Kevin Carey, former bankruptcy judge in the District of Delaware and partner with Hogan Lovells.

Hogan Lovells has brought on a retired Delaware bankruptcy judge as a partner in its business restructuring and insolvency practice, the firm announced Wednesday.

Kevin Carey, who retired from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware at the end of August, will join the firm as partner Oct. 1. His hire comes after an 18-and-a-half-year career as a U.S. bankruptcy judge, first at the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2005 and then in Delaware, where he rose to become one of the most prominent bankruptcy judges in the country.

During his time on the bench, Carey oversaw the reorganization of Tropicana Entertainment, the sale of the Tribune Media Co., and the W.R. Grace Chapter 11 proceedings.

In an interview, Carey said he decided to move back into private practice because he thought he could do more in the profession.

"I thought I might have one more challenge left in my life," he said. "I chose Hogan Lovells because it was a place with restructuring lawyers I knew, trusted and respected."

Carey also said the firm's global platform was a good fit with his expertise—he's handled multiple Chapter 15 cases—and he complimented Hogan Lovells for its international, cross-border capabilities.

Chris Donoho, global head of the firm's business restructuring and insolvency practice, said Carey is known for his fairness, and his reputation on the bench made him an attractive hire that would appeal to clients facing challenging restructurings.

"This was a special situation—a judge coming off the bench—and [the firm and Carey have] always had a good relationship," Donoho said. "It hasn't always gone the way we wanted, but it's always been fair."

Donoho also pointed out the importance of trust in the bankruptcy and restructuring practice, where clients are always in distress when something has gone wrong. Carey will be a good resource to the rest of the Hogan Lovells team when it comes to navigating relationships, he added.

"That trust has broken down, and when a trustworthy person in the industry becomes available, to work with them as a resource is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Donoho said.

Carey's hire is only the most recent in a string of notable additions to Hogan Lovells's business restructuring and insolvency practice: Philippe Druon joined the Paris office in April from Weil, Gotshal & Manges; David Simonds joined the Los Angeles office in May from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; and Rick Wynne and Erin Brady joined last year from Jones Day.