Abigail Adcox
January 23, 2026
Willkie, Wiley, Fried Frank Add Litigation, Asset Management Partners in D.C.


2 min
AI-made summary
- Wiley Rein, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson have announced new partner hires in their Washington, D.C
- offices, focusing on litigation and asset management M&A practices
- Willkie added Christopher DiPompeo as partner and co-chair of its bankruptcy litigation practice, while Fried Frank hired Saif I
- Shah Mohammed for its asset management M&A group
- Wiley brought on Nicholas Cheolas as a partner in its litigation practice, specializing in antitrust matters.
As lateral hiring continues in the District, Wiley Rein; Willkie Farr & Gallagher; and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson announced new partner additions to their Washington, D.C., offices this past week. The new additions are joining the firms’ litigation and asset management M&A practices. They arrive as litigation practices continue to be a priority for firm hiring in D.C. this year. Willkie brought on Christopher DiPompeo as a partner and co-chair of its bankruptcy litigation practice in D.C. from Jones Day. DiPompeo represents corporate debtors, investors and other parties through restructuring cases and transactions, with a focus on protecting and advancing the financial interests of corporate debtors and secured and unsecured creditors in the litigation-related aspects of a debtor-creditor relationship, the firm said. Willkie chairman Matthew Feldman said in a firm statement that a “key component” of the firm’s growth strategy has been expanding its team “equipped to handle bankruptcy and restructuring matters of all types, sizes, stages and complex—including those involving litigation and disputes.” “Chris is an outstanding bankruptcy litigator and leader with skill and success in both debtor and creditor representations. His arrival, which follows the recent addition of Ryan Blaine Bennett as chair of the restructuring department, underscores our commitment to further strengthening the practice,” Feldman added. Bennett joined Willkie from Kirkland & Ellis this fall. He splits his time between the firm’s Chicago and New York offices. Meanwhile, Fried Frank has hired Saif I. Shah Mohammed as a partner in its asset management M&A practice in D.C. He joins from Kirkland & Ellis. Shah Mohammed advises clients on corporate transactions, including advising on GP stakes sales, GP-led secondaries, GP and fund-level preferred equity transactions, seeding deals asset manager mergers and acquisitions and succession planning. Wiley also announced it has brought on Nicholas Cheolas as a partner in its litigation practice in D.C. Cheolas joins the firm from the Justice Department, where he was most recently a trial attorney, handling investigations and enforcement matters focused on competition issues in technology, digital markets and data-driven industries. “Nick offers valuable insight on competition enforcement that strengthens the capabilities of our litigation practice,” said Ralph Caccia, chair of Wiley’s litigation practice, in a firm statement. “His Antitrust Division experience and work on competition matters in technology markets enhance our ability to advise clients in complex antitrust investigations and litigation.” At Wiley, Cheolas’ practice will center around advising clients on civil and criminal antitrust investigations, enforcement actions, litigation strategies and compliance matters. Jones Day and Kirkland & Ellis did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the partner departures.
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Abigail Adcox
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