Lanny Breuer, one of the longest-serving leaders of the U.S. Justice Department’s criminal division, is returning to Covington & Burling to take on a newly created role as vice-chairman of the firm.

Breuer is joining his former firm on Thursday, after nearly four years as the assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division. "As I said to my wife, this will be my third first day at the firm," Breuer said during an interview this week.