The basics:
- Grace, former first assistant U.S. attorney for NJ, rejoins McCarter & English as partner
- Previously oversaw criminal, narcotics, cybercrime & national security cases
- Will focus on civil litigation, internal investigations & trial work
- Praised by firm leadership for her expertise and federal experience
Former First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Desiree Grace is returning to McCarter & English LLP.
In an Oct. 9 press release, the Newark-based firm said Grace will begin Oct. 14 in her new role of partner.
Grace previously spent two years as a litigation associate in the firm’s product liability and business litigation prior to her more than 10 years in public service. After clerking for Judge Morton Greenberg at the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 2015 to 2016, Grace joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an assistant U.S. attorney in the appeals division and criminal division.
From August–December 2021, Grace served as acting chief of the violent crimes unit. She was then promoted to deputy chief of the criminal division. In that role, she was responsible for overseeing all narcotics, violent crime, and gang-related cases. She also handled all matters involving economic crimes, cybercrimes and national security.
After more than three years as criminal division deputy chief, Grace assumed the role of criminal division chief. In that role, she supervised all criminal matters in the district.
Selected on merit
She then served as the first assistant United States attorney before her selection this past July by New Jersey’s federal judges to serve as acting New Jersey U.S. attorney. The appointment came after Alina Habba‘s interim term expired without Senate confirmation.
Following the panel’s July 22 decision, Grace described it as one that will “forever be the greatest honor that they selected me on merit.”
However, the move was effectively reversed hours later when U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi abruptly fired Grace. Two days later, President Donald Trump withdrew his nomination of Habba as U.S. attorney. Then she resigned her position as interim U.S. attorney.
The Justice Department is appealing a federal judge’s decision that barred Habba, Trump’s former personal lawyer, from serving as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor.
In August, Judge Matthew Brann ruled Habba is unlawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey and is “not currently qualified” to perform the job.
‘Lucky to have her on our team’
As a partner at McCarter, Grace will focus on a wide variety of litigation matters. Her purview will include civil work and internal investigations.
Commenting on the change, she said, “It’s special to be returning home to McCarter, reuniting with old colleagues and friends, after 10 eventful years away. I look forward to beginning this new chapter and applying my trial and litigation experience to our clients’ needs.”
“As I was evaluating the next step in my career, I felt drawn to the familiar collegiality McCarter offers, and its dominance as the leading firm in New Jersey,” said the alumnus of Seton Hall Law School and University of Maryland College Park.
Geoffrey Rosamond is chair of McCarter’s business litigation group. He described Grace as “an exceptional trial attorney who has dedicated her career to understanding the intricacies and nuance involved in building winning cases.”
“We’re lucky to have her on our team and know that she will be a tremendous asset to our clients and the firm’s litigation practice,” he said.
Joseph Boccassini, firmwide managing partner, added, “We are thrilled to welcome Desi back to McCarter. We recognized her great talent as an associate with the firm at the outset of her career and have been proud to observe the skills and reputation she developed as a federal prosecutor and public servant. Her talent and commitment will only further strengthen our litigation practices.”
