WilmerHale is pleased to announce that James L. Quarles is rejoining the firm as a partner after serving in the Special Counsel’s Office in the US Department of Justice.

Mr. Quarles left the firm in 2017 to join Robert S. Mueller III and Aaron M. Zebley when Mr. Mueller was appointed special counsel. Messrs. Mueller and Zebley are also rejoining the firm.

Mr. Quarles is a seasoned litigator whose government experience, in addition to his recent service in the Special Counsel’s Office, includes serving as an assistant special prosecutor during the Watergate investigation. He has extensive trial and appellate experience in complex civil matters, particularly in the intellectual property area. At the firm, he will again focus on high-profile investigations and litigation. 

“Few lawyers have the experience of Jim Quarles both in litigation and high-profile investigations,” said Robert Novick, WilmerHale’s co-managing partner. “We’re glad he’s back to provide our clients with the benefit of his truly extraordinary insight and experience gained from public service and private practice.”

“It’s great to be returning to WilmerHale. It has always been a privilege to work alongside such talented colleagues to tackle the challenging issues clients bring to us,” Mr. Quarles said.   

Mr. Quarles joined Hale and Dorr, one of WilmerHale’s two predecessor firms in 1975, and became managing partner of Hale and Dorr’s Washington office. Before coming to Hale and Dorr, he served as an assistant special prosecutor on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force from 1973 to 1975, and clerked for the Honorable Frank A. Kaufman.

He earned his law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1972. He received his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Denison University in 1968.