Michael K. Loucks, who spent over 20 years as a U.S. attorney in Massachusetts, has joined law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Loucks is best known for a number of high profile prosecutions against pharmaceutical companies, including 2009 case U.S. et al v. Pfizer Inc. which resulted in Pfizer paying a record $1.2 billion criminal fine as part of a $2.3 billion overall settlement.
Savvy readers have perhaps already figured out where this is headed. Pfizer is in fact a client of Skadden, Arps, Slsate, Meagher & Flom. When asked whether he thought representing Pfizer would be awkward so soon after the record fine, Loucks replied “I don’t think so. One of the principles that all lawyers operate by is your duty is to represent your client zealously.”