Nationally recognized litigators Steven Molo and Jeffrey Lamken have announced the formation of MoloLamken LLP, a litigation boutique with a national practice focused on complex, high-stakes civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense, U.S. Supreme Court and appellate cases, and regulatory matters before administrative agencies.

Molo is leaving Shearman & Sterling in New York, where he was a partner in the litigation group. He was previously a partner with Winston & Strawn in Chicago for 18 years and served on that firm’s executive committee. Lamken was the head of the Supreme Court and appellate practice for Baker Botts in Washington, D.C. and previously served as an Assistant to the Solicitor General in the U.S. Department of Justice. Lamken also clerked for the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Honorable Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Molo and Lamken bring an established record of success in high-profile cases to their new firm. Molo recently successfully defended former Reagan cabinet member David Stockman, who had been charged with securities fraud in New York following the bankruptcy of auto supplier Collins & Aikman; all charges were dismissed. He has been involved in a number of notable matters arising from the current financial crisis. Lamken represents parties in four matters pending before the U.S. Supreme Court this term; he has argued another 17 cases before the Supreme Court.

Molo and Lamken also recently worked together to successfully reverse a $1.6 billion verdict against Morgan Stanley that a Florida jury had awarded to Coleman (Parent) Holdings, a company controlled by financier Ron Perelman.

With initial offices in New York and Washington, D.C., MoloLamken will represent both plaintiffs and defendants in trials, appeals, grand jury and regulatory defense, and internal investigations. With a focus on quality and experience, and an intention to remain small in size by today’s law firm standards, the firm’s strategic plan calls for measured growth over the next three to five years with the objective to build a team of 40 to 50 attorneys.