November 4, 2011

THE DAILY TRANSCRIPT

By Doug Sherwin

SAN DIEGO – San Diego attorney Beni Surpin has joined DLA Piper as a partner in the firm’s local office.

He will practice in DLA Piper’s technology, sourcing and commercial group, and the firm’s intellectual property and technology and corporate practices.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Surpin was a partner at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, where he led the intellectual property, technology and commercial transactions group, and the firm’s China IP team.

“Beni’s arrival is the latest step in the firm’s objective to strategically expand our platform in San Diego,” said Robert Brownlie, managing partner of DLA Piper’s San Diego office. “He brings strong cross-border experience that’s critical to our clients today, which will benefit a variety of our practices here, led by our intellectual property & technology and corporate practices.”

Surpin focuses his practice on representing international and domestic companies in the wireless, telecom, healthcare, medical devices, life sciences, aviation, automotive and high-tech industries on legal and business issues relating to intellectual property, technology and commercial transactions.

He handles a wide variety of agreements for clients around the globe. Surpin also counsels private and public companies on managing intellectual property disputes and protecting, maximizing and transferring their IP portfolios.

“Beni brings a very versatile practice that is the perfect complement to our firm’s global platform,” said Vincent Sanchez, global co-chair of DLA Piper’s technology, sourcing and commercial group. “This includes working closely with both public and private clients on a variety of complex high-tech, life sciences and outsourcing transactions — areas where we expect continued growth.”

Surpin’s arrival follows on the recent addition of nationally recognized real estate securities lawyer Darryl Steinhause, who joined DLA Piper’s San Diego office earlier in October.

Surpin was represented in the move by Larry Watanabe and Stacey Pacelli from the legal placement firm Watanabe Nason.