Womble Continues West Coast Expansion, Combines With Southern California Firm

IRVINE, Calif. (July 13, 2023) – Womble Bond Dickinson is expanding its presence in Southern California through a combination with boutique business law firm Gordinier Kang & Kim LLP. Based in Irvine and Los Angeles offices, the three-partner team includes John Kang, Patricia Cymerman, and Edward Kim. The combination reflects continued growth in the Golden State and comes on the heels of the firm’s announcement earlier this week that it was joining with San Francisco-based litigation firm Simmonds & Narita LLP. 

“This combination adds to our roster in Southern California and brings high-quality and experienced lawyers who are committed and connected to the local market,” said Merrick Benn, Womble’s Vice Chair and Capital Markets Practice Group Leader. “It expands on our existing litigation practice and adds a core transactional practice that further solidifies, expands, and diversifies our bench strength in the region.”

Kang, who joins the firm’s Capital Markets group as a partner, is an experienced transactional attorney who represents private sector clients, including financial institutions, commercial purchasers and sellers, developers, and high-net-worth investors. His practice spans a broad range of commercial transactions, particularly in secured lending, project development, real estate joint venture and equity fund formation, and equity- and asset-based property acquisitions and dispositions.

“Womble’s robust, full-service platform enables us to expand both the volume and depth of services we can provide to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said Kang. “We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues and further contributing to the firm’s growth in Southern California.”

Cymerman and Kim join the firm’s Business Litigation group as partners. Cymerman represents clients in complex business litigation, including contract, real estate, private wealth, and partnership disputes and misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and false advertising. Kim focuses his practice on complex business and securities litigation matters in federal and state courts, including securities class actions, shareholder derivative claims, and partnership disputes. 

“A strong West Coast presence has long been an important component of the firm’s strategic commitment to building a global platform that meets the broad needs of our clients,” said Kristin Walker-Probst, Managing Partner of the Irvine and Los Angeles offices. “By joining forces, we are well positioned to expand those offerings in important innovation hubs.” 

About the new lawyers:

John Kang represents private sector clients, including financial institutions, commercial purchasers and sellers, developers, and high-net-worth investors. His practice involves a broad range of commercial transactions, including purchase and sale transactions, corporate and real estate finance, capital markets, leasing, and development. With skills gained at prominent national and international law firms during the first ten years of his career, John has extensive experience in secured lending, project development, real estate joint venture and equity fund formation, and equity- and asset-based property acquisitions and dispositions.

Patricia Cymerman represents clients in complex business litigation, including contract disputes; real estate disputes involving leases, development and investment agreements, and joint ventures; misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and false advertising; private wealth disputes; and partnership disputes. Her experience also includes high-profile First Amendment and media law cases.

Edward Kim focuses his practice on complex business and securities litigation matters in federal and state courts, including securities class actions, shareholder derivative claims, and partnership disputes. He has successfully tried numerous cases to a final judgment or award and obtained individual jury verdicts of more than $150 million, including punitive damage awards exceeding $10 million. Additionally, he has extensive experience representing shareholders and partners of companies involving claims of breach of fiduciary duties, fraud, and self-dealing by the officers, directors, and managing partners of corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies.