Law.com covered Lauren Willard's return to Covington from her time at the DOJ, and how the Covington culture is especially hospitable and welcoming to all laterals, especially those who have prior government experience.
“When I left Covington four years ago to go into the antitrust division, it was just starting to become more of an interest to the broader public. But in the last four years, there has been unprecedented change both in the laws and the agencies, and you’re seeing increased scrutiny for our clients,” Lauren said.
She continued, “What is the judiciary going to say about some of the novel and complex antitrust theories, and what will happen on appeal—potentially even in the Supreme Court? It’s an exciting time to be an appellate lawyer focusing on antitrust.”
Jim Garland explained to Law.com how the Covington culture is a "huge advantage" for all laterals, but especially in providing a place that matches their government experience in important ways and will create opportunities to help former public servants build a practice.
“It all has to do with the way we practice here. When senior lawyers come out of the DOJ, the White House, or wherever, they’re starting at a firm from a complete stop. They have no work, and they have no clients,” Jim said, explaining that for these lawyers it is “critically important” to come to a place that will “wrap itself around you” to create opportunities to help them build a practice. “We get them in front of the firm’s clients, create introductions, and look for opportunities where they can slot in—all of those things are second nature to our colleagues, it’s how we’re wired.”
Jim said Covington is an attractive place for former public servants because the firm recreates the “best parts” of being a government lawyer, and Lauren agreed, saying it was exactly this approach to private practice law that lured her back to Covington.
“It’s a team sport here,” Jim said, reflecting that his time at the DOJ was a “fabulous” experience. “What I loved the most was the shared mission and commitment. At Covington—and admittedly in a private law firm, there are obvious differences—we replicate that sort of culture. For people who have loved their time in government, we really are a nice fit.”
“I chose Covington in part because there are so many similarities between the government and the firm, in the sense that you have these attorneys that are not only bright and hard-working, but they’re incredibly kind and collegial, operating in a teamwork environment that is really appealing for government lawyers," Lauren said.
In describing the firm's reputation as the place where government lawyers would like to work, the article also cites other former government officials who have joined Covington, including Eric Holder, Tom Barnett, Scott Weidenfeller, Dan Feldman, Kait Demers, Andrew Smith, Lanny Breuer, and Dean Acheson.
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