As the Trump administration takes the reins, a notable exodus of high-ranking Biden officials has reshaped the roster of several prominent U.S. law firms. Here’s a snapshot of the key players making their next career moves:
- Steven Dettelbach, former ATF director, is set to rejoin BakerHostetler in April. By 2026, he will helm the firm’s expansive 400-lawyer litigation practice group.
- Nicholas Folly, deputy chief of the criminal division in Manhattan’s U.S. attorney’s office, has returned to Debevoise & Plimpton in San Francisco. His former boss, Damian Williams, now serves at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
- Andrew Dean, previously co-leading the asset management unit at the SEC, has taken a partnership at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York.
- Edward Duffy, the Justice Department’s senior litigation counsel in the antitrust division, is now a partner at Baker Botts in Washington, known for his pivotal role in the government’s Visa antitrust case.
- Varun Behl, a federal prosecutor from California, has returned to Hueston Hennigan as counsel.
- Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for California’s Central District, stepped down last Friday.
This wave of moves continues a well-established tradition: officials departing federal service during an administration shift frequently find homes in major law firms. Recent weeks saw other notable hires by firms such as Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Gibson Dunn, King & Spalding, and Quinn Emanuel.
Additionally, Rhonda Schmidtlein, a longtime commissioner at the U.S. International Trade Commission, has joined WilmerHale, bringing over a decade of experience to her new role.
As Washington recalibrates under Republican leadership, the legal industry positions itself for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
