Goodwin adds Baker Botts' in San Francisco

Goodwin adds Baker Botts' in San Francisco

The firm reports that its litigation platform has grown by 40percent over the past two years in California

Baker Botts has hired Goodwin Procter's California litigation chair in San Francisco to enhance its dispute resolution operations on the West Coast.

After six years at Baker Botts, Jonathan Shapiro joins the firm's complex litigation and dispute resolution group as a partner after chairing the litigation department of the Houston-based firm's California division.

In addition to securities litigation, Shapiro specializes in government enforcement proceedings and commercial litigation. Regularly representing clients in class actions, securities fraud and M&A litigation, he has defended clients in lawsuits brought against them by the SEC, DoJ and FINRA, among others.

He joined Mintz Levin in 2013 to lead its West Coast litigation practice following 16 years at WilmerHale, where he began his legal career in 1996.

Goodwin's co-chair of the firm's litigation and dispute resolution practice, Jim McGarry, commented: "Our clients, especially those in the technology, fintech, private equity and life sciences industries continue to face risks and challenges with respect to business and securities litigation and government investigations. We are delighted to enhance our capabilities with Jon's arrival."

According to Joanne Gray, who chairs the department, Goodwin's litigating platform has grown by almost 20percent in the past two years. The firm's litigation department in California, meanwhile, has grown by nearly 40percent during this time period, Gray said.

Matt Kanny, who joined Goodwin last summer from Manatt Phelps & Phillips to co-lead its litigation practice in Southern California with Laura Stoll, is one of the firm's more recent additions to its litigation team.

Arman Oruc and Jennifer Fisher from Simpson Thacher and Duane Morris joined the firm in June and April, respectively.

In other news, the firm lost a five-partner team of highly-rated life sciences IP litigators to Allen and Overy, which hired them to open an outpost in Boston.