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Nixon Peabody Lateral Defects After Two Months
New York Law Journal
June 12, 2008
Dechert has recruited a new bankruptcy partner, the same one Nixon Peabody brought on board in April.
Shmuel Vasser on Wednesday explained that his defection after a mere two months at Nixon Peabody was due to his longstanding desire to work with old friend H. Jeffrey Schwartz, the co-leader of Dechert's bankruptcy practice, who reached out just after Vasser had started his new job.
"The timing was not great, to say the least," Vasser acknowledged Wednesday, adding that he thought it was the "right thing to do," at least in terms of his practice.
Nixon Peabody, which hailed his arrival as a "great asset to our bankruptcy and business clients throughout the country and around the world" in an April 2 press release, was disappointed, Vasser said, as was the recruiter who placed him there, but he said they were ultimately understanding.
"Sometimes things happen in life," said Vasser.
Nixon Peabody agreed, saying in a statement Wednesday that "[l]ateral movement is a common dynamic in today's competitive legal marketplace" and that it respected Vasser's decision and wished him well.
Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Vasser was a partner for 2 1/2 years at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge. Before that, he was a counsel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
