Legal News

Former Heller managing partner joins Gibson

By Jason Siegel

Robert Hubbell, the former managing partner of Heller Ehrman, has joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's Los Angeles office as a partner.

Hubbell had been managing partner of Heller Ehrman since 2002. He joined the firm about 17 years ago.

Last month, Heller's partners voted to dissolve the firm after several mergers failed and dozens of partners left. Hubbell declined to discuss the Heller dissolution, or the events that lead to the San Francisco firm's collapse.

"Heller was a great law firm with truly great people, many good friends and, like everyone, I'm saddened that it will not be around to contribute to the legal community any longer," he said. "I want to look forward. This has been a hard time. And I feel very fortunate to have joined Gibson Dunn. It is one of the world's best law firms and I'm truly excited to be here."

Hubbell, a litigator, said he picked Gibson Dunn because of its securities practice, one of the leading in the nation. His practice focuses on accountant liability, securities litigation and securities enforcement. He currently represents individuals and companies in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice investigations, shareholder derivative suits and securities class actions related to the recent credit crisis.

In recent months, Gibson Dunn has hired three other partners in securities litigation and accountant liability, including two from Heller Ehrman. Last month, Mark Schonfeld, the former director of the SEC's New York Regional Office, joined Gibson Dunn as co-chairman of the securities enforcement practice group. Also, last month, Charles Jaeger joined from Heller Ehrman. George Brown, another Heller partner, joined Gibson Dunn earlier this year.

-- Amanda Bronstad

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on October 22, 2008 (boomark / email).