[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

Reed Brodsky, the federal prosecutor who won high profile insider trading cases against Galleon founder Raj Rajaratnam and Goldman Sachs Director Rajat Gupta is cashing in his chips and leaving public service.  An announcement is expected on Thursday, informing us that the Long Island, NY, native has accepted an offer to join Gibson Dunn & Crutcher as a partner in its white-collar criminal defense practice.  While both guilty verdicts have been appealed, Mr. Brodsky is leaving the U.S. Attorneys Office while he's ahead and sporting all-star credentials. 

Reed Brodsky follows into private practice two prosecutors who worked alongside Brodsky in the Rajaratnam case - Jonathan Streeter and Andrew Michaelson.  Both prosecutors accepted partnerships at corporate law firms.  The only regret Mr. Brodsky may have is that he will be unable to represent the prosecution for the appeals of Mr. Rajaratnam and Mr. Gupta. 

Mr. Brodsky, 43, grew up in Melville, NY, received his Bachelor's degree from Duke and attended law school at Vanderbilt.  He served  as an associate at WilmerHale, then served in the Department of Justice and, in 2004, joined the United States Attorneys Office in Manhattan.  Prior to his involvement in the above-mentioned insider trading cases, Mr. Brodsky built up a reputation while serving in the securities fraud section.  There, he secured guilty verdicts against former Credit Suisse banker Hafiz Muhammad Zubair Naseem, and former Jefferies money manager Joseph Contorinis. 

Known as a workhorse, a powerful speaker, and a fighter, Mr. Brodsky will be well-received at the 1,100-lawyer, award-winning firm.  Randy Mastro, co-head of Gibson Dunn's litigation practice, had this to say about his new partner:  "Reed is a star in federal prosecutorial circles.  He has tried some of the hardest, most high-profile cases in his office, winning one after the other.  I fully expect Reed to come here and have an immediate impact."     [Dealbook, 1/30/13].