Former NY Deputy Attorney General, Dietrich Snell, has returned to private practice as a partner with Proskauer Rose. Snell left Patterson Belknap in 1988 as a fourth-year associate to join other former Patterson lawyers at the attorney general’s office. Starting in 1998, Snell served in Eliot Spitzer’s New York state attorney general’s office, running the public advocacy division. Then after the 9-11 attacks, he was chosen to head the committee that drafted the 9-11 Commission Report. At Proskauer, Snell will work with Bob Cleary, the head of the firm’s white-collar defense practice.
Source: www.law.com

Eric Feuerstein has joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a partner in its New York office. He was formerly a partner with Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson. Feuerstein’s practice focuses on high-end real estate transactions. Specifically, he deals with acquisitions, joint ventures, leasing, development and financing. The lawyers in Gibson Dunn’s real estate practice represent a variety of clients on matters such as development, leasing, sales and acquistions, and real estate debt and equity finance. The firm has over 800 attorneys in 13 offices worldwide.
Source: www.prnewswire.com

Two more California firms have increased first-year salaries to $160,000. O’Melveny & Myers and Morrison & Foerster are the latest to bump up pay, following Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, who made the increase last week. For these two firms with large California associate populations, the pay raise will be costly. However, firm leaders emphasize that it comes as a result of the need to stay with the market, and to show clients that they provide the best service and the best talent.
Source: www.law.com

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe announced on Thursday, May 3 that it would be increasing its first-year associates’ pay in all California offices except for Sacramento. The pay raise to $160,000 matches the raise that the firm already made in New York and Washington, D.C. During the frenzy of raises earlier this year, most firms only raised CA salaries to $145,000, though some like Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges went up to $160,000. Speculation abounds whether other big name California firms like Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher or Latham & Watkins will also bump up their salaries. On the other hand, for more middle-market firms that matched NY salaries, the chances are less likely that they will all make another raise in California.
Source: www.law.com

Two compensation and benefits partners have made lateral moves in New York. Mitchel Pahl left Alston & Bird for Dewey Ballantine. His clients have included Prudential Insurance Co., the Carlyle Group and Bertlesmann, Inc. Dewey has recently been on a lateral hiring spree, with new partner arrivals offsetting those lost after the failed merger last year. Philadelphia-based Pepper Hamilton recruited partner Stephen Gorell from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Media attorneys Tom Kelley and Steve Zansberg are making a lateral move from Faegre & Benson to Levine, Sullivan, Koch & Schultz. Kelley and Zansberg, along with Chris Beall of Faegre & Benson and Ashley Kissinger of Levine, Sulliven will be opening a new Denver office for the national firm. Levine, Sullivan has offices in D.C., New York, and Philadelphia, and is considered one of the top media and First Amendment law firms in the U.S. The firm specializes in libel, privacy and other related First Amendment issues in defending news, entertainment and other media groups. Faegre & Benson most likely will not maintain a media practice without the three departing lawyers. The firm’s focus is now more on commercial litigation, corporate mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property.
Source: www.phoenix.bizjournals.com

Brian Margolis of Proskauer Rose will join WilmerHale’s New York office. The corporate partner specializes in equity offerings, including initial public offerings, for companies in the technology, media and life sciences industries. Margolis has been with Proskauer since 2003. WilmerHale now has about 150 of its 1,200 lawyers practicing in New York.
Source: www.law.com

New York-based Dreier has started a matrimonial practice with the hire of Judith Poller, former partner with Bryan Cave. Poller’s practice deals with a variety of family law matters, including divorce, child custody and support arrangements. It is expected that Poller will work closely with Dreier’s trust and estates affiliate Schlesinger Gannon & Lazetera. 100-lawyer Dreier focuses on litigation, bankruptcy, real estate, employment law and intellectual property.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Richard Kronthal has left Kaye Scholer to join Andrews Kurth in New York. Kronthal joins Andrews Kurth as a partner in its Corporate/Securities group. Kronthal represents domestic and international financial institutions in capital markets transactions, focusing especially on transactions in the energy sector. He also counsels companies focused on emerging technology industries. Andrews Kurth has over 400 lawyers in office around the world.
Source: www.sys-con.com

Lateral moves abound in New York. Scott Samay, a partner with Kirkland & Ellis has joined Winston & Strawn as a litigation partner. Tony Nolan left Goodwin Proctor for K&L Gates’ NY office; he will be a partner in its finance practice. Akerman Senterfitt gained corporate partner Howard Finkelstein from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. Robert Gunther Jr. also made a jump from Latham & Watkins to WilmerHale.
Source: www.nylawyer.com