McKenzie appoints Vance

McKenzie appoints Vance

In December, Vance's third term as Manhattan's district attorney came to an end

As global chair of Baker McKenzie's global cyber security practice, Cyrus Vance is a partner and former Manhattan district attorney.

Vance was known for conducting high-profile investigations into public figures, including former president Donald Trump and condemned film producer Harvey Weinstein, when he led the Manhattan district attorney's office for 12 years.

In addition to Vance joining Bakers' cyber security practice, its litigation and government enforcement department, as well as its global compliance and investigation team, Vance will be its leader for its cyber security practice.

Vance has also helped to create New York's cybercrime unit, which performed thousands of forensic investigations per year, as well as its cyber critical infrastructure task force, the only public-private partnership in the country to address threats and prevent attacks against New York's critical infrastructure.

We are continually building our capabilities in New York, particularly in the transactional and cyber security areas, adding a prosecutor of Cy's stature is a big step forward for us." said Scott Brandman, the managing partner of Bakers' New York and Miami offices.

"I'm excited about the possibilities of providing business-focused guidance and advice to clients who are navigating major compliance risks," said Vance.

Trump's company, the Trump Organisation, and its long-time chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg were indicted in connection with tax avoidance schemes in his criminal investigation of Trump's family business in 2018. He was able to obtain eight years of the former president's tax returns, defeat two of Trump's appeals in the US Supreme Court and successfully obtain records of his tax affairs.

In the end, Vance handed over the unfinished investigation to his successor, Alvin Bragg, when he finished his 3rd and final term in office.

Former UK information commissioner Elizabeth Denham has been appointed as a consultant in London a month before Vance joins the firm. Campaign groups criticized Denham's appointment, questioning whether her move into private practice after stepping down from her public role was legitimate and understandable, which concerns Bakers at the time deemed to be valid and understandable.

Last week, Thomson Reuters' Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index revealed that the firm topped the ranking for the 12th consecutive year, progressing second-placed DLA Piper by more than 56 points. The ranking underscores how well the firm is recognized among buyers of legal services.