Vinson & Elkins (V&E) has hired a co-chair of Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft’s global litigation group in New York.

Jason Halper has joined the firm after eight years at Cadwalader alongside litigator Sara Brauerman, who has joined V&E as a partner having been a special counsel at their former firm.   

“Jason and Sara’s success representing companies in significant matters across the litigation spectrum has justifiably earned them a loyal client following and a leading reputation in the New York market,” said V&E chair, Keith Fullenweider. “They will play a big role in the growth of our New York litigation practice.”

Halper handles large-stakes commercial disputes, securities and corporate governance matters, including ERISA and RICO class actions, SEC, FINRA and stock exchange investigations and arbitrations, internal investigations and suits claiming breaches of fiduciary duty, insider trading or other alleged misconduct by corporate directors, and matters arising from M&A or other transactions involving contests for corporate control in the Delaware Court of Chancery and elsewhere. 

Halper rejoined Cadwalader in 2016 to co-chair the litigation group after two years at Orrick. At Cadwalader he was also co-chair of the ESG practice and a member of the firm's management committee, and before his first stint at the firm between 2000 and 2014 he practised for five years at Weil. 

Meantime Brauerman, who is admitted to the Delaware bar and began her career litigating in the Delaware Court of Chancery, handles a similar mix of litigation for public and private companies, underwriters, lenders, professional services firms and their partners and corporate directors. She practised at Delaware firm Bayard before joining Cadwalader in 2019. 

A Cadwalader spokesperson commented: “We’re grateful for our former colleagues’ contributions and wish them well.”

Following the arrival of Halper and Brauerman V&E's New York litigation bench will include 14 partners according to the firm's website. Their hire adds a focus on commercial and business litigation to the team, with the 12 other partners practising across restructuring, tax, international dispute resolution and arbitration, government investigations and white collar defence. 

News of the duo's move follows business litigation partner Jordan Leu exiting V&E last week for King & Spalding in Dallas, as the firm continues to expand rapidly across Texas. Leu's move coincided with a team of four product liability and mass torts lawyers moving over from Butler Snow in Austin and Houston.