Again in November 2025, Perkins Coie introduced its plans to mix with Ashurst, a transatlantic tie-up anticipated to propel the mixed agency into the highest 20 of the Am Legislation 100. With the merger anticipated to shut someday within the third quarter, companions at Perkins Coie are already voting — with their ft. Inside the final week alone, rivals have introduced two massive group departures from the agency.
McGuireWoods picked up a pack of eight departing Perkins companions, asserting plans to open a Seattle office, whereas Morrison & Foerster managed to seize a bunch of 15 litigation companions, additionally asserting plans to open a Seattle office with its new Perkins companions in tow. Each corporations are taking a number of observe group leaders of their Perkins companion haul.
The National Law Journal has the small print on those that are leaving for McGuireWoods:
Rike Connelly, former co-leader of Perkins Coie’s enterprise litigation observe group, will function managing companion of McGuireWoods’ new Seattle workplace and co-lead their enterprise litigation observe group.
The opposite seven companions becoming a member of McGuireWoods consists of: Eric Wolff, who co-chaired Perkins Coie’s appellate observe; Mack Shultz, who chaired Perkins Coie’s product legal responsibility litigation group; Todd Rosencrans, who was vice chair of Perkins Coie’s product legal responsibility litigation group; Decide Abdul Kallon; who co-chaired Perkins Coie’s trial observe group; Daniel Ridlon; who co-chaired Perkins Coie’s autonomous and uncrewed automobile methods trade group; Monique Wirrick; and Christopher Ledford.
The American Lawyer has the small print on the laywers who’re leaving for MoFo:
The group becoming a member of Morrison & Foerster consists of David Perez, who was beforehand chair of Perkins’ enterprise litigation observe till final Might, and had been with the agency for greater than 14 years, in addition to Brendan Murphy, Zachary Davison, Mallory Gitt, Laura Hill, Megan Houlihan, Michelle Maley, Matthew Mertens, Gregory Miller, and Eric Weiss, all in Seattle.
The agency additionally employed two Perkins companions in San Diego: Ray Hartman and Jacob Spekhard.
Morrison & Foerster additionally confirmed that three extra companions are anticipated to hitch from Perkins in Seattle within the coming weeks, however the agency couldn’t but launch the remaining three names.
In response to the companion exits, Perkins Coie mentioned the agency was “grateful for the contributions of our former colleagues, and we want them properly.”
Better of luck to McGuireWoods and Morrison & Foerster on their new Seattle places of work, that are brimming over with former Perkins companions.
Morrison & Foerster Hires 15 Perkins Coie Partners, Launches Seattle Office [American Lawyer]
McGuireWoods Recruits 8-Partner Perkins Coie Group, Launches Seattle Office [National Law Journal]
Earlier: The Next Transatlantic Biglaw Heavyweight: Ashurst Ties The Knot With Perkins Coie
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Legislation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to email her with any ideas, questions, feedback, or critiques. You’ll be able to observe her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join along with her on LinkedIn.
