Key players: Involved firms are Goodwin Procter LLP (expanding West Coast presence with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Silicon Valley) and Jones Day (former employer of the trio).[1][3][7][9] Partners Richard Grabowski (led 100+ class actions, FTC/CFPB investigations), John Vogt (25+ years defending data breaches, class actions, wiretap claims), and Ryan Ball (cybersecurity attacks, privacy statutes) anchor the office; Goodwin leaders Anthony McCusker (Chair) and Caroline Bullerjahn (Complex Litigation co-chair) praised the hires.[1][6][7][8][10] Michelle Blum joined separately as a partner for consumer financial services litigation.[7][11]
Context and timeline: Goodwin, with a top-ranked data privacy and cybersecurity practice, targeted Orange County's tech-innovation hub to bolster its global litigation amid rising data risks.[1][2][7] The trio's move follows their Jones Day tenure, highlighted by 2023 data breach trial win and 2021 trade secrets judgment; announcement aligns with recent Goodwin insights on SEC Reg S-P (Dec 2025) and AI risks (Sep 2025).[1][3][10] This extends Goodwin's West Coast growth into a dynamic corridor for tech disputes.[1][7]
Newsworthiness: The launch signals aggressive talent poaching in booming cybersecurity/privacy litigation, amid escalating breaches, regulations, and class actions; Newport Beach's role as a tech epicenter amplifies Goodwin's strategic foothold, positioning it to dominate high-demand sectors like consumer finance and tech.[1][2][5][9][10] Fresh on March 17, 2026 (9 days ago), it underscores lateral hires as a market trend for Am Law firms.[3][9]