Russell B. Hill has joined the Orange County office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm's Intellectual Property practice group.  Hill most recently practiced at Howrey in Irvine. 

Hill specializes in patent litigation and trials.  He has tried patent cases before the International Trade Commission and in federal district courts, and has conducted several successful appeals to the Federal Circuit.  Hill's technical expertise lies in electronic systems and controls.  He gained this expertise as an aviation radar and RF communication systems chief in the Marines.  Hill has also taught undergraduate mathematics and electronics courses as an adjunct professor.  Hill also has extensive transactional and general counseling experience.  He has successfully formed joint ventures, and negotiated and structured a wide range of domestic and international deals. 

"Russ joins us with an impressive practical and academic background.  His practice is firmly rooted in electrical engineering and the electronic arts, though he also represents clients in a variety of biotechnology, software and mechanical process patent disputes and licensing campaigns.  With Russ, our patent litigation team continues to expand to adeptly handle high-stakes technology matters across a variety of technical disciplines," said Guy Halgren, chairman of the firm. 

"I look forward to joining Sheppard Mullin, a top-notch full service firm with a strong footprint in Orange County, and a solid nationwide presence and reputation," Hill commented.  "I am impressed with the firm's IP practice, the group's successful growth in recent years and firm management's dedication to growing it even further.  I'm excited to be part of a partnership that is transparent and open, which fosters both a collegial culture and an entrepreneurial spirit." 

"Russ is a great fit for us.  He is obviously a well respected patent litigator, but also a quality person.  Russ adds significantly to our patent litigation team and brings a formidable expertise in electrical engineering.  His background complements our patent litigation expertise in Orange County, and supplements our existing EE expertise firmwide," said Carlo Van den Bosch, co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property practice group. 

Hill’s clients include Electronics for Imaging, Lenovo, Magnecomp and TDK.  Hill received a J.D., Order of the Coif, from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 1997, a M.A. from Baylor University, a B.A. summa cum laude, from Chapman University, and a B.S. in Electronics Engineering Technology from Grantham University. 

Sheppard Mullin has 60 attorneys based in its Orange County office.  The firm's Intellectual Property practice group includes 70 attorneys firmwide.