Bradford Newman said he was very comfortable at Paul Hastings, where he had founded the firm's international employee mobility and trade secret practice, when Baker McKenzie came calling.

Baker McKenzie said it could help Newman to take the practice he's built and expand it across North America. It was an offer Newman couldn't refuse. This week he joined the firm's Palo Alto office as a partner in its North America litigation and government enforcement practice group.

Newman will also lead Baker McKenzie's first-ever North America trade secrets practice. He described himself as being a "player coach"—someone who will help put together teams of lawyers to help clients who believe their data or trade secrets are at risk, or have been accused of trade secrets theft.