Corporate Finance Attorney Jim Ritter Joins Sheppard Mullin Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire -01/11/12)- James F. Ritter has joined the Washington D.C. office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in the firm's Corporate practice group. Mr. Ritter was previously a partner with Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ritter has extensive experience in negotiating a wide variety of financing arrangements, including senior secured loans (both asset-based and cash flow loans) and mezzanine and other subordinated debt, high yield securities, working capital facilities, international and U.S. domestic power and other infrastructure project financings, equipment leasing and other vendor finance transactions, letters of credit, derivatives contracts, and equity investments. He represents businesses seeking and providing access to capital in a number of industries, with particularly extensive experience in the aerospace, defense, communications, health care and energy industries.

"Jim brings a wealth of transactional experience in private equity and leveraged finance transactions. He has worked with some of the largest private equity funds, including The Carlyle Group, as well as a number of firms more focused on the middle market, in a variety of deal types. In addition to his technical skills, Jim is a terrific individual. He is well liked by his clients and peers," said Ed Schiff, managing partner of Sheppard Mullin's Washington, D.C. office.

"Jim is an excellent addition to our private equity team, as we continue to build that practice. The expansion of our corporate practice in Washington, D.C. and New York is a key strategic goal for our Corporate practice group in 2012," stated Jamie Mercer, co-chair of Sheppard Mullin's Corporate practice group.

"I am thrilled to join Sheppard Mullin. The strength and breadth of the firm's Corporate practice group is very impressive, as is Sheppard Mullin's successful growth and expansion in recent years," Mr. Ritter commented.

Mr. Ritter received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986 and a B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1981.

Sheppard Mullin's Corporate practice group grew to over 100 attorneys during 2011, including eight attorneys in the Washington, D.C. office. Fifty attorneys total are based in the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard Mullin is a full service Global 100 firm with more than 570 attorneys in 14 offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since 1927, companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle corporate and technology matters, high stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm's clients include more than half of the Fortune 100. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com.