Washington, D.C. continues to prove that when it comes to elite litigators, the urge to flee Biglaw motherships and strike out on their own is a full blown trend.
The latest entrants? Liu Shur Kravis, a new litigation boutique founded by three former federal prosecutors who have collectively logged time at some of the most pedigreed firms in the country: Jessie Liu (most recently at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom), Justin Shur (from MoloLamken), and Jonathan Kravis (from Munger, Tolles & Olson). The trio have been circling each other professionally for years, sometimes on the same side, sometimes not.
“We’ve worked together, sometimes in government, sometimes in private practice as counsel for different clients on the same matter. And so we’ve really known each other for a long time,” Liu told Law.com. “We all felt like it was a time in our careers when we wanted to build something new that was our own project.”
They’re making a calculated bet that clients increasingly want something Biglaw often struggles to provide, that is senior-level attention without the junior associate pyramid scheme.
“In terms of the work we do, investigations and complex litigation work, I don’t think that there is one model that is right for every client and every matter,” Kravis said. “There are matters and roles where a smaller firm can make a lot of sense. I expect that we will be able to provide lower leverage, to provide more direct engagement.”
That means fewer layers, more partner time, and, at least theoretically, fewer eye-watering bills padded by armies of associates billing in six-minute increments.
Kravis also emphasized the firm’s sweet spot, parachuting into high-stakes matters where a lean, specialized team can complement existing counsel. “There are a lot of investigations matters and litigation matters, particularly in [a] co-counsel type arrangement, where that kind of model can make a lot of sense for the client in terms of what they want to achieve and what their needs are,” he said.
And yes, they plan to grow, but don’t expect them to recreate Biglaw. “A big part of why we’re doing this is we want the opportunity to build a small team of excellent lawyers, starting with the three of us, and then sort of moving on from there,” Kravis added, noting that the specifics are still very much a work in progress.
D.C. has been absolutely lousy with boutique launches lately. Since the start of 2025, more than half a dozen firms have hung out shingles, including Dunn Isaacson Rhee, Civil Service Law Center, Washington Litigation Group, Klubes Law Group, Lowell & Associates, and D.C. Law Collective. The common thread? Litigation and investigations i.e., the kind of work that doesn’t require a sprawling corporate apparatus or a conflicts committee that says “no” more often than a toddler.
And that’s the real appeal here. Litigation boutiques offer rate flexibility, fewer client conflicts, and freedom from the awkward reality that your firm’s mega-deal client might need regulatory approval from the same government your litigation team is squaring off against. In other words, fewer internal headaches and more room to just… law.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
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