Morrison Foerster Adds Two Litigation Partners in New York
The firm expands its New York presence with the appointment of Joshua Hill and Ariane Rockoff-Kirk.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Remote Work
Morrison Foerster has hired Joshua Hill and Ariane Rockoff-Kirk as partners in its New York office. Hill will serve as the new Head of Business Litigation and Disputes, while Rockoff-Kirk joins the firm’s Complex Litigation Group.
Why it matters
This move signals a strategic investment by the firm to bolster its trial capabilities and expand its presence in high-value, sophisticated legal disputes.
Joshua Hill brings 20 years of experience, including 12 federal jury trials, to his new role. The legal team adds 30 years of collective litigation experience through these appointments.
The players
Morrison Foerster
This is a global law firm that maintains a significant practice in litigation, intellectual property, and corporate law.
Joshua Hill
He is an experienced trial attorney who has participated in 12 federal jury trials over the course of his 20-year career.
Ariane Rockoff-Kirk
She is an attorney specializing in complex litigation who has joined the firm as a partner.
The details
The firm is aggressively expanding its Complex Litigation practice, building on recent growth that included the addition of 15 litigation partners in Seattle and three in Los Angeles. Hill and Rockoff-Kirk will focus on high-stakes litigation matters as the firm scales its national presence.
Timeline
February 2026: Morrison Foerster opened its Seattle office.
August 2026: Three partners joined the Los Angeles office.
October 30, 2026: The firm announced the addition of Hill and Rockoff-Kirk.
Market Landscape
This move follows the broader industry trend of elite law firms aggressively recruiting trial talent to secure a larger share of high-stakes, sophisticated legal work. By scaling its litigation group with 20 new partners this year, the firm positions itself to better compete for high-value business cases.
For business clients, the expansion of the firm's litigation practice means increased capacity to handle complex, high-value disputes. This shift reflects a move toward more centralized, expert-led legal support for companies managing active litigation.
The takeaway
Large law firms continue to prioritize specialized trial talent to navigate an increasingly complex legal environment. Business leaders should monitor these staffing shifts as indicators of changing litigation strategies within their industries.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving office trends in the Remote Work section.
