Seasoned Environmental Partner, Randy Visser, Joins Sheppard Mullin Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 5, 2007 -- Randolph C. Visser has joined the Los Angeles office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as part of the firm's Construction, Environmental, Real Estate and Land Use Litigation practice group. Visser most recently practiced with Morgan Lewis in Los Angeles.

Visser specializes in environmental regulatory compliance, environmental enforcement defense and administrative and judicial litigation. He has significant experience and expertise in CEQA, NEPA, Proposition 65, and federal, state and local environmental, water and air quality laws, including particularly the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) Program and other market incentive environmental programs.

"Randy's practice adds depth to our strong environmental and land use groups in Los Angeles," said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm. "We're very pleased to welcome Randy to the firm. His regulatory knowledge and expertise, particularly related to air quality, is a valuable addition in our ability to serve clients."

Commented Visser, "I am excited to be part of the firm's formidable California environmental practice and am looking forward to working closely with this talented group in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego."

Visser represents numerous commercial, manufacturing, transportation, energy and government contract-related businesses concerning the land use and environmental permitting of complex development projects (including as a member of the California multi-agency permit-streamlining "Red and Green Teams") and regulatory compliance and litigation before federal, state and local agencies (including the Cal-EPA, California State Lands Commission, Coastal Commission, the SCAQMD, and other air, waste, and water regulatory agencies), as well as in federal and state courts.

Visser earned a J.D. from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1974 and a B.A. from Northwestern University in 1971.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with 490 attorneys in nine offices located throughout California and in New York and Washington, D.C. The firm's California offices are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Century City, Orange County, Del Mar Heights and San Diego. Sheppard Mullin provides legal expertise and counsel to U.S. and international clients in a wide range of practice areas, including Antitrust, Corporate and Securities; Entertainment, Media and Communications; Finance and Bankruptcy; Government Contracts; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Litigation; Real Estate/Land Use; Tax/Employee Benefits/Trusts & Estates; and White Collar Defense. The firm was founded in 1927. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Randy Visser (213) 617-4144 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542