Contact Information: CONTACT: Brian Pass (310) 228-2279 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542
Partner Brian Pass Converges on Sheppard Mullin's Entertainment, Media & Communications Group
Licensing & Commercial Transaction Experts Expand Century City Presence
| Source: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 27, 2006 -- Brian Pass has joined the Century City
office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the
Entertainment, Media and Communications and the Intellectual Property
practice groups. Senior associate Kevin Straw will be joining Pass on the
move to Sheppard Mullin. Both most recently practiced with Brown Raysman
in Los Angeles, where Pass led the firm's West Coast Technology, Media and
Communications practice.
Pass focuses his practice on high technology and corporate law. He
represents technology, entertainment and media clients in the licensing,
development and distribution of computer software, Web-based services and
applications, hardware development and OEM relationships, new media and web
site licensing, development and marketing, intellectual property and trade
secret protection, broadband communications, interactive television and
e-commerce. Additionally, Pass counsels early stage and emerging growth
companies in start-up formation, joint ventures, as well as mergers and
acquisitions. He also advises companies on Internet privacy and other
regulatory issues affecting new media and e-commerce.
Since 2001, Pass has closed over $2 billion in technology transactions.
Representative work includes: negotiation of numerous affiliation
agreements on behalf of a leading Internet search portal; outside counsel
to a leading manufacturer of third-party video game accessories; outside
counsel to a joint venture formed to develop and deliver video on demand
and interactive services; negotiation of a multi-million dollar white label
e-commerce co-marketing agreement; outside counsel to a leading
Internet-based music discovery service; and negotiation of numerous
multi-million dollar enterprise license and Web services transactions in
the entertainment, healthcare and fashion industries.
"Brian is a strategic addition to the firm," said Guy Halgren, chairman of
the firm. "He will play a key role in the expansion of our technology
capabilities, with a practice that straddles the firm's entertainment,
corporate and IP groups."
"I am thrilled to be joining the dynamic team of talented attorneys in the
Century City office," Pass said. "Sheppard Mullin has an outstanding
entertainment practice and an excellent reputation in corporate law. I'm
looking forward to contributing to the continued success of both groups."
"We are excited to welcome a partner of Brian's caliber and experience,"
said Bob Darwell, chair of the firm's Entertainment, Media and
Communications practice group. "His convergence and new media practice
adds depth to our technology and media specializations."
Prior to practicing law, Pass co-founded Passport New Media and served as
its president and CEO. He led the development of Passport's critically
acclaimed children's Internet service, Your Own World. At Passport, he
raised $7.5 million in venture capital, while concluding numerous
third-party content partnerships and negotiating key technology and
distribution relationships. Prior to forming Passport, he served as vice
president and general counsel at americast, a joint venture of The Walt
Disney Corporation and several of the Baby Bell telephone companies to
develop interactive digital television services.
Pass received his law degree from UCLA School of Law in 1991, and
graduated, with high honors, from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in 1986.
In 2006, Pass was named by Chambers USA as one of the Leading Lawyers for
Business in the IT and IT Outsourcing field in California.
About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is a full-service AmLaw 100 firm
with 490 attorneys in nine offices located throughout California and in New
York and Washington, D.C. The firm's California offices are located in Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Century City, Orange County, Del Mar
Heights and San Diego. Sheppard Mullin provides legal expertise and
counsel to U.S. and international clients in a wide range of practice
areas, including Antitrust, Corporate and Securities; Entertainment, Media
and Communications; Finance and Bankruptcy; Government Contracts;
Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Litigation; Real Estate/Land
Use; Tax/Employee Benefits/Trusts & Estates; and White Collar Defense. The
firm was founded in 1927. For more information, please visit
www.sheppardmullin.com.