Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough has opened its first West Coast location after setting up shop in Gardena, California, a city located just south of downtown Los Angeles.

To staff the new outpost, which will initially serve Nelson Mullins’ automotive industry clients, the firm has hired five lawyers, including Richard Otera, a former in-house lawyer at Honda North America Inc. and general counsel for Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., who will serve as the office’s managing partner.