In a significant development in the legal industry, Perkins Coie is witnessing a notable exodus of partners as it nears its strategic merger with Ashurst. This merger, announced in November 2025, is poised to elevate the combined entity into the prestigious top 20 of the Am Law 100. However, the anticipation has been overshadowed by a wave of departures, with key partners opting to join rival firms.

Just last week, McGuireWoods and Morrison & Foerster announced substantial acquisitions of Perkins Coie talent. McGuireWoods has successfully recruited eight partners and is set to inaugurate a new office in Seattle. Among the notable transfers are Rike Connelly, who will serve as the managing partner of McGuireWoods’ Seattle branch, and Eric Wolff, former co-chair of Perkins Coie’s appellate practice.

Simultaneously, Morrison & Foerster has welcomed 15 litigation partners from Perkins Coie, signaling a significant bolstering of their litigation prowess. This group includes seasoned professionals such as David Perez, a long-standing figure at Perkins Coie with over 14 years of service. Morrison & Foerster also plans to expand its footprint in Seattle with the newly acquired team.

The reasons behind this mass migration vary, but industry insiders speculate that the impending merger might be causing uncertainty about the future culture and structure of the combined firm. This sentiment is often a catalyst for such shifts in the legal landscape, where partners seek stability and assurance of practice autonomy.

Perkins Coie has publicly expressed gratitude towards the departing partners, acknowledging their contributions and wishing them success in their future endeavors. Meanwhile, both McGuireWoods and Morrison & Foerster are eagerly anticipating the integration of their new team members and the potential growth prospects in Seattle.

As the merger proceeds and the third quarter closing approaches, the legal community is keenly observing how Perkins Coie will navigate these challenges and what the eventual integration with Ashurst will signify for the global legal market.