Another Spitzer Lawyer Bolts for New Job on Wall Street

"I think the appeal of [lawyers from Spitzer's office] is that we have proven track records as intelligent, capable lawyers who can work with people in industry," she said. "We put out a good product and people have seen it."

Through a spokesman, Bear Stearns General Counsel Michael S. Solender declined to be interviewed. In a prepared statement, he said Bear Stearns "has always placed a priority on hiring the most talented and capable people in the marketplace. We are committed to setting the highest standards for compliance and Beth is the perfect candidate to lead this effort."

Spitzer also declined to comment. Darren Dopp, a spokesman for the attorney general, said Spitzer wished Golden well. Dopp described Golden as head of a "SWAT team" that would descend on major cases. He also said she played a crucial role in communicating with the SEC.

Golden said she will get a substantial salary increase but she declined to be specific. (Spitzer earns about $150,000 a year; how much his deputies make was not available yesterday.)

Golden said she was attracted to the Bear Stearns job in part because it entails ensuring compliance with an evolving regulatory framework rather than mounting a defense after charges are lodged.

"You can defend people when they get in trouble or you can try to keep them from getting in trouble in the first place," she said.

Golden graduated from Harvard University and the University of Chicago Law School and has worked in private practice and as a federal prosecutor. She also served as associate independent counsel under Robert B. Fiske Jr. during the Whitewater investigation.

Golden said she found Bear Stearns particularly appealing because of its relatively small size compared with other Wall Street firms: "It was actually the closest I could come to replicating the kind of access I have here, where I'm three feet from Eliot."