Benjamin G. Chew , who served as co-lead counsel for Johnny Depp in his defamation trial against actor and former spouse Amber Heard, will join Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Business Trial practice group.

Chew will be based in Washington, D.C. and will be joined by colleagues Camille Vasquez, Leo Presiado, Andrew Crawford, Jessica Meyers and Samuel Moniz. All of them recently moved to Sheppard Mullin from Brown Rudnick.

All six attorneys were previously partners at Brown Rudnick, where Chew co-chaired the Brand and Reputation Management Group.

Associate Honieh Udenka has also joined the firm’s Business Trial Practice Group from Brown Rudnick.

“I am thrilled to rejoin my team and continue building upon Sheppard Mullin’s exceptional reputation as a leading litigation firm,” Chew stated. “Our Brand and Reputation Management practice will benefit from the firm’s full-service platform and extensive industry expertise.”

Chew is a respected legal professional who represents clients in complex commercial litigation and disputes. He successfully prosecuted two cases involving breaches of fiduciary duty for Depp and represented singer Cher in multiple cases, including two related to the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Edith & Eddie.”

He also represented the government of Dubai in securing the dismissal of a multimillion-dollar arbitration award claim from International Bechtel in the United States. He secured a victory in a criminal trial in Kosovo on behalf of telecommunications entrepreneurs after passing the country’s bar exam, allowing them to maintain their profitable franchise.

Chew holds a B.A. from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and teaches trial advocacy at Harvard Law School’s workshop.

“Ben brings a wealth of trial experience to our firm,” Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard Mullin, stated. “Beyond his renowned litigation work for Johnny Depp, he has represented heads of state, foreign governments and business leaders in a wide range of matters worldwide. We are thrilled to welcome Ben and Honieh to our firm and expand our Business Trial practice.”