As if yesterday’s $4.3 million worth of news wasn’t bad enough for McDermott Will & Emery, Legal Pad hears that a group of IP heavy hitters is leaving the firm for White & Case.
Headed by Washington, D.C., rainmaker Jack Lever, the group also includes a couple of Palo Alto partners: Bijal Vakil and Shamita Etienne-Cummings, sources tell us.
The Palo Alto office has been losing junior partners like Vakil at a steady clip. And in DC, a group of high-profile IP litigators left McDermott for Weil Gotshal in May.
Lever has an impressive list of clients and has been an influential partner at McDermott. He co-founded the Intellectual Property, Media and Technology Department and was worldwide head of the department and of the D.C. office. Right now, he’s the partner in charge of the Asian practice for the Intellectual Property, Media and Technology Department. The Palo Alto contingent Etienne-Cummings and Vakil are also well-respected IP litigators in their own right.
Looks to be a big score for White & Case.
What’s going on at McDermott? Please enlighten us.
— Zusha Elinson
If MWE's management just focused on what is happening on every level, and not just on ROI, they would know.
But hey, maybe now they will listen......nm
Posted by: Matty | October 03, 2008 at 03:41 PM
good riddance and long live MWE!
Posted by: will emery | October 05, 2008 at 10:33 PM
First Heller, MWE is not far behind. They have lost major pieces to their puzzle over the last year. What's next? They better pray Mr. McMahon doesn't leave or retire because that will be all folks.
Posted by: Johnny | October 06, 2008 at 09:56 PM
its too bad that mwe partners dont care about leaving a legacy. they dont have any repeat clients in ip. always out for the next buck - its so apparent. couldnt they hire at least one guy from heller? i guess not.
Posted by: sosad | October 10, 2008 at 09:35 PM
MWE is the next Howrey, just watch.
Posted by: Jim Schneer | April 26, 2011 at 02:11 PM