Former Ryan prosecutors reunited

Patrick Collins and Joel Levin are getting the old band back together.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Collins, the Lisle native who successfully prosecuted former Gov. George Ryan on corruption charges, was joined in private practice this week by Joel Levin, another former assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted Ryan with Collins.

Levin started Monday in the Chicago offices of Seattle-based Perkins Coie, where Collins has worked since the spring of 2007 doing internal investigations for companies and municipalities, as well as some white collar defense work.

Levin said he jumped at the chance to work with not only Collins again, but two other former assistant U.S. attorneys now at the firm: Pravin Rao and Theodore T. Chung.

"They're guys that I have a lot of respect for," said Levin.