Law Firms’ Rivalry Lands in New Venue

Two of Southern California’s most prominent law firms apparently have moved their rivalry into a new venue, lining up on opposite sides in the June 7 Republican primary in the 40th Congressional District.

Attorneys at Latham & Watkins are backing C. Christopher Cox, a former partner in the firm’s Newport Beach office.

Attorneys at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker are behind C. David Baker, an attorney in the firm’s Costa Mesa office.

Cox and Baker are among 12 GOP candidates hoping to succeed six-term Congressman Robert E. Badham, who announced in January that he would not seek re-election.

Executives at the two law firms, competitors in the courtroom for more than two decades, said they rarely endorse candidates as a firm and have not done so this time around.

Contributions for Colleagues

Nonetheless, attorneys and employees at the two firms have weighed in heavily with contributions for their colleagues, Cox and Baker.

Baker received a total of $63,550--about a quarter of his $234,993 in contributions--from attorneys at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker. In addition to 83 contributions from individuals with the firm, he received a $5,000 contribution from the firm’s Washington-based political action committee.

Not to be outdone, Cox received 110 contributions, totaling $60,100, from individuals with Latham & Watkins. That accounts for almost a fourth of the $266,082 he has received in contributions. Cox worked at the firm until 1986, when he moved to Washington to become senior associate counsel to the president.

Representatives of the law firms say the outpouring of support for the candidates is because the two men are well liked and respected.

“There was no muscling or pressure to contribute,” said Jack Walker, a senior partner at Latham & Watkins and a $1,000 contributor to Cox’s candidacy.

‘Some Prestige Involved’

But one attorney at Paul, Hastings Janofsky & Walker said: “Nobody ordered anyone to contribute, but there was some talk that it would be nice to get Baker elected. There’s some prestige involved.”

Both firms have Washington offices, and should either Baker or Cox win, it would mark the first time an attorney from either firm has served in Congress, spokesmen for the two firms said.

“It can’t hurt the firm to have a former partner at that level of government,” Walker said.

But Howard Hay, managing partner of the Orange County office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, said he would prefer that Baker stay with the firm.

As a member of the Irvine City Council, Baker is probably “more valuable here than in Washington. . . . I wish Dave all the best, but I’m selfish. He’s a valued member of this firm.”