When former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman decided to return to private legal practice, he wanted a job that would allow him and his wife to spend time with their seven grandchildren, who all live in New York City.
After receiving calls of interest from 16 law firms, Lieberman, a Yale Law School graduate and former Connecticut attorney general, opted to join Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman in the firm's office on Broadway, between 50th and 51st streets. The 375-lawyer firm is ranked 124th on the recently released AmLaw 200 list, with gross revenues in 2012 of $250 million.
Lieberman's practice, according to a news release from the firm, will focus on "independent and internal investigations and advising clients on a wide range of public policy, strategic and regulatory issues." He is also expected to play a significant role in client development.
Lieberman said last week he was still sorting out what his role as senior counsel will be. "We'll see as it develops," Lieberman said in a telephone interview on Thursday, June 6, during what was his first work day at the office.
Lieberman, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate in 2000, served 24 years in the U.S. Senate, retiring in January of this year after his fourth term ended. He's served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs,
leading congressional investigations into Enron's collapse, the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina, and most recently the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya.
During his conversations with the firms that showed an interest in hiring him, Lieberman said he discussed many ways his experience in Washington might prove useful to corporate clients. For instance, he said, his familiarity with federal agencies leaves him in a good position to monitor government investigations of corporations, and to oversee eventual settlements.
"That seemed to be an area of interest," he said. "They thought my experience with [Senate] investigations and if you will, my independence, or hopefully, my credibility, to tell it as it is would be a benefit to clients."
One thing Lieberman did not want to do is "any lobbying of Congress."
"Not that there's anything wrong with it," he quickly added. "But I just choose not to do it myself. I will be available for what the law firms call strategic counseling with clients about interactions they have with the government or even problems they have internally."
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