Deukmejian Joins Law Firm as Trade Specialist

Former Gov. George Deukmejian, who emphasized foreign trade development during his final term as governor, will try to develop foreign business for a large international law firm with offices in Los Angeles, it was announced Tuesday.

Deukmejian, 62, who retired as governor Jan. 7, will become a partner in the 125-year-old firm of Sidley & Austin, operating out of its downtown Los Angeles office. His first work day will be Monday.

Sidley & Austin, headquartered in Chicago, also has offices in Tokyo, Singapore, London, New York and Washington. With more than 700 lawyers, the firm specializes in financial transactions, regulatory matters and commercial litigation. “With his experience and interest in foreign trade, we think he’s going to wind up developing a lot of business for us in Asia and Europe,” said Dan Kelly, managing partner of the firm’s downtown Los Angeles office. “I have a feeling he’s going to be doing a fair amount of travel.”

During his last term as governor, Deukmejian traveled extensively to open state trade offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Frankfurt and Mexico City. Now, he is likely to capitalize on his foreign contacts as he solicits business for his new employer.

Kelly said the firm also assumes that Deukmejian will be sitting on several boards of directors of large companies and that “he’ll be able to introduce us to potential clients.”

Asked if that makes him “a rainmaker,” Kelly said: “I wouldn’t describe it as that. All of us are that. Nobody’s just a rainmaker. He’s going to be developing client relationships, which I suppose is rainmaking, but he’s also going to be a working lawyer.”

Kelly added that initially, “he’s going to be flexible and we’re going to be flexible.”

Deukmejian is a career politician who served in the Legislature and as state attorney general, as well as two terms as governor, but he will not be expected to do any lobbying, Kelly said.

And how much money can a well-connected former governor who has not practiced law for a very long time command? Kelly would not say. “He’ll be a partner and whatever’s left over after expenses is allocated to partners,” he said. “He’s an entrepreneur like the rest of us, an equity partner.”

Deukmejian, at least for a while, will continue to live at his longtime home in Long Beach, according to Jim Robinson, his former communications director who recently opened a public relations office. “He’s very rested, at ease with himself, pleased not to be grappling with gubernatorial issues and anxious to get on with his new career,” Robinson said.