News

02.10.2015

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has elevated eleven of its attorneys to partner.  The new partners are William F. Ahmann (Palo Alto), Christopher J. Collins (New York), Pankit J. Doshi (San Francisco), Morgan Forsey (San Francisco), Kenneth D. Fox (Orange County), Michael M. Lauter (San Francisco), Amy L. McEvoy (Los Angeles), Marlene M. Nicolas (Los Angeles), James E. Pugh (Los Angeles), Jeffrey F. Rector (Del Mar) and Zachary M. Turke (Los Angeles). 

Bill Ahmann is a member of the Intellectual Property practice group and is based in the Palo Alto office.  Ahmann focuses on intellectual property law in the fields of wireless networks, telecommunications, computers, software, electronics, security, business methods, and the Internet.  Other areas of his practice include patent prosecution, licensing, litigation, copyright, trademark procurement, and designs protection.  Ahmann has worked with a number of clients, rendering patent opinions, including invalidity and noninfringement opinions, focusing on patent prosecution and patent analysis, and establishing internal patent procurement programs and competitive analysis. Ahmann received his J.D. from University of California, Hastings in 2001 and his undergraduate degree from University of Missouri in 1993.

Chris Collins is a member of the Labor and Employment practice group and is based in the New York office.  For more than 20 years, Collins has represented management clients in litigation alleging employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, as well as cases involving non-compete agreements and compensation disputes.  In litigated matters, he has represented clients in a wide range of fields, including financial services, insurance, technology, management consulting, entertainment, media and advertising.  Collins received his J.D., with honors, from George Washington University Law School in 1990, his M.A. from Fordham University in 2008 and his undergraduate degree, with honors, from University of Notre Dame in 1987. 

Pankit Doshi is a member of theLabor and Employment practice group in the San Francisco office.  Doshi's practice focuses on employment litigation on behalf of management and preventive counseling. He represents employers in both state and federal cases involving wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, whistleblower, trade secret misappropriation, statutory leave, retaliation, breach of contract and wage and hour claims.  Doshi also represents employers in complex class action and representative action litigations.  Doshi has represented employers at trial and at administrative hearings and during investigations by various state and federal agencies.  He received his J.D. from Loyola Law School in 2003 and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from California State University, Los Angeles in 1999. 

Morgan Forsey is a member of the Labor and Employmentpractice group in the San Francisco office.  Forsey handles all facets of the litigation process in labor and employment disputes.  She has significant experience in defending wage and hour class actions, including claims for overtime pay, meal and rest period violations, misclassification claims, prevailing wages and claims concerning premium pay issues.  Forsey has successfully defeated class certification in several cases and prevailed on motions to deny class certification.  She has successfully defended individual and collective employment disputes through trial under both state and federal law, including whistleblower complaints, wage and hour, misappropriation, harassment, misclassification, discrimination and retaliation.  Forsey received her J.D. from University of California, Davis in 2005 and her undergraduate degree from North Carolina School of the Arts.

Ken Fox is a member of the Finance and Bankruptcy practice group and is based in the Orange County office.  Fox has experience in several types of commercial lending transactions, including unsecured loans and loans secured by real and/or personal property.  His experience includes loan documentation, syndicated credit facilities, and joint venture equity transactions.  Fox represents various clients, including national banks, local and regional banks and other institutional lenders.  Fox received his J.D. from University of California, Los Angeles in 2006 and his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from University of California, Los Angeles in 2002.

Mick Lauter is a member of the Finance and Bankruptcy practice group in the San Francisco office.  Lauter specializes in bankruptcy, creditor's rights, receiverships, workouts and foreclosures. His practice includes representing debtors, creditors and committees in bankruptcy, representing lenders and special servicers in workouts, foreclosures and receiverships, and representing state and federal court receivers.  Lauter also has significant experience representing lenders in real estate and asset based financings, and representing buyers in real estate purchases and sales.  Lauter received his J.D. from University of Chicago Law School in 2006 and his undergraduate degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from University of California in 2001.

Amy McEvoy is a member of the Tax and Estate Planning practice group in the Los Angeles office.  McEvoy is Certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.  She specializes in all aspects of wealth transfer planning.  McEvoy advises U.S. citizens, residents and nonresident noncitizens regarding U.S. estate and gift tax planning with an emphasis on minimizing taxation.  She prepares customized complex trusts, both domestic and offshore, as well as comprehensive estate plans.  McEvoy also advises fiduciaries in regards to the administration of trusts and estates. McEvoy received her J.D., with distinction, from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2003 and her undergraduate degree from University of Southern California in 1999.

Marlene Nicolas is a member of the Labor and Employment practice group in the Los Angeles office.  Nicolas counsels employers on employment law compliance and risk mitigation, as well as providing a vigorous defense against legal claims arising under state and federal law, including the Labor Code, the FEHA, the CFRA, the FLSA, Title VII, the FMLA, the ADA, and the ADEA.  As a seasoned litigator, she has managed cases involving claims for labor code violations, wrongful termination, discrimination & harassment, retaliation, whistle-blower actions, wage & hour violations, and unfair competition.  Nicolas received her J.D. from Southwestern University in 2006 and her undergraduate degree from Boston University in 2001.

Jim Pugh is a member of the Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental practice group and is based in the Los Angeles office.  Pugh specializes in complex land use planning, obtaining entitlements and project approvals, global climate change, and green building regulations for virtually all types of development.  He is an expert in California Environmental Quality Act compliance and regularly guides clients through the multifaceted environmental review and permitting processes at the state and federal level.  In addition, Pugh routinely advises clients regarding the application of general plans, specific plans, zoning requirements and municipal code provisions in jurisdictions throughout California.  Pugh received his J.D. from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1999 and his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from University of California, Irvine in 1995. 

Jeff Rector is an energy project finance specialist, a member of the Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental practice group and based in the firm’s Del Mar office.  Rector is a sustainability-focused project finance attorney who helps his clients deploy capital for socially beneficial projects while earning healthy financial returns. He represents project developers, investors, and lenders on domestic and international transactions involving new investments and financings of energy and other infrastructure projects.  Rector received his J.D. from Stanford Law School, his Master of Pacific International Affairs from University of California, San Diego and his undergraduate degree from University of California, San Diego. 

Zac Turke is a member of the Corporate practice group and is based in the Los Angeles office.  Turke's practice focuses primarily on advising private and public companies with respect to mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.  His practice also involves venture capital, debt and equity financing, securities offerings and corporate governance.  Turke has worked with clients in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, technology, aerospace & defense, consumer products, financial services, entertainment and healthcare.  Turke received his J.D. from Harvard University in 2006 and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Duke University in 1999.