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Departure Memo Of The Day: Jeh Johnson Parting With Paul Weiss

Have you ever seen such an inspiring Biglaw departure memo?

By David Lat on January 07, 2014 4:24 pm

Thanks to the tipster who sent the memo our way — as a photograph, actually, which we then transcribed (apologies for any transcription errors).

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PAUL WEISS RIFKIND WHARTON & GARRISON — JEH JOHNSON — DEPARTURE MEMO

Tonight at midnight I resign as a Paul Weiss partner. On Monday I expect to take the oath to become Secretary of Homeland Security.

I have a unique perspective on our law firm given my 30-year revolving-door career. From both the inside and the outside, I have witnessed Paul Weiss change and grow to one of the richest, strongest and most capable law firms in the country. Whatever else I do in life, I will always be proud to call myself a Paul Weiss lawyer, principally because we represent clients like Edith Windsor along Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Apollo. You are excellent in all that you do, for all those you represent, and I hope you always remain committed to the firm’s core values of participation in the larger community around us and diversity within the ranks.

By tradition, I will pay tribute to my assistant, Sarah Shacklett. Sarah came to Paul Weiss with me from the Pentagon and she will leave with me to join DHS. She has been a terrific addition to the DC office for the short time she was here. On Tuesday she took a message from the President while I was out of the office. I asked her, “What’s that like? I can’t imagine the pressure you must have felt to track me down.” Sarah responded, “It’s what I’m good at, sir.” I also thank Carolyn Aranguren for taking such good care of me whenever I was in the NY office, along with the other 15-20 attorneys she seems to support.

As I exit this time, I am more amazed than excited. Part of me is still in disbelief. I did not expect this assignment, nor did I realistically think I would ever ascend to such a position at such a level of government. I also reflect on the arc of history. My mother is a native Washingtonian. Her father, aunts and uncles were postal workers. They were second class citizens in fact and in law in a segregated city, but they were patriotic Americans. My mother still remembers the excitement of seeing FDR drive past her Maryland Avenue home with a Secret Service chase car not far behind. Within her 80-year life, she will now see her son also become a protectee of the Secret Service. I think about all this today, but my amazement is tempered by knowledge of the huge problems and responsibilities I am about to inherit.

I wish you Happy Holidays and continued success.

Jeh Charles Johnson, Partner
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Earlier: An Afternoon With Jeh Johnson, General Counsel of the Defense Department
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