UK & Ireland
Allen & Overy Swoops on Akin for Corporate Partner Hire
The hire represents a rare corporate lateral partner addition for A&O in London. Sophie Jermine will join the firm’s London office as a partner in the firm’s corporate practice—leaving Akin after nine years with the firm. She has been a partner since 2006.
Allen & Overy Hits White & Case For Second Lateral Hire of the Week
Daniel Garton has joined the firm from White & Case, leaving after over 16 years with the U.S. firm. He has joined A&O’s international arbitration practice, and specialises in construction arbitration.
13th Kirkland Partner Quits for Paul Weiss
The dramatic team departure started in mid-August when Neel Sachdev quit the world’s largest law firm alongside several others. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has hired its 13th partner from Kirkland & Ellis in the space of a month with the appointment of London debt finance partner Stefan Arnold-Soulby. Arnold-Soulby, who has acted for private equity firms including Warburg Pincus, Investindustrial, Carlyle, Bain Capital and Partners Group, joins Neel Sachdev and eight other London partners making the move from Kirkland in addition to four partners in the U.S., according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
EMEA
Freshfields Adds White & Case Veteran Partner to White-Collar Defense Team in Paris
Firms in Europe are bulking up their teams in anticipation of more compliance work. Ludovic Malgrain joins Freshfields as a partner in the litigation team within the firm’s dispute resolution department.
Hogan Lovells Hires Energy M&A Team From Dentons in Germany
The team, led by two partners, will be based in Berlin and bring Hogan Lovells’ broader infrastructure and energy team to more than 40 lawyers, the firm said.
ECIJA and Andersen Make New Partner Hires in Spain
ECIJA adds to its urban planning and public law areas, whilst Andersen brings on a former CMS banking and finance partner. For ECIJA, the rapidly growing law firm brought on two partners: Ignasi Subirachs joined the firm’s urban planning, administrative and public law practice in Barcelona, while Jorge González Cortade joined to lead the public and regulatory law area in Madrid.
Clyde & Co Swoops for Tax Expert as UAE Implements New Corporate Tax Regime
The tax will be effective in financial years starting on or after June 1, 2023. Rachel Fox joins the firm from William Fry in Ireland, where she was made partner in 2019, and will lead the firm’s Middle East tax offering in its global corporate and advisory practice.
APAC
Proskauer Rose Greater China Partner Duo Finds New Home at Stephenson Harwood
The two partners are joining Stephenson Harwood with two other counsel. Two former Proskauer Rose partners, Jay Tai and Yong Ren, have joined Stephenson Harwood in Asia. Tai has relocated from Hong Kong to Singapore while Ren has moved to Hong Kong from Beijing for their new roles.
CMS Grows Hong Kong Offering with Team of Four Lawyers
The firm now has 16 fee-earners in its dispute resolution, shipping and insurance practice. CMS has expanded its Hong Kong offering with a team of four lawyers including partner, Adrian Elms.
Mayer Brown Adds New Corporate Partner in Hong Kong
Allison Lee was most recently an international counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton, where she had spent 15 years.
Australia’s Gadens Hires Data Partner from Allens
Michael Morris joins Gadens Brisbane office. Morris, who joins Gadens’ corporate advisory practice in Brisbane, has over 23 years of legal experience and is “a well-recognised legal expert” in data, intellectual property, information technology and telecoms, Gadens said.
The Americas
Fox Rothschild Adds Trust and Estate Partner in Wilmington
Fox Rothschild welcomed Denise D. Nordheimer to the firm’s Wilmington office as a partner in the taxation and wealth planning department.
Kirkland Private Equity Departures Continue, as Goodwin Picks Up Partner in San Francisco
Leon Johnson’s hiring is a signal that Goodwin is seeking to be a more comprehensive partner with its private equity clients as those firms diversify how they are investing their capital.
Potter Anderson Hires New Del. Partner
Potter Anderson & Corroon announced that Lauren E.M. Russell has joined the firm as a partner in the labor and employment group.
Trio of Pillsbury Partners Exits for Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance has hired three tech transaction partners from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, as the firm focuses on regional expansion in the Americas in several practices.New York-based Vipul Nishawala and Washington, D.C.-based Meighan O’Reardon and James McPhillips have all joined Clifford Chance’s global tech group.
Meta Associate GC Heads to Squire
Marty Mackowski has joined Squire as law firm demand for antitrust partners stays high. The “antitrust stakes have never been higher” for clients, Squire’s Diarmuid Ryan said.
Former Schnader Chair Moves to Welsh & Recker
Dennis Suplee led the now defunct firm from 1992 to 1998. Former Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis chairman Dennis Suplee has moved to Welsh & Recker as of counsel, following former Schnader partners Bruce Merenstein and Sam Silver who jumped to the Philadelphia litigation boutique prior to Schnader’s dissolution.
In Latest Exit, Stroock Litigation Partner Heads to Crowell
As “Stroock was going through its challenges, and I decided to make a move again,” Eric Aronson said, he contacted Crowell. “This was the only place that I really wanted to go.”
In Latest Exit, Stroock Litigation Partner Heads to Crowell
As “Stroock was going through its challenges, and I decided to make a move again,” Eric Aronson said, he contacted Crowell. “This was the only place that I really wanted to go.”
Kirkland Partner Jumps to McDermott to Lead Exec Comp Practice in New York
Kate Vera did most of her work at Kirkland with private equity clients and now looks to grow the practice at McDermott.
Duane Morris Lands 2 Securities Litigators From Maynard Nexsen in Atlanta
Terry Weiss and Stefanie Wayco arrive at the firm as it pursues growth in Texas, New York, California, Chicago and South Florida, as well as Georgia.
Hogan Lovells Picks Up Pryor Cashman Media Entertainment Partner in Miami
“I’ve been watching what they’ve been doing in sports, entertainment and media, and high-stakes litigation, and thought it’d be exciting to go back to the bigger global platform,” Hans Hertell said. “When I thought, in my career, I’d be going more boutique, I found that as I’ve grown my practice I’ve needed a more global platform to grow my own career and my client base.”
In-House
US Foods Goes Outside to Fill Legal Chief Vacancy
Martha Ha is jumping into the food-supply business after a legal career spent mostly in health care.
Ex-Facebook Lawyer Takes Legal Reins of GM-Backed Battery Startup
Mitra Future Technologies is focusing on North American production and distribution, believing it can overcome the stronghold China currently has in the lithium-ion battery market.
Banged-Up Airbnb Competitor Appoints General Counsel
Katherine Potter is taking the legal reins of Sonder after more than a decade at the senior living firm AlerisLife, where she rose to CEO.
Urgent Care Giant Taps Health Care Veteran for GC Role
Allison Kirk Griffiths has taken the legal reins of NextCare after rapidly ascending the legal leadership rungs at her last employer.
Taylor English, Seeing ‘Strong’ Demand in GC Practice, Adds Former Tesla Lawyer
The firm’s practice provides in-house counsel to about 50 clients that range from startups to 30-year-old companies. “There are certain entities that love this model,” Taylor English’s Allen Nelson said.
Promotions & Appointments:
UnitedLex Announces James Schellhase as New CEO in ‘Seminal Moment’ for the ALSP
The company’s previous CEO will stay on as UnitedLex’s chairman of the board of directors.
Microsoft CLO’s Retirement Sparks Chain Reaction of Promotions
A 26-year Microsoft veteran is taking over for chief legal officer Lisa Tanzi, who joined the company just before Windows 95 came out, thinking she’d get a few years of tech experience and move on.
In Transition to Next-Gen Leaders, Thompson Coburn Taps Litigator as New Chair
Chris Hohn, a Thompson Coburn partner in St. Louis who is on the management and executive committees, will become chair in August 2024.
After Nearly 2 Decades, Winston & Strawn Will Have a New Chair
Steve D’Amore, currently global co-leader of Winston & Strawn’s litigation department, has spent his entire career at the firm, starting more than 30 years ago. Outside of the U.S., Winston & Strawn has offices in Brussels, Paris, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and São Paulo.
Irwin Mitchell Names Group CEO Following Predecessor’s Passing
In August, Irwin Mitchell said that Andrew Tucker had passed away after an ‘unexpected illness’. The U.K. Top 50 firm has named Craig Marshall as Tucker’s successor. Marshall has been with the firm since 2007, becoming group chief operating officer in 2021.
Norton Rose Names Class Action Litigator as New Canadian Managing Partner
Jennifer Teskey takes over the role Jan. 1 from incumbent Charles Hurdon.
Mergers & Alliances:
Indian Firm JSA Revives Chennai Office with Merger
Indian firms have been bulking up significantly over the past few years.
Office Openings & Closing:
Ex-FTX GC Launches Law Firm, Says His ‘Hugely Disappointing Experience’ Will Be Asset for Clients
“The difference between something that’s illegal and something that needs your advice and counsel to get corrected is usually pretty stark,” said Ryne Miller, who left FTX after CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was charged with carrying out a massive fraud.
Denver Sees More Big Law Competition as Womble Plants Flag With Hogan Lovells Laterals
Citing a boom in energy and natural resources work and opportunities for an Am Law 100 firm focused on the upper middle market, Womble Bond Dickinson is launching an office in Denver with two laterals from Hogan Lovells.
US Patent Boutique Hires Partner from McDermott to Launch Debut International Office in Tokyo
Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone, founded by four former Paul, Weiss partners last November, now has three offices in New York, Washington D.C. and Tokyo. Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone, a U.S. patent litigation boutique established late last year, has launched its debut international office in Tokyo with the hire of partner Maxwell Fox from McDermott, Will & Emery.
Osborne Clarke Opens Third US Office in Miami
The firm also has offices in New York and San Francisco, but does not practise US law.
Financials:
Perkins Coie, McGuireWoods Among Top-Paid Counsel for DNC, RNC
Several Big Law firms and prominent boutiques have received large sums this year from the RNC and DNC. Legal spending by the parties has ballooned, as complex election laws have led to more litigation.
Paul Weiss’ Trio of Kirkland Hires Could Each Score $20M Yearly
Their potential pay may not be the highest for partners at high-end Am Law 25 firms, where annual compensation for a handful is more than $25 million.
2023 GC Compensation Survey: Find Out Who’s Atop New York’s Rankings
Legal chiefs for private equity giants snagged three of the top 10 spots. “Their GCs have gold-plated resumes, and those resumes command a lot of gold,” said Jason Winmill, an in-house consultant.
Are Cuts Looming for UK Law Firms? The Devil is in the Detail
This year’s ranking contains several warnings—chief among them being the need for further corrective measures to address the shrinking profit margins.
UK Top 50 Results: Are Cuts Looming? The Devil is in the Detail
This year’s ranking contains several warnings—chief among them being the need for further corrective measures to address the shrinking profit margins.
UK Top 50 Ranked by PEP: Biggest Drop Since the Financial Crisis
Many of the astronomical rises of the past couple of years have been ‘corrected’, with PEP at some firms dropping by as much as 55%.
Technology & Innovation:
Death of SEO? Nope, It Still Heavily Relies on Thought Leaders
In this article, Ioana Good presents a brief discussion on whether artificial intelligence will eventually replace the human element involved in SEO strategy and practices—and why that may not be the case.
Legal Tech’s Problem: Generative AI Is Readily Available, But Not Legal Data
While legal tech vendors are launching a host of generative AI-powered tools, clients are often prohibiting them from using their data for training purposes.
Legal Tech Vendors Are Taking On Generative AI Education. Are Attorneys Welcoming It?
While legal technology providers have often coupled their products with educational or training resources in the past, such offerings seem to be gaining traction in the age of generative artificial intelligence.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Littler Mendelson’s Newest Trial Lawyer Sees ‘Positive’ Signs in the DEI Landscape
Matt Stephens, one of the few openly transgender trial lawyers in California, joined Littler Mendelson as a partner in San Diego.
Big Law Sees Growing Client Demand for DEI Advice as Law Firms Also Face Scrutiny
McGuireWoods’ new DEI team was partly driven by the “onslaught of questions” from clients, said partner Amy Morrissey Turk.
Market Commentary:
Are Law Firms’ Real Estate and Tech Spending Invariably at Odds? It’s Not That Simple
The second and third largest capital expenses for most law firms can both compete for resources and be utterly dependent upon each other.
Top GCs Call for Role to be Formalised in UK Corporate Governance Code
A letter on behalf of nearly 80 GCs criticises the code’s ‘extraordinary’ lack of reference to the role of general counsel.
How Paul Weiss’ ‘Shocking’ Raid on Kirkland Unfolded—and What It Means for the London Market
The firm’s aggressive hiring strategy has so far seen 12 arrivals from Kirkland & Ellis, and one from Linklaters.
Remote GC Revolution Fizzles Out as Employers Flock to ‘Hard Hybrid’
“It has now moved to where, in most cases, you do need to work where the job is,” said Mike Evers, a Chicago-based in-house recruiter.
Will Lateral Battle Between Kirkland and Paul Weiss Create ‘Ripple Effects’?
If your firm is in the Am Law 100, the odds are good that the moves affect you and your firm, according to some veteran recruiters.
Slaughter and May Agrees to Meet Lawyer Climate Pressure Group
Slaughter is first large U.K. firm to engage with the climate group, which asks lawyers to pledge to withhold their services on matters that could support ‘new fossil fuel projects’.
Top GCs Call for Role to be Formalised in UK Corporate Governance Code
A letter on behalf of nearly 80 GCs criticises the code’s ‘extraordinary’ lack of reference to the role of general counsel.
Demand dropped in the first half of the year but counter-cyclical practices offset the decline, resulting in an increase in demand in the second half of the year.
Law Firms’ Herd Mentality is (Sometimes) a Force for Good
Law firms have the habit of following one another, which has sometimes resulted in inertia on the most serious social issues—but this week has shown that it could have positive effects, writes The London Lawyer.
Being an eighteen-year-old fresh out of A levels, and with limited real working experience, I found myself thinking that I had similarly limited options in how to approach the working world to fund my forthcoming gap year. As I have seen first-hand, young people in similar situations to mine tend to default to extensive hours of their summer, performing monotonous hospitality or retail roles. Yet now, time at legal head-hunters Fides Search has wholly challenged my preconceived belief of that being the best way forward. Despite some traditional student-suited jobs perhaps presenting pros in facilitating the continued laissez-faire attitudes of many school graduates, this article will explain why the former is exponentially outweighed by the possibilities presented by an early experience in executive search. While student-orientated jobs certainly allow for this more carefree transition into adulthood, with responsibility and commitment still relatively low, simply being aware of the plethora of options available within, around and moving on from executive search could be abundantly beneficial for a range of people in a variety of situations. Whether it be other students such as me with a keen eye on the legal sphere, those seeking to make their travels possible or young adults simply pursuing meaningful employment – employers such as Fides do provide unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth.
My own experience…
The industry: To fully appreciate the potential of an early career in legal executive search, it’s essential to understand the multifaceted nature of this industry. At its core, executive search involves identifying and recruiting top-tier talent for a diverse range of practices and positions, usually within law firms or in-house. It’s a field where success hinges on the ability to connect with people, understand their aspirations, and match them with opportunities that align with their skills and ambitions. Ultimately, this integrates a recruitment model with the legal world and thus demands those within the legal executive search to develop into founts of knowledge for various practices and the broader business dynamic of firms, partners, and associates.
What did I learn?
Alongside simply getting real-life experience working full-time for numerous months, my tenure at Fides taught me the criticality of a cohesive company – integrating different roles and providing different functions as efficiently as possible. I became well accustomed to the requirement for rapid responses and communication across the teams at Fides to reach this desired efficiency. Similarly, I had to quickly learn the right way to communicate with clients and candidates to instil the trust that is the foundation of Fides’ work and develop deeper relationships than the face-value headhunting process does. In turn, this showed me the importance of a network, as in particular the consultants at Fides that had developed an extensive professional network seamlessly navigated new and potential opportunities by being able to put the right people together. More specifically, I became increasingly comfortable with the legal and executive search worlds; the structures, goals, models, and dynamics that drive law firms forward and how that slot into recruitment – truly being able to understand what respective parties want.
How will this help my journey?
In terms of how this period of work will impact my future trajectory, it is important to consider both the short-term head-start that Fides has offered me in facilitating my travels (being able to get out and see the world before most of my peers) and also the longer term benefits I will have in a leg up into the wider corporate and specific legal spheres. My interest having already been piqued by law, the Fides experience has provided me with invaluable insight into the everyday working lives and communications of a lawyer, along with a deeper understanding of common aspirations and driving factors behind career decisions, potentially allowing me to pave my future way more in a more self-assured manner than those in similar shoes. Generally speaking, for my journey, I learnt that whilst there’s a plethora of professions which do provide short-term sanctuaries for those seeking to start new chapters travelling across the globe, there are just as many exceedingly more beneficial opportunities in industries like executive search offering long term leg ups into the legal and wider working world. Now as I look forward to new Asian-Pacific adventures and opportunities, I can look back at Fides fondly – knowing that at 18 I’ve already found a truly fulfilling profession on which my future self could choose to capitalise.
What can you glean from this experience?
From my early experience in the legal executive search industry, it’s clear that you can gain valuable insights and skills that can benefit you in various ways. Here’s what I’ve gleaned from my experience:
It’s a Multifaceted Industry: You can understand that the legal executive search industry is multifaceted and goes beyond just recruiting. It involves connecting with people, understanding their career aspirations, and aligning them with suitable opportunities. This knowledge can be applied to various industries, not just legal, as the skills of connecting people with opportunities are transferable.
Efficiency and Communication: My experience has highlighted the importance of efficiency and effective communication within a company. Learning to work cohesively with different teams and rapidly responding to clients and candidates are skills that are valuable in any workplace.
Building Trust and Relationships: In the executive search field, trust is paramount. I’ve learned the significance of building trust with clients and candidates, which is a crucial skill in any professional setting. Building and maintaining strong relationships can open doors and lead to future opportunities.
Networking: I’ve seen firsthand the power of having a professional network. Professionals in executive search often thrive because of their extensive networks. Networking is a valuable skill for personal and professional growth, as it can lead to opportunities and collaborations.
Understanding the Legal World: exposure to the legal world through this experience has given me a deeper understanding of the legal profession, its structures, goals, and dynamics. This knowledge can be beneficial if I decide to pursue a career in law or any field related to the legal industry.
Fulfilling Profession: I’ve discovered a fulfilling profession at a young age, which is a valuable insight. Many people spend years searching for a career that truly resonates with them. Knowing that I’ve found a profession I enjoy has provided a sense of purpose and direction in my future endeavours.
Overall, my early experience in the legal executive search industry has equipped me with a set of skills and knowledge that can benefit me in various career paths. It has also given me a head start in terms of understanding the legal and corporate worlds, which can be a valuable asset as I continue my journey.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Paul Weiss Raid on Kirkland & Ellis Continues with 4 More London Partner Hires
The firm has also brought in a private equity partner from Linklaters, as part of an aggressive hiring spree that saw the firm add Neel Sachdev and others to its London office. Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison is set to further bolster its private equity offering in London with the addition of four more partners from Kirkland & Ellis and a partner from Linklaters. Kirkland private equity partners Roger Johnson and Andreas Philipson, and tax partners Timothy Lowe and Cian O’Conner—both of whom were previously lawyers at Linklaters—will all join Paul Weiss alongside Linklaters partner Will Aitken-Davies, people with knowledge of the move said.
EMEA
Shearman Loses 4-Partner Private Equity Team in Paris as A&O Merger Vote Looms
They will be joining Proskauer Rose in a few weeks, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Shearman & Sterling has lost four partners from its private equity team in Paris, the latest partner departures from the firm ahead of a planned merger vote next month with Allen & Overy. Xavier Norlain, Jeremy Scemama, Maud Manon and Matthieu Lampel, all partners in corporate/private equity, are leaving after just over two years at Shearman. They arrived in 2021 from DLA Piper in Paris.
Allen & Overy Finance Partner Flies to Bird & Bird in Warsaw
Bird & Bird has also hired a Dentons partner in Madrid. An Allen & Overy partner who had been with the firm for over 25 years has left the firm to join Bird & Bird. Piotr Lesinski, a debt capital markets and finance regulatory partner based in Warsaw, had been with A&O since 1998. He became an A&O partner in 2010, according to a person with knowledge of the hire.
Webber Wentzel Lures Forensics Team From PwC
The new team hire will bolster Webber Wentzel’s disputes practice as it navigates the legal landscape of the complex area of business crime. Webber Wentzel has hired a four-person team of business crime specialists from PwC. Lionel Van Tonder is joining the South Africa-based law firm as a partner in its disputes practice, effective 1 September having retired from PwC where he was a director in June this year.
Garrigues Hires Partner to Lead Criminal Law Practice in Lisbon
The firm is currently focused on recruitment in order to build a team under João Lima Cluny’s leadership, a spokesperson told Law.com International.
White & Case Launches Spain Antitrust Practice With 2 Hires
José Antonio de la Calle and Sanna Orkan previously made up a purely antitrust legal boutique, which has now been fully integrated into White & Case’s Madrid office.
APAC
Litigation Boutique Grows China Practice With Partner Hire from Loeb & Loeb
Benjamin Qiu, who has deep experience with cross-border transactions involving firms in China, joins the firm as increased regulations on both side of the Pacific are pushing international firms scrutinize their business operations in the region.
Herbert Smith Expands Asia Private Capital Team With Hire From White & Case in Singapore
White & Case has lost several partners and local partners to firms in Asia over the last year. Herbert Smith Freehills has expanded its Asia private capital team in Singapore with the hire of Peiwen Chen, who was most recently a local partner at White & Case in the Southeast Asian city-state. She joins the firm as a partner. Chen’s hire takes place as Sydney-based M&A partner Malika Chandrasegaran relocates to Singapore. Chen and Chandrasegaran are expected to help respond to growing client demand for private capital advice in their specialty areas of energy transition and technology, respectively, according to a statement.
Clifford Chance Poaches HSF Real Estate Partner for Sydney Office
Clifford Chance has poached Herbert Smith Freehills real estate and infrastructure partner Philip Podzebenko to join its Sydney office. Clifford Chance said Podzebenko will add senior capabilities in real estate and infrastructure investments, deepen relationships with private capital investors and strengthen the firm’s offerings in private equity, energy transition and infrastructure.
RPC Adds Contentious Practice Partner to Hong Kong
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain has hired a new partner for its Hong Kong office. Joining RPC is dispute resolution partner Ivan Chang, who was previously a partner in the now-defunct Hong Kong office of Addleshaw Goddard.
Jones Day Boosts Asia Pacific Energy Practice with Ashurst, Akin Gump Hires
Simon Brown joins in Brisbane and Paul Greening joins Singapore office.
White & Case Lands Restructuring Partner from Ashurst Hong Kong
Sophie Lyall has more than 15 years of experience, specializing in all aspects of front-end restructuring and insolvency matters across industries.
China’s Haiwen Makes Duo Partner Hire From Mayer Brown
Haiwen’s duo-partner hire from Mayer Brown comes three months after the Beijing firm added three new partners from Herbert Smith Freehills to its Greater China capital markets practice. Beijing-based Haiwen & Partners has hired banking and projects lawyers Hallam Chow and Boya Shen from Mayer Brown, who will both be dually-based in Haiwen’s Beijing and Hong Kong offices.
K&L Gates Hires Tech Partner from Seyfarth Shaw Hong Kong
Paul Haswell becomes the 19th partner at K&L Gates Hong Kong. K&L Gates has added a new partner in Hong Kong. Technology lawyer Paul Haswell has joined the Pittsburgh-headquartered firm from Seyfarth Shaw, where he was the head of the firm’s regional technology practice.
Appleby Adds First Shanghai Partner Almost a Decade After Office Launch
Appleby became the first offshore law firm licensed to provide offshore legal advice in mainland China in 2014. Hannah Yao is the firm’s first ever partner hire to be based full time in Shanghai, where it has had a presence since 2012. Admitted in the U.S. and in China, Yao was a counsel at Beijing firm Fangda Partner and formerly a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons.
Benjamin Qui, who has deep experience with cross-border transactions involving firms in China, joins the firm as increased regulations on both side of the Pacific are pushing international firms scrutinize their business operations in the region.
The Americas
Jackson Walker Adds 2 Winston Trial Lawyers in Houston
Hugh Tanner, who was chair of Winston & Strawn’s oil and gas litigation practice and a member of the executive committee, joined Jackson Walker along with James “Jim” Nye.
Kennedys Hires in General Counsel as a Partner in Chile
The UK Top 50 firm has six offices in Latin America, as well as a regional hub in Miami that serves the region and associations in other countries. Rodrigo Hayvard was general counsel and chief compliance officer at FID Seguros, a general insurance company, before returning to Kennedys, where earlier in his career he was a senior associate.
Canada’s Fasken Grows Emerging Tech Practice With Hire From Blakes
Marc Shewchun is the Canadian firm’s third significant hire in just over a week.
Paul Weiss Securities Attorney Heads to Schulte
Schulte Roth & Zabel has added Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison counsel David Curtiss as a partner in its M&A, acquisitions and securities group in New York, the firm said Wednesday. Curtiss had been at Paul Weiss the previous three years.
White & Case Takes Veteran IP Tech Partner From Orrick
Jordan Coyle, a longtime intellectual property and technology litigation partner with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, has joined White & Case as a partner in its IP practice and technology industry group in Washington, D.C.
Toronto’s Fasken Grows Emerging Tech Practice With Hire From Blakes
Marc Shewchun is the Canadian firm’s third significant hire in just over a week. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin has snapped up leading technology lawyer Marc Shewchun from Blake, Cassels & Graydon, where he launched Nitro, a legal services program that provides cost-effective legal services tailored to the needs of emerging technology companies.
Schnader Attorneys Scatter in Wake of Firm Dissolution
Ten lawyers have landed as shareholders at Segal McCambridge. Additionally, the firm’s Pittsburgh-based higher education chair joined Ogletree Deakins, while several New York partners have moved to Pryor Cashman and Gordon Rees.
Boies Schiller Hires Partner From Kobre & Kim to Handle Government Investigations
“Federal authorities in Miami have become increasingly more aggressive in pursuing cross-border and international cases,” said Martin De Luca, an incoming Boies Schiller white collar-focused partner.
Lowenstein Brings on Hedge Fund GC, Expects More High-Level Laterals
Am Law 100 firm Lowenstein Sandler is set to bring on Glenview Capital Management general counsel and chief compliance officer Jonathan Danziger, effective Sept. 18, with investment management group chair Robert Minion teasing more high-profile laterals to come later in the month. Jonathan Danziger spent the last 12 years at Glenview Capital Management, where he served as general counsel and chief compliance officer.
Judge Timothy K. Lewis Joins Blank Rome Following Schnader Dissolution
Lewis joins former federal Judges Stephen Orlofsky, from the District of New Jersey, and James Giles and Edward Cahn, from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, at the Am Law 100 firm.
Arnold & Porter Lures 6-Lawyer Trial Team From Shook Hardy
The group has represented clients in the medical device, tobacco and pharmaceutical industries, among others, in pretrial litigation and as trial and appellate counsel. Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer has brought on a six-lawyer trial team in its product liability litigation practice from Shook, Hardy & Bacon, as demand for litigation matters continues to soar across Big Law. Frank Cruz-Alvarez, Brian Jackson, Christopher Nease, David Thorne and Michael Walden joined the firm as partners and Rachel Forman joined as of counsel, the firm said Thursday.
Big Law Turns to Federal Government for Litigation and Regulatory Hires
Steptoe has hired former DOJ national security official Andrew Adams in its investigations practice, while Foley Hoag brought on former Biden administration official Beth Neitzel to its litigation team.
Offit Kurman Latest Firm to Add Schnader Talent
The firm is adding five principals and two associates split between Philadelphia, New York and Bethesda, Maryland. Joining Offit are principals Brad Jacobs, Ronald Karam, W. Drew Kastner, Stephenie Yeung and Deborah Rouse, alongside associates Andrew Chou and Niamh Drury.
In-House
Moody’s Hands Legal Reins to 17-Year Company Veteran
The ratings agency opted for an insider to fill its first opening for the GC role since 2000. Moody’s Corp.’s Richard Steele is taking the legal reins from longtime general counsel John Goggins. Steele will serve as senior vice president and general counsel. He will oversee Moody’s global legal and compliance functions and has joined the company’s executive leadership team.
Former PayPal Legal Chief Lands at Disney After 2 Years of Renewal
Louise Pentland made a surprise exit from the fintech star at the height of the Great Resignation, saying, “None of us are maximizing our potential if we continue in the same role forever.”
Star Startup Fetch Adds GC Amid Executive Hiring Spree
Madison, Wisconsin-based Fetch, a retail rewards app and customer-engagement platform with a $2.5 billion valuation, has hired the former general counsel of pet telehealth startup Fuzzy to head its legal department as it looks to move beyond rewards to become a shopping-data juggernaut. David Toomey departed Fuzzy after it abruptly shut down in June after seven years in business and $80 million in fundraising.
Ex-J. Crew GC Who’s in Court Fight Over Firing Lands Legal Chief Role in Academia
Maria Di Lorenzo alleged the retailer failed to accommodate her hearing disability as required by law and dismissed her instead. She had been out of work since late 2021.
Promotions & Appointments:
Reed Smith Gains CFO With Big Four and Staffing Solutions Background
James Metzger joins Reed Smith at a time when law firms seek to optimize their operational efficiency and closely track profitability and other business performance metrics.
AIG Lauds GC Lucy Fato for ‘Pivotal Role’ in Rebound, Hands Her Promotion
Fato is shifting from roles with a litany of specific duties to one with the general mission of helping “support AIG’s journey to become a top performing global insurer.” American International Group has elevated Lucy Fato, already one of the most powerful executives at the insurance giant, to vice chair, a newly created role.
Amid Rapid Growth in Region, Baker Donelson Names New Nashville Office Leader
Looking to Enter Philadelphia, Montco Law Firm Selects New Managing Partner
“We began transitioning our clients from more senior partners to junior partners and began with certain practice areas,” new managing partner William Roark said of Hamburg Rubin Mullin Maxwell & Lupin’s succession planning. “The analysis then turned inward, and we realized we should probably have a transition put into place as well.”
Baker McKenzie Promotes Houston-Based DEI Exec to Global Role
Marredia Crawford, now Chief Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Officer at global firm Baker McKenzie, said her focus is continuing to move forward with inclusion at the firm.
The law firm did not state the reason for global CEO Gerry Pecht’s early departure.
Mergers & Alliances:
With Latest Merger, Spencer Fane Lands in Both Northern and Southern California
While billing rate increases were among clients’ top concerns about a potential merger, Pahl & McCay told clients their hourly rates wouldn’t go up, the firm leader said.
Macau Law Firms MdME, DSL to Merge
The combined firm will offer legal services out of its Macau, Hong Kong and Lisbon offices from October 1.
Reelected Hogan Lovells CEO Says Merger Still a Possibility, Highlights Other Paths to Growth
“I don’t want to talk to firms that have huge pension commitments or revenue drops because of partner departures or that are suffering in branding recognition. We would like to be opportunistic and associate ourselves with winners,” said Miguel Zaldivar.
Canadian Legal Tech Companies CiteRight and Jurisage to Merge
The merger of the two companies will create a comprehensive, integrated legal research and drafting solution that is available in Canada and will soon also be available in the U.S.
Nishimura & Asahi Strikes Alliance with Philippine Firm
The Japanese firm has already allied with local law firms in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.
Office Openings & Closing:
Greenberg Traurig Renews Office Lease in Miami, Leaving Footprint Intact
The deal, for over 128,000 square feet, marks the largest office lease in the Miami market in the past five years, according to broker Cushman & Wakefield.
Greenberg Traurig Gets UAE Law License as Big Law Continues Middle East Expansion
This summer saw Am Law 100 firms gaining law licenses, opening offices and making partnerships in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Allen Matkins Launches in New York With 2 McDermott Partners: Marshall Brozost and Aly Shivji
California law firm Allen Matkins has added boots on the ground in New York, which will help it expand relationships with East Coast and international clients in the real estate industry.
Goodwin Secures New Phila. Lease, Marking Its Permanent Entry Into the City
The firm is moving into 31,500 square feet of space at Schuylkill Yards, close to 30th St. Station and a number of life sciences clients in University City.
Pérez-Llorca Continues International Push With Lisbon Launch
When the opening takes place in 2024, three of the Spanish firm’s five international offices will have been opened in just a three-year period.
Financials:
Facing Falling Profits, Cahill Seeks to Adjust Amid Drop in Leveraged Finance Market
This slowdown “is the longest since leveraged finance has been around,” said Cahill executive committee co-chair William Hartnett.
Nishimura & Asahi Changes Ownership Structure, Foreign Lawyers to Own Equity
Nishimura’s New York and Germany-admitted international dispute resolution partner Lars Markert has since been promoted into the firm’s equity partnership.
Gateley After-Tax Profits Take 47% Hit After Recent Acquisitions
Staff bonus payments will not be paid out this year, with the firm citing ‘the challenging economic back drop’. Listed U.K. law firm Gateley has announced reported group profits after tax of £12.2 million—representing a 47% drop on last year’s figure. While underlying operating profit climbed by 11% to £25 million, the firm said that discretionary staff bonus payments would not be paid out this year, “due to the challenging economic back drop”.
Technology & Innovation:
5 Lessons Legal Tech and Legal Departments Should Learn From Growing Generative AI Lawsuits
While the generative artificial intelligence lawsuits are ongoing, experts are already pointing to key ways legal technology providers and in-house teams can avoid risk.
The Constitution Has Entered the ‘Chat’: AI Violates the Right to Effective Assistance of Counsel
This column addresses how using artificial intelligence in the criminal justice system may be unfairly prejudicial to defendants and violates their constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.
Microsoft Says It Will Pay Tab for Infringement Suits Against Its AI Customers
The tech giant says it doesn’t want uncertainties surrounding patent infringement law for generative AI to scare away customers from its Copilot tool.
Tracking Generative AI: How Evolving AI Models Are Impacting Legal
A running compilation of how the legal landscape continues to be shaped by generative AI tools, from GPT technologies to art generation tools and beyond.
Innovation Concerns Grow Over EU AI Regulation
“From the perspective of AI companies, people want clarity around which applications are prohibited, and what the obligations are associated with each category,” said Shannon Yavorsky, an Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe partner.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Female GCs Who Break Into Fortune 1000 Earn Big Bucks, But Men Hold Most of the Jobs
“We still have gender pay gaps in many companies, so let’s keep making progress,” said Melba Hughes of the recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa. Female general counsel at Fortune 1000 companies received slightly higher total compensation than their male counterparts last year, but they continued to be drastically outnumbered.
GCs Collaborate with Skadden and Others to Ramp Up Corporate LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
The campaign, which involves top lawyers from Rolls Royce, BP and others, comes just months after Law.com revealed stagnant LGBT representation in the legal industry.
Market Commentary:
A wave of “conservative” political lawsuits and advocacy campaigns seeking to advance “anti-ESG” or “anti-woke” themes have resulted in certain companies de-emphasizing disclosure of their ESG initiatives, according to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s Stephen Blake and Sareen Armani.
Flexibility Is a Talent Attractor, But It Comes With Its Own Challenges
For all the draws of flexible work, some firms still face challenges around compensation, expectations and cultural alignment that may stand in the way of using it as a strategy to attract talent.
CMS Launches UK Redundancy Process Among Corporate Associates
It comes after the firm revealed a slowdown in global revenue growth earlier this summer. CMS is conducting a review ahead of a redundancy process targeted at its associate ranks, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The review will centre on the firm’s U.K. corporate practice, the person added.
GCs, Outside Counsel Share Responsibility for Eliminating Artificial Emergencies
Highly paid lawyers know they signed up for responsiveness, but rising rates and modern connectivity are enabling some clients to expect instant responses on nights and weekends.
‘The Market Is Virtually Dead’: International Law Firms Are Struggling to Hire in China
International firms are struggling to hire and domestic Chinese firms are growing at a much slower pace than just two years ago. With continued volatility in China, law firms aren’t sure how to plan their growth and lawyers looking at the lateral market are wondering where they should go.
Can Continuation Funds Be a Lifeline for Private Equity?
In this article, Sonia Bhasin discusses the use of continuation funds as a solution for private equity funds that are nearing or past their expiration date and have unrealized assets in their portfolio.
Australian Government Plans to Consider Law Firms’ Pro Bono Efforts When Allocating Work
The Australian government wants law firms to log at least 35 hours per lawyer per year of pro bono work. The Australian government is planning to take account of how much pro bono work a law firm does when allocating work to firms. It will also publish a list of law firms on government procurement panels that do not meet its target of 35 pro bono hours per year per lawyer, according to an open letter by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, a member of Australia’s Labor Government.
Will Cahill’s Brand Save It From the Modern Big Law Environment?
The firm is smaller in partnership than most of its peers and lacks extensive practice diversification. “Is there a place for a 400-person firm in Big Law?” said an Am Law 50 chair.
All This Growth: What Is it For?
Law firms are obsessed with growth. More are merging, launching new offices, teaming up through associations, and even changing their structure so they can compete globally. But is their focus on expansion and revenue growth the way to go? Might it be short-sighted?
EMEA
Allen & Overy Finance Partner Flies to Bird & Bird in Warsaw
Piotr Lesinski, a debt capital markets and finance regulatory partner based in Warsaw, had been with A&O since 1998. He became an A&O partner in 2010, according to a person with knowledge of the hire. Bird & Bird has also hired a Dentons partner in Madrid.
French Firm Moncey Hires Veteran Linklaters Partner
Fabrice de La Morandière had been a partner at Linklaters for 22 years and headed the firm’s private equity practice and corporate department.
Norton Rose South Africa Boosts Mining Law Capabilities with Bar Hire
It is a significant hire for the firm in Johannesburg. Anneke Higgs’ joins NRFSA as a director—the equivalent of partner—from the bar where she has been an advocate for 15 years.
Addleshaw Goddard, DWF Scale Up in Dubai with Partner Hires
Several law firms are scaling up in the Middle East amid liberalizing markets. Sandeep Puri joins Addleshaws from Baker & McKenzie, having worked in the UAE for over two decades, advising on banking, finance and capital market matters, on both the lender and sponsor sides, according to a firm statement.
King & Spalding, Fieldfisher Add Partners in Paris
Fieldfisher has hired a biotech partner along with two associates while King & Spalding is building in arbitration. Amy Frey, an international arbitration partner, has rejoined King & Spalding after less than a year at McDermott Will & Emery.
Latham & Watkins Loses Veteran PE Partner in Hamburg to German Rival Gleiss Lutz
Stefan Widder, a 21-year veteran of Latham, will bring the number of partners at Gleiss Lutz Hamburg to seven and the total number of lawyers at the Hamburg office to 33.
The firm said it is seeing an increase in demand for advice on white-collar investigations, competition, litigation, and other compliance-related issues. The team will include current Stephenson Harwood lawyers as well as significant new recruits from outside the firm, including a compliance specialist from Baker McKenzie in Paris and a former French member of Parliament who was instrumental in drafting new laws extending legal privilege for in-house counsel.
APAC
RPC Adds Contentious Practice Partner to Hong Kong
Ivan Chang was a partner in the shuttered Hong Kong office of Addleshaw Goddard.
Appleby Adds First Shanghai Partner Almost a Decade After Office Launch
Appleby became the first offshore law firm licensed to provide offshore legal advice in mainland China in 2014. Hannah Yao is the firm’s first ever partner hire to be based full time in Shanghai, where it has had a presence since 2012. Admitted in the U.S. and in China, Yao was a counsel at Beijing firm Fangda Partner and formerly a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons.
K&L Gates Hires Tech Partner from Seyfarth Shaw Hong Kong
Paul Haswell becomes the 19th partner at K&L Gates Hong Kong.
Yulchon Grows Disputes and Antitrust Practices With Duo Partner Hire in Seoul
Big Six South Korean law firm Yulchon has recently made two key partner hires from the Korea Fair Trade Commission and Korea’s international dispute resolution law firm KL Partners. Following the recent addition of partner Jooyup Chae, who was previously the general counsel of Korea’s biotechnology company SK Biopharmaceuticals, the Seoul-based firm has further deepened its dispute resolution bench with the hire of international arbitration lawyer Eun Nyung Lee.
Former Rouse Disputes Head Set to Join Hong Kong Firm Tanner De Witt
Douglas Clark, who started his legal career as an associate at Hogan Lovells in 1993 left Rouse in 2022 to set up his own practice.
Clifford Chance Lands M&A Partner From Linklaters in Hong Kong
Hong Kong-based M&A lawyer Alex Bidlake was a lead partner on Cathay Pacific Airways’ $5.3 billion government bailout in 2020.
PwC Australia Departures Continue, Melbourne Partner Joins Pinsent Masons
Florence Riviere joins Pinsent Masons’ property team in Melbourne.
All of Proskauer’s Full-Time Greater China Partners Depart
The firm no longer has any full-time partners in China or Hong Kong, but it says it will continue to operate in Hong Kong and will not be leaving the market.
The Americas
Clifford Chance Hires Jones Day Energy Partner in Houston
Jones Day energy partner David Stringer joined Clifford Chance as a partner in Houston on Tuesday, as the U.K. firm continues to build an energy and infrastructure team in its new office.
Bennett Jones Grabs Partner From Blake Cassels for New Montreal Office
Yannick Beaudoin has been part of some of the biggest infrastructure and financing projects in the region.
Shearman & Sterling Lures Capital Markets Attorney Back From Linklaters
Alejandro Gordano is rejoining the firm as a New York-based partner in the Latin America group, after working at Linklaters and in an in-house role.
Holland & Knight Welcomes Zubin Khambatta to Growing Health Care Practice in Texas
Holland & Knight has strengthened its health care regulatory and enforcement practice group with the addition of Zubin Khambatta as a partner in Austin, the law firm said. He was previously a partner with Perkins Coie.
DLA Litigator Returns to Dentons as a Partner in Dallas
DLA Piper trial lawyer Matthew Nickel rejoined Dentons as a partner in Dallas on Monday, saying it was the ‘right time’ for his career.
Another Kirkland Partner Heads to Phillips Lytle, as Firm Builds Out Midwest Base
Former Kirkland partner Jaran Moten, now at Phillips Lytle, said he thinks clients are more often hiring multiple firms to work certain matters, and the ability to do so successfully will help give firms like his an edge.
McDermott Hires Former EY GC From Gibson Dunn, as Accounting Firms Face More Scrutiny
Ron Hauben’s arrival at McDermott coincides with increased regulatory activity from the SEC and PCAOB.
“This law firm functions as a team,” Bohrer said. “They’re all supportive of each other. It’s not like in a Big Law firm, where people are competing for that partnership spot.”
King & Spalding Continues Texas Growth With Locke Lord ‘Heavy Hitter’
Locke Lord partner Mitchell Tiras, who joined King & Spalding on Monday as a partner in Houston said his move provides his clients with broader-based services as they evolve.
Eversheds Sutherland Builds ‘Gateway to a Global Firm’ With New San Francisco Tax Partner
Michael Lebovitz, the co-head of the international tax and transfer pricing team at Mayer Brown, joined Eversheds as it builds its San Francisco presence.
McDermott Lands International M&A Partner From Dechert
Howard Kleinman has a focus on South America and cross-border transactions.
Milbank Adds Cahill Partner Who Will Co-Lead White Collar Defense Practice
The addition of Nola Heller boosts the firm’s pitch to land on clients’ most important matters, said Milbank’s George Canellos.
Troutman Pepper Takes 2 Private Equity Partners as Midmarket Deal Work Moves Ahead
Bruce Steinert, a Perkins Coie partner, joined the firm in San Francisco, while Gibson Dunn of counsel Jonathan Homer joined the firm in New York.
Baker McKenzie Regulatory Co-Chairs, Seeking Greater ‘Support,’ Jump to K&L Gates
Amy Greer and Jennifer Klass were recruited to build the practice from scratch in 2019, but they said they ultimately needed a firm that offered a broader set of skills and expertise to serve their clients.
Dilworth Paxson to Hire Up to 20 Lawyers From Dissolving Schnader Harrison
The group is composed of attorneys who’d previously belonged to Schnader’s trusts and estates, litigation, real estate, and transactional practice groups.
Sidley Picks Up Cooley Venture Finance Partner in Palo Alto
Cindy Lovering, who spent more than six years at Cooley, joined Sidley’s California global finance practice.
Jones Day Energy Partner Is Latest Big Law Hire for Clifford Chance
Jones Day energy partner David Stringer joined Clifford Chance as a partner in Houston on Tuesday, as the U.K. firm continues to build an energy and infrastructure team in its new office.
O’Melveny Hires Long-Serving SEC Regional Director in Los Angeles
O’Melveny has once again grown its roster of former high-ranking government officials with the addition of Michele Wein Layne to its white-collar defense and corporate investigations group.
White & Case Private Credit Partner Returns to Proskauer
As private credit continues to grow, Jessica Shearer’s “skill set will be an asset to the continued growth of our group and that of our clients,” said Proskauer’s Mike Mezzacappa.
Fish & Richardson Announces 2023 Del. Associate Hire
Fish & Richardson has welcomed nine lateral associates to the litigation practice group since the start of 2023, including Brandon Pakkebier in the firm’s Delaware office in February.
Cravath Public Company M&A Partner Heads to Latham
Latham & Watkins bolstered its public company M&A practice with the addition of Cravath, Swaine & Moore M&A partner Andrew Elken, announced on Monday. Elken, who had been at Cravath since beginning his legal career in 2009, will be based out of Latham’s New York office.
In-House
Ex-Foot Locker, Circle K Exec Takes Legal Reins of 520-Location Shoe Store Chain
Randolph Brodwin spent the bulk of his career at Foot Locker, rising from real estate counsel to associate general counsel over 23 years. Now, he’s becoming chief legal officer of a privately owned retailer that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Pax8 Taps Ethics and Compliance Veteran as First CCO
Mary Gill said she is thrilled “to have this opportunity to lead the design and build out of the company’s next generation ethics and compliance program.”
Archer Daniels Midland Taps Globetrotting Legal Vet to Succeed GC Who Put Out Fires
Food giant ADM has hired Regina Bynote Jones away from oil-field-services company Baker Hughes to serve as its senior vice president and general counsel.
Iconic Crystal Maker Swarovski Taps Former Nestle, Wrigley and Coca-Cola Attorney as Legal Chief
Stephan Mechnig appointment as chief legal and compliance officer comes a year after the nearly 130-year-old company installed someone outside the family as CEO for the first time.
Dollar Tree Hires Legal Chief to Replace Ex-Trump Official Who Abruptly Departed
Jonathan Leiken is taking the legal reins of Dollar Tree after helping guide his last employer, the ATM-maker Diebold Nixdorf, through bankruptcy.
Saying ‘Ja’ to Transfer Pays Off for BMG Legal Veteran
A year after relocating from Los Angeles to BMG’s Berlin headquarters, Tony Abner is taking the legal reins of the world’s fourth-largest music company.
Burgeoning UCSF Hospital System Appoints First Chief Counsel
Incoming general counsel Rachel Nosowsky will be “an excellent colleague and mentor for all the attorneys in our office,” said UCSF Chief Campus Counsel Greta Schnetzler.
Saint Louis Bank Axes CEO, Promotes GC to Succeed Him
Kevin King, the general counsel of the three-office Saint Louis Bank who’s practiced banking law for more than four decades, is succeeding CEO Travis Liebig. The bank isn’t explaining the ouster.
National Insurance Crime Bureau Promotes Ex-Federal Prosecutor to GC
At the Illinois-based nonprofit, Rich DiZinno will help ferret out fraud, something he battled as an assistant U.S. attorney and as chief counsel for national security and crime for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
Ex-Waymo Deputy GC Takes Legal Reins of Battery Startup
David Tressler spent six years at Google-owned Waymo, during which the company became the first self-driving car service to serve the general public without backup drivers in the vehicle.
Biden Picks Former Obama Lawyer for White House Counsel
During his first stint at the White House, Ed Siskel helped fend off attacks on the Affordable Care Act. He also spearheaded the response to congressional inquiries into the 2012 Benghazi attack that resulted in the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya.
Legal Chief for Movie Theater Association Follows Other Execs Out the Exit Door
Jackie Brenneman is the third long-tenured executive of the National Association of Theatre Owners to depart this year.
CLO Cashes Out at ATM-Maker Diebold; Replacement Punches In
After guiding the manufacturer through bankruptcy, Jonathan Leiken is passing the legal reins to veteran Diebold attorney Elizabeth “Lisa” Radigan, whom he called “brilliant, caring and a wise teacher of the law.”
Lawyer Stepping Aside Who Helped Shape Charter Communications Into No. 2 Cable Operator
David Ellen played a key role in the transformation of the cable industry, first as general counsel of Cablevision before its $17.7 billion sale in 2016 and then as a senior executive at Charter as it digested nearly $100 billion in acquisitions.
Promotions & Appointments:
Norton Rose South Africa’s Incoming CEO Committed to Full-Time Executive Leadership
Being chief executive far outweighs the bitter-sweetness of no longer running the disputes practice, says CEO elect Brent Botha in an interview with Law.com International.
Hogan Lovells Names New San Francisco Leader, With Plans to Expand Office
Megan Nishikawa, an energy, environmental and life sciences litigator who joined the firm last fall from King & Spalding, is stepping into the San Francisco office managing partner role on Sept. 1.
Hogan Lovells Partners Are Voting on CEO Miguel Zaldivar’s Second Term
Board members unanimously recommended that Zaldivar, who’s led Hogan Lovells since July 2020, should continue serving at the helm for another four-year term.
Mergers & Alliances:
Canadian IP Firm Smart & Biggar Gets Bigger With Merger
The IPH Group-affiliated firm will combine with former competitor Ridout & Maybee, cementing its position as the largest IP shop in Canada.
Clark Hill Combines With Dublin-Based Firm
Clark Hill’s acquisition of the 10-solicitor Dublin, Ireland-based firm HBMO Solicitors follows earlier acquisitions in the U.S., in Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Fox Rothschild Absorbs Five-Lawyer Auto Boutique
Firm chair Mark Morris said Aboyoun Dobbs has been the “go-to firm for automobile dealerships in the tri-state area since its founding in 1989.”
A&O Shearman: The Compelling but Unspoken Rationale
Industry observer Hugh A. Simons dives into historical data and law firm dynamics to explore the true, though perhaps unspoken, benefits of a merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling.
One Big Advantage of Growth by Acquisition? Sticky Clients.
Law firms are continuing to seek out acquisitions as a means of growth, which comes with its share of both challenges and benefits.
Continuing Growth in Existing Markets, Clark Hill Combines With Dublin Commercial Firm
Clark Hill’s acquisition of the 10-solicitor HBMO Solicitors in Dublin follows earlier acquisitions in Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Stroock Loses Business-Side Leaders, as Uncertain Merger Future Poses Recruiting Challenges
“Joining Stroock, my goal was to focus on partner hiring…We were seeing a lot of success,” said Regina Robbins, the firm’s former director of talent acquisition. “When the information was getting out in the marketplace about the Paul Hastings group and about the merger talks, it was difficult to help the firm find partners and grow.”
Office Openings & Closing:
Eversheds Sutherland’s New Austin Office Boasts Prime Location, Amenities
To accommodate growth, Eversheds Sutherland moved into new offices in downtown Austin on Monday that will accommodate significantly more lawyers.
Law Firm Leasing Activity Rebounds to Highest Post-Pandemic Point
Building off a strong first quarter, U.S. law firm leasing activity remained robust in the second quarter, resulting in the strongest period of leasing on record since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest quarterly report from Savills. Los Angeles also saw multiple deals over 20,000 square feet.
Financials:
Nishimura & Asahi Changes Ownership Structure, Foreign Lawyers to Own Equity
Nishimura’s New York and Germany-admitted international dispute resolution partner Lars Markert has since announced his entry to the firm’s equity partnership.
White & Case UK Accounts Show Stagnant Profit Despite Turnover Boost
The LLPs also showed that the firm made almost £3 million more from currency exchange rate fluctuations in the past year.
DWF Profits Slide Ahead of Private Equity Takeover
Though the UK listed law firm’s revenue edged up, the firm’s leaders said they did not expect to undertake ‘any material M&A in the short term’ due to economic pressures.
General Counsel Compensation Chart: Who Made the 2023 Top-Paid GC List?
The tight talent market helped drive up compensation, as current employers tried to lock down legal chiefs with retention bonuses, and companies trying to fill openings dangled juicy signing bonuses and stock grants.
2023 Could Turn Out All Right, If Law Firms Can Collect on What They’re Owed
Clients are slower to pay, but that means inventory is building. If firms start seeing checks come in, the second half of 2023 could be much more promising, Citi’s midyear survey shows.
DC Law Firms See Rebound in First Half of 2023, Increasing Revenues and Controlling Comp Expenses
“The real standout was controlling the compensation line and that really helped D.C.-focused firms,” said Wells Fargo’s Owen Burman.
Big Atlanta Law Firms Saw Revenue and Profits Rise in First Half, Even as Collections Slowed
Billing rate increases appeared to be the largest fuel for revenue growth, as demand in Atlanta was down 1.6%, compared to a 0.4% decrease for all firms nationally, according to Wells Fargo.
Law Firms Are Still Grasping for the ‘Other Side’ of Uncertainty
Firms benefitted from 7.7% average billing rate increases in the first half, Wells Fargo said, noting they are continuing to absorb productivity hits in the hopes of getting to the “other side” of the economic storm.
How to Manage Partner Compensation Expectations in a Challenging Year
MesaFive consultant Blane Prescott recounts common firm compensation models and how firms can set comp in a down year
Technology & Innovation:
1 in 4 Large Law Firms Expect Generative AI to Replace Jobs Internally in Next 5 Years
Generative AI has ‘potential to take away many of the more mundane and administrative tasks that currently form a necessary part of the lawyer’s workload’.
5 Ways Legal Is Mitigating Generative AI Risks
As some of the risks of using generative AI have come to light, legal tech providers and law firms are accessing and using the technology in news ways.
Concerned About ChatGPT Risks, This Australian Law Firm Built an Alternative
It took about six months for the firm to build its own GenAI platform, which it has named “Airlie” in honor of Airlie Smith—the first woman lawyer to join any of the firms that merged to form Allens.
AI in the Workplace: Benefits and Potential Drawbacks
Estimates suggest that nearly 80% of employers are now using AI in some capacity, so it’s imperative businesses understand AI’s rapidly growing presence across the labor landscape.
Cutting Through the Mess: What Does AI Really Mean for Lawyers?
In this column, Katherine B. Forrest presents her views on how artificial intelligence will impact the legal profession moving forward. She also includes some practical guidance about what ethical and professional obligations lawyers should keep in mind as they contend with its increasing usage.
Use This Framework for Integrating AI Into Your Thought Leadership Content Process
There are opportunities throughout the writing process for humans to partner with AI. Here’s how to think about that division of labor.
Law Firms Say They Expect GenAI to Reduce Reliance on Billable Hour—but Observers Are Skeptical
The majority of large UK law firms expect GenAI to impact their approach to the billable hour, according to a Law.com International survey.
Troutman Pepper Rolls Out Proprietary Gen AI Chatbot ‘Athena’ With Painstaking Care
With its new chatbot Athena, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, the firm is drawing an unequivocal line when it comes to certain use cases—and keeping a watchful eye.
Where Generative AI Will Likely Have the Most Impact in Law Firms
A Tuesday standing-room only session at ILTACON 2023 in Orlando highlighted some of the areas of the law firm work where generative AI is expected to have the most impact.
Sullivan & Cromwell’s Investments in AI Lead to Discovery, Deposition ‘Assistants’
Two post-doctoral students set up a lab in Sullivan & Cromwell’s offices to develop and train AI technology. Its capabilities could alter the very fabric of being a lawyer.
Diversity & Inclusion:
GCs Collaborate with Skadden and Others to Ramp Up Corporate LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
The campaign, which involves top lawyers from Rolls Royce, BP and others, comes just months after Law.com revealed stagnant LGBT representation in the legal industry.
The Law Firm Disrupted: The Generation Gap in Big Law Is Real, but It’s Broader Too
Guess who made which damning statement about Gen Z.
Leading DEI with Practicality and Purpose
Corporate counsel are well positioned to play a key role in focusing their companies on the case for DEI, whether premised on fundamental fairness, correcting for historical underrepresentation, or aligning with the shareholder goal of profitability.
Lawsuits Over Big Law Diversity Fellowships Prompt Firms to Scrutinize DEI Program Language
The lawsuits filed this week take particular aim at language contained in the firms’ diversity fellowship applications that conservative legal activist Edward Blum’s group views as exclusionary against its “white, nondisabled heterosexual man” client.
This Weil Gotshal Duo Is Fighting to Make Class a Protected Characteristic in the UK
Two figures are quietly leading a nationwide push to reform the U.K.’s Equality Act in a way that could profoundly affect the way social class is perceived.
The Battle for DEI in the Court of Public Opinion
“Those who are fighting DEI efforts misunderstand and mischaracterize the work. There seems to be a significant disconnect between their characterization of the work and what the work actually is,” says Yusuf Zakir, chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at Davis Wright Tremaine.
Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: From Optimism to Action
Alyssa Levy, a first-year corporate associate with Sidley Austin talks to Lin Cherry, Chief Talent Experience Officer at the technology services company, Wizeline, on why it’s important for organizations to advance DE&I as well as some small but powerful steps any organization can take.
Market Commentary:
Is London on the Cusp of a White Collar Boom?
With a SFO soon to welcome a new director and a UK recession looking more likely, some partners are expecting an uptick in investigations, while others offer more sober takes.
India as an Emerging Hub for International Arbitration
The Delhi High Court recently established a significant precedent by clarifying third-party funders cannot be held liable to pay adverse awards, and here’s how it will change the landscape of arbitration in the country.
In recent months, global brands such as Volkswagen Group have been revisiting their Chinese target acquisition plans, while Japanese energy companies have been pushed by an energy resource-scarce domestic market to further their investments abroad.
Japanese Tech Startups’ Nasdaq IPO Thirst Generates Deal Work for US Law Firms in Japan
Japanese deep technology, life science and biotechnology companies feel that they are comfortable speaking to U.S. investment banks or U.S. stock exchanges such as Nasdaq, according to a Tokyo-based Greenberg Traurig lawyer.
A wave of “conservative” political lawsuits and advocacy campaigns seeking to advance “anti-ESG” or “anti-woke” themes have resulted in certain companies de-emphasizing disclosure of their ESG initiatives, according to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s Stephen Blake and Sareen Armani.
Crunch Time for ESG: When Will Green Advice Pay Off for Law Firms in Asia?
Most jurisdictions in Asia are at different stages in their ESG journeys and that disparity, compounded by the lack of alternative resources and the ambiguity of government regulations and policies across the region, presents significant challenges for companies.
Law Firm Merger Fever May Be Good News for Boutiques
With firm mergers expected to accelerate, boutiques feeling pressure from clients to grow may be ready to take calls from larger firms.
How the GC of a Startup Building ‘Harmless’ AI Balances Risks, Rewards
“It’s a surprisingly full time job at times . . . to really deeply understand where we’re willing to tolerate more risk in service of our mission and where we’re more sensitive to risk,” Anthropic AI legal chief Brian Israel said.
Should I Stay or Go? 8 Questions Partners Facing a Merger Need to Answer
With all the mergers—or potential mergers—taking place this year, what key factors should lawyers consider when deciding whether to remain at their firm or move on?
Partners Are Frustrated With ‘Zoom Associates.’ But Will Threatening Their Bonuses Change That?
Consultants and partners have bluntly described some younger associates as “lacking accountability and initiative.” But surveys suggest younger lawyers and aspiring lawyers are more varied in their motivations than earlier generations.
Law Firm Closures Highlight a Tale of Two Markets
Midsize law firms are seeing faster demand growth than big firms. But this segment of the market is still vulnerable to large, existential threats.
Where Have All the London Rainmakers Gone?
U.K. firms need to rethink their star culture if they want to compete on a global scale.
Prepare to Communicate More Law Firm Leadership Transitions
Since the pandemic, turnover in the leadership ranks of major law firms has been increasing. Transitions can cause anxiety and uncertainty—especially if firms don’t have a clear and consistent messaging. With a good plan, however, firms can use transitions as a way to re-tell their story.
How to Kill Your Culture in a Minor Recession, According to Midlevels
In our annual Midlevel Associates Survey, thousands of associates told us how their firms missed the mark in managing through a downturn—but they gave some praise.
Leveraging Lateral Partner Recruiting Strategies in a Down Market
While the economic downturn certainly adds a layer of complexity to the lateral partner recruitment process, it does not render it an insurmountable task.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Kirkland PE Heavyweight Neel Sachdev Joins Paul Weiss with 3 Other Partners
Paul Weiss’ own London head moved to Kirkland earlier this month. Kirkland & Ellis rainmaker Neel Sachdev is leading a team of four partners out of the firm to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Sachdev and fellow debt finance partners, Kanesh Balasubramaniam, Matthew Merkle and Deirdre Jones have all joined Paul Weiss’ London office.
Raid on Kirkland: 10 More US and UK Lawyers Expected to Join Paul Weiss
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison’s raid of Kirkland & Ellis this month includes a four-partner London team led by private equity giant Neel Sachdev as well as other partners in the U.S. and U.K.—a team that could number more than ten lawyers in all. Sources confirmed that Paul Weiss has also hired Kirkland debt finance partner Eric Wedel, who had been with the firm for almost 17 years, working out of New York and Los Angeles. It is anticipated that Wedel will bring a team of three or four partners with him, sources said.
BonelliErede Targets London Expansion with Partner Additions
It isn’t the only elite firm in the Slaughter and May network to eye London growth, with Cravath adding partners to its UK base earlier in the year.
EMEA
Fieldfisher Makes 2 Partner Hires in Madrid From Dentons, Jones Day
UK firm plans to increase Spanish revenue by 50% by 2025. Eduardo Gómez de Enterría has joined Fieldfisher in Madrid as head of employment after leading Dentons’ practice for three years, and real estate partner Victor Casarrubios has joined the office after heading Jones Day’s real estate practice in Spain since 2007.
White & Case Doha Managing Partner Walks to Mayer Brown
Anne Wicks had been with White & Case since 2004, and relocated from the firm’s London office to its Abu Dhabi base in 2013. She became managing partner of White & Case’s Doha office in June 2020, according to a person with knowledge of the hire.
APAC
The UK firm has been deepening its bench in Asia in recent months. Stephenson Harwood’s Greater China associated firm, Wei Tu Law Firm, has strengthened its regional private wealth and corporate practice with the hire of partner Joanna Jiang, who was most recently a partner at Beijing-based Zhong Lun Law Firm, in Guangzhou.
Clyde & Co Cuts 10 Lawyers in Australia as Economy Slows
In addition to the 10, the firm has also parted ways with an insurance partner of seven years. Clyde & Co has made 10 lawyers redundant in Australia, a few weeks after it made back office cuts. Confirming the numbers, a firm spokesperson said none of the lawyers were partners and came from a total staff of around 500 in Australia.
The Americas
McDermott Lands 3-Lawyer Real Estate Transactional Group
David Herman is “one of the most significant hires we have made in New York in a long time,” said McDermott’s Ira Coleman. The lawyers include partner David Herman in New York, partner Sam Limmer in Washington, D.C., and of counsel Cynthia Resnick in Miami.
ArentFox Schiff Hires 3-Partner Employment Team From Sheppard Mullin
Morgan Forsey, Daniel McQueen and Nora Stilestein joined ArentFox in Los Angeles on Monday.
Munger Tolles Hires Former California Deputy Solicitor General
Aimee Feinberg, who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on key issues, including funds for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, returns to Munger Tolles, based in San Francisco.
Egan Nelson Emerging Companies Chair Jumps to Michael Best in Austin
Aaron Barker brings his emerging-companies practice to Michael Best & Friedrich as a corporate partner in Austin and head of Venture Best, Texas, the firm’s emerging-companies team.
Hall Booth Smith Elects 6 Partners; Gordon Rees Adds Partner in Atlanta
Hall Booth Smith announced the election of six new partners, including one in each of three Georgia offices. Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani added Joseph C. Sullivan as a partner in the firm’s Atlanta office from Taylor English Duma. Smith, Gambrell & Russell partner David J. Burge has been elected board chairman of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
Holland & Knight Trade Partner Jumps to White & Case in Mexico
Carlos Véjar, who also previously served as general counsel for international trade at the Mexican Economy Ministry, is changing coordinates as scores of manufacturers and their suppliers relocate to North America.
Freshfields Lands Schulte Litigation Co-Head
Gayle Klein, the litigation co-head at Schulte Roth & Zabel, has decamped for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, joining the firm’s U.S. dispute resolution practice in New York as a partner. Klein had been at Schulte for about 2½ years, following an 8½-year stint at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where she became, at 32, the youngest female partner in the firm history at the time.
Stevens & Lee Adds Wilmington Of Counsel
Stevens & Lee announced that Melissa N. Donimirski has joined the firm’s litigation department as of counsel in its Wilmington office.
McGuireWoods Creates C-Suite Role for AI and Innovation
The Am Law 100 firm is the latest to grow its C-suite staff with a hire focused specifically on AI. McGuireWoods has hired Peter Geovanes as the firm’s first chief innovation and AI officer, the latest Am Law 200 firm to bring on a C-suite leader focused on artificial intelligence.
Weil Adds Skadden Energy Partner as Houston Buildout Continues
The string of hires “results from a months-long review of the market and a strategic plan on what we want to do,” said Kyle Krpata, co-head of Weil’s private equity practice.
Shearman Co-Executive Director Decamps for Sheppard Mullin
Robert Brown joined Sheppard Mullin as chief operating officer, based in New York.
Steptoe Energy Regulatory Partner Jumps to Vinson & Elkins in DC
Vinson & Elkins’ hiring of Steptoe & Johnson partner Monique Watson continues the Houston-founded firm’s focus on expanding its energy regulatory team. Vinson & Elkins continues to grow its energy regulatory practice, adding Steptoe & Johnson partner Monique Watson, who formerly worked at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and brings experience in oil and gas pipelines and environmental impacts.
In-House
Tesla Adds Energy Firm’s Top Lawyer, Senior Employment Litigator
Christopher Dawood announced via LinkedIn this month that he’s joined Tesla as senior counsel for employment litigation. Dawood was previously an of counsel in the labor and employment litigation practice at Jackson Lewis in Sacramento.
Ahead of Possible Sale, UScellular Promotes Legal Chief to GC
Chicago-based UScellular promoted Adriana Rios Welton, head of legal and government affairs, to general counsel. She takes over from John Kelsh, who will focus on being general counsel at parent company Telephone and Data Systems. Title upgrades such as Adriana Rios Welton’s could give her an advantage in any M&A negotiations.
Longtime Bank GC to Join Thomson Reuters
Norie Campbell, former general counsel for TD Bank, is joining Thomson Reuters as chief legal officer, the Canadian-based technology and media company announced Monday.
Tupperware’s CLO Resigning as Company Fights to Stay Afloat
The company did not disclose why Karen Sheehan will be stepping aside Sept. 30. Her exit will cap a tumultuous nine years marked by plunging sales, C-suite turnover and accounting probes.
Looming Legal Threats, the Murdochs’ Influence Make Fox CLO Vacancy Both Alluring and Terrifying
“Taking over at a fraught organization is inherently a gamble. If things start terrible and improve to merely bad, people may not give you any credit,” Andrew Verstein, a law professor at UCLA, said.
QVC Veteran Promoted to GC of Parent, Will Help Lead Turnaround Effort
Eve DelSoldo is taking the legal reins of Qurate Retail Group, which is seeking to resuscitate growth after the rise of e-commerce dramatically altered consumer shopping behavior.
Promotions & Appointments:
Cuatrecasas Taps Barcelona Partner to Lead Corporate Practice in Palma
Less than a year into his post at the Spanish law firm, Sergio Agüera Amat has been given double duty. Cuatrecasas has tapped a Barcelona real estate partner to coordinate the firm’s corporate and M&A practice in Palma de Mallorca. Less than a year into his post at the Spanish law firm, Sergio Agüera Amat has been given double duty – tasked with leading the firm’s corporate and M&A practice on the Balearic Islands while maintaining his position in the Barcelona office focused on commercial real estate law.
Dentons Taps South Korea Leader as Global Board Chair
Nicholas Howon Park succeeds Xuefeng Peng, the president of Beijing-based Dacheng Law Offices. Dacheng and Dentons called off their combination earlier this month.
In ‘Big Deal’ Move, Baker Botts Promotes 3 Women Partners to Department Chair
The corporate, intellectual property and litigation departments are now chaired by women partners, as Houston partner Danny David takes over as managing partner on Aug. 1. Three of Baker Botts’ five departments are now led by women partners. Christa Brown-Sanford chairs the IP department, Samantha Crispin chairs the corporate department, and Bridget Moore chairs the litigation department.
Baker Donelson Shareholder Named ABA Committee Co-Chair
Ferdose al-Taie, an attorney at Baker Donelson, has been appointed to serve as co-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Litigation Section’s White-Collar and Criminal Litigation Committee.
White House Counsel Stuart Delery Steps Down
Stuart Delery, the top lawyer in the Biden White House, will soon be leaving his post. In a statement, President Joe Biden called Delery “a trusted adviser and a constant source of innovative legal thinking since Day One of my Administration.”
Mergers & Alliances:
Schnader Waited Too Long to Merge, While Stroock’s Fate Lies in the Balance
The soon-to-be defunct Philadelphia institution and the venerable New York shop have faced a similar set of obstacles in recent months. Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis’ decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years came in the wake of failed merger talks and a declined credit extension from its bank, according to a notice shared by the firm with Pennsylvania and Philadelphia authorities.
The Unraveling of Dentons Dacheng: Was it the Law or the Love that Frayed?
Dentons attributed its breakup with Dacheng to evolving Chinese regulations—it’s a brilliant communications strategy, non-Chinese clients will be pleased. But is there more to this than meets the eye?
Ailing Firms Value Independence, Autonomy Over Survival, Delaying Vital Merger Talks
Philadelphia’s Schnader Harrison is the latest example of a firm that would have been better off acting sooner rather than later.
Luthra and Luthra Adds 33 Lawyers in Merger
Earlier this year, Luthra and Luthra Law Offices’ founder and managing partner unexpectedly passed away. One of India’s most prominent law firms is set to merge with another firm. Luthra and Luthra Law Offices has announced that it will form a partnership with Atlas Law Partners, with the latter firm’s managing partner, Harry Chawla, becoming the head of the newly combined firm.
Office Openings & Closing:
Following Mass Departures, Lewis Brisbois Spinoff to Shutter 5 Months After Launch
Following another sizeable group departure this week to O’Hagan Meyer, the labor and employment boutique that spun out of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith in May has announced plans to cease operations entirely just five months after its inception. Nearly three dozen attorneys left Daugherty Lordan to join O’Hagan Meyer in Southern California this week.
Latest US Firm Shrinks China Presence as Latham Closes in Shanghai
Latham’s closure of its Shanghai office marks the trend of American law firms scaling back their businesses in mainland China in recent months.
After Kirkland’s Migration to Century City, Other Big Law Firms Are Following
Skadden is joining a growing number of firms basing their Los Angeles operations out of Century City, as firms continue to reduce their footprints downtown.
Wilson Elser Adds in Indiana, as Second Hundred Firms Continue Expansion
The No. 107-ranked firm by revenue announced this week that its clients wanted an expansion in the Midwest. With Am Law 200 firms poised to continue expanding their maps, defense firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman Dicker is the latest to plant a flag, adding an office in Indianapolis with laterals from Foley Mansfield and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office.
‘Predominantly an In-Office Firm’: Davis Polk Renews NYC Lease, With 30,000 More Square Feet
The firm’s new 25-year lease at 450 Lex is now the largest by square footage in New York in 2023 to date, according to real estate broker CBRE.
Financials:
Comp Likely to Top $10M Each for 3 Kirkland Laterals Jumping to Paul Weiss
The hires of U.K. partners Neel Sachdev and Roger Johnson and U.S. partner Eric Wedel mark the latest foray in the trans-Atlantic Kirkland-Paul Weiss lateral war that saw Kirkland recruit Alvaro Membrillera, previously Paul Weiss’s London head.
Technology & Innovation:
Spain’s Burgeoning Legal Tech Sector May Make Waves Internationally
Spain has largely relied on European heavyweights for its legal tech solutions. But the last two years have seen a flurry of local innovation, with an eye on international expansion.
Legal Still Has a Lot to Learn—And Navigate—In the Gen AI Era
After months of enthusiasm surrounding generative artificial intelligence, misunderstandings about the technology linger among attorneys and judges alike.
Here Are the Generative AI Products UK Law Firms Are Using
The pressure on law firms to implement generative artificial intelligence into their operations has steadily grown over the course of 2023. The clamour has been so intense that some GenAI companies have had to impose waiting lists.
How GCs Can Get Their Team Onboard with New Tech
A recent study found a majority of lawyers are ‘apathetic’ about lawtech, but there are ways for GCs and senior in-house lawyers to encourage a change of mindset.
Legatics Announces $5 Million Investment, With Plans to Expand to U.S. Market
The investment comes months after Legatics released Legatics 2, an expanded version of the legal transaction management platform with more flexible project management software.
Agiloft Launches AI Trainer, Allowing Legal Teams to Customize AI Models for Contract Analysis
Agiloft seeks to empower legal teams with no IT or coding experience to customize their own artificial intelligence models for a more bespoke approach to contract review and analysis.
How Law Firms Can Avoid A Summer of Cyberattack Threats
Summer at law firms creates an attack surface that hackers love to take advantage of. Legal and support staff rotate through vacations and time off, new crops of interns unfamiliar with tech processes enter the fold, and the remaining employees are often burned out and too distracted to notice the critical signs of an impending cyberattack.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Gender Diversity: Firms Must Jump Off the Bandwagon and Focus on What Works
Next 100 Years founder and former lawyer Dana Denis-Smith calls for a more strategic look at diversity initiatives, focusing on the changes that make a real difference.
Market Commentary:
China’s Regulations Went From Being a Client Problem to a Law Firm Problem, Too
For international law firms that have substantial practices in mainland China, the country’s focus on national security and the broader geopolitical issues has major implications.
Amid Layoffs and Attrition, Law Firms Are Planning More Staffing Adjustments
“With forced exits and continued staff attrition wreaking havoc on the depth and breadth of both skills and experience, are firms fundamentally compromising the quality of a support structure?” a recent report asks.
In Big Law, ‘Flexibility’ Is a Word for All Seasons
“I’m starting to hear ‘flexibility’ along with just being thoughtful about how do you become a bit more rigid about mandating people to come in?” noted Williams Lea’s Joe McSpadden.
What Makes a Successful Litigation Secondment Program?
McKinsey associate GC Veronica Ip and MoFo’s Kate Driscoll discuss what each got out of the six-month spell that Driscoll covered for Ip while she was on parental leave.
“The parties are spending a lot of time and money litigating almost as if they’re in court,” Sarchio said, noting that one recent arbitration involved around 72 document requests. “I keep telling them, this is arbitration. It’s supposed to be streamlined.”
Pacesetter Research: Prioritizing the “G” in ESG, Enables the Integration of the “E” and the “S”
With rising pressure from stakeholders on “E” and “S” initiatives, the “E” and “S” have typically dominated ESG conversations however prioritizing the G may facilitate the integration of all three components.
Amid Spreading Patchwork of Data Privacy Regs, Attorneys Embrace New Opportunities
Litigators are already finding ways to sue tech companies using existing laws, and compliance-side attorneys are advising clients to be proactive with new state laws.
The Pitch for Fully Remote Lawyers Is Becoming More Difficult
“I’ve worked with several attorneys recently making lateral moves to large global law firms, and none were given a formal 100% remote-work option,” said executive coach and former Big Law partner Laura Terrell.
Lateral Hires Highlight Big Law Focus on Boosting Energy Practices
“The introduction of the IRA, and all of these credits available, has really ramped up the need for lawyers who practice in this space,” Pillsbury’s Nora Burke said.
Amid Layoffs and Attrition, Law Firms Are Planning More Staffing Adjustments
“With forced exits and continued staff attrition wreaking havoc on the depth and breadth of both skills and experience, are firms fundamentally compromising the quality of a support structure?” a recent report asks.
Japanese Tech Startups’ Nasdaq IPO Thirst Generates Deal Work for US Law Firms in Japan
Japanese deep technology, life science and biotechnology companies feel that they are comfortable speaking to US investment banks or US stock exchanges such as Nasdaq, according to a Tokyo-based Greenberg Traurig lawyer.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
One in One Out at MoFo as London Hiring Market Hots Up
The latest moves follow a wash of partner activity that signifies growing confidence in London’s hiring market. Morrison Foerster’s London office has parted ways with a finance partner who joins McDermott, Will & Emery, but has gained a senior tech partner. Partner Vlad Maly is leaving the firm after over seven years to join rival U.S. outfit McDermott, expanding the firm’s London transaction offering.
BNP Paribas’ UK Disputes Head Joins Norton Rose Fulbright
The latest hire is also the President of the UK’s Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Alison Kellett joins the firm as a partner. At BNP Paribas, she also headed up the bank’s Channel Islands region, and oversaw legal investigations and litigation and legal financial security, according to NRF’s statement.
Mishcon Partner Exits for CMS in London
Neil Baylis has joined CMS’ antitrust, competition and trade practice. He leaves Mishcon after four and a half years with the firm as a partner, having joined from K&L Gates in 2019.
EMEA
Reed Smith Frankfurt Founding Partner Moves to Deloitte
Simon Grieser joins the Big Four giant as a partner next month. He will join as a partner on September 1, 2023 and will advise in particular credit and financial services institutions as well as national and international investors, and will also work closely with the corporate and litigation service lines.
Jones Day Adds Veteran Baker McKenzie Partner in Munich
Michael Bartosch brings almost two decades of experience to the firm. The veteran partner joins Jones Day’s corporate practice, which, according to the firm, brings together its transactional work worldwide, encompassing mergers and acquisitions and private equity.
White & Case Doha Managing Partner Walks to Mayer Brown
The partner had been with White & Case for nearly 20 years, and had been managing partner of its Doha office since 2020. Anne Wicks had been with White & Case since 2004, and relocated from the firm’s London office to its Abu Dhabi base in 2013. She became managing partner of White & Case’s Doha office in June 2020, according to a person with knowledge of the hire.
APAC
Another Partner Leaves PwC Legal, Joins DLA Piper
DLA Piper has hired renewables partner Luke Westmore from PwC, the second Australian partner to leave the beleaguered accounting giant this month. Westmore, who joins DLA’s projects and infrastructure team in Sydney, has 15 years’ of experience in large-scale renewable energy projects in Australia and internationally. His clients are a mix of international and Australian companies.
Australia’s Gilbert + Tobin Adds Ashurst Renewable Energy Lawyer to Partnership
Strong demand for projects and infrastructure lawyers. Australian corporate law firm Gilbert + Tobin has hired Ashurst lawyer Lixian Liang to join the partnership in its energy and infrastructure team in Sydney.
Atsumi & Sakai, White & Case, Baker McKenzie Add New Partners Across Asia
Most of the hires have been promoted into partnership at their new firms. Tokyo-based Atsumi & Sakai has bolstered its mergers and acquisitions, and labor and employment offerings with the hire of Tomotaka Tokuno, who was most recently an associate at Allen & Overy, as an of counsel.
Clyde & Co Cuts 10 Lawyers in Australia as Economy Slows
In addition to the 10, the firm has also parted ways with an insurance partner of seven years.
The Americas
Paul Weiss Lands Wilson Sonsini Antitrust Head in DC
Scott Sher said his practice has remained “busy on all fronts” in the current regulatory environment.
Akin Hires Chair of Lowenstein’s Emerging Managers Practice
Max Karpel, who joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a partner in New York on Monday, represents emerging and established investment managers and also has a family office practice.
Lateral Partner Moves in Atlanta, Charlotte and Nashville Increasing
”Atlanta has really matured as a legal market. I think very clearly now it is a major legal market.” said Decipher chief data officer Greg Hamman.
California Trial Boutique Launches Austin Office With DLA Piper Team
Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg tapped trial lawyer Amy Ruhland to lead the new office.
Hogan Lovells Partner Trio Jumps to Alston’s Litigation Team
Each new partner has a practice consisting of longtime clients, “which we believe will follow the team to Alston & Bird,” James Sullivan, the partner in charge of Alston’s New York office, said. Michael Hefter, Seth Cohen and Ryan Philp moved from Hogan Lovells to Alston as partners in its litigation and trial practice group.
King & Spalding Taps Sidley Antitrust Co-Head to Lead Global Practice
Sean Royall will have a presence in the firm’s Houston, DC and Brussels offices as he looks to expand its global antitrust and consumer protection practice.
On the Move: Nelson Mullins Expands REIT Practice, Jones Day Adds White Collar Defense Lawyer
Howard Hirsch joined Nelson Mullins’ REIT practice, while Jill Keller Hengen moved from King & Spalding to Jones Day’s investigations and white collar defense practice.
Freshfields Lands Schulte Litigation Co-Head
Gayle Klein, the litigation co-head at Schulte Roth & Zabel, has decamped for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, joining the firm’s U.S. dispute resolution practice in New York as a partner.
Allen & Overy Hits Paul Hastings for US Energy Private Equity Head
The partner joins ahead of A&O’s tie-up with Shearman & Sterling. Kfir Abutbul has joined A&O as head of its U.S. energy private equity and a partner in its U.S. corporate private equity and M&A practice.
In-House
Coca-Cola In-House Leader Picked as World Cup 2026 General Counsel
Curtis Franks announced his hiring Monday morning on LinkedIn, writing “Looking forward to being a part of the largest sporting event ever!” Since March, FIFA has been scouting for a general counsel, a role it calls “high-profile and demanding.”
Auto-Parts Giant Fills CLO Post by Hiring Alum
For the second time in her career, MaryAnn Kanary has come back to a firm where she previously worked to become legal chief.
27-Year Lloyd’s of London Veteran Steps Down as GC to ‘Pursue Fresh Challenges’
The insurance and reinsurance marketplace has appointed Claire Schrader, a 23-year Lloyd’s employee, to serve as interim general counsel while it seeks a success for the departing Peter Spires.
Ex-Tegna GC Takes Legal Reins at Global PR Firm FGS
Akin Harrison, who left Tegna in June after its $5.4 billion sale fell through, is joining a New York-based PR powerhouse formed through the merger of four firms last year.
Promotions & Appointments:
Potter Anderson Partner Elected Vice Chair of Delaware College of Art & Design Board of Trustees
Joy A. Barrist, a partner in Potter Anderson & Corroon’s real estate group, has recently been elected vice chair of the Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) board of trustees.
Viet Dinh Exiting as Fox Legal Chief, Will Receive $23M Payout
Dinh is leaving after a tumultuous year in which the company paid $787 million to settle a defamation lawsuit.
Baker McKenzie Promotes London Partner to EMEA Chair
The firm has also appointed its Stockholm managing partner to its executive committee. Kirsty Wilson, a corporate partner with over 30 years experience, will assume the role later this summer, according to a person with knowledge of the promotion. She continues in her roles on the firm’s executive committee as well as its global inclusion, diversity and equity committee, according to a statement from the firm.
Mergers & Alliances:
Dentons Ends Dacheng Combination in China
The breakup is due to an evolving regulatory environment for Chinese law firms in China including new mandates and requirements relating to data privacy, cybersecurity, capital control and governance.
Will More U.S. Firms Need to Follow Dentons in Backing Away From China?
The country’s heightened national security focus, among other geopolitical issues, could prompt the mass withdrawal of international law firms.
Shearman, Simpson Guide KKR’s $1.6B Buy of Simon & Schuster
While most of the chatter around Shearman has been around its pending merger with A&O, the firm is still doing the good work while the vote looms.
Office Openings & Closing:
Schnader Partners Vote to Formalize Dissolution Plan
The firm’s wind-up committee will be led by current managing partner and executive committee member Theresa Loscalzo, former firm CEO and chairman David Smith, and the firm’s general counsel and DEI co-chair Keith Whitson.
Schnader Set to Close Doors at End of August
“We have this month now to hopefully have partners transfer [to other firms] with their books of business, hopefully taking staff with them,” said Duane Morris partner Les Corwin, who’s overseeing the dissolution effort.
Japanese Law Firm Launches in India
The Bar Council of India (BCI) announced in March this year the liberalization of the Indian legal market after more than two decades of restrictions.
Financials:
Countercyclical Work Elevates Most of Legal Industry in Q2
Overall demand at midsize firms was up 3.7%, while Am Law 100 (0.3%) and Second Hundred (0.2%) firms are still below 1%.
Big Law and Midsize Firms Are Charting Different Paths to Growth
Am Law 100 firms have tried to cut head count and expenses, midsize firms have sought to bolster revenue, and the Second Hundred have sought “to find a Goldilocks zone between the two,” says a new report.
CMS Sees Slowdown in Global Revenue Growth
The firm has promoted a record number of partners globally over the past year. CMS has reported a global revenue growth of 6.2%, a reduced figure on the 18% growth made by the firm in 2022. The international law firm’s global revenue now stands at €1.86 billion—up from €1.75 billion recorded the year before.
Technology & Innovation:
Spain May Be an Emerging AI Hotspot, Leading the Way for a Spike in Cross-Border M&A
Spain’s artificial intelligence market has flown under the radar. But with several homegrown AI startups likely to excel in Spanish-speaking countries, U.S. tech companies sense acquisition opportunities.
Can AI Help Law Firms Solve the Boom-Bust Hiring Cycle?
“Most law firms typically haven’t used a lot of data in these decisions,” one lawyer said. “But increasingly, I think they’ll make investments to enable the use of data regarding how associates work and are deployed to solve for one variable in the demand equation.”
Dentons Head of Innovation on Why and How the Firm Built Its Own Gen AI Chatbot
Legaltech News caught up with Joe Cohen, UKIME head of innovation at Dentons to discuss fleetAI, the firm’s newly released proprietary version of ChatGPT.
Filevine Launches ImmigrationAI, Using AI to Help Streamline Document Filing
The AI-powered document filing tool is meant to cut down on time and redundancies for immigration attorneys filing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration forms for their clients.
Opus 2 Launches Transaction Management Platform, Focusing on M&A Work Collaboration, Management
The new offering is built on the same technology leveraged by the Opus 2 Case Management platform.
The Intersection of Generative AI and Copyright Law
Whether prompted to write a corporate slogan, create music, generate works of art and advertisements, or summarize a book — GAI can do it all. However, its increasing popularity means that users of GAI programs face substantial intellectual property risks — particularly when businesses use GAI for marketing and other public-facing purposes.
Inside Track: How to Grasp AI’s Legal Landscape and Not Have Your Head Explode
“Regulating a misleading claim published in a newspaper in 1914 entails the same analysis as regulating a misleading claim about the capabilities of a company’s AI,” Holland & Knight said in a report on how the Federal Trade Commission will oversee the emerging industry.
Diversity & Inclusion:
‘Landmines Everywhere’ for Employers’ DEI Programs, Prompting Big Law Response
Three major law firms have announced the formation of industry groups to address rising DEI scrutiny in the wake of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
A Slippery Slope: The Erosion of DEI in the Legal Profession and Beyond
There are three developments that should be particularly troubling to those who value the smorgasbord of ideas generated when collaborating with colleagues from varied backgrounds: the end of affirmative action in education; the banning of books in schools; and the censorship of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Gender Diversity: Firms Must Jump Off the Bandwagon and Focus on What Works
Next 100 Years founder and former lawyer Dana Denis-Smith calls for a more strategic look at diversity initiatives, focusing on the changes that make a real difference.
Market Commentary:
Five Indicators Mediation Is at a Tipping Point
More and more, countries, courts and states are turning to mediation to solve more complex disputes due to its collaborative, cost-effective, and confidential process. It allows all parties greater control over the outcome and greater speed to resolution. Mediation is proven to help courts decrease case backlogs and help businesses resolve legal disputes quickly and efficiently.
The Staying Power of Small and Midsize Firms
For the firms that seek to maintain long-term independence, remaining true to who they are and their original goals helps ensure their staying power, allowing them to remain a consistent partner to clients.
As More Partners Leave, Stroock Votes to End Pension Obligation
A five-partner restructuring team is the latest to leave Stroock for Morgan Lewis. Meanwhile, the New York firm said it has secured the votes needed to end its pension obligation, removing an obstacle for a merger.
Ethics and the Razzle Dazzle of Seeking ‘More Time’
How far can attorneys go to get an adjournment from a judge, even where extra time is in the client’s best interests or where the client simply wants a postponement, before they could face disciplinary action?
Dechert to Let Current Summers Defer Start Date to Fall 2025
Up to 20 associates can chose to “explore, study, travel or experience another opportunity.”
The Hidden Reason Behind Big Law’s Layoffs
It is too easy to blame all the job cuts on market conditions, there is something else going on and it is more worrying for juniors, writes the Global Lawyer.
West Coast Big Law Associate Deferrals ‘Bleed Into East Coast’
“The largest driver of cost savings would stem from a reduction in the size of a firm’s new associate class,” Decipher’s Greg Hamman said.
Even in a down year for cap markets and M&A, Big Law in New York still added head count.
In Big Law, ‘Flexibility’ Is A Word For All Seasons
“I’m starting to hear ‘flexibility’ along with just being thoughtful about how do you become a bit more rigid about mandating people to come in?” noted Williams Lea’s Joe McSpadden.
Quinn Emanuel, Fried Frank Tell UK Lawyers to WFH Throughout August
The firms are continuing a new, mostly US-firm-led tradition of allowing staff to work remotely during the summer.
What’s Next for the Saudi Regional Headquarters Program?
As the Saudi government looks to attract multinational groups to the Kingdom, Marco De Leo, managing partner of BonelliErede’s Dubai office, considers what they should be mindful of.
London Legal Recruitment Market Suffering Quietest Spell For Years
‘M&A is down, so roles are down,’ say recruiters and partners, as research shows a steep drop in hiring.
How a Rupture Tore Right Through East-West Law Firms
The East-West political rupture is particularly consequential for Dentons’ brand. But this doesn’t mean that other international law firms won’t be thinking about China on a constitutional level, argues The Global Lawyer.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Simpson Thacher Hires Senior Lawyer from Blackstone in London
Angus Lennox, a managing director at Blackstone, is joining the firm as a partner after seven years at the private equity giant. Prior to that, he had been a senior associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, according to a statement from Simpson Thacher.
Fieldfisher Hires Eight-Strong Litigation Team from US Boutique
The rare London team hire is a major boost to the firm’s disputes practice.
Kirkland & Ellis Swoops for Paul Weiss London Head
It is the latest blow for Paul Weiss’ UK practice, which parted ways with two partners in May. Kirkland & Ellis has hired Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison’s London head, Alvaro Membrillera, in the latest blow to the latter firm’s U.K. presence.
BNP Paribas’ UK Disputes Head Joins Norton Rose Fulbright
The latest hire is also the President of the UK’s Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Alison Kellett joins the firm as a partner. At BNP Paribas, she also headed up the bank’s Channel Islands region, and oversaw legal investigations and litigation and legal financial security, according to NRF’s statement.
EMEA
Reed Smith Frankfurt Founding Partner Moves to Deloitte
Simon Grieser joins the Big Four giant as a partner next month.
Reed Smith Appoints New Munich Partner
Reed Smith also recently hired two prominent partners from McDermott Will & Emery, including the firm’s private equity head and the founder of McDermott in Germany. Reed Smith hired McDermott Will & Emery counsel Germar Enders as a partner in its Munich office, the third senior corporate lawyer to join the firm this year.
Bowmans Takes Litigation Lawyer from Dentons
Vanessa Jacklin-Levin was previously head of dispute resolution at Dentons in South Africa and office managing partner in Johannesburg.
APAC
Norton Rose Fulbright Hires Capital Markets Partner from Kirkland Hong Kong
Ethan Chen will be the second U.S.-qualified capital markets partner for Norton Rose in Hong Kong.
Norton Rose Fulbright Takes Sydney Construction Team from Clyde & Co
Glen Warwick rejoins the firm as a partner. Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has bolstered its projects and construction team in Australia with the addition of a partner and two other lawyers from Clyde & Co.
White & Case Establishes Insolvency Practice in Australia as Corporate Failures Increase
Global law firm White & Case is establishing a restructuring and insolvency practice in Australia with the addition of two partners, Timothy Sackar and Jillian McAleese, from Australian firm Clayton Utz.
Milbank’s Asia Aviation Head Moves to Rajah & Tann in Singapore
Singapore firm Rajah & Tann has strengthened its aviation practice with the hire of Milbank aviation partner Paul Ng. At Milbank, Ng led the firm’s aviation and asset finance practice in Asia.
Pinsent Masons Launches Australian Employment Practice with 3 Partners
Pinsent Masons has launched an employment and reward practice in Australia with the hire of three partners from Australian firms. Aaron Goonrey and Neil Napper join from Lander & Rogers in Sydney, and Ben McKinley from Holding Redlich in Melbourne.
PwC Tax Partner Leaves to Join Australia’s Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Cameron Blackwood, who will work in Corrs’ Sydney office, spent 18 years at the specialist tax firm Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills before joining PwC in June 2022 following its acquisition of Greenwoods.
Shin & Kim Expands Projects & Energy Practice with Fourth Hire from Kim & Chang This Year
Big Six South Korean law firm has hired four project finance lawyers from Kim & Chang, Korea’s largest law firm, in an effort to further strengthen its projects and energy practice.
Dentons Lands CIMB Bank’s Head of Legal as a Partner in Hong Kong
Dentons bolstered its banking and finance, capital markets and corporate finance capabilities with the hire of Nicholas Chua as a partner in Hong Kong. Dentons deepened its bench in Asia in recent months with the hire of a senior foreign attorney from Shin & Kim and a senior Korean attorney from Korea Reinsurance Co. in March.
Australian Firm JWS Takes Disputes Partner From Baker McKenzie
Aleisa Crepin joins Johnson Winter Slattery in Brisbane, the third addition to that office this year.
The Americas
Cravath, Facing Fierce Competition, Builds Out DC Office With Top Government Hires
Cravath, Swaine & Moore’s latest lawyer addition—Jeffrey Rosen, former acting U.S. attorney general—highlights the law firm’s emphasis on hires with top government experience to fill out its Washington, D.C., office, bolstering its pitch to institutional clients to handle their regulatory work.
Former Insurance Company In-House Counsel to Lead BLG’s Insurance Team
Partner Rick Da Costa joins the firm’s financial services group in Toronto.
Baker McKenzie Hires Another Latin America-Focused Partner in New York
Steven Sandretto leaves Greenberg Traurig to rejoin former long-time colleagues including Michael Fitzgerald, who recently moved from Paul Hastings.
Wilson Sonsini Snags Cooley Life Sciences Partner
Karen Deschaine, a corporate life sciences lawyer who has spent her entire career at Cooley, joined Wilson Sonsini in San Diego.
Grant & Eisenhofer Hires Philadelphia Attorney for Wilmington Office
Grant & Eisenhofer announced that Elizabeth A. Bailey has joined the Wilmington office of the firm as of counsel. Bailey focuses her practice on complex and mass tort litigation as well as catastrophic injury litigation.
Weber Gallagher Adds Delaware Partner
Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby announced that the firm added a 15-year veteran as a partner to its bench of attorneys in Delaware: Loren R. Barron. Barron handles matters involving torts, corporate and contract disputes.
Holland & Knight Grows Health Care Practice With 3 Dentons Partners
Summer Martin, who led Dentons’ U.S. health care M&A team, and Rebecca Merrill joined Holland & Knight’s Atlanta office, while Susan Banks joined the firm’s Denver office last week, said Brent Hill, leader of Holland & Knight’s health care and life sciences section. All three are focused on how health care systems grow and navigate the regulatory environment.
Simpson Thacher Adds 2 Partners From SVB Capital, Blackstone
The partner lateral market has been fairly active, but Simpson Thacher has taken its latest two partners from outside the Big Law sphere. Jennifer Albrecht, who was an associate at Simpson Thacher until 2017 and was most recently the deputy general counsel for SVB Capital, joins the firm’s alternative capital and private credit practice in New York. Angus Lennox, most recently a managing director in Blackstone’s European real estate business, will join the firm’s real estate team and will be based in London.
Paul Hastings Hires Milbank White-Collar Partner as Enforcement Actions Rise on Both Coasts
Adam Fee, a white-collar lawyer who represented Binance in recent SEC litigation, has joined Paul Hastings in Los Angeles.
Citadel Hires 2 Top Lawyers Away From Goldman Sachs
The exits come at a time the venerable investment bank, long known for its stability, already was rattling Wall Street with an exodus of partners.
O’Melveny Grabs 2 Trial Partners from Baker Botts in Houston
O’Melveny & Myers, which is aggressively hiring in Texas, hired two first-chair trial partners from Baker Botts to launch a litigation practice in Houston. Baker Botts trial partners Travis Sales and John Anaipakos joined O’Melveny & Myers as partners in Houston.
McDermott Lures Cahill Antitrust Practice Head in Boost to Regulatory Group
Elai Katz, who had been at Cahill for almost 27 years, is at least the third practice leader to depart the firm in 2023.
Bracewell Gains 2 Energy Transactions Partners From Stroock
Partner Brian Rogers co-chaired Stroock’s debt finance practice while partner Scott Le Bouef, a commodities and derivatives lawyer, worked at the firm for 25 years.
DLA Piper Picks Up 2 Shearman Emerging Growth Partners in Austin
DLA Piper, which has more than 200 lawyers in its emerging growth and venture capital practice, continues to expand it in Texas and nationwide. Shearman & Sterling partners Alan Bickerstaff and Cassandra Cuellar have joined DLA Piper as partner in Austin.
In-House
Audubon Society Fills GC Slot After Longtime Legal Chief’s Quiet Exit Amid Renaming Controversy
Veteran environmental attorney Charlotte Young is taking the legal reins from Lorraine Sciarra, who stepped down in March, the same month the organization announced it would keep the “Audubon” name despite namesake John James Audubon’s racist views.
Longtime Interim GC of Fastly Scores Job on Permanent Basis
Karen Greenstein, a former lawyer at Viacom and NBCUniversal, will oversee Fastly’s 16-person legal department.
Ex-NCAA, LPGA Legal Leader Becomes GC of Trail Blazers
The NBA franchise has plucked Zandria Conyers from the NCAA, where spent a decade, rising to deputy general counsel.
Norfolk Southern, Swamped by Lawsuits, Hires Tesla Litigator as GC
Nate Smith has joined Norfolk Southern as a general counsel specializing in litigation. The railroad operator is adding to its litigation firepower six months after a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, sparked a deluge of lawsuits as well as scrutiny of its business practices and safety record.
Huntington Bank Hands Legal Reins From One Bank of America Alum to Another
Marcy Hingst is giving up her 16-year career at Bank of America to become general counsel of regional banking giant Huntington, the nation’s 22nd-largest financial institution.
Ex-Twitter GC Sean Edgett Takes Legal Reins of Unicorn That Produces ‘No Kill’ Meat
Edgett will serve as chief legal officer of the eight-year-old company, which recently received FDA approval to sell its lab-cultivated chicken across the U.S.
Moody’s Changing Out GCs for First Time Since 2000
Richard Steele is the new general counsel of Moody’s Corp. The prominent ratings agency is sticking with stability, hiring a 17-year company veteran to succeed an exec who is retiring after 23 years as legal chief.
Promotions & Appointments:
Holland & Knight Creates Chief Knowledge & Innovation Officer Role as Legal Tech Explodes
“It’s an absolute growing field, and particularly over the last few years, firms that traditionally have not had this role are now upgrading it,” said Glenn LaForce, who comes to the firm from Shearman & Sterling.
Litify Announces New CEO Following Ownership Changes Earlier This Year
Curtis Brewer joins Litify from business management software provider Davisware, where he served as CEO.
Osler Names Toronto M&A Partner as New Firm Co-Chair
The Canadian firm has also brought on new partners in real estate and IP. Toronto-based Emmanuel (Manny) Pressman is the new co-chair of the firm succeeding Shahir Guindi, who was in the post for six years.
Norton Rose South Africa Appoints New CEO
Brent Botha will take up the role in October and currently heads the firm’s disputes practice group.
Mergers & Alliances:
Continuing to Beef Up Existing Offices, Clark Hill Laps Up LA Boutique
Clark Hill’s Los Angeles office gains a team of 10 lawyers in a combination with the 65-year-old boutique Barton Klugman & Oetting.
Saul Ewing Launches in Southern California Via Merger With Freeman Freeman & Smiley
In a move firm leadership called “imperative for clients,” Saul Ewing gained offices in Los Angeles and Orange County, combining with 100 legal professionals, including 50 attorneys, from Freeman Freeman & Smiley.
Alt Legal Acquires TM Cloud’s Docketing System, Accelerating Global Expansion
In its fourth acquisition, IP and Trademark cloud docketing provider Alt Legal absorbed TM Cloud’s docketing system, attracted by its international customer base.
Stroock Partnership, Seeking to Remove a ‘Major Obstacle’ to Merger, Authorizes Pension Buyout
“A vote of the retired partners is in progress. We are optimistic about its success,” said firm co-chair Alan Klinger.
Office Openings & Closing:
Dickinson Wright Adds 20th Office With Formerly Remote Lawyers in Denver
The firm is starting with four partners and one associate, and it hopes to grow to 25 to 50 lawyers in Denver in the next year.
Heritage Foundation Legal Chief Departing to Open DC Office for Religion-Focused Law Firm
Nelson Madden Black partner Barry Black said the addition of Chris Byrnes “brings a whole new level of organizational advocacy to our firm as well as a wide network of contacts in Washington, D.C., and throughout the nation.”
Moving into Southeast Asia: Regional Firms Launch New Offices
Vientiane, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are just a few of the cities where Asia-based firms have set up shop.
Schnader Harrison to Cease Operations
Firm partner and general counsel Keith Whitson said it will be “dissolving and winding up its affairs,” but did not give a date for when the nearly 90-year-old firm will close its doors.
Tucker Ellis Expands Calif. Footprint With New Office, Absorbing Six-Attorney Litigation Shop
The Am Law 200 firm is adding its eighth office via a merger with Connor, Fletcher & Hedenkamp, based in Orange County.
US Litigation Boutique Shutters in London After a Decade
The move follows the exits of two teams in London over recent weeks. U.S. boutique firm Constantine Cannon has closed its London office, meaning the firm now only has American offices.
DAC Beachcroft Launches in Argentina with Double Hire
The new launch means the firm now has a Latin American presence in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico, as well as an office in Miami.
Chinese Legal Market Busy with Lateral Partner Moves, AllBright Sets Up in Kunming
Shanghai-based AllBright Law Offices has also bolstered its local capabilities by setting up a new office in Kunming to seize opportunities presented by China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Financials:
Clyde & Co Sees Merger-Fueled Revenue Boost as PEP Stalls
The results detail the firm’s first full financial year since its merger with BLM. Revenue at the U.K. law firm increased by 20% to reach £788.6 million in the year ending April 2023, largely as a result of its ambitious merger with U.K. top 50 firm BLM.
Dentons UKIME Arm Posts Modest Growth with 2% Revenue Uplift
£38 million of revenue came from inbound work outside the UKIME region, an 8.6% increase.
Bird & Bird Continues Growth with Double-Digit Revenue
The firm has added 11% to its top line while profit growth has eased.
Addleshaws Bucks Trend and Enjoys Double Digit Revenue and Profit Boost
The firm enjoyed an 18% increase in revenue.
Stewarts Suffers 55% PEP Drop, Reversing Last Year’s Fortunes
The managing partner pointed to his firm’s ‘non-linear’ revenue, and said the firm still had ‘good core income’.
Technology & Innovation:
Big Law, Nixing ChatGPT for Legal Work, Seeks Secure AI Solution
“Generative AI can be like an overeager intern who wants to make you happy,” said Kate Orr, global head of practice innovation at Orrick.
‘Bogus’ Cases and Confidential Data: How Artificial Intelligence Tests Legal Ethics
While the use of AI for writing may enhance creative analysis and identification of persuasive precedents, such use may also violate legal ethics rules, including the duty of competence, the duty of confidentiality and assisting in the unauthorized practice of law.
Many Aren’t Comfortable With Legal Using Generative AI. But That Could Soon Change
While there are some use cases that consumers feel comfortable with the legal industry leveraging generative AI for, a new survey from DISCO found that about a third of respondents said they’re against any use of the tech in legal.
Legal Tech Rundown: Exterro Partnership, Nextpoint Investment, Filevine University Launch, and More
An update on the legal tech market’s past few weeks, from product launches to new partnerships.
Southeast E-Discovery Leaders Say Generative AI Needs More Development for Their Use
Both Kilpatrick Townsend and Maynard Nexsen e-discovery team leaders said they do not incorporate generative AI into their operations.
Law Firms’ M&A Technology Spending Likely to Rise, As AI Becomes More Vital
Though M&A deal volume is dropping, investment in M&A technology is growing, according to Litera’s “Technology in M&A Report: AI, Tech Adoption, and Talent Management in the US and Canada.”
Diversity & Inclusion:
Ahead of the Curve: Assessing the Diversity of U.S. Law Deans After a Flurry of Leadership Changes
Welcome back to Ahead of the Curve. I’m Christine Charnosky, legal education reporter for Law.com, and I’ll be your host for this week’s look…
Ranked: The Top UK Law Firms for Partner Disability Representation, 2023
Law.com research shows that representation at partnership level is massively behind the national average, with some disabled lawyers calling current firm efforts “insufficient” and little more than a PR exercise.
Market Commentary:
Rise of Private Credit Has Been a Boon to Big Law
The shift in market players has created “winners and losers,” Debevoise’s Jeff Ross. The rapid expansion of the private credit deal market has led law firms to stock up on talent in the area, and it’s creating what some lawyers are saying are “winners and losers” in the shifting market.
Armstrong Teasdale Lets Go of 24 Staff, 11 Lawyers
Firm leaders said the staff reduction comes amid an effort to streamline the firm’s operations, while the lawyer reductions come after a review of productivity and performance.
Associate Lateral Moves Remain Depressed Even as Partner Moves Bounce Back
U.S. lateral moves were down 41% in the second quarter, though most of the impact was at the associate level. If partner hiring is a leading indicator, firms may already be bouncing back from a quieter period at the start of the year, according to newly released data.
In this article, I share my guidance for legal departments considering candidates with a lot of movement.
South America Sees M&A Surge in July
The region, which is chock-full of family-run companies and increasingly teeming with new technologies, has become fertile ground for private equity and other growth investors.
Katten Lays Off Lawyers and Staff While Deferring Some Associates
“The decision reflects the reality of the business environment in which we find ourselves,” the firm said.
Big Law Turns to Lawyers With IP Experience for Tech Practice Hires
Clifford Chance and Dentons have both recruited tech practice lawyers with strong IP backgrounds.
Mid-Year 2023 Check-In: Top Risk and Compliance Challenges
Corporate risk and compliance teams play an instrumental role in helping their organizations navigate crises and disruptions. Here’s what to keep top of mind in the next six months.
‘Lawyer Mindset’ at Odds With Succession Planning Best Practices
“It’s really hard to get law firms to embrace long-term planning because there’s a high sense of urgency for the immediate,” said Angela Sebastian, the former CEO of Chicago’s Levenfeld Pearlstein.
Reforming Regulatory Review: Environmental Lawyers Take Note
While clearly important to environmental lawyers focused on the development and administration of environmental regulations, the recent changes apply broadly across the larger regulatory landscape.
How to Financially Plan for a Job Change
If you are considering a job opportunity outside of Big Law, you may be questioning whether the new salary can support your current lifestyle. There are practical steps that you can take to ensure that (1) you will feel confident enough to step away from your current position and (2) you won’t need to come back because you cannot afford your lifestyle. In other words, how can you remove the infamous “golden handcuffs”?
New Hong Kong Listing Rules Eliminate Need to Disclose China-related Risks
In other recent listing rules changes, the HKEX also set a lower threshold for advanced technology companies including those in artificial intelligence and semiconductors to list on the exchange.
Layoff Season Winds Down as Law Firms Firms Prepare for Demand Uptick
Cuts at Katten Muchin Rosenman and Armstrong Teasdale don’t reflect rebounding demand for transactional attorneys, recruiters said.
Countercyclical Work Elevates Most of Legal Industry in Q2
Overall demand at midsize firms was up 3.7%, while Am Law 100 (0.3%) and Second Hundred (0.2%) firms are still below 1%.
Dentons has hired Steptoe & Johnson’s former managing partner in Beijing. He will serve as head of Dentons’ China IP litigation team. Clifford Chance has hired a Ropes & Gray partner with experience advising clients in intellectual property matters. The firm says it has three other tech lawyers joining in coming weeks.
So You Think August is the Month of Rest? Not for US Law Firms
Kirkland & Ellis, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and other U.S. firms have been making some bold moves in the U.K. Could they be setting a new tone in the London legal market?
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Fieldfisher Hires Eight-Strong Litigation Team from US Boutique
Fieldfisher has hired an eight-person competition litigation team from U.S. boutique Constantine Cannon. The team joining Fieldfisher consists of two partners, three lawyers and three support staff. London-based Richard Pike was previously a partner at Baker McKenzie and joined Constantine Cannon in 2014. Meanwhile, Stephen Critchley had been a partner at Constantine Cannon since 2021.
Simpson Thacher Hires Senior Lawyer from PE Giant Blackstone in London
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has strengthened its London real estate practice with the addition of a senior lawyer from private equity giant Blackstone. Angus Lennox, a managing director Blackstone, is joining the elite U.S. firm as a partner after seven years at the private equity giant. Prior to that, he had been a senior associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, according to a statement from Simpson Thacher.
DAC Beachcroft Sweep Up Plexus Team, as DWF Board Greenlights Firm Sale
DAC Beachcroft has hired a seven-partner team from recently sold law firm Plexus Law. The partners have all joined DAC Beachcroft’s national casualty practice, with two partners joining the firm’s Manchester office, and the remaining five joining the firm in Leeds. Nicola Skeldon and Louise Shaw, as well as Anthony Baker, Gavin McClenaghan, Ciaran Garnett, Carl McGuire and Stephen Johnson have all left Plexus, which was bought out of administration earlier this month by Axiom DWFM.
Ashurst Hires DLA Piper’s European Arbitration Head
Ashurst has added DLA Piper’s European head of arbitration, bolstering its London arbitration practice. Philip Chong, who has been DLA’s European head for six years, is set to join Ashurst in September after over 16 years at DLA, according to his Linkedin profile. His practice focuses on energy and infrastructure disputes as well as engineering and technical matters.
EMEA
Squire Patton Boggs Hires Pérez-Llorca Partner to Launch Litigation Practice in Madrid
Partner Javier Izquierdo will lead the transatlantic law firm’s litigation practice in the Spanish capital, filling a new role in a new practice for the Madrid office that will grow over time, a spokesperson for Squire Patton Boggs told Law.com International. He is expected to join the firm on September 1. Some colleagues will accompany partner Javier Izquierdo to his new firm.
APAC
Orrick Eyes Imminent Foothold in Singapore with US Energy Partner Relocation
The U.S. firm is also actively seeking an energy arbitration partner to build out its practice in the city-state.
Atsumi & Sakai Hires White & Case Corporate Lawyer as Partner in Tokyo
Tokyo-based Atsumi & Sakai, one of Japan’s largest law firms, has strengthened its corporate and real estate development practices with the hire of Aoi Koyanagi as a partner from White & Case in Tokyo, where she was most recently an associate.
Baker Botts Nabs Ashurst Projects Partner For New Singapore Outfit
Baker Botts has expanded its energy and project financing capability in Southeast Asia with the hire of projects lawyer Andrew Roche from Ashurst in Singapore, where he was most recently a partner. It marks Baker Botts’ fourth partner hire from Ashurst since the US firm launched in Southeast Asia.
The Americas
Jenner Recruits From Energy Commission to Continue Building Practice
Jenner & Block has brought on Anand Viswanathan, a veteran attorney of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, who will be special counsel in its Washington, D.C., office.
Benesch Adds New Wilmington Partner
Benesch announced that Daniel Brogan has recently joined the firm as a partner in its Wilmington office from Bayard. He is focused on advising clients in connection with corporate restructurings, bankruptcies, and other insolvency matters with a particular emphasis on insolvency-related litigation.
Winston Adds Another Weil Private Equity, Energy Lawyer in Dallas
Winston & Strawn continues to build its private equity practice serving the energy sector by adding Weil, Gotshal & Manges counsel Scott Delaney, closely following moves by others from Weil in the same practice.
Littler Hires EEOC Chief Counsel With Deep AI Expertise
Bradford Kelley will help advocate for employer interests before policymakers while also advising clients, many of whom are adopting AI to make their HR departments more efficient but still have unease about the potential for bias and discrimination.
Sidley Austin Snags DLA Piper’s Florida Corporate Practice Co-Chair
Joshua Samek is joining as a partner in its M&A and private equity global practice group.
Harneys Lands Regulatory & Tax Partner in the Cayman Islands
The offshore law firm lured Juan Pablo Urrutia from Walkers in a locale where competition for talent is stiff. Harneys has hired a Regulatory & Tax partner from Walkers in the Cayman Islands, where competition for legal talent has ramped up in recent years due to higher salaries in the U.K.
Cravath, Facing Fierce Competition, Builds Out DC Office With Top Government Hires
“It’s hard to displace market leaders who have been building a position for decades,” noted legal consultant Kent Zimmermann.
Planning ‘Steady’ Atlanta Growth, McGuireWoods Adds Kirkland Real Estate Partner
The firm plans to add private equity lawyers in Atlanta for the first time, as well as additional lawyers for its health care and debt finance practices, said office managing partner Chris Greene. The firm, whose largest office is in Richmond, Virginia, added partner Nicholas Dancey from Kirkland, MGuireWoods said on Thursday, joining its three-lawyer real estate and land use department team in Atlanta.
Holland & Knight Adds Veteran Private Wealth Lawyer; Baker Donelson Names Practice Leaders
Bryan Howard is moving to Holland & Knight, along with almost all of the clients he gained over 17 years with a boutique trusts and estates firm he co-founded in Nashville.
Womble Adds Bankruptcy Group’s First NY Partners
“We recognized that the time to grow had arrived,” said Matthew Ward, leader of Womble’s bankruptcy, restructuring and creditors’ rights practice. Edward Schnitzer, David Banker and Wojciech Jung began working Monday as partners on Womble’s capital markets practice and bankruptcy team in its New York office. They are the firm’s first bankruptcy lawyers based in its New York office, which launched in April 2022.
Steptoe Adds 35 Lawyers and Staff From Stroock
Stroock said it is continuing to talk with firms for a merger and its “most profitable practices remain intact.” The group of lawyers and staff moving from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan to Steptoe & Johnson now includes 35 people, including 27 lawyers and eight business services professionals in New York and Los Angeles.
In-House
Lionsgate Hires O’Melveny and Myers Dealmaker as General Counsel
The media company Lionsgate has quietly brought aboard a new general counsel, Bruce Tobey, who spent the past decade as a partner at O’Melveny & Myers and before that was chief operating officer of CBS Films and executive vice president at Paramount Pictures.
Cybersecurity Startup Hires GC, Rebuilds Legal Team After Mass Layoffs
David Morris, the first in-house lawyer at Tripadvisor who went on to become legal chief at Vivid Seats, joined Snyk as general counsel.
Lewis Brisbois Litigator Joins Tesla’s Crew of ‘Hardcore Streetfighters’
Frank Brannen is going in-house for the first time, joining a litigation department that Elon Musk wants to be hyper-aggressive. “There will be blood,” Musk said in a tweet last year.
Former Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch Veteran Lawyer Jumps to MUFG as Legal Chief
As general counsel, Matt Abrusci will be responsible for the overall management of legal affairs and board of directors administration related to MUFG’s combined operations in the Americas.
Successor Named for CBRE GC Who Declined Relocation
CBRE moved the general counsel role to Dallas. But Laurence Midler, who is based in Los Angeles, declined to move to Texas. Laurence Midler, who has been at CBRE Group since 2004, has been succeeded by chief transformation officer Chad Doellinger in the general counsel role.
Wealth Management Firm Taps Google’s Legal Director as Legal Chief
“As someone who values teamwork, collaboration and financial empowerment, I’m honored to join LPL’s Management Committee as we continue to pursue LPL’s mission to take care of advisors so they can take care of their clients,” Althea Brown said in a statement.
3D-Printed Homebuilder ICON Hires Former Tesla, Amazon Lawyer as GC
Newly appointed ICON General Counsel Robert Harmon said it took “something extraordinary” to lure him away from Amazon, the opportunity to use “advanced technology to build a future with affordable, resilient and beautiful homes on this planet and beyond.”
UBS Appoints Several Credit Suisse Lawyers to Refreshed Global Litigation Team
The litigation team overhaul follows a spate of changes at UBS’ top level that came after the acquisition of its beleaguered Swiss banking rival. The appointments include Zurich-based Nik Boser, who had been asset management general counsel at Credit Suisse. In a post on LinkedIn earlier this week, he announced he been made head of litigation in Switzerland.
Former Unisys GC Moves Up the Road to Avantor
Claudius Sokenu, ranked by Savoy as one of the most influential Black executives in corporate America, said he was drawn to Avantor’s mission of scientific innovation.
Beer Giant Molson Coors Goes Outside for Legal Chief Replacement
Natalie Maciolek is taking the legal reins of the world’s third-largest brewer after spending a decade at faucet-maker Kohler, where she rose from senior staff attorney to general counsel in five years.
Promotions & Appointments:
Giant Window-Maker Andersen Passes Legal Torch
Taking the legal reins of North America’s largest maker of windows and doors is Andrea Nordaune, a 25-year company veteran.
In Leadership Shuffle, White & Case Names New Executive Committee
London is home to the firm’s next vice chair and two new executive committee members. White & Case has looked to London and New York to select its new round of executive committee leaders who will serve alongside its next chair, Heather McDevitt, based in New York. Oliver Brettle, based in London and also currently on the firm’s executive committee, will take over as vice chair from New York-based banking partner Dave Koschik, the firm said Monday. Two more London-based partners, Carina Radford (project development and finance) and Dipen Sabharwal (international arbitration), will join New York-based Eric Leicht (debt finance) in rounding out the four-partner committee.
A&O Names Interim Managing Partner Replacement for Gareth Price
Allen & Overy has announced that Khalid Garousha, its regional managing partner in the Middle East and Turkey, will become the firm’s next managing partner. Garousha takes over from Gareth Price in the role, who resigned from the firm earlier this month for “personal reasons” a year before the end of his term in 2024.
Allen & Gledhill Senior Disputes Counsel Becomes New Singapore Law Society President
The Law Society of Singapore has elected litigator Jason Chan, a partner and senior counsel at Singapore Big Four law firm Allen & Gledhill, as its new president following the death of his TSMP Law Corporation partner Adrian Tan.
Cozen O’Connor Taps New Lead for Canadian Life Sciences and Tech Team
Cozen O’Connor has hired Atoussa Mahmoudpour as a member of its North American corporate law group in Vancouver, where she’ll chair the firm’s new Canadian life sciences and technology practice.
Mergers & Alliances:
Pietragallo Gordon Announces Merger With Pittsburgh’s Gentile Horoho
East Coast commercial litigation firm Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti announced Monday that it is merging with Pittsburgh family law firm Gentile, Horoho & Avalli, effective Aug. 1.
Italy’s Pedersoli and Gattai Merge and Hire Team From BonelliErede
Two large Italian law firms—Pedersoli and Gattai Minoli Partners—have merged and hired a team of lawyers from elite outfit BonelliErede at the same time. The new firm, dubbed PedersoliGattai, will begin practicing on January 1st 2024 and will be made up of 350 professionals including 64 partners across three locations in Italy—Milan, Rome and Turin. It is expected to have a combined revenue of more than €120 million.
Office Openings & Closing:
Blank Rome Launches in Dallas With 7 Lawyers From 4 Law Firms
Am Law 100 firm Blank Rome opened a Dallas office this month because it has a number of clients in North Texas, and a long-established office in Houston.
Atlanta’s Fisher Phillips Opens Three Offices in Mexico With 30 Lawyers
The tie-up with a team from Deloitte coincides with growing demand for labour and employment advice in Mexico as more international companies shift production to North America.
Ropes & Gray Plans to Launch Office in Singapore
Andrew Dale, a litigation and investigations partner in Hong Kong, will help set up the new office and will play a key role in the new outfit.
‘Today’s Workplace Looks Different’: Willkie Signs Upsized Office Lease in San Francisco
Willkie, now with 45 lawyers in San Francisco, has signed a lease for a 44,000-square-foot office space at 330 Bush St.
Because Clients Asked, California Law Firm Moves into Texas With Houston Office
San Diego-based Tyson & Mendes, which opened the Houston office this month, plans to soon add another location in Texas.
Financials:
Travers Unveils Static PEP and Turnover Amid Challenging Year
The firm’s PEP has remained the same at £1.1 million, while turnover inched up by 1% to £197.5 million in the last financial year, while its average profit per equity partner stayed the same, at £1.1 million, according to the firm’s provisional financial results for the year ending June 30.
Freshfields Unveils Static PEP Despite Rising Revenue Amid M&A ‘Shift’
The firm’s average profit per equity partner inched up 1% in the last financial year, putting the firm slightly ahead of its main UK rivals, which all suffered a slight drop.
Macfarlanes Posts Triple Tumble Across Turnover, Profit, PEP
Following a stellar year in 2022, the firm posted a downturn and is changing its financial year end. The firm reported a turnover drop of 2.3% from the previous year, now standing at £296.6 million, while operating profit sank 6.1%, at £154.1 million, according to its unaudited financial results for the year.
Linklaters Becomes Latest Magic Circle Firm to Suffer PEP and Profits Dip
Like its rivals, the firm’s revenue increased but profits fell after ‘material exceptional costs’, which the firm attributed to the closure of its Moscow office.
Technology & Innovation:
Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT: Friend, Foe, or Both
Although ESI is still important, generative artificial intelligence (AI), especially ChatGPT, has taken the world by storm.
Everlaw Brings Generative AI to Its Storybuilder, Document Review Offerings
Everlaw’s new AI Assistant, which uses OpenAI’s API, leveraging the GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models, is for now only available to a select number of customers in beta, with plans to release to the broader market in upcoming months.
UnitedLex Launches New Innovation Lab, With $10M in Support
The new lab will act as a legal technology testing ground, incubator and development space.
UpLevel Ops Launches Generative AI Management Services for Legal Departments
Generative Artificial Intelligence Management Services includes multiple offerings, from education and training to road mapping, with the aim of helping in-house teams plan and account for generative AI in their tech stacks.
Addleshaw Goddard Presses Ahead on Generative AI With Several Pilot Schemes
Meanwhile, Clyde & Co is working with artificial intelligence firm Luminance to create an AI-powered claims handling system.
Big Law Is Leaning Into AI for Bias-Free Hiring and Retention
Firms that started experimenting with AI-powered assessment platforms as early as 2019 are leaning more heavily on the technology or looking to use it to solve more nuanced challenges, such as the type of advancement opportunities that young lawyers receive.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Slaughter and May Becomes First Top UK Law Firm to Set Social Mobility Targets
The famously blue-blooded institution is broadening the universities it works with, offering apprenticeships and starting a financial bursary scheme to help achieve its aims.
Market Commentary:
ESG Drives Environmental Practice Growth, Day Pitney Lawyers Say
Initiatives launched by Connecticut and New Jersey’s respective regulatory agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been keeping firms’ environmental practices buzzing, according to Day Pitney’s environmental leaders.
The Evolving Role of Big Law Leadership
“We will see far fewer major law firm leaders have extended terms. The burnout risk is too great and the pressures too significant,” noted Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp.
Many Companies Giving Lip Service to Environmental, Societal Goals
“Sustainability is typically treated by most managers as someone else’s problem and relegated to a department or even a single individual,” a new report published in the MIT Sloan Management Review found.
Merger Mania: Why Do Law Firms Want to Fall in Love?
Merger mania has seized the law firm world. But like marriage, mergers are complicated. So why are so many law firms looking for a partner?
The Law Firm Disrupted: The Recession May Not Happen. Who’s Ready?
Are layoffs still necessary? Maybe this is the point for law firms that have been coping with flabby demand for months to conclude that they can absorb it just for a little while longer.
An Inflection Point? Big Law’s Path to Office Mandates
Within a year, how did the legal industry change its posture on office mandates? It was less of a tipping point and more of a ratchet effect, analysts say.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Goodwin Continues London Private Equity Expansion with McDermott Lateral
Arvin Abraham joins Goodwin having spent nearly three years as a partner at McDermott, where he held the roles of co-chair of the fintech and blockchain practice and was a member of the firm’s global venture capital steering committee.
DLA Piper Global Investigations and Compliance Head Joins Rival in London
Patrick Rappo is well known in the sector and had even been touted as a contender for the director role at the Serious Fraud Office.
EMEA
Wolf Theiss Hires 27 Lawyers From Polish Firm
The CEE firm hailed the move as a major step for the firm’s target market in Poland as well as the wider region.
Baker McKenzie, Baker Botts Continue Middle East Expansion with Laterals
International law firms continue to steadily expand their presence in one of the commercial world’s fastest-growing regions. Abdulaziz Alajlan & Partners in association with Baker & McKenzie has hired a new regulatory partner based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Perez-Llorca Hires from Clifford Chance in Madrid
Spanish law firm Pérez-Llorca has brought on long-time Clifford Chance partner Yolanda Azanza to join its capital markets practice in Madrid. The appointment is part of Pérez-Llorca’s ‘Women in Corporate’ program, designed to increase the number of female partners in the corporate law practice.
APAC
Gilbert + Tobin Partner Karen Evans-Cullen to Stand In as PwC Australia General Counsel
Evans-Cullen’s move to PWC marks a return to the Big Four accounting firm two years after she left, saying the firm was unable to attract big deals from major clients.
Watson Farley Adds Former Pinsent Masons Disputes Partner in Singapore
Watson Farley & Williams has boosted its dispute resolution practice in Asia with the hire of construction and engineering disputes lawyer Boon Tat Yeo as a partner in Singapore. The hire comes about three months after the UK firm added Clifford Chance’s international arbitration counsel Nathan Eastwood as a partner in Sydney.
The Americas
Shook Hardy Hires Morrison & Foerster Trial Lawyer in San Francisco
Jessica Grant was drawn to the firm after working with its lawyers on five cases, and represents Phillip Morris, U.S. Bank and Snap Inc., among others.
Alston Lawyer Moves to Akerman
After four years at Alston & Bird, Carlos Encinas has moved his economic development-focused practice to Akerman, working in its Atlanta and Chicago offices.
Womble Bond Dickinson Lands 2nd California Boutique in July
Three partners from Gordinier Kang & Kim have joined Womble Bond, adding a core transactional practice and expanding on litigation services the firm offers in the Golden State.
Littler Mendelson Expands in Miami as Clients Seek Help Navigating Local Politics
“What is unique [in Florida] is that we do happen to have an extremely active state legislature. We have an extremely active gubernatorial administration so that, I daresay, is keeping employers on their toes,” said Littler Mendelson Miami office managing shareholder Lori Brown.
Lewis Brisbois Spinoff Sees 20-Attorney Departure to O’Hagan Meyer
The departures come after Daugherty Lordan lost its Pittsburgh office’s five-attorney labor and employment group to national firm Freeman Mathis & Gary earlier in the month.
Greenberg Traurig Trial Lawyer, Firm Leader, Jumps to King & Spalding in Houston
Greenberg Traurig trial partner and senior vice president Mary-Olga Lovett has moved to King & Spalding in Houston because of the firm’s litigation focus.
Pashman Stein Adds Delaware Partner
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden announced that William R. Firth III has joined the firm as partner in the litigation and bankruptcy, restructuring and creditors’ rights practices as of June 30.
Lewis Brisbois Trial Team Moves to Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Dallas
Christopher White, the head of the Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith office in Dallas, was attracted to Steptoe & Johnson’s growth in Texas, particularly in the trial practice.
Big Law Partner Recruiting Picks Up Steam in DC
Paul Hastings, Baker Botts, Cleary Gottlieb, Wilkie, Proskauer, Boies Schiller, Mintz, and Barclay Damon all announced additions in their Washington, D.C., offices this week.
Wilson Sonsini Hires Former bioMérieux GC as In-House Leaders Navigate Budget Constraints
Meredith Krannich, the former general counsel at bioMérieux, joined the firm’s Executive Advisory Program in its Salt Lake City office.
In-House
GC-in-Waiting Takes Legal Reins at Northrop Grumman, Achieving Career Goal
Kathryn Gilchrist Simpson, who a decade ago said she aspired to be a defense-industry legal chief, is getting that opportunity at Northrop Grumman with the retirement of her boss, Sheila Cheston.
Outside GC for Rib Chain Tony Roma’s Jumps Into CEO Seat
“I am excited to bring a fresh perspective from outside the food industry to Romacorp,” Mohaimina Haque said.
AG Jennings’ Chief of Staff Joins Potter Anderson as Assistant GC, Risk Management Director
AJ Roop said he made the move to Potter Anderson to expand the scope of his legal work and is excited to work for a firm with a local and global reputation.
VantageScore Snags Former Visa Counsel for GC Role
Kimberly Schmid is taking the legal reins of a fintech whose rapid growth is shaking up the credit bureau industry.
GoHealth Legal Chief Jumps to Growth-Minded Provider of Mental Health Care
Brian Farley is taking the legal reins at Acadia Healthcare, which bills itself as the nation’s largest stand-alone behavioral health provider with 23,000 employees and 250 facilities.
Owner of Gigantic Tract of California Land Rehires Former GC
Tejon Ranch, which abruptly parted ways with its last legal chief last month, has rehired Michael Houston, snagging him from the nation’s largest municipal planning agency.
Promotions & Appointments:
Continuing Growth Ambitions, Crowell Names New C-Suite Leader in New York
Joseph Palermo, arriving from Lowenstein, is based in New York, as the D.C.-based firm seeks to grow its presence in the Big Apple. “The firm wants to continue to grow” in the market, he said.
Husch Adds Business-First CEO From Baker McKenzie
With Jamie Lawless as Husch Blackwell CEO, women will hold the top two positions at the firm.
Mergers & Alliances:
A&O, Shearman Leaders Embark on Merger Roadshow Ahead of October Vote
The two firms expect to implement a joint compensation system with no maximum cap on remuneration.
Office Openings & Closing:
Expansive Chinese Law Firm to Launch Office in Paris
Global 200 law firm Jingsh Law Offices has two other offices in Western Europe—one in London and the other in Düsseldorf. It also has offices in North America, Southeast Asia and Africa.
Closing of Two Law Firms Highlights Succession Planning Concerns
Attorneys, from junior associates to other firm partners, need to create backup plans well in advance of a rainmaker or founding partner retiring, experts say.
Philadelphia Law Firm Closes, Leading Partners to Jump to Larger Practice
Three lawyers are moving to Semanoff Ormsby after the closing of their prior firm, Dolchin Slotkin & Todd, which shuttered after a firm founder retired.
A Hoteling Success Story? A Look Inside Farella’s New San Francisco Office
The firm has doubled its office attendance from the same period a year ago without any mandated policies, according to a partner who helped steer the move.
Financials:
UK Law Firm Revenues are Up But Profits are Down. Why?
A look at the reasons why this phenomenon is occurring in the early financial results suggests a rapidly rising challenge in balancing the books, The London Lawyer argues.
US Firm Strength Showcased in Inaugural UK Revenue Rankings
Law.com International launches the first ever ranking of the top 30 law firms in London, irrespective of where they are headquartered.
Simmons & Simmons Posts Double-Digit Growth as PEP Flatlines
The firm’s managing partner Jeremy Hoyland discussed the firm’s China focus and emphasised the importance of local U.S. firm relationships in maintaining its stateside business.
Why Are UK Law Firm Revenues Are Up While Profits Are Down?
A look at the reasons why this phenomenon is occurring in the early financial results suggests a rapidly rising challenge in balancing the books, The London Lawyer argues.
Allen & Overy Managing Partner Exits Ahead of Merger, as Revenue Surpasses £2 Billion
Gareth Price has stepped down ‘for personal reasons,’ the firm announced in its financial results, as the firm prepares to vote on its highly anticipated merger with Shearman & Sterling later this summer.
Technology & Innovation:
Many UK Legal Professionals Expect Generative AI to Change Nature of Client Relationships
The “Generative AI and the future of the legal profession” survey from LexisNexis found that in-house teams and large law firms in the U.K. are among the early adopters of generative AI tools.
AI Craves Content, and Thought Leaders Provide It
A discussion of the evolution of AI in the legal space and how AI-generated content is based on thought-leadership pieces.
Mastering AI Supervision: A Teachable Skill for Modern Lawyers
Whether you are a seasoned lawyer or a recent law graduate, this guide will arm you with the knowledge and practical strategies you need to adapt to the rapidly evolving AI landscape and champion responsible AI implementation.
Diversity & Inclusion:
The UK’s Top Law Firms for Racial Diversity, 2023
US law firms continue to outperform UK rivals, with the Law Society’s president pointing to a trend of minority lawyers quitting larger law firms due to a lack of progress.
Linklaters, Cleary Gottlieb Guide First Sustainable Bond With Gender Goals
As part of the deal, Chile has pledged to convince publicly traded companies to appoint women to at least 40% of their board seats by the end of 2031. It has also committed to getting its annual greenhouse gas emissions below certain targets by the end of 2030.
Women Taking More Partner Positions in Australian Firms, But Still Lag Men
35% of partner or principal positions held by women in Australia’s largest state.
Market Commentary:
A&O, Shearman Leaders Embark on Merger Roadshow Ahead of October Vote
The two firms expect to implement a joint compensation system with no maximum cap on remuneration.
Weil Gotshal to Require Four Days of Office Attendance
Weil is the third Am Law 50 New York law firm to require four days of attendance per week, following moves by Skadden and Davis Polk.
Extravagance in Asia: In Choosing Asia Over the US, What Is Mishcon’s Game Plan?
“Economic hegemony” is shifting toward Asia, says Mishcon executive chair Kevin Gold.
PwC Global Legal Head to Leave in Near Future, New Australian Leader Says
Australian general counsel Meredith Beatty also to leave. Global head of PwC’s legal services arm Tony O’Malley and the Big Four accounting firm’s Australian general counsel Meredith Beattie will shortly leave the firm.
King & Spalding, Alston and Troutman Move Up in M&A Legal Adviser Rankings
Justin Howard, co-leader of Alston & Bird’s M&A group, said the firm’s corporate practice remains active because it works with clients across a wide range of industries.
Anxiety-Inducing Reviews May Hinder Law Firms’ Training Efforts
With less work to go around, a lack of formal training, and a bad rep around performance reviews, firms are still navigating significant challenges around training.
Aggressive Billing Rate Hikes and Boosting Leverage Will Help ‘Static’ Law Firms
Positioning a law firm as a lower-cost alternative doesn’t appear to be bearing fruit for so-called static law firms, according to a new report.
For Staff in Big Law, Supporting Too Many Lawyers Can Be ‘Quickest Route to Burnout’
As lateral mobility has increased, law firms have placed additional pressures on business professionals, from human resources, marketing and those tasked with checking conflicts.
Law Firms’ Return to Office May Be Pushing Some Legal Tech Vendors to Follow Suit
Law firms are increasingly asking to meet their legal tech vendors in-person, precipitating a push to in-person work within legal technology companies—but only to an extent.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Gibson Dunn Hires Two Shearman Projects Partners in London
The moves are the latest in a line of Shearman partner exits across the UK, Europe and Middle East over the last nine months, as it seeks to merge with Allen & Overy. Ben Shorten and Trinh Chubbock both join the firm from Shearman & Sterling, where Shorten spent 23 years as a partner in the firm’s project development and finance group, most recently leading the group.
Slaughter and May Hires Human Rights Lead from Vodafone
The appointment is expected to advise clients on implementing human rights and ESG programmes.
Proskauer London Leveraged Finance Partner Walks to Eversheds
Eversheds replenishes its ranks after it lost a partner from its leverage finance practice earlier in the year. Ben Davis joins Eversheds after seven years in Proskauer’s corporate and multi-tranche finance groups.
Goodwin Continues London Private Equity Expansion with McDermott Lateral
The latest hire for the firm, which is proving hawkish on the London hiring scene having taken partners from key rivals, was the co-chair of the fintech and blockchain practice. Arvin Abraham joins Goodwin having spent nearly three years as a partner at McDermott.
DLA Piper Global Investigations and Compliance Head Joins Rival in London
Patrick Rappo is well known in the sector and had even been touted as a contender for the director role at the Serious Fraud Office.
EMEA
Portugal’s CS’Associados Adds Competition Head from Morais Leitão
The newcomer replaces Margarida Rosado da Fonseca, who left the firm at the end of February.
Goodwin Builds Out Tech and Life Sciences Practice in Paris With Team Hire From Bird & Bird
The three-lawyer, partner-led team specializes in M&A, venture capital and private equity, adding to Goodwin’s capabilities in a key practice area for the firm.
Taylor Wessing Hires in to Launch Dubai IP Practice
The firm, which is in expansive mood, plans to grow to 25 lawyers in Dubai.
Pair of International Firms Expand Middle East Practices
Baker McKenzie and Baker Botts are building in the region.
White & Case Lures Senior Ex-HSF Madrid M&A Duo
Oliver Brettle, a member of the firm’s global executive committee, said in the firm is investing in its Madrid office “strategically and carefully”.
APAC
Australia’s JWS Hires Disputes and Insolvency Partner from Jones Day
Australian law firm Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) has hired Jones Day arbitration partner Lucas Wilk as the firm sees an increase in disputes and insolvency work.
Allen & Gledhill Disputes Team Breaks Away to Form Singapore Boutique
In Singapore, dispute resolution lawyers have increasingly been drawn to leave established law firms to set up or lead new ventures.
Haiwen & Partners Takes Greater China Partner Trio from HSF
All three lawyers have spent more than a decade at Herbert Smith Freehills. Tom Chau, most recently Herbert Smith Freehills’ Beijing managing partner, is joining Haiwen with two other of Herbert Smith Freehills’ capital markets partners, Zhong Wang and Isaac Chen. All three lawyers will be dually-based in Haiwen’s Hong Kong and Beijing offices.
HSF Hires Tax Advisory Partner from Deloitte
Prior to joining Deloitte in 2014, James Pettigrew spent over 20 years at Greenwoods, Herbert Smith Freehills’ former affiliate tax advisory firm.
The Americas
Taking ‘Long-Term View,’ Paul Hastings Adds 2 Capital Markets Partners From Goodwin
Seo Salimi, a capital markets partner who focuses on early-stage life sciences companies, will co-head Paul Hastings’ equity capital markets practice and co-chair its corporate life sciences practice. Salimi will be based in the firm’s New York office.
Assistant Counsel to New York Governor Returns to Private Practice With Anderson Kill
Paul W. Ryan’s experience in government also includes a run with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he served as senior counsel from 2003-10.
Stroock Sees Partner Exits Amid Protracted Merger Talks
The chair of Stroock’s litigation practice and the leader of its LA office are planning to leave for Steptoe & Johnson, while a real estate partner has landed at Jones Day.
Antheil Maslow, Cipriani & Werner
Antheil Maslow & MacMinn announced that Jocelin A. Price has joined as a partner in the firm’s estates and trusts practice group.
Akin Recaptures Allen & Overy Energy Transition Tax Lawyer
Allen & Overy tax counsel Sam Guthrie has returned to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a partner in Washington, D.C., to focus on projects and energy transition matters.
O’Melveny Lands Shearman Real Estate Finance Leader
Malcolm Montgomery returned to O’Melveny & Myers after 22 years at Shearman & Sterling, where he led the firm’s global real estate practice and co-led REIT and hospitality practices.
Dentons Continues to Strengthen Network in Central America as Demand in Region Grows
Central America is a region often overlooked by international law firms and the focus on smaller economies such as Costa Rica is paying dividends as international investors explore more corners of the world.
Proskauer Rose Hedge Fund Duo Moves to Dechert
Robert Leonard and Michael Mavrides specialize in advising asset managers in the sourcing and use of “alternative” data.
Cuatrecasas Adds Natural Resources and Labor Partners in Peru
The new partners will lead two hot practice areas in the copper-rich country. Global demand for copper has increased with the growth of electric vehicles.
Gibson Dunn Poaches Cleary Gottlieb Real Estate Finance Partner in New York
Michael Weinberger arrived at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s New York office this month after 31 years at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
In-House
Rising HR Platform Bambee Hires Poshmark GC as First Legal Chief
Bambee CEO Allan Jones said newly hired legal chief Evan Ferl, in addition to having deep legal and business skills, brings energy and creativity. “We enjoy operating leaders who bring a sense of joy to their work,” Jones said.
Binance GC Exits as Regulators Up Scrutiny of Crypto Exchange
Hon Ng, who was a senior Uber attorney before joining Binance in 2020, is stepping aside at Binance amid a Department of Justice investigation of the company.
Promotions & Appointments:
Eckert Seamans Elevates Del. Attorney to Member
National law firm Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott has promoted three associates to member (partner), effective July 1, including Jessica L. Reno, based in the firm’s Wilmington office.
Richards, Layton & Finger Elects New Firm Directors
Richards, Layton & Finger announced that it has elected attorneys Robert Greco, Antonios Roustopoulos and Brendan Schlauch as directors of the firm, effective July 1.
K&L Gates Appoints Jason Opperman to Lead Australian Offices
Nick Nichola, who has led the firm’s Australian practice for over 18 years, will remain a partner at K&L Gates.
Skadden Elevates Richard Youle to London Head
Incumbent Pranav Trivedi spent 10 years as London head.
Lisa Mayhew to Step Down as Co-Chair of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Mayhew, who architected Berwin Leighton Paisner’s 2018 merger with Bryan Cave, will finish her second leadership term at the end of the year.
Borden Ladner Gervais Appoints New Office Managing Partners in Toronto and Montreal
Both Cindy Clarke and Vincent Frenette have careers spanning more than 25 years.
PwC Global Legal Head to Leave in Near Future, New Australian Leader Says
Australian general counsel Meredith Beatty also to leave.
Mergers & Alliances:
Atlanta’s Smith Currie Sees Competitive Advantage After Merger
The merger will create one of the top construction law and government contract-oriented firms in the U.S., a firm leader said.
Law Firm Mergers May Accelerate in Second Half of 2023
The timeframe for completing a merger is lengthening, and the likelihood of a roadblock is greater, but “given the level of activity,” Fairfaix analysts anticipate an acceleration in completed deals.
UK Top 50 Firm Snaps Up IP Outfit
The IP firm has offices in Germany, France and Belgium, as well as its London base.
‘The Easiest Part of the Whole Deal’: A Merger Between A&O and Shearman in Europe
As shown in the map and charts compiled by Law.com International below, A&O’s footprint in Europe far outweighs Shearman’s, both in number of offices and lawyer head count.
Stroock and Nixon Peabody Call Off Merger; Stroock Pursuing Other Combo Candidates
Leaders at Stroock had been hoping to hammer out a deal by the end of June, people familiar with the talks said.
Office Openings & Closing:
Morgan Lewis to Launch Fourth Greater China Office in Shenzhen
The firm’s new office will be led by partner Shaobin Zhu, who is also its China IP practice head. He will be based in Shenzhen full time.
Scottish Legal Scene Fizzes with an Office Launch and its First £100M Law Firm
Though overall growth is slowing in line with other parts of the UK, Scotland is nevertheless attracting interest with a UK top 50 firm planting its flag in Glasgow.
Trowers & Hamlins Prepares Singapore Office Launch
The application for the FLP license will go hand-in-hand with a proposed collaboration with domestic Singapore firm Braddell Brothers, a two-partner practice that focuses on dispute resolution.
Former Clifford Chance, K&L Gates Lawyers Launch Own Practice in Tokyo
Aquaxis currently has five partners, including former Clifford Chance and K&L Gates lawyers, Atsushi Yamashita, Naoki Watanabe and Ayuko Nemoto.
Financials:
PEP Drops 13% at Osborne Clarke
The firm’s international CEO said more consolidation in the industry was ‘inevitable’ given difficult market conditions.
Miller Thomson’s Chair Eyes Continuing Growth at Canada’s Largest Midsize Law Firm
With 10 offices across Canada, the Global 200 law firm Miller Thomson is building up the firm’s bench strength at a time when the midmarket in Canada’s legal industry is particularly active and several U.S. firms have moved in. Managing partner Peter Auvinen discusses the firm’s challenges and achievements.
Eversheds Maintains Revenue Growth Against Difficult Backdrop
CEO Lee Ranson described the results as “pleasing” in the face of “volatility” across the market.
HFW Posts Double-Digit Growth Alongside PEP, Profit Rises
The firm’s leaders have attributed the strong set of financial results to a refreshed firm strategy.
More Firms Up NQ Salaries Despite Easing Pay War
Though steady increases are being made by several large law firms, there is little indication that the pay war will return this year.
Slaughters and Linklaters Slide Down H1 UK M&A Rankings Amid Dismal Market
The Refinitiv data showed a dramatic 49% decrease in the value of European M&A, marking a 10-year low.
Taylor Wessing Scraps Profit Share Bonus Scheme After UK Profits Fall
The firm offered the bonus to everyone at the firm, excluding partners, in the previous two financial years.
Technology & Innovation:
Competitive Necessity, Job Disrupter: Legal Professionals Predict Major Generative AI Impact
A new survey from Wolters Kluwer and Above the Law found that legal professionals across the industry see generative AI as both essential and, for many, unwelcome.
Making Room for Generative AI in Legal Workflows
Is there room for generative AI in legal workflows? The answer is “yes,” but finding the right way to apply this technology requires a thoughtful approach based on an understanding of both its strengths as well as its limitations.
Aderant Launches AI Chatbot, Latham & Watkins’ Web3 Venture, and More
An update on the legal tech market’s past few weeks, from product launches to new partnerships.
Generative AI Is Bringing Waves of Funding to Legal Tech. Can It Last?
While legal technology investments have slowed in recent months, generative AI advancements have caught the attention of investors who may have once overlooked the legal tech market.
Ethical and Thoughtful Use of AI in the Legal Industry
Artificial intelligence won’t replace lawyers, but lawyers who don’t learn how to responsibly leverage the power of AI will be replaced by those who do.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Women Taking More Partner Positions in Australian Firms, But Still Lag Men
35% of partner or principal positions held by women in Australia’s largest state.
Market Commentary
ESG’s Renewed Focus is All Around Risk
Companies are already facing regulatory requirements related to the environmental and governance aspects of ESG, and more are on the way.
Law Firms in Indonesia Pivot to Stave Off Tech Venture Capital Slump
Health care, life sciences, nickel mining and telecommunications are sectors that lawyers are focusing on now.
Latham Leads Legal Adviser Tables, as Worldwide M&A Hits Lowest Point in 3 Years
Latham and Kirkland were top ranked while several Wall Street law firms picked up market share and rose up the league tables released by Refinitiv.
As Law Firm Mergers Get More Complex, Fewer Are Crossing Borders
There are fewer cross-border unions materializing lately, despite “an awful lot” of interest among U.K. firms in the U.S. market.
The Way Big Law Reacts to Economic Cycles Is Unrealistic, Unhealthy and Inhumane
The problem isn’t that economies are cyclical, that’s a fact of life. The problem here is that Big Law can sometimes have unrealistic reactions to both upturns and downturns. If this happens, it’s not in the interests of their own attorneys or their clients. It’s inhumane and unhealthy.
GCs Keep Cutting Outside Counsel Panels, as Law Firms See Heightened Competition
The pandemic may have accelerated the trend of companies winnowing down their lists of preferred providers.
California’s Largest Law Firms Continued to Expand in 2022
Most California law firms saw head count growth in 2022, while more than a dozen new offices among the nation’s largest firms launched in the state.
‘Seismic Shift’: Top Brass Increasingly Craft ESG Strategy, Taking Reins From Legal Departments
Even so, legal departments must remain integrally involved, as rising regulation and increasing anti-ESG sentiment make the subject a legal and reputational minefield, according to a new report.
Just How Much Do ALSPs Threaten Traditional Law Firms in Asia?
Alternative Legal Service Providers say the sector has grown considerably in the past few years. That could be bad news for traditional private practices—a sign that the market has changed and the attitude towards traditional law firm models and what they have to offer has evolved.
Luxembourg Opens its Doors to UK Qualified Lawyers
Its tax friendly status has seen the small nation rake in huge direct investment and around €5 trillion in assets under management, making it the second-largest investment fund centre after the US.
Big Law Firms Continue Downsizing Office Spaces Amid Hybird Work Arrangements
Crowell & Moring, Katten and Kilpatrick have all made plans to downsize their office spaces in D.C., according to real estate reports.
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