Peter Ocko is a Managing Director in the Partner Practice Group. He brings a wealth of private practice and client service experience to his role creating synergies among the best law firms, partners and associates. His career consulting approach and breadth of relationships have allowed Peter to team with candidates worldwide to find great fits throughout all practice areas.
Peter's work with individual partners, groups and firm combinations includes representing leading immigration firm Paparelli & Partners in its merger with Seyfarth Shaw.
Other partner, counsel and associate destinations include AmLaw 200 firms such as Latham; Sullivan & Cromwell; Skadden; Davis Polk; Orrick; WilmerHale; Steptoe; Loeb & Loeb; Winston & Strawn; Proskauer; Quinn Emanuel; Wilson Sonsini; Manatt Phelps; Sheppard Mullin; ReedSmith; Simpson Thacher; Morgan Lewis; Greenberg Traurig; Arnold & Porter and White & Case. Boutique and mid-sized placements include Buchalter; Mitchell Silberberg; Greenberg Glusker; Hooper Lundy; Kauff McClain and Nossaman. On the in-house side, Peter has brought his candidates to leadership positions within companies such as Nestle, Public Storage, LensCrafters, Boyd Gaming, as well as investment funds, including CB Richard Ellis Investors.
Because of his presence and reputation in recruiting, he is a go-to source for the legal media on breaking stories and trends. He is regularly quoted in publications such as Cal Law/The Recorder, American Lawyer and The Los Angeles Business Journal. Peter is also a contributor to The Daily Journal, California’s flagship daily legal publication.
Peter takes pride in serving as a strategic guide throughout his candidates’ careers, whether or not they are "in the market," so the connection is not defined solely by the search process, but rather a productive long-term dialogue. He remains a counselor and advisor to candidates before and after their placement.
Along these lines, Peter also reaches out to future JDs by speaking at law schools, like Duke, helping students formulate and execute their career objectives, understand the different practice areas and strategize to effect a smooth transition from law school to the working world.
Prior to joining Major, Lindsey & Africa, Peter practiced law in the corporate departments and technology practice groups of WilmerHale and Mintz Levin, where he represented a diverse array of institutions, from emerging growth companies securing investors and developing intellectual property to Fortune 500 entities launching joint ventures. As outside counsel to a venture fund and knowledge management software company, Peter helped direct investments and drive licensing transactions.
Peter earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he served as a staff member and the co-technical editor of Law and Contemporary Problems. A long-suffering Wildcat, Peter received his B.S.J. from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He is a member of the State Bars of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. When not chasing his speedy Jack Russell Terrier, Finn Davis, down the beach or proofreading for his wife, a television writer, Peter spends time with his family, encourages his son's golf and music obsessions and is active in the Los Angeles philanthropy community as a member of the Legal and Entertainment Divisions of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. He also serves on the steering committee for EMET, the Young Legal Division of the Federation, and volunteers with Jewish Vocational Services' career counseling group.