Trump taps BigLaw lawyers for administration posts
President Donald Trump
Christopher Wray, a King & Spalding partner who was announced Wednesday morning as President Donald Trump’s choice for FBI director, isn’t the only BigLaw lawyer recently tapped for posts in his administration.
Trump announced Monday evening that he plans to nominate several lawyers from large law firms to fill posts, Law.com (sub. req.) reports. They include:
Kirkland & Ellis partner Brian Benczkowski, to head the Justice Department’s criminal division. Benczkowski worked in the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration. His positions included former chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip and to Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
Dechert litigation partner Steven Bradbury, for general counsel of the Department of Transportation. Bradbury headed the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Justice Department, where he served as principal deputy assistant attorney general from 2004 to 2009, and acting assistant attorney general from 2005 to 2007. He has been criticized for writing legal opinions in 2005 authorizing waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques.
Greenberg Traurig shareholder Robert Charrow, for general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services. He was principal deputy general counsel at HHS before joining Greenberg Traurig.
McGuireWoods partner Carlos Muniz, for general counsel of the Department of Education. Law.com notes an Associated Press story reporting that when Muniz was chief of staff to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, he had a role in her decision not to pursue a lawsuit against Trump University.
