From Guy Halgren, Sheppard Mullin

May 14, 2012 By // by mco

I have very sad news to report about our Del Mar Partner Bob Gerber. We have just learned Bob passed away last night of unknown causes. We know he was recovering from a minor surgery at home but have no further details at this time. Bob was 49.

Bob joined our Firm in 1989 after graduating from Harvard Law School, cum laude, in 1988 and clerking for the Hon. Rudi Brewster in the Southern District of California. Bob spent spent his entire career with us.

Bob was a lawyer’s lawyer and a true professional in every sense of the word. Thousands of attorneys around the country only know the name “Sheppard Mullin” because of Bob’s dedication to the profession. He added great luster to our Firm’s reputation across the land.

Among his many professional involvements, Bob was Co-Chair of the Trade Secrets Subcommittee of the ABA Litigation Section’s Intellectual Property Litigation Committee, Chair of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of California, Vice President and on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Bar Association, a Commissioner for the State Bar of California Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Master in the J. Clifford Wallace Inn of Courts, a Master in the Louis M. Welsh Inn Of Courts, and a Director of the American Inns of Court Foundation. Significantly, Bob always had a keen interest in ethics and was a former Chair and active member of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee.

Bob was an outstanding practicing lawyer as well. He was recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer from 2007-2012, as a Best Lawyer in America in 2012, and a Top Attorney in San Diego in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Within the Firm, Bob was generous and caring. Bob was the Founder of our Pro Bono Committee in 2001 and served as its Chair until 2010. Bob was always thinking of ways to help others. He donated thousands of hours of free legal services to the indigent, including the representation of a Mexican teenager in a precedent-setting immigration case entitled Hernandez-Montiel v. INS. Bob was in 2010 recognized as our Pro Bono Attorney of the Decade.

Bob very much loved his family–his wife Shelley and his children Alex, Alyssa, Taylor and Paige.

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From Dr. Lois Lee, founder Children of the Night »

For those who are interested, and as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions in Bob’s name may be made to Children of the Night. Children of the Night is a privately funded non-profit organization established in 1979 and dedicated to rescuing America's children from the ravages of prostitution. This is a charity that was near and dear to Bob. He gave countless hours of pro-bono legal assistance to the organization. Those who would like to make a donation in memory of Bob may do so by writing a check to Children of the Night and mailing it to Children of the Night, 14530 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, California 91411 or by making it directly on the website childrenofthenight.org It is important that they note this gift is in memory of Bob Gerber.