Pierson Ferdinand Continues Industry-Leading Growth, Surpassing 300 Partners
Fully distributed, tech-enabled Firm more than doubles Partner headcount in less than 36 months
New York, NY – September 29, 2026 – Pierson Ferdinand LLP (“PierFerd” or the “Firm”) announces that it has surpassed 300 Partners globally, less than three years after launching in January 2024. The milestone places PierFerd among only five firms in recent U.S. law firm history with more than 100 attorneys to achieve more than 30% headcount growth in a single year.
The Firm reached this milestone through consistent and intentional Partner appointments and continued expansion across key practice areas and jurisdictions throughout 2026. The growth reflects PierFerd’s deliberate strategy of attracting sophisticated, market-leading attorneys from Am Law- and Magic Circle-ranked firms and premier boutiques worldwide.
PierFerd has strengthened its capabilities in high-demand practice areas, including commercial litigation, commercial real estate, cross-border transactions, cybersecurity, data privacy and artificial intelligence, employment and executive compensation, emerging companies and venture capital, healthcare and life sciences, and complex corporate and private capital matters. Built with AI at its foundation, PierFerd creates better experiences and outcomes by leveraging advanced tools such as Harvey with an emphasis on its people.
PierFerd expects growth to continue into 2027 at pace, with a focus on strategic Partner recruitment, expansion into key markets, and further investment in high-impact practice areas, according to Co-Chairman A. Michael Pierson. “PierFerd remains focused on building a modern, technology-enabled platform that consistently exceeds client expectations across practices and geographies for our global client base,” he said. “From our founding in 2024, AI and other technologies have been deeply embedded in our practices and operations, which has empowered us to grow so quickly and produce stellar results for our clients.”
This month, PierFerd welcomed five new Partners:
April Bott joins in Columbus, Ohio as a Partner in the Litigation department, bringing decades of experience in environmental, energy, natural resources, mining, construction, and real estate matters. She graduated from The Ohio State Michael E. Moritz College of Law and is admitted in Ohio.
Brian Fonville joins in London, United Kingdom as a Partner in the Corporate department. He advises technology companies, investors, and internationally active businesses on cross-border structuring, venture financing, and strategic transactions across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. He earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School and is admitted in England and Wales, New York, and as a European Attorney in the Czech Republic.
Javier J. Ramos joins in Columbus, Ohio as a Partner in the Corporate department, focusing on intellectual property, information technology, and data privacy. He graduated from Georgetown Law Center and is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Raymond Sinnappan joins in Chicago, Illinois as a Partner in the Corporate department. He focuses his practice on employee benefits and executive compensation. He graduated from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and is admitted in Illinois.
Andrew Velcoff joins in Atlanta, Georgia as a Partner in the Corporate department. He guides institutional and individual entertainment and media clients through the full spectrum of intellectual property, licensing, and media law-related needs. He graduated from New England Law Boston and is admitted to practice in Georgia and California.
“Surpassing 300 Partners is an important milestone for PierFerd, reflecting our extraordinary momentum, unique culture, and the ambition demonstrated by all Partners. Our continuing, intentional expansion allows us to further deliver exceptional value to clients who are seeking best-in-class legal services and to provide a platform for our Partners where our people are a primary emphasis,” said Co-Chairman Joel M. Ferdinand. “From the beginning, we set out to build a different kind of law firm — one designed around how forward-thinking lawyers want to practice and the evolving world in which our clients operate. The continued growth of the Firm is a strong endorsement of that vision, our culture, and the opportunities available to exceptional attorneys within our modern, entrepreneurial platform.”
In less than three years, PierFerd has become one of the most remarkable stories in the legal industry and has more than doubled its Partner headcount in less than 36 months. The Financial Times recognized the Firm’s expansion trajectory and technology-enabled business model in its 2025 Innovative Lawyers North America report, naming the Firm “Highly Commended” in the Strategic Direction category.
About PierFerd
Pierson Ferdinand LLP is an international law firm serving clients globally from 25+ markets. Its 300+ partners practice in 90+ areas of law, including corporate, M&A, securities, employment and executive compensation, intellectual property, litigation, private clients & estates, and tax. Its partners have a reputation for excellence and have significant experience practicing in preeminent law firms, corporate legal departments, and government.[1]
Media Contact
Amy Stickel
amy@blicksteingroup.com
+1 773.960.5187
[1] In London, the firm operates as Pierson Ferdinand UK LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales with registered number OC449880. It is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registered number 8006801. Pierson Ferdinand UK is connected with its affiliate in the United States, Pierson Ferdinand LLP, although they are two separate legal entities.
The word “partner” denotes a member of Pierson Ferdinand UK or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications.
