Herrick, Feinstein’s hospitality chair is leaving the firm amid its merger talks with Crowell & Moring for Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, which recently saw the co-head of its financial services regulation practice depart to start his own firm in three different cities.

Pillsbury announced on Jan. 3 its hire of Paul Shapses, a real estate law and finance expert and longtime Herrick partner, for its New York office. Shapses served as co-head of Herrick’s hotels and hospitality group.