Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, recognized by the American Lawyer as one of the top five Litigation Departments in the Nation, announced today that Daniel M. Kolkey would re-join the firm as a Partner in the San Francisco office and a member of the Litigation Department and the Appellate and Constitutional Law practice group.
Kolkeyreturns to Gibson Dunn after nine years in public service, including most recently as an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District. His return to private practice will give California’s new governor his first appellate judicial appointment.
“Having dedicated the past nine years of my professional life to public service, the time is now right for me to return to the challenges and charm of private practice” said Kolkey “Gibson Dunn’s national, bi-coastal appellate practice provides a tremendous platform for my appellate and international arbitration practices.”
Prior to his Court of Appeal appointment, Kolkey served for four years as the Legal Affairs Secretary for California Governor Pete Wilson, who called him “one of the most thoughtful and talented lawyers I have had the privilege of working with in my long service in government.” In this role, he was responsible for all legal advice within the Governor’s Office, including ethical issues under California’s Political Reform Act, approving all state agency appeals and directing litigation strategy with respect to lawsuits brought against the Governor in his official capacity; and preparing the Governor’s civil justice reform legislation. Before his service to the Governor, Kolkey was a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office where his practice focused on litigation at both the trial and appellate level.
Kolkey will work closely with the Chairs of the Appellate practice, Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. in Los Angeles and Miguel Estrada in the Washington D.C. office to expand and further enhance the firm’s practice before the California Supreme Court, California Court of Appeal and United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit practice.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Dan back to Gibson Dunn, ” said Ken Doran, managing partner at Gibson Dunn. “Dan’s background as an Appeals Court Justice not only adds breadth to our California and national appellate practice, it also adds a new dimension that can only be gained by his experience on the bench.” said Doran.
