Sheppard Mullin Names Bob Neufeld to Newly Created Chief Talent Officer Position

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - October 1, 2007) - Robert Neufeld has joined Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP as the firm's first Chief Talent Officer (CTO), based in the Los Angeles office. As CTO, Neufeld leads all of the functions that affect the associate lifecycle: recruiting, performance and development, diversity and inclusion, and direct practice group support. He was most recently Director of Talent Management at Blank Rome LLP in New York. Neufeld has an extensive background in human resources and employee relations, having also held executive level management positions at BearingPoint Inc., ChaseMellon Financial Group and Shearson Lehman Brothers.

Joining Neufeld is Carol Ross-Burnett as Sheppard Mullin's first Manager of Diversity and Inclusion. Ross-Burnett will manage and support the firm's existing diversity efforts and develop new internal and external diversity initiatives. She most recently provided diversity training and consulting services to the legal profession as the Principal of CRB Consulting in Los Angeles. Prior to consulting, Ross-Burnett was Assistant Dean for Career Services & Multicultural Affairs at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

"Sheppard Mullin has been a leader in this area. I am excited to help the firm build on its success in the role of Chief Talent Officer, and am pleased to have Carol join me to head up our diversity efforts," said Neufeld. "In creating the CTO role, the firm is again demonstrating vision and leadership. The legal industry faces increasingly complex challenges, all of which are directly or indirectly related to its success in attracting and leading our people. I'm delighted to join the firm's leaders in that effort."

"After years of addressing diversity issues in the legal profession and in organizations at the local, state and national levels, I am delighted to bring my experience to Sheppard Mullin," said Ross-Burnett. "I am impressed with the firm's commitment to diversity, confirmed by its rankings in the Minority Law Journal and MultiCultural Law magazine. I look forward to helping further position Sheppard Mullin as a leader in this area."

"Talent management and diversity are two of the firm's top priorities. We need, and our clients demand, a team of attorneys that is the best of the brightest and is as diverse as the world in which we practice," commented Robert Beall, the firm's administrative partner. "Bob's background and success in talent management makes him an ideal choice for this leadership position. We are pleased to welcome him and Carol as part of our strategic initiative in this area."

About Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with 500 attorneys in 10 offices located throughout California and in New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanghai. The firm's California offices are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Century City, Orange County, Del Mar Heights and San Diego. Founded in 1927 on the principle that the firm would succeed only if its attorneys delivered prompt, high quality and cost-effective legal services, Sheppard Mullin provides legal counsel to U.S. and international clients. Companies turn to Sheppard Mullin to handle a full range of corporate and technology matters, high stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm's clients include more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Bob Neufeld (213) 617-5430 Carol Ross-Burnett (213) 617-4128 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542