Latham & Watkins Adds Partner

Perry J. Viscounty, a top lawyer at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s Costa Mesa office, joined Latham & Watkins as a partner, Latham announced Monday.

Viscounty, 35, headed Sheppard Mullin’s intellectual property and technology practice, and was in charge of a 30-member department whose clients included Mossimo Inc., Houston-based Corestaff Inc., Ultimate Staffing Services of Brea and Prestige Builders of Dana Point.

At Latham, Viscounty will be in charge of expanding the intellectual property practice at California’s largest and most prestigious law firm. He will work out of Latham’s Costa Mesa office.

“Sheppard is a terrific law firm and making the move was a tough personal choice, but Latham’s network of resources and international capabilities offer me significant opportunities for growth,” said Viscounty, who was one of Sheppard Mullin’s biggest rainmakers.

Virginia S. Grogan, managing partner at Latham’s Costa Mesa office, said Viscounty also will be responsible for expanding the firm’s business in Orange County’s booming technology industry.

Latham has 850 attorneys in 14 offices worldwide, including about 60 in Costa Mesa. Los Angeles-based Sheppard Mullin has about 250 attorneys in four California offices, including about 30 in Costa Mesa.