February 4, 2009 1:09 PM

O'Melveny's White Collar Head Joins Quinn Emanuel

Posted by Drew Combs

While the legal industry has been stymied as a result of the economic slowdown, the lateral merry-go-round continues to turn.

One of the latest examples is James Asperger, the Los Angeles-based head of the white-collar practice at O'Melveny & Myers, who is joining Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges as a partner.

Asperger, a former United States assistant attorney, adds to the 400-attorney firm's roster of former government attorneys, including 14 former federal prosecutors.

The addition comes on the heels of Quinn Emanuel's announcement late last month that despite the economic downturn total revenue and profits per partner jumped 15 percent and 11 percent, respectively, in 2008.

Revenue went from $384.5 million to 441.9 million, while profits per partner at the firm, which is known for its willingness to take cases on contingency, reached $3.3 million.

"We regard [Asperger] as one of the best people that we could get in the white-collar, corporate investigations area," says firm managing partner John Quinn. "And we think that this area is going to grow as the blame game regarding the financial crisis gains momentum. There are going to be a lot of people looking for lawyers."

The firm also recently announced the addition of Raymond Nimrod, an IP partner formerly with Jenner & Block; he joins Quinn Emanuel's New York office.

O'Melveny is gaining a white-collar specialist just as it loses Asperger--the firm's Washington, D.C., office will soon welcome former D.C. U.S. attorney Kenneth Wainstein. We'll have more news on this move later today from our colleagues at Legal Times.

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