The annual New Year’s uptick in lateral hiring looks especially promising in Washington this year. Although the market for lateral partners stayed active in the economic downturn, the early weeks of 2010 are proving more busy than usual.
At least 22 firms — including the Washington offices of Andrews Kurth; Clifford Chance; Cozen O’Connor; DLA Piper; Patton Boggs; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr — have announced pickups of senior partners since Jan. 1. One of the most discussed was Skadden’s hiring of former White House Counsel Gregory Craig.
