Kramer Levin Elects Paul Schoeman and Howard Spilko Co-Managing Partners

Paul Pearlman Will Retire at the End of the Year After Leading the Firm for 19 Years; Executive Director Nicholas Tortorella Will Retire after 18 Years

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP announced today that the firm has elected Paul Schoeman and Howard Spilko co-managing partners, effective January 1, 2020. Paul Pearlman, who has led the firm as managing partner since August 2000, will step down at the end of this year as part of a long-planned succession strategy. Executive Director Nicholas Tortorella, who joined the firm in 2001, will also be retiring at the end of the year.

Schoeman is co-chair of the firm’s white collar defense and investigations practice. Spilko is co-chair of the firm’s corporate practice.

The move comes at a time of stability, innovation and financial growth at Kramer Levin. In 2017 the firm topped $2 million in profits per partner for the first time, and in 2018 the firm did so again while recording its third consecutive year of record financial results. Last year the firm also celebrated its 50^th anniversary.

“It has been an honor to lead Kramer Levin, and I’m extremely proud of what we have accomplished,” Pearlman said. “It is fitting that Nick Tortorella and I are retiring together, as we managed this firm together for so many years, and he has been an integral part of the firm’s success. The firm is in a strong position, and I have the utmost confidence in the abilities of co-managing partners Howard and Paul to ensure Kramer Levin continues to provide the highest level of client service in the industry. They have both played important roles in the firm and epitomize the firm’s creative, proactive and pragmatic approach.”

“It has been a great privilege to work alongside Paul all these years and assist in guiding the firm,” Tortorella said. “I am particularly proud of Kramer Levin’s culture. Protecting and promoting that culture has been my highest priority, and it is gratifying to know that it is stronger than ever.”

“Paul and Nick have done an exceptional job guiding Kramer Levin and setting the firm on a course for continued success,” Spilko said.  “We are deeply grateful for the many valuable contributions Paul and Nick have made over nearly two decades of stellar service to the firm, our partners, associates and staff; they will be missed by all of us.  Paul Schoeman and I look forward to building on the innovative strategies that have placed the firm in such a strong position to compete successfully in a dynamic legal marketplace.”

Spilko joined Kramer Levin in 1996. He counsels and represents clients in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, with an emphasis on middle-market private equity transactions. He works with a broad range of clients, from private equity firms, hedge funds and entrepreneurial ventures to large, well-known multinational companies.

Schoeman defends clients in complex and often high-profile criminal, civil and regulatory matters involving every aspect of white collar crime, including securities fraud, money laundering, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, health care fraud, insider trading, accounting fraud and tax evasion. He originally joined Kramer Levin in 2003. He left in 2007 to serve as the chief assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and then rejoined the firm in 2009.

“The entire firm thanks Paul and Nick for their extraordinary leadership,” Schoeman said. “As we move forward we will build on the culture of respect, professionalism and service that epitomizes the firm and empowers our lawyers to guide clients through their most significant challenges.”