Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz has expanded its litigation practice with the addition of former Manhattan US attorney Joon Kim, following the departure of the firm’s top trial lawyer earlier this year. Kim joins the New York-based firm as a partner, bringing extensive experience from his time in the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, one of the country’s most prominent federal prosecutorial offices.
Kim previously held senior roles in the Manhattan prosecutor’s office, including chief of the criminal division and deputy US attorney. He also served as interim US attorney for approximately ten months following the dismissal of Preet Bharara in 2017. During his tenure, Kim oversaw several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of SAC Capital Advisors, which resulted in a $1.8 billion securities fraud settlement, and a high-profile insider-trading trial involving professional gambler Billy Walters. He was also involved in the case against Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road online marketplace.
Kim reenters private practice after an eight-year period as a litigation partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where he began his early legal career as a junior associate. At Wachtell, he will focus on complex litigation, enforcement, and white-collar criminal matters, complementing the firm’s core strengths.
Wachtell is widely recognized for its mergers and acquisitions practice, which constitutes the bulk of its work, but maintains a litigation practice designed to support its corporate advisory services. The firm recently led an independent investigation commissioned by the National Basketball Association into allegations of salary cap violations involving the Los Angeles Clippers franchise.
The move comes amid a notable shift in the legal talent market, as Wachtell has seen increased partner departures this year. In June, Bill Savitt, co-chair of Wachtell’s executive committee and head of litigation, left along with five other partners for rival Gibson Dunn. This marked a rare loss for the firm, which traditionally retains its lawyers amid intense competition among top-tier law firms.
Wachtell described Kim’s recruitment as “a terrific cultural fit” and expressed enthusiasm about his decision to join the firm. Currently, Wachtell’s litigation group comprises about 20 partners, compared to roughly 35 partners in its corporate practice.
Kim stated that his career ambition has always been to practice law at the highest level, citing Wachtell Lipton’s reputation as a benchmark for excellence among law firms. His appointment underscores the firm’s commitment to strengthening its litigation capabilities despite challenging market conditions.