Manhattan’s prime federal prosecutor Williams joins legislation agency Paul Weiss By Reuters

By Sara Merken

(Reuters) – Damian Williams, the previous prime federal prosecutor in Manhattan, will return to legislation agency Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as a associate in New York, the agency mentioned on Friday.

Williams was appointed U.S. Lawyer for the Southern District of New York in 2021 by outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden. He introduced in November that he would step down forward of Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White Home.

Trump has introduced plans to appoint former U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee chair Jay Clayton to the put up. The place requires Senate affirmation.

Paul Weiss, a number one New York agency, has sturdy Democratic Occasion ties. Its chairman Brad Karp final summer time launched a fundraising effort within the authorized neighborhood for U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential marketing campaign.

The agency can also be dwelling to former U.S. Lawyer Common Loretta Lynch and Jeh Johnson, former Secretary of Homeland Safety. Each have been officers within the Obama administration.

As U.S. legal professional, Williams secured convictions of high-profile defendants together with U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried and Archegos Capital Administration founder Sung Kook “Invoice” Hwang.

In September he introduced bribery costs in opposition to New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams. Adams has pleaded not responsible.

Earlier than his appointment, Williams led the Southern District’s securities and commodities activity power. Earlier he served as a clerk to liberal former U.S. Supreme Court docket Justice John Paul Stevens, in addition to to present U.S. Lawyer Common Merrick Garland when Garland was a decide.

Williams, a former Paul Weiss affiliate, mentioned in a press release that he was glad to be returning to the agency the place he began his profession.

He’ll signify purchasers in federal and state authorities investigations, white-collar issues and inside investigations, Paul Weiss mentioned.