Since President Donald Trump’s re-election in November 2024, there has been a notable trend of attorneys transitioning from government agencies to private practice. This movement aligns with recent initiatives aimed at streamlining federal operations. In February 2025, President Trump instructed the Department of Justice to terminate all remaining U.S. attorneys appointed during the previous administration, leading to a substantial reshuffling within the department.

Concurrently, Elon Musk, appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures across multiple federal agencies. These efforts have resulted in extensive layoffs and the defunding of certain programs, prompting many government attorneys to seek opportunities in the private sector.

Top Law Firms Hiring Government Attorneys

Of the law firms that have hired attorneys from federal government agencies since November 1, 2024. Jenner & Block has hired the most attorneys from federal roles with six hires, followed closely by DLA Piper and Paul Hastings, each with five. Firms such as Crowell & Moring and Kirkland & Ellis have also been active in hiring from the public sector, each bringing on four attorneys. Several other prominent firms, including Akin Gump, Freshfields, Greenberg Traurig, King & Spalding, Weil Gotshal & Manges, and Winston & Strawn, have each hired three attorneys from federal government roles. These numbers highlight the ongoing movement of legal talent from government agencies into private practice, a trend that firms leverage to enhance their regulatory and litigation expertise.

Government Agencies Transitioning to Private Practice: Key Agency Departures

Of the various agencies that law firms have hired from since November 1st of 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office¹ has seen the highest number of departures, with 24 attorneys moving into private practice, followed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) with 19 departures. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also experienced a notable outflow, with 12 attorneys transitioning to law firms.

Other agencies with departures include the Department of State (4), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (3), Internal Revenue Service (3), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (3), Department of Labor (3), Federal Trade Commission (3), and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (3).

Roles of Former Government Attorneys in Law Firms

Of the former federal government attorneys hired by law firms since November 1st of 2024, 44 of them (including co-chair title) have joined their new firm in a partner level role, followed by 32 associates and 12 counsel level positions.

Notable Hires From Government to Private Practice

Several high-profile attorneys have made the move from government service to top law firms. Some of the most noteworthy transitions include:

• Lisa Brown, former General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Education and Vice President & General Counsel of Georgetown University, joined WilmerHale in the Education Practice and Crisis Management and Strategic Response Group.
  
• Lisa Miller, a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General—the third highest rank in the DOJ’s Criminal Division—joined Sidley Austin in their White Collar Defense and Investigations group.
  
• Sanjay Wadhwa, former Acting Director of the U.S. SEC’s Division of Enforcement, joined Weil Gotshal as a partner in the Securities Litigation and White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations practices.
  
• Andrew Dean also joined Weil Gotshal’s Securities Litigation and White Collar Defense, Regulatory and Investigations practices from the SEC (a month prior to Sanjay Wadhwa), where he was the Co-Chief of the Asset Management Unit.
  
• Neil MacBride, former General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, re-joined Davis Polk as Co-Chair of the White Collar Defense and Investigations group.
  
• Margaret Graham, former Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, joined Latham & Watkins White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Government-to-Private Sector Transitions

The movement of attorneys from government agencies to private law firms is expected to continue throughout 2025 as the Trump administration’s policies reshape the federal workforce. Firm Prospects will continue tracking these transitions and providing valuable insights into how law firms are leveraging government experience to enhance their legal teams. Reach out to us if you’d like to learn more.

^{*The U.S. Attorney’s Office operates under the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) but is listed separately here to reflect distinct hiring patterns.}