Cochair and Two other Partners of Howrey’s Litigation Join Sidley Austin

The Cochair of Howrey LLP’s litigation practice plus two other litigation partners from its New York office will retreat from the firm to join Sidley Austin LLP , an international business law firm. The Am Law Daily reported that Gary Bendinger, the cochair of Howrey’s litigation field, is set to transfer to Sidley Austin along with Gregory Ballard and Kevin Burke. The three lawyers are said to be a big addition to Sidley Austin given their extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to liability litigation.

Charles “Chuck” Douglas, a Sidley litigation partner and chair of the firm’s executive committee, confirmed the addition of the three partners in their firm. “Gary, Greg, and Kevin are each respected and experienced litigators who embrace the highest standards of client service. They will join our extremely active accountant’s liability practice and will enable us to significantly expand its scope in New York and throughout the world.”

Howrey has been injured by the recent economic downturn in the past years. In February, the firm let go 29 associates and 65 staff members followed by another cut of 32 staffers last month. In total, there have been 66 partners who left the firm since last winter. Julie Triedman, a senior reporter of The American Lawyer, noted “Since March, there has been an extraordinary exodus of partners, capped in mid-October by the departure of most of the vaunted European IP practice, including the firm’s Europe managing partner and 11 other partners.”