Davis Polk today announced that the firm will open an office in Los Angeles, its first in Southern California. The office will be led by leading litigator Jason Russell, who joins the firm today as a partner in the Civil Litigation practice.

Partner Rob Morrison, who joined Davis Polk in 2025 to extend the reach of the firm’s global finance practice to California, also will be resident in the Los Angeles office. The firm will further build out the Los Angeles team over the coming months to offer clients a full-service platform in the region. The firm’s permanent office space in Century City will officially open in 2027.

“Jason is an exceptional litigator, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Davis Polk,” said Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Chair and Managing Partner. “As a major hub for sponsors and for the entertainment, sports and technology sectors, the Los Angeles market presents a number of attractive opportunities for us to better serve clients and to augment our team with the exceptional talent in the region. While we have had LA on our radar for some time, we wanted to ensure that we had the right team in place to help lead our presence in the region. We found that in Jason, and I am excited to partner with him as we embark on this exciting new chapter for our firm.” 

Mr. Russell represents a wide variety of clients in commercial litigation disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country, as well as in international forums. He has earned a reputation as an adept litigator with particular experience litigating some of the most high-profile cases in the sports and entertainment field, as well as complex class actions. Mr. Russell has extensive experience in and takes an innovative approach to all aspects of complex litigation matters, ranging from jury trials and appellate arguments to mediation and arbitration.

Mr. Russell joins Davis Polk from Skadden, where he had been a partner in the Complex Litigation and Trials practice since 2002 and served on the Policy Committee and as head of the Los Angeles office. 

“Jason has a reputation for excellence, an impressive track record of success litigating high-stakes cases for a broad range of clients, and deep knowledge of the local landscape,” said Paul Spagnoletti, co-head of Davis Polk’s Civil Litigation practice. “On-the-ground capabilities in LA will further strengthen our team’s ability to deliver high-impact results for our clients navigating disputes in the region. We are delighted to welcome Jason to the team.”

Mr. Russell said, “Davis Polk is on a remarkable trajectory. I am grateful for the opportunity to join the firm’s unmatched platform and to lead the Los Angeles office as we continue to grow our California footprint. I look forward to working alongside my distinguished new colleagues to support clients facing complex commercial litigation both in California and in courts across the country.”

Widely celebrated as a leader in his field, Mr. Russell’s work is recognized by publications including Benchmark Litigation and Chambers USA, where sources note that he is “excellent in trial and terrific at oral arguments” and “really understands both nuances of law as well as the strategic element.”

After earning his J.D. in 1993 from the Columbia University School of Law, where he was a member of the Columbia Business Law Review, Mr. Russell clerked for the Honorable Frank X. Altimari of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. 

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