Skadden's Patrick Fitzgerald
Patrick Fitzgerald, the high-profile former U.S. attorney, is heading to the University of Chicago Law School.
He has been named the inaugural Feirson Distinguished Lecturer at the school and will teach one course per year, beginning with a national security law program this spring.
"Pat Fitzgerald is one of the most respected and skilled attorneys of his generation," dean Michael Schill said. "No one has done more to bring honor to the legal profession—especially in Chicago—than Pat. His unimpeachable ethics, his extraordinary brilliance and his astounding work ethic make him one of the finest public servants this country has ever known."
Fitzgerald joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as a partner in October following a decade as the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. In that post, he oversaw the successful corruption prosecutions of former Illinois governors Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan. As a special prosecutor in the Valerie Plame leak case, he secured the conviction of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, an aide to former Vice President Dick Cheney, on counts including obstruction of justice and perjury.
"I'm thrilled to become part of the University of Chicago community," Fitzgerald said. "I very much look forward to teaching this spring and interacting with extraordinary students and faculty members."
Fitzgerald will teach the national security law course with fellow Skadden partner Michael Scudder, a former federal prosecutor who also worked in the White House counsel's office.
The Feirson lectureship was established with a donation from Dechert partner and University of Chicago Law School alumnus Steven Feirson.
Contact Karen Sloan at ksloan@alm.com.
