WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Robert S. Mueller III is rejoining the firm as a partner after serving as special counsel for the US Department of Justice.
Mr. Mueller’s practice will focus on high-profile investigations and crisis management, similar to his work at the firm before his service as special counsel.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Bob, our extraordinary friend and colleague, return to WilmerHale,” said Robert Novick, the firm’s co-managing partner. “Few lawyers have been entrusted with as many matters of national significance as Bob, in both his public service and in private practice. Bob embodies the highest values of our firm and profession. We’re privileged to work alongside him once again.”
“I’m glad to be at WilmerHale once again, a firm with a tradition of honoring public service,” Mr. Mueller said. “It was an honor to serve as special counsel. Now, I look forward to resuming my private practice alongside the talented lawyers at the firm.”
James L. Quarles and Aaron M. Zebley who, like Mr. Mueller, left the firm in May 2017 to work in the Special Counsel’s Office, are also returning to the firm as partners.
Mr. Mueller's career in government service and law enforcement spans more than 37 years. He was a United States Marine Corps officer, an assistant US attorney in three different offices, US attorney for the Northern District of California, the assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division, and the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Mueller, the longest-serving FBI director since J. Edgar Hoover, assumed that role just one week before the September 11 attacks and served for 12 years under two presidents. In 2017, Mr. Mueller was appointed special counsel by the US deputy attorney general to oversee the investigation of Russian government efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and related matters.
From March 2014 until his appointment as special counsel in 2017, Mr. Mueller was a partner at WilmerHale. He was a partner at one of WilmerHale’s predecessor firms, Hale and Dorr in the years 1993–1995. Hale and Dorr merged with Wilmer Cutler Pickering LLP in 2004, creating the present firm.
Mr. Mueller earned his law degree in 1973 from the University of Virginia School of Law where he served on the law review. He received an MA in international relations from New York University in 1967 and a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1966.