Paul Weiss Competition Lawyer Josh Soven Jumps to Paul Hastings

Paul Weiss litigator Joshua Soven is leaving for Paul Hastings, according to the firm.

Soven focuses on antitrust litigation, private equity, and M&A work. He joins Paul Hastings in the firm’s Washington DC office after nearly four years at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison.

“I’m looking forward to working closely and collaboratively with the Paul Hastings transactional group,” Soven said in an interview. “They’re in growth mode and antitrust will be a key part of providing high-end representation to their clients.”

Joshua Soven

Paul Hastings

Paul Weiss has steadily lost partners in the wake of its deal with President Donald Trump to provide $40 million worth of free legal services in exchange for the revocation of a punitive executive order.

Nearly a dozen litigators left for a boutique started by ex-Paul Weiss partners Karen Dunn, Jeannie Rhee and William Isaacson, including the entire team working on antitrust litigation defending Google against allegations over Android app distribution. Private equity partner Sarah Stasny left for Proskauer June 30.

Paul Hastings is on a hiring tear, targeted practices such as public company M&A, private equity, and finance, while also building its restructuring and litigation groups.
The firm is on pace to grow revenue 12% to more than $2.5 billion this year, according to firm chairman Frank Lopez.

“Josh’s diverse antitrust experience in government enforcement at the DOJ and FTC and private practice is instrumental to the continued growth of the brand and scale of our antitrust practice,” Lopez said in a statement. “We believe Josh’s arrival will enhance our reputation as a destination antitrust platform and support our increased M&A deal volume for clients navigating a complex regulatory landscape.”

Soven was antitrust counsel in high-profile deals including IBM‘s $6.4 billion acquisition of software company HashiCorp and Marriott‘s $13 billion acquisition of Starwood, another chain of hotels and resorts.