Kabat Chapman & Ozmer LLP (KCO) is pleased to announce the addition of Connie Chang as of counsel in the firm’s Los Angeles office and Andrew Koelz as of counsel and Blake Brettschneider as associate in the firm’s Atlanta office. Chang will focus her practice on commercial litigation, employment litigation and white-collar defense; Koelz will focus his practice on commercial litigation, restrictive covenant work and employment litigation and Brettschneider will focus on labor and employment.

“The additions of Connie, Andrew and Blake reflect our continued commitment to strategic growth at KCO,” said Mike Kabat, founding and managing partner of KCO. “Their respective experience and insight will strengthen our teams across both our LA and Atlanta offices and enhance the level of service we provide to our clients.”

Chang comes to KCO after practicing commercial litigation, employment and white-collar defense at both large and boutique firms in Los Angeles, followed by stints in-house at a global media conglomerate and, most recently, serving as Global Legal Counsel for a large entertainment technology company. She has a broad range of experience managing business and legal matters in the commercial dispute context. Chang earned her undergraduate degree from UCLA and her law degree from the UCLA School of Law, where she was the Co-Chief Articles Editor and Business Editor of the UCLA Pacific Basin Law Journal.

Koelz joins KCO after practicing complex civil litigation and regulatory compliance at an Am Law 100 firm, representing clients across a wide range of industries in matters involving product liability, data breaches, contract disputes and class actions. Prior to entering private practice, Koelz served as a law clerk to the Honorable Charles A. Pannell, Jr. and the Honorable Steve C. Jones of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, as well as the Honorable James V. Lane and the Honorable Thomas J. Wilson, IV of the Circuit Court of Rockingham County, Virginia. Koelz is actively involved in pro bono service, including through his work with the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Mary Washington and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as Articles Editor of the Virginia Journal of Criminal Law.

Prior to joining KCO, Brettschneider worked as a labor and employment associate at two AmLaw 100 firms, defending corporate clients in single plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class action cases. Brettschneider also served as a federal judicial clerk to the Honorable Walter E. Johnson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Before attending law school, Brettschneider was a professional soccer player, having been an Academic All-American in college and drafted 21st by D.C. United in the 2011 MLS supplemental draft. Brettschneider earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and his law degree from University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the Denver Law Review.