Power Circuit: Lots of Lawyers Trade Federal Agencies for Firm Life

Mark Spitzer, a former commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has landed at Steptoe & Johnson. Photograph courtesy of Steptoe & Johnson.

The revolving door has been busy this month. Several federal agency attorneys have entered private practice:

Steptoe & Johnson has added former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Commissioner Marc Spitzer to its energy practice. Spitzer, who joined Steptoe as a partner, served for five years as a commissioner.

Robert Stoll, who was commissioner for patents at the US Patent and Trademark Office until his retirement late last year, is now a partner in Drinker Biddle & Reath’s intellectual property practice.

The intellectual property firm Novak Druce + Quigg has also welcomed a new partner from the Patent and Trademark Office: Michael O’Neill, who most recently served in the Patent and Trademark Office as an administrative patent judge for the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.

Hogan Lovells added Adam Kushner as a partner in its environment practice. Kushner joins the firm from the Environmental Protection Agency, where he served as director of the Office of Civil Enforcement.

O. Benton Curtis III has joined Epstein Becker Green as a member—the firm’s word for partner— in the health care and life sciences and the litigation practices. Curtis was previously an assistant deputy chief and trial attorney with the Department of Justice’s Criminal Fraud Section.

Jenner & Block has added John Flynn as a partner in its litigation department and communications practice. Flynn comes to the firm from the Federal Communications Commission, where he served as senior counsel for transactions to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

There have also been moves off of the Hill: Jennifer McCadney has joined Kelley Drye & Warren as special counsel in the government relations practice. Having worked for Kelley Drye earlier in her career, McCadney returns to the firm from the House of Representatives Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee where she was a trade counsel.

And there are several moves from one firm to another to report, too: DLA Piper snapped up five energy lawyers from Hogan Lovells. The new partners— Kevin Lipson, Lee Alexander, Stefan Krantz, Christopher Schindler,and John Lilyestrom—now belong to DLA Piper’s energy group.Lipson was previously co-head of Hogan Lovells’ energy practice.

Douglas Grimm has joined Stradley Ronon as the head of the firm’s health care practice. He previously served as the chair of the health care fraud and abuse practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

Venable welcomed Daniel Danello as of counsel in its corporate and financial services practices. Danello most recently practiced at Ropes & Gray.

Dennis Moyer joined Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney as a shareholder—the firm’s word for partner— in its real estate and financial services practice. He was previously a director at Goulston & Storrs.

James Ritter has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton as special counsel in the firm’s corporate practice group. Ritter was previously a partner with Latham & Watkins.