In private practice, Perrelli worked for the national litigation firm of Jenner & Block LLP, where he co-chaired the firm's Entertainment and New Media practice group and served as managing partner of its Washington, D.C., office (1992â 1997, 2001â 2009).

Tom Kearney was McKinsey's first partner and head of its first office in Chicago.

Shulman also became managing partner of Cadwalader's Washington, D.C. office, holding this position until he retired in the late 1990s.

Freddy Pérez, associate managing partner of Pricewaterhouse's office here, said the firm "never comments on current or past clients' business."

"While I've had Bill and Mel as adversaries plenty of times, I respect them enormously," said Ralph C. Ferrara, managing partner of Debevoise & Plimpton's office in Washington and a veteran of corporate legal defense.

"If you don't manage this kind of business well, then it becomes a risk," said Maarten L.B. van der Lande, managing partner of the firm's office in Amsterdam.

Ackerson was managing partner of the firm's office in Egypt before returning to the United States.