Pillsbury Welcomes Todd Kim, Former Asst. Attorney General of U.S. DOJ Environment and Natural Resources Division and DC Solicitor General, as Partner in Washington, DC

Prior to joining Pillsbury, Kim was the Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). He previously served as the first Solicitor General for the District of Columbia and Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as well as an Appellate partner in private practice.

“Todd is a nationally renowned litigator whose impeccable resume strengthens our litigation capabilities in myriad ways,” said Firm Chair David Dekker. “His vast knowledge of energy and environmental law, substantial appellate experience and stellar reputation within government circles afford our clients an invaluable resource as they navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment at the state and federal levels.”

Kim is widely known as one of the country’s foremost environmental lawyers, with a distinct and impressive resume in appellate matters. While Assistant Attorney General of DOJ’s ENRD from 2021 through 2025, he oversaw more than 600 attorneys and professionals and directed litigation strategy on the nation’s most significant environmental and administrative law matters. This included work on cases involving Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act enforcement, Superfund site cleanup, the rights and resources of Native American tribes, federal land management and environmental crimes, among other issues. His time as Deputy General Counsel for the DOE further informs his environmental credentials, providing him a unique perspective into the energy sector.

Beyond his impressive qualifications with respect to environmental law, Kim also spent 11 years as Solicitor General for the District of Columbia (2006–2017). During that time, he led the handling of hundreds of appeals on behalf of the District of Columbia government, and personally argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, D.C. Circuit, and numerous other federal and state appellate courts.

“Todd’s versatility across energy, environmental and appellate work, and importantly, the intersection of those areas, makes him a perfect addition to Pillsbury,” said Deborah Baum, Pillsbury’s Global Head of Litigation. “He brings a level of credibility and perspective in these sectors that few practitioners can match, and fits seamlessly into our winning and growing global disputes team.”

Pillsbury has seen a surge in lateral partner hiring globally, having welcomed 34 partners since the start of 2025 and more than 50 over the past two years. That includes numerous experienced trial and government lawyers, including White Collar Defense and Corporate Investigations partner and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe in Miami; Insurance Recovery & Advisory partner Gerald “Jay” Konkel in Washington, DC; trial lawyer Amy Ruhland in Austin; and Intellectual Property litigators Brian Paul Gearing, based out of the firm’s New York, Washington, DC, and Tokyo offices; Steven James, based in London; New York-based Mark Abate; and J. Rick Taché in San Diego.

“I am thrilled to join Pillsbury, its esteemed Litigation practice and its remarkable roster of battle-tested trial lawyers,” Kim said. “Whether in relation to the broad implications of environmental regulatory shifts, high-stakes appellate cases or State Attorney General matters, I very much look forward to helping clients navigate the complex issues they face today.”

Pillsbury’s award-winning team of litigators works with clients around the world to help them successfully resolve disputes, in trial and out of court, at home and in jurisdictions around the globe. The firm has garnered dozens of top-tier recognitions as a result of its exceptional litigation prowess and is regularly identified as one of the most feared law firms CLOs and GCs come up against in litigation according to BTI Consulting Group.