Two senior litigators, Kannon Shanmugam and Masha Hansford, will leave Paul Weiss this week to launch an appellate practice at rival firm Davis Polk. Their exit was disclosed by chairman Scott Barshay during a partnership meeting in New York. Shanmugam, a frequent Supreme Court advocate, and Hansford, a former Justice Department solicitor‑general associate, are among the latest departures from the firm’s litigation ranks.

The moves arrive amid a turbulent year for Paul Weiss, which endured criticism for a 2025 agreement with former President Trump that shielded the firm from an executive order restricting government representation. That deal sparked internal friction between high‑profile litigators and the firm’s corporate banking team, prompting chairman Brad Karp’s resignation and a cascade of partner exits, including veteran Karen Dunn.

For investors, the departures signal potential strain on Paul Weiss’s appellate bench, a key revenue generator for elite law firms. Davis Polk gains two seasoned Supreme Court advocates, bolstering its competitive edge in high‑stakes litigation. The shift underscores how political entanglements can reshape talent flows within the legal market, with immediate implications for client retainers and billable hours and affect future hires significantly.