March 02, 2026|Firm News, Press
Former Office Managing Partner Transitioning to In-House Executive Role
Buchalter is pleased to announce that Anne Marie Ellis has been named Managing Partner of the firm’s Orange County Office. In addition to her new role, Ellis serves as the firm’s California Chair of the Products Liability Practice Group and Chair of the Chemical Law & Proposition 65 Industry Group.
“Buchalter and its Board of Directors are incredibly excited to have elevated Anne Marie to take on this expanded role,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter. “Anne Marie has all of the skills and a strategic plan for the Orange County office’s continued success and growth.”
One of Buchalter’s larger offices, Orange County has more than 100 employees, including over 60 attorneys with particular strengths in Corporate, Litigation, Health Care, Real Estate, and Insolvency. The Orange County office celebrated its 40th anniversary in business in 2024.
Eric Kennedy, former Office Managing Partner, has moved to an in house position at Buchalter client, Renew Medical Group where he is taking on an executive non-attorney role. Kennedy will transition his practice to several Partners at Buchalter and become a client of the firm.
“This transition is bittersweet for me and I did not arrive at this decision lightly,” said Kennedy. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Buchalter and have many close friends and colleagues at the firm. I also have immense respect for all of the Buchalter lawyers and would never practice law at another law firm. I look forward to continuing to work with them as a client for many years to come.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Eric for his leadership and dedication to the firm,” added Bass. “Eric was an integral part of this firm, taking on numerous leadership roles, including the Chair of the Recruiting Committee,Partnership Evaluation Committee, and Pro Bono Committees. His ability to lead the office has been remarkable and we are fortunate to have had his insight as we make this transition. Anne Marie was Eric’s recommendation as his natural successor. We are confident in Anne Marie’s abilities to lead the office going forward, and look forward to seeing her build upon the existing foundation, both in Orange County and across the firm.”
Ellis is nationally recognized by Chambers USA as a leader in Product Liability and Mass Torts (USA – Nationwide). Whether defending claims as trial counsel, managing risks associated with allegations of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, or establishing strategies to prevent and defend California’s Proposition 65 claims, Ellis has a reputation for practicality and efficiency in complex, high exposure investigations, litigation, trials and regulatory matters. Prevailing in state and federal courts across the country, she has a complex litigation background that includes class actions and every phase of litigation and trial.
Ellis, who joined the firm in 2016 as a Senior Counsel, has enjoyed considerable success and significantly grown her practice while with the firm, including becoming a Partner in 2021. Ellis has also undertaken increasingly advanced leadership roles within the firm, and trained and mentored a number of associate lawyers.
“It’s a great honor to step into this particular and significant leadership role,” said Anne Marie Ellis. “Our office is thriving because of the collegial and entrepreneurial culture Eric built, and the collaborative mindset of our attorneys and staff. I look forward to building on that momentum and collaborating with the talented lawyers and professionals across the firm to meet the evolving needs of our clients.”
Ellis is Buchalter’s fifth female Office Managing Partner. She joins Kalley Aman, Office Managing Partner in Los Angeles, Tracy Warren, Office Managing Partner in San Diego, Amanda Hyland, recently named Office Managing Partner in Atlanta, and Katharine “Trina” Falace, Office Managing Partner in Napa Valley.
“Having five female Office Managing Partners sets us apart from many of our competitors. We are proud of this accomplishment, and excited for the future and all of Anne Marie’s extraordinary contributions.” added Bass.
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Buchalter is a full-service business law firm representing local, regional, national, and international clients in a multitude of practice areas and their subspecialties, among them: Bank and Finance, Corporate, Health Care, Litigation, Insolvency and Financial Law, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Real Estate, and Tax and Estate Planning. Buchalter has more than 600 attorneys with offices in California, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
