valley for several years, she relocated to Ventura County in 2001. Her business and corporate law practice includes issues related to general business matters, formation, purchases and sales, capital raising, securities, water, and agriculture. You can contact Ms. Sayer at (805)988-9886.

New FCOP lawyer Chris Kitisaki, a former staff attorney at the Security and Exchange Commission, earned
his bachelor’s degree at University of California, Irvine; his J.D. at the University of San Francisco; and his LL.M in taxation at Georgetown University. His primary practice areas include federal and state securities law compliance, general business and corporate law (including day-to-day operation of businesses) and structuring, negotiating and documenting agreements for the purchase and sale of commercial and agricultural properties, commercial and agricultural leases, and secured financing transactions. (805)659-6800, x118; ckitisaki@fcoplaw.com.

Another attorney new to FCOP, Scott Samsky, earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of
Minnesota and passed all 4 parts of the CPA exam in 1978. He moved to California to attend UCLA Law School. He served on the Board of the Directors of the Camarillo Boys & Girls Club for 9 years, and is in his 10th year as board member of the Ventura County Community Foundation. Mr.Samsky will continue to practice primarily in the areas of estate and business succession planning, multi-generational planning and wealth preservation. (805)659-6800, x113; ssamsky@fcoplaw.com.

Koppel Patrick Heybl & Dawson, of Westlake Village is pleased to announce that Brian Philpott has become a shareholder and that the firm name has changed its name to Koppel Patrick Heybl & Dawson.

Mr. Philpott earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 2002. He received his Juris Doctorate degree in 2005 from Pepperdine University School of Law.

His current practice focuses on patent prosecution and litigation, trademark and copyright matters, and general international intellectual property issues. His technological expertise is in optoelectronic systems, laser applications, and semiconductor fabrication. Mr. Philpott can be reached at (805) 373-0060 or by email at bphilpott@koppelpatent.com.

Hoefflin & Associates, ALC, of Westlake Village is pleased to announce that Jason Burrows has become a shareholder and that the firm has changed its name to HOEFFLIN • BURROWS, A Law Corporation. Mr. Burrows received his B.S. degree in Business Administration (Finance) from California State University, Northridge, and his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles. He has been a litigator for 13 years, primarily in Southern California. He represents buyers and sellers of real estate, homeowners, contractors, business owners, individuals and businesses in a variety of disputes. Mr. Burrows can be reached at (805)497-8605 or by email at jburrows@hoefflinlaw.com.

Ferguson Case Orr & Paterson in Ventura is excited about adding its newest partner, Meghan B. Clark, to the firm as of April 1, 2011.  A Ventura County native, Ms. Clark graduated from U.C.S.B., earning her bachelor’s degree in only three years. She was accepted to law school at age 20 and earned her law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington, where she was associate editor of the Gonzaga Law Review and graduated with honors in 1998.

Meghan is a past Barristers’ president, past representative to the California Young Lawyers Association, past member of the Ventura County Bar Association Board of Directors, member of the Board of Counselors for California Lutheran University and the Vice Chair of the East Ventura County Employers’ Advisory Council. Meghan will continue to practice primarily in the areas of writs and appeals, employment law, and general counsel. As of April 1, 2011, Meghan’s e-mail address will be: mclark@fcoplaw.com

Hathaway Perrett Webster Powers Chrisman & Gutierrez is also adding another attorney on April 1, 2011, Brook J. Carroll. After earning a B.A. in political science with honors from the University of Arizona, Mr. Carroll earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in 2000.   Brook is a board member of the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association and the East Ventura County Employers Advisory Council.  Mr. Carroll will continue his civil litigation practice with an emphasis on employment law and business litigation cases.

The Oxnard Financial Plaza law firm of Arnold Bleuel LaRochelle Mathews & Zirbel LLP is pleased to welcome two new attorneys:  Maria L. Capritto is now an associate of the firm and Dean W. Hazard is Of Counsel to the firm.Mr. Hazard received his Bachelor’s Degree, Cum Laude, from U.C.L.A. in 1978 and his J.D. from U.C.L.A. Law School in 1982.   For nearly 30 years, Mr. Hazard has specialized in the practice areas of personal injury, real estate and business litigation.   Mr. Hazard is a past President of the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association and a past board member of the Ventura County Bar Association.  He is the current chairman of the County Bar Association’s Client Relations Fee Dispute Committee.  Mr. Hazard will continue to focus his practice on civil trials and litigation with an emphasis in business, real estate and personal injury matters.

Ms. Capritto received her Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Accounting from California State University, Northridge in 1983.  Ms. Capritto went on to become a Certified Public Accountant in 1986 and later received a Masters of Science Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University.  After practicing as a CPA for 12 years, Ms. Capritto attended Ventura College of Law and received her J.D. in 1997.  For the past 15 years Ms. Capritto’s law practice has emphasized estate planning, probate and trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, elder law and tax law.   Ms. Capritto is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Ventura County Bar Association, a member of the Executive Committee of the Probate Section and a member of the Southern California Council of Elder Law Attorneys.  In the community, Ms. Capritto has served as President of the Ventura Boys and Girls Club, President of Elderpride, Inc. and Chairperson of the Leadership Ventura Advisory Committee of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.  Ms. Capritto will continue her law practice as a member of the firm’s Probate and Estate Planning Department.

The Law Offices of Heywood G. Friedman  of Westlake Village proudly announces its hiring of two associate attorneys.Julie E. Sarto, Esq., received her Juris Doctor  degree from Chapman University School of Law and was admitted to the Bar in December, 2010.  While in law school, Ms. Sarto served as the senior articles editor for the Chapman Law Review.  As an undergraduate, Ms. Sarto attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where she studied political science and global peace and security. Ms. Sarto is actively involved in the community and has volunteered hundreds of hours with the Legal Aid Society. Ms. Sarto participates in the firm’s insurance law and workers’ compensation defense practices.

Justin T. Barkowski, Esq., graduated cum laude from Pepperdine University School of Law and was admitted to the Bar in December, 2010. During his time at Pepperdine, Mr. Barkowski received the Ronald Sorenson Award for Best Student Article and served as the literary citation editor for Pepperdine Law Review. Prior to attending Pepperdine, Mr. Barkowski graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied economics. Mr. Barkowski is an instrumentrated private pilot and enjoys flying in his free time. Mr. Barkowski is active in the firm’s business litigation and insurance law practices.