In a rare lateral move between two Wall Street mainstays, Sullivan & Cromwell bankruptcy and restructuring partner Michael Torkin has quietly joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York.

Torkin, who joined Sullivan & Cromwell as special counsel in 2011 after serving as a partner at Shearman & Sterling, confirmed in an email to The American Lawyer his decision to once again switch high-powered firms. Torkin cited several reasons for his move, including Simpson Thacher's expertise in the private equity arena and a “collegial culture” at his new firm.