Gibson Dunn Lands Star SCOTUS Team in Major Appellate Practice Coup

WASHINGTON & NEW YORK – April 23, 2026 – In a significant power play within the elite legal market, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has announced the arrival of a four-partner appellate team led by former Acting U.S. Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall. The move, which brings some of the nation’s most accomplished Supreme Court advocates under one roof, solidifies Gibson Dunn’s standing as a preeminent force in high-stakes litigation and appellate law.

Wall, who has argued more than 30 cases before the Supreme Court, joins as Co-Chair of the firm’s renowned Appellate and Constitutional Law Practice. He is accompanied by fellow premier litigators Morgan Ratner and Judson (Judd) Littleton in Washington, D.C., and Yaira Dubin, who will lead the firm’s New York appellate practice. The team’s transition, primarily from competitor Sullivan & Cromwell, is seen as a major strategic victory for Gibson Dunn in the fierce, ongoing war for top-tier legal talent.

“Jeff, Morgan, Judd, and Yaira are among the country’s most respected appellate advocates, with an extraordinary record in high-stakes cases,” said Barbara Becker, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn, in a statement. “Their arrival represents a powerful addition to our litigation platform, further strengthening our ability to lead clients through their most consequential matters.”

A Strategic Strike in a Competitive Arena

The hiring is more than just an expansion; it is a calculated maneuver in the hyper-competitive landscape of appellate law, where a handful of firms, including Clement & Murphy, Jones Day, and Williams & Connolly, vie for the most complex and lucrative cases. Gibson Dunn has long pursued a growth strategy centered on targeted, high-impact lateral hires rather than large-scale mergers, allowing it to build “destination practices” while preserving a cohesive firm culture. This acquisition is a textbook example of that strategy in action.

The arrival of Wall’s team sends a clear signal to the market about the firm’s commitment to dominating the appellate space. With this addition, Gibson Dunn now boasts 14 active lawyers who have argued before the Supreme Court and 48 who have completed Supreme Court clerkships.

“These are some of the most accomplished, well-regarded, and versatile Supreme Court and appellate lawyers in the country, and their arrival is a testament to Gibson Dunn’s position as a litigation powerhouse,” commented Thomas Dupree, Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate and Constitutional Law Practice.

A Roster of Proven Heavyweights

The new team brings a formidable depth of experience from the highest echelons of government and private practice. Their collective track record demonstrates a consistent ability to secure victories in landmark cases.

Jeffrey Wall is widely regarded as one of the most effective appellate advocates of his generation. Beyond his two stints in the Solicitor General’s office, he has secured groundbreaking wins for clients in bet-the-company litigation. His Supreme Court arguments span a vast range of critical business issues, including his successful arguments in Murphy v. NCAA, which effectively legalized sports betting nationwide, and Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, a landmark case on class-action waivers in arbitration agreements.

Morgan Ratner, a former Assistant to the Solicitor General, has argued 10 cases before the Supreme Court with remarkable success. Her experience includes filing over 150 briefs at the high court and arguing pivotal cases on securities regulation and intellectual property, such as Minerva Surgical, Inc. v. Hologic, Inc. The Supreme Court itself has recognized her exceptional skill, appointing her to argue as amicus counsel in the habeas corpus case Jones v. Hendrix.

Yaira Dubin also served as an Assistant to the Solicitor General, where she argued six Supreme Court cases. Her new role leading the New York appellate practice is a significant boost for Gibson Dunn’s East Coast presence. Clients increasingly seek her counsel on cutting-edge legal issues in frontier technologies like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, a rapidly expanding area of litigation.

Judson Littleton, a former Bristow Fellow and clerk for Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., brings a versatile skill set with a notable record of successfully challenging federal agency actions. He has secured a series of high-profile wins striking down rules from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), making him an invaluable asset in the current legal environment.

Capitalizing on Shifting Legal Tides

The timing of the hires is particularly astute, aligning with major shifts in the American legal landscape. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine, which for decades required courts to defer to federal agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes, has created immense uncertainty for regulated industries. Corporate counsel widely anticipate a surge in litigation challenging agency authority. Littleton’s specific expertise in this area positions the firm perfectly to guide clients through this new reality.

Furthermore, the current Supreme Court, with its stable conservative majority, has shown a willingness to re-examine long-standing precedents. This dynamic has increased the premium on lawyers who possess an intimate understanding of the Court’s workings and its individual justices—precisely the kind of insight that veterans of the Solicitor General’s office provide. The team's ability to frame complex problems into simple, winning arguments is more critical than ever.

The move also strengthens Gibson Dunn's capabilities in its rapidly growing New York office. With over 500 attorneys, the office is a key engine for the firm’s global strategy. Dubin’s leadership and expertise in emerging tech will help capture a greater share of the sophisticated appellate work originating from the financial and technology sectors on the East Coast.

The well-worn path from the Department of Justice’s elite Solicitor General’s office to top-tier private practice underscores the immense value corporations place on this specialized government experience. By attracting a team of this caliber, Gibson Dunn not only gains their individual talents but also absorbs their unparalleled institutional knowledge of federal litigation strategy and the Supreme Court. This move builds on a legacy started by former Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson, who founded the firm's practice, and cements Gibson Dunn’s status as the go-to platform for the nation’s most consequential legal battles.