In a noteworthy development in the legal sector, Meryl Governski has announced her departure from Willkie Farr & Gallagher’s litigation department to join a newly launched spin-off firm. The firm, Dunn Isaacson Rhee, was formed by former Paul Weiss litigators and has already garnered considerable attention. Governski’s move was made public through LinkedIn, where she expressed her enthusiasm about joining a “deep bench of brilliant litigators” at the boutique firm.
The formation of Dunn Isaacson Rhee traces back to late May when Karen Dunn, Jeannie Rhee, William Isaacson, and Jessica Phillips collectively left Paul Weiss. Their departure was linked to fallout from a deal the firm made with former President Donald Trump, which reportedly included promises of free legal services in anticipation of a punitive executive order.
Governski has previously represented high-profile clients such as Hollywood actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. The move to Dunn Isaacson Rhee signifies a potential shift in her professional trajectory, given that both Willkie Farr and her previous firm, Paul Weiss, were part of the cohort of nine Big Law firms involved with Trump.