NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Dec 9, 2013) - Bruce A. Colbath has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm's Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice group, based in the firm's New York office. Colbath joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

"Bruce is an aggressive litigator with a strong reputation in the antitrust field. He has deep competitor vs. competitor Lanham Act false advertising expertise. Bruce represents an important strategic fit for our antitrust practice, specifically expanding capabilities in New York. We are thrilled to add such a high caliber antitrust attorney to the firm," said Guy N. Halgren, chairman of Sheppard Mullin.

"Bruce and I have worked together for several clients, including representing MasterCard together as co-counsel on several matters. I am extremely pleased to welcome him to the firm. Additionally, Bruce has a national consumer protection practice representing companies in proceedings brought by the FTC, state AGs and private parties that complements our existing advertising practice," commented Gary Halling, Sheppard Mullin's Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice group leader.

"We all welcome Bruce to the office. Over the last year we have significantly grown our presence in New York by adding more than 18 attorneys. This year we have made considerable headway into the New York market," said Blaine Templeman, managing partner of Sheppard Mullin's New York office.

"I am delighted to join Sheppard Mullin, a top-notch full service firm that offers an excellent platform to grow my practice. In addition to the strength and breadth of the firm's antitrust and advertising practices, I am also impressed with Sheppard Mullin's successful growth and expansion in recent years," Colbath stated.

Colbath's expertise extends to all aspects of advertising, marketing and antitrust law, including consumer protection issues relating to unfair deceptive and/or unlawful conduct. He has had extensive experience in all phases of such litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Colbath has represented clients in class actions and related litigations of a wide variety of claims, including false advertising, deceptive practices and antitrust, among others, brought in federal and state courts throughout the United States at both the trial court and appellate levels. The actions in which he has been involved have concerned a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, dietary supplements, jewelry, consumer products, automobile distribution, software, semiconductors, apparel, and consumer financial services.

In the advertising and consumer protection area, Colbath has represented and counseled clients on a wide variety of issues, including privacy and related regulatory issues, and has experience with state and federal regulatory bodies concerning advertising practices and consumer protection issues. He has extensive experience in Lanham Act false advertising litigation and other proceedings and litigation involving unfair competition and consumer protection issues, as well as extensive experience before the Federal Trade Commission, National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau and its National Advertising Review Board, and in TV network challenges. He has also defended clients in numerous consumer class actions arising from governmental investigations and enforcement activity related to consumer protection.

Examples of Colbath's involvement in antitrust and consumer protection litigations include: representing Airborne Health, Inc. in an advertising investigation by the FTC, a multi-state investigation by state attorneys general, and several private class actions, all challenging advertising/product claims relating to the company's dietary supplements. He also represented MasterCard in a state and federal MDL litigation challenging its currency conversion practices, as well as a series of private class actions alleging that MasterCard's currency conversion practices were deceptive in violation of state consumer protection statutes. Colbath also represented L'Oreal USA in a nationwide antitrust class action that alleged that numerous cosmetics manufacturers and department stores allegedly conspired with respect to the pricing of cosmetic products. In all of these actions settlements were structured on terms favorable to the clients.

Colbath received a J.D. from New York Law School in 1985 and an A.B. from Georgetown University in 1974.

Sheppard Mullin has 60 attorneys based in its New York office. The firm's Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice group includes 25 attorneys firmwide.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard Mullin is a full service Global 100 firm with 640 attorneys in 15 offices located in the United States, Europe 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.