Biglaw

Stroock Suffers High-Profile Departure As Judge Shira Schiendlin Heads To Boies Schiller Amid Merger Talks

The former federal judge did not have the urge to merge, citing too many conflicts.

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Shira Scheindlin (Photo by Matt Furman)

When we last checked in with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, the firm had recently signed a non-exclusive letter of intent to merge with Pillsbury Winthrop. Unfortunately, the news of yet another prospective merger — recall that its would-be merger with Nixon Peabody was called off late this past summer — hasn’t stopped lawyers from leaving the firm. The firm’s most recent departure was perhaps its most high-profile departure yet.

This morning, Boies Schiller & Flexner announced that Judge Shira Scheindlin, formerly of the Southern District of New York, would be joining the firm as of counsel, leaving Stroock after working there for seven years. The New York Law Journal has additional details:

In an interview, Scheindlin said she had been “very happy” at Stroock, but was already having to decline nearly a third of incoming inquiries due to conflicts with the Big Law firm’s numerous institutional clients. “I know their intention is to merge with a bigger firm, so that would just increase the number of institutional clients and the number of conflicts, which would not be good for me,” she said.

In contrast, Boies Schiller’s exclusive focus on litigation presented fewer conflicts and an opportunity to contribute to investigations, mock trial work and criminal defense work, Scheindlin said. “It was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed,” said Scheindlin. “That means this is the right firm for me at the right time.”

Matthew L. Schwartz, Boies Schiller’s managing partner, offered the following statement on the firm’s new hire: “We are thrilled to bring a jurist with Judge Scheindlin’s wisdom, litigation skills, and breadth of knowledge to Boies Schiller. Her experience will be invaluable to our existing clients on a wide range of cases – particularly trials and criminal matters – and we look forward to increasing her practice as a leading neutral, as well.” As noted by Bloomberg Law, Schwartz clerked for Scheindlin after graduating from law school, so this is an interesting reunion for the pair, where he’ll serve as boss to his former boss.

Congratulations to Judge Scheindlin on her new role at Boies, and best of luck to Stroock as the firm attempts to hold onto as many attorneys as it can while its merger talks progress with Pillsbury.

Citing Conflicts as Merger Looms, Former SDNY Judge Leaves Stroock for Boies Schiller [New York Law Journal]
Judge Scheindlin Jumps to Boies Schiller as Stroock Mulls Merger [Bloomberg Law]

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Earlier: Stroock Is Talking To Another Am Law 100 Firm About Merging — But It’s Not ‘Exclusive’
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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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