Leading Antitrust Litigator Don Klawiter Joins Sheppard Mullin as Part of D.C. Partner Duo

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - September 21, 2009) - Donald C. Klawiter and Jennifer M. Driscoll-Chippendale have joined the Washington, D.C. office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as partners in the firm's Antitrust practice group. Klawiter and Driscoll-Chippendale join Sheppard Mullin from Mayer Brown in Washington, D.C.

Klawiter will serve as practice leader for the firm's East Coast Antitrust practice. His practice focuses on antitrust investigations and litigation, with special emphasis on international cartel matters. He has defended corporations and executives from six continents in grand jury investigations and prosecutions, including international cartel investigations in the food and feed additives, vitamins, graphite electrode, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, computer products, construction, glass, automotive, transportation, plastics and brokerage industries, and has served as international coordinating counsel in many multi-jurisdictional proceedings. Klawiter also has led internal corporate crisis investigation teams in assessing antitrust risk, determining whether laws were violated, advising corporate boards and audit committees, and formulating plans to resolve any issues consistent with current corporate governance requirements.

Driscoll-Chippendale's practice focuses on antitrust investigations, litigation and counseling. She has represented clients in international cartel investigations, merger investigations before the European Commission and Sherman Act Section Two class action lawsuits in federal courts. Active in the ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Driscoll-Chippendale is the Vice Chair of the Section's International Committee and Chair of the 2010 Fall Forum.

"Don is one of the world's leading experts on international cartels, which dovetails well with our existing antitrust capabilities. We continue to grow signature practice groups like Antitrust and expand capabilities to better serve client needs. Don and Jen make a terrific team and we welcome them to the firm," said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm.

"Don adds impressive depth to our global antitrust practice," commented Gary Halling, chair of the firm's Antitrust practice group. "He and Jen are a major addition to our antitrust presence on the East Coast, the growth of which has been a strategic goal of our practice. I have known and admired Don since we worked together at the Antitrust Division in Washington years ago. We are extremely excited about Don and Jen joining us in Washington and look forward to expanding the antitrust practice together."

"Sheppard Mullin is a first class firm with an impressive D.C. office. I was attracted by Sheppard Mullin's strong entrepreneurial culture and collegial atmosphere. I am thrilled to be practicing at a firm with so many great lawyers and such a long and revered antitrust practice history," Klawiter said. "I look forward to continuing to work with Jen. Together, with the help of our new colleagues, we will build an impressive East Coast antitrust practice for the firm."

"Don and Jen will be great assets to the D.C. office," commented Ed Schiff, managing partner of Sheppard Mullin's Washington, D.C. office. "They bring incredible antitrust investigations and litigation expertise that adds significant depth to the office's antitrust and other regulatory capabilities, which include government contracts, communications, white collar, FDA, labor and aviation."

Klawiter served as Chair of the American Bar Association's Section of Antitrust Law in 2005-2006 and served in many Section leadership positions before that. He currently serves on the Section's International Cartel Working Group and International Task Force.

Klawiter has trial experience as both a prosecutor and defense counsel in civil, criminal and merger cases. He has held several senior supervisory and litigation positions with the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice, including Chief of the Dallas Field Office and Special Assistant to the Director of Operations of the Antitrust Division in Washington, DC.

Klawiter received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1975, as well as a M.A. and B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972. He has been recognized as a leading antitrust lawyer in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business since 2003.

Driscoll-Chippendale received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2000 and a M.P.A. in 1996 and B.S. in 1993 from Cornell University.

Sheppard Mullin has 40 attorneys based in its Washington, D.C. office. The firm's Antitrust practice group includes 30 attorneys firmwide.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with approximately 550 attorneys in 11 offices located in the United States and Asia. Since 1927, companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle 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: Contacts: Don Klawiter (202) 469-4922 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542