Launch Party for 2099 Penn Ave

Just over a decade after Sheppard Mullin launched in DC with several lawyers, it's celebrating the opening of its new office at 2099 Pennsylvania Ave—where it's the anchor tenant and has room for up to 120 offices. At the open house, we snapped Ed Schiff, a founding partner of the office and managing partner for its first ten years. The firm surprised him with this conference center dedicated in his name.

Guy Halgren, chairman of the 640-attorney firm, flew in from San Diego. We snapped him with DC office co-managing partner Jonathan Aronie, right. Guy tells us the two main factors changing the legal industry are technology and globalization, combined with a decreased demand for hours but an increased supply of lawyers.

Here, Jonathan's fellow DC co-managing partner, Luca Salvi, center. We found him catching up with Summit Commercial Real Estate president Petch Gibbons and Urban Igloo CEO Rick Gersten. Luca toured us around the office during its build-out when it was mostly a cement cube, so we enjoyed seeing the finished product (and not having to wear a hardhat).

Government contracts partner John Chierichella showed us models from contracts on which he's worked. It's an impressive list, including the B2 stealth bomber, the initial Hummer, spy satellites, drones, the Black Hawk helicopter, and nuclear submarines. (We're trying to stay on his good side.)

SKB did the architectural design for the 58,000 sq ft office. We snapped two of those who made it happen, SKB's Stefan Dytrt and Stephanie Westrick. Then we headed over to sample the snacks: alongside apricots wrapped with prosciutto and marinated figs stuffed with almonds was a red wine and chocolate tasting, with dark chocolate fleur de sel caramels and dark chocolate bonbons.