Wachtell Lipton Recruited Litigation Partner Joon Kim
The firm added a veteran white-collar expert to its litigation team following a series of senior partner exits.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in People
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Wachtell Lipton has hired Joon Kim as a litigation partner to strengthen its enforcement and white-collar crime practice. Kim joins the New York firm from Cleary Gottlieb following the departure of five Wachtell partners in June 2026.
Why it matters
The firm is recalibrating its talent roster after Bill Savitt and several other partners left the partnership earlier this year. Bringing in a former acting Manhattan US attorney signals an effort to maintain capacity in high-stakes regulatory and litigation matters.
Wachtell Lipton currently maintains approximately 20 litigation partners and 35 corporate partners. Joon Kim arrives after spending 8 years at Cleary Gottlieb and serving as the acting Manhattan US attorney for 10 months.
The players
Joon Kim
A veteran white-collar defense attorney and former acting Manhattan US attorney who previously practiced at Cleary Gottlieb.
Wachtell Lipton
A elite New York-based law firm recognized for its specialized corporate governance and high-stakes litigation practices.
Bill Savitt
A senior legal practitioner who departed his partnership at Wachtell Lipton in June 2026.
Andrew Cuomo
The former Governor of New York who was the subject of a 2021 investigation conducted by Joon Kim.
SAC Capital Advisors
An investment firm that previously paid a $1.8 billion fine in a major enforcement action.
The details
Kim will focus on litigation, enforcement, and white-collar crime defense for the firm's clients. His background includes serving as chief of the criminal division in the Southern District of New York and conducting the 2021 investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo. The firm aims to leverage this experience to bolster a practice area that faced significant turnover this summer.
Timeline
Joon Kim served as acting Manhattan US attorney for 10 months starting in 2017.
Kim led the investigation into allegations against Andrew Cuomo in 2021.
Bill Savitt and five partners departed Wachtell Lipton in June 2026.
Joon Kim joined the firm as a partner as of October 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
The hire marks a notable tactical shift for Wachtell Lipton as it manages the fallout from the June 2026 departure of five partners. This move follows the pattern set by previous lateral partner acquisitions intended to stabilize practice groups during periods of senior talent turnover.
Operators dealing with high-stakes white-collar investigations or corporate litigation should monitor how these roster changes affect their firm's service model. Firms undergoing significant partner churn should be prepared to address client inquiries regarding continuity of representation.
The takeaway
Maintaining specialized expertise is critical to preserving a firm's reputation in high-stakes enforcement litigation. Leaders should track partner retention data as a key signal of operational health and long-term litigation service capacity.
Further reading
For more on the latest executive moves in the region, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Financial Times News.
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