Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP announced today that appellate litigator Masha Hansford has joined the firm as a partner in the Litigation Department. A former Assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice, Hansford will represent clients in complex civil and criminal litigation and appeals in federal and state courts.
“We are delighted to welcome Masha back to the firm,” said Paul, Weiss Chairman Brad S. Karp. “Masha is a brilliant and accomplished advocate who has argued some of the nation’s most consequential appeals in recent years, and her addition will significantly enhance our ability to serve our clients on significant appellate issues.”
Hansford joined the Office of the Solicitor General in 2020, where she was responsible for arguing nine cases for the federal government before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Lindke v. Freed and United States Trustee v. John Q. Hammons, among others. She also has extensive experience arguing before various other courts, including the Second Circuit and the D.C. Circuit, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
“Masha is one of the finest appellate advocates of her generation, and I am thrilled that she is returning to Paul, Weiss,” said Kannon K. Shanmugam, co-chair of the Litigation Department. “With her exceptional skills and remarkable track record, Masha will be a significant asset for our clients.”
“I am excited to rejoin the outstanding team at Paul, Weiss,” said Hansford. “I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to help our clients navigate their most complex legal challenges.”
Before joining the Solicitor General’s office, Hansford was a counsel at Paul, Weiss. Prior to private practice, she clerked for Judge David S. Tatel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge John D. Bates on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Hansford earned a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she won best oralist in the Kirkwood Moot Court competition and served as the president of the Stanford Law Review.
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