Government

Powerhouse Litigation Shop Keeps Producing All-Star Political Candidates

An embarrassment of riches when it comes to the talent at this firm.

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You don’t have to have meticulously followed the storied history of Susman Godfrey to basically understand what the firm brings to the table. The high-end litigation boutique — that has probably outlived its “boutique” label now that it boasts over 100 attorneys — finds itself in the headlines often with its success defending clients in complex litigation and eye-popping verdicts secured on the plaintiff side. It’s a firm built on aggressively recruiting the top talent around and having the confidence to let the young attorneys actually practice.

And that commitment to building up young lawyers may have an unintended effect: producing a crop of talented political candidates taking aim at attorneys general offices around the country.

Last year, Justin Nelson ran for Attorney General of Texas, earning the Houston Chronicle’s endorsement as “the single best reason for a Texas Republican to cross over and vote for a Democratic candidate.” Beto says “ouch.” Like Beto, Nelson fell short against indicted incumbent Ken Paxton, 50.6 percent to 47 percent.

It turned out Nelson was just the start of a trend. Montana native Raph Graybill spent some time at Susman Godfrey on his way to serving as Chief Legal Counsel to Montana Governor and ludicrously non-Senatoroial candidate Steve Bullock. Graybill’s background fits the Susman Godfrey mold perfectly — Columbia undergrad, Yale Law, a Ninth Circuit clerkship, and a Rhodes scholarship along the way.

People who are confused about how Democrats win elections in Montana — which includes 90 percent of the commentators who pass for experts on such things — should pay attention to Graybill’s campaign. Through his position with Bullock, he’s already worked to foil Trump’s dark money efforts and halt a Republican effort to delay conservation easements — it’s not unfair to say that the Governor’s office has been doing the actual work of the Attorney General for the past few years. His campaign kickoff highlighted the role of a proper AG in sticking up for “real people” instead of the “highest bidder.” It’s a progressive message that resonates in a state with roots in ranching that keeps seeing shadowy outsiders coming in and gutting the land for fun and profit while depositing hefty checks with compliant politicians.

Meanwhile, a Susman partner in Seattle is also looking into an attorney general bid. Drew Hansen, who currently serves as a state representative in addition to his legal career, has said he might run for the job if current Washington AG Bob Ferguson decides not to seek re-election, which is part of the set of dominos involved in Jay Inslee’s ongoing quixotic run for president. Hansen is a Harvard undergrad who also went to Yale Law and clerked for the Second Circuit. He is, for good measure, also a Rhodes Scholar.

If you’re looking anywhere around the country for the next generation of attorneys general — or federal judges, for that matter — it may be time to focus on Susman Godfrey’s ranks.

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Earlier: A Deep Dive Into The History Of One Of America’s Premier Law Firms

HeadshotJoe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

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