Law Firm Expansion Boosts NYC Litigation Resources
The addition of two new partners signals a focus on specialized courtroom talent for complex, high-value business disputes.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Remote Work
Morrison Foerster has added Joshua Hill and Ariane Rockoff-Kirk as partners to its New York-based Complex Litigation Group. The move follows a significant hiring spree as the firm seeks to bolster its trial capabilities for high-value disputes across the United States.
Why it matters
Law firms are increasingly scaling their specialized litigation teams to meet rising demand for complex, high-stakes dispute resolution. This expansion highlights the trend of top-tier firms concentrating senior legal talent in major hubs to handle intricate federal litigation.
Morrison Foerster has added 20 partners to its Complex Litigation Group in 2026, building on a team that includes the combined 30 years of litigation experience from its latest two recruits. The firm's expansion also includes a 15-partner Seattle office opened in February 2026.
The players
Morrison Foerster
A global law firm providing legal services to business clients, with a focus on high-stakes litigation and corporate law.
Joshua Hill
The new Head of Business Litigation and Disputes for the firm's New York office who has 20 years of experience and 12 federal jury trials.
Ariane Rockoff-Kirk
An incoming partner joining the firm's Complex Litigation Group in New York.
The details
Morrison Foerster is scaling its trial capacity by integrating seasoned litigators, including Joshua Hill, who brings two decades of experience and a track record of 12 federal jury trials. The strategy focuses on high-value business disputes, moving beyond standard advisory roles to secure dedicated courtroom talent. This operational shift reflects a competitive drive to handle complex litigation internally rather than outsourcing trial work to specialized boutique firms.
Timeline
February 2026: The firm opened a new office in Seattle with 15 litigation partners.
August 2026: Three additional partners joined the Los Angeles office.
October 30, 2026: Morrison Foerster announced the hiring of Joshua Hill and Ariane Rockoff-Kirk.
Market Landscape
This move follows the documented industry trend of major law firms consolidating high-stakes trial talent to compete for sophisticated business work. It marks a departure from reliance on niche litigation boutiques by keeping high-value dispute resolution capabilities in-house.
Operators facing complex legal disputes should monitor whether their existing counsel has the depth to manage high-stakes federal jury trials as large firms consolidate top talent. Review your current legal service agreements to determine if your firm requires access to this scale of trial capability or if boutique support remains more efficient.
The takeaway
Large law firms are aggressively scaling internal trial departments to capture high-value business litigation budgets. Business owners should audit their legal counsel's courtroom track record, specifically checking for federal trial experience when vetting partners for high-stakes disputes.
Further reading
For context on how professional services firms manage talent hubs, read more in our Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Globallegalchronicle.
