Weil Gotshal & Manges has bolstered its private funds practice in Washington DC with the hire of a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) veteran.  

Christopher Mulligan has joined the 1,100-lawyer firm as a partner after 11 years at the SEC, where he most recently served as investment adviser/private funds senior advisor and co-coordinator of the agency’s private funds specialised working group.

“Chris is a seasoned policy advisor who has helped to develop and implement the law in this area,” said Weil executive partner Barry Wolf. “His vast experience with SEC rulemaking, guidance and examinations will be immediately beneficial to our private funds clients. We’re delighted to welcome him to Weil.”

During his tenure at the SEC, Mulligan led the agency’s efforts to train staff and implement new Advisers Act rules, including the New Marketing Rule. He also served as the primary investment adviser and private funds legal point of contact for SEC examiners and developed significant rulemakings, including the Private Funds Rules and Form PF amendments, and guidance impacting investment advisers.  

Earlier in his career Mulligan practised as a private equity associate at Calfee Halter & Griswold and Dewey & LeBoeuf.  

He joins Weil as the second lawyer in its private funds practice in Washington DC after partner Christopher Scully, who moved over from Kirkland & Ellis last November. The firm’s private funds team boasts more than 60 lawyers globally and works with clients including PAI Partners, BlackRock and Apax Partners.  

There have been a string of partner moves in Washington DC over the past week involving leading law firms. Willkie Farr & Gallagher said today that it has hired Robert Lepore, a former section chief of the antitrust division of the US Department of Justice, as a partner in its antitrust and competition practice. 

Meantime Sidley Austin has added litigators Gregory Williams and Richard Smith from DC firm Wiley Rein, where they were head of the global disputes group and co-chair of the commercial litigation group respectively. At Sidley, Williams will co-lead the global arbitration, trade and advocacy practice.  

Former FBI deputy general counsel Greg Brower has also rejoined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as a shareholder in Washington DC from longtime client Wynn Resorts, where he was chief global compliance officer.