Sheppard Mullin Welcomes Leading First Amendment Attorney, Guylyn Cummins
Guylyn Cummins has joined the San Diego office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in its Entertainment & Media Group. The addition of Cummins further expands the multi-disciplinary group, which has grown in less than two years to include over thirty lawyers whose primary focus is servicing entertainment, media and advertising industry clients.
Cummins has spent her entire career working in media law and joins Sheppard Mullin from Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, where she practiced for 20 years. A seasoned litigator, Cummins represents a broad array of media clients relating to First Amendment issues, including access issues, libel and advertising content, plus trademark and copyright fair use.
Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm, said, "Guylyn's practice fits extremely well in our firm. We enjoy an excellent reputation in media law and the addition of Guylyn will significantly strengthen the firm's presence in this area, both geographically and in terms of depth.
Commented Cummins, "Sheppard Mullin has a dynamic media and entertainment group. I am excited about joining a premier firm with a strong Los Angeles presence that will allow me to further develop my practice. I have known Gary Bostwick for many years and am very pleased to be teaming up with him in the area of our legal specialty."
Marty Katz, co-chair of the Entertainment and Media practice group, stated, "Our plan is to carefully build the preeminent entertainment and media practice on the West Coast. Guylyn is a welcome addition to the First Amendment portion of our practice, extending our already extensive expertise in that area to the San Diego region.
Cummins' clients include The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., The Copley Press, Clear Channel Communications, The San Diego Daily Transcript, The Tribune Company, The New York Times, Court TV and the North County Times. Guylyn represents major television networks and affiliates in San Diego, as well as the San Diego Union-Tribune, when these entities have press issues in the San Diego market.
Cummins is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, earned an M.A. with honors from University of Southern California, and earned a bachelor’s degree with high distinction from University of Nebraska. Both her undergraduate and graduate degrees are in Journalism. Cummins is on the governing board of the American Bar Association Forum of Communications Law, co-chair of ABA Forum and the National Association of Broadcasters Annual Legal Seminar, and adjunct professor of Media Law, California Western School of Law.
Established in early 2003, the Entertainment and Media practice group represents major motion picture studios, independent production companies, and other domestic and international entertainment and media companies. With the addition of Cummins and partner Gary Bostwick, who joined earlier this year, the firm has two experienced and well-known First Amendment attorneys to serve its clients, both before and after litigation is filed. The practice group also has substantial experience in all areas of entertainment and media, including motion picture, television, home video, music, sports, publishing, licensing and merchandising, games, branded entertainment and advertising.
About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with more than 425 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 and Media; Finance and Bankruptcy; Government Contracts; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Litigation; Real Estate/Land Use; and Tax, Employee Benefits, Trusts and Estate Planning. The firm was founded in 1927.