Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Tara McGrath, the most recent former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, is joining the firm’s Litigation practice as a White Collar & Investigations partner in the San Diego office. Tara is a highly experienced litigator, a nationally recognized federal prosecutor, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Having served as the U.S. Department of Justice’s chief lawyer in Southern California, Tara brings deep experience leading one of the nation’s largest districts in complex criminal investigations, prosecutions, and resolutions as well as civil defensive actions.
“Tara is an exceptional and tenacious litigator whose background and caliber will further enhance our litigation and white-collar capabilities for clients navigating the most challenging investigations and cases,” said Shari Brandt, firmwide co-chair of Perkins Coie’s Litigation practice. “Tara’s leadership of complicated prosecutions has equipped her with the strategic insights vital to success in court and before government agencies, and we’re thrilled she chose to join Perkins Coie.”
In her role as U.S. Attorney, Tara supervised investigations and prosecutions spanning white-collar and financial crime; cyber, environmental, and national security matters; and civil fraud. She has first-chair trial experience in numerous cases and has led public corruption, healthcare, and procurement fraud prosecutions, including in relation to the False Claims Act. Tara managed more than 330 lawyers and staff in the investigation and prosecution of over 5,000 cases during her tenure, obtaining more than $41 million in settlements and recoveries in 2024 alone.
“In 2025, there is one law firm that stands out, and that is Perkins Coie,” said Tara. “I am thrilled to join a team unwavering in its values, even when that is difficult, and a firm that is consistently the first choice for clients facing large scale and sensitive legal challenges looking for solutions through collaboration while embracing an inclusive spirit.”
At Perkins Coie, Tara will focus on guiding clients through white-collar litigation and investigations, as well as civil litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution, cybersecurity, and crisis management. She joins a preeminent litigation practice comprised of more than 300 lawyers and former federal prosecutors who serve as staunch advocates in the courtroom and beyond.
As U.S. Attorney, Tara was also a member of the national interagency Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee and sat on the attorney general’s advisory subcommittees on terrorism and national security, border and immigration, and environmental justice. Previously, she served as a senior civilian legal advisor to overseas military commands with the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Department of Justice Trial Attorney. Early in her career, Tara also served as an active-duty officer and judge advocate with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Tara earned her B.A., cum laude, from Boston College and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. She is the tenth new partner to join Perkins Coie so far this year as the firm continues to expand its global capabilities across litigation, M&A, private equity, capital markets, and intellectual property.
This news story was originally published on the firm’s website.