Arnold & Porter Announces Opening of Seattle Office
Adds Three New Partners in Seattle and One in Newark
SEATTLE, July 28, 2025 — Arnold & Porter today announced the opening of its new Seattle office, marking a strategic expansion on the West Coast and reinforcing the firm’s commitment to serve clients in one of the most innovative and rapidly growing markets in the U.S. The office will launch with a four-partner group who bring deep industry knowledge and long-standing client relationships in the Seattle market and experience representing clients in commercial litigation, healthcare and corporate transactions, employment and class action litigation, and other transactional matters. The Seattle office will deliver the firm’s renowned legal services to the region’s clients and industry leaders at the intersection of innovation, regulation, and global commerce.
The new office, located in the heart of downtown Seattle, will be led by litigator and well-known community leader Pallavi Mehta Wahi, who will also serve as the firm’s new Chair of Western U.S. Strategic Growth. Wahi will be joined by corporate, healthcare, and technology partner Annette Becker and employment partner and class action litigator Patrick Madden. In addition, nationally renowned employment litigator, Rosemary Alito, will join Arnold & Porter’s Newark office.
With a GDP surpassing $300 billion, Seattle anchors the nation’s fastest-growing tech corridor. The city is home to global companies and innovators in the technology, healthcare, hospitals, manufacturing, aerospace, and consumer and retail sectors, who demand sophisticated legal counsel that can match their pace of advancement and multinational operations. Arnold & Porter’s deep industry experience and reputation for legal excellence make Seattle and its deep bench of industry leaders a natural choice to expand our platform and meet clients where they do business.
In noting the opening of the office, Arnold & Porter Global Co-Chair Michael Daneker said: “This expansion significantly enhances our ability to support highly regulated businesses — both nationally and globally — with the strategic, solutions-driven counsel they rely on for complex, high-stakes matters. In the healthcare sector, for example, hospital systems and healthcare providers will benefit from the firm’s experience across the full range of healthcare litigation, transactions, and regulatory work. In addition, Rosemary Alito’s employment practice will be accretive in every respect, further enhancing the strength and depth of our Newark office.”
Global Co-Chair Ellen Kaye Fleishhacker added: “We’re thrilled to grow our footprint in Seattle, a city anchored by global and emerging companies that has become a West Coast hub for cutting-edge technology. Its proximity to the Pacific Rim and strong connections to Asia reinforce Seattle’s importance to our cross-border practices. We are committed to the Seattle market and building strong relationships in a city that values excellence, innovation, and service to the community, which aligns with who we are as a firm.”
Partner Pallavi Mehta Wahi said: “We are very excited to launch the Seattle office of Arnold & Porter. Seattle is a city defined by innovation, growth, entrepreneurial spirit, and community engagement. Arnold & Porter embodies that spirit in every way and is committed to the Seattle market and serving our industry-leading clients’ dynamic and ever-changing needs. Arnold & Porter’s deep regulatory bench, values-driven culture, and commitment to pro bono is very important to all of us, our clients, and our community. We are well-positioned to help Seattle’s leading companies and nonprofits navigate evolving challenges and capitalize on new opportunities.”
Key Team Members:
- Pallavi Mehta Wahi, Seattle (Litigation; Seattle Office Head; Chair of Western U.S. Strategic Growth)
- Rosemary Alito, Newark (Labor & Employment)
- Annette E. Becker, Seattle (Corporate & Technology; Healthcare)
- Patrick Madden, Seattle (Class Actions; Labor & Employment)
Each partner brings a history of delivering outstanding client services and a proven track record of value-driven civic and community leadership in Seattle, Newark, and beyond. Together, they combine top-tier legal talent, management acumen, and the ability to drive high-stakes cases for clients across technology, hospital, employment, and corporate matters.
About Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter combines sophisticated regulatory, litigation, and transactional capabilities to resolve clients’ most complex issues. With over 1,000 lawyers practicing in 16 offices worldwide, we offer deep industry experience and an integrated approach that spans more than 40 practice areas. Through multidisciplinary collaboration and focused industry experience, we provide innovative and effective solutions to mitigate risks, address challenges, and achieve successful outcomes.
