Scott Shipman and Edward Torpoco named as finalists in prestigious Bay Area awards.

eBay Inc. was well represented at the 2011 Best Bay Area Corporate Counsel awards, held on Feb. 22, and sponsored by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal and the San Francisco Business Times. Associate General Counsel Scott Shipman in eBay Legal was honored as a "Rising Star" finalist at the awards ceremony, and Senior Litigation Counsel Edward Torpoco was named "Diversity Champion" finalist.

The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reported on the awards. "It\'s a recognition of some incredibly talented people. We are thrilled to be here among such an amazing group," said Publisher James MacGregor.

Shipman has been with eBay Inc. since 1999 and is head of the company\'s privacy division, which develops standards for how eBay manages confidential user data. "Being in an area where you can innovate, where you\'re constantly being challenged with new things-that\'s what makes this fun," Shipman told the newspaper\'s editors.

"It was very special honor to be a finalist along with fellow eBay attorney Edward Torpoco and be amidst such amazing lawyers from world class companies," Shipman told The Hub. "Many of the top in-house attorneys arguably in the world were there, and eBay stood large as we were one of only two companies with more than one finalist [Gap Inc. was the other]. Notably, listening to the backgrounds of the various finalists, I couldn\'t help but think that most of the eBay attorneys I work with are even more deserving and qualified. eBay has a truly awesome legal team."

Edward Torpoco is one of eBay\'s most senior litigators and has been with the company since 2006. In an article titled "Torpoco Blazes New Trail for Hispanic Lawyers," he told the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal that his work ethic was a product of his upbringing. "I really get my work ethic from my parents," he said. "They made a very difficult choice to come to the U.S. I think I have an appreciation for sacrifice because of them, and one of the things that drives me is wanting to honor that sacrifice."

Torpoco is past President of the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, a local affiliate of the Hispanic National Bar Association. He currently serves on its advisory board.

A complete list of the legal leaders honored at the awards is online, and profiles of everyone honored will be added starting Friday.

Source: eBay Inc., The Hub