SEATTLE, Wash. (December 15, 2016) – Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that it has appointed three partners to leadership positions – two of whom will lead national practice groups. Katie O’Sullivan was named chair of the firm’s national Commercial Litigation practice; Karen McGaffey was named chair of the firm’s national Environment, Energy and Resources (EER) practice; and Cori Gordon Moore was named leader of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice in Seattle.

Katie, based in Seattle, joined Perkins Coie as a summer associate more than 20 years ago and became a partner at the firm in 2004. She has represented clients in a wide range of complex litigation in trial and appellate courts across the country. Her practice includes antitrust, business torts, class action, consumer protection, constitutional, contracts, False Claims Act, securities, trade secrets and other cases. Katie is a former law clerk to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge M. Margaret McKeown, Perkins Coie’s first woman partner. In addition to her legal practice, Katie has been an active volunteer and has served as a member of the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors and chair of the Washington Commission on Judicial Conduct, and is presently a member of the Council of the American Law Institute. In assuming the role of chair of the national Commercial Litigation practice, Katie succeeds Joe Mais, who has served in the role since 2008.

Karen, also based in Seattle, has been with Perkins Coie since 1999. She has practiced environmental law for more than 25 years and represents clients in project development, regulatory compliance and litigation matters under state and federal laws. Her accolades include Best Lawyers’ Seattle “Energy Law Lawyer of the Year” in 2014, and ranking in Chambers USA as one of “America’s Leading Environmental Lawyers.” Karen has also been a leader within the firm, having served on its Management Committee for the past six years. In her role as chair of the national EER practice, Karen succeeds Tom Lindley, who served in the role for nine years.

Cori was a summer associate at Perkins Coie in 1997, joined as an associate in 2000 and became a partner in 2007. She focuses her trial practice on complex commercial cases including antitrust, consumer protection, contract, business tort and class action matters. Cori started her legal career clerking first for Judge John C. Coughenour in the Western District of Washington and then Judge M. Margaret McKeown in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Cori succeeds Katie in her role as lead of the Seattle Commercial Litigation practice.

“Katie, Karen and Cori are exemplary lawyers who have contributed greatly to their respective practice groups and the firm as a whole,” said John Devaney, Perkins Coie’s Firmwide Managing Partner. “They are well-respected by their peers and clients alike, and their leadership will position Perkins Coie for continued growth in our Commercial Litigation and EER practices.”

Perkins Coie has a deep commitment to diversity and the advancement of diverse lawyers to leadership positions. Recently, the firm became one of the first law firms to publicly support the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Resolution 113, which aims to promote diversity in the legal profession. The firm also established a page on its website titled “Meet Our Diverse Leaders,” which lists more than 100 diverse lawyers at the firm who hold national leadership roles within practice groups and subgroups, offices and firmwide committees. The firm is recognized among the 100 Best Workplaces for Women by Fortune; one of the Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother/Flextime Lawyers; and as a top-ranking firm in the Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Foundation.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

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