February experienced some of the new year flow of last month with companies selecting new top lawyers at a higher rate.

Health care giant Centene Corp. named a new general counsel in the wake of its $17 billion acquisition of WellCare Health Plans Inc., which tapped a new top lawyer last month as its former one headed to Eli Lilly Co. In bankruptcy mode, Pier 1 Imports Inc. quietly gave the general counsel title to one of its veteran in-house lawyers after the previous general counsel suddenly passed away last month. Amusement park company Six Flags Entertainment Corp. announced it will say goodbye to its general counsel as he heads into retirement while naming his successor. United Talent Agency elevated its associate general counsel to the top legal role, spinning out that role formerly held by the chief operating officer.

Some general counsel who vacated their positions took a different route rather than retirement. The U.S. National Security Agency general counsel went to a D.C. think tank, while the former general counsel of Godiva Chocolatier Inc. and Ralph Lauren Corp. headed to a legal recruiting firm in New York.