August 2, 2013
THE RECORDER
By Julia Love
SAN FRANCISCO – Sheppard Mullin has lured a Silicon Valley corporate partner from Dentons.
Stephanie Zeppa will decamp from Dentons, where she has practiced since 1999, to join Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton as a partner on Monday. Zeppa brings expertise in M&A, emerging companies and general corporate work.
Zeppa said she was drawn to Sheppard’s corporate group by its national reputation and depth in California.
“The existing quality reputation coupled with the really entrepreneurial group is really attractive,” she said.
With her expertise in the video game industry, Zeppa will also complement Sheppard’s team in Southern California, said corporate partner David Lee, who is based in Palo Alto.
Legal recruiter Larry Watanabe of Watanabe Nason advised Sheppard on the transaction. The firm’s Silicon Valley corporate wing has seen a variety of arrivals and departures in recent months. Partner Riaz Karamali moved to Pillsbury in late June, becoming the fourth corporate partner to defect this year. On the opposite side of the ledger, corporate partner Jung Son joined the firm from Technology Crossover Ventures in May.
Sheppard is in the process of recruiting other lawyers to the Silicon Valley office, Lee said.
“We feel like we’ve turned a nice corner in terms of getting critical mass for the office,” he said.
Dentons has also seen some turnover in the Valley. Litigation partner Arthur Beeman, who led the firm’s Palo Alto office, jumped to Arent Fox in July.
Dentons did not respond to requests for comment on Zeppa.