Leading Litigator Steve Kramer Joins Sheppard Mullin Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - June 3, 2009) - Steven O. Kramer has joined the Los Angeles/Downtown office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm's Business Trial practice group. Kramer most recently practiced at Mayer Brown in Los Angeles.

Kramer focuses his practice on civil litigation, primarily complex business and securities litigation, SEC enforcement actions, and white-collar criminal defense. He has handled a variety of civil litigation, including class actions, derivative cases, securities, banking, commercial, contract, environmental, accountant's liability, RICO, ERISA, and other complex litigation. Kramer has represented clients in Justice Department investigations, SEC enforcement proceedings, and investigations by various federal, state, and local government departments and agencies. He has tried a significant number of civil and criminal cases as well as administrative proceedings.

Prior to entering private practice, Kramer was an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and a member of the Fraud and Special Prosecutions Unit. While at the U.S. Attorney's Office, he served as an instructor at the advanced criminal trial course given by the Department of Justice, Trial Advocacy Institute in Washington, DC. Kramer also served as a trial attorney with the Division of Enforcement of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. At the SEC, he handled a number of civil and administrative proceedings, involving violations of the federal securities laws by public and privately held companies, broker/dealers, investment advisers, investment companies, and accounting firms.

"Steve brings a strong litigation background that includes his formidable trial experience. His knowledge and expertise will enhance our Business Trial practice group and expand our civil litigation capabilities to better serve client needs," said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm.

"I am thrilled to be joining Sheppard Mullin, a highly respected firm with a large Los Angeles presence. It's great to be practicing with friends and rejoining some of my former partners, and helping to grow the firm's litigation practice with them," Kramer said. "I am impressed with Sheppard Mullin's collegial atmosphere and democratic management style."

In January, Bryan Daly, Chuck Kreindler and Peter Morris joined the Los Angeles office of Sheppard Mullin as partners in the firm's Business Trial and Government Contracts practice groups, specializing in white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation. The group also joined from Mayer Brown in Los Angeles.

Sheppard Mullin has more than 200 attorneys based in its Los Angeles offices and the firm's Business Trial practice group includes 200 attorneys firmwide.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with more than 560 attorneys in 11 offices located throughout California and in New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanghai. The firm's California offices are located in Los Angeles/Century City, Los Angeles/Downtown, Orange County, San Diego/Del Mar, San Diego/Downtown, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Silicon Valley. 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. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Steve Kramer (213) 617-5548 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542