Moves:
In-House
Legal Chief of Retailer Beyond Exiting at Tumultuous Time
The business recently announced that its $40 million investment arrangement with the struggling Container Store brand is in jeopardy.
United Soccer League Scores General Counsel
The United Soccer League’s general counsel, Andrew McIntosh, stated, “The league’s rapid growth is bringing increased interest from international investors and raised expectations for strong corporate governance, and I look forward to providing support in these crucial areas.”
UK & Ireland
Gibson Dunn Adds Jones Day M&A Veteran in London
Will McDonald is joining Gibson Dunn’s mergers and acquisition practice. McDonald, a Jones Day lifer, is leaving the firm after almost 18 years, in which time, he built out a practice specialising in public U.K. M&A deals.
APAC
DLA Piper Takes Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate Partner for Seoul
DLA Piper has appointed Jang Hyuk Yeo, a former shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, as a partner in its Seoul corporate practice. Qualified in New York and registered as a foreign legal consultant in Seoul, Yeo advises on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital markets listings, foreign direct investments and private equity transactions.
Reed Smith Hires DLA Piper’s Former Equity Capital Markets Partner in Hong Kong
Reed Smith has hired DLA Piper’s former partner and co-head of its regional equity capital markets practice in Hong Kong, Arthur Tso.
Ashurst Bolsters Singapore Offering With A&O Shearman Hire
Kok Jin Ong is set to join the firm’s corporate transactions practice and will be named partner following regulatory approval, Ashurst said. Ong leaves A&O Shearman after serving as counsel for eight months, before which he assumed the role at legacy Shearman & Sterling.
The Americas
Morrison Cohen Adds White Collar Partner; Corporate/Securities Partner Joins Olshan
Tracy Burnett has joined Morrison Cohen as a partner in our Regulatory Enforcement and White-Collar Practice. White-collar criminal defence, internal and governmental investigations, and regulatory enforcement issues are the main areas of her practice.
High-Profile Sidley M&A Partner Heads to Covington
Phil Cheveley is now a partner in the London-based cross-border M&A practice department of Covington & Burling.
2 Carter Arnett Litigators to Join Baker & Hostetler in Dallas
The name partners of Dallas trial firm Carter Arnett Bennett & Perez, Courtney Barksdale Perez and Joshua Bennett, will join Baker & Hostetler in Dallas on Monday.
A&O Shearman’s Former U.S. Co-Chair to Leave Partnership
After Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged, Karen Seward was considered by many to be Wim Dejonghe’s successor.
Team Moves
Chiesa Shahinian Bolsters Corporate Practice With 5 From Newark Boutique
The real value add here, according to Glenn Stein, chair of the corporate and securities group at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, is the privately held midmarket client that spins off not only M&A work but also financing work, contract and commercial transactions, intellectual property, environmental, and real estate.
Another Insurance Team Departs Clyde & Co in Australia
Clyde & Co has lost another insurance partner and team to Australian insurance-specialist law firm Wotton Kearney, becoming the fifth insurance team to leave the British firm in the past year. Jacques Jacobs and his team of six join Wotton Kearney’s Sydney office.
Financials:
2 Years After Paul Plevin Merger, Quarles & Brady’s Revenue Up More than 13%
The merger added roughly 55 people to Quarles’ team in 2022.
Polsinelli’s Revenue and Profits Surge Amid Partner De-Equitizations, Retirements
Practices like health care, real estate, labour and employment, and litigation were “clicking on all cylinders,” according to the CEO of the company, whose revenue was up 13%.
Akin, Baker Botts, Vinson & Elkins Are First Texas Big Law Firms to Match Milbank Bonuses
Since several Big Law firms have also made similar announcements, the three Texas-based homegrown firms that are all part of the Am Law 100 are paying the market rate for year-end plus unique bonuses set by Milbank.
Revenue Up at Homegrown Texas Firms Through Q3, Though Demand Slipped Slightly
According to Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group Nine-Month 2024 Survey Results, billing rates for domestic Texas businesses increased by 7.9% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to 2023, which is almost the industry’s rate increase of 9% during the same period.
Promotions & Appointments
Daniel Habib to Serve as Next Attorney-in-Charge of NY Federal Defender Appeals Unit
Habib has previously worked at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
People in the News—Nov. 26, 2024—Barley Snyder, McNees
Salvatore Anastasi, a partner at Barley Snyder and the chair of the intellectual property practice group, has been chosen as the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s (AIPLA) next president.
Weil Advances 18 to Partner, Largest Class Since 2021
The firm stuck to an approximately 50/50 split between New York and other offices.
Diversity & Inclusion:
By addressing the health, safety, and well-being of its employees, PepsiCo Beverages North America has improved employee progression and retention rates over the past year, demonstrating its support for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
How Qualcomm’s General Counsel Is Championing Diversity in Innovation
Ann Chaplin, general counsel at Qualcomm, stated, “I’ve discovered that it is always better to have more voices at the table, and to strive for an environment in which more people are encouraged to speak up.”
Office Openings & Closing:
Law Firm Real Estate Strategy: Attorney Offices Are Out, Conference Rooms Are In
Law firms’ approaches to office space are undergoing a paradigm shift. This change has changed how law firms handle their real estate demands. As flexible workplaces become more popular, businesses are seeing that when their attorneys do come into the office, the primary objective is to meet and engage with peers.
US Law Firm Leasing Up Nearly 30% Through Q3, with a Growing Number of Firms Staying in Place
Due to rising upgrade costs and a lack of high-quality space in certain core areas, most U.S. law firms who signed leases through Q3 of 2024 are expected to remain in their current locations, following a pattern that began in 2023.
Weil Grows Footprint in London
Joining the line of law firms looking for new office space in London are Weil and Herbert Smith Freehills.
Mayer Brown’s Hong Kong Split to Take Effect
While JSM will take over Vietnam, mainland China, and most of Hong Kong, Mayer Brown will keep about ten partners in Hong Kong and control of its offices in Singapore and Tokyo.
Simpson Thacher adds partners from A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance for Luxembourg launch.
The company is recruiting Clifford Chance’s Luxembourg co-head of investment funds and the Luxembourg co-head of funds at A&O Shearman.
Japan Big Four Firm Mori Hamada Launches Second US Office
Big Four Japanese firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is strengthening its U.S. presence by opening an office in the San Francisco Bay Area, following New York in 2023. Operations in San Francisco are scheduled to commence in 2025. The office will be led by two partners. Mikito Ishida and Stephen Overton.
Mergers & Alliances:
Baker McKenzie Accepts Defeat on Australian Integration with Firm’s Asia Practice
A partner vote opposing administrative and financial integration led to the conclusion.
BCLP Exploring Merger Prospects as Profitability Lags, Partnership Shrinks
The quest to form a global firm with a shared profit pool has resulted in some U.S. partner tensions.
Technology & Innovation:
AI Expected to Transform Legal Field Even More as Technologies Evolve
“The demand for legal services is increasing. “How will that need be met?” is the query. Prof. Richard Susskind, a globally renowned expert in the field of artificial intelligence, stated.
New Research Study Predicts Continued Growth for Generative AI in Legal
David Horrigan, the director of legal education and discovery counsel at Relativity, adds, “The study found that half of legal professionals increased their use of AI generally over the past two years.”
Litera Acquires Office & Dragons to Bolster its Drafting and Transact Offerings
The platform for automated document creation and editing is the most recent in Litera’s lengthy string of M&A transactions.
The Increase in Artificial Intelligence-Related Securities Class Actions
On March 24, 2020, the first-securities class action lawsuit pertaining to AI was filed. Since then, 38 filings pertaining to AI have been made. There were five lawsuits in 2020, eight in 2021, six in 2022, six in 2023, and thirteen in 2024 thus far.
Michelle Schapp and Frank Xavier Wukovits of CSG Law argue, “It is imperative to review the variables involved in the adequate planning of a data breach.”
Productivity Suite Startup Macro Announces $12 Million Funding Round
Macro wants to use AI to increase productivity by combining coding and PDFs into a one tool.
Market Commentary:
Stars and Gripes: Merging Firms Need a ‘Superstar Culture’ for US Success
If Herbert Smith Freehills and others wish to compete in America, they must take a Paul Weiss-style approach to concentrating on important people.
Transforming Dispute Processes in Law: The Impact of Large Language Models
This article examines the classification of “patent trolls” within the United States patent system.
The Essential Role of Partnership Agreements in Health Care Private Practices
A partnership agreement, which outlines the rights, obligations, financial interests, and expectations of co-owners, is a vital component of a successful practice’s ownership, governance, operation, and longevity.
Big Firms May See ‘Uncomfortable Flashbacks’ as Cost Pressure Grows
Wells Fargo’s Les Starck noted that “There continues to be quite a bit of expense pressure,” contributing to big firms pressing forward with billing rate increases.
Remote Work and Cybersecurity: Keeping Law Firm Data Safe Beyond the Office
According to Gregory Hoffman of Lindabury, “Remote work opens a variety of vulnerabilities that may not exist within a traditional office setting.”
Red Tape, Talent Wars & Pricey Office Space Greet Firms Entering Saudi Arabia
Strict hiring quotas, lengthy licensing processes, and intense competition for resources are putting businesses’ resolve to the test as they compete to enter the Kingdom.
Moves:
In house
High-Flying Genetics Testing Firm GeneDx Hires Ex-Zoetis GC as Legal Chief
Heidi Chen is a “celebrated and well-respected business leader and general counsel who brings extensive industry experience to GeneDx,” said CEO Katherine Stueland.
Porsche’s Venture Capital Arm Adds General Counsel from Clifford Chance
Early-career attorney Lynn Nussbaum is taking the legal reins of Porsche Ventures as it presses forward on its next phase of growth.
After Mysterious Parting with Last GC, Photronics Fills Vacancy
Richelle Burr left Photronics this month, and the firm has not said why she was placed on leave earlier this year. According to her separation agreement, she will be paid for a full year.
Contract Software Unicorn Ironclad Hires Former Pinterest Lawyer as GC
Jasmine Singh served as assistant general counsel at Patreon for six months before joining Binti two years ago. In 2018–2022, she was Pinterest’s assistant general counsel.
Christelle Adjémian becomes Legal and Ethics Director at Engie Solutions
Christelle is the newly appointed head of Engie Solutions’ legal division. She is currently serving as the Legal and Ethics Director of the Engie organization, which unifies all energy efficiency initiatives for French businesses, industries, and local governments, is Christelle Adjémian.
US restaurant franchisor Craveworthy Brands hires inaugural general counsel
John Silvestri, a seasoned corporate attorney, has been appointed as the first general counsel for Craveworthy Brands, a restaurant franchise. Silvestri comes from The John Buck Company, a US real estate company where he served as general counsel for more than 20 years.
Trump Taps Former Fla. Attorney General for AG
The nomination comes hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for the position.
UK & Ireland
Linklaters Sees Latest Partner Exit as UK Leveraged Finance Partner Walks to Simpson Thacher
Simpson Thacher, who has been developing the company’s European finance and private equity business, hired Dan Peach from Linklaters. Since Ian Barratt and Sinead O’Shea of London left last year, Simpson Thacher has been trying to bolster its roster.
Dentons adds high yield partner in London from Linklaters
Colin Chang joins as Dentons looks to take on increasingly complicated, large-scale deals that call for high yield knowledge.
White & Case lands ‘elite’ M&A partner from A&O Shearman in London
After more than 30 years with the Magic Circle business, Richard Browne joins as a partner. He focuses on helping worldwide corporations and UK public and private enterprises on recommended and hostile public takeover bids, auctions, and private transactions.
Alastair Keith joins Davidson McDonnell as director
Alastair Keith has joined the corporate team of Belfast-based commercial law firm Davidson McDonnell as a director. Mr. Keith mostly handles business transactions, both domestically and internationally, with a focus on Northern Ireland.
Arthur Cox welcomes Denise Murray as head of financial services compliance and regulatory relations
Denise Murray has been named head of regulatory relations and compliance for financial services by Arthur Cox. Ms. Murray has over 20 years of experience in the sector and in regulation, including more than 15 years as the top risk and compliance officer at Mediolanum and the Central Bank of Ireland. She was in charge of the Central Bank’s asset management supervisory section.
Proskauer Rose hires John Goldfinch after A&O Shearman drink-driving exit
Proskauer announced that they have hired former A&O Shearman and Milbank partner John Goldfinch into its global finance practice. He will start at the firm’s London office on 2nd December.
EMEA
DLA Piper strengthens Dusseldorf real estate practice with partner hire
Dr. Gerold Jaeger has been appointed as a partner in DLA Piper’s Dusseldorf office, bolstering the firm’s German real estate practice, with effect from January 1, 2025.
Hogan Lovells strengthens litigation practice with new partner
Thomas Nebel, a disputes partner, has been welcomed to the Düsseldorf litigation office of a global legal firm. He will formally join the firm early next month. Nebel was co-head of a multinational legal firm’s practice in Germany before joining Hogan Lovells, where he focused on local and international commercial and civil law conflicts.
Morgan Vail, a tax partner at Ashurst, joins the tax team at the Paris office, which has been overseen by Emmanuelle Pontnau-Faure since 2017. For more than 15 years, Morgan has provided clients with business tax advice. He is especially knowledgeable in the taxes of digital activities and the new technologies, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sector.
Christine d’Ovidio joins Grant Thornton Société d’Avocats as a partner
Christine d’Ovidio is welcomed by Grant Thornton Société d’Avocats, a partner firm of the Grant Thornton audit and consultancy business. The attorney will assume the role of partner in the corporate law division.
Cohen & Gresser Expands Paris White Collar Practice with the Addition of Vincent Desry
Vincent specializes in general criminal law and white-collar crime, with a particular focus on cross-border matters. In high-profile business, political, and financial disputes, including intricate financial criminal prosecutions, he counsels and defends executives, public personalities, and corporate entities. At the French law firm Temime, Vincent most recently worked on a number of historic cases.
Goodwin Further Expands Investment Funds Team in Luxembourg
Global law firm Goodwin announced that Codrina Constantinescu will join the firm’s Private Investment Funds practice as partner in the Luxembourg office. Codrina’s arrival is the latest addition to Goodwin’s growing Luxembourg team that recently relocated to larger premises.
APAC
Former Gibson Dunn Asia arbitration head joins One Essex Court
Paul Tan, a former partner and head of arbitration for Asia at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, has joined One Essex Court, a commercial group of barristers’ chambers in London, as an international counsel and arbitrator.
Hogan Lovells poaches arbitration partner from Ashurst in Singapore
To strengthen its dispute resolution business in Southeast Asia, international law firm Hogan Lovells has recruited Rob Palmer, an expert in international arbitration, as a partner from rival Ashurst.
Makarim disputes lawyer joins local boutique as partner
Raditya Anugerah Titus, a former senior associate at Makarim & Taira S, has joined the Indonesian boutique law firm Batavia Advocatorum (B.Av) as a partner, strengthening its dispute resolution practice.
The Americas
O’Melveny, Bracewell Add Lawyers to Texas Energy Teams
Bracewell signed on Vinson & Elkins tax counsel Peter Rogers as a partner in Dallas, and O’Melveny & Myers recruited Jibin Luke, a partner in energy transactions at McDermott Will & Emery, as a partner in Houston.
Weil Practice Leaders Expected to Leave for Paul Weiss,
Brad Karp, the chair of the Paul Weiss committee, claimed in a statement that Anish Desai and Elizabeth Stotland Weiswasser were “two of the most accomplished and respected litigators in the country.”
Holtzman Vogel Taps Weil Gotshal Attorney to Lead Miami Expansion
Mark Pinkert has been hired by the GOP-aligned corporation to increase its footprint in Florida and will eventually assist in establishing a physical presence in the booming city.
People in the News—Nov. 21, 2024—Willig Williams, Hangley Aronchick
Willig, Williams & Davidson, a labour, employment, workers’ compensation, and family law company, announced the addition of lawyer Jesse Bernstein to its labour law practice.
Attracted to Thompson Hine’s Fee Flexibility, Morgan Lewis Litigator Switches Firms in Chicago
Gregory Fouts, a litigator with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, has joined Thompson Hine, a Thompson Hine firm that is ranked in the Am Law 200, as a litigation partner in Chicago. He plans to expand his business there.
Holland & Knight, Akin, Crowell, Barnes and Day Pitney Add to DC Practices
Holland & Knight, Day Pitney, Akin Gump, Barnes, and Crowell announced new lawyer recruits this week in the most recent round of lateral hiring in D.C.
Polsinelli Adds Health Care Litigator in Nashville, Ex-SEC Enforcer Joins BCLP in Atlanta
Polsinelli has welcomed Kevin T. Elkins to its Health Care Litigation Practice Group as a shareholder in Nashville. Elkins is an experienced litigator who focuses his practice on representing health care clients in managed care and payor disputes along with other related litigation.
Crowell & Moring Adds International Trade Partner Erik Woodhouse
Erik Woodhouse rejoined Crowell & Moring as a partner in its international trade and financial services groups in Washington, the firm announced Tuesday. Woodhouse will advise clients on complying with US economic sanctions and anti-money laundering rules and regulations.
Scott Bailey Joins Jones Day’s Corporate Practice in Dallas
Scott Bailey has joined Jones Day as a lawyer in the Corporate Practice, the firm stated. He works out of the Dallas office of Jones Day.
Akin Welcomes Shawn Maree Bishop to Lobbying and Public Policy Practice
Shawn Maree Bishop, a former top health advisor for Senate Finance Committee Majority, has joined Akin as a senior advisor in the firm’s lobbying and public policy practice in Washington, D.C.
Team Moves
DLA Piper Takes 3-Lawyer Restructuring Team from Simmons & Simmons in Paris
The hiring of partner Sandra Esquiva-Hesse and her team will help DLA, which lost a three-lawyer restructuring team to Paul Hastings in May, regain its competence in restructuring transactions and related legal procedures, as demand for such counsel is growing.
Latham & Watkins makes quartet of restructuring partner hires from Weil, Paul Weiss
Ray Schrock, who will be the worldwide chair of Weil’s restructuring and exceptional situations practice, as well as Candace Arthur and Alexander Welch are among the new Weil attorneys.
Weil loses trio of high-profile partners to Paul Weiss and Latham & Watkins
Litigators Anish Desai and Elizabeth Stotland Weiswasser are going to Paul Weiss, and restructuring partner Ray Schrock is joining Latham.
Financials:
Collections Are Critical for Texas Law Firms Through Year’s End
According to current data, Texas’s demand and revenue growth trailed behind the sector during the third quarter, but domestic businesses can catch up by concentrating on recovering accounts receivable.
Law Firms Are ‘Pinching Themselves’ Amid Double-Digit Profit Growth and Billing Rate Hikes
The performance of law firms in 2024 is still influenced by the growth of billing rates.
Cravath Matches ‘Special’ and Year-End Bonuses
Paul Hastings, McDermott, and Cravath have all acknowledged that they are offering “special bonuses” that correspond to Milbank’s summer bonus structure.
DC Law Firm Growth Falls Behind Big Firms in Other Regions
According to a Q3 report from Citi, revenue growth for businesses in the D.C. area was 7.6% in the first nine months, which was less than the industry average of 11.9%.
More Big Law Firms Rush to Match Associate Bonuses, While Some Offer Potential for Even More
For year-end bonuses and additional incentives, some employees at Fried Frank, Ropes & Gray and McDermott could make even more than the Big Law scale.
Brach Eichler; Cooper Levenson; Marshall Dennehey; Archer; Sills Cummis
Cooper Levenson adds a lawyer; Brach Eichler welcomes a litigation partner; and other changes are made.
Bonus Parade Continues, With Additional Firms Matching Milbank
Cleary, Davis Polk, Weil, Skadden Arps, Cadwalader, and O’Melveny are the most recent firms to match Milbank’s summer and end-of-year bonus plan, even though they did not rush to match the company’s special bonuses in August.
Southern California Law Firms Boast Industry-Leading Revenue, Demand Through Q3
Gloria Gomez-O’Rourke, a senior client specialist at Citi, stated that Southern California is “outperforming most regions in almost all categories” in addition to the “really, really strong growth in revenue” that Southern California companies have experienced over the first nine months of the year.
Travers Smith’s £4k vacay giveaway for lucky lawyers
Travers Smith provided £4,000 for a lavish vacation to each of its fund practice associates. Management made the decision early last year that too many of the group’s attorneys were in danger of being lured away by prestigious US legal firms like Paul, Weiss, and Kirkland & Ellis, where even recently trained solicitors earn between £170,000 and £180,000.
Promotions & Appointments
Simpson Thacher Names Largest Ever Partner Class
The firm is set to promote 44 lawyers to partner, 12 more than in 2023.
Amir Ali, MacArthur Justice Center Director, Confirmed to DC District Court
Rebecca L. Pennell was also confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve in the Eastern District of Washington.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher Announces 19 Partner Promotions
“We congratulate these individuals on this milestone achievement,” said Matthew Feldman, co-chairman of the firm, in a statement. “They have demonstrated a tremendous commitment to our clients and firm, and we wish them continued success.”
Rawle & Henderson Hires New Del. Managing Partner
The Wilmington office of Rawle & Henderson has welcomed Loreto P. Rufo as a new managing partner.
Perkins Coie Boasts Diverse Partner Class
At Perkins Coie, 23 attorneys and senior attorneys will be promoted to partnership status.
Mayer Brown makes up 39 to partner in banking and finance-focused round
Mayer Brown, a top 15 US firm, has promoted 12 attorneys to counsel and 39 attorneys to partnership.
Five appointments at Cleaver Fulton Rankin
Cleaver Fulton Rankin has welcomed four solicitors and a new HR manager.
Enda McGarrity becomes youngest ever partner at PA Duffy & Co Solicitors
Enda McGarrity, 28, has been appointed as a director of PA Duffy & Co Solicitors, an All-Ireland law company, making her the youngest partner in the firm’s history. In 2018, Mr. McGarrity received his degree from Queen’s University Belfast, and in 2021, he became a licensed solicitor.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Lululemon Faces Legal Fire Over Its DEI Program After Bias Complaints Surface
Two shareholder concerns claim that the program “was not structured so as to meaningfully combat discrimination within Lululemon… as a result, Lululemon employees continued to experience discriminatory treatment.”
How Amy Harris Leverages Diversity to Give UMB Financial a Competitive Edge
UMG Chief Legal Officer Amy Harris stated, “If you have talented people and you give them a safe place to work, they’ll thrive.”
For Midsize Law Firms, Curbing Boys-Club Culture Starts with Diversity at the Top
A long-term endeavor, developing diverse leadership necessitates investing in staff members from the start, which may be more difficult for many midsize businesses to accomplish.
Inclusive cultures in your firm: add diversity and stir?
Reign Lee of Van Bael & Bellis and Nina Goswami of Clifford Chance discuss their diversity and inclusion session at the recent Law Firm Marketing Summit.
Office Openings & Closing:
Bolstering Southern California Presence, Sidley Austin Settles into Revitalized Downtown LA Office
Dan Clivner of Sidley stated, “We’re really proud of downtown LA and the investment we’ve made, but it’s part of a greater investment in California generally.”
Goodwin, Polsinelli, Fox Rothschild Find New Phila. Offices
Two businesses have already moved into their new locations, while a third has signed a new lease.
Akerman Opens Charlotte Office with Focus on Renewable Energy, Data Centre Practices
To open its 26th office in the United States, the firm recruited a new tax partner and energy partner from Moore & Van Allen.
Fowler White Burnett Opens Jacksonville Office Focused on Transportation Practice
In response to increasing demand, the midsize corporation with headquarters in Florida hired a new maritime partner to head the operation. Additionally, it is relocating its Miami office and growing in Fort Lauderdale.
Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Launches in Cairo and Abu Dhabi
Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes (GBS) is strengthening its roots in the Middle East and North Africa, positioning the firm to meet the region’s increasing demand for international arbitration expertise. The launch of offices in Cairo and Abu Dhabi will strengthen its focus on international arbitration fueled by high-value disputes in sectors like energy and infrastructure. Twelve of GBS’s 52 lawyers are native Arabic speakers and dual-qualified.
Mergers & Alliances:
AA Thornton joins forces with Venner Shipley
With 230 employees, the merged company will begin operations under the Venner Shipley name on December 1st.
Nordic Capital Plans to Acquire IP Management Solutions Provider Anaqua
After the acquisition, Anaqua intends to expand its clients and improve its technology solutions.
Chicago Midsize Firm Will Combine with Miami Boutique to Form Antitrust Powerhouse
The combined company will be called Sperling Kenny Nachwalter after the merger of Sperling & Slater and Kenny Nachwalter takes effect in December.
Clark Hill Acquires L&E Boutique in Mexico City, Adding 5 Lawyers
The head of Tenorio Abogados, Jorge Tenorio, stated that he hopes to grow his clientele at Clark Hill and add more foreign businesses to his list of clients.
Baker McKenzie Accepts Defeat on Australian Integration with Asia
In order to integrate with the firm’s Asian practice, Baker McKenzie will not be having another vote of its Australian partnership. The Australian partnership recently failed to reach the necessary 75% of partners in a vote on financial and administrative merger with the Asian partnership based in Hong Kong.
Technology & Innovation:
Leopard Solutions Launches AI Navigator, a Gen AI Search, Data Extraction Tool
AI Navigator was created by the legal business intelligence company with the intention of helping legal practitioners conduct research more quickly.
The Future of Law: Harnessing AI Without Compromising Integrity
Success in this changing environment depends on striking the correct balance: AI must complement human skill rather than replace it. The secret is to use AI to its full potential—data analysis and process automation—while maintaining the fundamental principles of legal practice.
Knowable Launches Generative AI-Powered Tool Suite Ask Knowable
To assist attorneys in navigating and interacting with data and insights on completed contracts, the contract management company is launching a new line of tools.
Pinsent Masons Launches AML AI Tool in Wake of SRA Crackdown
The firm expects certain due diligence and AML challenges to be reduced considerably going from weeks to hours.
Pramata Launches AI Contract Management Tool AI Design Studio
The AI Design Studio offers playbook templates in addition to contract drafting support.
OpenAI, NYTimes Counsel Quarrel Over Erased OpenAI Training Data
The recovery of deleted data has been a point of contention in the legal struggle between OpenAI and the New York Times Co. over the AI developer’s purported use of copyrighted New York Times content to train its generative AI models.
Market Commentary:
Saying Your Goodbyes—Ethical Obligations When Transitioning to a New Firm
Here are some pointers to assist you handle these separations with professionalism and, if at all possible, steer clear of conflict.
Battle for Top Talent Accelerates Amid Profit and Demand Surge
“With very few exceptions, there is essentially no firm that is immune to market pressure,” one legal recruiter stated.
How Marsh & McLennan’s Small but Mighty Legal Innovation Team Builds Solutions That Bring Joy
The chief legal innovation counsel at Marsh McLennan, Farrah Pepper, stated, “Everything that we do and that we build is…to help our colleagues achieve their dreams.”
Florida-Based Law Firms Start to Lag, As New York Takes a Bigger Piece of Deals
Sunshine State firms have been struggling to keep up with their competitors to the north, after an interval where they were outpacing these rivals, according to a Wells Fargo legal market survey.
To Thrive in Central and Eastern Europe, Law Firms Need to ‘Know the Rules of the Game’
Big American and British companies have discovered that Central and Eastern European rates and profitability are not up to par. However, some businesses are succeeding there.
Ropes & Gray Reduces Time Off Allowance
Ropes & Gray has altered its associates’ contracts to remove five days’ holiday, reducing their annual allowance from 30 days to 25.
Billables and Bad Partners: Why Associates Are Still Not Happy
A survey of nearly 200 London associates has outlined the most common frustrations among junior lawyers.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Latham Departures Continue as Capital Markets Partner Joins Greenberg Traurig
Fritz Ernemann is now a stakeholder in London, further enhancing Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s global capital markets expertise. Ernemann is the ninth new shareholder this year to join the London office, having previously been a partner at Latham & Watkins.
Pinsent Masons Hits K&L Gates for Double Partner Hire
To expand its London real estate portfolio, Pinsent Masons has brought on two new partners. Partners Tim Webb and Emma Maher are leaving K&L Gates to join the firm’s real estate practice. The two are experts in providing corporate real estate advice, especially in the residential build-to-rent market.
Pillsbury secures senior Taylor Wessing disputes partner in London
Laurence Lieberman, a disputes partner, has left Taylor Wessing to work in Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s London office. Many people considered Lieberman to be an important part of Taylor Wessing’s disputes offering.
Squire Patton Boggs hires André Vermeulen to establish new tax practice
André Vermeulen has been named director of Squire Patton Boggs in order to set up the company’s benefits and tax strategy in Ireland. Mr. Vermeulen specializes in providing advice to multinational corporations and large corporations on a variety of Irish corporate and transactional tax issues, with an emphasis on M&A, corporate restructurings, and foreign direct investment in Ireland.
EMEA
CMS strengthens Dubai tax practice with partner relocation
A significant member has moved to Dubai, strengthening CMS’s Middle East tax department. Andre Anthony joins from the London office of the global firm. He has been elevated to partner in addition to moving.
Kirkland grows Saudi construction practice with partner relocation
The company has set up its regional headquarters in Riyadh, and Ahmed Alrikhaimi moved there from Houston.
APAC
CMS Grows Hong Kong Office With Another Private Equity Hire from Mayer Brown
Amber Warren, a longtime partner, has been elected as Dentons’ first female Australia chair, and she will begin her term on January 1. As a member of Dentons’ Australian and international boards, Warren has been a partner since 2010. He is part of the firm’s regulatory advice unit for financial services, banking and finance, and litigation.
CMS boosts HK funds practice with another Mayer Brown hire
Helen Wang, a former counsel at Mayer Brown, has joined CMS, an Anglo-German legal firm, as a partner, bolstering the business’s Hong Kong funds practice. Wang was hired a few months after CMS hired senior associate Gigi Ma, also from Mayer Brown, and funding partner Paul Moloney.
Australia’s MinterEllison Loses More Partners from Canberra Practice
Following Holding Redlich’s appointment to all fields of law on the new Whole of Australian Government Legal Services Panel, Nevin Agnew and Jeremy Johnson joined the Australian company. A panel, most recently modified and merged in August, is typically used by the government to select its private sector companies. In three of the five distinct practice areas mentioned, MinterEllison was authorized to perform legal services.
Makarim disputes lawyer joins local boutique as partner
Raditya Anugerah Titus, a former senior associate at Makarim & Taira S, has joined the Indonesian boutique law firm Batavia Advocatorum (B.Av) as a partner, strengthening its dispute resolution practice.
Deacons bolsters disputes practice with hire from Bakers
Gillian Lam was a senior associate at Baker McKenzie before joining Deacons, the biggest legal firm in Hong Kong, as a partner in its litigation and dispute resolution division.
K&L hires Singapore energy duo from Gibson Dunn
Partner Brad Roach and senior associate Alexandra Jones, both energy attorneys from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, have joined K&L Gates Straits Law, the Singapore office of K&L Gates, to strengthen its energy practice in Singapore.
In house
Quantum Computing Company to Part with General Counsel
After working for Kymeta, a satellite antenna manufacturer, for little over a year, Rick Danis joined Rigetti in 2019.
Sustainable Packaging Company Packsize Finds New Legal Chief a Perfect Fit
After selling his previous two companies for a total of $2.1 billion, JD Ellis now works at Packsize.
Lockmaker’s Veteran GC Takes Old Job Back After Successor Lasts Just 3 Months
Allegion refused to provide an explanation for the departure of Stacy Cozad and the return of Jeff Braun as legal head.
Trump Picks William McGinley as White House Counsel
During the first term of President-elect Donald Trump, McGinley served as the White House cabinet secretary and the president’s assistant.
Trump Selects Matt Gaetz as Attorney General
Many aspiring DOJ lawyers might be surprised by the selection. Gaetz has recently become a fervent supporter of Trump.
As Uncertainty Hovers Over PGA Merger, LIV Golf Hires Entertainment Industry Veteran as Legal Chief
John Ruzich comes to the controversial Saudi-backed pro golf organization from Legends Hospitality, a provider of food and beverage services to venues, where he was legal chief for 12 years.
The Americas
Amid Ripple of Marketing Moves, Paul Hastings Hires 2 Pros from Skadden
There are some musical chairs as a result of the relative lack of applicants who have either held the position of CMO before or have risen to it.
Wilmer, Miles & Stockbridge, and Polsinelli Hire Litigation, Government Contract Attorneys
According to a new industry report released on Monday, “it looks like clear sailing for firms to outperform all but their profit heights of 2021” in 2024.
People in the News—Nov. 12, 2024—Fitzpatrick Lentz, Duane Morris
Ronald J. Reybitz has returned to Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, the firm said.
Morgan Lewis Snatches Up Former Orrick Partner in Boston
Stephen Hall is a litigator who specializes in defending businesses in a range of regulated sectors, including the life sciences and technology.
Polsinelli Hires Data Privacy, Tech Transactions Partner from Kirkland & Ellis
After over two years at Kirkland’s San Francisco office, Laila Paszti joins Polsinelli.
Lowenstein Hires Ex-FTX US General Counsel Ryne Miller to Lead Its Commodities, Derivatives Practice
Miller “has served on the front lines of the digital currency revolution, having been an essential and trusted adviser to many builders in the crypto ecosystem,” according to Lowenstein Sandler partner Ethan Silver.
Kirkland Tech Transactions Partner Heads to Polsinelli
After over two years at Kirkland’s San Francisco office, Laila Paszti joins Polsinelli.
Finance Lawyer Joins Mayer Brown in Charlotte After Hiring Mixup
Following his prior announcement that he will be joining Winston & Strawn, Jeff Mabrito has joined the Am Law 50 firm’s real estate practice.
Burr & Forman Adds Carlton Fields Lawyer to Lead Health Care Practice
Ogletree hires lawyers from Steptoe and McCarter & English in Boston and Texas, while an employment lawyer from D.C. is relocating to Morris Manning to head the employee benefits practice.
Proskauer Hires New C-Suite Officer After Litigation with Ex-COO
Carol Sawdye was Skadden’s CFO, she has notable experience within Big Law.
Team Moves
Brown Rudnick Picks Up Bochner Patent Trial Team in Houston
Brown Rudnick’s new and expanding office now includes a patent trial team in Houston from the midsize company Bochner, based in New York.
DWF Swoops in on Australian Firm For 9-Partner Hire
In the biggest partner defection in Australian history this year, nine partners from Hall & Wilcox have joined international insurance-focused legal firm DWF. Under the direction of partners Matt Curll and Rachael Arnold, the whole London market team of Hall & Wilcox will join DWF in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, and Melbourne.
Financials:
Milbank Leads Bonus Race, Rolling Out Year-End Pay News
The memo released on Monday details the total compensation from summer and year-end incentives, increasing pressure on law firms to equal Milbank for both.
‘Strength of the Market’: Big Law Revenue, Demand Continue to Climb
Gretta Rusanow of Citi said, “Not only are we seeing lawyers busier, but we’re also seeing them busier across a pretty broad cross section of practices.”
Texas Trial Boutique Matches Milbank Bonuses, Paying Up to $140K
Along with Milbank’s newly announced year-end bonus scale and the company’s summer bonus scale, Vartabedian Hester & Haynes, a spinoff of Alston & Bird that opened in Fort Worth in January, announced a year-end bonus scale that will pay colleagues $21,000 to $140,000.
Partner Compensation, Billing Rates Are Trending Higher in Dallas Than Houston
The recruiting company Major, Lindsey & Afric’s 2024 Partner Compensation Survey found that hourly billing rates for partners in Dallas and Houston averaged over $1.1 million, which is about the national average.
The Law Firm Disrupted: It’s Bonus Time
Milbank is the pioneer once more, and other companies will probably follow. However, there are still two questions. Which figure will they match? When?
Millar McCall Wylie reports 12 per cent increase in turnover
Although the independently held company has not released any financial data, it claims to have already exceeded the five-year growth goal of fifty percent that it set in 2021 and has expanded by seventy-five percent since then. This year, the company’s workforce grew by 30% at both its new city centre headquarters in the Printworks on Queen Street in Belfast and its east Belfast office.
Promotions & Appointments
Dechert’s Restructuring Co-Chair Heads to DLA Piper
The partner played significant roles in well-known cases including the BHS and Lehman disasters.
Cravath Elevates 7 to Partnership, Up from Last Year
The corporate practice group includes six of the firm’s seven new partners.
Freshfields Hires DOJ Official, Squire Taps Paul Hastings Atty for US Antitrust Head
Michael Wise, a partner at Paul Hastings, has departed to lead Squire’s antitrust practice in the United States.
Trump Picks Personal Criminal Defense Lawyers for Solicitor General, Deputy Attorney General
Trump Nominates Ex-SEC Chief Jay Clayton to Helm Southern District of New York US Attorney’s Office
The former president’s attempt to appoint Clayton, a seasoned regulator and partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, as Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor was thwarted during his first term. Clayton would be serving as a criminal prosecutor for the first time in his role as U.S. attorney.
Wilson Sonsini Promotes 16 Lawyers to Partner
Five members of the firm’s litigation department and seven from its corporate department make up the new class.
Dentons Elects Amanda Warren to Chair Australian Practice
Amber Warren, a longtime partner, has been elected as Dentons’ first female Australia chair, and she will begin her term on January 1. As a member of Dentons’ Australian and international boards, Warren has been a partner since 2010. He is part of the firm’s regulatory advice unit for financial services, banking and finance, and litigation.
DLA and Kingsley Napley Name New Managing Partners
Liam Cowell, who has been in charge of the U.K. division since January 2019, will hand off to Andrew Dyson on December 1. Since joining the company in 2003, Dyson has held the roles of global co-chair of data, privacy, and cybersecurity and office managing partner for Leeds.
Travers Smith Appoints New Private Equity Head Following Latest Partner Departure
After yet another well-known partner left the company, Travers Smith has hired its third new head of private equity in three years. Following the announcement that Lucie Cawood, the previous leader of Travers’ private equity group, was leaving the company, Will Yates, a deputy head of private equity, was named the new head.
Malaysia’s JLPW gets new disputes head from Skrine
Hui Wen Tan was a senior associate at Skrine before joining the Malaysian law firm Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong (JLPW) as a partner and head of dispute resolution.
SIAC registrar appointed LCIA’s new director general
After ten years in the position, Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof will step down and be replaced by Kevin Nash.
US real estate financing business Walker & Dunlop promotes deputy to GC
Richard Lucas, who left the company earlier this year, is replaced by Dan Groman.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Newly Formed DEI Practices Expect Heightened Demand During Trump Administration
Regarding the ambiguity in the rules governing DEI matters, Gibson Dunn labour & employment co-chair Jason Schwartz observed, “It is regrettable that the only people who gain from this are the lawyers.”
Guiding LGBTQ+ Clients on Safeguarding Their Rights and Protections in Uncertain Political Climates
This article contains a detailed overview of the advice firms can provide to LGBTQ+ clients to ensure they are well protected.
Office Openings & Closing:
On a Texas Growth Surge, Paul Hastings Signs New Leases in Houston, Dallas
Paul Hastings will relocate into the Knox Street Development in Dallas, which is currently under development, and 609 Main in Houston, which has more than tripled the number of attorneys in Texas since 2023.
Gordon Rees Opens 80th Office, ‘Collaboration Hub’ in Palo Alto
According to managing partner Adam Sugarman, Gordon Rees’ Palo Alto location would cater to “major university” and IT clients.
Carlton Fields Downsizes in Move to New Atlanta Office
After 20 years in its first headquarters outside of Florida, the Tampa-based Am Law 200 business is moving to a new location.
More Than 2 Dozen Lawyers Leave DLA Piper Affiliate in Brazil to Form New Firm
Twelve partners make up the new full-service business COSRO Advogados, some of whom were in high positions at DLA Piper and its affiliate, Campos Mello.
Tokyo International makes Singapore debut with SE Asia in its sights
In January 2025, Tokyo International Law Office (TKI), a Japanese boutique, will launch its first overseas office in Singapore, marking a major turning point in the quickly growing firm’s global strategy.
TMI launches in Brussels as Japanese firms continue European push
To assist its Japanese customers wishing to conduct business in the EU, especially in the areas of data protection and antitrust, renowned Japanese legal firm TMI Associates has extended its global network to Brussels.
Kramer Levin’s Paris office to spin out ahead of HSF merger
It has been revealed that Kramer Levin’s Paris office will be split out prior to the New York firm’s historic merger with Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF).
Mergers & Alliances:
Herbert Smith Freehills to Merge with Kramer Levin
In one of the biggest transatlantic mergers in the industry, the companies will merge into Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, a single, completely integrated company.
King & Spalding to Enter Merger to Strengthen Saudi Arabia Presence
After obtaining a foreign law license to conduct business in Saudi Arabia last year, this transaction represents the company’s next stage.
Miles & Stockbridge to Combine With DC-Based Real Estate Finance Firm
In late December, roughly fifty lawyers, paralegals, and employees from Krooth & Altman will join Miles & Stockbridge, forming a combined group of over 200 lawyers, according to the businesses.
Kramer Levin, HSF Leaders Set Out Merger Timeline, Structure
The heads of both firms discussed the timing, structure, and priorities of the combined firm in their first interview with Law.com since announcing a transatlantic partnership.
Technology & Innovation:
Robin AI Announces Previously Undisclosed $25 Million Raise
According to the contract drafting and review service, the increase took place “earlier in 2024” and was financed by current clients and investors.
Lex Machina Launches Full Federal, Expands Legal Analytics to All Federal District Courts
Data analytics from 3.7 million federal court cases in 22 practice areas will be stored at Full Federal.
As Gen AI Acceptance Grows, Lawyers Race to Mitigate Risks
The ideal way to strike a balance between risk management and AI innovation was covered by speakers at EDRM’s webinar, “Balancing Ethics and Efficiency in GenAI and Legal.”
Ironclad Officially Launches New Gen AI Assistant Jurist
Jurist seeks to make legal practitioners’ contract management procedures more efficient and transparent.
AltaClaro Publicly Releases Feedback Tool Benchmark360
Associates participating in AltaClaro’s group training programs can receive data-based assessments of their training performance from Benchmark360.
Gowling WLG’s Commitment to AI and Innovation Attracts New Director of AI
Al Hounsell leaves Norton Rose Fulbright at what he sees as a turning point in the legal profession.
Market Commentary:
As Associate Business Development Gains Steam in Big Law, Mayer Brown Expands Networking Program
Sydni Eibschutz, an associate at Mayer Brown, said of a networking program, “It really is empowering from an associate’s perspective, because typically we’re put in situations engineered by partners.”
Why Litigation Demand Might Break Firms’ Boom-and-Bust Cycle
According to a recent Thomson Reuters study, law firm litigation practices were once again a major contributor to the third quarter of 2024’s robust economic performance.
New Battleground: Wall Street Law Firms Eye London Growth
As a hint that the U.K. market was growing more significant for Wall Street companies, Davis Polk created a finance unit in London and Cravath stole a staff from Linklaters.
Climate Groups Demonstrate Outside A&O Shearman and Akin London Offices
According to the demonstrators, a survey on which legal firms take on work related to fossil fuels gave Akin and A&O Shearman the lowest possible rating.
The New Hybrid Legal Professional: Equal Parts Law and Business
A new type of legal practitioner that is not only an expert in the law but also has keen business sense is required to meet multidisciplinary demands. Approximately 63% of CLOs concur, stating that they would most want to see their lawyers acquire commercial acumen.
‘Rebound’ In Demand for Legal Services Places Southeast Among Top 3 Regions in U.S.
Michael McKenney of Citi stated, “I think it’s a favourable setup for a strong year for [surveyed firms] in the Southeast,” which includes Miami and Atlanta.
Big Law Profits from Germany’s Painful Economic and Political Woes
Law firms are expected to do well in regulating and advising on the nation’s transformative issues, despite the fact that Europe’s superpower appears to be suffering.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Davis Polk Hires Sidley Restructuring Heads in London
By bringing on London restructuring leaders, Mark Knight and Jifree Cader, from competitor firm Sidley Austin, U.S.-based Davis Polk & Wardwell has strengthened its London offering.
Travers Smith Incentives Head Exits for A&O Shearman
After more than 26 years at Travers Smith, the incentives head has gone to A&O Shearman. Mahesh Varia, who was highly regarded, was in charge of incentives and compensation at Travers Smith.
Browne Jacobson hires former SRA enforcement head as first general counsel
Oliver Sweeney was hired as general counsel by top 50 UK and Ireland business Browne Jacobson, a newly established position designed to support the company’s internal legal and compliance operations. After serving as head of legal and enforcement for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2004, Sweeney rejoins Browne Jacobson, the firm where he began his career.
Ogier recruits Richard Kelly as banking and finance partner
Richard Kelly, a specialist in capital markets and structured finance, has joined Ogier’s banking and finance unit in Ireland. Mr. Kelly offers domestic and foreign client’s advice on all facets of transactions involving debt capital markets.
EMEA
CMS strengthens Dubai tax practice with partner relocation
Andre Anthony joins from the London office of the global firm. He has been elevated to partner in addition to moving. He provides corporate and individual clients with advice on a wide range of domestic and international tax matters as a chartered accountant and solicitor.
Kirkland grows Saudi construction practice with partner relocation
The company has set up its regional headquarters in Riyadh, and Ahmed Alrikhaimi moved there from Houston. James Clark, who joined the business in October 2023 to open the practice in Riyadh, will collaborate with Alrikhaimi on building and projects.
APAC
Singapore: Mayer Brown finance partner joins DLA
The international legal firm DLA Piper has added Soumitro Mukerji as a partner in its Singapore office, broadening its banking and finance offerings. Joining Mayer Brown from Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee in 2022, Mukerji provides fund finance, sponsor-backed financing, structured lending, limited recourse financing, and corporate lending advice to funds, banks, financial institutions, corporations, and financial advisers across Asia and Europe.
Another Insurance Partner Defects from Clyde & Co Australia
David Kerwin left Clyde & Co. for the Australian business Sparke Helmore, continuing the migration of insurance partners from Clyde & Co.
K&L Gates Hires Energy Partner from Gibson Dunn in Singapore
Brad Roach, a partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, has joined K&L Gates in Singapore as an energy, infrastructure, and resources partner. Alexandra Jones, an associate who has been with Gibson Dunn for nearly seven years, goes with him.
British Disputes Boutique Seladore Hires HSF Lawyer, Plans Singapore Launch
Liang-Ying Tan, a lawyer from New York, has joined British disputes boutique Seladore Legal as a partner as the firm prepares to open in Singapore. In order to propel the company’s expansion in the city-state of Singapore, Tan will eventually move there.
Yoon & Yang bolsters regulatory practice with senior BAT exec hire
Adrian Bae, a top foreign attorney in Seoul, has bolstered the regulatory capabilities of Yoon & Yang, a South Korean law company. Bae formerly held the position of vice president for North Asia at British American Tobacco (BAT), where he now joins.
HK: Ex-Mayer Brown, Deacons IP partner joins PRC firm Jingtian
Benjamin Choi, a seasoned intellectual property attorney who previously served as managing director and consultant at Oldham Li & Nie’s OLN IP Services, has joined PRC law firm Jingtian & Gongcheng as a partner in Hong Kong.
In house
Discover Hires Interim Legal Chief as $35B Sale to Capital One Faces New Hurdles
Before Hope Mehlman leaves as legal chief on November 27, Discover had intended to close the deal. However, Capital One has admitted that it is no longer possible to complete the deal this year.
The Americas
McGuireWoods Hires Digital Healthcare Lawyer
In New York, Jennifer K. Shanley joined the company’s technology and digital health division.
Digital health providers, pharmaceutical, biologic, and medical device manufacturers, clinical laboratories, pharmacies, health systems, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, provider practice groups, home care agencies, health insurers, charitable foundations, and businesses that support or invest in the healthcare sector are among the clients of Shanley that receive regulatory advice.
Duane Morris Adds Corporate Partner
Duane Morris LLP has brought on a former Stinson LLP partner for its corporate practice group in New York. Cris Cicala is a corporate, finance and banking attorney with more than 20 years of domestic and international experience.
Simpson Thacher Partner Moves to Vinson & Elkins as Co-Head of Strategic M&A
Sebastian Tiller practiced at Simpson Thacher for 19 years, and he became a partner in 2016
Morgan Lewis, Mayer Brown Add New Partners in Chicago
Morgan Lewis acquired private equity partner Jonathan Dhanawade from Paul Hastings after hiring tech partner Marina Aronchik from Mayer Brown.
Former Federal Prosecutor Joins Latham & Watkins
In her most recent roles as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and Co-Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group, Margaret Graham served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for the previous eleven years.
Simpson Thacher hits Kirkland, Jones Day for M&A lawyers
Simpson Thacher opened a Boston office earlier this year, and Matthew Fisher came from Kirkland & Ellis as the fifth partner. Adam Cromie joined from Jones Day in New York and will transfer to the firm’s Washington, DC office next year.
Latham & Watkins Adds Regulatory Partner to Strengthen West Coast Crypto Presence
According to Tad J. Freese, a managing partner in the California office of Latham & Watkins, “the majority of our regulatory expertise at Latham sits in our East Coast offices.”
Paul Hastings Adds Morgan Lewis Environmental Partner
Premier environmental litigator and crisis management advisor Stephen Fitzgerald has joined Paul Hastings LLP as a partner in Dallas, further growing the company’s industry-leading environmental litigation practice.
On the Move and After Hours: Bressler; Brach Eichler; Sarno da Costa; Cooper Levenson
A corporate litigation principal is added by Bressler, a health care counsel is welcomed by Brach Eichler, and other changes are made.
O’Melveny, Vinson & Elkins Recruit Energy Partners in Houston, DC
O’Melveny announced that highly regarded energy transactions lawyer David Aaronson has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in its Energy Industry Group
Team Moves
Weil Gotshal London Trio Defects to Freshfields
Global law firm Freshfields has today announced the appointment of leading private capital lawyers Paul Stewart, Mark Davis and Nick Fortune as partners to its Global Transactions practice in London. Stewart will serve as Global Co-Head of Private Credit & Capital Solutions alongside New York-based partner Damian Ridealgh.
Seyfarth Launches Energy Transactions Practice in Houston with Polsinelli Team
In order to establish an energy transactions practice at Seyfarth Shaw, a group from Polsinelli, headed by partner Chris Cottrell, relocated to the Houston office.
Financials:
The Law Firms Generating 8-Figure Fees on the Year’s Big Ticket UK Deals
According to Law.com International study, a few elite law firms have benefited greatly from the U.K. M&A market recovery, with one firm in particular showing remarkable productivity.
Promotions & Appointments
Veteran Delaware DOJ Lawyer Has Become New Magistrate in Chancery
It is anticipated that the new addition will boost the business court’s capacity as part of a “sustained expansion.”
As EV Startup Canoo Starts to Sink, Legal Chief Heads for Dry Land
General counsel Hector Ruiz has been replaced by associate general counsel Sean Yan at the Justin, Texas-based firm, which sold just 22 electric vehicles in 2023.
AT&T General Counsel Joins ADM Board as Company Reels from Accounting Scandal
Although he has experience guiding a company through turbulent times, this is David McAtee’s first director position.
Morris Nichols Promotes Bankruptcy & Restructuring Attorney to Partner
Matthew O. Talmo, a bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer, has been invited to join Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell, with effect from January 1, 2025.
Latham’s Partner Promotion Round Shrinks Again
On Wednesday, Latham & Watkins announced that it was elevating 24 associates to partner status, including seven attorneys from Europe and the Middle East and 17 from the United States. In recent years, Latham’s fall promotions have been getting smaller. With effect from January 2025, the number of colleagues promoted to partner has decreased by 10 compared to the 34 associates Latham promoted to partner in November of last year. The company said that it was advancing 44 colleagues to partner status in 2022, which was the same number as the year before.
Baker McKenzie Appoints New India Practice Chair and Other Asia Pacific Moves
The head of Baker’s Asia Pacific capital markets business and Singaporean principal Ashok Lalwani will be replaced as the firm’s Indian practice leader by Mini Menon vandePol, who has been with the company for over 25 years. Lalwani, who has been in the position for 12 years, will remain a member of the steering committee for India practices, which is made up of 14 other attorneys from around the world.
DLA Piper Names Tax Practice Leader as France’s Managing Partner
According to DLA Piper, employment law partner Philippe Danesi joined the firm’s executive committee on November 1st, and Fanny Combourieu took over as the country managing paper for France on the same day.
Malaysia’s JLPW gets new disputes head from Skrine
Hui Wen Tan was a senior associate at Skrine before joining the Malaysian law firm Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong (JLPW) as a partner and head of dispute resolution.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Law Firm Diversity Pros Fear for Future of DEI Efforts Under Trump Presidency
Diversity consultant Joelle Emerson made the argument that “law firms should talk more about what they’re doing.” “One of the things that makes this so controversial is that people don’t know what these programs are.”
Employers nationwide have been coping with an increase in lawsuits aimed at workplace diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) policies and initiatives since the historic ruling.
Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are going unrewarded at law firms
Dana Denis-Smith, CEO of Obelisk Support, claims that legal leaders are not getting paid for their efforts to implement and enhance DEI.
Office Openings & Closing:
Eversheds Shuts in Beijing, Targets Singapore Re-Entry
Although the reasons and conditions are different from those of its American counterparts, the closure makes it the first legal practice based in the United Kingdom to close an office in Mainland China.
830 Brickell is Open After Two-Year Delay That Led to Winston & Strawn Pulling Lease
While tenants fill their temporary office spaces, the eagerly anticipated Grade A commercial building is already operational.
Japan’s TMI Associates Lands in Brussels, Expands European Offering
TMI Associates, a Japanese law company, has opened an office in Brussels as part of its European expansion. After Paris and London, this is TMI Associates’ third trip to Europe. The business said in a statement that the new office is part of its mission to “give clients information on the latest trends in [European Union] law.” It will work closely with its offices in France and the United Kingdom.
Japanese Boutique Marks First Foray Overseas with Singapore Opening
Tokyo International Law Office (TKI), a Japanese boutique, is opening its first overseas office in Singapore. The company is scheduled to start operations in January of next year after receiving its license to practice foreign law. The new company will be led by Koki Yamada, a co-founder and co-managing partner of TKI.
Mergers & Alliances:
Lippes Mathias Enters South Florida Via Combination with Local Firm
Lippes Mathias is opening its second Florida office and growing past 200 lawyers after merging with West Palm Beach boutique Ward Damon as both seek scale to hire more talent in the region.
Technology & Innovation:
Authentication and Reliability of AI and Digital Evidence – What Must the Expert Demonstrate
This article delves into discussions about artificial intelligence and its impact in the courtroom.
AI Gives Legal Departments New Leverage to Demand Speed, Efficiency from Law Firms
“Lawyers accustomed to week-long turnarounds for contract reviews may find their clients demanding same-day service to keep up with sales/growth teams,” according to Aaron Boersma, author of “Keeping Pace: Law Firms in the Era of AI-Driven Business.”
Is AI Regulation Attainable on a Global Scale?
At the New York City Bar Association’s “UN Summit of the Future: International Regulation of AI” webcast, speakers from a range of international organizations talked on the obstacles to and potential for global AI regulation.
How Gen AI Is Changing Legal Work for In-House Counsel
At a recent Association of Corporate Counsel gathering, legal chiefs stated that they want outside counsel to be transparent and collaborative when it comes to generative AI deployment.
As Tech-Focused Roles in C-Suite Expand, Newcomers Embrace Big Law Opportunities
“We’re not just looking to research AI and other areas, we’re looking to actually embrace it and lead out front with it,” stated Jared Kaplan, the newly appointed chief innovation and information officer of Lowenstein Sandler.
Although in-house legal teams are at ease offering legal counsel on AI-related issues, a large number of workers are expressing difficulty keeping up.
What About the Old Partners Who Have No Interest in AI?
Several big legal firms claim that new hires are far more interested in AI than partners, so what can be done?
Market Commentary:
Climate Disputes, International Arbitration, and State Court Limitations for Global Issues
This contains a report from a distinguished panel of experts about the most recent international decisions, approaches to arbitration and mediation, and tactics for resolving discrepancies in court decisions in matters pertaining to climate change.
How New York Is Ethically Leveraging AI in the Courtroom
Chief Desmond Racicot (Ret), senior director of business development at Cellebrite, and Andrew Wylie, the district attorney for Clinton County, talk about the increasing use of AI in digital investigations and how New York practitioners might use the technology to expedite but still uphold the law.
‘Not Enough Lawyers to Meet That Demand in Dallas:’ New Squire Office Leader Eyes Hiring
Squire Patton Boggs Dallas managing partner Jon Mureen stated that he plans to recruit several corporate attorneys and grow the office’s data privacy division in the near future.
Latham’s New Partner Class Leans Toward Corporate Practices
In recent years, Latham’s fall promotions have been getting smaller.
Southeast Firm Leaders Predict Stability, Growth in Second Trump Administration
“If he doesn’t do anything radically different than what he did his first term, we’re probably not looking at any tectonic shift in how the outlook is for law firms in the United States,” Kevin Broyles, founder and CEO of FisherBroyles.
Brazil Is Quickly Becoming a Vital LatAm Market for Greenberg Traurig, Other US Law Firms
For some customers, having a physical location in the biggest economy in the area provides more comfort in addition to tax advantages. Some businesses, however, are happy to serve the nation from a distance.
Labor & Employment Firms Expect Demand Surge as Bosses Face Uncertainty Over Rules Changes
“There are some similarities between the current situation and the environment that employers encountered during the pandemic. Regarding her expectations for the upcoming Trump administration, managing partner and head of Seyfarth Shaw Lorie Almon stated, “Businesses had to make business decisions without knowing what the future would hold.”
Luxury brands must prepare for changes in UK, EU and US sustainability legislation
According to a recent analysis by Baker & McKenzie and Positive Luxury, upcoming global ESG standards will be a catalyst for reform within the luxury sector.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Latham Suffers Latest Departure as Skadden Swoops for London IP Head
Partner Deborah Kirk works on a variety of IP and technology issues across several industries. She will be leading the practice of intellectual property and technology transactions at her new firm. Her business specializes on helping clients navigate the tech and intellectual property sides of complicated transactions, including large-scale carve-outs, while protecting and commercializing their intangible assets.
McDermott Strengthens Global Private Equity Offering with New Hire in London
Jason Zemmel has joined the Transactions Practice Group at McDermott Will & Emery, an international law firm. Jason is a London-based lawyer specializing in private equity (PE) and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the healthcare industry.
Welcoming a new partner to Taylor Wessing’s London financial services regulatory offering
Martin Dowdall has joined Taylor Wessing as a partner, based in their London office. Martin comes from a top US company. Martin’s joining underscores our ongoing commitment in this area of their business and will enhance the firm’s capacity to offer UK and international client’s comprehensive guidance on all facets of UK and EU financial services legislation and regulation.
Clark Hill recruits Conor Kenny as international business co-ordinator
Conor Kenny has joined the transatlantic practice of international law firm Clark Hill as an international business coordinator. Mrs. Kenny, who is based in Dublin, will promote American companies growing in Ireland and Europe while also concentrating on bringing European-based companies to the US.
EMEA
Addleshaw Goddard boosts tax practice in Germany
Dr. Anders Kraft joins along with his team, which includes associate Steffen Bellmann and counsel Dr. Susanne Knoch, he joins from Ashurst. In the context of M&A, private equity, real estate, finance, and capital market transactions, Anders Kraft is a tax counsel and lawyer who focuses on both domestic and international tax issues.
Addleshaw Goddard strengthens with partner Katharina Feddersen
Katharina Feddersen comes from Osborne Clarke, where she worked as a partner for over 11 years and was instrumental in setting up the Hamburg office. Her practice focuses on construction project development as well as legal advice on planning and construction of lengthy and complex construction projects in the city centres of major German cities.
Herbert Smith Freehills strengthens EMEA competition litigation team with partner hire
Thorsten Matthies has joined Herbert Smith Freehills, a renowned international law firm, as a Disputes partner in Düsseldorf, enhancing the firm’s presence in EMEA competition litigation. Coming from Freshfields, Thorsten joins. His areas of expertise include antitrust litigation, strategic defense against global mass claims, negotiating and crafting custom settlements, and defending clients in court and out of court in cartel damage claims.
Didier De Vliegher joins Jones Day’s Real Estate Practice in the Brussels Office
As a corporate finance lawyer in Brussels with over 30 years of experience, Mr. De Vliegher focuses on capital markets, public-private partnerships, project finance, real estate finance, and M&A transactions in the real estate sector. For Belgian and foreign businesses, such as banks, insurance providers, and REITs, he specializes in lease contracts, sale and lease-back agreements, and other real estate transactions.
Andries has more than 20 years of expertise advising companies and financial institutions on a variety of topics related to European and Dutch financial legislation and transactions, including both domestic and international acquisitions.
CMS strengthens Dubai projects and maritime team with partner relocation
Eleanor Lane, who was formerly located in Scotland, joins the firm’s maritime practice and Middle East projects. She has more than 20 years of expertise providing advice on infrastructure and maritime projects, including strategic outsourcing initiatives, public-private partnerships, and public service concessions.
Kennedys strengthens international arbitration practice with new Paris-based partner
Thomas joins as one of the lead partners in their growing commercial and investment arbitration practice, and will work as part of the leadership team across various jurisdictions on developing the offering. Joining from Hogan Lovells, Thomas has specialised in international arbitration for over twenty years, acting for multinational companies in commercial arbitrations under all the major rules and institutions, and for both Nation States and investors in investment treaty arbitrations.
APAC
Indonesia’s AVYA builds construction expertise with new partner
Ryand Armilis has been appointed as a new partner to head the building and infrastructure practice division at the Indonesian legal firm AVYA legal.
Former Cavenagh Law disputes partner joins Oon & Bazul
In an effort to bolster its dispute resolution expertise, local firm Oon & Bazul has hired Elan Krishna, a former partner at Cavenagh Law, the Singapore Formal Law Alliance (FLA) subsidiary of Clifford Chance.
Malaysia’s Zul Rafique welcomes back real estate pro from in-house role
Ainal Marlinda Md Said, who previously served as the legal head of Sime Darby Property, has joined the Malaysian law firm Zul Rafique & Partners, strengthening its real estate expertise.
Udaan assistant GC rejoins CAM in Bengaluru
Lakshmi Rajagopalan, the assistant general counsel at the B2B e-commerce platform Udaan, has joined Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas as a partner in the company’s Bengaluru financial services and technology practice.
In house
Ex-Philly Museum of Art GC Takes Legal Reins of Twilio-Backed Messaging Business
William Peterson has returned to the field of mobile communications. Prior to spending three years at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, first as general counsel and subsequently as chief operating officer, he held a number of high positions at Verizon for fifteen years.
$17B Episcopal Church Pension Fund Hires New Legal Chief as Staff Changes Continue
CEO Mary Wold said that Julian Chung’s “breadth of experience as a corporate attorney, incorporating legal strategy and business strategy, spans more than 25 years and will benefit us greatly.”
Growth-Hungry Bitcoin Miner Hires ‘Thought Leader’ as First US GC
According to Bitfarms, employing Rachel Silverstein will lower the cost of hiring outside counsel and instantly establish the company’s credibility with other bitcoin miners and data center builders in this nation.
King Kullen—the Nation’s First Supermarket—Hires Outside Counsel as GC
When Michael J. Cullen’s plan for far larger, primarily self-service stores didn’t work out with his previous employer, Kroger, he launched the supermarket business in 1930 they have now hired Christoper Mansfield as their GC.
Longtime Trenton Insider Named Gov. Murphy’s New Chief Counsel
“I am thrilled to welcome Kate McDonnell back to the Governor’s Office as my new Chief Counsel,” Gov. Phil Murphy disclosed in a statement. “Her decades of service to the Garden State and her strong background in public policy demonstrate the ideal skillset to excel in this role.”
Crypto asset manager CoinShares hires former Sidley Austin lawyer as group GC
Lisa Avellini has been appointed as group general counsel by CoinShares, a digital asset investment management company. Graeme Dickson left the company at the end of September to explore another opportunity. Avellini most recently served as deputy general counsel at Balyasny Europe Asset Management.
Former Fried Frank, Orrick partner hired as CLO of Episcopal Church Pension Group
Julian Chung has been appointed as the next chief legal officer of the US Episcopal Church’s Pension Group. Nancy Sanborn will retire at the end of this year. Chung comes from Enveritas, a sustainability assurance company, where she serves as head of compliance and general counsel.
The Americas
Chief Counsel to Gov. Murphy Set to Move to Lowenstein Sandler
The most recent lawyer to leave the governor’s office of New Jersey to work at Lowenstein Sandler is Parimal Garg.
Connecticut Movers: City Firms Announce Latest Hires
Two new associates join Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, and a partner rejoins Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey.
Cleary Adds Longtime Federal Prosecutor in San Francisco
In his new position as a partner in Cleary’s Americas litigation practice, Matthew Yelovich brings both appellate and white-collar experience to the table.
King & Spalding Adds Veteran Antitrust Litigator from White & Case in New York
Ross Elfand rose from associate to partner at White & Case, where he has worked for the past 18 years.
Clark Hill Adds to Litigation Team in Wilmington
Brian O’Neill has become a member of Clark Hill’s Wilmington office, joining the firm’s litigation division.
Partner Joins Jackson Walker’s Electric Regulatory Practice
Austin partner Catherine Garza has joined Jackson Walker’s Electric Regulatory practice, the firm announced this week. Garza spent nine years working as a lawyer at Eversheds Sutherland before that.
White & Case Lures DLA Piper’s Vice Chair for FDA Regulation
Peter Carney, chairman of White & Case’s life sciences and health care sector group, stated that Bethany Hills’ FDA regulatory skills “are a crucial component to maintaining a top global life sciences offering.”
BCLP Adds Former Seattle Mayor to Lead White Collar Practice
From 2017 to 2021, Jenny Durkan served as Seattle’s mayor. Prior to that, she was the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington and oversaw Quinn Emanuel’s cyber business.
Mayer Brown Adds Private Credit Partner from King & Spalding
Last month, the firm’s New York branch welcomed Sheel Patel as its second private credit partner.
People in the News—Oct. 31, 2024—McNees, Dilworth Paxson
William McLaughlin joined McNees Wallace & Nurick as director of marketing, completing the firm’s leadership team in marketing and business development.
Team Moves
4-Partner A&O Shearman Group Decamps to Linklaters
At A&O Shearman, David Lucking served as the worldwide co-head of financial markets.
Award winning Real Estate team grows in Germany
Leading real estate attorney Nicolas Deuerling has joined the growing Frankfurt office of Gowling WLG, a global top 100 law firm, as part of the business’s expansion strategy in Europe. To bolster the firm’s real estate practice in Germany under the direction of Dr. Wolfram Paetzold, Nicolas Deuerling will be joined by his team of two associates, Kai-Steffen Knapp and Susanne Schaad, and a counsel, Matthias Fischer. Everyone is coming from Ashurst.
A&L Goodbody appoints five new partners
Five new partners have been hired by A&L Goodbody, including one in Belfast and four in Dublin. The technology team’s Clare Carroll and Stephen King, the disputes and investigations team’s Denise Daly Byrne, and the construction and engineering team’s Siobhan Kearney are the new Dublin partners.
Financials:
Average Partner Comp Hits $1M in Phila.
The number increased by $260,000 from the year before, according to a recent Major, Lindsey & Africa poll.
Texas’ Highest-Paid GCs: Companies New to State Snag Top Spots
Last year, Caterpillar relocated to the state, and Suzette Long, the company’s chief legal officer, made her debut at number five on the list.
Partner Pay Transparency Is Eroding, even if ‘Black Box’ Systems Haven’t Caught On
One consultant noted that some firms now make partner pay data less accessible. Opening up pay data can lead to “a lot of partner dissatisfaction and angst.”
Taylor Wessing Germany Ups Associate and Salaried Partner Pay
The change brings Germany’s pay closer to that of the UK, where the firm raised the salary of freshly trained lawyers to £115,000 in August.
Promotions & Appointments
Becker & Poliakoff Expands Leadership Roles, Attempting to Encourage Innovation and Mentorship
In response to the necessity for succession planning and the growing competition throughout Florida, the company is giving some of its more seasoned stockholders new leadership roles.
Nike Promotes Legal Chief to Marketing Chief as New CEO Launches Turnaround
Ann Miller, an 18-year Nike lawyer, “will inspire, innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible” in her new position as executive vice president of global sports marketing, according to new Nike CEO Elliott Hill.
Arnold & Porter Elects New Co-Chair Leadership Amid C-Suite Changes
Richard Alexander, who has been chairman for the last nine years, will be replaced by the new co-chairs. Additionally, the company has appointed a CEO, a newly created role at Arnold & Porter.
Kilpatrick Names 10 New Partners for 2025, Favouring Atlanta, Seattle
The 2025 partners are all female, with the exception of one, and they work in the fields of technological transactions, complicated commercial litigation, and trademark and patent litigation.
Procopio Elects Managing Partner
John Alessio, who held the position for almost seven years before passing away in September, is replaced by Dennis Doucette.
MPs from array of legal backgrounds appointed to justice select committee
The justice select committee of the House of Commons has been composed of members with a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise in law.
Siobhán Caslin appointed to Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
Siobhán Caslin, a barrister, has been appointed to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Council. Ms. Caslin has more than 12 years of expertise in public and regulatory law.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Female GCs Joining Corporate Boards in Large Numbers, Overcoming Biases and Stereotypes Along Way
According to Tara Giunta, a partner at Paul Hastings, “the biggest barrier is breaking into the networks, which traditionally have not included women and other diverse constituencies.”
Retail reality check: the neurodivergent customer experience
According to Nicola Conway of Bird & Bird, reimagining retail for neurodiverse consumers is becoming popular. Will these lessons be learned by luxury?
Office Openings & Closing:
Wilmer to Become 12th U.S. Firm in Past 18 Months to Close Office in Greater China
Wilmer won’t have any offices in Asia after the China office closes, which is anticipated to happen by the end of November.
Clifford Chance Splashes $20M on New Houston Office
The action emphasizes how crucial Houston is to businesses looking to break into the US market.
Vinson & Elkins Launches Office in Energy-Rich Denver Market
Vinson & Elkins, a Houston-based firm, opens an office in Denver and initially employs three transactional partners due to the growth of its clientele in the Denver area.
Big Four Japanese Firm Nagashima Ohno Launches First European Office in London
The Big Four In keeping with a trend of international development by some of Japan’s most prominent law firms, Japanese firm Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is scheduled to open its first European office in London in January. This month, Kiyoshi Honda, a partner in the firm’s infrastructure, energy and environmental, and real estate practices, will move from Tokyo to London to lead the office.
Mayer Brown Shutters Mexico City Office, Lawyers Scatter
The office’s initial goals in 2015 were to capitalize on the opening of Mexico’s oil and gas industry to private investment; however, those intentions were dashed three years later when energy nationalism Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected president of Mexico.
Mergers & Alliances:
CMS in Tie-Up Talks with Indian Law Firm
The possible partnership follows a number of significant departures from IndusLaw this year and is in line with CMS’ goals for worldwide consolidation.
Wickard AI Partners With Law School to Bring Legal AI Training to Ethiopia
As the nation’s legal sector expands, the startup is organizing a two-day training course alongside Addis Ababa University Law School.
Harbor Acquires U.K.-Based Legal Tech Services Company Ascertus
Harbor’s third M&A transaction since its founding, the acquisition of Ascertus, broadens its global reach.
A&O Shearman Becomes First Long-Term Corporate Partner to UN Refugee Agency
Over the next five years, the firm will contribute up to £500,000 of partner revenues to the emergency fund as part of the agreement.
Technology & Innovation:
Law Firms ‘Still Lacing Up Their Shoes’ in Gen AI Race, Report Says
A recent article titled “Keeping Pace: Law Firms in the Era of AI-Driven Business” claims that “corporate America is sprinting ahead.”
K&L Gates Looks to Extend Gen AI Expertise to Access to Justice Fight
The firm organized the first AI & Access to Justice Summit in collaboration with Stanford Law School’s Legal Design Lab.
Could AI Investments Be Another Driver of Law Firm Mergers?
Some legal firms have expressed interest in merging with a bigger firm, in part “to have the scale necessary to properly invest in technology,” according to a merger consultant.
Latham’s New Academy Starts Associate Training on AI
The legal firm will first concentrate on training associates in their first through fourth years, but as the program grows, additional lawyers—including partners—will join.
Pre/Dicta Expands Litigation Analytics Platform to California, Its First Venture into State Courts
The company will forecast case timetables and motion results in California Superior Courts as part of an expansion made possible by the 2023 acquisition of Gavelytics, with plans to soon expand to other jurisdictions.
UK-Based Legal Entity Management Startup Kuberno Announces £9.5 Million Series A Investment
With this financial announcement, Kuberno intends to attract more law firm clients and incorporate AI into its Kube platform.
Inside Travers Smith’s AI Training, Development Efforts
In order to keep up with the rapidly changing technology, the company wants to introduce its staff to gen AI through training modules and experiments.
Market Commentary:
Addressing REIT Practice ‘Barrier to Entry,’ Paul Hastings Turns to DLA Piper, Goodwin for Hires
The two new recruits fill a “gap” in the firm’s real estate business, which is already “mature,” according to chair Frank Lopez. They also help the firm’s strategy in a number of related professions.
‘We Have That Equal Responsibility’: One Am Law 50 Firm’s Approach to Lateral Integration
“The proposition is 50/50. Craig Budner, global strategic development partner at K&L Gates, stated, “We’re not the ‘show me’ firm, where we bring in the lateral and say, ‘Show me your book and how you’ll help us.’?”
Big Law Firms Increased First-Year Associate Hiring in 2024
Among the firms who provided data, the median change in class size was an 11% rise, while the average class size in the Am Law 50 increased by 14%.
Latin American Wealth Spurs Boom for Miami Lawyers
“A lot of the clients are saying, ‘Do me a favour and meet me in Miami,'” said Michael Silva, who co-heads McDermott Will & Emery’s Latin America business and leads the Miami Tax group.
From Courtroom to Cradle: Practical Advice for Young Attorneys About Parental Leave
Although the legal profession has made progress in accommodating attorneys’ need for time off after a child is born or adopted, paid parental leave is regrettably not a common practice, and outdated beliefs about it persist.
Why Retirement Might Be Increasingly Top-of-Mind for Older Attorneys
Some elder attorneys are beginning to question whether this is the proper moment to retire due to a rapidly evolving technological landscape and generational dynamics that drive the need for succession planning.
Rivals Seize Opportunity as A&O Shearman, Hogan Lovells Vacate South Africa
Following the surprise departures of A&O Shearman and Hogan Lovells, both of which are anticipated to leave by the end of 2024, law firms are adjusting their South African plans. In addition to adding a Hogan Lovells M&A partner and associate to its team on Friday, Bowmans has already hired 14 A&O Shearman attorneys, including eight partners who begin work in early 2025. Samantha Joshua, a senior associate, joined Wessel Badenhorst, the former managing partner of Hogan Lovells, when he started his own business.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Kirkland Adds Freshfields Partner, Further Expanding Debt Finance Practice
Jared Axelrod and Suril Patel are joining Kirkland & Ellis as partners in the Debt Finance Group. They will be a part of the Structured Finance & Structured Private Credit Practice. This announcement was made today. Mr. Patel will be Kirkland’s first structured finance attorney in London, and Mr. Axelrod will spearhead the expansion of the Firm’s global collateralized loan obligation (CLO) practice.
Cooley Swoops for Gowling WLG’s Life Sciences Head in London
Cooley announced on Wednesday that Jenny Davies is the newest partner to join the firm’s life sciences partnership and licensing group in London. Davies, who led the life sciences division at her last company, joins after more than 16 years at Gowling.
RDJ appoints Fiona Morgan to tax practice
Fiona Morgan, a chartered tax adviser and accountant, has joined the tax practice of the law firm RDJ in Cork. Ms. Morgan comes from PwC, where she worked for eight years as a corporate tax advisor.
Addleshaw Goddard add Sharon Skipper as a partner
Sharon Skipper is now a partner in Addleshaw’s private equity practice. Sharon has supported value creation strategies in investors’ portfolios and advised several top private equity firms on deals in the large cap and higher mid-market space.
EMEA
Bird & Bird swoops on Al Tamimi for tech partner
As a partner at Al Tamimi & Company, Nick O’Connell oversaw the company’s technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) practice in Saudi Arabia. He joins Bird & Bird in Dubai, where he will assist the company’s technology clients with their Middle Eastern business requirements.
KPMG add partners in the Netherlands
Tessa Bender and Mathijs IJkhout have joined KPMG. Two seasoned attorneys will be added to the employment law capacity upon their arrival. Tessa, who will head the employment law practice, has experience in both the national and international practices of Eversheds Sutherland. Mathijs is a seasoned worker who was employed at Loyens & Loeff until recently.
APAC
Hiring Spree Continues in Australia as Jones Day Loses Partner
Clayton Utz welcomes Katie Higgins to its insolvency practice.
Kirkland Beijing Partner Defects to China’s Han Kun in New York
Steve Lin, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis Beijing, has left the firm to become a partner at the New York office of Han Kun Law Offices, a Chinese legal practice. Since the firm opened its New York office last December, Lin will be the first partner.
Malaysia’s Zul Rafique welcomes back energy partner from in-house role
With the return of partner Syed Haris Syed Yahya from oil and gas giant Sapura Energy, where he served as senior corporate counsel, Malaysian law firm Zul Rafique & Partners has strengthened its energy capabilities.
In house
CLO of Yum Brands Exiting After 17 Years with Fast-Food Giant
The 20-year Yum veteran who will succeed Scott Catlett, who rose from the lowest levels of legal, will have done the same.
Mastercard CLO Exits After Just 14 Months, Takes Legal Reins of Laser Manufacturer
Rob Beard is leaving a $477 billion financial industry powerhouse for a $15 billion software startup.
‘Battle-Tested’ at Last Employer, Alex Tolston Takes Tegna’s Legal Reins at Challenging Time
Since regulators’ inaction prompted Tegna to abandon its $8.6 billion sale to media tycoon Soo Kim in May 2023, Alex Tolston is the third individual to hold the position of chief legal officer.
OpenAI Hires First Compliance Chief, Snagging Uber’s Scott Schools
Before joining Uber in 2018, Schools had a series of high-level positions at the Justice Department. “It’s a great opportunity to contribute to the responsible development of technologies that positively impact society,” she said.
First Horizon Hires GC Steeped in Tennessee Politics
Charles Tuggle, 76, is relinquishing his legal responsibilities to 53-year-old Lang Wiseman.
Lennox Hires 12-Year Company Veteran as CLO, Bucking Hire-From-Outside Trend
In a statement, Lennox CEO Alok Maskara remarked, “The smooth transition is a testament to our disciplined succession planning and strong bench of talent.”
Australian Gambling-Machine Giant Hires Insider as CLO, Relocates Her to Las Vegas
The third-most valuable gambling corporation in the world, Aristocrat Leisure, is being taken over legally by Anne Tucker.
Kraft Heinz Hires GC of Industrial Manufacturer as Legal Chief
Rashida La Lande, who departed in August to take a position as general counsel at Estée Lauder, is being replaced by Angel Shelton Willis in the legal department.
Boldyn Networks adds former O2 GC as UK and Ireland legal head
Boldyn Networks has appointed Edward Smith, a former general counsel for O2 UK, as its new general counsel for the UK and Ireland. Smith, who has been a consultant at DLA Piper for the last two years, is returning to an internal position.
The Americas
Eversheds Sutherland Adds Top NCAA, NIL Rules Enforcement Specialist
After six years as the NCAA’s associate director of enforcement, Anthony Del Giudice joins the international firm, specializing on topics like athlete compensation and image and likeness rights.
Sidley Austin Adds Commercial Litigation Partner from Latham & Watkins
Before becoming a partner last year, Nima Mohebbi spent more than 12 years with Latham & Watkins, first as a counsel.
Clifford Chance Steps Up US Expansion with O’Melveny Duo
The latest additions come as U.K.-founded firms continue in their efforts to break the U.S. market.
Axiom’s Arizona Law Firm Hires Transactional Attorney from DLA Piper
As other states consider regulatory reforms, the ALSP’s subsidiary, which holds an alternative business structure license, is growing.
Jenner & Block, Akin, Polsinelli, Sterlington Add to DC Benches
Reuniting with Akin, Sally Laing most recently worked as lead international trade counsel for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.
Winstead Real Estate Shareholder Returns to Jones Day
Conrad Steele, who began his legal career at Jones Day, has joined the company as a real estate partner in Dallas.
Freshfields Loses Debt Finance Partner to Kirkland
Kirkland, which merged its structured finance and debt finance teams into one division earlier this year, announced that H.T. Flanagan will operate out of both Dallas and New York.
Team Moves
Paul Hastings Adds 4-Partner Employment Group from Baker McKenzie
The four “further enhance our ability to represent clients at the C-suite and board levels on their most sophisticated and complex matters,” according to a statement released by Frank Lopez, the chair of the firm.
Greenberg Traurig Expands with Milan Team Amid ‘Turmoil’ in Italian Legal Market
The company already operates in Berlin, Warsaw, London, and Amsterdam, and it is expected to soon announce the opening of a second facility in Germany.
A&L Goodbody appoints five new partners
The technology team’s Clare Carroll and Stephen King, the disputes and investigations team’s Denise Daly Byrne, and the construction and engineering team’s Siobhan Kearney are the new Dublin partners. Catherine Irvine is now a partner in the corporate and M&A division at the Belfast office.
Deloitte expands leadership team with the appointment of three new partners
To further bolster their Tax & Legal team, Deloitte Ireland have announced the addition of three new partners. Amine Bouguerra, Jane Pilkington, and Kevin Devenney all bring a wealth of experience to their respective positions, strengthening Deloitte’s diversified service offering in a crucial business domain.
Financials:
Cisco CLO’s Comp Surges in Year Marked by Huge Acquisition, Declining Sales
Deborah “Dev” Stahlkopf was Microsoft’s chief counsel prior to joining the computer networking behemoth in 2021, partly due to a $5.5 million signing bonus in cash and stock.
Average Partner Pay ‘Surges’ in Both Equity and Nonequity Tiers
In line with a broader trend of partners keeping larger books of business, the average origination amount for a partner also skyrocketed last year.
Clifford Chance Further Modifies Lockstep to Better Reward Top Performers
In the midst of a hectic London employment market, one person acquainted with the situation claims that the firm’s top equity can now reach £12 million.
Many Judges Earn Less Than Lawyers: Texas Judiciary Asks for 30% Raise
According to Megan LaVoie, executive director of the Office of Court Administration, 26% of judges who choose to voluntarily retire cited pay as a motivating reason.
Hodgson Russ Expects Double-Digit Growth This Year After Ranking First Among Mid-Market 50 Firms
Following last year’s decline in both revenue and profitability, Hodgson Russ anticipates double-digit growth in both areas due to an increase in activity in the firm’s corporate and litigation divisions.
AmLaw 200 partner pay hits record $1.4m
According to research by recruitment experts Major Lindsey & Africa (MLA), partner compensation at AmLaw 200 firms reached a record high last year, with an average of $1.4 million. According to the 2024 Partner Compensation Survey, average partner pays nearly doubled since 2014, when it was $716k, and increased by 26% between 2021 and 2023.
Promotions & Appointments
Richards Layton Attorney Named to the Federation of Regulatory Counsel
The Federation of Regulatory Counsel (FORC) has appointed Edward S. Little, an attorney at Richards, Layton & Finger, as an associate regulatory counsel member.
Litera Brings Back Avaneesh Marwaha as CEO, Replacing Sheryl Hoskins
Litera announced a Microsoft gen AI integration and formally debuted one of its first generative AI products just months prior to the leadership shift.
With Chair Regularly on the Road, Duane Morris Names First Phila. Office Managing Partner
James Steigerwald, co-chair of commercial litigation, assumed the position earlier this month. “The thought now was that we could really use someone who’s laser focused on Philadelphia,” he said.
People in the News—Oct. 24, 2024—Post & Schell, King Spry
Joseph C. Koerwitz, an attorney, was elected to a partnership position at Post & Schell.
Kennedys to Refresh Leadership as Senior Partner Stands Down
Nick Thomas has been the firm’s senior partner since 1997 and was re-elected to the position without opposition in 2007, 2012, and 2017, therefore his departure will mark a significant shift.
TLT recruits employment lawyer Anna Beggan as legal director
Anna Beggan, the former head of employment at Tughans, has been hired by TLT to serve as the legal director of its Belfast employment unit. Ms. Beggan has over 25 years of expertise providing complicated employment legal advice to a variety of employers and companies in various industries.
Kennedys announces new global managing partner
Meg Catalano has been named the global managing partner of Kennedys, a firm with offices in Belfast and Dublin. Currently serving as the regional managing partner for the United States, Ms. Catalano is a member of the firm’s executive group, which consists of five members and is in charge of establishing and carrying out the firm’s business operations and strategic direction.
Diversity & Inclusion:
UK Black History Month: Four A&O Shearman Staffers Honor Their Unsung Heroesv
The goal of this year’s topic, “reclaiming narratives,” is to identify and address historical errors in how Black history and culture are portrayed. Here, attorneys discuss the individuals who influenced their lives.
DIAC herald’s modernisation programme as cases and diversity growv
In 2023, DIAC registered 355 cases, up 4.4% from the year before. Of those, 323 arbitrations were administered, up 11%. Additionally, it details the first mediation it conducted using the updated DIAC Mediation Rules, which were unveiled in October 2023.
Office Openings & Closing:
ECIJA Launches in Peru in Combination with Local Firm
With the incorporation of Lima-based Berninzon & Benavides Abogados, the Spanish legal practice continues its explosive growth.
Saudi firm K&A expands to Abu Dhabi
For the first time, the Saudi law firm Khoshaim & Associates (K&A) has opened an office outside of the Kingdom, in Abu Dhabi. Supporting K&A’s current and potential clients in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding area is the goal of the new office.
Skadden confirms closure in Shanghai, adjusts China corporate business
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, a law firm with its headquarters in New York, has informed ALB that it will be closing its Shanghai office and restructuring its corporate operations in China.
Mergers & Alliances:
When It Comes to Law Firm Mergers, Are Firm Leaders Getting FOMO?
“If the good ones are pairing up, you don’t want to be the ones [left],” one industry watcher said.
New Merger-Review Process Could Doom Some Deals, Add Headaches, Subjectivity to Others
“We’ve gone from a (relatively) certain world centered around a notification that required objective information only to one that is much more murky and perhaps subject to the interpretation of rules by a particular attorney at the agency or manager at the agency,” Scott Sher, a partner at Paul Weiss, explains
Alt Legal Acquires Trademark Paralegal Services Company WeberMark
Following the acquisition, Alt Legal established Alt Legal Assist, a paralegal service focused on intellectual property.
Technology & Innovation:
Yale Debuts New Law’s AI Future Course, Taught by Lawyer Turned Technologist
Professor Abdi Aidid of “Law’s Artificial Intelligence Future” expects the autumn course will shed light on the benefits and drawbacks of AI as well as its numerous uses in the legal industry.
NetDocuments Integrates Its DMS With AI Solutions, including ndMAX Assist PatternBuilder MAX
Along with the connection, which NetDocuments refers to as a “intelligent DMS,” the business also highlighted the impending public release of ndMAX Assist and a number of new prebuilt ndMAX Studio Apps.
Alexi Announces Upgraded Platform with New Gen AI Features
Using combining AI and Alexi’s pre-existing legal research, the Canadian startup’s enhanced platform seeks to expedite the research memo drafting process.
Luminance Launches ‘Agent Lumi’, Expanding on Its Gen AI Chatbot Ask Lumi
By automating digital behaviors, the new agentic AI product seeks to assist users in managing a variety of time-consuming repetitive tasks.
UK Law Firm Travers Smith Launches AI Academy
Law’s use of AI products is still evolving, but the results are still unclear because there is dispute over how it should be implemented, which industries it should be used in, and which employment it might impact.
Legal Tech Startup Genie AI Announces $17.8M Funding Round Led by Google Ventures
Among other things, Genie AI provides a generative AI assistant that assists in automating the creation of legal documents as well as contract evaluation and negotiation.
Three Legal Technology Trends That Can Maximize Legal Team Efficiency and Productivity
According to Gartner, 50% of office workers in multinational corporations will have AI added to their jobs by 2026, either to boost output or improve the calibre of their work. Three significant technological developments impacting legal professionals have been recognized by Gartner experts in this article.
Thomson Reuters Unveils AI for Legal Justice Aid Program for Legal Aid Organizations
In addition to offering legal aid organizations discounted CoCounsel goods, the program will also support an innovation initiative among a limited group of legal aid charities that aspire to use artificial intelligence.
Selling AI Products to Law Firms Still a Challenge, Legal Tech Firms Say
“If you’re billing by the hour, you’re not really very incentivized to buy some software that makes it take fewer hours to do the same thing,” a chief technology officer stated.
Market Commentary:
‘The Progression Is Not Natural’: As IPOs Surge in India, Law Firms Try to Keep Up
The IPO boom offers both possibilities and problems for domestic and foreign law firms operating in India’s capital markets.
DC Partner Hiring at Elite Law Firms Lags Behind Other Key Legal Markets
It is “going to be steady, but still be one of the highest lateral move categories that we see going into 2025,” according to a recruiter at Macrae, regarding antitrust practice employment.
Political Polarization Prompts Asia’s Regional Firms to Seek Out Legal Networks
The legal ecology in Asia has undergone significant transformation as the era of globalization has come to an end. Although Big Law’s withdrawal has been the most noticeable change, regional Asian players are taking advantage of the chance to pursue global recognition.
Big Law Investment Drops in San Francisco Bay Area, Report Finds
According to Macrae, leading companies have reduced their lateral partner hiring in intellectual property practices by 75% so far this year.
According to experts, law firms will need to adjust to a generation that is acutely aware of its mental health issues.
Guarantees Are Back, Whether Law Firms Want to Talk About Them or Not
Paul Hastings and Kirkland & Ellis are two companies that are more frequently mentioned for their use of multi-year contracts.
The Africa Top 30, 2024: A Headcount Ranking of the Largest Law Firms on the Continent
While two foreign companies have completely fallen out of the top 30, ENS continues to have a commanding position.
South African Lawyers Capitalise on 100 Days of Coalition-Driven Uncertainty
While legal firms take advantage of new prospects in infrastructure and energy projects, South Africa’s coalition government has increased investor confidence in its first 100 days in office.
Moves
UK & Ireland
Covington Taps ICO General Counsel in Latest London Hire
Claudia Berg leaves her position heading up the legal department at the ICO for Covington’s London based global antitrust & competition practice. She will be joining as a partner.
Co-founder of Powell Gilbert joins Morgan Lewis
Tim Powell, a co-founder of the boutique IP firm Powell Gilbert, has been appointed as partner in the London office of Morgan Lewis & Bockius. His hiring is the most recent in a series of IP hires as the US firm strengthens its bench in the UK and Europe.
Japan’s Nishimura & Asahi to open in London and Brussels
Early next year, offices will open with a mix of local and Japanese solicitors. According to the firm, M&A partner Yoshiyuki Kizu will head the London office and antitrust and competition partner Kojiro Fujii will lead the Brussels offices. Both are expected to open by early 2025.
Paul Weiss raids Kirkland’s London funds team again for latest partner hire
Paul Weiss raids London’s Kirkland & Ellis office for talent yet again, this time bringing on Revathi Raghavan, a financial regulatory partner. As Kirkland’s investment funds team continues to quickly establish a premier private equity practice in London, Raghavan is the fifth partner to leave the team this year for Paul Weiss.
RDJ appoints Jenny Foley as healthcare partner
Jenny Foley has joined RDJ’s nationwide healthcare practice as a partner. Ms. Foley, leaves her role as senior clinical litigation solicitor at the State Claims Agency (SCA), and will be stationed in the firm’s Dublin office.
Morgan Lewis Adds Sarah Guske as Intellectual Property Partner
Guske leaves Baker Botts and is a litigator for Fortune 500, technology, and telecommunications firms before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, US district courts, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Sidley strikes Latham again for capital markets duo
Scott Colwell and Patrick Kwak leave Latham & Watkins to London-based Sidley Austin, say sources close to the matter. The moves come following Latham Watkins’ new “super points” system introduced in July which enables top billers to take home paychecks above $20m.
Americas
Paul Hastings further expands Washington office with litigation hire from Kirkland
Top 25 US firm Paul Hastings has added its second litigation partner in Washington DC in the space of a week with the arrival of commercial disputes lawyer Ronald Anguas Jr.
ECIJA Launches in Peru in Combination with Local Firm
The Spanish law firm ECIJA has expanded its network of partnerships throughout Latin America with an office opening in Peru. With the addition of Berninzon & Benavides in Lima, the Latin America practice now boats 32 partners and 15 countries, including Puerto Rico.
Monica Hwang joins White & Case as a partner in Houston
Monia Hwang leaves O’Melveny, bringing a wealth of experience in LNG projects. White & Case commented: “Monica’s comprehensive experience across the spectrum of infrastructure sectors, including energy, energy transition, transport and water, is a significant asset as we continue to focus on building our energy projects team in Houston as part of the Firm’s broader strategy to grow our US practices to meet client demand.”
Freshfields Lures Willkie Partner to Lead NY Private Equity Practice
Claire Jaimes has explained that she wants to expand the practice & continue to strengthen the team in her new role as head of the PE practice.
The renowned Chicago legal firm Jenner & Block has strengthened its insolvency and restructuring practice by adding Doug Spelfogel and Derek Wright, two well-known attorneys from Mayer Brown. As co-chair of Jenner & Block’s bankruptcy and restructuring division, Doug Spelfogel, who previously co-led Mayer Brown’s restructuring practice in New York, will provide decades of experience in high-profile cases to the firm.
Holland & Knight Adds Greg Hoffnagle, Alex Selarnick as Partners
Holland & Knight said Thursday that Greg Hoffnagle joins its corporate, mergers and acquisitions office in New York whilst Alex Selarnick joins the firm securities practice group in Philadelphia. The pair join from Goodwin Procter.
Skadden Adds Luke Ferrandino as Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer
Based in New York, Luke Ferrandino, the chief marketing officer of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, will be joining Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as the new chief business development and marketing officer. After 35 years, Sally Feldman, Skadden’s long-time CMO, is retiring.
On the Move: Polsinelli Adds Health Care Litigation Pros From K&L Gates
Melissa Yates joined as a senior associate, while Allessandra Stewart and Stephen Bittinger just became stockholders. Polsinelli brought on a group of South Carolina based health care litigators from K&L Gates.
John Budetti, Paul Hastings’ Investment Funds Chair, Departs After 18 Months
Budetti’s lawyer, Veronica Jung, said in a statement Thursday that New York based Budetti and Paul Hastings reached a mutual and amicable separation, effective immediately.
Vinson & Elkins Builds Renewable Energy Team With Bracewell Partner in Houston
Since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed, there has been a significant increase in demand for work involving renewable energy tax credits. As a result, Vinson & Elkins hired Jenny Speck, a partner at Bracewell, to counsel clients on tax transactions.
Newsmakers: Houston Litigation Boutique Gibbs & Bruns Promotes Attorney to Partner
Justin D. Patrick has been promoted to partnership by Gibbs & Bruns. Complex business litigation is the main emphasis of Patrick’s practice. He has represented customers in the automotive, technology, commodities and derivatives trading, and upstream and midstream oil and gas industries.
Womble Bond Lures Another Latin America-Focused Arbitration Expert from Dechert
Alongside Alexandre de Gramont, who left Dechert in September to head Womble Bond’s international conflicts practice, David Attanasio has joined the Washington D.C.-based commercial litigation group as a partner. For almost ten years, the two practiced together at Dechert.
EMEA
K&L Gates Brussels Hires Senior Antitrust Partner From Gibson Dunn
Lena Sandberg was the only female partner for Gibson Dunn in Brussels. She had worked for the firm in 2013 and was made partner 2018. She focuses on state aid and competition law.
Dentons signs up four African firms
Through partnerships with legal firms in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Dentons is expanding its network of jurisdictions in Africa by four. With more than 280 solicitors spread across 23 locations, the agreements, which are all scheduled to come into effect in 2025, will increase the number of nations served by the multinational’s Africa division to 17.
Private Equity Lawyer Sebastian Pitz Joins Kirkland & Ellis in Frankfurt
JUVE regularly recommends Mr. Pitz for corporate law, M&A, and private equity. He was a partner at White & Case before joining Kirkland. Last month, Kirkland announced the addition of restructuring partners Friedrich Schlott and Christian Halàsz, as well as private equity/M&A partners Tobias Larisch and Florian Sippel. The Farnkfurt office opening was announced in August.
APAC
Bird & Bird Takes Partners from Ashurst and Squire Patton Boggs in Australia
Bill Smith, specialising in disputes leaves Ashurst whilst restructuring partner Masi Zaki joins from Squire Patton Boggs. The hires are a result of the firm’s drive to expand its offering to clients in the APAC region & the Middle East.
Skadden to Close in Shanghai and Make Cuts to China Corporate Practice
Skadden’s primary practice area in China is corporate, but several of its competitors have closed offices and made layoffs due to a prolonged slowdown in business. Skadden lists 19 solicitors in Shanghai, including Yuting Wu and Haiping Li, two partners. Hong Kong is identified as the base of operations for two of its 19 solicitors, including Li.
Skadden adds Asia disputes head from Sidley
Prior to joining, Friven Yeoh co-led Sidley’s worldwide advocacy, trade, and arbitration group. He will lead Skadden’s Asian international litigation and arbitration group. Yeoh will divide his time between the Hong Kong & Singapore offices.
O’Melveny expands in Singapore with M&A partner duo from Hogan Lovells
Strengthening the US firm’s M&A business in Asia, O’Melveny & Myers makes a double partner hire in Singapore from Hogan Lovells. Stephanie Keen and Sylvia Taslim have substantial expertise with pan-Asia deals and are experts in private equity and strategic M&A.
Singapore law firm TSMP hires disputes director from Salem Ibrahim
Raeza Ibrahim was the head of commercial dispute resolution at Salem Ibrahim, a local boutique, before joining Singapore’s TSMP Law Corporation as a director in its dispute resolution unit.
PRC’s Guizhou Guida launches office in Bangkok
Thailand is the location of the first foreign branch of the Guizhou Guida Law Firm, which is headquartered in the city of Guiyang in southwest China. Established in 2000, Guida now employs about 700 solicitors in its 16 domestic offices.
Shanghai’s Wintell establishes Singapore office
With permission from the Ministry of Law of the city-state, Shanghai-based Wintell & Co. opened its first overseas office in Singapore. Wintell was founded in 2005 and at first concentrated on maritime law and shipping. With 15 domestic offices and more than 500 solicitors, it has been working in tandem with HFW in Shanghai since 2016.
Rajah & Tann disputes partner joins Kennedys Singapore JLV
Kevin Tan, a specialist in international arbitration and commercial litigation, was a partner at the Big Four firm Rajah & Tann before joining Legal Solutions, Kennedys’ joint law venture business in Singapore, as a director.
Jia Yuan adds another Greater China partner from A&O Shearman
Following the employment of partner Wanda Woo and her team from A&O Shearman, the PRC legal firm Jia Yuan legal Offices has expanded its capital markets practice in Hong Kong. Following the entrance of Daisy Qi as senior partner and head of the investment funds practice in Shanghai, Woo is Jia Yuan’s second partner hire from A&O Shearman in less than a week. Feng Chaoyi and Gu Wenxin, solicitors from A&O Shearman, are part of Woo’s team and will be joining Jia Yuan as consultants.
HK: Hauzen hires arbitration, insurance lawyer from Hugill & Ip
Caroline Thomas, an arbitration and insurance attorney from the local firm Hugill & Ip, has joined as a partner at Hauzen, the Hong Kong association firm of the PRC’s Anjie Broad Law Firm. With over 15 years of expertise, Thomas specializes in dispute resolution and regulatory law across various sectors, including shipping and trade, insurance, energy, telecommunications, technology, pharmaceuticals, and construction.
In-house pro rejoins CAM’s capital markets team in Bengaluru
With the addition of Gayathri Ramachandran as a partner in Bengaluru, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has continued its robust capital markets recovery, supported by the optimistic sentiment of the Indian stock market.
Bird & Bird swoops on Al Tamimi for tech partner
As a partner at Al Tamimi & Company, Nick O’Connell oversaw the company’s technology, media, and telecommunications practice in Saudi Arabia. He joins Bird & Bird in Dubai, where he will assist the company’s technology clients with their Middle Eastern business requirements.
White & Case welcomes four to Middle East partnership
The Dubai-based firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice has named Fraser Galloway and Roger Gaspard as partners. Project development and finance expert Michael Gabriel joins the firm’s partnership in Riyadh whilst, working in the same field, Khawla Alatiyat has been promoted in Abu Dhabi.
HFW hires Kuwait partner as Middle East revenue surges by more than 60%
With Middle East revenue up more than 60% over the last two fiscal years, HFW has added a partner in Kuwait. After working at DLA Piper and Dentons, Kashif Syed joined the Kuwait City company from International Legal Group.
HFW Adds Clifford Chance Construction Partner in Australia
Fenwick Holman With the addition of a Clifford Chance disputes partner in Perth, Willan has further expanded its construction practice in Australia and abroad. Sean Marriott, who will join HFW in November, focusses on investor-state dispute settlement and construction disputes and international arbitration in the mining, power, renewables, oil and gas, and public infrastructure industries.
In house
Houston-based Brock Group hires GC from Booster
Shenna Bradshaw was named general counsel by Brock Group, a US industrial services company. This is the most recent in a string of high-level executive appointments the company has made this year. Bradshaw formerly served as GC and Vice President of people at Booster, a mobile fuel delivery service.
Richardson informed the ACC Board of Directors that she intended for her final year in that role to end with the 2025 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. In order to give the ACC Board enough time to choose a new CEO, she gave them a full year’s notice. After leaving, Richardson plans to lecture at Georgetown University Law Centre, serve on corporate boards, and pursue her interests and passions.
DISCO Hires WebMD Legal Exec as GC as New CEO Retools Strategy
Susan Garcia, a seasoned lawyer with years of experience at NBC Universal and Thomson Reuters, is taking on her first head legal position. Garcia is joining DISCO, a company based in Austin, Texas, which aims to enhance its working culture and reverse a precipitous drop in revenue growth.
Cable One Eliminates CLO Post, Promotes Deputy GC to Legal Chief
The odd move occurs as the company cuts expenses as its broadband division experiences intensifying competition and declining growth.
Team Moves
Greenberg Traurig expands in Milan with triple partner hire from Molinari Agostinelli
Riccardo Agostinelli, Marco Leonardi, and Daniele Migliarucci are the trio of partners. Senior associates Cristina Cupolo and Alessandro Pallavicini join them. They contribute knowledge in a variety of banking and financial areas, such as debt restructuring, special circumstances, corporate, real estate, sports, leveraged, and acquisition finance.
Sidley e-discovery lawyers exit for smaller law firm Redgrave
A 10-lawyer team from the considerably larger company Sidley Austin joined Redgrave, a tiny U.S. legal firm that specialises in electronic discovery, a process used to obtain evidence in litigation, and other “information law” problems. Robert Keeling, a founder and head of Sidley’s e-discovery and data analytics team, is part of the e-discovery team based in Washington, D.C. Keeling will serve on the executive committee of Redgrave. Kristen Knapp and Ray Mangum, who will serve on Redgrave’s management committee, are also joining as partners from Sidley.
Promotions & Appointments:
White & Case Cuts Partner Promotions for Fourth Year in a Row
The fresh crop, which will join the company’s 800-strong partnership, was dominated by the EMEA region. Following a string of successful years, the firm reports that 37 of its solicitors have been promoted.
4 Stone Buildings rings changes with new leadership and clerking co-heads
With senior clerk David Goddard moving into a consulting position and long-time head of chambers George Bompas KC ready to step down, the Commercial Chancery set 4 Stone Buildings is reorganising its leadership. When joint deputy senior clerks Ben Lashmar and Ryan Tunkel take Goddard’s place as joint senior clerks in March of next year, Bompas will be replaced by two joint heads of chambers, Richard Hill KC and Sharif Shivji KC.
Garda oversight reforms closer to commencement after key appointments
Ahead of historic changes to be made later this year, details of senior appointments to An Garda Síochána and its monitoring committees have been released. Barrister Dr. Donal de Buitléir will chair the new Bord a Gharda Síochána, while Dr. Elaine Byrne will serve as the first chair of the new Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA), which will combine the existing Policing Authority and Garda Inspectorate.
Mergers & Alliances:
DND Law merges with ML White Solicitors
ML White Solicitors, another Newry firm, has amalgamated with DND Law. All employees, files, and client records have been transferred to DND Law’s location at 1 Downshire Road, and ML White’s previous offices on Monaghan Street have been shuttered.
McCarter & English Absorbs Connecticut’s Harrington & Smith
In addition to partners Wayne Grohs, Robert Mauri and Mark Harrington. McCarter has added five professional staff members and three associates, Joseph Drish, John Garrity, and Monica Laskos. Harrington Smith was a Connecticut IP boutique.
Office Openings & Closing:
No More Admin Work: IP Lawyer Shutters Small Firm, Moves Team to FisherBroyles
The boutique IP firm fouded in Washington 71 years ago has been closed by the founders’ son, Roger Browdy. A key factor for Browdy was freeing up his time from management duties.
Austria’s Wolf Theiss Launches in Brussels with Competition Law Team
Competition lawyers Günter Bauer, Anca Jurcovan, Robert Wagner, and Stefan Wartinger make up the team. The office will act as a central location for clients from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. The four partners will utilise the experience of the roughly thirty-lawyer antitrust team while working in Brussels and Austria. There are currently no plans to make any more lateral hiring.
DWF Group’s Canadian Firm Set to Add Fourth Office With 16-Lawyer Montreal Team
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, DWF Group’s Canadian branch is in advanced negotiations to add a 16-lawyer team in Montreal. Whitelaw Twining, a Canadian law firm that joined the DWF Group in 2022, is in talks with Bélanger Sauvé to absorb the firm’s civil litigation and insurance practice.
Dilworth Paxson Launches Erie Office With Longtime Local Banking Attorney
In Erie, Pennsylvania, Dilworth Paxson has opened an office, replacing the previous office of a long-standing corporate and municipal finance lawyer in the Northwest Pennsylvania city. Serving customers throughout the state, Roger Richards has been the president of his own legal practice, Richards & Associates, for the past forty-four years.
Technology & Innovation:
DISCO Officially Launches its Cecilia AI Platform in Europe
Via press release, DISCO announced that Cecilia “helps legal professionals quickly and accurately identify and analyze the most relevant documents to help streamline the ediscovery process and drive better outcomes. DISCO’s comprehensive set of generative AI-driven features includes Cecilia Q&A, Cecilia single doc Q&A and Cecilia document summaries”.
Are Law Firms Keeping Pace With Their Clients Business? Law Firms in the Era of AI-Driven Business
Many businesses are moving quickly as artificial intelligence continues to change industries, putting pressure on law firms to keep up.
When Law Firms Get Hacked, Are Their Corporate Clients on the Hook?
Growing concerns mount for corporate litigation departments with the possibility that companies may be held liable for data breaches at their law firms. The multinational snack food company Mondelez learnt this in 2023 when it was sued for a data breach when its law firm, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, became the victim of a cyber attack.
After confessing to employing artificial intelligence software in a family court matter that resulted in erroneous case citations and the adjournment of a hearing, a Melbourne attorney was reported to the Victorian Legal Complaints Body.
Thomson Reuters Announces New CoCounsel Features, Deeper Integration, and New UK Offerings
Thomson Reuters announced two new research features, the introduction of new and future product offerings in the United Kingdom, and a deeper integration of its generative artificial intelligence assistant CoCounsel into Westlaw and Practical Law on Wednesday.
NY Financial Services Watchdog Unveils Recommendations to Manage AI Cybersecurity Risks
Adrienne Harris, superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, said in a statement that state-regulated organisations that operate under the state’s banking, insurance, or financial services legislation must evaluate and take the necessary action to address changing cybersecurity risks.
Law Firms, Legal Research Companies Collaborate With Vals AI on Gen AI Benchmarking Study
Vals AI, in collaboration with Reed Smith, Fisher Phillips, Thomson Reuters, Harvey, vLex, and LexisNexis, will assess the accuracy and performance of gen AI platforms.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Time to Act: A Call for Accountability Amid a Crisis of Female Representation
Women are included in law firm leadership at rates that are significantly lower than those of women in other industries due to work-life tensions and a host of other issues. These demands also make it difficult for women to imagine a long-term legal career path that sufficiently combines their professional and personal goals.
2024 Women in Law Roundtable Discussion
The panellists this year discussed attrition and how to reverse the trend, working from home and establishing boundaries with clients and family, using mentors to further their careers, and the effects of being undervalued by male clients and coworkers. Lastly, the panellists talked on how to use their special skills in this changing environment and cultivate relationships to get respect.
Promoting Diversity in the Business of Law Is Good for Business
Encouraging diversity in the legal profession is not only morally right, it also benefits business. As in other sectors of business, increased diversity has definite advantages for law firms and the companies that employ them; these advantages range from representation that is in line with the world we live and operate in to decision-making and innovation.
Market Commentary:
What the Rumoured Harvey and vLex Deal Says About Today’s Legal Research Market
After reports that gen AI startup Harvey was seeking to acquire vLex did the rounds, those in the know said the circumspect talks came to nothing. However, the door could still be open for a new entrant to the legal research space.
Cutting Partner Compensation Becomes Routine in Big Law
Every year, legal firms are more explicitly linking performance to pay. In order to compensate their best performers, several businesses are reducing partners’ salaries more drastically.
Deal Watch: Big Week for Private Equity, Private Credit and Kirkland
Announced mergers, acquisitions, and other deal activity was strong again this week, adding to the increasing momentum which is has been seen this year. Kirkland & Ellis had a great week, working on at least four of seven publicised deals worth more than $1 billion, whilst a number of Am Law 100 firms have been at the forefront of recent large deals.
Am Law 50, U.K. Magic Circle Firms See Lateral Hiring Jump in Finance, Corporate
In the first three quarters of 2024, Am Law 50 and U.K. Magic Circle firms experienced the highest number of lateral partner movements since 2021 in four key geographic areas. According to research by the legal recruiting firm Macrae, practice areas like corporate, finance, and investments saw the most activity. Legal experts claim that because of the general expansion in private credit and lending, those business lines are in the greatest need of legal advice.
As Partnerships Evolve, Law Firms See Ongoing Partner Training as Recruiting and Retention Tool
The associate ranks are no longer the end of law firm training. More than ever, companies are spending money on continuing partner training, including courses on associate team management, business development, billing, and ethics. Several firms, like Sheppard Mullin, Latham & Watkins, and Foley & Lardner, emphasise the value of their partner training program.
Law Firms Are Turning to Online Training Platforms as Apprenticeship Model Falters
Covid demonstrated the promise of online training and law firms are discovering that this approach may still bear fruit as new challenges continue to make more conventional training less practical.
As Midsize Firms Seek Scale to Compete, Should They Choose Mergers or Grow With What They Have?
Midsize legal firms that want to expand must decide whether to merge or hire attorneys as they become available. Despite having different strategies, two businesses, McGlinchey Stafford and Barclay Damon are succeeding in realising their goals.
NY Lateral Partner Moves Spike, Especially in PE and Funds Practices
According to a recent report, New York lateral partner hires in Am Law 50 and Magic Circle firms have increased significantly in 2024 due to an increase in moves in private equity, investment funds, and other business practices.
Financials:
Law Firm Rates in 2024: The Bull, Bear & Base Case for rates and what it means for realization
Law firms’ realisation rates, or the amount they bill and collect from clients for legal services work, have generally decreased over the last two years to levels more consistent with pre-pandemic norms. In certain sectors of the legal industry, these rates are even falling below pre-pandemic levels.
National firm reports £14m loss on £19m turnover
According to national company Simpson Millar, turnover dropped precipitously, causing losses to more than treble in a single year. The company’s pre-tax losses increased to £14.4 million from £6.3 million in the previous year, according to the annual records for the year ending December 2023. Meanwhile, as portions of the business were shut down to reduce costs, revenue fell 39% to £19 million.
What’s behind the rise in law firm non-equity partnerships?
Partnerships between law firms can be high-level unions, based on trust between shareholders who collaborate and divide profits. Or, without any real ownership share in the company, “partner” can be little more than a trendy label that works well for dazzling friends and clients. The latter is becoming more typical for large U.S. law firms.
A&O Shearman Adopts 3-Level Lockstep Pay Model Amid Shift to All-Equity Partnership
As major law firms look for ways to better reward top performance, the company has announced that it will reduce the number of its partners and withdraw from some areas.
It’s Time Law Firms Were Upfront About Who Their Salaried Partners Are
According to The Global Lawyer, clients are paying more attention to who is putting the hours in to produce the work they’re being charged for, yet the salaried partner layer remains in place.
Cleary Creates Nonequity Partner Tier, Calling for ‘Innovation and Adaptation’
Improving lawyer development & promotion are the aim of the new system. Lawyers will enter the programme after annual partnership evaluations which are currently taking place.
Introduction
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) are no longer mere buzzwords but essential to organisational success, especially in the legal sector. Paul Philip, Chief Executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), recently observed that a diverse legal profession benefits not only the public but legal businesses as well, ensuring talent from all backgrounds has the opportunity to thrive. DE&I is important in recruitment because it fosters fairness and has great potential to boost the public’s trust, given the need to represent our dynamic nation and reflect society fairly. This is important as bringing diverse perspectives can enhance innovation, productivity, and ultimately the bottom line for businesses. These are core elements that enable the legal profession to stand out in this competitive and increasingly global landscape. The hunt for talent is on and employees are now insisting that corporates better reflect and practice these core values.
In today’s globalised world, diversity also offers competitive advantages by providing firms with crucial cultural and linguistic skills, better equipping them to handle international challenges. According to 2023 data from the SRA, women now represent 63% of qualified solicitors in England & Wales (up from 48% in 2015), and lawyers from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds make up 19%, compared to 14% in 2015. The socio-economic diversity of the profession is also shifting, with the proportion of lawyers from a professional socio-economic background dropping from 60% in 2019 to 57% in 2023.
However, challenges remain – only 32% of full equity partners are women, despite women making up over half of solicitors in England & Wales. Furthermore, the InterLaw Diversity Forum reported that intersectional identities face even greater disparities, with women of colour making up even fewer equity partners than their non-ethnic female counterparts. Progress has been slow for the LGBTQ+ community as well, with only a 0.7% increase in representation within the legal profession over the past two years. These figures show that progress is starting to take place, but they also highlight the ongoing need to address the deeper inequalities that persist in the legal sector. The question now is: what can be done to further accelerate change?
Too often, companies approach DE&I as a tick box and compliance exercise, focusing on hiring diverse candidates to meet targets rather than embedding these principles into their long-term strategies to ensure retention. Search firms are in a unique position to shift this mindset by emphasising a holistic approach to DE&I that focuses on equity and inclusion, not just diversity.
We can do this by advising our clients on the importance of inclusive hiring practices, from crafting unbiased role profiles to creating equitable assessment processes. Implementing these practices will allow potential biases to be challenged whilst also providing top talent. In addition, it’s crucial to measure success, not just by the diversity of new hires, but also by how well these hires integrate into the organisation. As a result, companies are encouraged to implement diversity and inclusion training on an ongoing basis to help foster an inclusive culture within the organisation. Furthermore, encouraging the adoption of consistent learning and development functions to periodically review company attitudes to diversity and inclusion is another way the executive search industry can contribute. Hiring managers often cite the need for a candidate to be a ‘good fit for the company’ but by creating atmospheres which are welcoming for diverse candidates’ firms will allow for a more diverse range of candidates to come through the door and thrive within their organisation. Moreover, businesses should embrace new ways of thinking to challenge the status quo and be mindful of unconscious bias, especially given the rapidly changing landscape that commercial businesses operate in.
One of the most tangible ways search firms can impact DE&I is by expanding talent pools beyond traditional networks. Often, the lack of diversity in hiring is the result of narrow candidate pipelines. Laura Long, VP of National, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity at Kaiser Permanente says, “It’s a fallacy to say, ‘There aren’t enough diverse candidates out there.’ Yes, there are. You just need to look in the right places.” By broadening our search methods, tapping into historically under-represented groups, partnering with diverse professional organisations, and leveraging technology to mitigate bias, we can introduce clients to a wider array of talented individuals. Whether this be through partnerships with agencies which have proven track records when it comes to finding diverse candidates or by accessing more niche registries and search engines, broadening search methods is a clear way to venture out from the status quo and pinpoint talented individuals who might not be as well represented via traditional means.
Moreover, firms need to fill talent gaps, and finding creative ways to reach new audiences is essential. One seemingly simple way to do this is to source candidates from a variety of different platforms as opposed to relying on the websites and platforms we have grown accustomed to using. Practical examples of this include hiring from a wider range of universities as opposed to simply admitting Russell Group graduates and headhunting from firms outside the Magic Circle and elite US firms when hiring lateral partners. Additionally, various firms are now using The Rare Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) which enables them to identify high-potential candidates by assessing their achievements in the context of their educational background and social mobility factors. Another option for firms to reach an array of students is by partnering with diversity organisations such as Aspiring Solicitors, upReach, The Interlaw Diversity Forum and The Law Collective. Partnering with these organisations can be beneficial during search processes as they provide exposure to a greater range of high-quality candidates from diverse backgrounds and ensure that a more thorough and representative search is taking place. This can be corroborated by data from lawcareers.net which determined that “Firms adopting Rare’s CRS hire 61% more people from disadvantaged backgrounds”. These examples clearly show how we can expand talent pools throughout the search process.
Bias, both conscious and unconscious, remains a significant barrier to true inclusivity in hiring. The recruitment industry can move the needle by embedding bias-awareness training throughout the hiring process. This includes training hiring managers and clients on recognising and addressing their own biases at all stages, from CV reviews to interviews. Research that was carried out by the CIPD has found that only 28% of UK employers train interviewers on legal obligations and objective interview practices. Additionally, less than a fifth make efforts to remove bias through testing the words of job adverts or checking that tests are valid, reliable and objective. By implementing a mindful advisory process when we present candidates, we can encourage clients to be more proactive in terms of ensuring that their selection processes are in line with DE&I policies. This training will allow a hiring manager’s definition of a ‘good fit for the company’ to evolve into a more equitable and mindful form of thinking.
We have discussed how using a range of platforms to find high-quality candidates can be beneficial to the recruitment sector as we try to be more mindful of diversity during searches, and we can enlist the help of technology to take this further. Using data-driven tools to reduce bias in candidate selection, such as blind recruitment software or structured interviews, can ensure that hiring decisions are based on merit rather than stereotypes. This has been corroborated by data collated by LinkedIn, which determined that hirers who are sourcing talent using skills as the key metric and anonymising other areas are 60% more likely to find a successful hire. As talent partners, we can play an essential role in promoting these technologies and methodologies to our clients.
True DE&I progress requires long-term commitment, and search firms should partner with clients for sustained success, rather than focusing solely on short-term placements. By offering ongoing support through talent development programs, retention strategies, and advising on inclusive company culture, we can help organisations retain and nurture diverse talent.
Offering DE&I metrics and post-hire evaluations can also be invaluable. Search firms can provide data on diversity within the talent pipeline, as well as feedback loops on the success and challenges of new hires, helping companies make informed decisions on how to further improve their internal practices. Patti Kachidza, Co-Chair of the Interlaw Diversity forum has corroborated this belief. She states that “a simple data collection exercise about the make-up of their employee population, and monitoring recruitment, progression and salaries would reveal whether or not there is a fair representation of diverse employees at all levels.” Many are currently unaware and apathetic about diversity within their institutions, but when faced with cold hard facts and figures, it’s hard to ignore the problem. Patti also argues that “where disparities are found, constructive discussions can be initiated to implement inclusive recruitment and a promotion toolkit which will improve the landscape. The benefits of this exercise will far outweigh the time cost of collecting the data and will be a powerful demonstration of companies’ commitment to DE&I.” Highlighting the cost is crucial as companies might not see the benefit of these processes, both in terms of time and money, regarding their long-term growth. However, we can see that the benefits would be apparent for the legal profession as a whole and individual firms, as they would lead to the creation of improved search processes, which will be useful in the long term and lead to the retention of diverse talent.
One of the most critical components of DE&I’s success is accountability at the leadership level. Search firms can serve as consultants, helping organisations create leadership buy-in for DE&I initiatives. This could involve educating leadership teams on the business case for diversity; numerous studies show that diverse teams outperform homogenous ones in terms of innovation and financial performance. We can also advise on setting measurable DE&I goals and holding leaders accountable through regular reviews and transparent reporting. In-house lawyer Roshni Thakrar has set up her own consultancy practice called Inclusiviteam, to support organisations in furthering their DE&I commitments and strategies to ensure that all workers are given the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their intersectional social identities. She believes that “leaders must be accountable for implementing diversity and inclusion across all business areas, with financial incentives tied to their KPIs. They should actively engage with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and extend this understanding throughout the supply chain. Increased accountability is crucial for genuine change.” This can be observed because technically strong leaders may be adept at navigating corporate politics, but they may also be more likely to hire from inside their network or look for allies in the boardroom. This reinforces prejudices and ignores the difficulties marginalised groups encounter in the workplace. Roshni argues that “to drive real change, leaders must engage with and understand diverse perspectives and that means having a high EQ.”
We have talked about how we can reduce bias using skills-based hiring driven by data. However, this needs to be implemented in conjunction with the efforts of leaders who are keen to build a truly inclusive environment. The alternative might create a more diverse hiring pool – however, if the environment within the firm is not one where diverse candidates feel comfortable, then they are unlikely to thrive.
Actively encouraging leaders to break down the broken systems or hold others to account will help address existing issues when welcoming diverse hires into senior positions. Roshni maintains that “this is key, as often, you can’t be what you can’t see, hence marginalised groups need to be able to see others that look and sound like them. At the heart of every conversation, leaders must be able to create and foster psychological safety.” This change can take various forms, such as navigating corporate jargon or being sensitive to cultural topics relevant to different individuals — but the overarching reality is that this change can only be enacted if leaders are made aware of their power to create these positive atmospheres and take the necessary steps to bring them to fruition.
Conclusion
As a search firm, we are in a powerful position to be agents of change when it comes to advancing DE&I in the workplace. Moving the needle requires more than just placing diverse candidates; it involves working with clients to build equitable hiring practices, proactively expanding talent pools, eliminating bias, and ensuring leadership accountability. By embracing our role as strategic partners, we can assist organisations in not only meeting their DE&I objectives, but also thriving through the innovation and creativity that comes from true inclusivity.
If you would like to discuss how Fides can assist your business in enhancing the recruitment of diverse, high-calibre talent, please feel free to contact Sershen Ingram – sershen@fidessearch.com.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Paul Weiss Strikes Kirkland Yet Again in Latest London Partner Hire
The firm’s rapidly expanding London business will benefit from David Pritchett’s expertise, the most recent appointment, who specializes in funds regulation.
Debevoise Adds Another Goodwin Partner in London
After nearly five years at Goodwin, James Grimwood, who works on a variety of private equity transactions such as M&A agreements, leveraged buyouts, and venture investments, is scheduled to join Debevoise. Grimwood had worked at CMS for more than 22 years before joining the company in 2020.
Howard Kennedy bolsters disputes bench with hires from Paul Hastings, Mishcon de Reya
Heidrun Walsh from Mishcon de Reya, an expert in international arbitration, and Crispin Daly of Paul Hastings, a contentious insolvency lawyer, become partners in a London business.
Quillon Law bolsters fraud practice with Covington & Burling partner hire
Ian Hargreaves from Covington & Burling has joined Quillon Law as a partner, strengthening the litigation firm’s proficiency in managing intricate and sizable fraud cases and investigations.
Eversheds Sutherland hires David Kirton as IP, tech and data protection partner
David Kirton has joined the Dublin-based intellectual property, technology, and data protection unit of the international law firm Eversheds Sutherland as a partner.
Dentons welcomes new partner to London Regulatory and Investigations Group
Andrew Barber is a seasoned financial regulatory partner who has joined Dentons’ expanding UK Regulatory and Investigations unit. After serving as a Managing Associate at Dentons, Andrew returns to the company from Pinsent Masons.
Two new partners at Beauchamps
Fiona Egan and Yvonne O’Byrne have been named partners at Beauchamps. Ms. Egan, a partner in the projects, infrastructure, and energy team, joins the company from Arthur Cox. She has extensive construction and project management experience, specializing in both contentious and non-contentious matters in the areas of infrastructure, large-scale commercial and residential projects, manufacturing, logistics, energy and renewables, and more.
Bird & Bird strengthens London Tax practice with the hire of Jesse Dalton as partner
With the addition of partner Jesse Dalton, the law firm Bird & Bird has bolstered its London Tax unit. He will begin work on October 21.
Freshfields Private Capital Partner Exits for Macfarlanes
Victoria Hills leaves Freshfields after 2 decades with the firm in a rare hire by Macfarlanes.
Capsticks expands construction expertise with Mills & Reeve, Bevan Brittan partner hires
Construction law experts Catherine Kay from Mills & Reeve and Matthew Phipps from Bevan & Brittan join UK national firm Capsticks.
EMEA
Jones Day Expands European Footprint with Global Disputes Partner in Madrid
In light of the increasing complexity of European litigation and arbitration, Pablo Doñate Gazapo de Badiola joins Jones Day Madrid, strengthening its expanding global conflicts practice.
Clifford Chance Paris Hires Tech Partner Anticipating ‘Huge Wave’ of AI Projects
According to Patrice Navarro, Clifford Chance’s new partner in data, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, his AI work currently makes up over a third of his practice, and he anticipates that number to rise in 2025.
A&O Shearman Hires Knowledge and Innovation Lead from Pérez-Llorca
Marisa Delgado oversaw the implementation of the Swedish generative AI tool Leya while she was in charge of Pérez-Llorca’s knowledge management division.
BCLP Hires Paris Corporate Partner From Orrick & Other French Moves
BCLP has added George Rigo, well established at Orrick, as a partner in Paris to improve its capabilities in meeting increasing demand for advisory services on complex cross-border transactions.
Clifford Chance Builds Private Capital Capability with Paul Hastings Partner Hire
Blake Jones leaves Paul Hastings after joining the firm in 2018. The move comes shortly after the firm’s London head of private equity, Chris Sullivan, left for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison together with senior finance partner Taner Hassan.
APAC
Morgan Lewis Takes China Investigations Partner from White & Case
Bingna Guo joins Morgan Lewis from White & Case. Bingna has experience in representing global companies, audit committees, and clients in cross-border investigations and enforcement actions. She has also advised on compliance programs and training in addition to overseeing complex disputes.
Simmons & Simmons Shanghai Office Lawyers Move to Shanghai Alliance Firm YaoWang
Melody Yang, a 14-year Simmons partner, just joined YaoWang, which was founded in 2022 by former Simmons & Simmons partner May Lu.
Baker McKenzie Former Australian Head of Tax to Leave for Jones Day
John Walker was previously head of Baker McKenzie’s Australian Tax Practice, he is now set to join Jones Day. Well known for his knowledge of the tax dimension of M&A, the move is expected to bring further expertise to Jones Day’s capabilities within this specialism.
The tax implications of M&A and other transactions are John Walker’s area of expertise.
Baker McKenzie Loses Second Australian Partner Within Days
Charlie Detmold, a banking and financial professional, will join Johnson Winter Slattery, a local firm.
Malaysia’s Rahmat Lim hires tax partner from Halim Hong & Quek
Andersen Global member firm Halim Hong & Quek has recruited tax attorney Desmond Liew Zhi Hong as a partner at the Malaysian law firm Rahmat Lim & Partners, which is the association firm of Allen & Gledhill.
Offshore firm Ogier hires new funds, digital assets partner in HK
Dennis Li, a specialist in investment funds and digital assets, was hired as a partner in Hong Kong by offshore legal firm Ogier from rival Travers Thorp Alberga, where he served as a counsel.
Philippines: Ocampo & Suralvo bolsters disputes offering with new partner
Anthony RV Jacoba, a litigator, has been appointed as a partner and leader of the dispute resolution and insolvency practice group of Ocampo & Suralvo legal Offices, a Philippine legal company.
JSA hires corporate pro from AP & Partners in Gurugram
With the hiring of corporate lawyer Harshit Anand as a retained partner in its Gurugram office, JSA has maintained its position as the market leader in 2024.
Clyde & Co’s Loses Australian Regulatory Partner Amid Ongoing Exodus
Avryl Lattin is set to take on an in-house role at international development organisation Adara Group, adding to the growing list of partners exiting Clyde & Co.
The Americas
Cole Schotz Adds Corporate Member in Delaware
Pamela Millard joined Cole Schotz’s corporate department in Delaware, the firm stated.
Kirkland Adds FTC Lawyer Amid ‘Pivotal Time’ in Antitrust Practices
Stephen Mohr, who recently departed from the FTC, said he “anticipates agencies will continue to be aggressive in bringing merger enforcement challenges.
Holland & Knight Adds Former US Attorney in Nashville
As a partner, Henry Leventis joins the business with an emphasis on health care customers and their need for compliance and investigations.
Winston & Strawn Hires K&L Gates’ Former Digital Assets Co-Chair in Miami
Winston & Strawn originally opened in Miami in 2022, and since then, the office has not added many new partners in that area, despite hiring a number of founding partners. Since starting the practice, it is now hiring Andrew Hinkes, its second partner with a focus on cryptocurrency.
Davis Polk Capital Markets Attorney Heads to Morgan Lewis
The newest employee at Morgan Lewis with SEC experience is Rahul Patel. According to the firm, there are over 20 SEC graduates spread among its U.S. offices.
Joseph Profaizer’s hire is not the first time that Linklaters and Paul Hastings have traded partners.
Holland & Knight Snags 2 Insurance Partners in New York and Philadelphia from Goodwin
Following a Polsinelli raid in July, Holland & Knight is expanding its Philadelphia office with Alex Selarnick and adding Greg Hoffnagle in New York, Both attorneys left Goodwin Procter and have been collaborating in the insurtech industry since 2018.
McGuireWoods bolsters energy coverage with partner hire from Balch & Bingham – The Global Legal Post
David Martin Connelly, an energy lawyer from Balch & Bingham, has joined McGuireWoods to strengthen the firm’s enforcement and regulatory expertise.
In-House
Sports Attorney Rejoins Jets for Second Tour of Duty as GC
Jill Kelley, who left in July, is being replaced by Andrew Lee, who has over 25 years of experience in sports law.
Kristin Coleman Out as GC of Albemarle Amid Leadership Reshuffles
Deputy General Counsel Stacy Grant, who joined the specialty chemicals manufacturer last year, is taking Coleman’s place.
Team Moves
Jones Day Adding 3 Winston Energy, Infrastructure Partners in Dallas
Rodney Moore, a partner at Winston & Strawn, has already joined Jones Day and stated that Samuel Peca and Scott Delaney will move in shortly once they resolve any outstanding issues.
CMA taps Linklaters, European Commission as part of trio of senior legal appointments
Emma Cochrane joins from Linklaters, meanwhile Lourenço Ventura returns from the EC. Richard Romney joined CMA in 2019 on an interim basis and no takes on a permanent role as senior legal director for the mergers, markets and regulatory appeals team.
Proskauer Rose Investment Management Trio Jumps to Stradley Ronon
Stuart H. Coleman, David Stephens and William T. MacGregor are due to leave an Am Law 50 firm for a legal practice with more than 200 attorneys that excels in the field of investment management.
Australia’s Holding Redlich Hires Seven From KPMG
In an effort to secure more government work, Holding Redlich has strengthened its Canberra team by hiring Philip Jones-Hope, the head of KPMG Law’s government and defence group, and his six-person team.
Korea’s Lee & Ko adds arbitration veteran to head international disputes
Park Eun Young leaves Park Arbitration Chambers, where he had taken on the role of independent arbitrator in 2022.
Promotions & Appointments:
People in the News—Oct. 7, 2024—Dilworth Paxson, Royer Cooper
Attorney Linda Dale Hoffa has been named chair of the Pennsylvania State Committee for the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) for a two-year term, according to Dilworth Paxson.
Chamberlain Hrdlicka Hires New COO, First-Ever Chief Business Development, Marketing Office
In an effort to expand strategically, Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry appointed Lisa Wilmore as its first chief business development and marketing officer and Erin Hulme as its chief operational officer.
Staples Chief Legal Officer Named Chair of 48,000-Member ACC
Tracy Preston, who has served as Macy’s Chief Legal Officer for the past year, will be replaced by Cristina Gonzalez.
North Carolina’s Brooks Pierce Elects New Managing Partner
Veteran commercial litigator James “Jimmy” Adams will take office Feb. 1st, 2025.
UnitedLex Appoints GC Renee Meisel as New CEO, Replacing James Schellhase After Short Tenure
In September 2023, Schellhase was named CEO of the alternative legal services company. Why he left the organization after only a brief period of leadership is unknown.
Clifford Chance, Freshfields and White & Case Make C-Suite Appointments
The high-ranking hires coincide with Big Law firms’ growing reliance on non-lawyers to spearhead expansion and growth plans.
Johnsons promotes Jonathan Calvert to partner
The firm’s defence and litigation practice is where Mr Calvert has spent the duration of his career since training with the team.
John O’Doherty re-appointed to National Gallery board
John O’Doherty is KOD Lyons’ managing partner and his tenure on the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland has been extended by a further 2 years.
Mergers & Alliances:
Clients ‘No Longer Need to Be Referred Out’: Womble and Lewis Roca Eye Merger Benefits
Kenneth Van Winkle, managing partner of Lewis Roca, states, “We have had extreme difficulty representing our client base from other jurisdictions in their work in California.”
Law Firm Mergers – Does Bigger Mean Smart
In light of the disruption caused by technology, law firms must reconsider their approach.
Smaller firms falling out of love with merger, research finds – Legal Futures
A LexisNexis 2024 Bellwether report has found that only one in ten small firms would consider a merger or acquisition, a figure which has declined steadily in recent years.
Partner Cuts: The Grim Reality of Post-Merger Integration
A familiar pattern emerges after the A&O Shearmen Merger as a string of partners are let go in the wake of the deal.
Office Openings & Closing:
Willkie Keeps Building in Chicago as Office Eclipses 100 Lawyers
The lateral moves are consistent with its strategy to stock up on “A-plus practitioners” in places where the firm is already strong, said Willkie Midwest office leader Craig Martin.
Quinn Emanuel’s Miami Office Cracks 20 Attorneys, Three Years After Arrival
“We have vastly more work in Miami than we can do,” stated co-managing partner John O’Sullivan. “Half my cases, I’m working with teams that are from the other offices.”
Wave of Office Closures Highlights the Weighty Stakes Surrounding Law Firm Growth
Major Lindsey & Africa consultant Jennifer Moss said, “Just because a certain legal market is hot does not mean that you should be there.”
‘No Holds Barred’: Why Alston & Bird Is Leaning Into Los Angeles
Partner in charge Jeff Rosenfeld stated, “I’d like equal weight on both sides of town,” referring to Alston’s goal of expanding its new Century City office to match its DTLA footprint.
Butler Snow Shutters in Singapore, Partner to Split Time Between 2 Cities
Three former Butler Snow attorneys joined rival British private client firm Charles Russell Speechlys earlier this year.
Financials:
Surpassing Cravath Associate Pay Scale, Boutique Seeks to Stay Above Market
The boutique’s management stated that it hopes to reward associates for their hard work on important projects this year and aid in hiring by increasing associate compensation above market.
Law Firm and In-House Salaries on the Rise in Canada, Survey Says
According to Robert Half Canada’s compensation guide, legal companies are expected to increase wages by 2% by 2025.
Technology & Innovation:
Securely Navigating the AI Sea
It’s wise that the majority of attorneys remain cautious. AI presents moral dilemmas. Lawyers need to stay away from its various traps. These risks include depending too much on AI tools, not securing sensitive client data, and not communicating with the client or the court in an appropriate manner.
Just 11% of Legal Departments Predict Gen AI Will Be ‘Transformative,’ as Its Honeymoon Phase Fades
According to Marko Mrkonich, businesses should set up their AI compliance framework early on rather than after staff members have been accustomed to using AI in particular ways.
Leopard Solutions Unveils Leopard Prowess, an Outside Counsel Hiring Solution
Leopard Prowess aims to increase exposure to smaller firms and give corporate counsel an advantage when engaging outside counsel.
The Rise of AI in Legal Practice: How Attorneys Can Adapt and Thrive – Vault
Travis Whitsitt considers how AI is currently reshaping how attorneys work and how they can leverage the technology to improve their practises moving forward.
How Legal Tech Providers Can Walk the Walk on AI, Not Just Talk the Talk
Chris Cartrett, CEO of Aderant writes that Instead of using their clients as test subjects for AI, legal tech vendors should lead by example and implement AI-powered transformations within their own operations to ensure innovative thought and ultimately, benefit for their clients.
Summize Releases AI Redlining Tool That Shows Its Work and Learns If You Don’t Like It
Based on redlining rejections, the AI redlining tool can learn a user’s preferences while operating within Microsoft Word.
JAMS Launches Initiative to Leverage AI Technology in Dispute Resolution
As part of the JAMS Next effort, the organization will use the court reporting and testimony management platform Prevail to provide AI transcript services, among other modifications.
The American Arbitration Association Unveils Gen AI-Powered Panelist Search Tool
In the upcoming months, parties will have access to AAAi Panelist Search, which enables case managers to conduct more in-depth panelist searches to suit the requirements of their cases.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Atlanta Law Firm Joins Mansfield Effort for More Leadership Diversity
Julie Sebastian of Smith, Gambrell & Russell said, “Diversity is very important here. We want everybody to walk into the office every day knowing that they can be their full selves”.
Experts that that it’s time to step back and re-evaluate exactly what diversity, equity and inclusion mean for the workplace and for America’s business communities.
The Best Law Firms for Disability Representation in UK, 2024
The statistics also show that corporation law’s representation of people with disabilities still terribly lags behind the national average.
Market Commentary:
London co-head Neel Sachdev says, “It shows that if you hire the top talent… then the London legal market is a fantastic investment for law firms”.
Setting Partner Comp: Are Law Firms Now Too ‘Short-Term Focused’?
One consultant noted, “People are less patient than they have ever been before. People want to be awarded now.”
Losing its ‘Sparkle’? Why Latham Has Faced a Stream of Exits in Europe, UK
Several top partners have left the U.S.-led law firm in Germany and the U.K., according to sources, who blame the departures on indecision and a move away from “less core” areas.
Mental health in the legal profession: Progress and challenges
On World Mental Health Day, Nikki Edwards, president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, considers the evolving perspective on mental health in the industry.
‘Who By Fire?’: Reflecting On Law Firms in a Tumultuous Year
Law companies may wish to take some time to consider the year’s events and what they might witness in the next 12 months, according to The Global Lawyer, after a year marked by conflict, office closures, and law mergers.
Fides Search is excited to announce that William Carbutt-Todd is joining us as a Researcher at Fides Search.
He has a background in public relations and has advised investors, publicly traded, and privately held companies on material issues, including transactions. He spent over three years with a boutique public relations firm advising clients at the c-suite level in banking, technology, mining, and metal firms throughout Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Outside of work William is a keen real tennis player, continues to indulge an interest in history developed during his History degree at University of Bristol, and enjoys cooking for family and friends.
See what our Managing Director, Edward Parker, and our Associate Director, Inka Fukalova, have to say:
Ed: “We are delighted to have Will join the Fides Search team. He joins our research and delivery function and will add critical strength to our offering at a time where we are experiencing a high level of demand across consultancy work, due diligence, and search. We are committed to growing in London and servicing our international clients. Will is well travelled and will undoubtedly be involved in domestic and international assignments.”
Inka: “Will is a fantastic addition to our very busy R&D team. Great to have him on board!”
Please join us in giving him a warm welcome to the Fides team!! 😊
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