[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

A Cravath, Swaine & Moore partner has left his life's work at one of the country's most profitable and prestigious law firms.  Corporate lawyer Sarkis Jebejian joined the New York-based firm in 1994 straight out of Columbia Law School, made partner in 2001, and has never worked anywhere else.  All that has changed, after Cravath announced on Monday that Mr. Jebejian had left for Kirkland & Ellis's New York office.

At Cravath, Mr. Jebejian's work in mergers and acquisitions included (i) a number of noteworthy transactions, including working on the complex deal that merged Kohlberg Kravis Roberts's European affiliate into the KKR parent company and (ii) advising the independent directors of Merrill Lynch in its acquisition by Bank of America.  On Monday, he was distinguished twice.  First, as part of the team of Kirkland lawyer that advised Clearwire Corporation on its multibillion-dollar transaction with Sprint, and then representing the financial adviser to Caribou Coffee in the company's sale to the German conglomerate Joh. A. Benckiser Group.

Precedent: Why Did Mr. Jebejian Leave? Kirkland's preeminent M.&.A. practice was built in part due to similar lateral hires.  In 2009, the Chicago-based firm hired David Fox and Daniel Wolf from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

That may be reason enough for Mr. Jebejian, 43, who said in a statement he is "excited to join Kirkland & Ellis and its talented team of M.&.A. lawyers, many of whom I have known for some time."  Going forward, he will work in the firm's New York office.  Other recent departures include Robert Kindler, the vice chairman at Morgan Stanley, and James Woolery, a senior banker at JPMorgan Chase.  In addition, Julie Spellman Sweet left to become general counsel of Accenture, and Ronald Cami departed for the senior legal post at TPG.

For further details, go to [Dealbook, 12/17/12].