Sheppard Mullin

333 South Hope Street
43rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone number: (213) 620-1780

Visit Website: www.sheppardmullin.com

Summer Program: Learn More

Overview

Introduction

Sheppard Mullin—new to the $1 billion a year revenue club—has continued to grow since its founding almost 100 years ago in Los Angeles. With 15 offices worldwide and 1,000 attorneys, it has expanded from primary representation of retailers and banks to stellar legal services in commercial law, litigation, aerospace and defense, land use and real estate, entertainment law, IP law, and government contracts. Associates wanting pro bono experience will be happy with Sheppard Mullin’s dedicated pro bono partner and ...

Firm Stats

Total No. Attorneys (2022)

750 - 1K

No. of Partners Named (2022)

Featured Rankings

Vault Law 100

No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2022)

No. of Summer Associates (2022)

54 total (50 2Ls; 4 1Ls)

Base Salary

All offices:1st year: $ 215,000

Vault Verdict

In five years, Sheppard Mullin will celebrate its centennial anniversary. What began as a general practice firm of two has blossomed into a global brand with 1,000 attorneys and services in most areas of the law. The firm recruits from top schools and other schools with regional connections to branch offices. Grades, work experience, and diversity also are important hiring factors. Compatibility is key, too, as Sheppard Mullin wants associates who are team-oriented and get along with others. Office settings are friendly and laid back, with some offices offering relaxed dress codes. Partners are accessible and respectful, and value associates for their work. Transition efforts for lateral hires make them feel welcome. While the firm’s formal training is lacking, new attorneys can r...

About the Firm

With expertise in a variety of practices, including corporate, litigation, employment, IP, antitrust, and finance, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has grown aggressively in recent times. The firm has added several industry-focused practices, such as health care, insurance, and entertainment, and serves such clients as Mastercard, Liberty Mutual, Allstate Insurance, and Disney.

Starting Up

Today’s Sheppard Mullin entered the world in 1927 as Haight & Mathes, the brainchild of two young lawyers who left a small Los Angeles firm to strike out on their own. James Sheppard joined the nascent firm the following year. Name partners J. Stanley Mullin and George Richter cut their teeth as law clerks in the Great Depression’s waning days. With the...

2023 Vault Rankings

#69

Vault Law 100

#11

Best Law Firms for Labor and Employment Disputes

#14

Best Law Firms for Clean Tech/Renewable Energy Law

Associate Reviews

“We have a very collegial culture. The firm is laid back and really cares about its people and their well-being. Interactions are casual and pleasant. Everyone is happy to be here or at least acts like it.”
“The collegiately at Sheppard Mullin is outstanding. Partners, associates, and staff have great, genuine relationships. The day-to-day atmosphere is friendly and fun. Opportunities to socialize are never scarce.”
“The firm is generally casual, with partners, associates, and staff interacting frequently both professionally and socially. Although in-person interaction is down due to most people working from home, the firm has tried to stress the importance of maintaining the firm culture and encourage more in-person interaction.”

Why Work Here

Historical Highlight
Today’s Sheppard Mullin had a Roaring Twenties start in Los Angeles as a firm called Haight & Mathes. By the mid-1940s, and operating under its current name, the firm had become highly regarded (and still is) for its antitrust, finance, and employment law practices. Between 1977-86, the firm opened three other offices spanning the Golden State and added practices in key California industries, including aerospace and defense. In the '90s, the firm's specialties expanded to include a thriving corporate and securities practice, a prestigious real estate/land use/natural resources group, and a strong construction litigation practice.

To learn more about the firm's history click here.

Diversity at Sheppard Mullin

"Sheppard Mullin focuses tremendous resources on every phase of an attorney's career with the Firm, all the way from the first year of practice through the equity partner selection process. In addition, the Firm is transparent with both associates and partners regarding its finances, strategy and statistics and the criteria for partnership. • Affinity groups for diverse attorneys continue to play an essential role in helping us to retain and develop diverse associates as they advance through the Firm. Besides monthly..."

Read the Diversity Report

Getting Hired Here

“The firm considers all the standard factors in hiring: law school attended, grades, journal experience, clerkship, prior work experience, personality, and diversity. Feeder schools likely vary by office.”
“Sheppard Mullin typically hires from top law firms, as well as law schools with a geographic connection to the area.”
“Sheppard Mullin hires only top-tier talent, but is not overly obsessed with status of the law school or grades. The firm really values grit and diversity more than any other place I've worked.”