Munger Tolles & Olson—a firm that has emerged as the tip of the litigation spear in court challenges against the Trump administration—elected two longtime partners and former federal prosecutors to lead the firm for the next three years.
The new co-managing partners, Martin Estrada and Dan Levin, said the firm intends to continue representing pro bono and paying clients in “rule-of-law-type” cases. These have included suing the administration on behalf of a Trump-targeted law firm, and challenging the administration’s immigration raids in Los Angeles.
“Dan and I have the profile, the client following, and have done some of the most significant matters in the firm,” said Estrada, who rejoined the firm in February after serving more than two years as US Attorney for the Central District of California. His office prosecuted individuals in connection with the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry and disgraced California lawyer Tom Girardi.
Estrada and Levin take over for Hailyn Chen and Malcolm Heinicke, who will return to their practices. More than 200 lawyers voted unanimously for Estrada and Levin to serve a term that ends in 2028, Estrada said in an interview.
“We’ve done a lot in the bar and in the community as civic leaders,” said Estrada, 48. “That’s very important generally to any firm, but certainly for Munger Tolles & Olson, which really prides itself on its commitment to the community.”
The newly installed leaders at the LA-born law firm—where Second Lady Usha Vance practiced—said they will continue to take a strong stance in “defense of the rule of law” through pro bono and paid engagements.
The firm’s lawyers are representing Susman Godfrey in a challenge to a punitive executive order President Donald Trump issued against the firm. The Justice Department has appealed a court ruling that declared the order unconstitutional.
Munger Tolles also rallied the legal industry to file amicus briefs in support of other Trump-targeted firms, and its lawyers are representing California residents in a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging racial discrimination in immigration raids.
“We’re proud of the work we did,” said Levin, 50. “We’re continuing to try to find ways to stand up for clients in matters that are affecting the client and the community and to do what we can on the rule-of-law type issues.”
Chen has advised universities facing regulatory scrutiny, and Heinicke handles employment disputes for corporations. The firm reached record-high revenue during their tenure and expanded its presence in Washington DC with the hire of Bridget Fitzpatrick, former acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia and chief litigation counsel for the SEC.
Trump Fights
Munger Tolles partner and former US Solicitor General Donald Verrilli authored an amicus brief in support of Perkins Coie—the law firm that hired Fusion GPS, which commissioned former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to create opposition research for the Clinton campaign. Trump issued an executive order stripping the firm’s lawyers of security clearances and threatened federal contracts held by the firm’s clients.
Verrilli is also representing Susman Godfrey, the firm behind Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation win against Fox News, in a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging a punitive executive order against the firm.
Susman Godfrey, Perkins Coie and two other Trump-targeted firms won injunctions against Trump’s orders; the Department of Justice has appealed.
“It was something that we took really seriously and thought really hard about—how we should respond in the wake of the executive orders that came out earlier in the year,” Levin said. “There was tremendous consensus and support in the firm.”
In another case, partner Jacob Kreilkamp and colleagues are helping press a lawsuit by California residents against the Trump administration, alleging discriminatory ICE raids in Los Angeles. Estrada and Levin represent Los Angeles as an intervenor in that case.
Growth Plan
The litigation-focused firm raked in a record $376 million in revenue last year, and Estrada said the firm is on track to meet or exceed that this year. The firm’s profits per equity partner exceeded $3 million in 2024, placing it adjacent to other West Coast heavyweights such as Cooley, Orrick, and Wilson Sonsini, according to data published by the American Lawyer.
The incoming managing partners plan to continue growth in DC and maintain a platform heavily focused on litigation and white collar investigations but which includes some deal work in line with client demand. “We want to do everything we can to support what we view as the incredibly exciting emerging generation of practice leaders at MTO,” Levin said.
The firm’s dealmaking capabilities took a massive hit last year when Baker McKenzie recruited most of the firm’s corporate lawyers, including those who served as outside counsel to longtime client Berkshire Hathaway. Founding partner Charlie Munger was vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway from 1978 until his death in 2023.
The firm has built back its corporate ranks, with hires such as Andrew Garelick from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. Berkshire remains an “important” client of the firm, Levin said.
“We are committed to having a corporate practice,” Levin said. “It’s a small group, but it’s always been a small group. It’s always been a core component of the firm and we anticipate it will continue to be.”
The firm is involved in several significant matters in California’s tech sector and throughout the state. Partner Jonathan Blavin and his team represent Snapchat’s owner in multi-district litigation over social media addiction claims. The firm was hired by the LA Department of Water and Power to defend against lawsuits over Palisades Fire liability, according to public documents.
“That will continue to be a core aspect of what we do—come into really hard cases and try to deliver really good results for our clients,” Levin said.
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