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Local law firm opens a West Coast office

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: February 22, 2019

With over 200 attorneys and offices in several U.S. cities and Shanghai, the Cleveland-based full service business law firm Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff (Benesch) continues to expand its geographical reach.

At the end of January, members of the executive committee announced the launch of the firm’s San Francisco office.

“Opening an office in San Francisco is the next logical step for Benesch,” said Managing Partner and Executive Committee Member Gregg Eisenberg. “Many of our clients are based in California and the legal landscape is energetic and exciting. It goes without saying that California is home to some of the best companies in the country. We want to be a part of that.”

Located on the 27th floor of One Montgomery Tower, the office includes two associates, who are led by Administrative Partner Krista Enns.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” said Enns, who left Winston & Strawn to join Benesch. “Starting the San Francisco office of an AmLaw 200 law firm is something that I could not pass up.

“I am working with an energized group of people,” she said. “Our management team seeks to break the mold on how law firms work by providing superior service at more favorable rates. The firm emphasizes team building and innovation.”

A native of Canton, New York, Enns received her bachelor’s degree in history from Pomona College in Claremont, California.

Enns began her career as a legislative aide to former Illinois State Rep. Gwen Klingler, obtaining her JD/Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University in 1999.

“I was initially planning to use my degrees to do legislative work on the Hill or to become a lobbyist, but right after law school I clerked for Judge Oliver Wanger in the Eastern District of California,” said Enns. “Since then I have been all litigation all the time.”

Enns also served as a judicial clerk to 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Mary Beck Briscoe.

She joined the Washington D.C. office of Winston & Strawn in 2001, transferring to San Francisco in 2004.

Other attorneys in the San Francisco office include litigation associates Jennifer Miller and Whitney Carlson.

Miller, who focuses on complex commercial litigation, received her juris doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law. Prior to joining Benesch, Miller was at Winston & Strawn.

Carlson received her juris doctor from the University of Colorado Law School in 2015. Her practice includes commercial litigation, intellectual property disputes and white collar defense. She previously worked at Winston & Strawn and Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney.

A third associate joined the San Francisco team in late February.

“The San Francisco office will focus initially on litigation, but we are looking to grow, perhaps adding a labor and employment and IP litigation practices as well as additional attorneys.

“We have enough space to support an aggressive growth strategy in the San Francisco market as well as a number of current Benesch attorneys from other offices who will be splitting their time in San Francisco.”

 


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