Education

Law School/Year: Harvard Law School, 1988

Other Graduate School/Year: Master of Public Policy, University of Michigan, 1985

College/Year: University of Michigan, 1984

Bar Admissions

California; U.S. District Court, Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California

Practice Areas 

Corporate Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Legal Malpractice Defense; Patent, Trademark & Copyright; Trade Secret    

Major Cases

I have worked on a number of major trade secret, patent, invention, false advertising, and employee benefits cases for Taylor Made Golf Co., including a successful defense of a case brought by the Trustees of the Screen Actors Guild Producers Pension and Health Plans, 572 F.2d 771 (9th Cir. 2009). I also won a groundbreaking 9th Circuit decision in a pro bono case, Hernandez-Montiel v. INS, 225 F.3d 1084 (9th Cir. 2000). The case established that persecution on the basis of "sexual identity" was sufficient to establish grounds for prohibiting deportation in immigration asylum cases. The case was cited in the recent gay marriage cases decided by the California Supreme Court.

Professional Background

I clerked from 1988-'89 for the Hon. Rudi M. Brewster (Ret.). I then began my work with Sheppard Mullin, where I became a partner in 1997 and have continued my practice since that time. Among other administrative positions I have held, I am chair of the Pro Bono Committee of the entire firm.

Professional Affiliations

I am the Immediate Past President of the J. Clifford Wallace Inn of Court and a master in both that Inn and the Louis M. Welsh Inn of Court. I am an adviser to and former chair of the Legal Ethics Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association. I am a former member of the Judicial Nominations Evaluation Committee of the state bar, as well as a former chair of the Litigation Section of the state bar. 

Personal Background

I grew up in Michigan, and am an avid University of Michigan sports fan. I am married to Michelle Gerber -- a graduate of The Ohio State University -- and we have four children, Alex, Taylor, Paige and Alyssa.