Sheppard Mullin Adds 15‑Lawyer IP Litigation Team From Perkins Coie

Why It Matters

The hiring spree underscores how law firms are treating IP litigation as a growth engine, especially as technology companies face mounting pressure to defend expansive patent portfolios. By consolidating talent, Sheppard Mullin not only strengthens its market position but also signals to clients that it can marshal the resources needed for high‑stakes, cross‑jurisdictional battles. The ITC’s rising docket, coupled with recent Federal Circuit decisions expanding its reach, creates a lucrative niche for firms that can navigate both trade policy and patent law. Sheppard’s expanded capabilities may shift the competitive balance, prompting rival firms to accelerate their own hiring or pursue mergers to stay relevant in this fast‑moving arena.

Key Takeaways

• Sheppard Mullin hired a 15‑lawyer IP litigation team from Perkins Coie.
• The hires include partners Veronica Ascarrunz, Robin Brewer, Andrew Klein, Tom Millikan and Joseph Reid.
• This follows a prior three‑partner Perkins Coie hire and a 21‑lawyer group from Ropes & Gray.
• Perkins Coie is merging with Ashurst to form a $2.8 billion, 3,000‑lawyer firm.
• ITC filings are up more than 200 % year‑to‑date, driving demand for specialized IP litigators.

Pulse Analysis

Sheppard Mullin’s talent raid is a textbook case of strategic scaling in a niche legal market. Patent litigation has become a revenue engine for elite firms because high‑value cases can generate multimillion‑dollar fees and elevate a firm’s reputation. By absorbing an entire team that already works together, Sheppard avoids the integration friction that often plagues piecemeal hires. The move also locks in expertise that spans the ITC, district courts and the PTAB—an increasingly valuable combination as the Federal Circuit expands the ITC’s jurisdiction.

The broader consolidation trend is fueled by two forces: the growing complexity of technology patents and the competitive pressure from boutique firms that specialize in a single forum. As the ITC’s docket swells—up 200 % this year—clients are looking for firms that can simultaneously litigate in trade and judicial arenas. Sheppard’s acquisition positions it to capture that cross‑forum premium. However, the aggressive hiring also raises cost pressures; the firm must translate the talent investment into winning outcomes to justify the expense.

Looking ahead, the market may see a wave of similar moves as firms anticipate a surge in standard‑essential‑patent disputes tied to 5G rollouts, AI hardware, and emerging IoT standards. Firms that fail to build integrated teams risk losing marquee clients to rivals like Sheppard that can promise a one‑stop shop for complex, multi‑jurisdictional patent battles. The next few quarters will reveal whether Sheppard’s strategy yields a measurable uplift in case wins and fee generation, or whether the consolidation simply reshapes the competitive landscape without delivering proportional returns.