China/Technology Expert Tony D. Chen Joins Sheppard Mullin in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - November 17, 2008) - Tony D. Chen has joined the Los Angeles office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm's Intellectual Property practice group and will be splitting his time between that office and the firm's Shanghai office. Chen most recently practiced in the Santa Monica office of Bingham McCutchen.

Chen specializes in complex litigation concerning patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition and related matters. His practice also includes commercial litigation involving business transactions, contract disputes and corporate affairs. Chen represents both U.S. and international clients in numerous district and California state courts, as well as at the U.S. International Trade Commission, and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and has obtained hundreds of patents for his clients. The technologies involved in his cases range from telecommunication and computer networks, computer hardware devices, software programs, and digital signal-processing algorithms and implementation to consumer electronics and home appliances, mechanical systems and automated machinery, medical and therapeutic instruments and surgical equipment, and environmental recycling and energy generation.

"Tony is an excellent fit to both our IP practice group and China practice, given his patent law expertise and his focus on representing companies founded by Chinese-Americans. We continue to add breadth and depth to our IP practice, much of which has a technology focus," said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm.

Earlier this month, patent litigator Joy Arnold joined Sheppard Mullin's New York office. In September, trademark expert Hal Milstein joined the firm's Silicon Valley office. Blaine Templeman joined the firm in August to head Sheppard Mullin's Biotech Clinical Contracting team. All three Intellectual Property partners previously practiced with Heller Ehrman.

Commented Chen, "With a Los Angeles headquarters and an office in Shanghai, Sheppard Mullin provides an excellent platform to grow my practice. The firm's support of continued IP practice expansion and a commitment to expand its Asian client base is very attractive to me, given my affiliation with the local Chinese-American business community and representation of many Far East-based companies."

"Tony has a superb reputation in Greater China. His arrival provides our aggressive cross-border IP practice with an ideal anchor in Los Angeles and further strengthens the link between our offices in the U.S. and China," said David Huebner, the firm's chief representative in China.

Chen has a broad educational background in both theoretical and applied physics as well as extensive experience in mechanical and electrical engineering and computer-related technologies. He was a research assistant at the Beijing Institute of Technology, working on several projects involving computer and automated-machinery technologies. Chen spent two years as an engineer for a computer manufacturer where he worked on many different types of computer systems and developed several software programs for database management and data-processing applications using various advanced computer languages. He also was involved in aerospace research programs funded by NASA in his two years at the Denver Research Institute of University of Denver.

Chen received a J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1994, an M.S. in Physics from California State University at Northridge in 1986 and an B.S. in Physics from Peking University in 1982.

Sheppard Mullin has more than 200 attorneys based in its Los Angeles offices. The firm's Intellectual Property practice group includes 70 attorneys firmwide.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with more than 560 attorneys in 11 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, Silicon Valley, 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: Tony D. Chen (213) 617-5452 Vickie Spang (213) 617-4186