Firm Profile > Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP > San Diego (Downtown), United States

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): municipal Tier 1

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): municipal Tier 1

Advertising and marketing: litigation Tier 2

The 'friendly, approachable and professional' advertising and marketing team at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP 'offers clear, pragmatic and commercial advice' in litigation. San Francisco-based Robert Guite and Sascha Henry in Los Angeles successfully defended Starbucks in a class action alleging false advertisement of the volume of its mochas and lattes. In other work highlights, the practice was instructed by Fotona in false advertising challenges brought by its competitor Millennium Dental Technologies relating to laser dental devices used to treat periodontal conditions, and represented Califia Farms in a false advertising claim relating to the 'No Added Sugar' labeling of its tangerine juice product. The team also has experience acting for clients in TCPA litigation. New York-based Paul Garrity, who heads the advertising practice alongside Brian Anderson in San Francisco, is another key name to note.

Energy: renewable/alternative power Tier 2

According to one client, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has some of 'the market's most knowledgeable attorneys' and 'is able to always get deals done quickly and in a way that protects the client'. Jointly headed by San Diego-based Tony Toranto and Chicago-based Katherine Gillespie, the 'exceptional' energy department advises on tax equity financing, project development, regulatory compliance, power purchase and sales contracts, and corporate and M&A transactions. Acting alongside Chicago-based tax specialist Andrew Ratts, Gillespie assisted E.ON Climate & Renewables with the negotiation of commitment and credit support documentation and an operating agreement in relation to a tax equity investment facilitated by JP Morgan in the Bruenning’s Breeze 228MW Texas wind farm. Other key figures include San Diego-based Paul Kaufman and Chicago-based Laurette Petersen, who are rated as 'experts in their field, who consistently plan ahead to prevent issues from arising and are always able to quickly devise a solution that's palatable to all parties'. In the Washington DC office, Kenneth Wiseman and Mark Sundback joined from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, and Joseph LoBue joined from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, while Matthew Bonovich joined the Chicago office from an in-house role at Invenergy. Los Angeles-based Michael Distefano took a position at Avangrid Renewables.

Government contracts Tier 2

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is noted for its experience in the aerospace, defense and intelligence industries, handling regulatory compliance matters, investigations, protests, suspensions and debarment, and FCA claims. The majority of the team is located in Washington DC, including John Chierichella, Anne Perry, Jonathan Aronie and Keith Szeliga, but practice head Bryan Daly is based in Los Angeles. The team successfully defended United Technologies Aerospace Systems (UTAS) in injunctive proceedings brought against it by a competitor, concerning a contract awarded to UTAS to build certain oxygen-generating equipment used on US Navy nuclear submarines. In another matter, the team defended a GSA contract awarded to long-term client WW Grainer.

M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 2

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP' deal sector experience includes aerospace and defense, financial services, healthcare and technology, as well as entertainment, electronics, telecoms, food and beverage, retail and transportation. Active clients are adidas, LendingTree, Belgacom International Carrier Services (BICS), Lions Gate Entertainment and Samsung Semiconductor. Highlights included acting for BICS, which provides wholesale connectivity and interoperability services, on its $230m acquisition of TeleSign Holdings, which provides a telephone and SMS verification system; and assisting AMN Healthcare, a provider of healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services, with its $195m acquisition of MedPartners. Other work included M&A team leader Will Chuchawat, who divides his time between Los Angeles and Shanghai, leading advice to Mercury Systems, a hi-tech company serving the aerospace and defense industries, on its agreement to acquire Themis Computer, which manufactures manufactures computing products; and Lucantonio Salvi in Washington DC acting, as US counsel, for Charme Partners, an Italian private equity fund, on its acquisition of ammunition maker Fiocchi Minuzioni. The co-corporate and securities practice group leaders are Century City's Jeryl Bowers and Linda Michaelson, and Ariel Yehezkel in New York, while Los Angeles' Lawrence Braun is also highly rated. Recent growth includes the arrivals of Jordan Hamburger in Centruy City, whose experience includes advising clients in the healthcare and financial services industries, and Eric Newsom in San Francisco, who is focused on the technology and healthcare sectors; both joined from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Also, John Booher, who works with life sciences, healthcare, aerospace, transportation and technology industry clients, was hired in Silicon Valley from Hogan Lovells US LLP.

Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 2

The multi-disciplinary entertainment and digital media group at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP boasts an impressive client roster which includes Amazon Studios, Paramount and The Walt Disney Company, among others. Robb Klein, Linda Michaelson and David Sands are key names to note for transactional work. In recent highlights, Klein advised Media Net Partners as the lead investor in a new film and television production and licensing company, Accelerated Global Content, and Michaelson acted for Lions Gate Entertainment in its acquisition of Good Universe Media. Robert Darwell frequently handles a range of matters in connection with motion picture and television production; he is instructed by Focus Features to assist with the production legal work relating to the Spike Lee movie, BlacKkKlansman. New York-based Daniel Schnapp drafted and negotiated an ASCAP multi-year license agreement with Facebook for the right to use ASCAP’s repertory of musical works in audio-visual content distributed on and through Facebook’s platform. Except where otherwise specified, all mentioned attorneys are based in Los Angeles.

Not-for-profit (Fortune 1000 private foundations, and national trade associations and charities) Tier 2

Praised for its 'strong client service orientation', Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has 'a deep bench of excellent lawyers who specialize in non-profit tax and corporate issues'. Jointly led by David Ulich in California and recently promoted Tamar Rosenberg in New York, the team has 'legal experience across a broad range of complex non-profit issues'. Also recommended is Jay Gerzog, who has an excellent track record advising non-profits in the healthcare sector on transactional issues. A standout highlight included acting for the Bishops of the Dioceses of the Catholic Church of New York, as a corporate member of Fidelis Care, in relation to the sale of Fidelis Care to Centene Corporation for $3.8bn, the proceeds of which will establish one of the largest healthcare grantmaking foundations in the US. The firm was also involved in several significant matters in the education sector, which included changing the for-profit status of several charter schools. Other active clients include Montefiore Medicine Academic Health System, Childhelp, and the Fire Family Foundation.

Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 2

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is particularly strong in cross-border, CFIUS and national security work, with a client list that includes satellite operators such as OneWeb and Omnispace, and private equity clients such as I Squared Capital and Astra Capital Management. Team leader Brian Weimer focuses on satellite, wireless and broadcast companies, providing transactional and regulatory advice, as well as representation in FCC enforcement and national security proceedings. Weimer represents Korean satellite operator KTSAT in arbitration and litigation proceedings concerning satellite ownership and related damages, along with telecoms litigation specialist Paul Werner. Werner has experience in large-scale domestic consumer protection matters, with a particular emphasis on privacy matters, as well as arbitration and international disputes; he serves as regulatory counsel to social network and media company Snap. Weimer and Werner also advised NESS Technologies on a dispute with Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, raising novel issues concerning the CFIUS process, and on a purchase agreement for Ness' digital solutions business. Focusing on broadband, cable and wireless issues, Dave Thomas is the key contact for Charter Communications; he advises the client on wireless infrastructure deployment, cable operational issues, the FCC's one-touch infrastructure policies, and net neutrality. Other key team members include cable specialist Ray Rutngamlug and associate Drew Svor. Aaron George recently departed the firm for an in-house position.

Advertising and marketing: transactional Tier 3

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's practice has particular experience handling marketing and advertising matters in the entertainment, sports, fashion and technology sectors. San Francisco-based Brian Anderson is a key name to note for transactional work; he advised Mastercard on its multi-year multi-million dollar agreement with Riot Games for the global sponsorship of the studio’s online multiplayer game, League of Legends. Anderson, alongside David Sands in Los Angeles, also assisted Kathy Ireland Health & Wellness with its multi-million dollar licensing agreement with Isodiol International to develop and market Kathy Ireland-branded Cannabidiol products. Another work highlight was Century City-based Shaun Clark's representation of Fashion Nova in a fashion collaboration with hip-hop star, Cardi B. The team was bolstered with the addition of Sid Forhman from Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

Cartel Tier 3

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's Michael Cohen is currently leading a team, which includes Los Angeles' Leo Caseria, in the defense of Reynolds and Reynolds against state and federal antitrust claims filed by automobile dealers, data brokers and automotive software providers in consolidated multi-district litigation. In San Francisco, practice head Michael Scarborough, of counsel Gary Halling and special counsel James McGinnis defended Samsung in a grand jury criminal price-fixing investigation launched by the DOJ as well as various international investigations and related civil claims. Century City-based David Garcia and San Francisco-based Dylan Ballard are also key contacts.

Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 3

Michael Scarborough leads Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's antitrust and competition practice from San Francisco and successfully defended Samsung against boycott and monopsonization claims brought by a non-practicing entity relating to the client's acquisition and licensing of smartphone patents. Michael Cohen sits in Washington DC and is currently representing Reynolds and Reynolds in state and federal antitrust conspiracy and monopoly claims brought by automobile dealers and software providers. On the healthcare side, David Garcia is acting for Humboldt Medical Specialists and individual doctors with regard to a complaint filed by a competitor alleging one of the client's hospitals and doctors conspired to stifle competition for outpatient medical lab testing by misleading customers and defaming its competitors. Special counsel James McGinnis and Dylan Ballard are key contacts in the San Francisco office, as is Leo Caseria in Los Angeles.

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 3

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is ‘very knowledgeable’ in data breach, class action and litigation, technology transactions and privacy counseling as well as cybersecurity matters. The practice is headed by ‘standout’ Liisa Thomas and Craig Cardon, who are based in Chicago and Century City respectively. Thomas, Cardon and New York’s Kari Rollins acted for fast-food brand Sonic as breach response and litigation counsel in connection with a data breach suffered by the client’s drive-in restaurants in 2017 and following class actions. San Diego’s Dr Shannon Petersen assisted weight loss company Jenny Craig with a putative class action alleging the client’s violation of TCPA. Christine Clements, who specializes in HIPAA, joined the Washington DC office from Crowell & Moring LLP in April 2018.

Healthcare: health insurers Tier 3

With particular expertise in health management, risk-based arrangements and reimbursement systems, the 'professional, responsive and helpful' healthcare practice at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has a nationwide industry presence with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Dallas and Washington DC. Its portfolio of services covers corporate and financing transactions, regulatory and compliance disputes, licensing and governance issues, as well as access to ancillary practices such as tax, IT, employment and real estate law. Century City partners Eric Klein and Lynsey Mitchel assisted Mutual of Omaha with the investment and contractual aspects of its entry into the Medicare Advantage business. Another highlight for Klein was client Premera Blue Cross' acquisition of approximately 22,000 Medicare Advantage members from Soundpath. San Francisco-based corporate lawyer Eric Newsom and federal healthcare specialist Christine Clements in Washington DC joined from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP and Crowell & Moring LLP respectively in spring 2018.

Land use/zoning Tier 3

Based across California, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP advises on CEQA documenting and defense, environmental and historic preservation matters, land use planning and entitlements, permitting and regulatory compliance, and related legislation. Highlight work included the firm is acting as lead land use counsel for the joint venture developing the $1.5bn Angels Landing in Los Angeles, and successfully defended developer Newhall Land in a federal lawsuit challenging several environmental concerns regarding the client’s $3bn Newhall Ranch project. San Diego-based Nancy Scull is the key contact.

Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 3

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's Century City-based media and entertainment sector group frequently handles a range of litigation including contractual, copyright and defamation disputes. Practice head Martin Katz is a key name to note, particularly for motion picture and television distribution rights, and James Curry has significant experience representing broadcast television networks . In a current work highlight, New York-based intellectual property expert Ted Max is acting for The Players Tribune in cross-border trade mark litigation in Australia against Sports Pty.

Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 4

West Coast-based firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has offices across California, and primarily handles disputes related to public and private projects. Co-chair of the construction group Candace Matson, supported by Robert Sturgeon, defended Parsons Corporation against claims amounting to $136m relating to an accident on a cell tower site. San Diego-based partners John Yacovelle and Marisa Miller successfully secured a $152m settlement for long-term client San Diego Gas and Electric Company against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries relating to the premature shutdown of a nuclear facility. The pair were supported by Neil Popović and associate Shanna Pearce, based in the San Francisco and San Diego offices respectively. Matson worked alongside Harold Hamersmith to defend Jacobs Project Management Company in a bid protest lodged by a competitor for major works in Los Angeles. Washington DC-based Hwan Kim is also noted. Unless otherwise stated, named attorneys are based in Los Angeles.

Copyright Tier 4

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP works for clients such as Forever 21, The Walt Disney Company and Mastercard. Jim Curry acted for the concert streaming website Qello in a licensing dispute brought by the director of a concert featuring artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly and Ronnie Wood. Marty Katz represented Global Eagle Entertainment and Inflight Productions in a number of copyright disputes concerning its use of music for inflight entertainment.

Environment: regulatory Tier 4

Market sources have recognized Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s ambition and desire to grow, and salute the lawyers’ technical capabilities. The group handles regulatory and permitting matters before federal, state and local agencies, Proposition 65 compliance and defence, rights and liabilities regarding potential contamination and wetlands, endangered species and water quality, and permitting matters relating to the construction and operation of energy production and industrial facilities. A recent highlight saw  Los Angeles-based practice co-chairs Jeffrey Parker and Whitney Roy obtaining summary judgement for Exxon Mobil and ExxonMobil Oil in an MTBE product liability multi-district litigation. San Francisco-based Nico Van Aelstyn is also recommended.

Healthcare: service providers Tier 4

Clients recommend Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's 'industry knowledge, practical advice, constant availability and professionalism'. The team advises on matters such as healthcare joint ventures, licensing, value-based reimbursement arrangements, corporate governance and healthcare program structuring, reform implementation, as well as fraud and abuse, antitrust and cybersecurity litigation. 'Outstanding' New York partner Jay Gerzog continues to assist Kaleido Health Solutions with the structuring and implementation of a national telemedicine services platform, while 'high-level negotiator' Eric Klein represented R1 RCM in the drafting of a long-term outsourcing agreement with Intermountain Healthcare for the procurement of technological patient care tracking and documentation services. 'Dedicated and confident medical transactions expert' Jeralin Cardoso is another name to note in California, having represented First Colonies Anesthesia Associates in its partnership with US Anethesia Partners.

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense Tier 4

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP handles the full range of labor and employment disputes, from single plaintiff cases to class actions. The team is jointly led by Kelly Hensley, Greg Labate and Jonathan Stoler, who are based in Los Angeles, Orange County and New York respectively. Palo Alto's Paul Cowie successfully represented Swift Transportation in a wage-and-hour rest break putative class action, as well as Granite Rock in a wage-and-hour case, which had multiple millions of dollars at risk. The Century City-based Thomas Kaufman was able to obtain a victory for Cox Communication when a judge granted a class-wide summary judgment on the claim for failure to pay field technicians for certain time spent driving in company vehicles. Derek Havel, Daniel McQueen as well as Tracey Kennedy and Richard Simmons in Los Angeles are noted. In March 2018, Denise Giraudo became a part of the team in Washington DC, joining from Ogletree Deakins, and, shortly after, Stephen Fox joined in Dallas from Polsinelli PC. Travis Anderson and Justine Phillips in San Diego and Robert Mussig in Los Angeles made partner.

Real estate Tier 4

The ‘very client-friendly, knowledgeable, personable and expert in its field’ Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is particularly adept at handling transactional and land-use matters. The firm advises on large build-to-suit office development projects, mixed-use projects, joint ventures as well as the financing of large private real estate developments, and is known for its strong presence in California but also deals with matters in New York, Washington DC and Chicago. San Francisco-based Keith Garner and San Diego-based Nancy Scull, who is ‘careful, pragmatic and an expert in community governance matters’, head the team. Los-Angeles-based James Pugh advised Lightstone Group on obtaining approval for the $700m Fig + Pico Conference Center Hotels project. Thomas Masenga, who is also based in Los Angeles, advised the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System on a $1.1bn loan to a Blackstone fund. Another highlight included acting as lead land-use counsel to The Peebles Corporation, MacFarlane Partners and Claridge Properties in relation to the $1.5bn mixed-use Angels Landing project in Los Angeles. Other key practitioners include Los Angeles-based Pamela Westhoff, Alfred Fraijo and Orange County-based Scott Morehouse. Peter Koffler joined the New York office in late 2018 from Venable LLP.

Technology transactions Tier 4

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP was recently strengthened by the arrival of Daniel E. Schnapp in New York, who joined the practice from Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and jointly heads the team alongside San Francisco-based Brian D. Anderson and San Diego-based Michael D. Orlando. In addition, Los Angeles-based Sidney S. Fohrman joined the practice group from Barnes & Thornburg LLP in March 2018. Of late, the team negotiated various agreements for Viacom in connection to the implementation of a consumer data platform, which was designed to collect, process and analyze consumer data across the Viacom media network. The firm also advised the nonprofit music company ASCAP on the drafting and negotiation of a licensing agreement with Facebook for the right to publicly perform the client’s repertory of musical work embodied in audio-visual content distributed through Facebook.

Telecoms and broadcast: transactional Tier 4

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has strong experience in satellite matters, as well as advising a range of private equity clients in their telecoms investments. Practice head Brian Weimer focuses on satellite, wireless and media companies, recently handling Astra Capital Management's acquisition of Alpheus, a Texas-based competitive local exchange carrier, for $205m.  Weimer also recently acted for I Squared Capital in connection with its $1.9bn acquisition of Hutchison Telecom's fixed-line service, and assisted Global Eagle with satellite capacity purchases. Other key team members include Ray Rutngamlug, who specializes in communications service agreements, and associate Drew Svor. The firm's work with Ness Technologies is one of its most notable engagements, having represented the company in the proposed $325m cross-border sale of its digital solutions business to China-based HNA Group, as well as in litigation arising out of the subsequent failure of the transaction due to national security issues. While Weimer handled the corporate and national security issues in Ness' case, Paul Werner handled the litigation issues, and leads the firm's advice to social network Snap, which includes transactional and strategic matters concerning its move into mass media content.

Trademarks: litigation Tier 4

At Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, co-head Laura Chapman and Michelle Kahn obtained a preliminary injunction for Newmark Realty Capital prohibiting Newmark & Co from using ‘Newmark’ as a trademark for commercial mortgage services. Another high-profile engagement for Chapman saw her defend RockStar Hotels from a claim by Hard Rock alleging that the client used a lookalike name and website to give the impression that it was connected to the Hard Rock Café brand. In New York, Ted Max is representing Chanel with a claim of false advertising and unfair competition against What Comes Around Goes Around and other defendants. Named attorneys are based in San Francisco unless otherwise stated.

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 5

The group at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is jointly chaired by Bryan Daly and Charles Kreindler in Los Angeles and Raymond Marshall in San Francisco. Areas of expertise include securities fraud, government procurement irregularities, public corruption, cyber crime, customs violations, healthcare fraud and abuse, and environmental crimes.