Addition of Sean Berkowitz, lead prosecutor of Enron executives, further strengthens Latham litigation team
Chicago, November 2, 2006 LAWFUEL – Legal News, Legal Jobs …Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Sean M. Berkowitz has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a partner in the Litigation Department, effective November 1, 2006.
Immediately prior to joining Latham, Berkowitz served as the Director of the US Department of Justice’s Enron Task Force. He assumed the position in July 2005, and has been responsible for leading a team of prosecutors, F.B.I. agents and Internal Revenue Service personnel in prosecuting criminal violations in connection with the collapse of Enron Corporation in 2001. Berkowitz served as lead prosecutor in the trial of Enron’s founder, Kenneth L. Lay, and former chief executive, Jeffrey K. Skilling.
Berkowitz joined the Enron Task Force in December 2003 after working in the criminal division of the Chicago US Attorney’s Office. In his five years there, he worked on a wide range of matters including securities fraud prosecutions and a high profile capital murder case involving the death of a federal witness.
“Sean brings a vast wealth of experience and knowledge to Latham and will be a tremendous resource for our clients,” stated Stephen Bowen, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in Chicago. “His judgment, competitive drive and enthusiasm will make him an exceptional colleague and an excellent addition to Latham.”
“Sean is a formidable talent,” said Peter Wald, Global Chair of Latham’s Litigation Department. “His litigation and trial experience, insight and expertise will strongly complement our existing roster of premier litigation attorneys. Sean’s decision to join Latham & Watkins is an important statement about our position in this highly competitive global market, and about our well-earned reputation for creativity and excellence in the delivery of client services. We are proud to welcome him as our partner, and look forward to his many contributions.”
Berkowitz stated, “Joining Latham & Watkins’ highly respected litigation practice presents an excellent opportunity for me. I am very excited about becoming a part of the firm’s outstanding litigation team, culture of hard work and dedicated service to clients. Latham offers the ideal platform to grow and develop my practice.”
Berkowitz graduated summa cum laude from Tulane University in 1989 and received his law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1992. Prior to joining the Department of Justice in 1998, Berkowitz was with the law firm of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in Chicago.
In September 2006 Berkowitz and the Enron Task Force team received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service. The Latham litigation team is the only US firm to be ranked in the prestigious American Lawyer “Litigation Department of the Year” survey in both 2004 and 2006. The widely-watched survey ranks the top five litigation departments in the US and the 2006 survey noted “with clever hires and global ambition, Latham built a global powerhouse.”
