In an unusual move to hire laterally rather than promote from within, New York–based Cahill Gordon & Reindel has appointed HERBERT WASHER as a litigation partner in New York.
Formerly the deputy practice group leader at Shearman & Sterling, Washer specializes in representing clients in cases related to accounting fraud, derivative products, commodities and securities trading, market manipulation, banking and price fixing. He is perhaps best-known for his representation of Merrill Lynch in SEC, DOJ and Commodities Futures Trading Commission, and congressional investigations following Enron’s collapse. The case also saw the Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of
“scheme liability,” a legal theory in which secondary actors (such as accountants, lawyers, and consultants) can be held liable in securities fraud cases.
Cahill’s appointment of an outsider as a new partner comes as a surprise, as the firm typically known to hire from within.
In 2005 the firm appointed David Kelley as a partner. Kelley, who had served as the prosecutor in Martha Stewart’s insider trading case, was the firm’s first lateral hire in 30 years.
In other Churn news . . .
Energy attorney
DEREK JOSÉ ANCHONDO has jumped to
Adams and Reese‘s Houston office, where he will be special counsel and a member of the special business services practice. Anchondo, who was formerly at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, has experience with domestic and international transactions in the oil and gas industry, including upstream exploration and production activities, offshore drilling, purchase of energy products and procurement of equipment or services.
Baker Botts has added environmental lawyer
MOLLY CAGLE as a partner in its Austin office. Previously a partner at Vinson & Elkins, Cagle has represented clients before governmental agencies and federal and state courts, and specializes in water-related issues.
Less than two weeks after losing 37 lawyers from its Nashville office to rival Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Cannada, Miller & Martin again faces a departure in Music City.
HUGH HOWSER, a civil litigator, has lateraled to
Dickinson Wright, where he joins as a member in the firm’s Nashville office. The departure leaves Miller & Martin with just eight lawyers in Nashville, according to its Web site.
Former Dechert partner
KEVIN O’BRIEN has joined New York–based Harris & Houghteling, which will now be known as
Harris, O’Brien, St. Laurent & Houghteling, as a name partner. (The firm has also elevated Andrew St. Laurent, who was promoted to partner in 2009, to name partner.) A former U.S. assistant attorney in the Eastern District of New York, O’Brien has experience in trial law, and has represented clients facing criminal grand jury investigations and possible enforcement actions from the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and other regulatory organizations.
McDermott Will & Emery has snagged
MARK MARTIN and
JOHN WOODRUFF as partners in Houston and
CYM LOWELL as a partner in Dallas. Martin, who will serve as head of the transfer pricing practice, specializes in matters related to energy, construction, and chemicals. Lowell and Woodruff also concentrate on transfer pricing, as well as tax planning matters. All three were previously at Gardere Wynne Sewell.
Labor and employment firm
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart has gained
DAWN COLLINS and
KATESSA CHARLES DAVIS as shareholders in its Los Angeles office. Previously at Jackson Lewis, Collins specializes in employment disputes and administrative hearings. Davis, who joins the firm from Steptoe & Johnson, focuses on commercial and employment disputes, and has arbitration and jury trial experience in both state and federal courts.
Real estate attorney
LOUISE ADAMSON has moved to
Perkins Coie, where she will be a partner in the San Francisco office. Adamson handles matters related to real estate and land development, including acquisition and disposition, leasing, financing, entitlement, and the development of properties. She was previously at K&L Gates.
In Paris,
Proskauer Rose has appointed
CÉDRIC JACQUELET as international counsel in the labor and employment law department. Previously at Lavallart Avocats Associés, Jacquelet represents employers in their relations with employees and unions. He also has experience with Social Security law, and in advising clients on occupational accidents, diseases, social protection programs, and URSSAF audits and litigation.
JOHN TAN, former China regional compliance director for Pfizer Inc., has joined
Reed Smith as counsel in the global regulatory enforcement group. Tan concentrates on compliance and litigation, with a special focus on life sciences. He will be based in Shanghai.
Real estate attorneys
CRAIG ETLIN and
PETER AITELLI have left Morrison & Foerster to be partners at San Francisco–based
Shartsis Friese. Both attorneys specialize in real estate transactions, including financing, acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, and the formation of joint venture entities.
Sidley Austin has welcomed JOSHUA HILL as a partner in the firm’s litigation practice. Formerly an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California, Hill has prosecuted cases involving wire and mail fraud, bank fraud, criminal tax, child exploitation, human trafficking, firearms and narcotics, and immigration crimes. He will be based in San Francisco.
Construction and government contracts attorney
LAWRENCE PROSEN has left K&L Gates to be a partner in
Thompson Hine‘s Washington, D.C., office. Prosen concentrates on representing contractors and subcontractors in matters related to litigation, including trials, arbitrations, mediations, and administrative appeals.
The Churn is compiled from law firm releases and announcements. Moves based on our own reporting will note this. Please send all announcements and news releases to [email protected].
