Cristine Pirro Schwarzman of Ropes & Gray.

Ropes & Gray is bulking up its New York bankruptcy and restructuring practice with the addition of a partner from Kirkland & Ellis, the firm said Thursday.

Cristine Pirro Schwarzman is joining Ropes & Gray as a partner in its business restructuring practice group. Previously, she was a partner at Kirkland and also practiced in Weil, Gotshal & Manges' restructuring group.

In an interview, Schwarzman said she had worked across the table from Ropes & Gray attorneys for half a decade and admired their work.

"I respect the attorneys, and I respect the work they do," she said. "I'm just really excited about the opportunity."

Schwarzman added that in her new role at Ropes & Gray, she will focus more on her company-side debtor practice, as the firm's goal is to build out its company-side restructuring offerings.

"There's a real opportunity to grow here," she said, noting that although more of her focus will be on the debtor side, she will still continue some of her creditor work.

Stephen Moeller-Sally, co-chair of the firm's business restructuring practice, highlighted that Schwarzman's experience made her an excellent fit for Rope & Gray's strategic growth plans.

"[Schwarzman] was an obvious and natural hire for us," he said in an interview. "It's a huge opportunity for the firm and for her."

Moeller-Sally also noted the firm has been building out its debtor-side restructuring expertise for a few years now; notably, the firm in 2016 hired Gregg Galardi, who led the firm's bankruptcy work with Gawker Media Group. As talks of a recession in the next few years have intensified recently, Moeller-Sally said the recent practice additions will put the firm in a good long-term position to reap the benefits of an impending economic downturn.

Schwarzman is the daughter of Fox News host and former Westchester County district attorney Jeanine Pirro.

"We appreciate Cristine's contribution to the firm and wish her success in the future," said a Kirkland spokesperson.