It’s not stunning that Jenner & Block is including to its appellate observe. The agency is well-known for its prime notch appellate work, so naturally, its all the time looking out for lateral expertise that can bolster their roster. And Jenner & Block’s litigation prowess has been within the information ever since Donald Trump went after the firm, concentrating on them with an Govt Order designed to extract a financial penalty for pissing off the president. Unlike *some* in Biglaw, Jenner & Block fought the EO and quickly notched victories in opposition to the unconstitutional orders.
So, in opposition to this backdrop, Jenner’s announcement that they’ve added accomplice Peter Davis to their ranks is notable. As Co-Managing Companions Ishan Bhabha and Randy Mehrberg stated, “Peter’s arrival displays our continued funding in constructing the nation’s premier appellate observe that fiercely advocates for our shoppers.” And Ian Heath Gershengorn, Co-Chair of Jenner & Block’s Appellate & Supreme Courtroom Observe, mirrored on the addition saying, “Peter represents the caliber of fearless appellate advocate that defines our observe. His Supreme Courtroom pedigree, first-chair argument expertise, and confirmed observe file with refined shoppers strengthens our capability to deal with essentially the most consequential issues. Peter’s understanding of constitutional legislation and regulatory challenges is especially useful as our shoppers navigate an more and more complicated authorized panorama.”
Davis’s authorized pedigree is elite with three federal clerkships for Supreme Courtroom Justice Elena Kagan, Choose James Boasberg within the US District Courtroom for the District of Columbia, and Choose Sri Srinivasan within the US Courtroom of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and, having most just lately labored at an AmLaw 25 agency (as the discharge demurely notes). That AmLaw 25 firm is Latham & Watkins — a type of obsequious companies that inked a deal with Trump, promising $125 million in professional bono payola for conservative shoppers and causes, as Trump sees fit.
This provides a a lot totally different spin to Davis’s departure. As a result of there’s an industry-wide pattern of litigators leaving firms that capitulated to Trump — it simply… doesn’t reflect nicely on litigators when their agency isn’t willing to fight in opposition to unconstitutional orders in courtroom. Although his statement on the lateral transfer is void of a number of the fiery rhetoric that characterised some departures from the capitulating companies, Davis’s new Biglaw house says lots.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Legislation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are one of the best, so please join together with her. Be happy to e mail her with any suggestions, questions, or feedback and observe her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
