Patrick Fitzgerald, the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom partner and former Chicago U.S. attorney, entered an appearance Friday as counsel to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in a lawsuit that challenges the lawfulness of the school’s undergraduate admissions practices.

Fitzgerald formally joins the court case as Skadden partner Michael Scudder, who had been leading the firm’s representation of UNC, leaves for a federal appeals post. Scudder was confirmed last month to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, succeeding Richard Posner, who retired. Skadden is co-counsel with the North Carolina Department of Justice.