Kirkland & Ellis has bolstered its US appeal court credentials with its latest heavyweight lateral hires, bringing in former US Solicitor General Paul Clement and former Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh alongside the rest of the team at litigation boutique Bancroft.
Bancroft’s 15-strong legal team will join the firm’s founder Dinh along with Clement at Kirkland’s Washington office on 1 October, working alongside Kirkland’s 435 litigation lawyers across the US, Europe and Asia.
Clement, who served as Solicitor General for three years from 2005, has argued over 80 cases before the US Supreme Court with 30 of those in just the last five terms. His focus is on appellate matters, constitutional litigation and strategic counselling, representing clients in the Supreme Court as well as in federal and appellate courts.
Well-regarded litigator and constitutional law expert Dinh advises on corporate governance and regulatory compliance. He held his position as Attorney General for legal policy from 2001 and currently serves on the boards of directors of 21st Century Fox, Revlon, and LPL Financial Holdings.
Chairman of Kirkland’s global management executive committee Jeffrey Hammes described Clement as ‘one of the most well-regarded Supreme Court lawyers in the country’, adding: ‘The team he and Viet have assembled at Bancroft is truly remarkable. Their skills and experience and Kirkland’s global platform will be a very powerful combination for clients.’
Another member of the firm’s executive committee, Gene Assaf, said: ‘The accomplishments of the Bancroft team are amazing, with 120 US Supreme Court arguments, nine Supreme Court clerkships, 17 courts of appeals clerkships and five Presidential appointments. We see immense opportunity in combining forces.’
The team will join Kirkland ahead of the new Supreme Court term.
madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk