The Churn: Lateral Moves in The Am Law 200

Correction, 2/20/2013, 10:40 a.m. EST: The original version of this article referred incorrectly to the year that Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton acquired Santa Barbara–based Nida & Maloney. That acquisition occurred in 2001. The second paragraph of the story has been revised to reflect the correct information. We regret the error.

Cooley has continued the expansion of its recently opened Los Angeles office with the addition of two former Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton partners, C. THOMAS HOPKINS and IAN SMITH. Both join the firm’s business department as partners.

Hopkins, who previously cochaired Sheppard Mullin’s global corporate practice group, specializes in public offerings and mergers and acquisitions, while Smith concentrates on mergers and acquisitions and venture capital matters. Earlier this year, the pair advised Fidelity National in its purchase of Atlanta-based health insurance distributor Digital Insurance for an undisclosed sum. Both joined Sheppard Mullin in 2001, when the firm acquired Santa Barbara–based Nida & Maloney, according to Pacific Business, which names other past clients of the duo including Fastclick, CKE Restaurants, and Boeing.

As sibling publication The Recorder reported at the time, Cooley launched its Los Angeles branch in July 2012 with four founding partners from four firms, including former Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner David Hernand. Since then, the firm has hired 11 attorneys and has said it expects to continue to grow this year.