Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP > San Francisco, > Firm Profile
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Offices
FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER
SEVENTEENTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111
CALIFORNIA
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Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
United States > Real estate > Land use/zoning Tier 2
United States > Antitrust > Cartel Tier 3
Clients seek out Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP‘s cartel team for its strong cartel litigation capabilities, having successfully represented a number of corporates and individual executives from a range of industries in major US civil and criminal cartel proceedings. The tech industry is a particular area of expertise for the firm, as is real estate and food. Leo Caserio now heads the team from Washington DC, regularly acting for clients in international cartel proceedings and government investigations, and has broad industrial experience, including consumer electronics and automotive parts. Michael Cohen, also in DC, is an active cartel defense litigator currently representing executives at Reynolds & Reynolds in the ongoing tuna canning cartel investigation. Mike Scarborough and Dylan Ballard left the firm in January 2023. Ann O’Brien, formerly at Baker Hostetler, joined the firm’s DC office in February 2023.Practice head(s):
Leo Caseria
Other key lawyers:
Michael Cohen; Ann O’Brien
Key clients
Continental Automotive
Reynolds & Reynolds Company
ESET LLC
Jain Irrigation Inc.
Fuyao Glass America Inc.
San Francisco Association of Realtors
Work highlights
- Representing Continental Automotive Systems Inc., who sued three large holders of patents essential to practicing the 2G, 3G and 4G cellular standards, accusing them of colluding via patent pool Avanci LLC to artificially inflate royalties.
- Representing Reynolds and Reynolds Company in antitrust federal investigations, state attorney general investigations, federal multidistrict litigation and federal lawsuits challenges state regulations, all relating to alleged data access disputes in the market for automotive computer system software.
United States > Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 4
The antitrust practice at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has an expertise in the multifamily, technology and food and beverages sectors, and offers experience acting for key clients such as Samsung Electronics in multidistrict litigation alleging monopolization and exclusionary conduct, and Cyient in an antitrust class action concerning no poach agreements. In Washington DC, head of the antitrust team Leo Caseria has successfully litigated many cases involving allegations of antitrust violations under the Sherman and Clayton Acts and advises clients on many competition issues relating to compliance and intellectual property. Of counsel Michael Cohen has recently been involved in private civil antitrust lawsuits for the firm’s longstanding client The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. Ann O’Brien, formerly at BakerHostetler, joined the firm’s DC office in February 2023. Michael Scarborough and Dylan Ballard left the firm in January 2023.
Practice head(s):
Leo Caseria
Other key lawyers:
Michael Cohen; Helen Eckert; Joy Siu
Key clients
Continental Automotive Systems Inc.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Mastercard International
ESET LLC
Jain Irrigation Inc.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Fuyao Glass America Inc.
ACT, Inc.
San Francisco Association of Realtors
Reynolds & Reynolds Company
Cal Portland Company
Cyient Inc.
Odem International
Markstein Beverage
Work highlights
- Representing and defending Cyient Inc. in a putative antitrust class action, in which defense contractor employees accuse defense contractor Raytheon Technologies (through its Pratt & Whitney division) of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy with its subcontractors to restrict the hiring and recruiting of engineers and skilled laborers working on aerospace projects.
- Representing Hartford HealthCare Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Hartford Hospital, in litigation filed by Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in January 2022.
- Representing CalPortland Company in its antitrust claim against the four major US railroads.
United States > Antitrust > Merger control Tier 4
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has a prolific record in HSR filings and merger review processes, advising a wide range of businesses and private equity investors on approvals for deals in diverse sectors, with a particularly strong focus on the healthcare space. The team also offers significant agency review and contentious expertise through John Carroll, a former FTC official who represents clients before the DOJ Antitrust Division, FTC, and international and state antitrust enforcement authorities. Bevin Newman specializes in healthcare antitrust matters, advising on merger control cases relating to acquisitions, collaboration agreements, and joint ventures across the sector, while Century City-based David Garcia is a key name for contested mergers, regularly representing hospital and physician groups. Leo Caseria specializes in HSR filings, while special counsel Malika Levarlet focuses on approvals for cross-border transactions. Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.Other key lawyers:
Key clients
U.S. Brick
VillageMD
BitGo
LabCorp
Quixote Studios
Work highlights
- Representing VillageMD in its agreement to acquire Summit Health-CityMD.
- Representing U.S. Brick, a leading manufacturer of bricks and other building materials in the United States, as the purchaser of certain assets being divested by Meridian and General Shale, pursuant to a Department of Justice, Antitrust Division Consent Decree.
- Represented BitGo in antitrust aspects of its $1.2 billion acquisition by Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd.
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 4
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has an experienced cross-disciplinary technology transactions team which combines a mixtire of corporate, IP, and entertainment and media lawyers. The firm has been particularly busy advising media and entertainment companies on NFT launches, while on the M&A side, it assisted Sony Interactive Entertainment on its acquisition of the Seattle-based videogame developer Valkyrie Entertainment. The ‘responsive and knowledgeable‘ Brian Anderson and Daniel Schnapp in New York jointly lead the team with Michael Orlando in San Diego and Marisa Brutoco in Orange County. ‘Excellent’ associate, Brittany Walter (San Diego), is also singled out for her ‘good eye towards substantive legal issues‘.Practice head(s):
Brian Anderson; Michael Orlando; Daniel Schnapp; Marisa Brutoco
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Brian Anderson is a responsive and knowledgeable partner who is able to advise on a wide variety of issues from straight up technology licensing to sweepstakes and contests to music licensing.’
Work highlights
- Strategic counsel and transactional support to the Non-Fungible Token platform Async Art, advising on the nuanced intellectual property issues arising out of the launch of Async’s music based offering (Async Music).
- Represented Sony Interactive Entertainment in several major gaming transactions over the last year including its agreement to acquire Seattle-based videogame developer Valkyrie Entertainment, and the acquisition of Bluepoint Games.
- Advised Under Armour in its first NFT launch into the Metaverse with digital Steph Curry Sneakers.
United States > Energy > Renewable/alternative power
The energy, infrastructure and project finance team at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP continued its growth in 2022, with notable new hires including San Francisco’s expert for power purchase agreements Thomas W. Solomon, regulatory and transactional renewables partner Joseph Karp, real estate lawyers Lisa Cottle in San Francisco and Los Angeles based Christine A. Kolosov, all four joining from Winston & Strawn LLP in April 2022. The team is led jointly by Chicago’s Katherine M. Gillespie and Anthony L. Toranto in Del Mar, who each have extensive experience in the structuring, financing, acquisition, and disposal of renewables projects. The firm advises on projects including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, hydrogen and storage, and is particularly strong on tax equity financing, with Chicago tax partners Amit Kalra and Andrew Ratts both recommended here. With a particular focus on transactions, such as lending, leasing and tax credit, Chicago’s Katarzyna Levecke is also noted.Practice head(s):
Katherine M. Gillespie; Anthony L. Toranto
Other key lawyers:
Thomas W. Solomon; Joseph Karp; Lisa Cottle; Christine A. Kolosov; Katherine Gillespie; Anthony Toranto; Amit Kalra; Andrew Ratts, Katarzyna Levecke
Key clients
Aypa Power, LLC
Brookfield Power U.S. Asset Management LLC
EDF Renewable Energy, Inc.
EDP Renewables North America
Hecate Energy LLC
Invenergy LLC
Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd.
NexAmp
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
Peninsula Clean Energy
RWE Renewables Americas, LLC
Solar Aquagrid, LLC
U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation
Volvo
Wells Fargo, N.A.
174 Power Global
Akuo Energy USA Inc.
Arevon Energy, Inc.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC
Capital Power Corporation
Citadel Energy Marketing, LLC
Clearway Renewables LLC
Clenera, LLC
ConnectGen Operating LLC
Cordelio Power
Cubico USA, LLC
Eastern Generation LLC
ENGIE North America Inc.
Eni S.p.A.
Enyo Renewable Energy
Eolian, L.P.
Falck Renewables
Fifth Third Bank
Goldwind USA, Inc.
Guzman Energy, LLC
Hitachi Energy USA Inc.
LATAM Power, Inc.
Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC
Naturgy Candela DevCo LLC
NRG Energy, Inc.
Open Road Renewables
Oriden (Mitsubishi Power Americas)
Ormat Nevada, Inc.
Pattern Energy Management Services LLC
Ranger Power
RC Energy
SPG Solar Inc.
sPower, LLC
Starwood Energy Group
Strata Solar Development, LLC
Sunrun Inc.
Tenaska
Terra-Gen LLC
United Renewable Energy, LLC
United States Solar Corporation
Vesper Energy
V-Grid Energy Systems
V-ridium Oak Creek Renewables, LLC
Wind Wall Development, LLC
Work highlights
- Represented Brookfield Power in several equipment procurements and construction agreements for a variety of large and small utility scale projects across the U.S.
- Represented the Green Hydrogen Coalition as the leader of a large consortium of investors, off-takers, producers, utilities, government agencies and public interest groups called HyDeal-LA Phase I, for the creation of a structure for a green hydrogen hub in Southern California.
- Represented Aypa Power, LLC in connection with a non-recourse construction-to-term loan financing for a standalone battery storage project.
United States > Healthcare > Health insurers
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s healthcare practice has seen continuous growth over the last decade, and the firm has a solid healthcare offering with a particular focus on insurance-related transactional and regulatory issues. The team has an especially strong West Coast presence, with much of the team based in California. In Century City, Eric Klein leads the team, with a particular focus on healthcare insurance-related M&A and market consolidation, while Lynsey Mitchel’s practice concentrates on HMO regulatory matters. Eric Newsom represents buyers, sellers, and investors in private equity and venture capital investment transactions from his base in San Francisco, and Los Angeles-based Moe Keshavarzi is a trial and appellate lawyer with a focus on healthcare entities and insurers in civil disputes and regulatory enforcement actions. Washington DC’s Christine Clements rounds out the team, focusing on state and federal managed healthcare government contract programs.Practice head(s):
Eric Klein
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Extremely knowledgeable and hard-working practice. Intelligent attorneys at all levels from junior associates to partners. The group is very collaborative.’
‘Knowledgeable and hardworking.’
Key clients
Blue Shield of California (BSC)
SCAN Health Plan
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc
Honest Medical Group LLP
Centene Corporation
California Association of Health Plans
Physicians Medical Group of San Jose, Inc.
Hartford HealthCare
United Health and Kaiser Permanente
Altais, Inc.
agilon health, inc.
Hawai’i Medical Service Association
Renal Payer Solutions, Inc.
Delta Dental
Work highlights
- Assisted Blue Shield California in the structuring and development of a joint venture with Walgreens, Inc. to create Blue Shield “Health Corners” inside California Walgreens locations.
- Advised SCAN Health Plan in connection with its launch of SCAN Affirm, a first-of-its-kind Medicare Advantage plan for seniors in the LGBTQ+ community.
- Represented Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. in connection with the San Diego Attorneys’ allegations that three health plans misled consumers by publishing inaccurate healthcare provider directories, which violated California’s Unfair Competition Law.
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s privacy and cybersecurity team frequently advises high-profile clients in the retail sector on privacy counseling, breach response and high-stakes litigation. Craig Cardon and Liisa Thomas co-lead the practice- the former, based in Century City, focuses on representing retail brands, ad agencies and technology platforms in intersecting advertising and data matters, such as false advertising and consumer privacy class actions. The latter, in Chicago, leverages her global experiences to assist clients on worldwide security programs and navigate data breach notification mandates. Del Mar-based Wynter Deagle designs and implements global privacy and cybersecurity programs, while Moorari Shah in Los Angeles assists clients on complying with state and federal consumer protection laws and regulations. Retail, fashion and beauty brands contact San Francisco-based Rachel Hudson for advice on compliance with domestic and international privacy laws. New York-based seasoned litigator Kari Rollins works on data breach internal investigations and data privacy counselling matters.Practice head(s):
Craig Cardon; Liisa Thomas
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Liisa Thomas and her team have provided expert guidance to our privacy team. They have helped us meet compliance requirements while keeping the program simple and easy to manage.’
‘Liisa Thomas has an expertise in privacy, but she can present it at a level that is easy to understand and implement. She sorts through the information to present what is relevant and needed for our situation.’
‘Moorari Shah is a clear industry expert and leader in his field.’
Key clients
County of Los Angeles
Insight Global LLC
Rockley Photonics, Inc.
Sports Warehouse
Nestle Purina PetCare
Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Levi Strauss & Co.
Digital Realty Trust
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Forge Global, Inc.
Kontoor Brands, Inc.
Burberry
ZARA USA, Inc.
CDW LLC
United States > Environment > Environment: litigation
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has a strong track record in soil and groundwater contamination, hazardous waste, and air quality cases, and represents clients before judicial tribunals, as well as in disputes. The practice offers ancillary advice in regulatory and permitting matters and is well versed in interacting with various US regulators. The firm has a substantial presence on the West Coast and the team is led by Jeffrey Parker and Whitney Roy in Los Angeles, who both act for high-profile oil and gas, and aerospace companies. San Francisco’s Nicholas Van Aelstyn has 25 years’ experience in litigation, enforcement and regulatory compliance.Practice head(s):
Jeffrey Parker; Whitney Roy
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
International Emissions Trading Association
PRP group at the Yosemite Slough Superfund Site
ESCO Group LLC, a division of The Weir Group PLC
RWE Renewables Americas, LLC
Soco West, Inc. and Brenntag Pacific, Inc.
Hanson Aggregates Mid-Pacific, Inc., Lehigh Hanson, Inc. and Martin Marietta
Trojan Battery Company, LLC
OPI Products, Inc.
Protective Industrial Products, Inc., West Chester Holdings, Inc. and Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC
Cosori
Annenberg Foundation
Work highlights
- Retained by IETA to provide advice regarding aspects of California’s carbon emission cap-and-trade program, including to analyze the effect of the current December 31, 2030 sunset date for the program and to provide advice regarding future legislative and regulatory fixes to extend the life of the program and improve the program elements.
- Representing a nine-member PRP group at the Yosemite Slough Superfund Site, the largest contaminated sediment site in EPA Region 9.
- Representing ESCO Corporation with respect to the Portland Harbor Superfund site in Portland, Oregon, one of the country’s Superfund mega-sites.
United States > Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP offers extensive experience and knowledge of contractor licensing, insurance coverage, and surety bond mandates concerning design and construction, also handling dispute and transactional matters on behalf of a breadth of clients including contractors, design professionals and REITs on public and private projects. Co-head Erinn Contreras is located in San Francisco and drafts and negotiates a diversity of construction contracts, in addition to her contentious workload which includes defect and delay, cost overrun, product liability claims, mechanic’s lien and quiet title disputes. New York-based Ira Schulman co-leads the team and has appeared before several jury and bench trials in state and federal courts as well as arbitration panels in the representation of contractors, owners, school districts, subcontractors, and sureties. John Yacovelle is based in California and is particularly focused on energy and Native American law, while associate Emily Anderson works from New York and has overseen a multitude of mandates including breaches of contract, delay damage and construction lending issues.Practice head(s):
Erinn Contreras; Ira Schulman
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘This firm provides both creativity and diligence to its clients. The team are relatable and passionate about their approach to difficult issues.’
‘The firm’s wide array of experts is a great asset to our company. They are able to tackle several different issues and pull from a spectrum of resources to get us the best counsel for the situation. It is great to have a firm that can be a one-stop shop for all things legal.’
‘They seem to have a very collaborative approach and genuinely care about our business.’
‘The attention to detail, deadlines plus time for our internal team to perform reviews, and our company’s business goals in addition to legal ones, keeps us continually looking for ways to draw upon Sheppard’s services. Their offering is truly world-class.’
‘The individuals we work with, specifically Ira Schulman and Emily Anderson, strike the right balance of counselor and zealous advocate. There have been times where our team’s various opinions on how to approach a problem or need are not fully aligned, and Ira and Emily have effortlessly stepped in to bring some much needed counsel/perspective.’
Key clients
Digital Realty Trust
Vantage Data Centers
Eurofins Environment Testing
BRIDGE Housing
POSIBL Project/Kind Farms
1400 Cahuenga JV, LLC
Evolve Charging USA Corp.
DM Development Partners, LLC
Signature Healthcare Services, LLC
Pasadena Oaks Life Properties, LLC
San Diego Gas & Electric
Lightstone Group, Bedford Avenue Associates LLC, Stonehill & Taylor Architects, P.C.
Sciame Construction LLC
County of Westchester (New York, NY)
JDS Development
WDF Inc.
City Harvest
Mack Real Estate Capital Group, LLC
Work highlights
- Acted as counsel to Digital Realty, handling a wide variety of matters for the company including litigation and disputes related to construction and product defects, design issues, real estate, and vendor and customer agreements.
- Acted as construction counsel to Vantage Data Centers, handling a wide variety of matters, including negotiating and drafting construction and design agreements and providing advice and counseling on a variety of construction-related issues.
- Represented Lightstone Group in connection with its development of the Williamsburg Moxy Hotel, a 210-room approximately 12-story, branded hotel, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
United States > Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is known for its experience in wage and hour claims and handling litigation and is headed by Kelly Hensley Los Angeles and Jonathan Stoler in New York. The team is experienced in industries such as healthcare, retail, financial services, transportation, fashion, and hospitality. Recent work includes obtaining a defense verdict for the University of Southern California in a sexual assault and retaliation case, and acting on Groupon’s behalf for a trade secrets and non-compete case.Practice head(s):
Kelly Hensley; Jonathan Stoler
Testimonials
‘Paul Cowie is our primary relationship partner and I wish all of my outside counsel were as knowledgeable and responsive as him. His deep expertise and clear and practical recommendations have been invaluable in urgent employment matters. I have recommended him to all of my in-house colleagues at peer companies and made sure to engage him again when I moved companies.’
‘The firm and the team members we deal with are exceptional, remarkably responsive and truly dedicated to their clients. They are always available to us, taking a business-minded approach to addressing issues and meeting our needs.’
‘Kevin Cloutier and Mikela Sutrina are exceptional attorneys who are remarkably responsive, caring and dedicated.’
‘SM offers incredibly empathetic client service, and is always looking for ways to make in-house counsels’ lives easier. They are strong advocates and especially nimble on their feet, including in mediation settings. They are true partners that share in the team wins and losses.’
‘Paul Cowie takes particularly detailed ownership over relationships with his clients, and ensures that associates on his team get the proper recognition, visibility, and work opportunities.’
‘The attorneys I work with focus heavily on labor and employment matters, especially on non-compete and non-solicitation clauses. They are much more experienced and are better at oral argument and writing than the opposing parties.’
‘Kevin Cloutier, Mikela Sutrina and Matt Tobias have been outstanding. Extremely intelligent, experienced and use creative approach to allow for exceptional results.’
Key clients
Lyft, Inc.
In-N-Out Burger Corporation
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.
University of Southern California
Dale Poe Real Estate Group
CommonSpirit Health
Swift Transportation Co. of Arizona, LLC
Groupon Inc.
Strong Home Mortgage, LLC
NAV Consulting, Inc
Work highlights
- Secured a complete dismissal of all claims against Lyft, Inc. and an individual defendant driver on an anti-SLAPP motion with an award of fees against the plaintiff.
- Successfully represented client in an appeal in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in a case involving non-compete agreements for truck drivers.
- Represented Knight-Swift Transportation in a 51-plaintiff independent contractor wage and hour action that was resolved at mediation.
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Brian Anderson | Brian Anderson is a Partner in Sheppard Mullin’s San Francisco office. He… | View Profile | |
Mr Dylan Ballard | Dylan Ballard is a partner in the Antitrust and Competition Practice Group… | View Profile | |
Mr John Carroll | John D. Carroll is a partner in the Antitrust & Competition Practice… | View Profile | |
Erinn Contreras | Erinn Contreras is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in… | View Profile | |
Lisa Cottle | Lisa Cottle is a partner in the Real Estate, Energy, Land Use &… | View Profile | |
Mr Keith Garner | Keith Garner is a partner and Practice Group Leader of the Real… | View Profile | |
Rachel Hudson | Rachel Tarko Hudson is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group… | View Profile | |
Joseph Karp | Joe Karp is a partner in the Real Estate, Energy, Land Use &… | View Profile | |
Mr Ori Katz | Ori Katz is a partner and Practice Group Leader of the Finance… | View Profile | |
Eric Newsom | Eric A. Newsom is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in… | View Profile | |
Mike Scarborough | Mike Scarborough is Chair of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Practice Group… | View Profile | |
Thomas W. Solomon | Tom Solomon is a partner in the Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance… | View Profile | |
Nicholas Van Aelstyn | Nicholas W. (“Nico”) van Aelstyn is a partner in the Real Estate, Energy,… | View Profile |
- United States > Real estate > Land use/zoning
Firm Rankings
- United States > Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- United States > Antitrust > Merger control
- United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions
- United States > Energy > Renewable/alternative power
- United States > Healthcare > Health insurers
- United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
- United States > Environment > Environment: litigation
- United States > Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
- United States > Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)