Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP announced today that Gary L. Bostwick has joined the firm as partner in the Business Trial and Entertainment and Media Practice Groups in Los Angeles. Bostwick has over 25 years of litigation and counseling experience in complex business matters and constitutional law and civil liberties, with specific expertise in First Amendment, libel, journalism privilege, slander, defamation and invasion of privacy litigation. He joins Sheppard Mullin from Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.
Bostwick said, “A move is always exciting, but this move to one of California’s pre-eminent law firms and premier entertainment and media practices is particularly so.” He added, “The wide range of clients that the firm serves will give me the chance to do what I love most: go to trial and argue appeals. In particular, I look forward to forging strong relationships with the firm’s national media clients and advising them on their pre-litigation counseling and litigation and appellate matters.”
Robert Beall, chair of the Business Trial Practice Group, commented, “Gary is an experienced trial lawyer who brings highly specialized expertise in First Amendment, libel and slander matters. His expertise in this area will enhance our ability to serve the growing needs of our clients in the litigation, intellectual property and entertainment practice areas.” Added Lou Meisinger, Senior Advisor to the Entertainment and Media Practice Group, “Our Entertainment and Media Practice Group continues to grow to meet the diverse and expanding needs of our clients. As one of the premier First Amendment, privacy and publicity trial lawyers in the country, and an expert in pre-publication clearance, Gary will complement and bring new dimension to our existing practice in these areas.”
“In addition to his extensive trial experience, Gary is well regarded as a trusted advisor to media companies in connection with their business matters outside of the litigation context. Also, his fluency in Spanish makes him particularly valuable in serving the needs of our clients in the burgeoning Hispanic media market,” stated Robert Darwell, head of the transactional side of the Firm’s Entertainment and Media Practice Group.
Bostwick litigated several high-profile libel cases, including representing Arianna Huffington in “Lawrence v. Huffington,” author Janet Malcolm in the landmark “Masson v. New Yorker” case, and a prisoner in the U.S. Supreme Court case, “Sandin v. Conner,” which involved due process and equal protection claims. Additionally, Bostwick served as principal defense counsel in “re San Juan Dupont Fire Litigation,” which arose out of a hotel fire disaster in Puerto Rico. He has served as trial counsel on matters concerning contract, employment discrimination, commercial real estate, construction and partnership disputes.
In addition to lecturing on libel, slander and First Amendment issues as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, Bostwick has been an Instructor at the University of Southern California School of Journalism.
He received his law degree from Boalt Hall, University of California, Berkeley, in 1977, his Masters of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley in 1976, and his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1963.
Admitted to practice in California and Wyoming, Bostwick is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Bostwick has written numerous articles, including an article entitled “A Taxonomy of Privacy: Repose, Sanctuary & Intimate Decision,” 64 CALIF. L. REV. 1447 (19__), which has been cited by the California Supreme Court.
