Prosecutor Michael Schwartz to Join Former U.S. Attorney’s Office Colleague Tom Gallagher At Pepper Hamilton
Schwartz Successfully Led Region’s Highest-Profile Corruption Cases
Philadelphia, Pa. – February 8, 2008 – LAWFUEL – The Law Firm Announcement Service – Pepper Hamilton LLP announced today that Michael A. Schwartz, Chief of the Corruption / Civil Rights / Labor / Tax unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will join the firm’s White Collar and Corporate Investigations Practice Group as a partner, effective February 25.
Schwartz, who has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney since 1994 and headed the Department of Justice unit in the Philadelphia office since 2002, has successfully prosecuted some of the region’s highest-profile corruption cases, including the electronic surveillance investigation during the administration of Mayor Street, and the Corey Kemp and Rick Mariano corruption cases.
At Pepper Hamilton, he will join the White Collar and Corporate Investigations Practice Group headed by Thomas M. Gallagher. The practice group assists clients in the areas of white collar criminal defense, corporate investigations and corporate compliance programs.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike Schwartz to our White Collar and Corporate Investigations Group,” said Gallagher, also a former prosecutor in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Mike’s experience as a skilled federal prosecutor and his outstanding reputation in both government and corporate circles will greatly benefit our clients.”
Schwartz said: “I am very pleased to be joining Pepper Hamilton. The opportunity to join such a highly regarded law firm – and particularly to work alongside my former colleague Tom Gallagher – was extremely attractive to me. I look forward to making an immediate contribution to Pepper Hamilton’s corporate clients.”
In addition to his most recent work as a federal prosecutor, Schwartz also represented a number of media clients during his tenure at Dechert. “I also am delighted to rejoin my former colleague Amy Ginensky, who joined Pepper Hamilton last year to head its Media, Communications and Entertainment Practice, and I look forward to doing some work with that group, as well,” Schwartz added.
Schwartz is a 1990 graduate of Yale Law School. He clerked for the Honorable Edmund V. Ludwig in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania before joining Dechert as an associate in 1991. He left in 1994 to join the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he spent five years before returning to Dechert.
He rejoined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2000 and was appointed head of its Corruption unit in 2002. He built a stellar reputation there as a disciplined and skilled prosecutor.
The addition of Michael Schwartz to the firm marks Pepper Hamilton’s 31st senior-level lateral hire in the last 14 months – a number that is unprecedented in the firm’s history.
Nina M. Gussack, chairwoman of Pepper Hamilton’s Executive Committee, said: “Our clients face enormous challenges and demand sophisticated, experienced legal counsel, nationally and regionally. We are attracting to the firm outstanding practitioners, like Mike Schwartz, who are at the top of their game.”
About Pepper Hamilton
Pepper Hamilton LLP (www.pepperlaw.com) is a multi-practice law firm with more than 500 lawyers in seven states and the District of Columbia. The firm provides corporate, litigation and regulatory legal services to leading businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the nation and the world. The firm was founded in 1890.
