Sidley Recruited Two Partners From King & Spalding
The firm expanded its litigation and regulatory practices with two high-profile hires.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in People
Sidley has hired two partners from King & Spalding, placing them in the firm's San Francisco and Washington offices. This move adds depth to the firm's litigation and food, drug, and medical device practices.
Why it matters
Law firms frequently scale their specialized practice groups through lateral hiring to capture increased demand in highly regulated sectors. These strategic additions allow firms to deploy senior expertise in core legal hubs where industry-specific litigation is concentrated.
Sidley added two partners in its latest recruitment cycle from King & Spalding. The firm maintains specialized offices in both San Francisco and Washington to support its national legal operations.
The players
Sidley
A global law firm providing legal services to large corporations and institutions.
King & Spalding
An international law firm specializing in corporate, litigation, and regulatory legal work.
Michael Resch
A legal partner joining the San Francisco office who previously served as general counsel for Amy's Kitchen.
Smitha Stansbury
A partner joining the Washington office to focus on food, drug, and medical device regulatory matters.
The details
Michael Resch joins the litigation group in San Francisco, bringing experience as a former chief people officer and general counsel at Amy's Kitchen. Smitha Stansbury joins the food, drug, and medical device practice in Washington to bolster the firm's regulatory expertise. Both attorneys transition from their roles as partners at King & Spalding to their new positions at Sidley.
Timeline
September 21, 2026: Sidley announced the hiring of the two partners.
Market Landscape
Large legal institutions frequently leverage lateral partner moves to consolidate specialized expertise and maintain competitive advantages in high-stakes regulatory markets. This strategy mirrors the broader trend of major law firms aggressively recruiting talent from direct peers.
Operators in the food, drug, and medical device sectors should note the movement of legal counsel as it often signals shifting priorities in regulatory litigation. Organizations should review their own outside counsel rosters to ensure their legal teams maintain depth in these specialized areas.
The takeaway
Firms compete for high-level regulatory talent to address the evolving needs of their corporate clients. Operators should track these personnel shifts to identify where legal resources are concentrating for their industry sector.
Further reading
For more on shifts in the legal services market, visit the People section.
