Cox, Castle & Nicholson Welcome New General Counsel
Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, a preeminent full-service law firm focused on real estate in the United States, today announced that Michael Kao has joined the firm as general counsel. Kao brings more than 14 years of experience as a complex commercial litigator and in-house counsel of a professional services firm.
“We are delighted that Michael Kao has joined our firm as our new general counsel,” said Mario Camara, senior partner on Cox, Castle & Nicholson’s Management Committee. “Michael’s wealth of sophisticated experience in areas of conflict management, professional ethics, and internet privacy, combined with his hands-on practical problem solving skills, will help us continue our firm’s growth strategies to further enhance our clients’ continued success.”
Prior to joining Cox, Castle & Nicholson, Kao served as assistant general counsel at a leading global strategic advisory and expert consulting firm, where among his responsibilities, he managed the conflicts department and provided strategic advice to senior professionals on a wide range of legal matters, including contractual risk management and regulatory compliance issues. Kao’s role at Cox, Castle & Nicholson will include advising the firm’s attorneys on legal ethics and professional responsibility issues and overseeing and assisting with the firm’s compliance regimes and other client relationship, operational, and corporate issues.
In addition to his in-house experience, Kao held significant roles managing complex litigation in state and federal courts at several full-service law firms. He represented clients in various industries in a broad spectrum of matters involving antitrust, healthcare, internet, retail and intellectual property laws.
“It’s an honor to become part of Cox, Castle & Nicholson, a firm that is nationally recognized as a leader in real estate law and known for its great people and collaborative culture,” said Kao. “I look forward to working alongside and supporting such an accomplished group of talented attorneys and being part of the firm’s long-term success.”
Kao earned his juris doctor from UCLA School of Law, where he also served as an editor of the UCLA Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude from University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Kao succeeds Charles E. Noneman as general counsel. Noneman celebrates a 40-year tenure of providing exemplary legal counsel to Cox, Castle & Nicholson and to clients on labor and employment matters.
About Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP delivers strategic legal counsel and services to developers, public agencies, energy companies, lenders, investors, joint ventures, pension funds, landlords, tenants, corporations, high net-worth individuals and others in the management of their complex real estate, business and litigation challenges. Founded in 1968, the firm has more than 130 attorneys in offices in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.coxcastle.com. Follow the firm on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.