Complex Business Litigation Partner Chris Reeder Joins Sheppard Mullin Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - July 11, 2007) - Christopher S. Reeder has joined the Los Angeles office of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP as part of the firm's Business Trial practice group. Reeder, and a team of three attorneys who are joining Sheppard Mullin with him, most recently practiced with Lord, Bissell & Brook in Los Angeles.

Reeder represents clients in the areas of commercial law, real estate, franchise, business practices, intellectual property, employment and labor, construction, aviation, entertainment, hospitality and class action litigation. He also counsels clients in real estate transactions, lending and brokerage laws, construction contracting and licensure requirements, advertising, business practices, and employment law.

Reeder is joined by special counsel Beverly Lu and associates Gabriel Green and Gene Wu.

"Chris brings diverse trial experience to our litigation group, one of the firm's core practices. The team's practice dovetails well with other key groups in the Los Angeles office, such as real estate, employment and IP," said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm.

Commented Reeder, "I am enthusiastic about joining the firm with my former team, as well as to be working with the great lawyers here. Sheppard Mullin has a large, solid platform for my practice. The firm is entrenched in Los Angeles with an excellent reputation and has a significant presence in the region's business community."

"Chris is a skilled practitioner and excellent addition to our Business Trial practice group," said Robert Beall, chair of the firm's Business Trial practice group. "He litigates and provides counsel to clients in a variety of legal fields, and the team will add depth in areas like franchise law and class actions."

Sheppard Mullin's downtown Los Angeles office has more than 150 attorneys, half of whom are litigators. In total, the firm has approximately 250 litigation attorneys in ten offices.

Reeder received his J.D., magna cum laude, from University of Dayton School of Law in 1997 and his B.S. from the University of the State of New York in 1993.

About Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with 490 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: Chris Reeder (213) 617-4254 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542