Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton is mourning the loss of antitrust partner Carlton Varner, a 36-year veteran and former chairman of the Los Angeles-based firm. He was 61.
Varner died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. "Carlton's passing leaves an enormous void for all of us at Sheppard Mullin," current Chairman Guy Halgren said in a press release.
Varner was chairman of the firm from 1991 to 1998 and a member of the executive committee until 2006.
Carlton was a gifted litigator with a flair for pre-trial strategy. As an attorney representing a co-defendant, I worked with him on several related antitrust class actions stemming from the 2000 energy crisis in California. Carlton's sharp legal insight and quiet good humor seemed to go hand in hand. I am sorry to learn of his passing. My condolences to his family and to his friends and colleagues at Sheppard Mullin.
James Ransom
Posted by: James Ransom | December 06, 2008 at 10:29 PM