After a loyal 34-year career at his firm, Bruce Angiolillo is leaving his perch atop the securities practice at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Angiolillo, who joined Simpson Thacher just three years out of law school and made partner way back in 1985, won't be joining a competing firm or hitting the golf course. Instead, he'll take on a new sort of challenge: helping to guide the North American subsidiary of Japanese auto parts maker Takata Corporation through a U.S. legal minefield.

TK Holdings Inc., Takata's North American unit, said in a statement Monday that Angiolillo will join the company as general counsel on Jan. 1. He'll replace Don Schiemann, who has served as TK Holdings' GC since 2001.