Musical Chairs: Lanny Davis and Eileen O’Connor Leave Orrick for McDermott
Last week we participated in a panel discussion at Georgetown Law that was skillfully moderated by Eileen O’Connor, the Emmy-nominated journalist turned high-powered lawyer. After the talk, we tried to play the “name game” with O’Connor regarding colleagues of hers over at Orrick. But O’Connor seemed strangely uneasy about Orrick, and she quickly changed the subject.
Could this have been why? From Am Law Daily:
Lanny Davis, a longtime Washington, D.C., lawyer who supported Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid and was a fraternity brother of George W. Bush, is taking his unique practice from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe to McDermott, Will & Emery.Davis, who previously moved to Orrick in 2003 from Patton Boggs, will bring counsel Eileen O’Connor, a former ABC News and CNN reporter, with him.
Beltway dwellers know that Lanny Davis is a big deal. He served as White House Special Counsel during the Clinton Administration, but he has friends on both sides of the aisle. As Bobby Burchfield, cohead of McDermott’s Washington office, told Zach Lowe of Am Law Daily, “Lanny is the only person I know who considers both Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush good friends.”
In addition to practicing law, Davis writes for the Washington Times and for The Hill. In one recent column, he scolded bloggers for inadequate fact-checking. If anything in this post is inaccurate, Mr. Davis, please email us and we’ll fix it ASAP.
Press release after the jump. Good luck to Davis and O’Connor in their new professional home.
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY — PRESS RELEASE
Prominent Washington, D.C. Attorneys, Lanny J. Davis and Eileen M. O’Connor, Move to McDermott Will & Emery
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2009) — McDermott Will & Emery LLP today announced that former White House Special Counsel Lanny J. Davis and veteran journalist Eileen M. O’Connor have joined the Firm’s Regulatory and Government Strategies Practice Group as partner and counsel, respectively. In their roles, Mr. Davis and Ms. O’Connor will continue their prior practice in litigation and related media strategies, in addition to advising clients on crisis management regarding a broad range of public policy and regulatory matters.
Mr. Davis and Ms. O’Connor bring to McDermott a vast array of experience representing some of the largest U.S. and foreign-based multinational companies, using multi-dimensional litigation, political and media strategies to resolve high-stakes and high-profile issues. Prior to joining McDermott, Mr. Davis and Ms. O’Connor were with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.
“We look forward to expanding our practice further with the regulatory and government strategies group at McDermott and appreciate the opportunity for global growth given to us at Orrick for this unique practice at the intersection of politics, the media and the law,” said Mr. Davis and Ms. O’Connor.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Davis served as special counsel to President William J. Clinton from 1996-98, during which time he acted as the President’s chief communicator on investigations. His broad political experience stretches back almost 30 years to his three terms as Maryland’s representative on the Democratic National Committee and has continued, most recently, in 2005-2006 with his service on the five-member Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board at the appointment of President George W. Bush. Mr. Davis has written two books, one a White House memoir concerning his experience at the intersection of the law, politics and the media, with the second a political history about America’s scandal culture.
Steve Ryan, co-head of the Firm’s Government Strategies Practice Group, “Lanny’s world class skills as a legal and political strategist, perfected while he worked at the White House, will add tremendous value to McDermott’s clients.”
Ms. O’Connor spent 24 years at ABC News and at CNN’s Washington, London, Moscow and Tokyo bureaus. She served as CNN’s Moscow bureau chief and White House Correspondent covering wars in Afghanistan, Sarajevo and Chechnya; investigations of President Clinton; Russian organized crime; and Al Qaeda’s role in the September 11th attacks, winning some of journalism’s highest awards, including a Peabody, DuPont-Columbia and Overseas Press Club Awards. As an attorney, she advises the Department of Homeland Security on incident response and is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Law.
“Eileen O’Connor is the perfect legal and political crisis management advisor, an award-winning journalist who is also a skilled legal advisor,” said Jeffrey E. Stone, Chair-Elect of the Management Committee of McDermott Will & Emery.
Since its opening in 1978 with two lawyers, McDermott’s Washington, D.C. office has become a full-service location with more than 240 lawyers practicing in a host of practice areas. Expanding on its initial representation of clients before government agencies, Congressional committees, the executive branch, the legislative branch, and federal and state courts, the Washington, D.C. lawyers now advise clients on the full range of corporate business law, including antitrust, general corporate, employee benefits, energy and derivatives markets, global trade, government regulation, government strategies, health care, intellectual property, tax and trial matters.
McDermott Will & Emery is an international law firm (among the top 20 both in the United States and globally) with more than 1,000 lawyers and 16 worldwide offices.
Lanny Davis Jumps from Orrick to McDermott [Am Law Daily]
Lanny Davis Jumps to McDermott Will & Emery [The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times]
Prominent Washington, D.C. Attorneys, Lanny J. Davis and Eileen M. O’Connor, Move to McDermott Will & Emery [McDermott Will & Emery]
Fact-checking matters — even for columnists and bloggers
[The Hill]
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Comments
Epic first.
1 - Okay, I'll grant you, that is an impressive first (at 1:37 AM).
Lanny Davis is an ignorant, clueless, worthless asshole. Orrick just moved up a few notches by severing itself from this piece of political garbage.
You post at 1:37 but still get scooped on the Wildman offers? Come on!
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2009/10/wildman-rescinds-offers.html
Yes, I know it is 2:00 and I am posting, but whatevs.
The commenters at The Hill went to town on Davis:
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/media/61015-fact-checking-matters-even-for-columnists-and-bloggers?page=2#comments
4 - I have never heard of that firm. Is it Am Law or Vault 100?
I don't know whether to be impressed or sad about that first.
6:
If you truly have never heard of that firm, you don't read the comment section around here enough.
Some firms really have no shame. Latham is out trumping its... wait for it .... awesome outsourcing abilities. No, really.
http://www.adamsmithesq.com/archives/2009/10/legal-onramp-release-20.html
First to say UVA blows.
WILDMAN HARROLD never sleeps.
What does this article have to do with summer associates at WILDMAN HARROLD?
What time zone was Lat posting this from?
Lots of people in my high school played musical chairs- it was no big deal.
Instead of shilling for Lanny, why doesn't ATL figure out why the rest of Lanny's team stayed at Orrick? Perhaps Lanny's outsized ego? Makes the new Cowboys' stadium seem restrained.
You know your case is being handled by a competent attorney when she shows up with a popped collar.
Bloody she-wanker
Who in the world would think using a meme of David Saint Hubbins is funny? Seriously, it has nothing to do with the law or and derivative of it. Also, Mystal is a...
It's really funny how Lat posted this so late, I think he needs to to something better with his time so any free lance positioning will not wrestle the leaves inside.
OK, but WTFC?
Lanny Davis is worse than I, and I'm a no-job 3L.
He's a shrill, illogical man. I remember watching him during the primaries, and he made no sense whatsoever.
Maybe Orrick has room to hire me now...
"In one recent column, he scolded bloggers for inadequate fact-checking. If anything in this post is inaccurate, Mr. Davis, please email us and we’ll fix it ASAP."
This joke is so bad that I just had to say someting. For god's sakes, if you are not funny, just shut to hell up.
Isn't it gret how the politically-connected land on their feet?
McDermott Will and Emery has not played nicely with their summer asssociates this year. They also had some noteworthy layoffs a while back, and are widely considered to be a very stingy firm.
Their bonuses have long been much less than market.
If I were a talented law student deciding between two firms, and one of them was McDermott...I would probably chose the other one (in fact, I already did a while back).
There is power in the people, still. Vote with your feet, and let's unite against firms that are willing to stick it to summer associates and young associates, like MWE.
Even happier now I got out when I did.
He's a reptile.
Orrick DC is in serious trouble.
Tell us more, there, 26
Maybe Lany can defend MWE against all its sanctions motions - first appeal at Fed Circuit on Nov 4th against IP.
Way to pop that collar, Ms. O'Connor.
5, the commenters only target Lanny because he had the nerve to support Clinton in the primary.
15 raises a very good issue, though.
28 - Is that the abuse of advocacy sanction of McMahon/Elson/MWE? Can you provide a link to briefs?
Shin Young OHHHHHHHHHH!
15/30 = Orrick trolls
15 here. anything but an Orrick troll.
Thanks, ATL, for the by-the-way on Bobby Burchfield. Nice to know he's no longer a blot on the Covington escutcheon.
How can you have a post about Lanny Davis without commenting on what a douche his son Seth is?
Lanny Davis is an unprincipled ass who's reputation for sway far surpasses actual sway.
Never trust an old broad with a popped collar, that's what I say.
Lanny was at Patton Boggs and left. Lanny was at Orrick and left. If the DC rumor mill is true, Lanny does not have much real business and jumps when he has to prove his book. McDermott is always enamored with names like this because they want to be a player in Washington, but most of these hires don't have the book needed to make it. Lanny will be no exception. He comes in non-equity and I bet we see him continue his trend of leaving three years later because, at McDermott, the bottom line is all that counts.
It might not all be Lanny's fault if this fails. McDermott has never successfully invested in a policy practice. They cannot stomach the peaks and valleys in the billings. If you are slow in August, management routinely panics because they don't get that when Congress is out there is no work. Lanny may be selling himself as more than just a policy guy, but he better have the book to back it up. Maybe he is a George Mitchell, but I would have expected that kind of rainmaking talent to show itself in his last two jobs.
If you don't believe me, talk to Kim Dorgan or Bill Cohen. Ask Daschle why he did not come.
Steve Ryan is a hobbit.
39 is the only post worth reading.
23, how many summers were no offered?
I just got laid off from McDermott yesterday, after spending more years there then I can believe. Thanks, MWE.
39, you don't have a clue.
44, I feel pretty confident about what I have said and was pretty detailed, whereas you just make a conclusory statement that I am clueless. If you want to challenge the accurracy, go ahead and point out what clues I am missing with details. I'd like to here it.
43, what office are you in? Are you an associate or income partner?
44, I am still waiting. Proof -- Mayo and the train.
I am glad that I don't work at McDermott.
Quite the softball post by ATL , complete with reprinting an entire propaganda sheet/"news release" from McDermott Will & Emery. Interesting that ATL would take such a kissy-kissy approach, given the harsh treatment MWE has received from the readership (largely ex-McDermott) in other posts on ATL.
49, not just ex's but those who are not treated fairly so that the firm can overpay laterals. I think that Eileen will be the one to get the raw deal in the long run because Counsel have no power or voice at the firm. She is in for a rude awakening when she realizes she should have come in as at least an income partner like Lanny. I don't know all her facts, but her age and experience suggest that income partner would have been fair. Imagine being her age talking orders from a sixth year just promoted to non-equity partner. That will get old real fast.
You cannot blame ATL for posting the press release. Lanny is a name. I wonder how many of the firm's clients will want to see him -- much more partisan that Bill Weld.
What an interesting quote: "As Bobby Burchfield, cohead of McDermott’s Washington office, told Zach Lowe of Am Law Daily, 'Lanny is the only person I know who considers both Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush good friends.'" Lanny might consider them both friends but I wonder what each of them think of Lanny.
More layoffs at MWE to come, rumor is 100 are on the chopping block soon.
More layoffs at MWE to come, rumor is 100 are on the chopping block soon.
Just throwing it out there, but could it be that maybe Lanny Davis hated where he worked?
Having worked closely with Lanny in the past, I can say he's one of the most brilliant and creative legal minds around. He's also a great boss who genuinely cares about the welfare of the young associates who work for him--a most unusual trait in a partner of his stature.
Well, 54, in that case -- it will be a smooth transition.
55, I hope you are right for the sake of all the associates who have to work with the many epic a-holes that call themselves capital partners at MWE.
54, that is possible, but equity partners typically don't jump because they don't like the firm. It almost always comes down to money unless the firm you are at is in real trouble. So maybe Orrick, and Patton Boggs before it, are on a financial slide.
I have noticed also during my time at McDermott that many laterals talk about their big book and renowned business development skills only for the firm to find out later that they are fakes. A few corporate and reg laterals jump to mind. Their past track records of jumping firms should have highlighted this but people made dumb choices and hired them anyway. Maybe this will be Lanny. We won't know for a while or unless someone posts something about Lanny's book here.
At MWE, there are many capital partners who talk about how they hate the firm or certain firm leaders, including some on the management committee. If your theory was right, they would leave and go someplace they didn't hate. Some actually do this, but most stay because they are paid well and have a lot of power. So if he has a big book I have to wonder why Orrick and Patton did not work out, especially if he is the prince 55 describes him as being.
There is more to this story.
Did Lanny bring his pet killer case?
For a long time, DC Ryan has been struggling and going nowhere with a gov't affairs/reg. practice. He probably lobbied the duo to the firm as a needed boost. The IP wipe-out of late may have greased the skids to get **something** cooking in DC. I'm not optimistic.
I once met with Steve to talk about a project for my client. It was the first time we could have worked together and it was good work. He proceeded to cut me off before I could explain everything about the project and told me I did not know what I was doing. His tone was so arrogant, dismissive and disdainful. I wanted to pop him and it would have been easy to lay him flat out in light of his tiny stature. I left the meeting, licked my wounds and promptly referred the matter to friends at Covington.
I suspect Lanny left because of the shitty internal politics at Orrick DC.