Arnold & Porter's Age Policy Cited as Reason Partner Skipped to Davis Polk
At age 69, Michael Sohn’s law practice has never been better. But if he stayed at Arnold & Porter past his 70th birthday, he’d be required to retire or significantly downsize his workload.
So Sohn is leaving the firm he once chaired and is moving on to Davis Polk & Wardwell.
“I like doing what I’m doing, and I’m not ready to slow down yet. At Davis Polk, I had the opportunity to continue to practice full time,” Sohn told the Blog of Legal Times. “It’s an exciting move for me because Davis Polk, like Arnold & Porter, has a commitment to excellence and places a strong emphasis on pro bono work.”
He’s joining Davis Polk’s Washington, D.C., office as counsel, according to a news release from the firm.
Sohn joined Arnold & Porter in 1969 as an associate and was elevated to partner in 1972. In 1977, he left for three years to serve as general counsel of the Federal Trade Commission. But he returned to the firm and from 1996 through 2006 served as chair.
The BLT reports that Sohn won’t be bringing clients with him.
Arnold & Porter’s current chair, Thomas Milch, told the legal publication that the separation is amicable. “Mike was here for 41 years, and is a very valued colleague,” he said. “At the same time, we have done a lot of work with Davis Polk and think highly of the firm. We have nothing but warm wishes for Mike.”
