Wilke, Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney, LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of two new associates, Samson R. Elsbernd and Natalie A. Johnston.

Mr. Elsbernd joined the firm as an associate in September 2009. He attended Pacific McGeorge School of Law, graduating with distinction. He received the Certificate of Governmental Affairs and the Witkin Award in Legislation. He served as President of the McGeorge Federalist Society, and was a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group Executive Committee for the national Federalist Society. While completing his studies, he was a legal extern for the California Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, he was a certified student attorney for Community Legal Services, a non-profit civil practice clinic, and for the Solano County Public Defender.

Ms. Johnston joined the firm as an associate in November 2009 after a year long judicial clerkship with the Honorable John E. Suddock of the Alaska Superior Court. She graduated with her J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of California, Davis in 2008. While in law school, Ms. Johnston served as a member of the U.C. Davis Law Review and chaired the King Hall Legal Foundation, a student-run nonprofit benefiting public interest law, and the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. She also served as a teaching assistant for the U.C. Davis undergraduate studies program and volunteered to assist with the annual Prison Law Symposium.

Daniel L. Baxter, Wilke Fleury Hiring Partner, said, “We are truly excited to have Natalie and Samson on board, and know that our clients will appreciate the level of service these two talented lawyers will provide.”