Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has announced the launch of an office in Seattle led by two senior litigation partners secured from a local firm.

The office will be spearheaded by litigation specialists Jennifer Campbell and Allison Krashan, who are joining the transatlantic firm from Portland-based Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, where they were both longstanding shareholders.

BCLP said the new office's location was being finalised and would be confirmed ‘shortly’. When it opens it will be the firm’s first new US office launch since 2014, when it opened in Miami, and its 21st base overall. The firm already has West Coast offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

Calling the new arrivals a “dynamic and well-positioned litigation team”, BCLP’s co-chairs Lisa Mayhew and Steve Baumer, said the office opening was a “perfect springboard [for] a vibrant market for our clients”.

The firm said Seattle was a significant disputes hub for its technology and life sciences clients, which span major IT corporations, technology spinouts and startups and pharma businesses.

It expects to build scale in the office through local hires through the remainder of the year.

Campbell – who is a member of the Bar in both Washington and Oregon – leaves her firm after 20 years, having built up her practice in product liability, toxic torts and commercial litigation claims, especially those involving defending pharmaceutical, heavy equipment and food manufacturers.

Krashan, who leaves after 18 years at her former firm, has a similar practice, adding retailers and property owners to her mix of clients.

Lee Marshall, global head of BCLP’s litigation practice, said: “Handling the explosive growth in class actions and mass torts is a major priority for our clients around the globe. 

“In Seattle, we’ve had the opportunity to work side-by-side with Jenn and Allison, who provide us with a tremendous – and proven – presence on the ground to help lead and expand the important work we’ve been doing there for years.”

BCLP has brought in eight lateral partners since January, most recently including Rob Crea, who joined earlier this month as the firm’s new US head of fund formation from Vedder Price in San Francisco.