Pillsbury’s Revenue, Profits Soar on Tech, Government Demand

Pillsbury LLP brought in more than $939 million in revenue last year, a new record as the firm saw gains in tech, finance, and energy work.

Pillsbury’s revenue was up 18% from the previous year, the firm said Wednesday. Its average partner profits jumped nearly 20% to $2.89 million, also a record mark.

The firm’s work at the intersection of technology innovation, capital, and government drove its success, according to David Dekker, Pillsbury’s chair and CEO. The revenue and profit gains came in the first year of a growth plan that aims to scale the firm to meet clients in those key areas.

“A clear strategy and multiyear investments in our practices and professionals paid dividends in 2025,” Dekker said. “We are optimistic about our trajectory, and we are primed for continued growth in 2026 and beyond.”

David Dekker

Pillsbury

Pillsbury Winthrop was formed in 2001 when San Francisco-found firm Pillsbury Madison joined forces with New York-founded Winthrop Stimson. It merged with Washington-based Shaw Pittman four years later to create Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw & Pittman.

The firm has a top government and regulatory team in Washington and deep ties to the energy and tech sectors across the US, working for clients like Chevron Corp., Wells Fargo, Lyft Inc., and the Sinclair Television Group.

The firm’s technology work increased by 25% year over year, while Pillsbury also saw double-digit gains in its financial and energy industry business, Dekker said. Its transactional, regulatory, and disputes practices also outperformed expectations, thanks to a surge in government-centered activity.

The firm’s emerging companies practice, which handles investments for AT&T Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, PEAR VC, saw a 40% increase in deal volume year over year. Its private capital group advised on several high-profile matters, including Everi Holdings Inc.’s combination and acquisition by Apollo Global Management for $6.3 billion. Pillsbury lawyers also represented Everi in its $4.3 billion bond offering to finance Apollo’s acquisition.

Dekker, a DC-based litigator, took over as Pillsbury chair in 2017. The firm has seen a nearly $350 million increase in revenue and more than doubled its partner profits since that time.

Dekker said Pillsbury has made substantial investments in technology over the last few years, including in artificial intelligence. The firm plans on establishing a new role of chief AI officer.

“The firm’s mission is to use the power of law, technology and human intelligence to help clients thrive in a rapidly changing world,” Dekker said. “We are scaling with purpose to meet this mission, accelerating investments in practices and markets that align with Pillsbury’s core strengths and growing client demand.”

Pillsbury brought on 34 lateral partners globally last year, including former US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, WilmerHale ECVC partners Glenn Luinenburg and Todd Rumberger, and a 14-lawyer trade team from Curtis. This year it added Jeff Norton, the former chair of O’Melveny & Myers’ corporate finance practice.