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Arnold & Porter Launches Seattle Office With Major Partner Additions From K&L Gates

By  |  July 29, 2025
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Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer has expanded its national footprint with the launch of a new office in Seattle, marking its latest move to bolster its presence on the West Coast. According to Reuters, the firm has recruited four partners from K&L Gates as part of this strategic initiative, including Rosemary Alito, the sister of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

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    The new Seattle location will be led by three of the lateral hires—Pallavi Mehta Wahi, Annette Becker, and Patrick Madden—all previously with K&L Gates. Mehta Wahi, a veteran litigator, will also take on the role of chair of Western U.S. strategic growth for Arnold & Porter. She pointed to the firm’s regulatory capabilities and its commitment to Seattle as key factors in her decision to join, per Reuters.

    “This is not a satellite office. This is a real office on the West Coast,” said Mehta Wahi, emphasizing Arnold & Porter’s long-term ambitions in the region. The firm’s co-chair, Michael Daneker, noted plans to grow the Seattle team to at least 30 lawyers within the next few years.

    Meanwhile, employment litigator Rosemary Alito will join the firm’s Newark office. Her move brings further high-profile visibility to the lateral group, as her brother, Justice Samuel Alito, has served on the U.S. Supreme Court since 2006. In a statement, Rosemary Alito expressed her enthusiasm about the transition, saying she was “delighted” to become part of Arnold & Porter.

    K&L Gates also responded to the departures. Global managing partner Stacy Ackermann stated that the firm remains optimistic about its future, noting confidence in both its Seattle office and the broader organization.

    Arnold & Porter’s entry into Seattle reflects a broader trend of national firms establishing a presence in the city, which is home to global giants like Amazon and Starbucks. According to Reuters, Holland & Knight made a similar move in April, opening its Seattle office with 10 attorneys from the now-defunct Karr Tuttle Campbell. Dickinson Wright followed suit in May by launching its Seattle operation after merging with local firm Ashbaugh Beal.

    Source: Reuters