Back in November 2025, Perkins Coie announced its plans to combine with Ashurst, a transatlantic tie-up expected to propel the combined firm into the top 20 of the Am Law 100. With the merger expected to close sometime in the third quarter, partners at Perkins Coie are already voting — with their feet. Within the last week alone, competitors have announced two large group departures from the firm.
McGuireWoods picked up a pack of eight departing Perkins partners, announcing plans to open a Seattle office, while Morrison & Foerster managed to grab a group of 15 litigation partners, also announcing plans to open a Seattle office with its new Perkins partners in tow. Both firms are taking several practice group leaders in their Perkins partner haul.
The National Law Journal has the details on those who are leaving for McGuireWoods:
Rike Connelly, former co-leader of Perkins Coie’s business litigation practice group, will serve as managing partner of McGuireWoods’ new Seattle office and co-lead their business litigation practice group.
The other seven partners joining McGuireWoods includes: Eric Wolff, who co-chaired Perkins Coie’s appellate practice; Mack Shultz, who chaired Perkins Coie’s product liability litigation group; Todd Rosencrans, who was vice chair of Perkins Coie’s product liability litigation group; Judge Abdul Kallon; who co-chaired Perkins Coie’s trial practice group; Daniel Ridlon; who co-chaired Perkins Coie’s autonomous and uncrewed vehicle systems industry group; Monique Wirrick; and Christopher Ledford.
The American Lawyer has the details on the laywers who are leaving for MoFo:
The group joining Morrison & Foerster includes David Perez, who was previously chair of Perkins’ business litigation practice until last May, and had been with the firm for more than 14 years, as well as Brendan Murphy, Zachary Davison, Mallory Gitt, Laura Hill, Megan Houlihan, Michelle Maley, Matthew Mertens, Gregory Miller, and Eric Weiss, all in Seattle.
The firm also hired two Perkins partners in San Diego: Ray Hartman and Jacob Spekhard.
Morrison & Foerster also confirmed that three additional partners are expected to join from Perkins in Seattle in the coming weeks, but the firm could not yet release the remaining three names.
In response to the partner exits, Perkins Coie said the firm was “grateful for the contributions of our former colleagues, and we wish them well.”
Best of luck to McGuireWoods and Morrison & Foerster on their new Seattle offices, which are brimming over with former Perkins partners.
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 Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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