Martin Estrada and Daniel Levin Named MTO Co-Managing Partners 

Munger, Tolles & Olson has appointed veteran trial lawyers Martin Estrada and Daniel Levin as co-managing partners, effective November 3, 2025.

Dan joined MTO in 2014 after serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles – a tenure that included a role as deputy chief of criminal appeals in the U.S. attorney’s office – and clerking for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Judge William A. Fletcher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In private practice, he focuses on high-stakes crises and complex litigation, and has appeared in courts across the country, including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Martin, who returned to MTO earlier this year after serving as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, first joined the firm as an associate in 2004, spent over seven years as an AUSA, and then returned to MTO in 2014 before being appointed by the President and unanimously confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Attorney. As Southern California’s top prosecutor, he led a team of over 550 attorneys and staff in protecting almost 20 million people across the country’s largest judicial district. He is a trial attorney whose practice focuses on complex litigation and investigations.

“I am proud to have grown up as a lawyer at MTO and excited to work with Martin to help lead the firm,” said Dan. “We represent clients in their most challenging matters, attract outstanding lawyers who take early responsibility, and give back to the communities in which we live and work. This is what has kept me at MTO all these years and will remain our focus as we continue to evolve.”

“I am thrilled to help lead the firm that formed me into the lawyer I am alongside one of my best friends,” Martin said. “Our firm has some of the best talent in the country and we will continue to build on our brand of trying and solving our clients’ most pressing and difficult matters.” 

Dan and Martin succeed Hailyn Chen and Malcolm Heinicke, who led the firm for the past six years and will remain at the firm and focus on their thriving practices. “In Martin and Dan, we have leaders who exemplify our culture and commitment to excellence, and will no doubt lead the firm to continued success and growth,” said Firm Chair Brad Brian. “We are grateful for the leadership of Hailyn and Malcolm over the last six years. They led us to a record-setting financial performance and navigated the firm through the global pandemic and other challenges, all while positioning MTO as a national leader in the legal industry. They are both fantastic lawyers whose practices will flourish for years to come.”