Davis Polk today announced the launch of a Supreme Court & Appellate practice. The new practice will be led by Kannon Shanmugam, one of the nation’s foremost Supreme Court litigators. Mr. Shanmugam and fellow leading Supreme Court litigator Masha Hansford join Davis Polk today as partners in the firm’s Washington DC office.

“We are thrilled to have Kannon, a dean of the appellate bar, and Masha, an exceptional first-chair appellate litigator, join us to establish an elite Supreme Court & Appellate practice,” said Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Chair and Managing Partner. “Each brings a distinguished record of success before the nation’s highest courts. Welcoming a team of this caliber is a critical step in the continued growth of our Washington DC platform. We look forward to building out the team further and working alongside our clients on their highest-stakes appeals.”

Mr. Shanmugam has argued 39 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including 31 cases in private practice, and has argued more than 150 appeals in courts across the country, including every federal court of appeals and numerous state courts. Among his highest-profile Supreme Court arguments, he was lead counsel in Seila Law v. CFPB, the landmark constitutional challenge that invalidated the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Shanmugam served as an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ms. Hansford has extensive experience advocating before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts of appeals, as well as litigating civil and criminal cases in federal and state courts across the country. She represents clients in complex and significant matters and brings strategic insight and persuasive advocacy to every case. As an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice from 2020 to 2025, Ms. Hansford argued nine cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, prevailing in eight of those cases. She has briefed approximately 100 matters before the Supreme Court. Ms. Hansford also has played a significant role in formulating appellate strategy in federal courts of appeals on a wide range of issues, including bankruptcy, administrative law, criminal law and constitutional challenges.

Prior to joining Davis Polk, Mr. Shanmugam and Ms. Hansford were partners in the Supreme Court and Appellate practice at Paul, Weiss. Mr. Shanmugam had served as chair of that practice, as well as co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Department and head of the Washington DC office.

“Kannon and Masha are exceptional advocates with unparalleled appellate experience that includes years in the Solicitor General’s Office. With a reputation as one of the most respected appellate litigators in the country, Kannon is a go-to lawyer for corporate clients with any matter before the Supreme Court,” said Jarrett Arp, head of Davis Polk’s Washington DC office. “This growth is a reflection of our continued commitment in Washington to investing in top-tier talent and strengthening our team in areas critical to our client’s needs. We could not be more excited to have Kannon and Masha on board.”

Widely recognized among the top Supreme Court litigators in the United States, Mr. Shanmugam is ranked as a “Star Individual” in appellate law by Chambers USA, where a client notes, “It’s hard to think of enough superlatives to describe his talent, his judgment, his ability, his experience – he is as good as it gets.” He is a two-time finalist for the American Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Year” award.

In 2025, while at the Department of Justice, Ms. Hansford received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service. The National Law Journal named her a “D.C. Rising Star” in 2019.

Mr. Shanmugam said, “We are so thrilled to be joining Davis Polk, an extraordinary firm with an unmatched reputation for excellence and a commitment to collaboration and teamwork. Masha and I are excited at the opportunity to join this world-class litigation team and build a premier Supreme Court & Appellate practice.”

Ms. Hansford said, “We are delighted to join Davis Polk at this time of exciting growth for the firm. We look forward to expanding the team and to collaborating with our new colleagues in order to deliver high-impact advocacy to clients on their most consequential legal challenges.”

After earning his J.D. from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, Mr. Shanmugam clerked for the Honorable Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Honorable J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He received a Master of Letters from the University of Oxford and an A.B. from Harvard University, summa cum laude.

Ms. Hansford earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she served as president of the Stanford Law Review and won the moot court competition. She received her A.B. from Harvard University, summa cum laude. She completed clerkships for the Honorable John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Honorable David S. Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

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