Litigation ‘Giant’ Litvack Jumps from Hogan to Chaffetz Lindsey

Corporate litigator Sanford “Sandy” Litvack has jumped from Hogan Lovells to the New York trial and arbitration boutique Chaffetz Lindsey.

Litvack, a partner at Chaffetz Lindsey, told Bloomberg Law that while he valued his time and relationships at Hogan, part of the reason he decided to move is that his new firm is litigation-focused and significantly smaller—which means there are far fewer potential client conflicts to navigate.

Plus, Litvack, 82, said he’s known name partner Peter Chaffetz for four decades, and that they’ve long followed each others’ careers with interest.

“It just seemed like a natural fit,” Litvack said.

“Sandy is a giant of the business trial bar who has also served with distinction both in government and in senior management at Disney,” Chaffetz said in a statement. “Our clients and our team will immediately benefit from his skill, experience and judgment.”

Litvack gained prominence while working as Disney’s general counsel and vice chairman from 1991-2001. He’s remained in Disney’s orbit since, first as a contractor and as an outside attorney with Hogan. He said he’s brought over some of that work to his new firm.

Litvack often made national and entertainment industry media during his time at Disney, where, according to one Los Angeles Times account, he had served as one of former Disney Chairman Michael Eisner’s “closest confidentes.”

According to another account, the trial lawyer regularly sparred with Michael Ovitz, arguably the most powerful agent in Hollywood for many years before becoming Disney’s president in 1995.

“If there was a way not to pay him, I would have loved not to pay him,” he said in a 2004 court hearing. “I didn’t like him. He didn’t like me.”