King & Spalding Nabs Gibson Litigation Head as New York Partner

King & Spalding has hired Randy Mastro, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher’s litigation practice chair, as a New York partner in the trial and global disputes practice.

Mastro was Chevron Corp.'s lead counsel in a case contesting an $18 billion judgment from an Ecuadorian court. He also represented New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s office in an investigation into the Bridgegate scandal.

He had chaired Gibson’s litigation practice for more than 20 years.

“Building our trial practice even more in New York is a cornerstone of our firm strategy,” said King & Spalding chair Robert D. Hays in a statement. Mastro, he said, “helps propel us further.”

Mastro, who also led an effort to defeat New York City’s controversial West Side Stadium project, earlier had been an assistant U.S. attorney and deputy chief of the civil division in the Southern District of New York.

“I’m thrilled to become a partner there (at King & Spalding) and help the firm expand its litigation and trial practices in New York and throughout the world,” Mastro said.

King & Spalding said Mastro is one of 17 litigation partners the firm added in New York in the past two-and-a-half years.