Ex-Trump DOJ official Rod Rosenstein joins law firm Baker McKenzie

By Mike Scarcella

June 16 (Reuters) - Former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller to investigate links between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, has left law firm King & Spalding for rival Baker McKenzie.

Rosenstein will lead Baker McKenzie’s national security team from the law firm’s office in Washington, the firm said on Monday. Chicago-founded Baker McKenzie is one of the largest firms in the world with more than 4,500 attorneys.

Rosenstein joined Atlanta-founded King & Spalding in 2020 after serving as the second-in-command at the Justice Department during the first Trump administration.

He told Reuters he would work on compliance, risk management and disputes at Baker McKenzie. "It's a time of transition in the government, and that creates a complex environment for corporate clients," Rosenstein said. "They are operating in an era of uncertainty."

At the Justice Department in the first Trump administration, Rosenstein was criticized by Trump and allies over his appointment of Mueller as special counsel leading the Russia probe.

Mueller’s 2019 report could not establish evidence that Trump’s campaign illegally conspired with Moscow.

Rosenstein’s career at the Justice Department spanned decades. He also previously was the top federal prosecutor in Maryland.

King & Spalding is home to former Republican-appointed Maryland U.S. Attorney Robert Hur, who is now defending Harvard in its clash with the Trump administration. The firm hired former Obama-era U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates in 2018.

In a statement, King & Spalding on Monday thanked Rosenstein for his work at the firm.

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Former Deputy Attorney Rod Rosenstein joins the law firm King & Spalding