(Photo by KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

There’s some big news in brand and reputation management circles this week, because Camille Vasquez — the lawyer who became the face of actor Johnny Depp’s defense in the Amber Heard defamation trial — is switching law firms.

You may recall that Vasquez, an associate during the trial, was promoted to partner almost immediately after she helped Depp win a favorable verdict. Now, she’s leaving Brown Rudnick, an Am Law 200 firm, to head to Sheppard Mullin, a Top 50 Am Law 100 firm, as part of a group lateral move. Reuters has the details:

Sheppard Mullin said on Tuesday that it has hired Vasquez and other lawyers that worked on the Depp case, in Orange County, California, and Washington, D.C. The group includes partners Leo Presiado, Andrew Crawford, Jessica Meyers and Samuel Moniz. …

Vasquez said her team will add brand reputation services to Sheppard Mullin’s business trial practice, which according to the firm has around 250 lawyers.

When speaking of her move to Sheppard Mullin, Vasquez said, “In addition to the firm’s top-notch litigation practice, we were attracted to the firm’s global footprint, full-service platform and its culture of collaboration. We look forward to building on the firm’s already successful litigation capabilities and offering a deeper and wider bench to clients throughout the country.”

Congratulations to Camille Vasquez and the rest of the team that will be joining her at Sheppard Mullin.

Trial lawyers in Depp case join law firm Sheppard Mullin [Reuters]
Sheppard Mullin Lures Renowned Trial Lawyer Camille Vasquez and Brand Reputation Team [Sheppard Mullin]

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.