With the swearing in on Jan. 3 of recess appointee James Cole as deputy attorney general, the position of solicitor general is the only top Justice Department position left unfilled. A nomination could be imminent, and the leading candidates to replace Elena Kagan are still said to be Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal and former Jenner & Block partner Donald Verrilli, associate White House counsel. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Asian American Justice Center, which favor Katyal, are turning up the heat, releasing a letter it sent to President Obama in December calling Katyal “the obvious choice for the job.” Aside from Katyal’s two years’ experience in the SG’s office, the letter notes that, during the past 20 years, “there has never been a principal deputy solicitor general who has not been elevated to become the solicitor general” except when administrations change. Asian Pacific American legal groups are also upset over the Senate’s stalling on the judicial nominations of Goodwin Liu and Edward Chen, both of whom were re-nominated last week. The son of Indian immigrants, Katyal would be the highest-ranking South Asian American in the administration other than Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. — Tony Mauro
ARENT FOX MP VOWS TO STAY THE COURSE
Clark, whose practice focuses on international trade, joined the firm in 2000 from Howrey and has chaired Arent Fox’s international trade practice. Clark said his first order of business as managing partner is to “do no harm.” He said, “We’re pleased with the trajectory we’re on, and we want to continue moving in that direction.” As examples, Clark pointed to the 20 lateral hires the firm made in 2010. “That growth was representative of our position, and we plan to continue growing in 2011,” Clark said.
