Preet Bharara, a former federal prosecutor, senior critic of Donald Trump and popular podcast host, is joining WilmerHale, a well-connected law firm that has been home to several former officials government office.
This will be Mr. Bharara’s first time in private practice since the Trump administration fired him in 2017, after he refused to resign as a US attorney for the Southern District of New York. During his more than seven years in the position, Mr. Bharara attracted headlines about a crackdown on insider trading on Wall Street and corruption in New York politics.
Mr. Bharara, 53, is joining Wilmer, which has around 1,000 attorneys, as a partner. He said in an interview that he envisions his role as less of a client representative in court and “more of a consultant to executives, boards and companies how to do the right thing in the first place – and how to avoid Trouble.”
It would also be a lucrative move for Mr Bharara. The company did not disclose compensation figures, but a Wilmer partner paid an average of $2.8 million last year, according to The Americanyers, a legal journal.
Mr. Bharara said he expected his role to focus on ESG issues, or environmental, social and governance issues. That area could include how companies treat employees, encourage diversity and practice equality, and fight climate change. ESG has attracted some feedbackespecially from conservative activists, who have derided it as “wake-up capitalism”.
But Mr Bharara said corporate clients ignored ESG when they were in danger. “Simple criticisms of the issue fail to appreciate its complexity and emerging importance,” he said.
Debo P. Adegbile, who chairs Wilmer’s anti-discrimination practice, said C-suite boards and directors now “have to think a little more deeply about how they steer the ship.” .
Mr. Adegbile said: “His previous role as a police chief of good government and the rule of law is, I think, very appropriate for the moment.
Wilmer is an active and lucrative route between Washington and the Great Law. Some progressives have criticized such moves. The company that was once home to Robert S. Mueller III, who returned after serving as special counsel in the investigation into 2016 Russian election interference (he retired last year); Jamie S. Gorelick, deputy attorney general in the administration of President Bill Clinton; Alejandro N. Mayorkas, secretary of homeland security under President Biden; and Brendan R. McGuirewho in January became chief advisor to Mayor Eric Adams of New York City.
Since being fired, Mr. Bharara has hosted two weekly podcasts, including “Follow With Preet,” which researches issues of law and social justice. Additionally, he and his brother built a podcast company, Cafe Studios, which Vox Media acquired last year for an undisclosed amount. He has also written a best-selling book, “Doing Justice,” about his tenure as a U.S. attorney, appearing on CNN as a legal analyst and teaching at the University School of Law. New York.
“As a US attorney, former businessman and entrepreneur myself,” he said, “hopefully I’ll be in a position to give trusted advice.”
Mr. Bharara said he decided to join Wilmer because he missed being a lawyer and dealing with complex legal issues. He said he was also intrigued by Wilmer’s professional track record and that the company would let him continue podcasting and other outside activities.
Sheelagh McNeill research contributions.
