Liisa Thomas named managing partner by Sheppard Mullin
Liisa Thomas named managing partner by Sheppard Mullin
She takes over from Larry Eppley, who now leads the hospitality team
The AmLaw 100 firm Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton has appointed Liisa Thomas, the privacy and cybersecurity practice leader, as managing partner of its Chicago outpost. The move comes ahead of the firm relocating to Windy City later this year.
Thomas succeeds Larry Eppley, who took charge of the Chicago office when it was launched in 2012. Eppley is now the leader of the hospitality industry team with the Los Angeles-based firm.
Eppley stated, "Since day one, Chicago established a unique, tight-knit, and collaborative culture, and I am proud of how we have maintained and nurtured our office rapport as we have grown. Thomas will be a great ambassador for the office, and I am delighted to congratulate her on her appointment."
Thomas remarked, "It is an exciting time here. We are celebrating 10 successful years this summer and have outgrown our physical office space and are preparing for a new location in River North later this year. I am energized to deepen and expand our client relationships, continue to focus on building an inclusive environment and raise the profile of Sheppard Mullin in the Chicago market."
Thomas joined Sheppard Mullin in 2017 from Winston & Strawn, where she served as chair of the firm's privacy and data security practice. She focuses on cybersecurity and privacy matters across the advertising, media, food and beverage, hospitality and retail industries.
From its current space, Sheppard Mullin will move to 321 N. Clarke. The firm has around 80 lawyers and staff working in Chicago, including 22 partners.
The Chicago office is its only base in the Midwest. It has seven offices in California, two on the East Coast in New York and Washington DC and one in Dallas. Its four international offices are in Brussels, London, Seoul and Shanghai.
The international offices were opened under the leadership of Guy Halgren, the firm's former chairman. Under his leadership, the firm experienced 20-years of consecutive revenue growth, up from $149m in 2001 to $867m in 2020.
Halgren had stepped down from the position last year. Washington DC corporate partner Lucantonio Salvi succeeded him.
