Contact Information: Contact: Kelly Crabb (213) 617-4228 Rick Kopenhefer (310) 228-3720 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542
Two New Sheppard Mullin Partners Expand Firm's Entertainment Practice Capabilities in Los Angeles
Kelly Crabb and Rick Kopenhefer Bring Additional Transactional and Guild Labor Capabilities to Thriving Practice
| Source: Sheppard Mullin
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - February 1, 2010) - Kelly C. Crabb and Richard W. Kopenhefer
have joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in Los Angeles as
partners in the firm's Entertainment, Media & Technology and Labor &
Employment practice groups, respectively. Crabb most recently practiced at
Morrison & Foerster in Los Angeles and Kopenhefer was previously with
McDermott Will & Emery in Los Angeles.
"Kelly and Rick are each an excellent fit with the firm, from both industry
and practice perspectives. Kelly's broad sports and media practice, along
with his long history of representing clients throughout Asia, dovetail
well with both our entertainment group and our global media practice. Rick
is one of only a handful of lawyers recognized as a preeminent
entertainment labor attorney. His unique expertise bridges two of the
firm's cornerstone practices: entertainment and labor," said Guy Halgren,
chairman of the firm.
Crabb has served as legal counsel in connection with three Olympic Games
including representation of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games
of the XXIX Olympiad (2008). He is highly experienced in the arena of
international entertainment, media and sports, with high-level clients and
cross-border deal experience in Japan, China, Korea, New Zealand,
Australia, Russia, the UK, Canada, Brazil, among other countries.
Crabb's practice has an entertainment and media focus, and includes a mix
of sophisticated and complex financing, production and content work for
international clients such as NBA China, MLB Properties, Daewoo Motor
Sales, The Magic Store/Yo Gabba Gabba, Mountain West Conference, Quantum
Leaps Corp., Skinit and LightStream Entertainment. "The firm's deep
industry expertise in a variety of areas such as sports, IP, advertising
and media transactions provides natural synergies with my diverse
entertainment practice. I was attracted to both the firm's global media
practice and the team's collegial spirit," Crabb said.
Kopenhefer specializes in entertainment industry labor law matters
including residuals, credits disputes, union organizing, labor arbitration,
civil litigation, collective bargaining and practice before the National
Labor Relations Board (NLRB). "Sheppard Mullin is a top-notch firm with
go-to entertainment and labor groups. The quality of people and depth of
these two practice areas convinced me that this is the perfect home for
me," Kopenhefer said. From 1978 to 1984, Richard was employed as a field
attorney for the NLRB in both its Cincinnati and Los Angeles regional
offices. His entertainment clients include Focus Features, Lionsgate
Entertainment, Lakeshore Entertainment, Mandate Pictures, Hallmark Cards,
Summit Entertainment and Morgan Creek.
"Kelly and Rick add significantly to our formidable entertainment
capabilities. Specifically, Kelly's representation of the Olympics and
Rick's handling of motion picture union disputes is renowned," said Bob
Darwell, chair of the firm's Entertainment, Media & Technology practice
group.
Crabb received a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1984, and a M.P.A. in
1973 and a B.A. in 1971 from Brigham Young University. Kopenhefer received
a J.D. from University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1978 and an
undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Duke University in 1975.
Sheppard Mullin has more than 200 attorneys based in its Los Angeles
offices. The firm's Entertainment, Media & Communications practice group
includes 50 attorneys firmwide. Sheppard Mullin's Labor & Employment
practice group includes 75 attorneys.
About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with 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.