Last week, some important news broke concerning lawyers at two major law firms.

On Nov. 21, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., recommended Weil, Gotshal & Manges Partner Vernon Broderick as a U.S. district judge for the Southern District of New York. If the Senate nominates and approves Broderick, he would become the first Dominican American on the state’s federal bench.

“Vernon Broderick is a proven leader with a strong legal and public service background,” Schumer said in a statement. “Mr. Broderick has a clear commitment to justice, outstanding dedication to public service, and broad experience that makes him an exceptional choice for a position on the bench in the Southern District.”

Broderick, who is 49 years old, graduated from Harvard Law School in 1988 and began working as an associate at Weil, Gotshal after graduation. He then worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he focused on drug and gang criminal investigations. He rejoined Weil, Gotshal in 2002 and currently handles white-collar criminal matters involving environmental law violations, securities fraud and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Weil, Gotshal is one of at least two firms making news this week. Jenner & Block announced on Friday that it recruited Mark Harris, the former head of McDermott Will & Emery’s private equity practice. Harris joins Jenner’s Chicago office as a partner and co-chair of the firm’s private equity practice.

Recent deals Harris has worked on include Wrapports’ 2011 acquisition of the Chicago Sun-Times and Merge Healthcare’s 2010 acquisition of medical information provider AMICAS.

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