Bethany Hengsbach

Ms. Hengsbach is an associate in the Government Contracts and Regulated Industries Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

Areas of Practice

Ms. Hengsbach specializes in commercial litigation, with an emphasis on government contracts, general business disputes, products liability, and consumer class actions. Ms. Hengsbach has represented businesses and individuals in litigation and arbitrations related to government contracts, trade secret misappropriation, products liability, professional liability, contractual disputes, business torts, real estate, and intellectual property.

Prior to joining Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, Ms. Hengsbach was an associate at Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP in Chicago.

Education

• J.D., DePaul University, 1997, member and Citation Editor, DePaul University Journal of Health Care Law, two-time recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award, Dean's Scholar
• Cornell University, University of Paris IV, Panthéon-Sorbonne, Institute of International and Comparative Law, 1995
• B.A., University of Illinois, 1994, with distinction

Admissions

• California
• Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Central, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Representative Experience

• Ms. Hengsbach was one of the senior associates on a team representing Northrop Grumman in a $500 million software misappropriation case.  Ms. Hengsbach was responsible for oral argument before the magistrate and the trial judge, arguing over fifty motions in the case.  She took over thirty depositions, including that of the opponent's CEO, as well as several of its expert witnesses.  The case settled on favorable terms on the eve of trial. 
• Ms. Hengsbach acted as the "second chair" trial attorney in a multi-million dollar breach of contract dispute for Northop Grumman.  Among other significant responsibilities for trial preparation, Ms. Hengsbach drafted and argued eleven motions in limine on behalf of her client.  The trial judge granted all eleven motions, resulting in a favorable settlement on the eve of trial.
• Ms. Hengsbach represented an importer in a patent infringement dispute before the International Trade Commission, successfully negotiating a licensing agreement to settle the case on favorable terms.
• Ms. Hengsbach acted as the "first chair" trial attorney in a construction dispute wherein plaintiff sought damages in excess of one million dollars.  After opening statement and cross examination of the plaintiff's key witness, plaintiff accepted defendant's pre-trial settlement offer, resolving the case on favorable terms.

Honors

• One of only 25 attorneys nationwide selected for the 2008 American Bar Association Leadership Academy. Ms. Hengsbach was nominated for selection into the Academy by Senior Corporate Counsel for Northrop Grumman.

Memberships

• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association

Articles

• Co-author, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, "Punitive Damages and Damages for Emotional Distress in Third-Party Bad Faith Actions," Fall 1999.
• Contributor, IDC Quarterly Federal Preemption Monograph, "Automobile Safety Standards and the Federal Boat Safety Act," August 1996.

Speeches

• Speech to the Kentucky Society of Healthcare and Risk Management, "The Institute of Medicine's Report on Medical Errors: The Report, The Reaction, and What It All Means to You", Louisville, KY, April 2000.