LOS ANGELES, CA.- Christine Steiner has joined the Los Angeles/Century City office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as special counsel in the firm's Entertainment, Media and Technology practice group and Art Law practice. Steiner joins Sheppard Mullin from her international private practice, dedicated to global issues in art, architecture, culture, museums and intellectual property law.

"Christine brings a valuable, substantive background that will be a great asset to our clients," commented Robert Darwell, leader of the firm's Entertainment, Media and Technology practice group and head of the Art Law practice. "Christine's experience is unique in the area of art law, as it combines a lengthy career in a variety of legal and policy positions within cultural and educational institutions prior to her entering private practice. This provides clients with a unique perspective that draws on her broad experience and enables her to provide counsel and advice on an extensive range of matters and issues concerning art law and related fields."

A highly respected figure in the art world, Steiner’s practice emphasizes visual arts, public art, nonprofits, foundations, intellectual property, publishing, and art market and general business transactions. She represents art collectors, national and international living artists, collectors' and artists' estates, galleries, museums and cultural organizations, foundations, creative businesses, universities, writers, publishers, and other diverse creative clients.

Steiner, an esteemed professor and lecturer, has served as secretary and general counsel of the J. Paul Getty Trust, a leading cultural and philanthropic organization which includes the renowned Getty Museum, and as assistant general counsel of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. She currently serves on the editorial board of the Copyright Society of the United States, and is active in the arts in Los Angeles.

"I am honored to join Sheppard Mullin, a top-notch full service firm with both a premier global entertainment, media and technology practice group and an established art law practice," Steiner comments. "Art issues have become complex and inter-related, and I am thrilled that clients can rely on the depth and breadth Sheppard Mullin will provide. I look forward to working closely with Bob and the rest of the team to further grow the art law practice."

Steiner received a J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a B.A., with honors, from Johns Hopkins University.

The Art Law practice assists clients in all Sheppard Mullin offices, and is especially active in the firm's Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Shanghai offices. The firm has more than 200 attorneys based in its Los Angeles offices (Century City and Downtown), and the Entertainment, Media and Technology practice group includes more than 40 attorneys firmwide.