Office Openings & Closing:
Am Law 100 Firms Struggle to Meet Plans for Office Efficiency
Thomas Fulcher, chair of the legal tenant practice group at Savills said, “As much as people are trying to skinny-down their offices, getting rid of workrooms, getting rid of administrative stations, the experience of relative inefficiency is still happening.”
Record Law Firm Office Vacancies in San Francisco, Downturn in Los Angeles
JLL research shows that commercial leasing in Los Angeles has decreased by 20% over the past two quarters.
Clark Hill to Open First Southeast Office with Taylor English Duma Team
John Hensien, CEO of Clark Hill said, “Our desire is to grow in the Atlanta market, and really leverage our national and international footprint for other clients”.
Squire Patton Boggs Launches Office in Geneva, Continues Expansion Across Europe
The new agency will concentrate on government investigations, sanctions, international trade, commodities and shipping, and international dispute settlement. said the company.
Kirkland, Winston and Sidley Have Grown Briskly in Miami, Outpacing Other Big Law Recent Arrivals
Kirkland, Sidley and Winston & Strawn arrived relatively around the same time, and all three have displayed an appetite for fast growth.
Law Firms Expand Office Presence in Los Angeles
Last month, Thompson Hine opened its first office on the West Coast after acquiring the litigation boutique Conkle, Kremer & Engel. This month, Alston & Bird announced the opening of a second office in Century City, Los Angeles.
Why Morrison & Foerster Is Transitioning into a Hybrid Office Model in Miami
Since the office is the firm’s entry point into Latin America, its attorneys are already engaged in cross-border work. Cost savings in the expensive South Florida market is probably one advantage.
Debevoise, Cleary Expand San Francisco Space, Seeing Opportunity in City Resurgence
The New York firms are believing that the tech industry, and the talent necessary to work its matters, are resurging in San Francisco.
Singapore Big Four Firm Rajah & Tann Gets Approval for Shenzhen Launch
As bilateral relations between China and Singapore have improved, Rajah & Tann is the second Singaporean company to announce the opening of a new location in mainland China this year.
KPMG Shutters Australian Legal Practice, Seeks Law Firm Alliances
KPMG is shutting down its personal legal practice in Australia and will seek to form alliances with law firms instead.
Financials:
Shifting Between Guarantees and Fixed Shares, Law Firms Gets Flexible in Lateral Pay
Certain companies are shifting their payment methods to laterals from fixed shares to guarantees, or a combination of both.
With U.S. Expansion ‘a Priority,’ Ashurst Grows Revenue 9%
The Anglo-Australian company reported a 9% increase in revenue for the fiscal year 2023–24, reaching £961 million—its seventh year of growth.
Kirkland Renews $50K Referral Bonuses as Associate Demand Ramps Up
Other firms may follow their example and give out referral bonuses soon, if they are not already, according to some legal recruiters and consultants.
New Jersey Top 40: Specialty Practices, Room for Rate Increases Boosted Law Firm Revenue
According to this year’s annual New Jersey Top 40 report, only four firms saw significant revenue declines, meanwhile 17 saw gross revenue growth of more than 5% compared with 2022.
Wachtell leads the revenue per lawyer leaderboard once more, this time by a wide margin.
NYLJ 100: Gross Revenue Leaders
In terms of gross revenue, Kirkland & Ellis led New York’s top companies once more in 2023.
Herbert Smith Freehills Posts Double-Digit Rises Across Key Metrics
The percentage of female partners at the company has increased, according to the report.
NYLJ 100: Profit Per Equity Partner Leaders
In this measure, more and more businesses are surpassing the $7 million threshold.
Clyde & Co Latest Firm to Enjoy Double Digit Revenue Uplift
The firm reported that the U.K. made up just under half of its total revenue (47%), while Europe was Clyde & Co’s fastest growing region, with European revenues up 17%.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Reclaiming the Narrative: The Truth About DEI
Danielle Carr, president of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, “Diverse workplaces have stronger governance, better resilience, and more effective problem-solving abilities”.
With a varied attorney population occupying more than 25% of the executive committee seats, Carlton Fields and Shutts & Bowen stood apart.
Kubicki Draper, a litigation shop, is the only company on the DBR 100 rankings to disclose that more than half of the partnership is made up of women.
Companies Deluged with Anti-ESG Shareholder Proposals
Pro- and anti-ESG ideas on the same issue are being sent to some corporations, demonstrating how difficult it has become for corporate America to address issues like diversity and climate change.
Most Atlanta Firms See Rankings Slip for Hiring, Promotion of Women
Recruiter Shannan Rahman said, “Billing over 2,000-plus hours a year while being a primary caregiver is unsustainable for most women long term, which is why they burn out at higher rates in Big Law”.
Moves:
Team Moves
Blank Rome Adds Private Equity Duo from Ballard Spahr
Jeffrey Fickes, who co-chaired Ballard’s private equity practice, and Christopher DePizzo join the firm as partner in New York.
Seyfarth Hires 5 Labor and Employment Lawyers from Hunton Andrews Kurth
A five-person team lead by lawyers Michele Beilke and Julia Trankiem has joined Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s Labor & Employment department in Texas and California, the company said today. From their partnership at Hunton Andrews Kurth, Beilke and Trankiem join Seyfarth.
Cooley London Head Leads Team Exit to Akin
The three-partner team is headed up by Justin Stock, the London managing partner of the Palo Alto-headquarted firm.
Maynard Nexsen Adds 9 Lawyer Financial Services Team in Birmingham
Carole Miller, who will co-chair the financial services industry team said “Law firm transitions are never easy, and if you had told me 10 years ago that I would be back at Maynard a decade later, I wouldn’t have believed you. But I’ve actually returned to a very different firm”.
Blank Rome Adds Energy Partners from Reed Smith in Pittsburgh, Houston
Ryan Purpura, a former co-chair of the energy and natural resources practice, is one of the three partners on the team.
India’s JSA Secures Another Large Team Hire, Takes 25 from Rival Firm Trilegal
JSA is on an impressive hiring streak, having also raided another rival firm for a team of 20 in June.
Withers Adds Private Client Quartet in Hong Kong
Laurence Ho is a returnee, having joined Stephenson Harwood in the United Kingdom in 2017 after leaving the private, client-focused business. He brings with him a group of three attorneys from Loeb & Loeb, two of whom are associates and one of whom serves as special counsel.
Bird & Bird adds seven-lawyer finance team in Italy from Hogan Lovells
The team is led by partners Corrado Fiscale and Federico Del Monte, who have joined in Milan alongside five associates.
APAC
Quinn Emanuel Replenishes Tokyo Partnership with Hire from Big Four Japanese Firm
Japanese disputes veteran Hisaya Kimura, who was a senior counsel at Nagashima Ohno, has joined the American firm as a partner.
Orrick Doubles Down in Singapore with A&O Shearman Hires
Ari Bessendorf and Michael Tardif, who are from A&O Shearman in Jakarta, have been hired by Orrick.
TT&A Builds Cap Markets Strength with Latest Cam Partner Exit
Leading the capital markets practice for the Western region at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Abhinav Kumar left the prestigious Indian law firm to join Talwar Thakore & Associates. His departure is the most recent in a line of high-profile exits.
Dorsey Adds Dentons Capital Markets Pro in HK
U.S. law firm Dorsey & Whitney has bolstered its capital markets capabilities in Hong Kong with the addition of Rachel Han as a partner from Dentons.
Top Cam Dealmaker Rocks Market with Move to Khaitan
Prominent Indian dealmaker Shishir Vayttaden, along with two other members of his team, K. Aishwarya and Aditi Singhvi, has joined Khaitan & Co. from the equity partnership at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
UK & Ireland
Paul Hastings London Funds Partner Exits to Morgan Lewis
Ted Craig has been a partner in Paul Hastings’ investment funds and private capital practice since 2021, joined from Dentons where he was U.K. head of private funds.
Kirkland Hires from Clifford Chance as Partner Exits to A&O Shearman
After nearly 25 years at Clifford Chance, André Duminy is leaving, and his move will strengthen the Chicago-based company’s London technology and intellectual property transactions expertise.
Judith Curran rejoins Mason Hayes & Curran’s employment team
Ms. Curran brings to the position more than 20 years of specialized experience, and her knowledge spans a broad spectrum of employment law issues, from complicated restructuring procedures to equality and diversity.
Travers Smith hires infrastructure finance specialist Ryan Ayrton
Ryan joins Travers Smith from Watson Farley & Williams where he was an infrastructure partner since 2022.
EMEA
US Ambassador to Spain Rejoins Winston & Strawn
The first lady’s former chief of staff, Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón, will return to Winston’s New York office to work in the litigation department.
The Americas
Akin Lures Co-Chair of Kasowitz Benson Employment Practices and Litigation Group
Most of her clients are expected to move with her, according to longtime Kasowitz Benson partner Jessica Rosenberg.
Alston & Bird Adds NY Funds Formation Specialist from Schulte
According to Heather Wyckoff, she frequently works to establish funds for which “there is no precedent,” since it “meshes well with the team here and the level of sophistication and creativity I see among my colleagues in the funds space.”
Davis Polk Poaches Goodwin Sponsor Finance Partner
Nick Caro leaves Goodwin after almost eight years to join Davis Polk’s sponsor finance practice in New York.
Paul Hastings Nabs Another Insurance Partner from Sidley
The Sidley lateral partners are “in further discussions” with other individuals there, according to Brad Drake, “about who else could be joining our group.”
Fisher Phillips Adds New Dallas Office Leader, Plans Relocation
“Dallas is a thriving market. There are all sorts of opportunities,” said Adam Sloustcher, who is succeeding Michael Abcarian.
Gibson Dunn Adds Proskauer Executive Comp Partner
In recent weeks, the firm has added four new partners to its New York office, including Kate Napalkova.
Usha Vance Leaves Munger Tolles as Trump Picks JD Vance for Running Mate
A firm spokesperson said, “Usha has informed us she has decided to leave the firm”.
Pillsbury Litigation Leader in Miami Heads to Sidley
Aryeh Kaplan, a former leader of Pillsbury’s Miami litigation practice, joined the firm this week. As the firm approaches its second anniversary in the Magic City, the number of professionals in its office there is approximately fifty.
People in the News—July 16, 2024—Antheil Maslow, Burns White
Adam M. Weiss has joined Antheil Maslow & MacMinn’s practice group focused on business and finance.
Akerman Grows Tax Practice in Atlanta with Partner Pair from Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Akerman has added two partners to the Tax Practice Group, expanding its skills. Leading figure in global tax disputes, Jennifer Lindy, has joined the Atlanta office. Along with her is Farid Khosravi.
DLA Piper, Eversheds, Troutman, Polsinelli Among Latest Firms to Hire DC-Area Laterals
Harmony Jones was recruited by Eversheds Sutherland from Steptoe as pro bono counsel. After four years as the commissioner of insurance for the state of Maryland, Kathleen Birrane returned to her job at DLA Piper in Baltimore. Additionally, Polsinelli brought on veteran Axinn Veltrop lawyer Chad Landmon.
Big Law Partner Hires in San Francisco Underscore Region’s Demand from Emerging Companies
Emma Mann-Meginniss, the new partner at Cooley, stated, “After a few [rocky] years in the market, deal activity is up at all stages this year, which is a welcome change.”
Former Dentons Partner Rejoins Firm After Stint at Hydro-Québec
Returning to the company, Alexandre-Philippe Avard works in the litigation group at its Montreal location.
In house
FedEx General Counsel Cruising into Retirement After 42 Years with Shipping Giant
Mark Allen bounced around the globe helping build the company’s international operations before taking the legal reins in 2017.
Indie Film Juggernaut Taps Ex-MGM Legal Chief to Lead In-House Team
Lesley Freeman was the head of Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM when she joined the company.
Fintech Veteran Takes Legal Reins of Startup Aiming to Disrupt Banking Globally
Damier Xandrine said she was drawn to Tala’s purpose since it uses an app to provide microloans of between $10 and $500 to people all over the world.
FINRA Hires Senior JPMorgan Chase Attorney to Lead Beefed-Up Enforcement Team
Julie Glynn is making a big comeback to FINRA, where she worked as an enforcement attorney for seven years before to joining the massive financial institution in 2011.
US semiconductor business Lam Research lines up Whirlpool legal head as next CLO
Ava Harter, who replaced Ava Hahn as chief legal officer earlier this year, has been appointed as the new chief legal officer of US semiconductor services company Lam Research.
Ciarán McGonagle joins Tokenovate as chief legal and product officer
Originally from Derry, Mr. McGonagle will serve as in-house counsel at Tokenovate, a leader in trade lifecycle event management, and will spearhead the development and implementation of the company’s legal-first product vision and strategy.
Promotions & Appointments:
Ballard Spahr Elevates 8 Attorneys, 1 to Partner in Delaware
Six lawyers, including one in Delaware, were elected to the firm partnership, while two others were promoted to of counsel, according to a statement from Ballard Spahr.
Sidley Austin Brings on Former Pillsbury Litigation Leader in Miami
Aryeh Kaplan stated that Sidley’s offering is “an incredibly well-matched platform for the type of work that I do.”
People in the News—July 17, 2024—Hamburg Rubin, Tucker Arensberg
Nathan Murawsky, the trial lawyers section head of the Montgomery Bar Association, was recently elected, according to a press release from Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin.
People in the News—July 19, 2024—Barley Snyder, Leech Tishman
Barley Snyder stated that EmmaRose Strohl, an attorney, has been chosen to the position of head of the board of directors for Berks Community Television (BCTV).
Connell Foley Announces Four Taxation Group Partner Promotions
Connell Foley’s Taxation & Estate Planning Group has promoted four lawyers to partner and hired Sara Jane Holland as of counsel.
Singapore Law Firm Fervent Chambers Announces Leadership Changes
William Wan has been appointed as managing director of Fervent Chambers, a Singapore-based legal practice, and Clarence Lun has returned to his position as head of dispute resolution and international arbitration. These are major leadership changes for the company.
Power Law promotes Billy Casserly to partner
Experienced corporate attorney Mr. Casserly joined Power Law last year following ten years of in-house and major Dublin law firm work. He is based in the business’s Galway branch.
Mergers & Alliances:
Nonprofit Mergers and Acquisitions: Pros and Cons for This Increasing Trend
The trend of nonprofit groups merging to save money on grants, donors, and board members is significant and is on the rise. By protecting these resources, nonprofit organizations may ensure that their services and initiatives continue for a number of generations to come.
Spain’s Garrigues to Merge with Mexican Law Firm Sánchez Devanny
Following the merger, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of this year, Mexico will overtake Spain as Garrigues’s largest market.
Spain’s Pérez-Llorca Eyes Americas Growth Via Mexico Merger
Pérez-Llorca’s strategy is different from that of Uría Menendez, its main rival in Spain, which chose to close its New York office in June and avoided acquiring in Mexico amid the COVID-19 outbreak. But it’s anticipated that more Spanish businesses would choose to partner in Mexico.
Troutman Pepper, Locke Lord Seek to Merge by End of Year
Whilst the firms had hoped to hold partnership votes in July for an October merger, sources said, the plan is now to formalize the combination before the start of 2025.
Australia Law Firm Gadens Merges with Smaller Rival to Enter Canberra Market
The national company now has a seven-partner and 30-person presence in a significant jurisdiction thanks to the merger with Trinity Law of Canberra.
Technology & Innovation:
Viewing AI Through Cheaper/Faster Lens Misses Its Full Potential
Kate Orr, global head of practice innovation at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe said, “The challenge and the excitement is that it gives us an opportunity to reexamine what it is we thought was important and valuable, and to actually try to justify it”.
Thomson Reuters Publicly Launches CoCounsel Drafting in the U.S.
The new application attempts to provide an end-to-end drafting workflow for transactional papers and interfaces with Practical Law.
Clio Releases Clio Accounting, Centralizing Its Fintech Offerings for Trust Accounting
The legal IT startup aims to set itself apart with Clio Accounting by providing support for both the profession and business of law.
The Increasing Value of Human Time in the Age of Advanced AI
The purpose of guidelines, whether they are public or not, is to emphasize the significance of human creativity and ingenuity and to stress that, even with AI’s increasing powers, invention and artistic creation are fundamentally human.
Former Tinder product specialists founded LegalFly a year ago, and the company is looking to grow in the United States.
LexisNexis Announces Commercial Availability for Gen AI Corporate Research Platform Nexis+ AI
Nexis+ AI leverages multiple generative AI models and a number of licensed data repositories from publishers to power its research and analysis capabilities.
Legaltech Rundown: ILTA Announces ILTACON AI Chatbot, AffiniPay’s ‘Significant Investment,’ and More
A recap of the previous week in the legal IT industry, including new partnerships and product debuts.
How Afriwise is Using AI to Tackle Africa’s Compliance Bottleneck
AI is being used by Afriwise, an African legal platform that purchased Pythagoria, a provider of AI-based legal software, in 2023, along with their own legal database to create a compliance toolkit.
Market Commentary:
The 10-Year Plan That Has Willkie Growing Faster Than Any Other Big Firm
About ten years ago, the firm’s executives created a plan for growth that targeted specific markets, procedures, and sizable lateral groups.
Northern Virginia Law Firms Target ‘Niche’ Practices Amid Rising Market Competition
Nina Ginsberg of DiMuroGinsberg said “There is still a thriving market for well-known, respected lawyers who have kind of niche practices, but it’s harder for smaller firms. Now, the advantage they have is that the fee structures are a lot lower”.
Leveraging Law Firm KPIs for Business Success
For a legal company to assess performance, profitability, client satisfaction, and overall success, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential. Making wise business decisions requires knowing which lawyers the most successful, which cases are the most lucrative, and how much it costs to bring on new customers.
Considerate employers also try to resolve any residual conflicts that may arise after an investigation and prevent a productive work environment from being restored.
Latham’s Elisabetta Righini on Why Brussels Is a Must for a Career in Antitrust
In the late 1990s, Righini was among the first WTO litigators to enter the private sector. Her skill set led to her being hired by the European Commission, where she would work for more than ten years.
The Problem with Partner Autonomy: When Strength Becomes Weakness
Leaders of law firms are facing a growing number of challenges from dissidents and opt-out mindsets, which endanger the culture of the company, reduce operational effectiveness, and eventually make it more difficult for the firm to survive in a cutthroat legal market.
Big Law’s New York Offices More Than Doubled Am Law 100 Head Count Gains
Last year, Kirkland saw another increase in the number of lawyers in Manhattan, rising by 6% to 842, maintaining its position as the biggest firm in the state.
Stricter Lateral Exit Policies Become More Common Across the Legal Industry
Legal sector sources report that law firms are increasingly adopting lateral departure deterrent techniques such punitive non-competes or debits for overdue bills.
Less Is More: Baker McKenzie Australia Says It’s Earning More with Fewer Partners
She attributes the success of the Australian arm to a greater emphasis on performance and executing the company’s goals.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Kirkland Lures Millbank Lawyer to Replace Paul Weiss Departee
According to those familiar with the situation, Andrew Reilly, a special counsel at Milbank in London, will be joining the company in the upcoming months.
Ashurst PE Duo Walk to O’Melveny in London
Ashurst’s co-head of private equity David Carter and partner Braeden Donnelly are moving to O’Melveny in London.
White & Case Builds London Funds Practice with Ropes & Gray Partner
According to a firm release, secondaries partner Alexandra Chauvin, who has worked at Rope for nearly three years, has joined as a partner in White & Case’s global private equity industry group and investment funds practice.
EMEA
India’s Cyril Amarchand Boosts Nascent Abu Dhabi Offering with Hire
Himanshu Chahar, who spent two years working as a legal consultant at the local law firm BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, will return to the company as director of the transactions group.
King & Spalding Strengthens Saudi Focus with Strategic Partner Hire
Haifa Bahaian, a partner in King & Spalding’s Riyadh real estate and funds practice, brings substantial experience in investment funds, M&A, and transactional regulatory matters. She was previously the chief legal officer of the Saudi Venture Capital Company.
Latham & Watkins Adds Experienced Healthcare and Life Sciences Partner in Frankfurt
Latham & Watkins’ Frankfurt office has welcomed Deniz Tschammler, an experienced health care and life sciences partner from McDermott Will & Emery.
Felix Hütt is joining EIP Dusseldorf office as a patent attorney
Felix is a skilled German and European patent lawyer with litigation expertise. In addition to managing validity concerns in litigation, he is a skilled representative in the Unified Patent Court. He will be their first patent attorney.
Van Doorne expands transaction practice with arrival of Matthijs Driedonks
Matthijs Driedonks is welcomed as a partner by Van Doorne as of July 1, 2024. Matthijs from HVG Law specializes in private equity and strategic M&A. His arrival highlights the corporate/M&A team’s expansion aspirations and solidifies Van Doorne’s position in the corporate transactional practice.
APAC
Simmons & Simmons Hires New Hong Kong Regulatory Head
Kenneth’s expertise crosses a wide range of financial services regulatory issues, including fintech, digital assets, and transaction structuring.
K&L Gates’ Singapore Office Hires 2 DLA Piper Corporate Partners
The hiring of partners David Kuo and Meraj Noor from competitor DLA Piper has bolstered the corporate capabilities of K&L Gates Straits Law, the Singapore branch of the American law firm K&L Gates.
Australia’s Mills Oakley Hires Five Including Two KPMG Partners
With great pleasure, national legal firm Mills Oakley announces the addition of John Moutsopoulos and Brent Delaney to its Sydney office, extending the partnership growth trajectory of the firm.
Cam Continues July Hiring Spree with Corporate Lawyer from Trilegal
In July, Trilegal counsel Pooranimaa Hariharan joined Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas’ corporate practice in Bengaluru, making it a three-person firm.
Cam Adds Real Estate Partner in Ahmedabad
July saw the addition of a fourth partner to Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, as real estate lawyer Siddharth Singh and his team from Ahmedabad joined the firm. Singh used to own his own legal practice in the city, SBS Legal Advocates.
CMS Boosts HK Funds Practice with Hire from Mayer Brown
Paul Moloney, a partner at Mayer Brown’s Hong Kong office, has joined the Anglo-German law firm CMS, bolstering its funds offering in Asia.
AZB Adds TTA Antitrust Partner in Delhi
With the addition of partner Dinoo Muthappa from Talwar Thakore & Associates in New Delhi, AZB & Partners has maintained its expansion in the antitrust field. Her hiring marks AZB’s second acquisition in the antitrust space in as many months.
The Americas
Midsize Moves: Hinckley Allen Adds 2 Conn. Partners, Peckar & Abramson Hires Texas Partner
Hinckley Allen is pleased to welcome Thomas B. Mitchell and Daniel D’Aprile, Jr. as partners in its Real Estate Practice group. Attorneys Mitchell and D’Aprile are key strategic additions that enhance the Firm’s commercial real estate financing capabilities. They were previously partners at McElroy Deutsch and will join the Firm in the Hartford Office.
McDermott Picks Up Latham Securities Litigation Co-Chair in LA
Los Angeles’ Litigation Practice Group welcomed Brian Glennon as a partner recently, according to McDermott Will & Emery, an international legal firm.
Paul Hasting Hires BCLP Partner for White-Collar Defense Group in Chicago
Renato Mariotti, a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, has joined Paul Hastings in its Chicago office, the firm announced on Tuesday. Mariotti is joining the firm’s investigations and white-collar division as a partner.
Sheppard Mullin Adds 2 Partners to Houston Commercial Real Estate Practice
Douglas A. Yeager and Jeffrey M. Smith have joined the firm as partners in the Real Estate, Energy, Land Use & Environmental practice group in Houston. They were previously partners at Winston & Strawn LLP.
On The Move: Adams and Reese, Winstead Add Corporate Partners in Carolinas
Andrew “Drew” English left Callison Tighe & Robinson after more than 25 years to work at the Columbia, South Carolina, office of Adams and Reese.
Nelson Mullins Adds Advertising Law Specialist to Expanding Practice Area From BCLP
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has welcomed partner Jim Dudukovich to its corporate practice in Atlanta.
Covington, Boies and Thompson Hine Recruit Partners from US Attorney Offices
Amidst a series of lateral movements by the government lately into Big Law, several Am Law 200 law firms this week hired federal prosecutors to their white-collar defence and investigation departments. According to firm announcements this week, attorneys who recently left the U.S. Attorney’s offices have joined Covington & Burling in New York, Thompson Hine in Washington, D.C., and Boies Schiller Flexner in Los Angeles.
Sidley Austin Adds Emerging Companies, Venture Capital Partner from Goodwin Procter
With great pleasure, Sidley announces the addition of Jonathan Olsen to the San Diego-based firm as a partner in the M&A, Emerging Companies, and Venture Capital areas. He was a Technology and M&A partner at Goodwin Procter LLP before coming to Sidley.
Cooley Continues Bankruptcy Expansion with Gibson Dunn Partner Hire
Michael Neumeister joins Cooley’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the firm’s growing business restructuring practice and global litigation department. He arrives from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and will provide backing to clients in financial distress on a range of matters
Greenberg Traurig Hires 2 GCs to Boost Corporate, PE and Compliance Practices
To bolster the company’s competencies in these domains, Patrick Kassen, formerly of Link Logistics, and Matthew Bromberg, formerly of Exchange Traded Managers Group, have been added as additional shareholders.
Bracewell Adds Oil & Gas Pipeline Regulatory Lawyer
Michelle T. Boudreaux has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the energy regulatory group. She joins Bracewell from Baker Botts L.L.P., where she was a partner in the energy projects and transactions group.
Weil adds Latham PE dealmakers for Los Angeles and San Francisco launches
Renowned private equity dealmakers Tana Ryan and Navneeta Rekhi have joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as partners in the Private Equity Group, the international law firm said today. Nav will work out of the firm’s upcoming San Francisco office, which opens this summer, while Tana will oversee the firm’s new Los Angeles office as managing partner.
In house
Harvard Hires Ex-Defense Department GC as Legal Chief at Tumultuous Time
Diane Lopez, who retired in February, has been replaced as Harvard University’s general counsel by Jennifer O’Connor, a former attorney in the White House.
HP Alum Hired as Legal Chief of Data Unicorn with Blue-Chip Backers
Jay DeGooyer, a former HP legal executive, has been named as chief legal officer and corporate secretary of SingleStore, a rapidly expanding provider of data analytics software that attained unicorn status two years ago.
Star CLO Who Joined Great Resignation Returning to Silicon Valley as Roku Legal Chief
Following her resignation from PayPal’s legal chief during the Great Resignation and her appointment to a top position at Disney in September of last year, Louise Pentland is once again leading a legal department. Late on Thursday, Roku revealed that Pentland will begin working for the San Jose, California-based firm on July 23 as general counsel and senior vice president.
Ex-BP Legal Chief ‘Unretires’ to Become GC of Texas Energy Company
Eric Nitcher, who left his position as global general counsel and executive vice president of legal at London-based BP in December, has taken a general counsel position at Dallas-based HF Sinclair Corp.
US security business Allegion lines up replacement for GC
Jeff Braun, who is exiting at the end of this year, will be replaced as general counsel by Stacy Cozad, the US company Allegion specializes in home and workplace security.
Team Moves
Pierson Ferdinand Continues FisherBroyles Raid with London Office Launch
The law firm Pierson Ferdinand, which separated from FisherBroyles earlier this year, has entered the London market by continuing to hire laterals from both its legacy business and other companies that have a track record of success in the United Kingdom market.
Mayor Brown Paris Gains 30 Lawyers Including 7 Partners
Reiterating its commitment to and proficiency in Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, and Banking & Finance in France and abroad, Mayer Brown announced today the entry of seven partners and their team from top independent French law firm Ayache.
Orrick Hires 3 Partners in Bid to Become Top Life Sciences Law Firm
On Wednesday, the three partners—Jeremy Sherer, Georgia Ravitz, and Amy Joseph—joined the California-based firm. The new employees will work out of Orrick’s offices in Boston and Washington, D.C.
Financials:
Former Kasowitz Partner Claims Firm Withheld Compensation
Jay Deshmukh, a former partner at the prominent law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the firm withheld his compensation. Deshmukh claims that despite his unproductive year, he was entitled to certain financial remunerations which the firm has declined to disburse.
$20M and Still Going: Is Partner Pay a Bubble?
It’s credible that pay increases could slow down or temporarily reverse, said law firm leaders, recruiters and other industry observers, but they mostly agreed that the going price for star lawyers is not some kind of bubble.
DC Litigators Outpaced All Other Cities on Billing Rates in 2023
Washington, D.C. was classified as the city with the highest billing rates for litigation in 2023, according to a new survey from the National Association of Legal Fee Analysis.
Linklaters Hits £2B Revenue, Profit Up 10%
In the fiscal year that concluded on April 30, the company’s revenue reached £2.1 billion ($2.69 billion), a 10% increase over the prior year. Pre-tax profits, profit per partner, and profit per equity partner all increased, according to the report. Pre-tax earnings totalled about £942 million ($1.2 billion), which is 10% more than the year before.
Shoosmiths, Watson Farley Join Double-Digit Revenue Growth Club
In 2023–2024, Shoosmiths profits were £66 million, with PEP coming in at £781,000. Additionally, revenue increased to £206.7 million from £200 million. Watson Farley & Williams, meanwhile, reported a 7.2% rise in profits to £66.8 million. PEP went up 1.5% to £593,000. WFW saw an 11% increase in global income to £238.4 million.
Clyde & Co Latest Firm to Enjoy Double Digit Revenue Uplift
The most recent organization to release impressive numbers is Clyde & Co., which revealed a 10% rise in revenue for the most recent fiscal year. The company said that its revenue for the fiscal year that ended in April 2024 increased to £845 million. Revenue at Clyde & Co. climbed by 20% to £788.6 million last year; however, the company stated at the time that this was mostly because of the merger with BLM.
Clifford Chance Adapts Associate Bonus System in US-Style Shift
According to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, Clifford Chance has modified its associate bonus calculation process in an effort to “move towards” a pay structure for associate bonuses more akin to that in the United States.
Linklaters pays nearly £2m to top partners
The London-based company’s equity partners, who split the earnings, earned an average of £1.9 million in the year ending at the end of April, an 8% rise from the year before. This came after a record-breaking 10.3% increase in yearly pre-tax profits to £942 million, fueled by robust performance from its US and UK divisions.
Promotions & Appointments:
Richards, Layton & Finger Elects New Directors and Counsel
Richards, Layton & Finger is announced that from July 1, Cory D. Kandestin, Daniel E. Kaprow, and Kyle H. Lachmund, as well as Christine Dealy Haynes, Zachary D. Kmetz, and Kinsey Lenehan, have been chosen as the firm’s directors and counsel, respectively.
Parent Company of Knicks, Rangers Promotes General Counsel to COO
Jamaal Lesane, EVP and General Counsel at MSG Sports has been promoted to COO. Lesane had been acting as COO in an interim capacity when David Hopkinson in April, but as of Tuesday, MSG Executive Chair & CEO Jim Dolan announced that Lesane will take on the position permanently.
Succession Planning Prompts Leadership Reshuffle at O’Melveny
In an effort to prepare for succession, Bradley Butwin, who was elected to his fourth term as chair of O’Melveny & Myers this spring, reorganized some of the firm’s senior positions.
Singapore law firm Fervent Chambers announces leadership
Singapore-based law firm Fervent Chambers has announced a couple of notable leadership changes, with the appointment of William Wan (L) as managing director and the return of Clarence Lun as head of dispute resolution and international arbitration.
Julie Galbraith appointed to lead Eversheds Sutherland employment team
Julie Galbraith, an Employment Partner, will lead Eversheds Sutherland LLP’s Irish employment practice. Joanne Hyde, who has effectively overseen and developed the employment law practice since 2010, will hand off the reins to Galbraith.
Camilla Wollan becomes new Managing Partner at DLA Piper in Norway
At DLA Piper in Norway, Camilla Wollan has been named the country managing partner. Leading the company’s Norwegian and Nordic senior management teams, which include over 530 lawyers in offices in Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Helsinki, Wollan will be the first female country managing partner in the Nordic region.
Stephen Keogh to lead William Fry
Irish law firm William Fry has named Stephen Keogh as its next managing partner, starting in November. He is succeeding Owen O’Sullivan, who will retire as a partner at the end of the year.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Senate Confirms Nancy Maldonado as First Hispanic Judge to Serve on 7th Circuit
Over the objections of Republicans who drew attention to U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado’s substantial backlog of trial court cases, the Democratic-led U.S. Senate voted on Monday to approve Maldonado’s appointment as the first Hispanic judge on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The U.K. Firms with the Most Women Partners Named, Numbers Not Improving
Despite the fact that each year a somewhat different sample of organizations participates, the data indicates that the senior ranks’ numbers are not increasing. The average percentage of women in partnerships this year was 29%, which is comparable to the 27% reported in 2022 and down from 36% last year.
Business Case for DEI Is Still Strong, Experts Say, but Many Companies Approach Topic Clumsily
Corporate America is in turmoil due to the DEI fallout. Large corporations are “reevaluating” their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmental social governance (ESG) programs, following an initial wave of enthusiasm in 2020, and recasting them in reports to shareholders.
Big Law Firms Sign Paris Bar Charter Supporting LGBT+ Inclusion
Among the forty-plus firms that signed the Paris Bar Association’s inaugural Charter for Inclusion of LGBT+ people in firms are more than a dozen Big Law partnerships.
Ranks of women judges grow, but black representation stagnates
Even while the percentage of women judges is still rising, a significant majority of senior judges are white men, and there is still “much more work to be done” in terms of ethnic minority participation.
Mergers & Alliances:
2 Midsized Law Firms Ink Merger Operating Agreement
The 250-lawyer firm Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina announced on Tuesday that they had approved an operational agreement. According to Andy Corea, managing partner of Murtha Cullina, both firms desired to grow because of customer demand.
Law Firm Mergers: How to Match, How to Date and When to Leave (Your Recruiter)
“Law firm mergers are widely considered throughout the Am Law 200 and beyond. Many law firms have the same growth goals, and when it comes to expanding a firm in the top metros, it is highly competitive. It is difficult to stand out and be original. Everyone is in line for the top talent; growing organically does not happen overnight, and it takes a strong brand and culture to pull off.”
Linklaters, Baker McKenzie Lead on Carlsberg’s £3B Acquisition of UK’s Britvic
Reputable worldwide law firm Baker McKenzie is assisting multinational brewer Carlsberg on its suggested cash purchase of Britvic PLC, an international soft drink company. With complete dilution, the acquisition values Britvic’s issued and to-be-issued ordinary share capital at about £3.3 billion, with an implicit enterprise value of about £4.1 billion.
US Duo Lead as SoftBank Acquires British AI Business Graphcore
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Morrison & Foerster are leading on Japanese technology giant SoftBank’s acquisition of Bristol-based Graphcore, a semiconductor developer for AI and machine learning.
Michael Best Enters LA Market Via Combination with Venture Law Firm
With effect from July 1, 2024, Michael Best and the venture law firm O&A, P.C. have officially merged. By virtue of the merger, Michael Best, a nationwide Am Law 200 company with locations in Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin, has expanded its legal services into the Western United States by entering the California market.
Office Openings & Closing:
Akerman Establishes Wilmington Office
Akerman declared today that Wilmington, Delaware, the “Corporate Capital of the World,” has become part of its national reach. Litigation Partners Andrew Dupre and Brian Lemon open the location. The expansion is a component of Akerman’s ongoing national growth plan, which aims to satisfy the country’s rising customer demand.
Big Law Opts for Smaller but New Space in NY, as Law Firm Leasing Activity Ticks Up
Two of the largest contracts in Manhattan lately are for Covington & Burling, which leased a new office at Hudson Yards, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which renewed its headquarters space.
Morrison Cohen Debuts Luxury Brands Practice as Retailers Navigate Post-Pandemic Landscape
The group is chaired by Karim Momin, co-chair of the firm’s venture capital and emerging company practice, Andrew Bank, chair of the real estate practice, and Keith Markel, co-chair of the labor and employment practice.
Dechert’s Exit and Alston’s Arrival Underline Chicago’s Ultra-Competitive Market
Starting in Chicago, partners from a domestic business founded Alston & Bird, Dechert, and other legal firms. However, from then, the practice mix and underlying strategy can still alter the course.
Pierson Ferdinand Continues FisherBroyles Raid with London Office Launch
In preparation for the opening of its London office in July, Pierson Ferdinand hired four additional partners from FisherBroyles. These included Peter Finding, a partner who assisted in the establishment of FisherBroyles’ London office in 2020, and Stephen Di Cioccio, the chair of the banking and financial services practice, who will maintain the same position at Pierson Ferdinand.
Curtis Granted License to Operate in Saudi Arabia as Foreign Firm
With great pleasure, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP announces that it has been authorized to practice law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a foreign firm. The office will be completely linked with Curtis’ global operations and staffed by both Saudi and foreign lawyers.
Atsumi & Sakai Continues to Expand Outside Japan, Opens Office in Vietnam
Atsumi & Sakai1 is pleased to announce the establishment of their new office in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh office will help them expand their market-leading legal services in Southeast Asia.
Foley & Lardner opens in Raleigh after triple partner raid on K&L Gates
The opening of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Raleigh, North Carolina, office and the firm’s expansion of its national corporate and health care offerings, along with the addition of a talented team that includes partners Leah D’Aurora Richardson, Joshua Skora, and Andrea Cunha, are highlighted in business and legal press as the firm simultaneously enters another strategic market.
Technology & Innovation:
Paxton AI Releases AI Citator—And Publicizes Its Benchmarks on GitHub
The new Citator tool, driven by artificial intelligence, was released on Monday, according to legal research startup Paxton AI. All Paxton AI subscription tiers will have access to the tool, with the exception of the free tier. In addition, new users can get a free seven-day trial of Citator from the company.
Legaltech Hub Acquires Legal Tech Consultants, Expanding to ‘Full-Service Consulting’
The Georgia-based firm Legal Tech Consultants (LTC) has been bought by Legaltech Hub (LTH), a global directory of legal technology products and services. LTH has welcomed creator Cheryl Wilson Griffin as vice president of vendor advice.
Limitations of Generative AI in Civil Jury Trials
It is clear that generative AI has many benefits, it also comes with known risks and limitations that counsel must consider when using the technology, including hallucinations, bias, and confidentiality issues.
Cybersecurity Startup Cytactic, Founded by Law Firm Partner, Announces $16M Seed Round
A $16 million early investment has been secured by Israeli firm Cytactic to develop a platform dubbed “cyber crisis readiness and management.” The Tel Aviv-based company revealed that Evolution Equity Partners, an investment group that specializes in cybersecurity bets, led the sizeable seed round.
‘AI Is Existential’: ArentFox Schiff Turns Attention from Metaverse to AI Use Cases
Renowned Am legal 100 company ArentFox Schiff has turned its attention to artificial intelligence, having been the first major legal practice to open an office in the metaverse in 2022. While the company still finds value in the metaverse, Chair Anthony Lupo pointed out that its main focus these days is on investigating different applications of AI technology. Lupo stressed the significance of knowing when to use generative AI and when to proceed with caution.
To Advance AI Efforts, Legal Professionals Launch Community on Open-Source Platform HuggingFace
Louis Brulé Naudet, a French data analyst and law student, created a community of legal professionals on the AI platform HuggingFace earlier this month in an attempt to shed light on the proverbial “black box” of artificial intelligence.
5 Ways AI Strengthens Client Relationships and Revenue Generation
The corporate counsel keynote panel at the Legal Innovators conference was highlighted in a recent Law.com story titled “‘This Is Your Time’: AI Gives In-House Counsel Unprecedented Leverage,” which was published on June 6, 2024. During the talk, panelists outlined a number of ways that in-house legal departments are using AI tools for research, contract review, creating chatbots to answer frequently asked questions, and generally making the most of the time that attorneys and paralegals can spend on other crucial duties.
Gen AI Is Reorienting the Legal Tech Industry. Are Legal Professionals Ready?
Respondents to the study overwhelmingly said that they were not prepared for the effects of generative AI on the legal profession. Predictably, accuracy was the top issue, mentioned by 46% of respondents, followed closely by security and data sharing.
Market Commentary:
The Intersection of Law Firm Management and Temporary Lawyering
This article addresses the hazards and ethical responsibilities that come with hiring a temporary attorney, covering topics such proper client disclosure and service billing.
What Attracts Big Law to Immigration Pro Bono Work?
Nearly 120 firms answered, and several of them mentioned immigration issues. Among them, there were a significant number of asylum cases involving Afghan refugees.
Spain’s ECIJA Sells Stake in Law Firm to Private Equity
Ecija has made a noteworthy announcement on the addition of Alia Capital Partners to its capital structure. In a calculated move, the private equity group will invest a significant amount of funds to purchase a minority position in the legal practice. Although the investment’s financial specifics have not been made public, the current partners still hold the majority of the shares.
Webber Wentzel, Bowmans and DLA Lead Nominations at 2024 African Legal Awards
With 20 and 19 nominations respectively, South African law firms Webber Wentzel and Bowmans are in the lead for this year’s African Legal Awards.
Japanese M&A Market Shines as Asia Sees Chinese Advisers Fall
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Fangda Partners have taken the top three spots in the latest Asia (excluding Japan) mergers and acquisitions legal adviser league table rankings published by the London Stock Exchange Group.
Simpson Thacher Ranks No. 1 in Latin America M&A in 1H, Brazilian Law Firms Lead in Announced Deals
An article highlighting the fact that Simpson Thacher ranked top for completed M&A matters in Latin America during the first half of 2024 quoted Todd Crider, Head of the Firm’s Latin America Practice. According to Todd, the Latin American region enjoys “advantages in terms of U.S. nearshoring” as well as “relative geopolitical stability.”
Troutman Pepper, Alston & Bird, Nelson Mullins Rise in M&A Rankings
Mason Bayler, chair of Troutman Pepper’s transactional department, reported that the firm has had “significant growth in the U.S. domestic M&A deal space” just as market activity was improving.
Skadden Tops Europe M&A Rankings in 1st Half of 2024
According to preliminary league tables provided on Monday by financial data company Dealogic, Skadden, Arps, Meagher, Slate & Flom topped the list for the total value of all deals handled as M&A deal value increased in the first half of 2024.
Singapore and Hong Kong: A Zero-Sum Game?
Jessica Seah writes in The Asia Legal Briefing that although lawyers are used to prioritizing one over the other, Singapore and Hong Kong are very distinct marketplaces.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Cahill London Faces More Partner Exits as Duo Leaves for Proskauer
There will be just two partners in Cahill’s London office after the departures.
Proskauer Brings On A&O Shearman Partner Pair
According to people with knowledge of the situation, Philip Bowden, co-head of A&O Shearman’s private capital division, and Megan Lawrence, partner in leveraged finance, are planning to join Proskauer after just two months at A&O Shearman.
Top-Ranked Cleary Global Antitrust Practice Adds CMA Director of Mergers in London
Former UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Director of Mergers, Ricardo Zimbrón is rejoining Cleary Gottlieb as a partner.
New family law partner at Gore & Grimes Solicitors
Niamh Walsh has been promoted to partner in the family law department of Gore & Grimes Solicitors LLP, a Dublin-based practice.
EMEA
Simpson Thacher Hires White & Case Finance Partner to Lead European Private Credit Team
In the wake of the loss of two significant private equity partners last year, Hadrien Servais is the most recent addition to the finance practice.
Herbert Smith Freehills Hires Pair of Paris TMT Leaders from Eversheds
Emmanuel Ronco and Vincent Denoyelle, partners at HSF, will guide clients through an increasingly digital environment.
It should come as no surprise that Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh have seen the most activity; Dubai has had a notably higher number of lawyers moves than any other city. In Dubai, there were fifteen noteworthy lawyer movements, as opposed to three in Abu Dhabi and four in Riyadh.
Bowmans appoints competition law partner with deep pan-African experience
Pan-African competition law expert HB Senekal has joined prominent African international law firm Bowmans as a partner in its Johannesburg competition practice.
APAC
K&L Gates Picks Up Three Australian Partners
Simon Moen, a real estate partner, and Luke Paterson, a corporate partner, join the firm from Jackson McDonald’s Perth office. Sally Foreman, an IP partner, arrives from Davies Collison Cave, a specialized IP firm.
Addleshaw Goddard Makes Second Singapore Partner Hire in a Month
Additionally, Addleshaw Goddard appointed energy specialist Chanaka Kumarasinghe as the company’s head of Singapore last month.
Baker McKenzie Corporate and Construction Partners Depart for Australian Firms
Construction partner Alex Hartmann is set to relocate to national mid-tier Hall & Wilcox, while senior corporate partner Jim Peterson has vaulted to Clayton Utz, where he will act as a consultant.
CMS Hires Ex-Mayer Brown Hong Kong Funds Partner
Paul Moloney has joined the firm’s funds and real estate division, where he will provide regulatory and public fund creation guidance to asset managers, financial institutions, and family offices.
AZB adds TTA antitrust partner in Delhi
AZB & Partners has continued its antitrust growth with the addition of partner Dinoo Muthappa from Talwar Thakore & Associates in New Delhi.
HK: Ex-Gall disputes partner joins Facey as practice head
Hong Kong law firm Facey & Associates has hired Nick Dealy as a partner and head of its commercial litigation and dispute resolution practice.
Khaitan Boosts Employment Group with Induslaw Partner Duo
The employment practice of Indian legal firm Khaitan & Co. has been strengthened with the addition of two partners from IndusLaw. Vaibhav Bhardwaj joins the company in Delhi, while Avik Biswas joins in Bengaluru.
Former Luthra Disputes Partner Joins JSA in Delhi
With the addition of disputes partner Shreya Sircar in Delhi in 2024, J. Sagar Associates has maintained a strong hiring trend. Most recently, she was a partner at the Luthra and Luthra Law offices.
The Americas
Connecticut Movers: Carter Mario and Hinckley Allen Announce Hires, Laterals
Prior to joining Haddad & Partners, Cayer advanced through the ranks to become COO and CEO of the business. Daniel D’Aprile, Jr. and Thomas B. Mitchell were once partners at McElroy Deutsch.
Vinson & Elkins Adds Kirkland Finance Partner in Dallas,
East Berhane, a finance partner at Kirkland & Ellis, became a partner at Vinson & Elkins in Dallas.
Simpson Thacher Hire M&A Partner in NY
Benjamin Heriaud, a capital markets and M&A partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, became a partner at Vinson & Elkins in New York.
Recruiting from SDNY, Cahill Boosts White-Collar Group with Prosecutor Hire
For the previous eight years, Kiersten Fletcher worked for the DOJ, where she held a senior role in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force of the Southern District of New York.
Kelley Kronenberg Adds Vice President of Real Estate Client Services
Brandon McGee has joined the company as vice president of real estate client services, according to a statement from Kelley Kronenberg.
Manatt Hires 2 Financial Services Partners in SoCal
New hire Warren Biro said “Realistically, we have a bunch of clients who want to deploy capital, and they’ve not been able to.”
People in the News—July 2, 2024—Pietragallo Gordon, Eckert Seamans
Josh Hill has joined Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, expanding the firm’s Philadelphia office.
Weil, Seeking to Expand Private Funds Group, Adds Mayer Brown Partner
Weil’s Michael Aiello stated that the firm is “strategically expanding our private funds practice” and Kristine Koren’s arrival “adds new depth to our capabilities.
On The Move: Kilpatrick Names Veteran Lawyers to Lead Core IP Practice
This Monday, the Atlanta-based Am Law 100 firm appointed Jennifer Arkowitz, an Atlanta-born partner, as the new chair of the firm’s primary intellectual property department. According to ALM data, this department employs almost half of Kilpatrick’s 570 lawyers.
Investment Story Continues, as Lathrop, Snell and Spencer Fane Bring on Laterals
Second Hundred firms seem to be adding lawyers at a faster rate and may be making investments for the future, while Am Law 100 firms are looking for lateral partners with substantial books of business.
On the Move and After Hours: Tanenbaum Keale; Warden Law; Goldberg Segalla; Sills Cummis; Archer
Sills Cummis names summer associates, Tanenbaum Keale gets a partner, and there are more changes.
Brazil’s Demarest Lures M&A Partner from BMA Advogados
Lisbon native Maria da Paz Tierno Lopes has over twenty years of experience managing cross-border transactions. She was the head of the Cuatrecasas office in São Paulo before.
California Law Firms Broaden Intellectual Property Ranks with New Partner Hires
As businesses start to realize how important it is to safeguard their assets, there is a growing need for intellectual property litigation, according to Jason Gersting, a recently hired partner at Snell & Wilmer.
In house
AIG Deputy GC Joins Paychex as Legal Chief
Although Prabha Sipi Bhandari has held senior legal positions at Viacom, Deutsche Bank, Freddie Mac, and AIG, this is her first position as a company’s top lawyer.
University of Chicago’s GC Exiting to Take Legal Reins of Another Elite Private School
A decade ago, Kim Taylor assumed the legal leadership of the University of Chicago, having previously worked for over two decades at Kirkland & Ellis.
Southwest Airlines Alum Locks Up GC Role at $10B Company
It is the third general counsel position that Stacy Cozad has held and her second in the manufacturing sector.
US Treasury General Counsel With 5-Star Resume Departs
Neil MacBride revealed on LinkedIn that last week marked the end of his tenure with the Treasury department, and that he “was so honoured to spend the last several years working with the incredible 2,000 lawyers in the Treasury Legal Division.”
Australian social housing non-profit Home in Place hires ex-Thorn Group GC as company secretary
After the sale of Thorn Group’s commercial finance division at the conclusion of the previous year, Alexandra Rose departed the company.
Team Moves
Nelson Mullins Adds Tax Controversy Team from Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Houston
Nine attorneys from Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry tax controversy joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Houston, bringing the total number of attorneys in the new office to 25.
Dentons Scales Up in Utah with 7-Lawyer Team from Armstrong Teasdale
Just two attorneys remain in Armstrong Teasdale’s 2020 opening Salt Lake City office following the group acquisition.
Midsize Moves: Rubin and Rudman Add 4 From Burns & Levinson,
Four new attorneys, all of whom were formerly with Burns & Levinson, were added to the firm, as stated by Rubin and Rudman.
Baker McKenzie Raids Cliffe Dekker for 5-Lawyer Banking & Finance Team in South Africa
Phetole Modika and Pitso Kortjaas lead the team and are partners with Baker McKenzie.
Growing Littler Toronto Office Gets 5-Lawyer Boost
Gerald Griffiths, a partner in Littler’s rapidly expanding Toronto office, and four other attorneys are joining the team.
BonelliErede Adds Four-Lawyer PwC Team in Rome
The financial regulation practice of the Italian law firm in the Italian capital now includes a team managed by a partner.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Covington Creates AI Director Role Focused on ‘Demystifying’ Tech for Lawyers
Todd Itami exclaimed that the to-do list includes AI training inside Covington, “making it not as crazy or hard to use this stuff or think about.”
Clifford Chance Dismisses Australia Partner After Misconduct Investigation
The company has engaged Australia’s former commissioner for sexual harassment to assess its work environment.
Australian Law Survey Reveals Persistent Gender Pay Gap, LGBQ+ Data
Data shows consistent gender wage disparities in the legal profession in New South Wales across all age groups, and also includes first-time reporting on LGBQ+ attorneys.
Dentons Attains ‘Menopause Friendly’ Status
Dentons is among the select few UK-based legal companies to obtain accreditation; the other recipients are Clifford Chance, Burness Paul, Wrigleys Solicitors, and Mewburn Ellis.
Financials:
Paul Weiss Matches Market Leading London NQ Pay, Launches Training Contract
The company becomes the industry leader in NQ compensation, joining the ranks of Quinn Emanuel and Gibson, Dunn.
What 10 Years of Experience Costs in the Am Law 100 Today
The cost of an admitted 2014 attorney could range from $1,695 to $530, depending on the company you choose.
Osborne Clarke PEP Recovers After 2023 Slump
In August, the firm will offer its top performers in the UK bonuses of up to 40% paid over three years.
Kennedys Revenue Jumps 17%, Attributes Growth to US Expansion
The company reported revenue of £384 million this year, a 17% increase over the previous year.
Fieldfisher Posts Double Digit Revenue Growth, Modest PEP Recovery
Fieldfisher reported a 36% rise in revenue for the firm’s regulatory practice this year.
HFW Latest Firm to Post Double-Digit Revenue Growth
Almost 60% of HFW’s total revenue is currently generated outside the U.K, the firm said.
Raft of City firms up NQ salaries amid ongoing pay war
Pay increases announced by HSF, DLA Piper, and HFW coincide with Paul Weiss’s introduction of a new UK training contract that offers its NQs a market-beating £180k.
Promotions & Appointments:
People in the News—July 1, 2024—Hamburg Rubin, Saxton & Stump
William G. Roark has been chosen president of the board of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP), according to a statement released by Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin.
VW Legal Veteran Known as Bridge-Builder Promoted to US General Counsel
Pablo Di Si, the CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, described Antony Klapper as “collaborative, proactive, and full of team spirit, and that’s in addition to his wealth of knowledge and experience in the automotive industry.”
Schenck Price Promotes New Managing Partner
On June 17, Gary Werner was replaced by John Ursin.
Priyesh Daya appointed to ICC Court of Arbitration
Priyesh Daya, a lawyer at the prestigious South African law firm Webber Wentzel, was just named to the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for a three-year term that will start on July 1, 2024.
Tughans appoints two partners and five associate directors
Ben Sims, who works in the corporate law department of the business, and Paul Eastwood, who handles contracts and technology, are the new partners.
Anne Marie James appointed DRCC chairperson
She is the managing partner of Kirwan McKeown James Solicitors in addition to being a practicing attorney. In addition, she ran on a platform that included marriage equality and the abolition of the Eighth Amendment.
Mergers & Alliances:
After Law Firm Merger Activity Rose Again, Combinations Expected to Increase Into 2025
Fairfax’s Kristin Stark said the big picture here, is a “higher level of interest and merger discussion activity.” As a result, “we feel pretty confident we’re going to see an uptick in completed mergers for the rest of the year.”
In the first half of 2024, the top-ranked M&A law firms handled larger acquisitions; the combined deal values of Skadden, Kirkland, Latham, and Paul Weiss exceeded $200 billion.
Jones Walker Looking for ‘Natural Marriages’ With Existing Practices to Grow Atlanta Office
After sixteen years, William Underwood, the boss of the recently opened Atlanta branch, anticipates growth for the New Orleans-founded firm’s only Georgia operation.
Major Firms Line-Up on BlackRock’s £2.6B Acquisition of UK Data Company Preqin
It is the most recent instance of an asset manager or buyout company with its headquarters in the US purchasing assets in the UK.
Multibillion-Euro Transactions Drive M&A Surge with Skadden, Freshfields at the Helm
Leading legal firms are driving multibillion-euro agreements in Europe and the US as a surge of megadeals shakes up the M&A scene.
Swiss Law Firm Merger Creates Corporate Dynamo
The new Swiss company is connected to both Latham & Watkins and Bird & Bird in a unique way.
Office Openings & Closing:
Armstrong Teasdale Withdraws from Salt Lake City
On Tuesday Managing partner Richard Engel said, “Salt Lake City is a great legal market and a fantastic city, but it’s not the right time for us to be there”. The firm first opened there in April 2020.
Hanson Bridgett Expands California Presence with New Downtown LA Office
Hanson Bridgett’s Raffi Zerounian said, “At our current space, we actually had to take a further addition as we grew, just to have enough space to fit our team and service our clients”. “The office keeps growing.”
Former Eckert Seamans Partner Launches Cyberlaw Boutique
Gabriel Tese said, “We wanted to address the growing demand for cyber and technology-related legal issues”.
Texas Litigation Firm Thompson Coe Launches NYC, Honolulu Offices
The Dallas-based litigation firm, which has concentrated its practice on the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest, is expanding significantly to the east and west with the new offices.
Dechert to Close Chicago, Hong Kong and Beijing Offices
In a statement, the company stated that the three locations will close “around the end of 2024.”
Dechert shuts Frankfurt arm ahead of impending Chicago, Beijing and Hong Kong closures
The renowned Tower 185 served as the home base for the Frankfurt office, which began operations in 2012. It was closed in April. Similar to the soon-to-close offices of the company in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Chicago, this one was also one of the smaller ones.
Eversheds Mulls Beijing Closure
Although Eversheds and King & Wood Mallesons signed an exclusive collaboration last year, it was not anticipated that Eversheds would alter its offices in China. The company is hoping to open in Singapore in the interim.
Armstrong Teasdale to Sever Ties with London Office
When the firm’s London launch was announced in 2021 the firm said: “London is the financial industry capital of Europe, if not the world.”
Baker McKenzie Acquires RHQ Saudi License & Majority Interest in Local Firm
Senior legal consultant Karim Nassar will oversee the company’s RHQ, which will be situated in Riyadh.
Signature Litigation announces Frankfurt office launch with Mayer Brown partner hires
The commercial disputes business Signature Litigation, with its headquarters in London, has announced the opening of a new office in Frankfurt, Germany. Ulrich Helm and Dr. Jan Kraayvanger, partners, have joined the firm from Mayer Brown.
Technology & Innovation:
Navigating the Use of AI Tools in Legal Practice Before Pa.’s Federal District Courts
As reputable legal research firms like LexisNexis and Westlaw introduce AI-assisted research features and as big tech companies incorporate AI into their products, the usage of AI in the legal profession is growing.
Gen AI Document Search Startup Hebbia Raises $100M, Hires New Head of Legal
Venture capital company Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has made another investment in legal technology through Hebbia’s Series B financing.
Tracking Generative AI: How Evolving AI Models Are Impacting Legal
A running compilation of how the legal landscape continues to be shaped by generative AI tools, from GPT technologies to art generation tools and beyond.
This Tech Platform Found Midsize Firms Needed More Recruiting Support
When Major, Lindsey & Africa purchased the digital platform Hire an Esquire in 2022, it saw an opportunity. Executive director Catherine Enck talks about the health of the recruiting industry right now and the use of technology in hiring.
Bird & Bird Joins European Firms in Opting for Leya AI Platform
Since the end of 2022, a number of companies have experimented with GenAI, but they are still choosing the right goods.
Orrick’s Paris-Based Tech Group Advises French Startups, Helping Many to Unicorn Status
The “Paris Tech Studio”—the company’s two-year-old hub—was designed to be fashioned after one Orrick built in Southern California to service Silicon Beach.
Market Commentary:
Should Mental Health Be Included in Partner Compensation?
One lawyer told the American Lawyer “Eat what you kill means you have no leeway to stop killing—no matter how bad you feel.”
Leading an Am Law 50 Office While Maintaining a Litigation Practice
Nancy Chung, chairman of Sidley Austin’s New York office; Megan Nishikawa, San Francisco; Petrina Hall McDaniel, Atlanta; and Anthony (Tony) Barkow, New York, Jenner & Block, provide some insights.
Which Law Firms Are on Course to be in the Global Elite?
Scale, profitability, and geographic reach are necessary for a breakaway group of legal practices, but few have all three.
Underperforming Partners Hurt Law Firm Profits, Survey Finds
According to a recent Edge International poll on partner performance management, two out of every three organizations expect to address partner underperformance in the next years.
Singapore’s Increased Scrutiny on Family Offices Is Creating More Work for Lawyers
Authorities are keeping a closer eye on the wealth management industry in the wake of a significant money-laundering incident, which is prompting clients to seek additional legal counsel out of concern that they might face severe penalties.
Over the past decade, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have transitioned from being peripheral considerations to becoming central tenets of corporate strategy. This shift, driven by increasing awareness of climate change, social justice, and corporate governance issues, is reshaping the corporate world. However, as companies embrace ESG principles, they are also encountering a surge in ESG-related litigation. Understanding this evolving legal landscape is crucial for businesses to navigate the complexities of corporate responsibility.
We wanted to shed some light on how this is playing out and look at the potential difficulties through the lens of litigation.
The Origins of ESG Litigation
ESG litigation has its roots in the growing demand for corporate transparency and accountability. Investors, consumers, and regulators are no longer content with mere lip service in regards to sustainability and ethical practices. They are seeking tangible commitments and results, and when these are not forthcoming, legal action can often follow.
Environmental Litigation:
Firstly, climate change has been a significant driver of environmental litigation. Companies are being held accountable for their carbon footprints, pollution, and failure to disclose climate risks. Landmark cases, where major oil companies are being sued for their contributions to global warming are becoming more common, One such example is Milieudefensie v Royal Dutch Shell in 2021 where it was determined that Shell’s sustainability policy was insufficient and the court insisted that they reduce their global emissions by 45% before 2030. These cases show the evolving legal attitude towards climate change and these precedents are becoming increasingly likely to reverberate across industries in the years to come.
Social Litigation:
Additionally, social issues, including workers rights, diversity, and human rights abuses, have also come to the forefront. Companies are increasingly facing claims for discriminatory practices or failing to uphold fair employment standards in their supply chains. The #MeToo movement has further highlighted the legal repercussions of inadequate responses to workplace harassment and discrimination. A poll for a major national trade union in England and Wales suggested that 68% of people believe that the MeToo movement has allowed individuals to be more open about sexual harassment, illustrating the impact that social litigation can have on a modern society.
Governance Litigation:
Governance-related claims often involve issues of corporate mismanagement, lack of transparency, and breaches of fiduciary duty. Shareholders are becoming more vigilant, demanding higher standards of governance, and pursuing legal action when boards and executives fail to meet these expectations. The UK Corporate Governance Code was updated in January 2024 and will come into effect in 2025 with amended provisions designed to encourage companies to report on outcomes and activities. These incoming changes and the increasingly expressed desire for companies to be explicit about their contribution to human betterment and long-term value hint at the potential impact governance related litigation could have on businesses.
Key Drivers of ESG Litigation
We can see there has been a rise in ESG litigation and also a shift towards sustainable development as a whole, but what factors are contributing to this apparent rise?
Several factors seem to be driving the growth of ESG litigation:
These factors contribute to the rising trend in ESG litigation, both individually and collectively. Consumer awareness provides an understanding of the issues at hand and offers a form of social mobility. As the saying goes, ‘the customer is king’ and in the legal profession, in particular, there is a significant impetus to maintain client satisfaction.
However, there are some who do not see the necessity of adapting to a new era of ESG litigation, claiming that the purported impact of legislation will be limited due to the complexity of court proceedings. Furthermore, the burden of proof is often placed on the disadvantaged party to suggest that they are personally affected. These parties are less likely to have the resources and mobility to successfully take on large companies and governments that joined together to seek change in that case. However, the general trend has alluded to the reality that those who are more disenfranchised are less likely to come out as victors in these types of cases. As the power usually lies in the hands of big corporations and governments, the question is: how likely would it be that these corporations adhere to corporate governance measures that impact them negatively? For these reasons, some might argue that the recent interest in ESG litigation is nothing more than a fad and does not have any real weight behind it.
But are we beginning to see more cases being decided in favour of ESG policies? Recently, the Supreme Court ruled against Surrey County Council, ruling that they should have considered the impact of climate-warming emissions in approving an oil well near Gatwick Airport. Friends of the Earth lawyer, Katie de Kauwe said that “This historic ruling is a watershed moment in the fight to stop further fossil fuel extraction projects in the UK and make the emissions cuts needed to meet crucial climate targets”. We can see from this verdict and the increasing presence of similar cases, that the future is likely to be one where ESG litigation could well be prevalent, and businesses should be concerned about how to adapt to be able to successfully navigate the changing landscape.
Navigating the Legal Landscape
To mitigate the risks associated with ESG litigation, companies must adopt proactive strategies:
One approach might be to plan a strategy to help companies navigate and ultimately mitigate these risks, but the only way to truly see change is to adopt an attitude of self-awareness. We have discussed the importance of ESG and the increasingly familiar lengths which some will go to in order to see these forms of litigation come to fruition. ESG litigation cannot simply become an afterthought to executives and decision makers within large organisations. To abide by this new way of operating, all behaviours that the company engage in need to be in accordance with the spirit of ESG; this is not a change that can be imparted overnight and will take time and, above all else, willingness to do so.
Additionally, many companies are likely to struggle with these changes when confronted with the reality that these developments are likely to damage their bottom line. The cases we have discussed tend to feature the idea that companies are failing to consider the effects of climate change or the negative impacts their practices could have on it.
The Future of ESG Litigation in the Legal Sector
As ESG principles continue to permeate the corporate world, ESG litigation will likely become a more prominent feature of the business landscape. The Wolters Kluwer Future Ready Lawyer Survey (2022) found that 50% of law firms across Europe and the US reported that they created an ESG practice area in the three years prior. Companies that fail to adapt to this risk significant legal and reputational damage, especially given that 67% of legal departments are now asking their law firms to provide their ESG policies and sustainability credentials, showing that this topic is deemed as important to clients as well as to those within the legal sector. Adrian Peyer the CEO of Impactvise stated that…
“Law firms need to get their own house in order if they do not want to run the risk of losing and not attracting new clients, “Until now, the ESG performance of a law firm has been ‘a nice to have’, but 2023 and beyond will move it to ‘a need to have”.
It is not far-fetched to imagine that those who proactively embrace ESG standards and demonstrate genuine commitment to sustainability and ethical practices will not only mitigate litigation risks but also position themselves as leaders in the new era of corporate responsibility.
To Summarise, the escalating trend in ESG litigation signals an imperative for companies to embed Environmental, Social, and Governance principles within their strategic framework. This integration is not merely a compliance exercise but a proactive manoeuvre to steer through the multifaceted landscape of corporate accountability. Companies that successfully align their operations with ESG imperatives are poised to not only mitigate legal risks but also build resilient, future-proof businesses, fostering sustainable growth that benefits both society and the environment. This foresight positions companies at the forefront of this transformative era, where corporate responsibility and sustainable value creation are fundamentally intertwined.
Increasingly, the ESG talent pool is becoming well defined. There is no single skillset that has enabled individuals to transition into ESG roles, in fact, the legislation captures a range of topics that means a degree of relearning needs to take place. Increasingly, ESG roles are determined by the reporting line of the function and can vary depending on the organisations internal structure. The role of a lawyer in the context of managing ESG related risk is undeniably an increasing priority for corporates.
If you would like to discuss your own career in ESG or the growth of your team, please reach out to Sershen Ingram – sershen@fidessearch.com
Technology & Innovation:
Generative AI is transforming various aspects of our lives, from writing emails and LinkedIn posts to creating whimsical images of pets as medieval royalty, revolutionizing corporate industries, and producing convincing deepfakes of politicians. As the landscape rapidly changes, many wonder about the future of generative AI. Is it taking over? Its integration into our daily routines suggests it might be. However, a more intriguing question to consider is, “What exactly does generative AI make of us?”
Ashurst Rolls Out Harvey AI to All Lawyers and Offices
Ashurst has rolled out generative AI platform Harvey across all its offices worldwide, providing access to all its lawyers and business services staff.
Big Law Firms, Seeking ‘Seat at the Table,’ Join AI Safety Consortium in US
Law firms including Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, DLA Piper, Clifford Chance and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips are all members of the AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC), which also includes large corporations, AI creators, academics, industry researchers, nonprofits and others in addressing AI safety.
Tracking Generative AI: How Evolving AI Models Are Impacting Legal
In late 2022, commercially available generative artificial intelligence tools saw an exponential increase in sophistication and ability, taking the legal world by storm. As the underlying models continue to involve and improve, these tools will become more powerful—increasing both their applicability to legal work and their implications for existing law in the process.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Paul Hastings Boosts London Finance Offering With Weil Partner Hire
Paul Hastings has bolstered its London finance practice by recruiting Reena Gogna, a leveraged finance partner from U.S.-led rival Weil, Gotshal and Manges. Gogna, who has spent nearly a decade at Weil’s banking and finance practice, will join Paul Hastings in the coming weeks. Before her tenure at Weil, she was a partner at Latham & Watkins for over 11 years and began her legal career as a solicitor at Slaughter & May, where she worked for four years.
EMEA
Eversheds Sutherland Hires Osborne Clarke Partner to Boost Real Estate Practice
Eversheds Sutherland has recruited a partner from Osborne Clarke’s Amsterdam office to strengthen its corporate real estate capabilities in the Netherlands. Berend Zwart joined Osborne Clarke in 2018, according to his LinkedIn profile, after a decade at NautaDutilh and a brief period at RechtStaete Vastgoedadvocaten & Belastingadviseurs, a specialized Dutch firm of property attorneys and tax consultants.
APAC
Dentons Hires Construction Partner from Australian Firm
Global law firm Dentons has recruited a construction partner from an Australian firm to expand its Melbourne office. Nathan Abbott, formerly with Colin Biggers & Paisley, brings expertise in construction and engineering law, advising on major projects and handling significant disputes.
King & Wood Mallesons IP partner Cassidy Guo has left after two years to join Baker McKenzie’s joint operation in China, FenXun Partners.
In Hong Kong, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired Tony Chow to lead its contentious insolvency practice in Greater China. Chow, formerly the director of restructuring and insolvency at King & Wood Mallesons, strengthens Freshfields’ restructuring team.
Offshore firm Appleby has added Ben McCosker to its Shanghai office. McCosker joins from Mayer Brown, where he was a Hong Kong-based counsel.
Simmons & Simmons has brought on Lijun Chui as a new dispute resolution partner in Singapore. Chui, previously a partner at Bird & Bird, specializes in cross-border commercial disputes and investigations in the TMT and financial sectors, including cybersecurity and data issues.
Ashurst has revamped its Indian practice with the hires of Kalpana Unadkat and Shishir Mehta from Khaitan & Co. They will co-head Ashurst’s India practice from London.
In Japan, Atsumi & Sakai has appointed Dio Inoue as a new partner. Inoue, formerly head of legal at Guardant Health, advises on medical, healthcare, and pharmaceutical matters, including IP, licensing, data protection, and unfair competition.
Baker McKenzie Veteran Joins Japanese Firm Amid International Talent Drive
Baker McKenzie’s long time banking partner Akiko Hosokawa has defected to Japanese firm Atsumi & Sakai.
The Americas
Freshfields Hires Skadden’s New York Head of Tax
Freshfields Bruckhaus & Deringer has added Steven Matays, the head of the New York tax practice at Skadden, Arps, Meagher, Slate & Flom, the international firm said Thursday.
LatAm Hires: DLA Piper, Demarest Hire in Brazil; Clyde & Co Adds Tax Muscle in Chile
Brazil’s Demarest Advogados, one of Latin America’s largest full-service law firms, has strengthened its tax practice by recruiting Jerry Levers de Abreu from cross-town rival TozziniFreire Advogados.
LatAm Hires: DLA Piper, Demarest Hire in Brazil; Clyde & Co Adds Tax Muscle in Chile
DLA Piper’s newly launched São Paulo office has expanded with the addition of Violeta Libergott, a New York-licensed M&A counsel with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and private equity transactions involving Latin American markets.
LatAm Hires: DLA Piper, Demarest Hire in Brazil; Clyde & Co Adds Tax Muscle in Chile
Clyde & Co has bolstered its presence in Chile by hiring Cristóbal Cibie as legal director. Cibie, a well-known tax lawyer with experience at international firms like EY and Baker McKenzie, specializes in cross-border transactions, project finance, and advising large corporations.
Paul Hastings Launches Privacy, Cybersecurity Team in Dallas With Akin Practice Leader
Michelle Reed, a co-head of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s cybersecurity, privacy and data protection practice, joined Paul Hastings as a partner in Dallas, where she intends to build a large team.
Davis Polk Lands White & Case Partner to Co-Head Infrastructure Finance Practice
Davis, Polk & Wardwell has brought on White & Case partner Elena Millerman in New York as a partner and co-head of its infrastructure finance practice, the firm said Monday.
Weil Lands Willkie Real Estate Practice Co-Chair
Weil lands longtime Willkie real estate partner Thomas Henry to lead its U.S. real estate practice.
Consumer Finance Law Enforcer Takes Private Practice Job at Morgan Lewis
Alice Hrdy spent three decades in government service and had been at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since the agency’s inception in 2010.
Porzio Bromberg Hires Chicago-Based Attorney to Launch New Tech Practice
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman is launching a new technology practice, bringing on Jill Williamson, previously the managing attorney of the Seattle office of Eastern Washington-brd Gravis Law, to spearhead the firm’s dive into blockchain and cryptocurrency work.
In house
Former Vodafone GC Joins Deloitte Legal
Deloitte Legal has hired Vodafone Group’s former general counsel in London. Rosemary Martin was Vodafone’s GC for more than 12 years, having joined the telecoms giant in 2010, retiring in 2022.
Partner at Leading Dutch Firm to Become Netherlands’ State Secretary for Legal Protection
A longtime banking and finance partner at one of the Netherlands’ largest firms is set to become the country’s next state secretary for legal protection. Teun Struycken, a partner in NautaDutilh’s Amsterdam office, was put forward for the role by NSC, a center-right Dutch party.
Team Moves
Paul Hastings Expands in Paris With Partner-Led, 12-Lawyer White-Collar Litigation Team
Paul Hastings is bringing on a 12-lawyer, three-partner global litigation team from a prominent litigation and investigations boutique in Paris. The group is led by veteran white-collar and investigations partner Antonin Lévy, who brings along partners Ophélia Claude and Joris Monin de Flaugergues, both also joining as partners. They will be accompanied by nine associates.
Baker McKenzie Raids Cliffe Dekker for 5-Lawyer Banking & Finance Team in S. Africa
International law firm Baker McKenzie has hired a five-lawyer banking and finance team from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) in Johannesburg as part of the firm’s expansion plan.
Lerisha Naidu, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg managing partner, said the new joiners have an impeccable track record of leading in banking and finance transactions in Africa.
Financials:
Paul Weiss Matches Market Leading London NQ Pay, Launches Training Contract
Paul Weiss has introduced a new U.K. training contract, supporting its rapid expansion in London. The firm will offer newly qualified lawyers £180,000, matching the top pay of U.S. firms Quinn Emanuel and Gibson Dunn.
Macfarlanes Introduces Largest Percentage NQ Pay Increase Yet
Macfarlanes has joined the fray in the latest NQ pay war by increasing its newly qualified salaries to £140,000 from £115,000, the biggest proportionate rise so far.
Stephenson Harwood Gets Results Season Underway, Revenue up 16%
Stephenson Harwood has kicked off the financial results season, posting a 16% rise in revenues and a 10% increase in net profit for the financial year ending April 2024. The firm recorded revenues of £264.2 million, while net profit is up to just over £90 million, an additional £7.6 million on last year’s showing. Meanwhile, profit per equity partner has also increased to £775,000, an uplift of 7%.
Billing Rate Hikes ‘Not Slowing Down,’ With Pricing Surges Expected in 2024
About 86% of large firms in the U.S. and U.K. expect to increase billing rates over the next 12 months, according to new survey results.
Promotions & Appointments:
ICC International Arbitration Court’s 1st-Ever Woman President Reelected
Claudia Salomon, a former arbitration partner at Latham & Watkins in New York, has been re-elected for a second three-year term as president of the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration in Paris.
Fish & Richardson Looks To Steady Growth in DC Under New Leadership
Richard Sterba has been named as office managing principal of Fish & Richardson’s D.C. office. Sterba succeeds Lauren Degnan, who will focus on co-leading the firm’s newly formed appellate group.
Mergers & Alliances:
China’s Grandall Launches Office Duo in Madrid, Malaysia
Grandall Law Firm has broken into the Malaysia market via a tie up with local practice Richard Wee Chambers in Kuala Lumpur. The Chinese firm’s latest launch in Southeast Asia follows its recent opening in Madrid.
Market Commentary:
What You Need to Know: Cooley Lawyers on 4 Things Changing Arbitration
As we enter mid-2024, Cooley’s arbitration chair Charlie Lightfoot and associate Juan Nascimbene highlight four key developments shaping the field for 2025.
Partner Poached by Paul Weiss: ‘This Is the Most Exciting Place to Be Right Now’
Latin America practice lead Leticia Ossa Daza discusses why she made the leap after a long run at Willkie Farr. “As a lawyer, this is the most exciting place to be right now,” Ossa Daza told Law.com International after the move. “The way they look at clients and add value to them creates a stickiness that goes beyond legal work.”
Is the ‘Magic Circle’ Dead, Or Just Different?
Today, it’s widely understood that the ‘Magic Circle’ brand is outdated; if observers came to the market anew, it’s unlikely they’d identify the quartet as particularly deserving of special designation. But…the four do still rank top for U.K. revenue.
Simpson Thacher, Kirkland, Latham Lead UK Revenue Per Lawyer Rankings
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Weil, Gotshal and Manges lead the rankings, as they did last year, in a table calculated by dividing the largest 30 firms’ U.K.-only revenues by their U.K. lawyer headcount.
US Firms Rising? The Law Firms with the Largest UK Market Share, 2024
Law.com International launches the latest ranking of the top 30 law firms in London, irrespective of where they are headquartered.
Japan’s PE Market Is the Bright Spot That Asia Needs. But Will Law Firms Step Up to the Plate?
Private equity is thriving in Japan, in part because the weak Japanese yen has made local assets incredibly appealing to foreign investors. Foreign law firms want a piece of the action.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Pride Month: The Importance of Visibility, Not Just Transparency, in the Workplace
During Pride month, the importance of workplace transparency is widely discussed. Despite growing awareness about the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the legal profession, many lawyers still hesitate to disclose their LGBTQ+ identity at work.
A Linklaters Partner Shares On Her Pride Journey
Aditi Srivastava, a Linklaters lifer, is a partner in the firm’s structured finance practice. She first made partner in 2022, is currently based in the firm’s London practice, but has also spent time in Dubai. The firm describes Srivastava as “passionate” about diversity and inclusion matters, having been involved in a variety of the firm’s LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Ranked: The Best Law Firms for Junior Lawyer LGBTQ+ Representation
Representation of people identifying as LGBTQ+ at associate and trainee level continues to outpace partner level, fresh U.K. data shows, as U.S. law firms once again dominate tables.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Daniel Abebe to Become First Black Dean of Columbia Law School
In a letter announcing his arrival, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik described Abebe as “an impressive and experienced academic leader.”
‘Hiding Since I Was Eight Years Old’: Ashurst’s First Openly Transgender Woman Shares Her Story
Senior test analyst at Ashurst Bridgette Metior shares her challenges and successes during Pride Month 2024.
Recently appointed global co-chair of international arbitration at Herbert Smith Freehills, Simon Chapman KC discusses what it’s been like for him to work in an open and accepting atmosphere as a homosexual man.
Mindful of Risks, Holland & Knight’s New Diversity Partner Aims to Maintain ‘Robust’ Strategy
O’Kelly McWilliams takes on the role Tiffani Lee, who held the role since 2008 but was recently promoted to deputy managing partner.
Daniel Gerring, a partner at Travers Smith and a seasoned LGBTQ+ advocate, talks with Legal Business about why it’s critical for legal firms to avoid complacency and how they should keep pushing for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Women legal professionals team up to promote ‘menopause-friendly’ workplace
Managed by eight lawyers and legal business professionals, #menopausematters has published a guide which highlights their personal experiences alongside advice for employers.
Technology & Innovation:
AI Is Old News, Get Ready for Quantum Computing
While artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more commonplace in the legal industry, quantum computing—a new and potentially more disruptive technology—is rapidly approaching.
The application of AI tools needs to be done so cautiously in the absence of clear legal guidelines. This article discusses some of the concerns around user and transaction privacy that businesses and consumers of AI apps should be aware of.
AI Tips in the Legal World: A Paralegal’s Perspective
Melissa Acosta-Amarante believes that AI “can’t replace paralegal professionals, but it is a tool we have to aid us and assist us with our work”.
AI Gold Rush: Are We Repeating the Dot-Com Bubble?
The current AI bubble and the dot-com boom share many similarities, including a cycle of technological progress, consumer enthusiasm, and speculative investment that frequently marks pivotal moments in tech history.
Allens Study Reveals Risks of Using AI for Legal Advice
Allens’ Miriam Stiel said, “I just thought that was quite staggering, that it could not only just get it wrong, but actually change things to make it look much more reliable.”
What Should GCs Be Doing to Prepare for the EU AI Act?
The Artificial Intelligence Act’s extraterritorial reach is one reason why international businesses looking to expand into the EU must be aware of the ramifications.
As Law Firm Tech Options Grow, Keep It People-Focused, Accessible, Urge Tech Experts
Scott Milner of Morgan Lewis suggested using a kind of hands-on empathy to encourage staff members to adopt new technology or methods of operation.
The AI Advantage: Stay Ahead or Fall Behind
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is dynamic, always changing and improving with each new version that offers more advanced features and enhanced functionality. It is a mistake to wait for AI to reach its pinnacle of development before implementing it.
Mergers & Alliances:
Smokeball Launches Free Product Partnership with Texas State Bar
The Texas State Bar will be the first in the nation to offer free membership access to Smokeball’s trust accounting software to all of its members thanks to a special relationship.
White & Case, Latham Advise on Saudi Aramco’s $11.2 Billion Share Offering
Since Saudi Aramco’s 2019 initial public offering, Aramco’s secondary offering is the largest equity capital markets offering in the Middle East.
Africa Deal Round-up: A&O Shearman, Dentons Lead on $1.3B Morocco Project
Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May are advising parties on the sale of a majority share in Guinness Nigeria in another deal in Nigeria.
Linklaters and Kirkland Lead on $1.8B Tate & Lyle Transaction
Additionally, Weil Gotshal and Skadden, have joined a $1.9 billion private equity transaction.
Simpson Thacher, Anderson Mori Advise Blackstone on $1.7B Offer for Japanese Comic Company
In recent months, the Japanese market has been flooded with assets up for sale as local holding corporations try to reduce their portfolio and concentrate on their core offers and assets.
Javerbaum Wurgaft Announces Begelman & Orlow Merger
Eric G. Kahn, Managing Shareholder said, “We are thrilled to be adding these seasoned attorneys and unique practice areas to our Firm”.
SRA issues warning over law firm mergers
Law firms engaged in their own mergers or acquisitions have received a fresh warning from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stating that they need to prioritize their customers’ interests and perform sufficient due diligence.
Skadden, Weil shepherd Honeywell’s $1.9bn CAES acquisition
For its $1.9 billion acquisition of the defence technology business CAES Systems from Advent International, which is receiving advice from Weil Gotshal & Manges, Honeywell is represented by Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Cadwalader duo join Greenberg Traurig in London
Today, GT announced the addition of newly appointed Of Counsel William Lo, a former associate at Cadwalader, to its finance and restructuring practice as a shareholder, along with real estate finance partner Duncan Hubbard. Hubbard oversaw the London real estate finance team at Norton Rose Fulbright before both attorneys joined the company at the beginning of 2019.
William Fry recruits’ technology consultant Susan Walsh
Susan Walsh has been hired as a consultant by William Fry to work in the company’s IT department. Ms Walsh specialises in commercial and technology law.
Cleaver Fulton Rankin expands employment and immigration team
The employment and immigration division at Cleaver Fulton Rankin, a commercial law company in Northern Ireland, has grown with the addition of trainee solicitor Ashleigh Wilson and associate director George Kilpatrick.
Walkers appoints Jody Toner as head of real estate
Jody Toner, a partner and the leader of Walkers’ Irish real estate business, has returned to the international law firm.
EMEA
Curtis Expands in Italy, Hiring Veteran Corporate, Compliance Partner in Rome
Gianluca Cattani headed the corporate and compliance division for nearly twenty-four years at Studio Legale Delfino e Associati, an associate of Willkie Farr & Gallagher in Italy.
Dentons Lures Mayer Brown Paris Partner; McDermott Names German Managing Partner
McDermott has appointed Matthias Kampshoff as its managing partner for Germany and Joydeep Sengupta, a partner at Mayer Brown, has joined Dentons’ Paris litigation and dispute resolution group to establish and oversee the compliance and investigations team..
Latham Brings Back Partner After 14 Months at Linklaters
Guccione became a partner at Latham in 2020 and departed in May 2023 to join Linklaters.
APAC
Long-time HFW partner joins Addleshaws as SG head
Energy specialist Chanaka Kumarasinghe, who has spent his whole 22-year career with HFW, has been appointed as the head of Addleshaw Goddard’s Singapore office.
Pag GC to Join MoFo Tokyo as Partner
The appointment of seasoned corporate attorney Gregory Salathé as a partner based in Tokyo will enable Morrison & Foerster to expand its M&A and private equity businesses throughout Asia. Salathé, who is now a partner and group general counsel at investment manager PAG, will join the company in September.
Ex-Trowers KL Senior Associate Returns as SG Partner
Cassandra Lim, a former senior associate at Trowers & Hamlins’ Kuala Lumpur office, has rejoined the UK law firm as a corporate partner in Singapore.
HSF Names Returnee as Tokyo Construction Disputes Head
Ben Jolley, who formerly had an in house position at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), has returned to Herbert Smith Freehills, a global law firm, to lead its construction disputes in Tokyo.
The Americas
People in the News—June 17, 2024—Gawthrop Greenwood, MacElree Harvey
Gawthrop Greenwood, a legal company, reported that Michael Naseef, who has been a partner there since June 1st, is joining to focus on real estate and corporate law.
Two attorneys from McKuin Frankel Whitehead’s entertainment department have joined Weinstein Senior, which has announced its growth; McGlinchey Stafford has announced the arrival of Shanlon Wu, who will join the firm as a member (partner) in its Washington D.C. office.
Martin Eid and Katie Weiss, partners in structured finance, have returned to King & Spalding. They join the New York office’s Finance and Restructuring practice area.
Milbank Lands Chief Trial Counsel at FTC Amid Growth in Antitrust, Regulatory Practices
Milbank’s Fiona Schaeffer said “Over the past few years, we have really had incredible growth in the antitrust and regulatory practice. Strategically, James Weingarten fits in as a first chair. And we do a lot of deal work and M&A, and James helps in those areas as well”.
Cadwalader, recruiting from Mayer Brown, Adds Securitization and Financial Regulatory Partner
According to Christopher Horn, he intends to counsel the current clientele of his new business in addition to bringing along a few of his existing clients to Cadwalader.
Perkins Coie Hires K&L Gates Partner as Private Capital Chair
Jacquie Duval was recently appointed chair of Private Capital and Fund Formation at Perkins Coie in New York. With more than ten years of experience, Jacquie offers advice to private foundations, venture funds, family offices, and private equity organizations.
Paul Hastings Adds Vinson & Elkins Litigation Partner in Dallas
Partner Manuel Berrelez of Vinson & Elkins joins the substantial financial team that migrated to Paul Hastings in Dallas and Houston in March at the company’s Dallas location.
Mayer Brown Recruits Gibson Dunn Partner to Co-Lead Employment Litigation Practice
Matthew Ingber, managing partner of the firm’s New York office stated that Gabrielle Levin’s addition is “a clear indication of our commitment to developing a versatile practice in New York”.
Shutts & Bowen Rehires Tallahassee Partner Who Left in 2023 to Help Found Boutique
With the support of a former Florida Supreme Court justice, a former general counsel to Governor Charlie Crist, and a former managing partner of Shutts & Bowen’s Tallahassee office, Amber Nunnally left in January of last year to help start Lawson Huck Gonzalez.
LA Piper Hires Partner Pair from Reed Smith in New York
According to the company, the two offer to DLA Piper specialized knowledge pertaining to agreements with the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Morrison & Foerster Hires Ex-SEC Adviser as Governance Partner
Ryan Adams leaves Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom to join Morrison & Foerster.
Littler Brings In Third Toronto Partner in Two Months
The spring lateral rush has subsided a little, but in the past week, Littler Mendelson, Gowling WLG, and Borden Ladner Gervais have all welcomed new attorneys.
Withers Hires Veteran Commercial Litigator in New York
Stephen Younger, a commercial litigator in New York, announced on Thursday that he was moving to an international law firm, Withers, for the third time in as many years.
Cozen O’Connor, Faegre Drinker Add to State AGs Practices
In addition to former New York deputy attorney general Avi Schick, Faegre Drinker has named former Arkansas attorney general Dustin McDaniel as a co-chair of the Cozen O’Connor practice. In the past, Schick oversaw the government investigations, compliance, and enforcement practices in New York for Troutman Pepper Hamilton & Sanders.
Morrison Foerster, Gibson Dunn, DLA Piper, McGlinchey Bring on DC Lateral Partners
Steve Dixon was hired by DLA Piper from Steptoe, and Ryan Adams was brought on by Morrison Foerster from Skadden. Additionally, Victoria Lauterbach left Foley Hoag to work for Gibson Dunn.
People in the News—June 21, 2024—King Spry, Blank Rome
Rachel Sokolsky has joined the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based firm King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul’s special education legal practice.
Cox Castle Hires New Construction Litigation Partner
After working with Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald for 12 years, Robert Shaia now works for Cox Castle.
Midsize Moves: Chapman and Cutler Scoops Rivkin Radler Partner, Hall Estill Hires Two Associates
The banking and financial services division and commercial lending group of Chapman and Cutler have welcomed Michael Twersky as a partner. Hall Estill also announced the addition of Margaret White and Morgan Lawson as associates to the firm’s Oklahoma City office.
In house
Parent of Perkins, Huddle House Hires Ex-Panera GC as Legal Chief
Louis DiPietro’s employment was announced on Monday by Ascent Hospitality, the franchisor of the two businesses, which together have around 600 locations. Ascent Hospitality is based in Atlanta.
Bumble Finds Successor to Legal Chief Who Moved On in Its Own Hive
In 2018, Elizabeth Monteleone began working as legal counsel for the dating and networking app. She became chief legal officer six years later.
Paramount General Counsel Heads for Exit in Wake of Failed Merger
In a memo to her legal team departing GC Christa D’Alimonte said “Our work doesn’t often make headlines or get recognized at glitzy award shows, but you are the heart and soul of this company,”.
US tech unicorn Sigma hires first general counsel from San Francisco boutique
Ali Harmer, a San Francisco digital law boutique’s first general counsel, has joined US data analytics software business Sigma.
Team Moves
Foley Expands in Texas with 2 Jackson Walker Litigators, Jones Walker Finance Lawyer
Foley & Lardner hired Jackson Walker litigators Trey McDonald of Houston and James McFall of Dallas because their clients’ requirements were better served by a larger firm.
Financials:
The 2024 DBR 100: Ranked By Gross Revenue
In 2023, the majority of Florida businesses experienced a significant increase in sales over the prior year.
The 2024 DBR 100: Profit Per Equity Partner
In 2023, the earnings per equity partner differed significantly between companies.
The 2024 DBR 100: Ranked By Revenue Per Lawyer
The money generated per lawyer did not show substantial growth for the majority of Florida’s leading firms.
Latham Mulls ‘Super’ Points for Partner Pay, as Industry Makes ‘Tectonic’ Comp Changes
Some observers say “Super” points at Latham as well as the legal industry are gaining traction.
Promotions & Appointments:
Akin Elects Co-Chairs to Succeed Longtime Chair Kim Koopersmith
As the new co-chairs of the company, Daniel Walsh, a corporate partner in London, and Abid Qureshi, a partner in financial restructuring in New York, will apply their firm leadership backgrounds on April 1st, 2025.
Ken Enos, a partner in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, has been chosen to serve as secretary of the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors (AIRA).
Reed Smith Cements Its Focus: Meet the New Miami Managing Partner
Reed Smith has named Francisco Rodriguez, a partner in the global commercial disputes practice, as the next managing partner of the Miami office.
Motley Rice Hires New Office Leader to Deepen Mass Torts, Trial Practice in Philadelphia
As the Ozempic mass tort litigation is consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Michael Daly arrives from Pogust Goodhead.
Four senior appointments at Addleshaw Goddard Ireland
Addleshaw Goddard Ireland has announced the addition of Craig Sowman as joint head of restructuring and insolvency alongside internal promotions for Caoilfhionn Ní Chuanacháin, Doreen Mescal and John Darmody.
Denise Kirwan appointed as director of social work body
Comyn Kelleher Tobin partner Denise Kirwan has been named to the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) board as an independent director.
Office Openings & Closing:
Labor & Employment Law Firm Enters Buffalo, Serving ‘Numerous Existing Clients’ in region
Richard Braden, managing shareholder of Ogletree’s Buffalo office said, “the feeling is that there are plenty of clients that need to be serviced throughout New York state beyond New York City”.
Freeman Mathis & Gary Opens Office in Miami Weeks After Fort Lauderdale Launch
For its third Florida office, the Am Law 200 firm with its headquarters in Atlanta is acquiring all of the attorneys from the neighbourhood civil defence firm Klein Park & Lowe.
DC-Area Law Firms Are Looking to Delaware Market for Possible Expansion
The growth attitude carries on the recent trend of D.C. area businesses opening new locations. Covington, Miles & Stockbridge, Steptoe, Venable, and Arnold & Porter have all relocated to new cities in the previous 18 months alone.
MoFo Closing Beijing Office, Partners Relocate
Over the past 12 months, a number of American companies have closed their mainland China offices and reduced their Chinese practice offerings.
Market Commentary:
The Real Impact of the Biden Era on M&A
Elizabeth Suarez, Kaylynn Moss and Terry Calvani write “Changes in the merger review process have undoubtedly increased the cost and resource burden on merging parties”.
Clifford Chance: Where Next for the UK’s Original Private Equity Golden Child?
Although U.S. companies have traditionally hired from the firm’s renowned private equity offering, leaders Jonny Myers and Spencer Baylin think the market is changing in their favour.
For Law Firms, There’s No Substitute For Associate Growth
There are currently about 84,651 associates in the NLJ 500 overall—more than 10,000 more associates since 2018.
Communication—The Often-Overlooked Keystone to Mergers and Acquisitions
Businesses need to continuously consider their long-term objectives, the changes that will result from the deal, and how these changes will impact all parties involved during the M&A process.
How Mentoring Helps Combat Imposter Syndrome in Young Lawyers
One such lawyer in question stated, “Of course, the first thing I discovered as an associate was just how much I didn’t know, even after three years of law school and months of studying for the bar exam. Luckily, coworkers volunteered to be my mentors before I could get overly consumed by myself. Mentoring is essential to development and success for a reason, particularly in the legal field”.
Post-COVID Growth in Africa Fuels Arbitration and Law Firm Strategies
African party activity in the London Court of International Arbitration increased dramatically from 4% in 2022 to 8% in 2023, causing legal firms to plan ahead for this dynamic transition.
Law Firm Headcount Growth Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels
As some firms grew at slower rates in light of repressed demand on the transactional side, others added to their benches to meet clients’ litigation needs.
On the 18th of June 2024, the Fides Search team proudly participated in the London Legal Walk, joining thousands of legal professionals in supporting access to justice for those in need. It was an incredible day filled with laughter, determination, and a shared commitment to a vital cause.
We walked, we talked, and we soaked up the beautiful London sunshine, all while raising awareness and funds for free legal advice services. Statistics show that two-thirds of the UK population don’t know how to attain legal advice and 14.4 million people who live in poverty can’t afford to pay for it. The London legal walk strives to support people in these situation and every year they do so by providing aid to over 100 legal advice services in London and the South East to ensure that everyone has access to the justice they deserve.
It was an incredible day out and a perfect opportunity to take in the beauty of London. We started near the Law Society at Chancery Lane, the atmosphere was resoundingly one of positivity, camaraderie and celebration. Throughout the afternoon we walked through various well known landmarks including; Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Somerset House, St James’ park and Hyde Park before circling around and returning to the start point where all participants were greeted with excitement, music and pop up stalls selling food and drink from across the world.
Overall, it was an incredible experience for an even more incredible cause and were are proud to say that we took part.
If you haven’t had the chance to donate yet, there’s still time to support this fantastic cause. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.
https://lnkd.in/eYcJfF2u
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Paul Weiss Adds Senior Google Lawyer in Latest London Hire
Ludovic Ghesquiere, who previously led Alphabet’s EMEA regulatory response, investigations, and compliance, will be based in London and California with Paul Weiss.
Another Cadwalader London Partner Departs, This Time to Greenberg
Two people with knowledge of the move say that real estate finance partner Duncan Hubbard is leaving the company to join rival Greenberg Traurig in the United States. Over the course of his 25-year career, he has worked with investors, financial institutions, and global funds.
Travers Smith hires Blackstone Credit legal counsel to bolster funds group
Joel Grossmark becomes a partner and contributes to the expansion of Travers Smith’s retailisation business.
MKB Law welcomes corporate banking specialist Neil Logan
Belfast-based Neil Logan has been hired by MKB Law as a consultant in the corporate, banking, and commercial sectors of the company.
EMEA
Trowers taps Ashurst for Dubai project finance partner
Brad Sandford, whose LinkedIn profile states that he was most recently a senior associate at Ashurst, has joined the firm as a partner in the projects, energy, and infrastructure (PEI) division.
APAC
Dentons Adds Former Dechert Corporate Partner in Hong Kong
This year, Dentons has hired two partners in Hong Kong: Stephen Chan. After parting ways with Dacheng Law Offices in China last year, the company now manages its business in Greater China out of Hong Kong alone.
Gibson Dunn Adds Partner from White & Case in Hong Kong
Daniel Abercromby was formerly a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and Weil Gotshal & Manges.
White & Case Loses Second Partner in Greater China, M&A Lawyer Defects to Hogan Lovells
Following Daniel Abercromby, a finance partner, who departed for Gibson Dunn & Crutcher in Hong Kong, Jiang is the second partner to depart White & Case in Greater China this week.
Asia Pacific Regional Firms Add to their Partner Ranks
Firms including, JunHe, Adnan Sundra, JSA and MinterEllison have all added new partners recently across China, India, Malaysia and Australia.
Ashurst Adds Two Partners to West Australian Office
Australian firm HWL Ebsworth sends Richard Johnson to the firm’s restructuring and exceptional situations department, while Australian firm Johnson Winter Slattery sends Kirsten Scott to the employment team as an investigations partner.
Tokyo International makes two senior hires
Two senior appointments have strengthened Tokyo International Law Office’s roster: in-house counsel Yuri Aihara from Fujifilm and disputes lawyer Victor Sai from Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch in San Diego.
Bengaluru: Sam Hires Infra Partner from JSA
The Indian legal firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (SAM) has announced its second hire in as many days following the addition of JSA partner Anjana Jamalamadaka Potti, an expert in projects and infrastructure.
JSA Hires Back Banking Partner from S&R Amid Lateral Spree
Indian law firm JSA has re-welcomed banking and finance expert Divyanshu Pandey from S&R Associates as an equity partner, as the firm continues an aggressive lateral hiring spree.
The Americas
Cozen Adds NY Partner Amid Demand for Higher Education Labor Advice
Thomas Giotto, chair of the L&E department said that Sandi Dubin’s addition will help Cozen address “a substantial increase in organizing activities” taking place in higher education and nonprofits across the country”.
Wilmer Hires Latham Partner as Co-Chair of Growing Life Sciences Practice
“We see the biggest growth opportunity in life sciences,” according to Mick Bain, chair of the transactional department.
People in the News—June 11, 2024—Rothman Gordon, Greenberg Traurig
Attorneys at Rothman Gordon have announced that Maria V. Rossi has joined the firm.
Polsinelli Adds to New York Headcount—and List of Recent Real Estate Hires
With roughly 72 attorneys in New York, Polisinelli serves a number of major corporate and healthcare customers who are constantly increasing their real estate holdings.
McGinnis Lochridge Adds Executive Director From Midsize Oklahoma Law Firm
Silvano Parducci said he sees great opportunity as executive director of Austin-founded McGinnis Lochridge, because the Texas market is a ‘hotbed’ right now.
Manatt Hires Crypto Partner in New York, Continuing Growth in Financial Services and Digital Assets
Prior to this, Michael Katz oversaw the legal division of the cryptocurrency venture capital firm Digital Currency Group.
Sidley Adds Cooley Partner to Lead New VC Fund Formation Group
According to Sidley, Shane Goudey has established more than 1,000 funds, spanning from multibillion-dollar venture capital and leveraged buyout funds to early stage and pledge funds.
Schulte Loses Investment Funds Partner to Morgan Lewis
After sitting on the other side of negotiations from her new colleagues representing fund managers and investors, Leonora Shalet claimed she received a call from Morgan Lewis.
Freshfields Adds M&A Partner Joshua Ayal in New York
Over the past ten years, Josh has gained substantial experience in high-profile mergers and acquisitions with both strategic and private equity clients. Apart from his emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, he also counsel’s companies and their directors on problems pertaining to corporate governance and activist defence.
In house
Century-Old Books-A-Million Hires GC to Help Plot Next Chapter
Courtney Adair, Excelon’s assistant general counsel is set to be taking the lead on legal matters.
FisherBroyles Adds Legal Ethics Lawyer as GC as Firm Continues Rebuilding
Since January 1st, the company has added 12 partners, including Devika Kewalramani. Prior to that, 128 partners, including its previous general counsel, left to create Pierson Ferdinand, one of the biggest law firm spinoffs ever.
Seagate Technology Hires Former Senior Aramark Attorney as Legal Chief
The third IT company where Jim Lee has held a senior legal position is the massive data storage company.
Skadden Hires First Chief People Officer as More Law Firms Take Holistic Approach to Talent
Skadden said Annemarie Crouch “will lead all aspects of the firm’s people strategy for lawyers and business professionals”.
Exxon Hires Fox Corp.’s General Counsel as Its New Top Lawyer
Jeffrey Taylor is joining the oil and gas behemoth after failing to secure the position of chief legal officer at Fox when it became available last year.
M&A Guru Taps Familiar Face to Lead Legal for Growth-Hungry Startup
Brad Jacobs, a serial entrepreneur, has appointed Christopher Signorello as QXO’s chief legal officer. QXO wants to grow to be a $50 billion company in the building supplies distribution market.
BeReal GC Departs as App Sold in $500M Deal, Weil and Orrick Lead
The GC leaves after just over a year in the role following its takeover by fellow French app developer Voodoo.
ExxonMobil names former Fox lawyer as next GC
Craig Morford, who will retire at the beginning of July, will be replaced by Jeff Taylor.
US data storage business Seagate fills vacant CLO seat with Maxar hire
Kate Schuelke, who joined Credo Technology in January, is replaced by Jim Lee.
Susan Small is appointed as General counsel at the London Metal Exchange Group
Susan will start working there in June and will answer to the CEOs of LME and LME Clear. She comes from J.P. Morgan’s Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB), London, where she was previously the head of the EMEA Markets Practice Group and the Deputy General Counsel for the CIB in EMEA.
Team Moves
ArentFox Schiff Recruits 13-Lawyer Team, in Latest Group Exit from Burns & Levinson
The 13-attorney IP and litigation group that ArentFox Schiff hired from Burns & Levinson has joined its Boston office, becoming the most recent group to leave the Boston-based firm this year.
Willkie Raids Latham for 11-Lawyer Restructuring Team in Major German Expansion
As part of its new German strategy, Willkie Farr & Gallagher has brought in counsel Jan-Philipp Praß and a group of seven associates, as well as former Latham bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys Jörn Kowalewski, Ulrich Klockenbrink, and Hendrik Hauke.
4-Partner Cadwalader Team Moves to King & Spalding
The increased emphasis on financial work is driving the move, according to several with knowledge of the plans.
Cooley Grows Compensation, Benefits Practice With Cadwalader, Wilson Sonsini Partners
With the growing number of public company customers seeking assistance on increasingly comprehensive compensation and benefits matters, Cooley expands its team by adding partners in San Diego and Washington, D.C.
Norton Rose Fulbright Lands a Dozen Attorneys From BCLP, Adding to Global Investigations Practice
While Laura Perlov and Jeff Ziesman have been with the team for more than ten years, new partners Jeff Kalinowski and Eric Martin have collaborated for almost twenty-five years. The others are located in St. Louis, but Perlov is based in Denver.
Rimon Deepens Global Lending Practice With Group From Akin
Two former colleagues joined three partners who had come from Akin to Rimon in London and Washington during April and May.
Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici Adds 4-Lawyer Finance Team in Milan
The appointments follow the addition of seven lawyers to the Italian firm’s Milan office in the previous month.
Former Linklaters Real Estate Partner Leads 7-Lawyer Exodus to Local Swedish Firm
Former real estate transactions practice heads Magnus Lidman and Anna Eriksson take with them five associates to Gernandt & Danielsson
Diversity & Inclusion:
Diversity Lab Hackathon Targets DEI Headwinds, Inclusive Talent Management
Diversity Lab’s “Moments to Movements Hackathon” assembles more than 100 law firm partners, in-house leaders and others to address leading issues in diversity, equity and inclusion.
How to Navigate and Respond to Government Alerts on Attending Pride Events in the US, Abroad
These alerts, while prioritizing safety, evoke painful memories of past attacks and heighten anxieties about the ongoing threats faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
Rising Stars: The UK Legal Industry’s Best Up-and-Coming Black Lawyers, 2024
Law.com International has released its first list of 10 outstanding Black lawyers under 40 who practice law in the UK.
Great minds don’t think alike – why LGBTQ+ allyship is a business must-have
An increasing number of law firms are beginning to embrace corporate allyship, but what are the tangible actions behind the rainbow marketing?
How Carey Olsen drives gender diversity and inclusion
Carey Olsen, an offshore legal practice, has put in place a number of programs to encourage inclusion and diversity, with a focus on gender diversity.
Financials:
Canadian In-House Counsel Salaries Up 9%, Report Shows
The basic salary difference between corporate lawyers who are male, and female is still made present by the results of the annual report, but it has narrowed somewhat from the previous year.
The UK Law Firms With the Highest Profit Margin
A review of LLP accounts shows that the top five operational profit margin-achieving corporations in the UK Top 50 are still the same five.
De Brauw Revenue Bounces Back After Slump
Prior to COVID, the company recorded sales of €200 million; by 2022, that amount had dropped to €177 million.
Hogan Lovells Overtakes Slaughter and May on NQ Pay
In recent weeks, A&O Shearman, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Clifford Chance, and Linklaters have all decided to raise their own wages to £150,000.
Watch: 4 Worrying Numbers for the UK Top 50 Law Firms
Paul Hodkinson, editor-in-chief of Law.com International, describes how the biggest corporations’ fundamental health has gotten worse.
Sidley Raises NQ Rates Again as Pressure to Join Fray Mounts
The Chicago-based company is increasing its prices to £175,000 from £166,500, which it established only a few months before in January, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation.
Pay for Autodesk Legal Chief Jumped 37% in Latest Year
Ruth Ann Keene, who spent 11 years at the software maker before departing in 2016 for a legal chief post elsewhere, returned in 2022 when her former boss retired.
Latham & Watkins proposes ‘super points’ for stars to boost pay above $20m
The planned changes coincide with a fierce pay war among elite US law firms that has driven top partners’ salary packages above $20 million.
Promotions & Appointments:
People in the News—June 12, 2024—Barley Snyder, McNees
Barley Snyder declared that attorney Caitlin M. Long has been appointed to the board of directors of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Berks County, and attorney Zachary D. Griffith has been elected vice president.
Changes at BBB Attorneys: Personal Injury Litigators Added, 2 Trial Lawyers Promoted to Partner
Zachary Reiland and Christopher Kenworthy are joining the group after more than 30 years of private practice experience between them, and BBB promoted two lawyers internally (Kenneth Krayeske and Megan Boorsma) to partner in recognizing its “commitment to the firm and its clients.”
As New Chair Takes Reins of Winston, He Wants to Do Things A Little Differently
Steve D’Amore has employed a small management team that includes four other partners to handle areas such as talent, branding and overall strategy.
Fenwick Elliott rings in new senior partner after 23 years
Next April, Karen Gidwani will take over as head of the UK construction and energy boutique, replacing seasoned leader Simon Tolson.
Clyde & Co and RPC partners step up as LIDW co-chairs
In addition to Henrietta Jackson-Stops, Loukas Mistelis and Jonathan Cary will chair London International Disputes Week.
New Managing Partner and Heads of Commercial Disputes for Hausfeld in London
Nicola Boyle is set to become Hausfeld’s new Managing Partner in London. In addition, Lucy Pert and Ned Beale will become Co-Heads of the Commercial Disputes Team.
Mergers & Alliances:
Deal Watch: As PE Deal Activity Ramps Up, Skadden, Paul Weiss, Latham Lead $11B Chip Deal
It is unreasonable to separate the private equity sector’s relative performance from the M&A markets as a whole.
Mid-Market Buffalo-Based Firm Continues Expansion Plan in Combination with Health Care Boutique
Together with the 11-attorney health care law boutique CCBLaw, the Buffalo-based mid-size firm Lippes Mathias has expanded into the Syracuse region, adding a 15th legal market to its ever-expanding nationwide reach.
White & Case Acts as North Sea Oil Company Waldorf Files for Administration
The company has added a restructuring partner in Hong Kong and opened an insolvency business in Australia.
Latham, Orrick and Linklaters Land Roles in €3.1B Budapest Airport Sale
France’s Vinci Airports has been expanding its holdings; it recently acquired airports in Scotland and Mexico.
Investigation Into $2.5B Deal Shows EU Means Business with New Foreign Subsidies Rules
Attorneys claim that businesses should have considered the extra obstacle that the new regulations may present to the completion of M&A transactions.
4 Firms Take Lead Role in CA$5 billion Bank Tie-Up
The second significant bank acquisition in the nation this year is the purchase of Canadian Western Bank by National Bank of Canada.
Burns & Levinson in Merger Talks After Latest Round of Departures
Burns & Levinson, a Boston-based firm that lost 17 employees to ArentFox Schiff, is considering merging with another company in the future or bolstering its staff. According to a statement from Burns & Levinson, “We are exploring several growth options.” Among them is “bolstering our team via senior lateral hires or a merger with another company that supports our dedication to an entrepreneurial and cooperative culture.”
Office Openings & Closing:
Cravath Set for London Office Move
After many years at its current central London site, Cravath Swaine & Moore are moving to a new location in London.
FisherBroyles continues robust performance with expansion to Nevada
Through its Partners, Adam Yowell and Rob Phillips, FisherBroyles will first offer IP and patent litigation services to clients located in Nevada. In the upcoming months, the firm will expand its coverage to include all of its practice areas.
Docvit Latest PRC Firm to Launch Hong Kong Office
In the midst of an increasing number of mainland Chinese legal practices in the city, Beijing-based DOCVIT Law Firm has increased its reach by opening a new office in Hong Kong, making it the firm’s ninth branch nationwide.
Technology & Innovation:
Legal Research, Drafting Startup Alexi Raises $11 Million in Series A Funding
According to Alexi, the company will use the funding to expand its workforce and keep creating new solutions for the legal firm industry.
CaseMark AI Announces $1.7M Seed Funding Round Led by Google-Backed Investment Firm
Over the course of the last year, Google’s parent firm Gradient Ventures has shown interest in at least three legal tech startups, including CaseMark.
Is It Legal and Ethical for Child Custody Evaluators To Use AI?
Our day is one of advanced technology. Artificial Intelligence can help individuals in all aspect of their lives by utilizing a vast reservoir of knowledge. What if the “expert” child custody assessor uses artificial intelligence (AI) to compile their findings?
Tracking Generative AI: How Evolving AI Models Are Impacting Legal
An ongoing collection of the ways that generative AI tools—from GPT technologies to art creation tools and beyond—are continuing to influence the legal landscape.
AAA Launches ClauseBuilder AI to Simplify Drafting of Arbitration and Mediation Agreements
The GPT-4o model from OpenAI powers the new tool, which provides over 500 carefully selected provisions to speed up the creation of understandable and practical ADR agreements for a variety of industry uses.
Lexis Announces General Availability of Lexis+ AI in the UK
After a few months of a commercial preview program and the announcement earlier this month of Lexis+ AI’s equivalent availability in Australia, Lexis formally expanded the generative AI platform to the U.K.
Robin AI Launches ‘Robin AI Reports,’ Automating Contract Report Generation
Robin AI promises to reduce the expense of outside counsel contract reviews for businesses with this new tool.
Filevine Launches New Document Management System ‘Docs by Filevine’
The company is touting unlimited document storage at a lower cost in order to present its new DMS solution as a rival to established providers iManage and NetDocuments.
Draftwise Launches ‘Markup’, Gen AI-Powered Contract Drafting, Review and Redlining Tool
Draftwise announced Markup and added that it will now use Claude 3 Opus, one of Anthropic’s most current generative AI models, noting its broader context window and better memory capabilities.
The Hype Behind Harvey: How Firms Are Using the Gen AI Startup
A number of well-known legal firms and corporations have become clients of Harvey, the legal tech startup supported by OpenAI. This is how a few of them are utilizing the tech.
As Law Firms Embrace AI, Will Dedicated Executive Roles Give Them an Edge?
According to Carlos Pauling, executive director of Major, Lindsey & Africa’s partner practice group, firms need to consider who should be in charge of the development and application of generative AI within their organizations.
Market Commentary:
Young People are Setting the Political Agenda. Can Law Firms Cope?
According to The Global Lawyer, social media has provided young people with a voice and the ability to dictate the political (and moral) agenda, and legal companies are finding it difficult to keep up.
How Attorney Titles in Big Law Can Mean Everything, and Nothing, All at Once
According to one recruiter getting a title suggests “that the partner, and by extension his or her clients, could be prioritized and important to the firm”.
Inflection Point: The Pecking Order of India’s Top Law Firms is Set to Change
Jessica Seah outlines why competitors are expected to overtake the nation’s well-established top legal firms in this week’s edition of Asia Legal Briefing.
Saudi Arabia Considers Relaxing Regulations For Foreign Law Firms
The plan may cause more international legal firms to create offices in Saudi Arabia with less restrictions than those that have been in place recently.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
MKB Law welcomes corporate banking specialist Neil Logan
Belfast-based Neil Logan has been hired by MKB Law as a consultant in the corporate, banking, and commercial sectors of the company.
Richard Surtees, a new partner in employee incentives at Eversheds Sutherland, has joined the company’s specialized global employee incentives division. Richard comes from Slaughter and May, where he was an expert in Executive compensation and share incentives. He received his training and credentials at the US company Covington & Burling before that.
EMEA
Corporate partner duo join Saudi’s K&A
Christian Both and Omar Iqbal join the independent Saudi Arabian law firm’s Riyadh office from Addleshaw Goddard and Baker Botts, respectively.
Kirkland & Ellis adds restructuring muscle in Riyadh with lawyer relocation from London
To head the financial restructuring and capital solutions practice, Husni Almousli has relocated to a different office.
APAC
RPC Takes Another Corporate Partner from Singapore Boutique
Kiat Wee Lau, the newest member of RPC, is a former partner of a Big Four Singaporean company that provides advice on M&A, financial regulation, funds, venture capital, private equity, and private wealth problems throughout Asia Pacific.
Six Partners to Leave Clyde & Co in Australia Following Review
After an assessment of the company, Clyde & Co. is eliminating six partners and adding a salaried partner position to its Australian partnership. For the long-term benefit of clients and the company, the firm has to increase profitability and its operating model, this opinion is based on a message sent to employees by managing partner Rebecca Kelly of the Australia-based firm.
Malaysia’s ASL hires two corporate, finance partners
Adnan Sundra & Low (ASL), a Malaysian law firm, has added banking and finance partner Yong Wee Hoo and M&A partner Liza Uma (L) to its corporate offerings.
The Americas
Outgoing SDNY Deputy US Attorney Lands at Skadden
Andrea Griswold was working at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more than a decade, moving from line prosecutor to chief counsel to the U.S. attorney and then to deputy U.S. attorney.
Foley & Lardner Hires Former SoftBank GC in San Francisco, Eyeing Fund Formation Opportunities
At SoftBank Investment Advisors, Brian Wheeler assembled a group of 40 lawyers who were responsible for overseeing over $130 billion in assets. He most recently served as general attorney for the technology and art services company HENI.
Quinn Emanuel, Paul Weiss Stock Up on Antitrust Talent in DC
Former DOJ trial lawyer Chris Wilson joined Paul Weiss from Gibson Dunn, while former FTC general counsel Kevin Arquit joined Quinn Emanuel from meat processing behemoth JBS.
Locke Lord Beefs Up in Boston With Burns & Levinson Co-Chair of Business Litigation
Andrea Martin, who came from the recently dissolved midsize Boston firm Burns & Levinson, joined Locke Lord as a litigation partner.
McDermott Taps King & Spalding Lawyer to Grow White-Collar Group in Atlanta
Amy Bentsen, the first partner in the firm’s white-collar criminal defense and investigations practice, has been stationed in McDermott’s Atlanta office for the past four years.
People in the News—June 5, 2024—Pond Lehocky, Eckert Seamans
Jose De Los Santos, a workers’ compensation lawyer, just joined Pond Lehocky Giordano.
Alston, Eversheds, Dentons and Bracewell Bring on DC Partner Hires
Jennifer Everett was recruited by Alston & Bird from Jones Day as a partner in its privacy, cyber, and data strategy division. A portion of Everett’s research will be on artificial intelligence.
Newsmakers: Real Estate Partner Joins Bell Nunnally
Spencer C. Diebel, an attorney, has joined Bell Nunnally as a partner in its Real Estate practice.
On the Move and After Hours: Rimon; Genova Burns; Lindabury; Riker Danzig; CSG Law
Rimon welcomes a new IP partner in Princeton; CSG Law appoints a new leader for its employment law division; and further developments.
Morris Manning Adds Atlanta Real Estate Partner, Labor Firms Increase California Ties
Henry “Butch” Bailey Jr., a commercial real estate attorney, has joined Morris, Manning & Martin as a partner in Atlanta. Bailey Jr. previously worked as an associate at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, and he is returning to the company.
Schwartz Sladkus Adds New York Partner, Nossaman Hires Arizona Partner
Greenberg Sladkus Reich Schwartz Nossaman announced that Emily Smith has joined the firm’s pensions, benefits, and investments group; Atlas reported that Andrew Bauer has joined the firm as a partner in its New York office.
Finance Partner Leaves King & Spalding for McDermott, Following 11-Partner Move to Paul Hastings
After ten years, partner in lender-side finance Ellen Snare left King & Spalding to work in the New York office of McDermott Will & Emery.
Littler, Dentons Partner Laterals Among Latest in Canada’s Nonstop Spring Moves Bonanza
Over a dozen attorneys have found new positions in the past few weeks, and three more have lately changed companies.
In house
Skydance Hires Legal Exec as Upstart Shakes Up Hollywood With Paramount Merger
Jean Chi left a prominent position at Spotify to take on the position of president of Skydance’s global business and legal affairs.
JPMorgan Chase’s Top Consumer-Banking Attorney Jumps to SoFi as GC
Rob Lavet, who joined the online bank shortly after its inception in 2011, will hand over the reins of legal authority to Stephen Simcock.
TikTok Parent Hires Hollywood Heavy Hitter as Global GC Amid Showdown With US
As the popular social media app’s future in the US is in doubt, former Warner Bros. General Counsel John Rogovin is assuming legal control of the platform.
Morgan Stanley-Backed Startup Aiming to Disrupt Auto Insurance Hires First GC
Cover Whale Insurance Solutions, which employs innovation and technology to streamline and lower risk in the commercial truck insurance industry, is putting Rachel Dugan in charge of legal affairs.
Pa.-Based Allied Universal Taps New GC With IPO Experience
Steve Jones, Allied Universal’s global chairman and CEO said, “Loretta’s experience leading phenomenal legal teams at publicly traded companies and technology focused organizations perfectly lines up with the future I see for Allied Universal.”
Allied Universal names next legal head as former GC retires
David Buckman, who is retiring from Allied Universal after nearly 20 years with the company, has been replaced as global general counsel by Loretta Cecil, who was hired by the US security and facilities services provider.
Thunes names Ruwan De Soyza General Counsel
Thunes recently declared Ruwan De Soyza as General Counsel to manage all secretarial, legal, and compliance matters as the business expands globally. De Soyza will oversee a team in a variety of practice areas, such as payment regulation, licensing, compliance, M&A, and commercial contracts, under the direction of CEO, Floris de Kort.
Team Moves
Paul Hastings Lands 11-Partner Private Credit Group From King & Spalding
Jennifer Daly, who at the time of her resignation was co-head of King & Spalding’s worldwide finance and restructuring practice, is among the incoming group.
Holland & Knight Hires Team from Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles, Signaling Finance Team Expansion
Paul Severin, the vice chair of Loeb & Loeb until recently, is one of the three new partners.
IP Leader of Dentons’ Pittsburgh Branch Brings Group to Eckert Seamans
Nolan Cheung, who previously served as U.S. co-chair of Dentons’ IP group said, “a global name for global companies is certainly very important; but when you deal with the IP side, it’s a very unique client-attorney relationship.”
K&L Gates Expands German IP Practice with Four-Person Disputes Team
A skilled group of intellectual property conflicts attorneys have been recruited by K&L Gates. They will be situated in Frankfurt and offer clients comprehensive cross-border legal counsel.
India’s JSA Raids Rival SAM for 20 Lawyers
Leader of SAM Shardul Shroff claims that the defectors have violated the terms of the partnership deed of the company and that leaving equity partners must give at least six months’ notice.
Malaysia’s Asl Hires Three-Partner Ip Team from CLO
With the addition of a five-person IP, sports, and gaming group from nearby rival Christopher & Lee Ong (CLO), led by practice leader Sri Sarguna Raj, Malaysian law firm Adnan Sundra & Low (ASL) have greatly strengthened its intellectual property capabilities.
Sarah-Jane Dobson, a partner in product safety and liability, has joined the London-based Disputes & Investigations office of international law firm Ashurst. Sarah-Jane will expand Ashurst’s product litigation and product risk (safety and regulatory) practice area with the help of a group of colleagues.
Taylor Wessing expands with Corporate Crime & Compliance team led by Charlotte Posthuma
With the addition of Partner Charlotte Posthuma, Associate Leonie Hogenkamp, and Associate Loes Joosten, Taylor Wessing has further enhanced its competence in Corporate Crime & Compliance. Charlotte is in charge of this rapidly expanding practice.
Four tech partners join to expand Simmons’ Digital Business practice
Having previously collaborated, Hayley Davis, Calum Murray, Andrew Joint, and Rich Folsom have all been appointed partners in the firm’s London office, marking a noteworthy development for the practice and its technological offering.
Promotions & Appointments:
Employment Litigation Leader to Replace Mary Beth Hogan as Debevoise Litigation Co-Chair
Andrew Ceresney will be joined by longtime partner Jyotin Hamid in leading the division, which generated $546 million in revenue in the previous year. After 33 years with the company, Hogan is retiring.
People in the News—June 6, 2024—Barley Snyder, McMonagle Perri
Barley Snyder declared that partner Thad M. Gelsinger has been appointed to the board of directors of Berks Catholic High School.
People in the News—June 7, 2024—Panitch Schwarze, Tucker Arensberg
Ava E. Lutz, a lawyer specializing in intellectual property, has been elected to the position of secretary on the board of governors for the Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association (PIPLA), a group of lawyers and law student affiliates based in Philadelphia. This announcement was made by Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel.
Willkie Farr Elevates Partner to Latin America Practice Chair
Maria-Leticia Ossa Daza, a Brazilian, steps down to make way for Anna Martini Pereira of Brazil to open a practice in Latin America at Paul Weiss.
Angus McCullogh KC to lead PSNI review into alleged surveillance
The PSNI has assigned London attorney Angus McCullough KC to lead an impartial investigation into the force’s purported use of surveillance against reporters, attorneys, and non-governmental organizations.
Mergers & Alliances:
The transaction is the latest in a series of consolidation moves in the energy sector, coming shortly after two earlier multibillion-dollar mergers this year.
New York Firm Combines With Atlanta Boutique to Create ‘Powerhouse’ Tax Practice
When talking about the 40-lawyer firm, Todd Welty said, “We weren’t shopping the firm, we weren’t hunting for a merger. This was just a natural, organic discussion about how well we worked together”.
Amid Law Firm Merger Frenzy, Former Leaders of Wilmer and Hale Offer Insights
Bill Lee said, “The fact that we brought all these people into the loop in October and it never leaked until we made it public on May 31 said to me that it was going to work.”
Clifford Chance Leads on Brookfield’s $6.1B Acquisition of French Renewable Company
Positions on one of the largest deals in Europe this year have also been secured by Gide and Bredin Prat.
Global Firms Lead on Deals in Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa
U.S. Philip Morris International (PMI) received legal advice from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Alliance Law in Egypt on the purchase of an indirect 14.7% minority interest in Eastern Tobacco Company, which is Egypt’s largest cigarette maker, for a sum exceeding $1.2 billion.
Dentons LuatViet Merges with Vietnam Boutique EPLegal
Annie Ngo, managing partner of EPLegal, has also been named head of the combined entity’s energy practice.
Office Openings & Closing:
Brown Rudnick Launches Houston Office, Hires Trial Partner From Boutique
Adam Schiffer, a trial attorney and the founder of Schiffer Hicks Johnson in Houston, has become a partner in Brown Rudnick’s recently established Houston office.
Adding to Salt Lake While Remaining ‘Unique,’ Polsinelli Opens in Park City
Marla Bell, managing partner for the firm’s Salt Lake City office as well as the new one, described Park City as a “destination for high-wealth individuals with second homes or who have chosen to live here rather than Salt Lake.”
The recently established government investigations practice “benefits our clientele. A co-leader of the group named Bill Corrigan said, “It’s a clearer message of our capabilities.”
Akerman Was Sole Florida-Founded Am Law Firm to Significantly Reduce Office Space in 2023
With the exception of Akerman, which stated it has been reducing its size as it accepts hybrid work and consolidates back-office activities, Florida-founded Am Law 100 firms have maintained their footprints.
Al Tamimi establishes region’s first mediation practice
Lead attorneys Christine Maksoud and David Holloway talk about the practice’s future goals.
Birketts announces opening of office in Bristol
Bristol is now home to Birketts, a UK Top 50 law firm with offices throughout southern England. In addition to the company’s offices in London, Sevenoaks, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, and Norwich, Birketts will open a seventh location in Bristol.
Bird & Bird’s former London arbitration head launches own practice
Nick Peacock, the former head of Bird & Bird’s international arbitration business in London, has established Peacock Arbitration, a solo firm.
Financials:
Amid Growing Battle for Talent, 3 DC and Virginia Firms Increased Their Equity Partner Pay Spreads
In Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, six additional Am Law 200 firms either maintained or reduced similar margins between 2022 and 2023.
Midsize Firms Enjoy Historic Demand for Bankruptcy, Restructuring Work
Lenders and sponsors are growing increasingly impatient with overleveraged, foundering enterprises.
Lewis Brisbois Threatens Legal Action to Claw Back ‘Overdistribution’ to Former Partners
The company allegedly missed the revenue objectives from previous years, which it used to justify earlier draws.
Goodwin Latest Firm to Raise NQ Salaries as Pay War Looms
According to insiders at the firm, the Boston-based firm is increasing its charges to £175,000, up £15,000, to better compete with firms like Kirkland & Ellis, Milbank, and Vinson & Elkins, whose prices are higher than £170,000.
Canadian In-House Counsel Salaries Up 9%, Report Shows
According to a 102-page research published by the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) and The Counsel Network, which is now a part of Caldwell, the national base compensation for in-house counsel in Canada climbed by nearly 9% to CA$196,000 from $180,000 in 2022.
Technology & Innovation:
K&L Gates Joins Orrick in Offering Gen AI Training for Summer Associates
Law firms are hoping an early introduction to generative AI will make next year’s incoming associates more excited about using the technology.
AI Deepfakes: Unauthorized Depictions and Protection of Property Rights to Name, Image and Likeness
The No AI FRAUD Act, which was just introduced, aims to safeguard people’s rights to regulate how their voice and likeness are used against the unauthorized use of AI-generated content. This aims to close the gap created by the disparate state and federal intellectual property and privacy rules and regulations.
AI Boom Has Left Employers With Head-Spinning Governance Challenges
According to FTI Technology Global CEO Sophie Ross, businesses and governments are “grappling with how to set boundaries while staying competitive in the technology transformation race”.
Sirion Acquires Eigen Technologies to Expand Capabilities and Financial Services Footprint
According to Sirion, the agreement will enable it to collect data from more documents than just contracts.
3 Key Things to Know About the New Colorado AI Act
Despite the fact that the Colorado AI Act may be the first of its type, lawyers point out that businesses won’t need to start from scratch in order to ensure compliance.
Ontario Bar Association Launches Novel AI Initiative to Boost Use in Everyday Practice
As the association’s innovator-in-residence, legal tech expert Colin Lachance will oversee a year-long program designed to help lawyers better comprehend and use artificial intelligence.
Josh Tucker, a Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman IP partner in Austin, said that his goal is: “to be able to yell at my computer and make it do what I want.”
Diversity & Inclusion:
The Surge of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills and How We Can Protect Ourselves
Our community is extremely alarmed by the extraordinary rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that has been introduced around the country. Every aspect of our lives is impacted by these bills, including health care, sports, the job, residences, and schools.
11th Circuit Pick Talks Pro Se Cases, Diversity Efforts, Mentorship at Senate Hearing
Judicial nominee Embry Kidd said, “I have conversations with students and potential clerks about clerking and why they haven’t thought about clerking… and one thing that I learned is that for many of them, it’s no surprise, they have a very heavy loan burden”.
Fired for Wanting Less Diversity Efforts? White Employee Sues HP
Dean Wicke,” the complaint alleged, “the statement made by the plaintiff regarding the defendant’s DEI efforts were falsely branded as ‘dogpiling,’ and ‘racist’ by managers in the employ of the defendant, including the plaintiff’s supervisor.
Market Commentary:
Letter From Asia: The Americans Are Leaving China in Droves, but Will It Level the Playing Field?
China’s allure is now much outweighed by the hazards involved in operating a lawful business there. However, no British law firms have left China or shut down any mainland locations in the last 18 months.
Texas Bar Hopes to Get in Line with Nation on Conflict Rule for Attorneys
According to Kinard, the existing restriction has hampered lawyers’ mobility by making it more difficult for them to move companies. It is an especially difficult problem for partners.
The Winding Path Some Litigators Take to Partnership
The Great Recession interrupted the early careers of a few of the litigators from boutiques and mid-size law firms who took part in Law.com’s “How I Made It” series last year.
Linklaters Halts Plans to Withhold Distributions to Departing Partners
The decision is a part of a larger set of adjustments to the way the company rewards departing partners, and it will result in the firm no longer awarding bonuses to partners who leave after more than 20 years of employment.
Is Big Law’s Opulent Space a Match Made In Heaven for Associates and Clients?
Do boomers actually want this kind of working space at their company? Being socially conscious and working for ethical companies is highly valued by Gen Z associates. The company’s ESG profile, pro bono goals, and DEI compliance are probably more significant factors. What about the customers?
Steve Solow, who left Big Law after more than 20 years noted “Clients really want to just pick their lawyers more than they want to pick sometimes the law firm”.
The Rise of Legal Finance in Spain’s Growing Market
The nation’s litigation finance business is growing swiftly thanks to suitable legislation and quick trial durations.
South African Investors and Law Firms on Edge Over ANC Coalition Talks
Investors are concerned that a compromise reached by the parties would result in the nationalization of the South African Reserve Bank and other important organizations, the expropriation of private property, and a departure from the rule of law.
Hiring of Law Firm Associates in Canada Remains Strong but Salaries Not Rising Significantly
Precedent magazine, which has been following hire backs in the Toronto market, states that most significant firms have recruited back more than 70% of their articling students this year, which is on track or better than 2023.
Wall Street firms’ muscle into pro sports deals
In an attempt to overtake well-established competitors that cater to billionaire buyers and sellers, Wall Street law firms are pushing their way into the burgeoning sports deals sector.
As Mental Health Awareness Month concludes, it seems pertinent to take some time to discuss the topic of mental health, particularly in relation to the legal sector and the professionals who navigate it.
Historically, the legal profession has been synonymous with stress, long working hours, competition, and, depending on your area of expertise, exposure to traumatic or emotionally challenging situations. These realities have meant that lawyers have been no stranger to mental health related issues such as increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and/or burnout. According to a 2021 survey conducted by an insurance firm, attorneys are the second most stressed category of professionals in the UK, with 63% of the legal field suffering everyday stress. Though this data is three years old, the question remains whether the issue is one of the past or one that needs to be addressed in the present-day legal field.
Firstly, we can see that mental health has increasingly become a point of conversation within the legal sphere, whether this be an emerging culture of self-care that has developed within society at large, or the initiatives which have been put into place by law firms in order to create an atmosphere of well-being within some of the world’s most prevalent law firms. We even see the rise of mental health charities and schemes coming into fruition throughout the legal sector such as Jonathan’s Voice, which is a charity that aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues and inspire people to seek help and open up, and the MHFA initiative which has provided mental health training and resources to over 20,000 organisations. But questions do remain: How useful have these initiatives been and is there more that can be done to combat this prevailing issue?
A study that was conducted in 2023, which centred the link between lawyers’ stress and suicidal thoughts, found that 66% of respondents believed that their time in the legal profession has proven detrimental to the state of their mental health, with 46% of them reporting that they were considering leaving the profession completely due to copious amounts of stress. Furthermore, data from a Mental Health Survey that was conducted by ALM and Law.com found that 38% of lawyers said that they were feeling depressed. This figure is alarmingly high, and is made worse when we consider that in 2021 the same question was asked and the data reported that at the time 37% of the lawyers were feeling depressed. Whilst this isn’t a huge increase, it implies that the problem is not necessarily a thing of the past nor something that is simply just going to get better over time.
So, what can be done about mental health in the legal sector?
One thing that cannot be understated is the importance of self-awareness and self-care. This remains important across all industries and walks of life, but in relation to lawyers who work extended hours, often balance multiple cases and projects at once, and deal with sensitive subject matters, it is crucial to assess regularly and take the necessary steps to mitigate stress.
Some of the recommended improvements:
These are all proven ways to mitigate the risk of mental health problems. Studies show that adults who have half the recommended amount of physical activity per week had a 18% lower risk of suffering from depression compared to those who received no physical activity per week.
Another way that many experts argue is beneficial, is to vocalise your struggles as they begin to surface. Prevention is decidedly better than cure. Current societal and cultural norms have shown that lawyers are becoming more comfortable discussing the state of their mental health and are utilising platforms like LinkedIn to express this in a more public manner. Other ways can be by confiding in family and friends but also by seeking professional counselling, joining support groups with likeminded lawyers, such as the London Solicitors Litigation Association, who encourage the development of relationships between lawyers of all levels and positions. Also, many suggest opening up to colleagues and managers. Practices such as this are quite frankly a new phenomenon. However, we cannot deny that there has been a clear increase the number of lawyers who are becoming more comfortable with discussing their mental health. The mental health and wellbeing charity LawCare reported that over the last year there had been a 24% increase in the number of people who have been contacting them. These trends are positive and show that there is a growing sense of pro-activeness by individuals in the legal industry and by external groups in order to create safe spaces, which in turn will have a positive effect on the state of mental health as a result. However, what are law firms doing to help the progress of this cause?
A study on Mental Wellbeing in the legal profession that was carried out by the International Bar Association in 2021 found that 41% of employees were reluctant to discuss their mental wellbeing or concerns regarding their mental health due to fear that it would have a negative impact on their career. This might be a familiar feeling to many within the legal industry, which is notoriously competitive, and statistics show that 32.1% of professionals within the legal industry do not speak out as a result of fear that they will be treated differently if they do due to stigma surrounding mental health and immense pressure to perform and meet clients’ expectations. Whilst this attitude and culture has been the norm up until now it is becoming widely acknowledged that a new approach needs to be implemented across law firms. The legal profession is one that holds prestige, as the work can be challenging and the demand for excellence is constantly made apparent to those who navigate it. However, there has been a growing impetus placed on creating a balance between the pursuit of excellence and the well-being of individuals and many firms are striving to implement healthy cultures where individuals can feel more at ease when opening up about their wellbeing.
Traditionally, leaders within law firms felt as if the only way to achieve success is to appear endlessly capable of exceeding expectations. This perception tends to diffuse across the whole ecosystem of the firm and seeps into the behaviours of other partners, fee-earners, paralegals, legal assistants, and professional staff thereby creating a stifled environment where no one feels free to open up and subsequently no change can be achieved. Whilst this is not necessarily an issue that can be resolved overnight, it is pivotal that steps are taken to mitigate this. As the saying goes “change comes from the top”. An article by Reuters states that “when senior leadership models openness and vulnerability around their own lived experience, it creates a positive environment for those who are considering the benefits and consequences of asking for support”. The impact of this cannot be understated and goes a long way towards the creation of safe spaces within firms.
The reality of this is that once leadership within firms acknowledge the need for change in this area, there will still be much room for improvement in terms of actioning these new ideas. The International Bar Association found that in 2021, 82% of institutions reported that they take mental health seriously, however only 16% provide adequate training for senior management. As we have established, change has to start from the top which is why it is important that we keep up the momentum through these conversations to inform leaders within law firms and legal bodies about the importance of this discourse and how imperative it is for them to be in the know about ways they can help create better atmospheres within their practices.
Once adequate training has been provided to leadership, many believe that it would be useful for the same thing to be experienced by other members of the team; if everyone within a firm is aware of a problem it becomes easier to mobilise and address it accordingly. With this shared understanding, more practical initiatives, such as team building activities and reward incentives, can be implemented to motivate people and create a positive environment. A team with a stronger community and culture is more likely to produce members who are willing to share their feelings. Furthermore, mentorship schemes can be of a great help, specifically to junior lawyers and lawyers transitioning through different phases or career milestones where one can experience notions such as anxiety and imposters syndrome. This form of mentorship would allow them to have questions answered, a friendly face to turn to, and overall feel more like they are part of the team. Furthermore, regular mental health check-ins mandated by law firms would demonstrate consistency and aid in the prevention of significant problems. Overall, teamwork and early action are recurring themes that help businesses succeed.
Pressure from clients has been established as a contributing factor when discussing the stress individuals within the legal sector feel. Recently, clients have become more and more informed and sensitive towards the wellbeing of their legal representatives. The reasons clients are becoming increasingly aware is in part down to their own experience of the law firms and a drive within corporates to tackle such issues. The legal sector much like many other industries is reliant on people to be able to carry out often mentally taxing work to a very high standard and for sustained periods of time. This reliance on the individual means there must be an emphasis placed on well-being, and it is simply unsustainable to think otherwise.
Can lawyers and other legal professionals carry out high quality work so frequently, with no breaks, absent consideration for their mental state or emotional support? The data we discussed previously shows an increasingly large percentage of professionals facing these problems on a daily basis, with such a large number affected how could the industry hope to thrive in this modern era. Subsequently, if success is to be achieved, all parties must understand that key balances and measures must be taken to protect the wellbeing of all that are involved in these processes.
Overall, we can see that there has been a dangerous culture which minimised the issues of mental health and wellbeing within the legal industry. It is clear however, that this culture is beginning to subside, and the industry is looking towards more support for its people. But we must remember to maintain momentum and recognise that this race is not for the swift – as we usher in a new and improved way of engaging in the legal sector, teamwork, openness, and early action are critical.
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