Telecommunications Team Joins Sheppard Mullin D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - June 18, 2007) - Christopher S. Huther and Megan H. Troy have joined the Washington, D.C. office of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP as partners in the firm's Business Trial practice group. Huther and Troy most recently practiced with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis in Washington, D.C.

Huther and Troy advise and represent domestic and international telecommunications companies in litigation and other matters involving local telephone competition and policy, pole attachment disputes, inter-carrier compensation, interconnection and universal service. They have counseled clients with respect to compliance with state and federal regulations, the development of regulatory and policy strategies, the negotiation and drafting of interconnection and service agreements, legislative and regulatory developments in the telecommunications industry, and have substantial experience in the development, defense and critique of cost models and rate-making methodologies. They represent clients before federal and state courts, the Federal Communications Commission, state regulatory commissions, and Congress.

"The arrival of Chris and Megan marks another significant step in broadening the firm's litigation expertise," said Robert Beall, chair of the firm's Business Trial practice group. "Their telecom and FCC background will complement the firm's telecom expertise, as well as our FCC regulatory practice based in D.C."

"I look forward to growing the firm's telecom practice nationwide and specifically in the D.C. office," Huther said. "Sheppard Mullin is a top-notch firm with an excellent platform for my practice. I am delighted to be joining with Megan, as well as to be working with the great lawyers here and across the firm's offices."

"We are excited to have Chris and Megan join us," said Ed Schiff, managing partner of the firm's Washington, D.C. office. "Their telecom practice is an excellent fit for the D.C. office and adds another regulatory specialty to the office's mix, as well as expanding the office's commercial litigation bench."

Earlier this year, Don Pelto joined Sheppard Mullin's Washington, D.C. office, also from Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis in Washington, D.C. Pelto joined the firm, with a team of IP specialists from his prior firm, as a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group.

Huther earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1992 and a B.S., cum laude, from Radford University in 1988. Troy earned a J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center in 1997 and a B.A., magna cum laude, from University of California, Los Angeles in 1993.

About Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with 490 attorneys in 10 offices located throughout California and in New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanghai. The firm's California offices are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Century City, Orange County, Del Mar Heights and San Diego. 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 companies. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Chris Huther (202) 772-5374 Megan Troy (202) 772-5373 Ralph Richardson (213) 617-5542