Gibson Dunn snares LA deputy mayor

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has made a prestigious partner hire from Los Angeles’ City Hall, taking on deputy mayor Maurice Suh.

Suh joins the West Coast firm’s Los Angeles office as a litigation partner, with a particular focus on white-collar crime.

His arrival at Gibson Dunn comes just a week after the firm netted Jones Day’s co-head of global finance, Robert Cunningham, and follows that of Robert Bonner, a former federal judge and head of the US customs department.

Suh oversaw Los Angeles’ office of homeland security, a new position that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa created in July 2005.

Suh is understood to have only ever have intended to work for Villaraigosa for a year; time enough to achieve certain homeland security goals, such as creating 83 new police and fireman positions.

Suh can expect a hefty pay rise after having to make do on $130,000 (£69,900) a year as deputy mayor. Average profits for Gibson Dunn’s 253 equity partners are $1.64m (£869,000).