Buchalter Welcomes New Shareholders in Orange County

Buchalter is pleased to announce the addition of two new shareholders in Orange County – Lee C. Cheng joins as a member of the Corporate practice group, and Michael Katz joins as a member of the Litigation practice group.

“I am delighted to welcome both Lee and Michael to the Firm,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Office of Buchalter. “They bring remarkable resumes with expertise in both transactional practice and the litigation legal services our clients need and rely on us to provide.”

Cheng, also a member of the Intellectual Property and Litigation practice groups, is Chair of the Firm’s new Greater China group. His practice spans a broad array of disciplines, from corporate transactional work, M&A, finance, and governance to intellectual property, licensing and litigation management, and strategy. Cheng has unique insights on client service due to his experience as a C-level executive at venture-funded startups and global, multi-billion dollar revenue companies. He was twice recognized as one of America’s 50 Outstanding General Counsel, and an Intellectual Property Trailblazer and Pioneer, by The National Law Journal.

“I am thrilled to join Buchalter and excited to Chair the Firm’s new Greater China group,” said Cheng. “The decision to join was an easy one with its well-established and exceptional corporate practice and the breadth and depth of expertise in so many other areas where my clients need legal services. The resources the Firm offers will allow me to both grow my existing practice and provide access to tremendous new opportunities from the Buchalter platform.”

Cheng presently serves on the Board of Industry Leaders of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the largest technology focused trade association in the world and the operator of the Consumer Electronics Show. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the CTA Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Asian American Legal Foundation.

Cheng earned his J.D. from University of California, UC Berkeley School of Law and received his A.B. from Harvard University, magna cum laude.

“Lee’s practice aligns very well with our overall strategic plan,” added Bass. “We look forward to seeing his practice grow and offering the support he needs along the way.”

Katz focuses his practice on complex business disputes, with an emphasis on intellectual property, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duties. He frequently handles commercial litigation and trials for clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Katz is recognized as a leading trade secret lawyer in California with deep experience across many industries, including semiconductor, health sciences, software and computers, artificial intelligence, data storage and security, financial services, and automotive. In 2020, he was recognized by Best Lawyers as the Intellectual Property Litigator of the Year in Orange County.

“Michael will be such a great asset to the Firm,” said Bass. “He is a perfect fit culturally and an accomplished litigator who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our considerable and already robust litigation practice.”

Katz received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and he holds an A.B. from Harvard College.

“I am so pleased to be joining Buchalter and to work with the incredibly talented team of litigators, said Katz. “Commitment to client service has always been a core value of my practice. The Firm’s substantial platform will allow me to offer unparalleled service to my clients and increase my practice.”