Steven Fagell, the deputy chief of staff to Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, is planning to return to Covington & Burling, where he had been a partner before taking a post last year at the U.S. Justice Department.
Fagell, 37, who made partner in October 2008 shortly before going to work at Main Justice, is expected to return as a partner in August, Covington managing partner Tim Hester said.
At Justice, Fagell, who also served as counselor to Breuer, coordinated the Criminal Division's involvement with the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force and the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.
Hester said Fagell (at left), who was not available for an interview, would return to white-collar defense and cross-over civil litigation matters “where experience and background at the Justice Department will be relevant.” Fagell is expected to work on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, internal investigations and financial fraud issues, Hester said.
“We are extremely pleased to have him back,” Hester said.
Breuer, who leads the Criminal Division and is a former Covington white-collar criminal defense lawyer, said Fagell “became a prosecutor over night” and showed “excellent judgment and unwavering principles.” (At Covington, Breuer threw Fagell's partnership party.)
"I just think the world of Steve. He’s an exceptionally bright and thoughtful lawyer and a wonderful person," Breuer said. "What he helped me do here is to begin to implement my vision, to make the Criminal Division as great as it can be."
Amy Pope, who had been senior counsel to Breuer, is expected to take over as deputy chief of staff, Breuer said.
As for himself, Breuer said he has no plans to leave. Not now, at least. "I love it. I just love it," he said. "I am not going anywhere.”
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