Davis Polk’s Gold Hire Stretches Run of Cravath Partner Exits

Davis Polk & Wardwell has raided Cravath Swaine & Moore for partner Amanda Hines Gold, who joins the firm’s executive compensation practice in New York.

Gold’s works includes managing executive compensation and employee benefits aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings. She helped advise Frontier Communications when Verizon Communications Inc. acquired it for $20 billion and US Cellular’s independent directors in the $4.4 billion sale of wireless operations to T-Mobile US Inc.

“Amanda brings significant experience advising on the executive compensation aspects of complex transactions, as well as on the design and implementation of equity and other incentive compensation arrangements for companies at all stages,” said Davis Polk’s chair and managing partner Neil Barr in a statement.

Gold’s departure marks the seventh partner Cravath has lost since the start of the new year—some for competitors, others for top in house positions. Benjamin Joseloff, a former White House and Treasury Department official, joined Davis Polk’s national security practice in early January.

John Buretta, chair of Cravath’s investigations and regulatory enforcement practice, jumped to became Paul Hastings’ co-chair of litigation and was later joined by Andrew Davis. Maurio Fiore jumped to Willkie Farr & Gallagher. George Schoen, co-head of Cravath’s global M&A practice, is poised to leave the firm next month to become general counsel at Martin Marietta Materials Inc. while Jelena McWilliams took an executive role at fintech company Plaid Inc.

Gold’s work on executive compensation matters also includes designing, drafting and negotiating severance, and change in control and executive employment agreements. She also prepares the related disclosures for securities filings.