The Sheppard Mullin Difference
“Innovative,” “outstanding attorneys,” “significant experience,” “responsive,” “cost-effective,” “value,” “diverse” – you’ve heard it all. And, admittedly, we use those words to describe ourselves as well. It is important to be all those things – and we are.
So what is the Sheppard Mullin difference? The answer is: YOU. Our clients are our focus. We believe in service, service and...more service.
We are a firm that truly puts clients first. And this sets us apart. We don’t just give lip service to client service. Every attorney and staff member has a plaque in his/her work space listing our client service expectations. We regularly give “Clients First” awards to attorneys and staff members who “go the extra mile” for our clients. Client service is part of our culture and permeates everything we do.
At the end of the day, however, these are just words. It’s all about how we work with you. Service is job number one. You will be able to tell once we meet you and begin working together.
FAST FACTS
We Put Clients First.
The Firm is organized not only around Practice Groups but also Industry and Client Teams. We recognize that when seeking outside counsel, clients typically want attorneys who understand their industry and business and can bring a practical perspective to the practice of law. We have formed interdisciplinary teams that focus on the following industries: Aerospace & Defense; Advertising; Blockchain & Fintech; Cannabis; Financial Services; Hospitality; Life Sciences/FDA; Mortgage Banking; Non-Profit; and Transportation.
Below we spotlight a few of our major industry teams.
Industry and Client Teams
Sheppard Mullin’s communications attorneys represent the world’s most important telecommunications companies in significant regulatory, transactional and litigation matters. Our clients come from all corners of the communications industry, including major cable and broadband Internet providers, fiber optic companies, domestic and international satellite operators, technology companies and social media networks. Clients turn to our telecom team for focused insight and zealous representation on their most complex issues before the Federal Communications Commission, state regulatory commissions and the International Telecommunications Union, as well as for cutting-edge issues related to new technologies, net neutrality and other federal, state and local efforts to regulate broadband Internet access providers. Our clients also seek representation in high-stakes litigation and to address regulatory issues of first impression applicable to the entire communications industry. In addition, we regularly advise clients (both financial and strategic) on major cross-border M&A activity in the telecommunications industry.
TELECOM TEAM
Our Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance Team consists of more than 50 attorneys with conventional electrical power, oil and natural gas and renewable energy experience. The team has a deep understanding of the technical, business and political aspects of the energy industry. Whether our clients’ goals relate to conventional hydrocarbon fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency or climate change and emissions trading, our team combines the experience and practical know-how to help our clients achieve their goals. Our clients occupy every level of the energy supply chain and include electricity and gas transmission and pipeline operators, public utilities, independent power producers, industrial energy consumers, EPC contractors, project developers, commercial banks, equity and tax investors and energy technology companies, as well as industry associations and national regulators. Our attorneys help clients navigate tax and financial structures across state, regional, federal and international markets. Our team has industry-leading experience negotiating commercial contracts and financing agreements for renewable power in connection with both debt and tax equity transactions. We advise on matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as on interconnection and other matters subject to federal and other regulatory jurisdiction. Our global practice handles cross-border transactions with ease and helps clients navigate the complex and evolving international landscape. We also assist our clients with sensitive global trade, sanctions and government affairs advice and represent them in regulatory investigations, litigation and arbitration proceedings around the world.
Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance TEAM
The firm’s Food and Beverage Industry Team helps food and beverage clients build their businesses, grow their brands and increase their bottom lines with experienced representation. We represent more than 200 food and beverage clients, ranging from startups to multinational corporations. We help with issues ranging from day-to-day counseling on compliance, employment, financings and corporate matters, to emergency events such as brand litigation and helping prepare for growth events. The food and beverage industry is among the most competitive and globally linked of all business sectors. To ensure a company is on the cutting edge, it needs a law firm that understands its business and can assist in expanding into new markets and developing new business strategies that capitalize on the global market, while protecting the company’s products and brands along the way.
Food and Beverage Team
Our 200+ attorney full-service, national Healthcare Team is experienced in healthcare transactions, healthcare regulations, health plan licensing, compliance, reimbursement, governance, fraud and abuse, payor and provider contracting, antitrust, tax, non-profit, financing, information technology, employment, HIPAA, artificial intelligence, cyber security, litigation and real estate. We are one of the few law firms with attorneys in California, New York and Washington, D.C. devoted 100 percent to healthcare. Highly ranked and named one of the “Largest Healthcare Law Firms” by Modern Healthcare, our healthcare clients have made these comments about Sheppard Mullin’s team: “They enjoy a sophisticated reputation for having the talent to move projects along.” “Their healthcare team is responsive and solution-oriented, providing excellent client service.” “Particularly strong in large transactions.” “Deep bench strength.” In short, clients who want to innovate contact Sheppard Mullin – for population health management, global risk, vertical integration, strategic alliances and game-changing transactions.
Healthcare Team
We work with hospitality clients to develop strategies that optimize their objectives and help them succeed by providing innovative counsel shaped by our knowledge of the industry. Our clients include hotel brands, operators, developers, restaurants, lenders, investors and construction professionals. We represent clients in all aspects of the hospitality business — from full and limited service hotels to boutique and lifestyle hotels, from beach and golf resorts to resort condominiums and timeshares and from destination and fast casual restaurants to entertainment centers and casinos. Our vertically integrated hospitality team delivers a seamless set of resources and counseling in acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, fund formation, foreign investment, EB-5, franchise agreements, hotel management agreements, data privacy, food and beverage agreements, labor and employment counseling, training, handbooks, on-boarding, union issues, litigation, financing, bankruptcy and restructurings, ADA, land use, construction and development, as well as day-to-day operational matters.
Hospitality Team
We represent many of the nation’s largest insurers and have a track record of achieving outstanding results for our insurance company clients in their most challenging matters — from class actions to high exposure bad faith cases to complex coverage matters. The group also serves as national counsel for major insurers on institutional issues and other matters involving significant financial risk. We have defended our clients in class actions and other institutionally important matters throughout the country, in both state and federal court. Our attorneys are also appellate specialists who have contributed to the development of the law in the insurance area.
Insurance Team
Our 50 attorney global, interdisciplinary Privacy and Cybersecurity Team includes some of the most respected attorneys in the privacy space, including an attorney who literally “wrote the book” on data breach, award-winning privacy class action litigation practitioners and leading EU-based data protection experts. We partner with clients to help them extract value from the data they collect, while identifying and addressing regulatory compliance requirements and ensuring that data is appropriately protected. Our attorneys have experience responding to high-profile data breaches, including state-sponsored attacks, and the regulatory investigations, Congressional oversight and litigation that often follow such incidents. We litigate major privacy and security related class actions. We also provide strategic counsel to help companies understand emerging developments in this rapidly changing area of law, particularly with EU data collection and international data transfers. As data becomes more entwined with the enterprise value of businesses, we conduct data and privacy compliance due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other corporate and strategic transactions.
Privacy and cybersecurity Team
Core Practice Areas
Antitrust and Competition
At Sheppard Mullin, antitrust and competition law has been a premier practice for decades, as one of the firm’s name partners co-founded the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association. That tradition continues today with our highly ranked global antitrust and competition practice, with resources in California, Washington, D.C., New York, Brussels, London, Seoul and Shanghai.
Our U.S. antitrust attorneys, many formerly with the DOJ and U.S. Attorney’s Office, regularly appear before and litigate with the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and state attorneys general. They counsel clients and handle litigation involving the federal Sherman, Clayton and Robinson-Patman Acts, as well as state antitrust statutes, including California’s Cartwright Act, Unfair Practices Act and Unfair Competition Law. They also advise on global cartel, merger clearance and standard essential patent matters.
In the EU, our competition attorneys regularly appear before the European Commission, the national competition authorities and national courts of the EU Member States as well as before the Court of Justice and the General Court of the European Union. They advise on EU competition law (competition investigations, merger control and State aid) as well as on national competition law, on EU regulatory matters and EU public advocacy. They also coordinate and advise on strategy of multi-jurisdictional merger cases.
In Asia, our Chinese-qualified attorneys advise on China’sAnti-Monopoly law.
Our Corporate Practice Group is comprised of more than 160 transactional attorneys. Our capabilities include equity and debt investment and issuance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, securities, capital markets transactions (including initial public offerings and secondary offerings), 144A debt transactions, financing and restructuring transactions, fund formation, and compliance and governance advice, including public company 1934 Act advice. Our attorneys are able to capitalize on the firm’s depth and breadth to deliver turnkey transactional service, advice and resources. We also bring to our corporate clients an in-depth knowledge of such key industries as aerospace and defense; entertainment, technology and advertising; healthcare; mortgage banking; telecommunications; energy; food and beverage; automotive; and connected vehicle technologies.
Our corporate attorneys represent both private and institutional investors, including numerous venture, private equity and hedge funds. We advise public and private companies, ranging from start-ups and emerging platforms to middle market and Fortune 500 corporations. We serve this broad set of clients seamlessly across the U.S. and globally, leveraging our coast-to-coast U.S. footprint, Asian and European offices.
We strive to innovate for the benefit of our clients, whether through creative advice and out-of-the-box solutions, or providing state-of-the-art services such as our dedicated due diligence team that improves transactional efficiency and service levels. And we deliver on our clients’ expectations, whether it is the urgency and wherewithal to execute a “bet-the-company” deal or the practicality and cost sensitivity to deliver day-to-day legal counsel.
Sheppard Mullin’s corporate attorneys put the client first, solve problems — and get deals done.
Corporate
Our entertainment attorneys are recognized as leading attorneys in their field. On the transactional side, we represent prominent clients in the worldwide acquisition, development, production, financing, distribution and exploitation of motion pictures, television programming and other entertainment content across all media. We handle mergers and acquisitions of entertainment companies and their libraries and other assets, structure joint ventures and advise on strategic initiatives.
The scope of our practice mirrors the expanding breadth of the industry itself, encompassing not only traditional film and television, but also advertising, marketing and promotions, publishing, video games, music, sports, technology, virtual currencies and their interface with online, mobile and other digital platforms worldwide.
Our entertainment litigators are seasoned trial and appellate attorneys; we have tried some of the most high-profile cases in the industry and obtained numerous landmark decisions on appeal. We litigate participation accounting claims; disputed rights claims; and intellectual property cases involving cutting-edge copyright, trademark, idea submission, First Amendment and right of publicity issues and a host of other contractual disputes.
Entertainment and Digital Media
The firm’s experienced finance group is uniquely qualified to structure, negotiate and document finance transactions, including bilateral and syndicated commercial loans (both secured and unsecured); construction loans; second-lien, mezzanine and unitranche loans; bond financings; real estate loan portfolio purchases and sales; DIP financings; and leveraged and alternative lender transactions. Our finance group routinely works with our diversified industry-focused teams and utilizes technology to efficiently deliver industry-specific experience for debt transactions. Our strong knowledge of bankruptcy and workout issues also allows us to better protect our clients on the front end. Our client base includes a “Who’s Who” of commercial banks, other financial institutions, alternative lenders, lessors, venture capital groups, equity sponsors, other investors and corporate borrowers.
Finance
We help lenders, borrowers, creditors’ committees, boards of directors, manufacturers and suppliers of insolvent companies. Opportunistic investors also turn to us to successfully acquire strategically valuable assets from insolvent or troubled companies. In these time-sensitive financial crises, we have the cross-discipline resources to respond quickly and achieve creative and successful results. Our clients include secured lenders, debtors, bank groups, boards, bond holders, ad hoc and official creditors’ committees, indenture trustees, loan servicers, equity holders, real property and equipment lessors, bankruptcy trustees and purchasers.
We handle cross-border, national and regional insolvency matters, ranging in size and complexity from out-of-court loan workouts and financial restructurings to formal proceedings in multiple jurisdictions, creditors’ rights litigation, improper transfer and fiduciary duty litigation involving insolvent companies, bankruptcy litigation and appeals and distressed acquisitions. In the cross-border arena, we have considerable depth in restructurings and insolvencies involving Chinese companies, Asian businesses and offshore entities. To solve the multidisciplinary problems presented by U.S. and cross-border business insolvencies, we draw on our experience in ERISA, FCC, FDA, labor, intellectual property, M&A, real estate, securities and tax law, as well as deep industry knowledge in areas such as entertainment and media, aerospace and defense, hospitality, infrastructure, medical devices, pharmaceutical, retail, shipping, sports and technology.
Financial Restructuring and Insolvency
Attorneys in this practice guide clients through the complex maze of procurement regulations, export laws and U.S. sanctions rules that govern companies doing business with the U.S. Government and represent them in the event of litigation or government inquiries. We handle government contract disputes, bid protests, claims and internal investigations, and defend individuals and corporations in criminal, civil and administrative proceedings, including audits, fraud investigations, suspension/debarment proceedings, the False Claims Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act lawsuits.
We represent clients in proceedings before the federal courts, including the Court of Federal Claims and federal district courts; administrative tribunals, including the GAO, ODRA and the Boards of Contract Appeals; federal agencies such as the DOJ, SEC, HHS, DHS, DOD, EPA, DOE, GSA, DOT, HUD and CFIUS; state courts; and state, regional and local agencies. Our clients are leading companies in the aerospace and defense, information technology, intelligence, consulting, electronics, MRO, retail, healthcare, financial institutions, transportation, power and utilities industries.
Governmental
The firm’s intellectual property attorneys are dedicated to maximizing the value and strength of our clients’ IP. From structuring a sophisticated IP-based transaction to protecting our clients’ rights in bet-the-company litigation, we offer practical advice to help our clients achieve their objectives cost-effectively. Our broad bench covers patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets in depth. In addition, we routinely address business concerns in connection with Internet, intranets, e-mail and document/data retention policies, privacy and security and Open Source Software. We also offer cutting-edge advice in important related areas such as antitrust, unfair competition, counterfeiting, grey marketing and product diversion. Our clients’ intellectual property interests are well-represented in trials and appeals in federal and state courts, in arbitrations and mediations, and in adversarial proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the International and Federal Trade Commissions and other tribunals. Our attorneys work closely with businesses in the U.S., Asia and around the world in industries that include high tech, digital and social media, life sciences and telecommunications, tailoring solutions to meet each client’s unique needs and stage of development.
Intellectual Property
Our Labor and Employment Practice Group advises clients regarding their domestic and international employment issues. We provide counseling to employers on issues such as hiring, discipline, termination, compensation, leaves of absence, and severance, among others. Our attorneys defend employers in litigation involving wage and hour issues, wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, employee raiding, trade secrets and other related matters. We handle high stakes “bet-the-company” class actions, including wage and hour and discrimination cases. One of our partners literally wrote the book on wage and hour law that is used by clients and competitors alike.
We have a strong traditional labor team consisting of experts in union avoidance, collective bargaining, strikes, picketing and boycotts, union arbitrations, prevailing wage compliance and unfair labor practice charges.
We are also the go-to firm for immigration law. We handle visa applications, and have a long history with the EB-5 investor program. Our attorneys are recognized for their success with government-related immigration compliance investigations.
Labor & Employment
Our litigation practice involves all aspects of business disputes and commercial litigation, including antitrust, creditors’ rights, banking and financial institutions, construction, communications, general business, insurance, intellectual property, products liability, professional liability defense, real estate, environmental, securities, white collar criminal defense and trust and estate litigation.
The firm’s litigators possess exceptional trial and appellate skills and are familiar with state and federal courts at all levels, with significant experience in complex litigation and class actions.
We have in-depth knowledge of many industries, including automotive, banking, fashion, food and beverage, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, media, mortgage, real estate, retail, securities, technology, telecommunications and utilities. Our litigators also bring practical business judgment to the cases they handle, all of which contribute to our consistent delivery of quality legal services and cost-effective solutions that lead to successful results for our clients.
Our appellate attorneys are admitted to practice at every level of the federal appellate court system and up to the United States Supreme Court. We also represent our clients before leading international arbitration institutions, including ICC, ICSID, ICDR, AAA, PCA, CIETAC and LCIA, among others.
Litigation
Class Action
Our litigators have been at the forefront of the development of class action law. In courts throughout the country, we defend businesses in these actions from the relatively simple to the large and complex, often involving damage claims in excess of one billion dollars. Our attorneys have a successful record of handling all phases of class action defense – from providing advice regarding early resolution to identifying and executing a strategy to defeat the case through pleading motions, discovery, summary judgment, opposing class certification and at trial.
Construction & Infrastructure
We aggressively defend individuals and corporations in high-stakes investigations and litigation involving alleged business fraud, securities fraud, RICO, FCPA, False Claims Act violations, government procurement irregularities, public corruption, cyber-crime, customs violations, healthcare fraud and abuse, environmental crimes and tax fraud. Our attorneys counsel clients with the goal of avoiding such troubles and minimizing unfavorable publicity. We conduct internal investigations to detect and remedy problems before they cause more damage. Our white collar team’s combined experience includes more than 100 jury trials involving every major investigative agency.
White Collar Defense
Our construction attorneys represent owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, governmental agencies, REITs, lenders and sureties in a range of domestic and international construction law matters relating to public and private projects. We offer a one-stop shop, advising clients from project inception to conclusion and beyond. Whether negotiating contracts or prosecuting and defending high-stakes disputes, we partner with our clients to realize their project goals.
• Pre-construction: assistance with requests for proposals and bid packages; prosecuting and defending against bid protests; negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts; advising on construction loans, insurance and surety issues; licensing advice.
• Construction: advice regarding contract compliance, project documentation and mechanics lien laws; early dispute resolution.
• Post-construction: mediation, arbitration and litigation of disputes, including changed work claims; delay, disruption and acceleration claims; design professionals liens, mechanics liens and stop payment notices; construction defect claims; insurance and surety bond claims; and title insurance issues.
With more than 120 attorneys, Sheppard Mullin has one of the largest real estate practices of any AmLaw 100 firm. We represent investors, developers, retailers, builders, major landowners, lenders and local agencies in real estate matters both in the U.S. and internationally.
On the transactional side, we offer the rare combination of nationally-recognized commercial finance, special servicer and leasing attorneys. We help our clients negotiate record-setting deals and top tier campus leases with tech leaders and retail anchors. Clients turn to us for major commercial projects because our strong track record with many of the largest build-to-suit development projects in the country allows us to anticipate the delivery, flexibility and usability requirements of sophisticated users for large site projects and offer practical solutions to those requirements.
Our permitting and land use attorneys have helped clients bring many of the country’s most complex and high-profile projects to market. While entitlements and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is the bread and butter of our land use work, we are not limited to just this. We also have deep experience navigating historical preservation issues and processing natural resource permits. Our litigators handle CEQA and other major environmental cases.
We provide big-picture advice on common interest developments, mixed-use projects and master-planned communities. We represent many of the nation’s leading residential developers, including six of the country’s top 10 homebuilders. We help our clients negotiate sales and liability avoidance programs and advise on environmental, land use, title and other issues unique to their specific markets, including Department of Real Estate matters in California.
Real Estate, Land Use And Environmental
Tax considerations affect every aspect of business, investment and individual income and wealth — and the practice of tax law requires innovation and creativity. Based on our understanding of evolving and complex tax law, we are often able to design sophisticated transactions that are advantageous for our clients.
Our tax attorneys provide advice in these areas:
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Private equity and hedge fund formation and operation
• Corporate, partnership, real estate and international taxation
• Employee benefits
• Executive compensation
• Renewable energy and other tax credit transactions
• Debt and equity financing and derivative and hybrid securities
• Taxation of financial institutions
• Tax-exempt organizations
• Estate planning and wealth transfer
• Tax controversy
• REITS
• State and local tax
Tax, Employee Benefits and Estate Planning
Sheppard Mullin attorneys stay abreast of the latest legal developments affecting the areas of
law in which they practice and the key industries they serve, regularly posting updates to our blogs listed below.
They can be found at www.sheppardmullin.com.
Blogs
Advertising: Covering
Your Ads Blog
Antitrust Law Blog
Art Law Blog
Cannabis Law Blog
Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: Law of the Ledger
Energy Law Blog
Corporate & Securities Law Blog
Construction &
Infrastructure Law Blog
Class Action Defense
Strategy Blog
China Law Update Blog
FCC Law Blog
Executive Compensation
Law Blog
Esports and Games:
Game Counsel
Entertainment Law Blog
Government Contracts and Investigations Blog
Global Trade Law Blog
French Desk: U.S. Legal Insights for French Businesses
Finance & Bankruptcy Law Blog
FDA Law Blog
International Litigation and Arbitration: Lex Arbitri
Intellectual Property Law Blog
Insurance Law Blog
Hospice Law Blog
Healthcare Law Blog
Organizational Integrity
Group Blog
New York Commercial
Division Round Up Blog
Latin American Blog
Labor & Employment Law Blog
Korea: U.S. Legal Insights for Korean Businesses
Venture Law Blog
Trade Secrets Law Blog
Retail Law: Retail Trend Spotter
Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Law Blog
Privacy & Cybersecurity:
Eye on Privacy Blog
Podcasts
Explore how global headlines will affect your multinational business on Nota Bene, a bimonthly horizon-scanning podcast for the C-Suite by the Sheppard Mullin law firm. Join host, international trade partner Scott Maberry, as he and his expert guests explore how trends in geopolitics, law and commerce intersect while providing insights and strategies for succeeding as a global business in this new world economic order.
Nota Bene Podcast
What should French investors know about successfully doing business in the U.S.? From cultural and legal differences, to business development and expansion, French Insider podcast is dedicated to helping French investors and companies growing their companies in the U.S.
French Insider Podcast
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or Stitcher
Brussels | Century City | Chicago | Dallas | Houston | London | Los Angeles | New York | Orange County
San Diego (Downtown) | San Diego (Del Mar) | San Francisco | Seoul | Shanghai | Silicon Valley | Washington, D.C.
Our Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance Team consists of more than 50 attorneys with conventional electrical power, oil and natural gas and renewable energy experience. The team has a deep understanding of the technical, business and political aspects of the energy industry. Whether our clients’ goals relate to conventional hydrocarbon fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency or climate change and emissions trading, our team combines the experience and practical know-how to help our clients achieve their goals. Our clients occupy every level of the energy supply chain and include electricity and gas transmission and pipeline operators, public utilities, independent power producers, industrial energy consumers, EPC contractors, project developers, commercial banks, equity and tax investors and energy technology companies, as well as industry associations and national regulators. Our attorneys help clients navigate tax and financial structures across state, regional, federal and international markets. Our team has industry-leading experience negotiating commercial contracts and financing agreements for renewable power in connection with both debt and tax equity transactions. We advise on matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as on interconnection and other matters subject to federal and other regulatory jurisdiction. Our global practice handles cross-border transactions with ease and helps clients navigate the complex and evolving international landscape. We also assist our clients with sensitive global trade, sanctions and government affairs advice and represent them in regulatory investigations, litigation and arbitration proceedings around the world.
Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance TEAM
The firm’s Food and Beverage Industry Team helps food and beverage clients build their businesses, grow their brands and increase their bottom lines with experienced representation. We represent more than 200 food and beverage clients, ranging from startups to multinational corporations. We help with issues ranging from day-to-day counseling on compliance, employment, financings and corporate matters, to emergency events such as brand litigation and helping prepare for growth events. The food and beverage industry is among the most competitive and globally linked of all business sectors. To ensure a company is on the cutting edge, it needs a law firm that understands its business and can assist in expanding into new markets and developing new business strategies that capitalize on the global market, while protecting the company’s products and brands along the way.
Food and Beverage Team
Our 200+ attorney full-service, national Healthcare Team is experienced in healthcare transactions, healthcare regulations, health plan licensing, compliance, reimbursement, governance, fraud and abuse, payor and provider contracting, antitrust, tax, non-profit, financing, information technology, employment, HIPAA, artificial intelligence, cyber security, litigation and real estate. We are one of the few law firms with attorneys in California, New York and Washington, D.C. devoted 100 percent to healthcare. Highly ranked and named one of the “Largest Healthcare Law Firms” by Modern Healthcare, our healthcare clients have made these comments about Sheppard Mullin’s team: “They enjoy a sophisticated reputation for having the talent to move projects along.” “Their healthcare team is responsive and solution-oriented, providing excellent client service.” “Particularly strong in large transactions.” “Deep bench strength.” In short, clients who want to innovate contact Sheppard Mullin – for population health management, global risk, vertical integration, strategic alliances and game-changing transactions.
Healthcare Team
We work with hospitality clients to develop strategies that optimize their objectives and help them succeed by providing innovative counsel shaped by our knowledge of the industry. Our clients include hotel brands, operators, developers, restaurants, lenders, investors and construction professionals. We represent clients in all aspects of the hospitality business — from full and limited service hotels to boutique and lifestyle hotels, from beach and golf resorts to resort condominiums and timeshares and from destination and fast casual restaurants to entertainment centers and casinos. Our vertically integrated hospitality team delivers a seamless set of resources and counseling in acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, fund formation, foreign investment, EB-5, franchise agreements, hotel management agreements, data privacy, food and beverage agreements, labor and employment counseling, training, handbooks, on-boarding, union issues, litigation, financing, bankruptcy and restructurings, ADA, land use, construction and development, as well as day-to-day operational matters.
Hospitality Team
We represent many of the nation’s largest insurers and have a track record of achieving outstanding results for our insurance company clients in their most challenging matters — from class actions to high exposure bad faith cases to complex coverage matters. The group also serves as national counsel for major insurers on institutional issues and other matters involving significant financial risk. We have defended our clients in class actions and other institutionally important matters throughout the country, in both state and federal court. Our attorneys are also appellate specialists who have contributed to the development of the law in the insurance area.
Insurance Team
Our 50 attorney global, interdisciplinary Privacy and Cybersecurity Team includes some of the most respected attorneys in the privacy space, including an attorney who literally “wrote the book” on data breach, award-winning privacy class action litigation practitioners and leading EU-based data protection experts. We partner with clients to help them extract value from the data they collect, while identifying and addressing regulatory compliance requirements and ensuring that data is appropriately protected. Our attorneys have experience responding to high-profile data breaches, including state-sponsored attacks, and the regulatory investigations, Congressional oversight and litigation that often follow such incidents. We litigate major privacy and security related class actions. We also provide strategic counsel to help companies understand emerging developments in this rapidly changing area of law, particularly with EU data collection and international data transfers. As data becomes more entwined with the enterprise value of businesses, we conduct data and privacy compliance due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other corporate and strategic transactions.
Privacy and cybersecurity Team
Sheppard Mullin has a long history representing clients in the games, entertainment and music industries. This experience has uniquely positioned us to represent clients in the esports and gaming industries as the ecosystem expands and multimedia entertainment and technology continue to drive an engaged audience. Our multidisciplinary team handles state-of-the-art and high-profile matters involving: content development, production and distribution; advertising and sponsorships, live event production and broadcasting; mergers and acquisitions and finance, counseling on and protection of our clients’ novel inventions, brand identity and other intellectual property; labor and employment advice and counseling; and dispute resolution and litigation.
ESports & Games TEAM
We advise private equity clients on transactions and legal matters throughout the private equity life cycle, including the formation of their funds, platform acquisitions, add-on acquisitions, dividend recapitalizations, realization transactions, and more. We also provide day-to-day legal support to our clients’ portfolio companies as part of our Portfolio Company Program, which we developed based on input from our private equity clients.
Private Equity Team
Our Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance Team consists of more than 50 attorneys with conventional electrical power, oil and natural gas and renewable energy experience. The team has a deep understanding of the technical, business and political aspects of the energy industry. Whether our clients’ goals relate to conventional hydrocarbon fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency or climate change and emissions trading, our team combines the experience and practical know-how to help our clients achieve their goals. Our clients occupy every level of the energy supply chain and include electricity and gas transmission and pipeline operators, public utilities, independent power producers, industrial energy consumers, EPC contractors, project developers, commercial banks, equity and tax investors and energy technology companies, as well as industry associations and national regulators. Our attorneys help clients navigate tax and financial structures across state, regional, federal and international markets. Our team has industry-leading experience negotiating commercial contracts and financing agreements for renewable power in connection with both debt and tax equity transactions. We advise on matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as on interconnection and other matters subject to federal and other regulatory jurisdiction. Our global practice handles cross-border transactions with ease and helps clients navigate the complex and evolving international landscape. We also assist our clients with sensitive global trade, sanctions and government affairs advice and represent them in regulatory investigations, litigation and arbitration proceedings around the world.
ESports & Games TEAM
We advise private equity clients on transactions and legal matters throughout the private equity life cycle, including the formation of their funds, platform acquisitions, add-on acquisitions, dividend recapitalizations, realization transactions, and more. We also provide day-to-day legal support to our clients’ portfolio companies as part of our Portfolio Company Program, which we developed based on input from our private equity clients.
Private Equity TEAM
The Firm is organized not only around Practice Groups but also Industry and Client Teams. We recognize that when seeking outside counsel, clients typically want attorneys who understand their industry and business and can bring a practical perspective to the practice of law. We have formed interdisciplinary teams that focus on the following industries: Aerospace & Defense; Advertising; Blockchain & Fintech; Cannabis; Financial Services; Hospitality; Life Sciences/FDA; Mortgage Banking; and Transportation.
Below we spotlight a few of our major industry teams.
Industry and Client Teams
Our 50 attorney global, interdisciplinary Privacy and Cybersecurity Team includes some of the most respected attorneys in the privacy space, including an attorney who literally “wrote the book” on data breach, award-winning privacy class action litigation practitioners and leading EU-based data protection experts. We partner with clients to help them extract value from the data they collect, while identifying and addressing regulatory compliance requirements and ensuring that data is appropriately protected. Our attorneys have experience responding to high-profile data breaches, including state-sponsored attacks, and the regulatory investigations, Congressional oversight and litigation that often follow such incidents. We litigate major privacy and security related class actions. We also provide strategic counsel to help companies understand emerging developments in this rapidly changing area of law, particularly with EU data collection and international data transfers. As data becomes more entwined with the enterprise value of businesses, we conduct data and privacy compliance due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other corporate and strategic transactions.
Privacy and cybersecurity Team
We represent many of the nation’s largest insurers and have a track record of achieving outstanding results for our insurance company clients in their most challenging matters — from class actions to high exposure bad faith cases to complex coverage matters. The group also serves as national counsel for major insurers on institutional issues and other matters involving significant financial risk. We have defended our clients in class actions and other institutionally important matters throughout the country, in both state and federal court. Our attorneys are also appellate specialists who have contributed to the development of the law in the insurance area.
Insurance Team
We work with hospitality clients to develop strategies that optimize their objectives and help them succeed by providing innovative counsel shaped by our knowledge of the industry. Our clients include hotel brands, operators, developers, restaurants, lenders, investors and construction professionals. We represent clients in all aspects of the hospitality business — from full and limited service hotels to boutique and lifestyle hotels, from beach and golf resorts to resort condominiums and timeshares and from destination and fast casual restaurants to entertainment centers and casinos. Our vertically integrated hospitality team delivers a seamless set of resources and counseling in acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, fund formation, foreign investment, EB-5, franchise agreements, hotel management agreements, data privacy, food and beverage agreements, labor and employment counseling, training, handbooks, on-boarding, union issues, litigation, financing, bankruptcy and restructurings, ADA, land use, construction and development, as well as day-to-day operational matters.
Hospitality Team
Our 200+ attorney full-service, national Healthcare Team is experienced in healthcare transactions, healthcare regulations, health plan licensing, compliance, reimbursement, governance, fraud and abuse, payor and provider contracting, antitrust, tax, non-profit, financing, information technology, employment, HIPAA, artificial intelligence, cyber security, litigation and real estate. We are one of the few law firms with attorneys in California, New York and Washington, D.C. devoted 100 percent to healthcare. Highly ranked and named one of the “Largest Healthcare Law Firms” by Modern Healthcare, our healthcare clients have made these comments about Sheppard Mullin’s team: “They enjoy a sophisticated reputation for having the talent to move projects along.” “Their healthcare team is responsive and solution-oriented, providing excellent client service.” “Particularly strong in large transactions.” “Deep bench strength.” In short, clients who want to innovate contact Sheppard Mullin – for population health management, global risk, vertical integration, strategic alliances and game-changing transactions.
Healthcare Team
The firm’s Food and Beverage Industry Team helps food and beverage clients build their businesses, grow their brands and increase their bottom lines with experienced representation. We represent more than 200 food and beverage clients, ranging from startups to multinational corporations. We help with issues ranging from day-to-day counseling on compliance, employment, financings and corporate matters, to emergency events such as brand litigation and helping prepare for growth events. The food and beverage industry is among the most competitive and globally linked of all business sectors. To ensure a company is on the cutting edge, it needs a law firm that understands its business and can assist in expanding into new markets and developing new business strategies that capitalize on the global market, while protecting the company’s products and brands along the way.
Food and Beverage Team
Our Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance Team consists of more than 50 attorneys with conventional electrical power, oil and natural gas and renewable energy experience. The team has a deep understanding of the technical, business and political aspects of the energy industry. Whether our clients’ goals relate to conventional hydrocarbon fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency or climate change and emissions trading, our team combines the experience and practical know-how to help our clients achieve their goals. Our clients occupy every level of the energy supply chain and include electricity and gas transmission and pipeline operators, public utilities, independent power producers, industrial energy consumers, EPC contractors, project developers, commercial banks, equity and tax investors and energy technology companies, as well as industry associations and national regulators. Our attorneys help clients navigate tax and financial structures across state, regional, federal and international markets. Our team has industry-leading experience negotiating commercial contracts and financing agreements for renewable power in connection with both debt and tax equity transactions. We advise on matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as on interconnection and other matters subject to federal and other regulatory jurisdiction. Our global practice handles cross-border transactions with ease and helps clients navigate the complex and evolving international landscape. We also assist our clients with sensitive global trade, sanctions and government affairs advice and represent them in regulatory investigations, litigation and arbitration proceedings around the world.
Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance TEAM
Sheppard Mullin’s communications attorneys represent the world’s most important telecommunications companies in significant regulatory, transactional and litigation matters. Our clients come from all corners of the communications industry, including major cable and broadband Internet providers, fiber optic companies, domestic and international satellite operators, technology companies and social media networks. Clients turn to our telecom team for focused insight and zealous representation on their most complex issues before the Federal Communications Commission, state regulatory commissions and the International Telecommunications Union, as well as for cutting-edge issues related to new technologies, net neutrality and other federal, state and local efforts to regulate broadband Internet access providers. Our clients also seek representation in high-stakes litigation and to address regulatory issues of first impression applicable to the entire communications industry. In addition, we regularly advise clients (both financial and strategic) on major cross-border M&A activity in the telecommunications industry.
TELECOM TEAM
Our Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance Team consists of more than 50 attorneys with conventional electrical power, oil and natural gas and renewable energy experience. The team has a deep understanding of the technical, business and political aspects of the energy industry. Whether our clients’ goals relate to conventional hydrocarbon fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency or climate change and emissions trading, our team combines the experience and practical know-how to help our clients achieve their goals. Our clients occupy every level of the energy supply chain and include electricity and gas transmission and pipeline operators, public utilities, independent power producers, industrial energy consumers, EPC contractors, project developers, commercial banks, equity and tax investors and energy technology companies, as well as industry associations and national regulators. Our attorneys help clients navigate tax and financial structures across state, regional, federal and international markets. Our team has industry-leading experience negotiating commercial contracts and financing agreements for renewable power in connection with both debt and tax equity transactions. We advise on matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as on interconnection and other matters subject to federal and other regulatory jurisdiction. Our global practice handles cross-border transactions with ease and helps clients navigate the complex and evolving international landscape. We also assist our clients with sensitive global trade, sanctions and government affairs advice and represent them in regulatory investigations, litigation and arbitration proceedings around the world.
ESports & Games TEAM
We advise private equity clients on transactions and legal matters throughout the private equity life cycle, including the formation of their funds, platform acquisitions, add-on acquisitions, dividend recapitalizations, realization transactions, and more. We also provide day-to-day legal support to our clients’ portfolio companies as part of our Portfolio Company Program, which we developed based on input from our private equity clients.
Private Equity Team
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To learn more visit: www.sheppardmullin.com
To learn more visit: www.sheppardmullin.com
Sheppard Mullin’s Restructure This! podcast explores the latest trends and controversies in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, commercial insolvency and distressed investing. Join host Justin Bernbrock, partner in the law firm’s Finance and Bankruptcy group, as he and his guests discuss popular, and sometimes not-so-popular, developments in the wild west of the bankruptcy legal world and high yield deal-making.
Restructure This! Podcast
Sheppard Mullin's Legit Ledger podcast provides insights and practical tips on blockchain-related legal issues. Join the Blockchain Team and their guests as they discuss legal issues resulting from blockchain technologies and business models and practical solutions for keeping their use legit.
The Legit Ledger Podcast
Consumer Finance
and Fintech Blog
