Wake Up Call: Lateral Associate Hiring Rates Soared Last Year

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel.

• Lateral hiring saw a 14% increase in 2024, a comeback from a two-year market downturn, according to the National Association for Law Placement. The increase was almost entirely due to lateral associate hiring, which rose by almost 25%, while partner lateral hiring saw a meager 2% rise. (NALP)
• Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, first known as Arnold, Fortas & Porter, built its powerhouse reputation during the Red Scare by taking on cases when few others would. At a time when government employees were being accused of disloyalty with little due process, the firm built a client base defending hundreds of workers—often pro bono—even as other law firms distanced themselves out of fear. (Politico)
• House Speaker Mike Johnson’s general counsel, Ashley Callen, is retiring. Callen started working for Republican leadership in 2023, beginning in House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s (R-La.) office before jumping to work for Johnson in November of the same year. She previously served in the House Agriculture, Science, Judiciary, and Oversight committees. (Punchbowl News)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Adam Aderton joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett as a partner in its government and internal investigations practice in Washington. He joins from Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
• Daniel Valenti joined Troutman Pepper Locke as a partner in its real estate practice group in New York. He joins from Goulston & Storrs.
• Brandon Figg joined Morgan Lewis as a partner in its structured transactions practice in Washington. He joins from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Mike Walsh joined DLA Piper as a partner in its national security and global trade practice in Washington.
• Erin Prest joined McCarter & English as a partner in its cybersecurity team in Washington. She joins from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• Nicole Castle joined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in its antitrust practice in New York. She joins from McDermott Will & Emery.
• Stephan Cornell rejoined Fox Rothschild as a partner in its litigation department in Warrington, Pa.
• Dov Kogen joined Massumi + Consoli as a partner in its private equity and mergers and acquisitions practice in Los Angeles. He joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
• Noel Paul joined Honigman as a partner in its litigation department in Chicago. He joins from Reed Smith.
• Brian Goldberg joined Buchalter as a litigation shareholder in Atlanta.