Kirkland pulls a partner out of Ropes in Boston, and an AmLaw 200 firm buys its way into New York

The New York Law Journal reports that an asset management partner is leaving Ropes & Gray's Boston office for Kirkland & Ellis, and that a Ropes tax partner has already left, with no destination reported. Michael Best & Friedrich LLP completed a strategic combination with Kane Kessler, P.C. and established their first New York presence. Michael Best says Kane Kessler brings approximately 40 attorneys in New York City and a reputation spanning nearly a century in corporate and securities, and that Kane Kessler's Managing Partner will serve as Managing Partner of the New York office. Above the Law counts the combined firm at nearly 400 attorneys across 19 US offices. Saul Ewing LLP launched an Atlanta office. The Daily Report reports it is staffed by two existing Saul Ewing lawyers plus three attorneys coming in from Holland & Knight LLP, Squire Patton Boggs and Arnall Golden Gregory LLP. Polsinelli added a fund formation shareholder in Chicago, advising private fund sponsors and investment managers on the structuring and operation of alternative investment vehicles. Polsinelli says the arrival follows a recent shareholder addition in New York. On the practice side, Gibson Dunn formalized a higher education industry group that the firm says spans more than 85 attorneys. The American Lawyer reports they are currently representing six universities in more than a dozen Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigations, plus four universities in congressional investigations and testimony.