Two More Paul Weiss Partners Leave for Dunn Isaacson Spinoff

Karen Dunn’s new litigation boutique has poached two more partners from Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, which made a deal with President Trump to rescind a punitive executive order in exchange for free legal services.

Meredith Dearborn’s departure marks the complete transition of ex-Paul Weiss attorneys who are defending Google against antitrust allegations over Android app distribution to Dunn Isaacson Rhee. Erin Morgan, a Paul Weiss lifer, is the eleventh Paul Weiss partner to join the spinoff boutique.

“We are thrilled to welcome Erin and Meredith to the firm. Not only are they exceptional and proven trial talents, they are leaders in their respective legal communities, New York and the Bay Area,” the boutique’s founding partners said in a statement.

Paul Weiss continues to see partners and associates head for the door after reaching a deal with Trump, in which the White House rescinded an executive order targeting the firm for its ties to lawyers the president perceives as enemies. The firm promised Trump $40 million in free legal services on shared causes, including combating antisemitism and ensuring “fairness in the justice system.” Eight other firms later reached similar deals to proactively avoid executive orders, pledging a total of nearly $1 billion in free legal services.

Partners Dunn, Jeannie Rhee, William Isaacson, and Jessica Phillips left Paul Weiss in late May to launch the new firm. It later added Paul Weiss attorneys Kyle Smith, Rush Atkinson and Melissa Zappala and scooped up some associates, including Elizabeth Brandt, Ben Cabranes, Bryon Becker, Annelise Corriveau, and Anita Liu. The spinoff currently employs 20 lawyers. Many recruits were also part of the group of attorneys who left Boies Schiller amid criticism over its work for Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.

The boutique’s new attorneys are continuing to defend Google in a separate antitrust matter against the Justice Department. Dunn, Isaacson, Goodman and Becker withdrew as representation for Regeneron in the pharma company’s suit against Novartis June 17.

Dearborn’s past client list includes Coinbase, Meta and Spirit Airlines. She spent the past five years at Paul Weiss and nearly a decade at Bois Schiller. Morgan’s clients include Qualcomm and luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. Morgan is also part of the team defending Google in their antitrust matter against the Justice Department. The additions mark the first attorneys at the boutique who are not based in DC. Dearborn will continue to practice in San Francisco and Morgan from New York.

Earlier this month former Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams left Paul Weiss for Jenner & Block, one of four law firms hit by executive orders who opted to fight Trump in court. All four firms have secured court rulings striking down the orders.