King & Spalding has added three litigation partners in Dallas as part of an ongoing expansion of its complex commercial and intellectual property litigation capabilities. The firm announced that LeElle Slifer, John T. Sullivan, and Katrina Eash have joined from Winston & Strawn, continuing a wave of partner hires tied to the growth of its Dallas office.
The additions reunite the trio with nine former Winston colleagues who moved to King & Spalding in February, including Tom Melsheimer, Steve Stodghill, Natalie Arbaugh, Rex Mann, Michael Bittner, Ahtoosa Dale, and Chad Walker in Dallas, as well as Danielle Williams in Charlotte and Brian Ferguson in Washington, D.C. The group’s arrival reflects the firm’s strategy to strengthen its litigation bench while expanding its presence in Texas.
With the latest hires, King & Spalding said it has welcomed 27 new partners across the firm since the start of 2026, including 10 in Dallas. The firm said the additions support the continued development of its complex commercial litigation and intellectual property capabilities.
Slifer previously served as global co-chair of Winston & Strawn’s general litigation practice and has handled a wide range of disputes, including breach of contract, oil and gas matters, antitrust claims, patent and copyright infringement, non-compete disputes, trade secrets cases, and class actions. She has tried matters in federal and state courts nationwide and participated in domestic and international arbitrations.
Sullivan focuses on complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, and white-collar criminal defense. His work spans disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, trade secrets, fiduciary duties, and False Claims Act matters, along with class actions and other business disputes.
Eash’s practice centers on complex commercial disputes, including class actions, patent and trademark infringement, fraud, breach of contract, non-compete and non-solicitation disputes, and business torts. She also has experience defending companies in Federal Trade Commission investigations and advising on regulatory compliance.
King & Spalding said the hires further strengthen its litigation platform and build on the firm’s recent momentum in expanding its Dallas office and broader trial and disputes capabilities.
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“These partners, together with their colleagues who joined us last month, bring the exceptional litigation talent, team-orientation, and focus on growth and excellence that has made our litigation practice one of the strongest in the world.”
Robert Hays, Chairman, King & Spalding
“King & Spalding has one of the most formidable litigation practices in the market, with an extensive platform and record of growth that has placed it among the top firms in the world. We are thrilled to be joining this pre-eminent practice and to contribute to the firm’s continuing upward trajectory in Dallas and beyond.”
LeElle Slifer, Partner, King & Spalding
