Morrison Foerster Bolsters Complex Litigation Bench with Addition of Nationally Recognized Trial Team in Los Angeles

(August 4, 2026) – Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the arrival of Dennis Ellis, Katherine Murray, and Serli Polatoglu as partners in the firm’s Complex Litigation Group in Los Angeles. The team brings a nationally recognized litigation practice and more than six decades of experience handling consumer class actions, mass torts, product liability claims, and complex commercial litigation for clients across numerous industries, including retail, energy, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

The trio, led by Ellis, a nationally recognized trial lawyer, joins from a Los Angeles-based litigation firm, of which he was a leadership partner and where he built an industry-leading practice focused on consumer class actions, unfair competition (Section 17200), business torts, product liability defense, environmental law, and breach of contract disputes. He brings significant first-chair trial experience in nationally significant matters, including one of the largest active multidistrict litigations in the United States.

Ellis is joined by partners Murray and Polatoglu. Murray represents clients in consumer class actions and complex business litigation, with particular experience advising companies in the food and beverage, cosmetics, and consumer electronics industries. She is widely recognized for her success defending class certification and has extensive experience in patent, trade secret, environmental, real estate, and business tort litigation. Polatoglu focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation involving trade secrets, securities, intellectual property, and business disputes. She has represented clients across the cosmetics, energy, technology, real estate, and financial services sectors in both state and federal courts. Together, the team further strengthens Morrison Foerster’s litigation platform and its ability to defend clients in large-scale, bet-the-company disputes.

“Dennis, Kathy, and Serli have built an exceptional litigation practice representing household-name companies in some of their most significant and complex disputes,” said Julie Y. Park, chair of Morrison Foerster’s Complex Litigation + Advisement Group. “Their depth of trial experience, strong client relationships, and reputation for handling sophisticated consumer class actions, mass torts, and complex commercial litigation will be tremendous assets to our clients, while also reinforcing our strategic investment in Los Angeles.”

“Joining forces with Morrison Foerster gives us the opportunity to bring our clients the strength of a global platform while continuing to deliver the strategic, trial-focused representation they expect,” said Ellis. “The firm’s top-tier litigation practice, continued investment in Los Angeles, and long-term commitment to growing its presence in this important market, combined with its strength in handling sophisticated, high-stakes matters, make it an outstanding fit for our team and our clients.”

The team’s practice aligns closely with Morrison Foerster’s strategic priorities in consumer class action defense, mass tort litigation, product liability, and complex commercial litigation. Together, the partners bring a substantial portfolio of repeat client matters involving sophisticated corporate defendants, significant scientific and expert issues, large case inventories, and substantial trial exposure.

The arrival of Ellis, Murray, and Polatoglu also strengthens Morrison Foerster’s Los Angeles office. Deeply rooted in the Southern California legal market, the team expands the firm’s bench of experienced trial lawyers serving clients throughout California and across the United States. With the addition of Ellis, Murray, and Polatoglu, the firm has welcomed seven partners to the Los Angeles office since the start of the year, including Paul Lin, Hyongsoon Kim, Edward Chang, and Marjorie Soto Garcia.

The team’s practice spans consumer products, food and beverage, cosmetics, technology, financial services, energy, and other highly regulated industries, where they advise companies facing complex litigation with significant business and reputational risk.