Newly appointed to the team are McGuireWoods partner J. Patrick Rowan, Morgan Lewis & Bockius partner Ronald Tenpas and Morrison & Foerster partner Jesse Liu. All three are former Department of Justice officials from the administration of George W. Bush – Mr Rowan served as head of the National Security Division, Mr Tenpas as head of the Environment and Resources division, and Mr Liu as a top official in the National Security and Civil Rights divisions. The trio joins other BigLaw names from Jones Day and Kirkland & Ellis already announced to Trump’s DoJ team last week.

Roles kept quiet

Spokespeople for the Trump transition have been adamant that a place on the transition team does not in any way guarantee or signify a permanent future role in the Department of Justice. Team members and spokespeople have also stayed mum about what roles each lawyer will play during the transition, though it is known that those in the team generally fall under one of two functions – to advise on DoJ staff picks, or to assess the policy and litigation landscape to be inherited from the incumbent administration. All three of the new appointees specialise in white collar defence at their respective firms.

Sources: Law.com; Australasian Lawyer