Nine more partners quit Shaw Pittman ahead of Pillsbury merger

Nine more partners are leaving Shaw Pittman following the five that left last week as the firm rapidly weeds out those conflicted by, or not enamoured with, the firm’s merger with Pillsbury Winthrop.

Morrison & Foerster is the chief beneficiary taking a group of six partners including legendary corporate/technology partner Jack Lewis. Lawrence Yanowitch and Thomas Knox will lead Mofo’s corporate practice in Northern Virginia. They are joined by other Shaw Pittman partners Charles Katz, Gergory Giamittorio and John Harper.

The Mofo group decided that the merger was not suitable for them. Another group led by Senator Connie Mack, who served for 12 years as a member of the US Senate and three terms in the US House of Representatives and is senior policy adviser to the firm's government relations practice group, is leaving for King & Spalding.

A Shaw Pittman spokesperson said that the group would be sorely missed but that they had to leave due to an unreconcilable conflict involving a major aerospace client. Mack’s group comprises two other partners, an associate and two government relations professionals.

Another leaving for conflict reasons is IP partner Yitai Hu, who is taking a team of five associates to Akin Gump.