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Ben Penn

Senior reporter, Department of Justice, Bloomberg Industry Group/Bloomberg Law

How has Williams & Connolly held on to its image all these years as the firm to hire when you want to go scorched earth on the Justice Deparmment? In some cases it's more a brand than reality, but one takeaway from my months of reporting with Justin Wise is that the identity comes from holding onto unique traditions, even as the surrounding legal industry is rapidly evolving. Perhaps the most telling example: the firm almost never hires former federal prosecutors, bucking the DOJ revolving door that's pervasive in Big Law. “The firm sprang out of an earlier era,” said Paul Dueffert, a veteran partner at Williams & Connolly, who left in 2020. “What has changed since then is that the white-collar world is much more professionalized. Every other firm is constantly poaching DOJ lawyers.” Here's our story on how a white collar practice without former DOJ insiders plays out in tough criminal battles (including the notable exceptions), and whether the Williams & Connolly model is sustainable as the current partner most responsible for its hardball reputation is 82. https://lnkd.in/epVMdaNV

DOJ’s Fiercest Opponent Is Last of Its Kind as Industry Shifts

DOJ’s Fiercest Opponent Is Last of Its Kind as Industry Shifts

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