Key players: Involved parties include Goodwin Procter LLP (receiving firm expanding in Southern California), Jones Day (departing firm), and Michelle Blum (lateral partner specializing in federal Consumer Protection Act litigation, state consumer laws, compliance, and data security). This follows the office launch with three ex-Jones Day partners: Richard Grabowski, John Vogt, and Ryan Ball, experts in cybersecurity, privacy, technology, trade secrets, and consumer financial services.[2][3][5][6][7]
Context and timeline: Goodwin launched its Orange County office on March 17, 2026, by recruiting Grabowski, Vogt, and Ball from Jones Day to focus on cybersecurity and technology litigation, expanding its West Coast presence amid Southern California's innovation hubs (including planned San Diego office and LA relocation).[1][2][5] Blum's addition on March 23-24, 2026, builds directly on this launch, enhancing consumer protection capabilities in a region key for tech, life sciences, and financial services.[6][7]
Newsworthiness: The hire signals Goodwin's rapid scaling in high-demand areas like consumer protection and data litigation amid rising regulatory scrutiny (e.g., SEC Reg S-P amendments), positioning the firm as a leader in Orange County's tech corridor just weeks after opening, amid competitive lateral moves in cybersecurity/privacy practices.[3][7]