Crowell & Moring has recruited a 16-partner health-care litigation team from Reed Smith and plans to add more associates and counsel from the same firm, bringing the total influx to more than 40 lawyers. The hires are intended to build what Crowell described as “the premier health practice in the country,” expanding the Washington-based firm’s national footprint in a sector that continues to generate high-stakes disputes. Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, meanwhile, is taking at least 12 partners from K&L Gates, with all but one of them relocating to a newly launched Seattle office. The move strengthens Arnold & Porter’s presence on the West Coast and positions it to meet growing demand for sophisticated regulatory and litigation work in the Pacific Northwest. The twin raids involve at least 52 lawyers and underscore an accelerating wave of group lateral moves in 2025, as firms jostle for market share in key practice areas amid heightened competition. Legal industry analysts note that Chicago, Seattle and Washington are among the most active markets, with consolidation pressures and shifting client demands driving firms to acquire entire teams rather than individual partners.