(L to R) Christopher Keller and Lawrence Sucharow

The plaintiffs firm Labaton Sucharow, known for its work in securities, antitrust and class action litigation, will elevate partner and executive committee member Christopher Keller to the position of co-chairman of the firm, to serve alongside longtime firm leader Lawrence Sucharow.

Keller, a New York-based securities litigation partner who has been with the firm since 2000, will step into the leadership role starting Jan. 1, according to a firm statement. He will share leadership with current chairman Sucharow, who recently celebrated his 40th anniversary at the firm.

Sucharow said in a statement that Keller has long had an impact on the firm's direction. He is an executive committee member at the firm and since 2003 he has led the firm's securities case development group, which is tasked with evaluating potential legal claims for institutional investor clients.

“Chris is a visionary and his standout, dynamic leadership has long been an asset to the firm. We are delighted to make it official,” said Sucharow. “It's been gratifying to both mentor Chris through the years and watch him grow and excel in the field. I am greatly encouraged for the continued success of our firm as he steps into this important position.”

Making the leadership move now, Sucharow added, will “provide seamless and secure management into the future for our clients.”

Keller said he is looking forward to his expanded role and stated that the firm will continue to thrive by fighting for investors and other clients.

“I cut my teeth as a young attorney here, and I've been fortunate to have been mentored by Larry, an extraordinary litigator and leader,” he said in a statement. “I'm also thankful to work with an incredibly deep and talented team of partners.”

The leadership announcement comes toward the end of what has been an active hiring year for Labaton Sucharow.

In May, the firm brought on three lawyers in an effort to bulk up its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission whistleblower practice. That trio included Steven Durham, a former high-ranking federal prosecutor and senior in-house counsel at Weatherford International Inc. based in Washington, D.C., as well as two former SEC enforcement officials—Washington-based Robert Wilson and Chicago-based Timothy Warren. The hires in the whistleblower practice also resulted in two new outposts for Labaton Sucharow in Washington and Chicago, where the firm had not previously had offices.

Labaton Sucharow also detailed in late June another group of hires in its securities litigation practice, bringing on board three additional lawyers in Washington and one in New York. That round of hires included Mark Willis, who joined Labaton Sucharow as a partner in Washington from the firm Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, along with two other lawyers from that firm who are now in of counsel roles at Labaton Sucharow—Mark Bogen and James McGovern. At the same time, Labaton Sucharow announced the addition of David Schwartz as of counsel.

Following the announcement of the hires in late June, Keller said the addition of new lawyers served as a strategic move to position the firm better for the future.

“The firm continually looks for opportunities to move strategically and respond to current and, what we believe to be, long-term industry trends,” he said.

(L to R) Christopher Keller and Lawrence Sucharow

The plaintiffs firm Labaton Sucharow, known for its work in securities, antitrust and class action litigation, will elevate partner and executive committee member Christopher Keller to the position of co-chairman of the firm, to serve alongside longtime firm leader Lawrence Sucharow.

Keller, a New York-based securities litigation partner who has been with the firm since 2000, will step into the leadership role starting Jan. 1, according to a firm statement. He will share leadership with current chairman Sucharow, who recently celebrated his 40th anniversary at the firm.

Sucharow said in a statement that Keller has long had an impact on the firm's direction. He is an executive committee member at the firm and since 2003 he has led the firm's securities case development group, which is tasked with evaluating potential legal claims for institutional investor clients.

“Chris is a visionary and his standout, dynamic leadership has long been an asset to the firm. We are delighted to make it official,” said Sucharow. “It's been gratifying to both mentor Chris through the years and watch him grow and excel in the field. I am greatly encouraged for the continued success of our firm as he steps into this important position.”

Making the leadership move now, Sucharow added, will “provide seamless and secure management into the future for our clients.”

Keller said he is looking forward to his expanded role and stated that the firm will continue to thrive by fighting for investors and other clients.

“I cut my teeth as a young attorney here, and I've been fortunate to have been mentored by Larry, an extraordinary litigator and leader,” he said in a statement. “I'm also thankful to work with an incredibly deep and talented team of partners.”

The leadership announcement comes toward the end of what has been an active hiring year for Labaton Sucharow.

In May, the firm brought on three lawyers in an effort to bulk up its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission whistleblower practice. That trio included Steven Durham, a former high-ranking federal prosecutor and senior in-house counsel at Weatherford International Inc. based in Washington, D.C., as well as two former SEC enforcement officials—Washington-based Robert Wilson and Chicago-based Timothy Warren. The hires in the whistleblower practice also resulted in two new outposts for Labaton Sucharow in Washington and Chicago, where the firm had not previously had offices.

Labaton Sucharow also detailed in late June another group of hires in its securities litigation practice, bringing on board three additional lawyers in Washington and one in New York. That round of hires included Mark Willis, who joined Labaton Sucharow as a partner in Washington from the firm Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, along with two other lawyers from that firm who are now in of counsel roles at Labaton Sucharow—Mark Bogen and James McGovern. At the same time, Labaton Sucharow announced the addition of David Schwartz as of counsel.

Following the announcement of the hires in late June, Keller said the addition of new lawyers served as a strategic move to position the firm better for the future.

“The firm continually looks for opportunities to move strategically and respond to current and, what we believe to be, long-term industry trends,” he said.