Top 25 US firm Paul Hastings has added its second litigation partner in Washington DC in the space of a week with the arrival of commercial disputes lawyer Ronald Anguas Jr.

Anguas joins from Kirkland & Ellis, following the addition of Benjamin Snyder last week from the office of the US Solicitor General. Anguas brings with him more than a decade of trial and appellate litigation experience, while regularly advising clients on commercial disputes, consumer class actions, product liability, mass torts and related appeals.

He represents clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts, covering sectors including hospitality, aerospace, chemicals, industrials, financial services, pharmaceuticals, higher education and technology.

Frank Lopez, Paul Hastings’ chair, said: “Ronnie’s addition reflects the increased demand we are seeing across our litigation practice. His arrival adds depth to our litigation team and enhances our ability to provide intellectual capital in serving clients’ needs in the areas of investigations, enforcement and complex litigation as we continue to gain market share at the top of the market.”

Anguas spent 11 years at Kirkland, making partner in 2018. Prior to that he spent a year clerking in the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the chambers of Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III.

Anguas said: “I’m excited to work with the highly skilled litigators at Paul Hastings and to serve the firm’s clients while also enabling my clients to benefit from the firm’s leading global platforms across so many practice areas.”

Paul Hastings has been building out its Washington coverage in recent months. In addition to Snyder’s arrival, in September the firm hired Keith Schomig from White & Case to strengthen its national security, CFIUS and global trade controls practices. It also added environmental litigator Brian Israel from Arnold & Porter in August and international arbitration partner Jonathan Hamilton, who joined in March from White & Case.

Other firms expanding in Washington recently include Linklaters, which earlier this month poached veteran Paul Hastings partner Joseph Profaizer to co-lead its international arbitration practice. Also this month, Kirkland hired veteran Federal Trade Commission lawyer Stephen Mohr as a partner in its Washington antitrust practice.