A two-partner corporate group that Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal picked up from Thacher Proffitt & Wood less than two years ago has left for Arnold & Porter. Robert Azarow and W. Edward Bright will join Arnold & Portner as partners. The two were part of a group of 100 lawyers that Sonnenschein announced it had hired in December 2008 from Thacher Proffitt, which collapsed that same month. In a statement, Thomas Milch, chair of Arnold & Porter, said the pair will “add to our transactional capability in New York and broaden our footprint in the financial services sectors.”
Azarow and Bright are leaving Sonnenschein as it is scheduled to finalize its merger with London-based Denton Wilde Sapte. The combined firm, which will be called SNR Denton, will have 1,250 lawyers in 18 countries. The combination is set to become final on Sept. 30. Bright called the timing of the move coincidental, and said he and Azarow were “both strong proponents” of the merger.
