Intellectual Property Lawyers Join Sheppard Mullin’s New York Office

Patent Specialists to Capitalize on Firm’s Presence in China

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2007 — LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – Joel E. Lutzker and Leonard S. Sorgi have joined the New York office of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP as partners in the firm’s Intellectual Property and China practice groups. Lutzker will head the New York office’s Intellectual Property practice group. Lutzker and Sorgi previously practiced together at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP in New York, where Lutzker served as the chair of the firm’s IP practice group.

Lutzker and Sorgi’s practice is focused on patent and other intellectual property litigation, transactions, counseling and prosecution. Lutzker and Sorgi have successfully litigated and tried patent, unfair competition and trade secret cases in the United States International Trade Commission and in numerous district and appellate courts in diverse technical fields.

“Joel and Len are top-flight IP litigators who handle major technology product disputes. Their focus on litigating patent matters on behalf of Asian-based companies dovetails well with the firm’s global growth plans for our IP practice group,” said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm. “Our clients will benefit from the group’s extensive experience and impressive backgrounds. We are thrilled to have such a stellar team join our ranks.”

“Although based in New York, Joel and Len are well-known U.S. patent attorneys in China and frequently travel to China to speak on intellectual property issues,” commented David Huebner, the Shanghai-based head of the firm’s China practice. “Their reputations and clients accelerate our already rapid growth in China, and position Sheppard Mullin as the go-to firm for Chinese companies facing high-stakes patent disputes in the U.S.”

Commented Lutzker, “With a national platform and a Shanghai office, Sheppard Mullin allows us to better serve our clients and further grow our practice. Asian companies are a significant component of our practice and the firm’s plans for China are very impressive.”

“I am enthusiastic about joining the firm with Joel. We look forward to expanding the firm’s East Coast IP practice and leveraging the firm’s Shanghai footprint,” Sorgi said.

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Lutzker and Sorgi join Sheppard Mullin as the firm prepares to celebrate its first year in China with a gala reception and dinner in Shanghai on Oct. 24. Lutzker will lead a high-level panel discussion at the event on the future of intellectual property investment and development in China. The panel will include other experts such as Dr. Wu Jiahuang, who helped negotiate China’s entry into the WTO and now serves as advisor to the State Council.

“We are excited to have this team onboard,” said Amar Thakur, co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group. “Their practice is an exceptional fit for the firm, as we are committed to growing our IP practice and in particular our patent litigation practice in New York and Washington D.C. Joel’s technology clients and China focus have a number of synergies with the firm’s strategic plan for its IP group.”

Sheppard Mullin’s Intellectual Property practice group has 52 attorneys. Earlier this year, partner Ted Max and special counsel Charles LeGrand joined the firm’s New York office as members of the IP practice group and the Fashion Apparel team. Max and LeGrand previously practiced at Mintz Levin in New York. Also this year, Intellectual Property attorney Ping Chu joined the firm’s Shanghai office. Chu was previously in-house counsel at Warner Home Video.

Lutzker earned a J.D. from New York University, School of Law in 1975 and a B.A. in Physics, cum laude, from New York University in 1972. Sorgi earned a J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School in 1987 and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Polytechnic University in 1982.

About Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with more than 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.

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