8 Pillsbury partners exit for Winston & Strawn; will other departures follow?
Winston & Strawn announced Wednesday the acquisition of an 8-partner group from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and news reports say observers expect more Pillsbury lawyers to exit for Winston.
Following Winston’s announcement last week that Pillsbury structured finance chief Jeffrey Stern is joining the Chicago-based international firm, another eight partners specializing in corporate, finance and private equity matters, including three practice group leaders, decided to leap from Pillsbury offices in New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., according to the Am Law Daily (sub. req.), the Recorder (sub. req.) and Reuters.
Partner Christopher Zochowski will co-chair the mergers and acquisitions and securities practice at his new firm, while Jay Gould will share leadership of the financial services and investment management practice group at Winston, the Recorder reported.
Pillsbury lawyers are also expected to leap to Winston from offices in London and the Middle East, reports Legal Week (sub. req.).
“We are placing an emphasis on strategically expanding our corporate practice in key markets including New York, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.,” said Winston’s managing partner, Thomas Fitzgerald, in a written statement provided to the Am Law Daily.
Pillsbury wished the departing lawyers well. “While Pillsbury has had excellent partner retention in recent years, it is nevertheless a fact of life that partners come and go at all firms,” said Pillsbury in a written statement. “We are very sorry to see any partner leave us. We wish these partners nothing but the best in their new endeavor.”
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