Latham snags retired NY Court of Appeals chief judge
Image of retired chief judge Jonathan Lippman from the New York State Court of Appeals website.
Jonathan Lippman, the recently retired chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, has joined Latham & Watkins, the firm announced Thursday.
Lippman, 70, spent 43 years as a state court employee, the New York Times’ DealBook reports. His work included positions as a staff attorney, chief administrative judge of the New York State Courts and presiding judge of the First Judicial Department of the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court.
He is now of counsel with Latham, practicing in the New York office’s litigation and trial department. As a jurist, Lippman often sought more free legal services for the poor, DealBook reports. In an interview, Lippman told the blog that Latham puts an emphasis on pro bono work.
“Latham has an incredible reputation globally and a great pool of talent here in New York,” Lippman said in a press release. “I also enthusiastically anticipate working with clients facing difficult legal challenges, and enhancing even further Latham’s leading pro bono platform to continue to focus on access to justice for all the underserved and those most in need.”
According to an earlier New York Times article, Lippman’s work exanding legal services for the poor includes providing lawyers to help people who can’t afford legal representation with eviction, foreclosure and child custody matters.
Despite taking the chief judge role during a budget crisis, the article notes, Lippman has devoted more resources to civil legal aid services than any of his predecessors.
“Chief Judge Lippman is an accomplished leader and he shares our values,” Bill Voge, chair and managing partner of Latham & Watkins, said in a press release. “He will contribute much to the growth of our litigation practice and will continue to make an impact for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.”
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