Moves:
UK & Ireland
Herbert Smith Freehills Builds in Real Estate with Ashurst Practice Head
Herbert Smith Freehills has added to its London real estate practice with the hire of partner Matthew Bool, who will join the firm’s non-contentious construction team.
Withers Swoops For Fieldfisher Real Estate Partner
Law firm Withers has strengthened its London real estate offering with the hire of a Fieldfisher partner. Real estate disputes partner Owen Talfan Davies, who has been at Fieldfisher for almost a decade according to reports, is joining Withers, according to an announcement from the firm.
EMEA
Pinsent Masons Hits Bird & Bird for 8-Strong Madrid Energy Team
Pinsent Masons has brought on a team of eight lawyers from rival Bird & Bird to bolster its energy practice in Madrid.
APAC
NRF Australian Life Sciences Head and Team Defect
Partner Toby Biddle leaves after 13 years with Norton Rose Fulbright, taking a team of five.
Sullivan & Cromwell Is a Quiet Force in Australia
The firm recently brought in a partner from London who specializes in private equity markets — a strategic move as more capital is being raised today through private equity and private credit funds than in public markets.
Morrison & Foerster Adds Private Equity Partner in China From Kirkland & Ellis
Zhao is the third private equity partner to join Morrison & Foerster in Asia this quarter, following the additions of Steven Tran and Tabitha Saw in Singapore.
Norton Rose Fulbright Hires Australian M&A Lawyer From PwC
Tuanh Nguyen also advises on diversity and inclusion.
K&L Gates Appoints New South Korea Managing Partner
Tyler Hong-Shik Won, a partner in the intellectual property, international trade and antitrust practice groups, succeeds M&A partner Eric Yoon, who has served as the South Korea office head since the firm opened its office in Seoul in 2012.
The Americas
Goodwin Chair Robert Insolia Stepping Down
Anthony McCusker takes over at a time of transition.
In Competitive Hiring Market, Baker Botts Hires First-Ever Chief Recruiting Officer
Baker Botts has expanded its C-suite ranks by hiring a veteran recruiter, Dani Barnard, as its first-ever chief recruiting officer amid a highly competitive market for laterals in private equity, litigation, antitrust, energy and technology.
Barnes & Thornburg Hires Wilmington Partner
Barnes & Thornburg announced that it has added Wali W. Rushdan II as a partner in the firm’s Wilmington office.
‘Come as You Are’: Orrick Attracts 3 Women Partners to Counsel Tech Clients
Relativity Space GC Laura Lariu joined the firm on Monday, following the arrival of former MasterClass associate GC Nikita Shah and Fenwick & West corporate lawyer Alexandra Wood.
In-House
IHeartMedia Hires Amazon Dealmaker to Be Chief Entertainment Counsel
Jon Kurland—who once said, “Audio is film in 1910″—will help the company continue to expand its reach beyond its massive collection of radio stations.
Legal Chief Departs Beer Giant Molson Coors
Anne-Marie D’Angelo will work with the company on a consulting basis as it searches for her successor.
Promotions & Appointments:
Skadden Ups Partner Promotions to 24, But Gender Split Drops
Outside of the U.S., the firm’s London and Beijing office will gain new partners.
Pinsent Masons Promotes 25 to Partner
Of the 25 promotions this year, 14 are in the U.K., six are across the EMEA region, while five lawyers have been promoted in Asia Pacific.
Mccarter & English Announced the Election Of Seven New Partners
McCarter & English announced the election of seven new partners, including Alison Morrissey in the firm’s Philadelphia office.
Mergers & Alliances:
Wachtell, Goodwin Lead Q1 League Tables as Global M&A Tumbles 44%
Two law firms that were in the top five last year saw drops out of the top 10 in early 2023.
Sullivan Cromwell, Freshfields Top M&A Rankings Amid Market Slump
Top M&A partners explain the downturn, and how firms can protect against continued market turmoil.
Office Openings & Closing:
Dentons Picks Next London Home Amid Race for Top Real Estate
The law firm is heading towards Liverpool Street for its next London home.
Financials:
In ‘Year of Investment,’ Akin Gump’s Revenue Up, but Profits Per Partner Drop 16%
Internationally, the firm closed its Moscow and Frankfurt offices in 2022. And while London revenue was down, Akin’s Middle East offices put in a “very strong performance,” said firm chair Kim Koopersmith. Akin also anticipates that conflicts with Russia and China will fuel trade and sanctions work in the year ahead, and global transactions, private equity and energy transition work are already on the rise.
Gaining Market Share, Paul Hastings Grows 6% in Revenue
The firm’s average PEP rose 4%, surpassing those of several elite New York law firms. The Hong Kong office has had a strong year, despite the capital markets, firm chair Frank Lopez said.
Strong Deals Led Atlanta’s Troutman Pepper to Another Year of Revenue Gains
Troutman saw a 2.8% increase in net income spread across an equity partner pool that shrunk 8.5%, allowing profits per equity partner to soar 12.4% to $1.55 million, as the firm de-equitized some of its partnership.
Fenwick, With New Client Capabilities, Grew Revenue Nearly 4% as Profits Inched Down
Revenue grew to $750.4 million, thanks to new regulatory capabilities and intellectual property growth, while profits fell 1.4% at Fenwick in 2022.
Technology & Innovation:
Ahead of the Curve: What Happens When ChatGPT Gets It Wrong?
This week, we’re exploring one law dean’s experiment with using ChatGPT to obtain biographical information.
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.
Market Commentary:
Elite UK Firms Play Catch Up Following Years Of US Hiring Dominance, Research Finds
An analysis of London partner hires in 2022 has found top UK firms are bouncing back, but they have a long way to go to make up for the losses of the last few years.
The End of Kirkland’s Meteoric Rise?
It’ll take a sea change to knock Kirkland off the top spot. One may be on the horizon, argues The Global Lawyer.
The slide by a Paul Hastings associate demonstrates how tone, culture and expectations can be set throughout the law firm—not just by those sitting in the executive ranks.
Elite UK Firms Play Catch Up Following Years Of US Hiring Dominance, Research Finds
An analysis of London partner hires in 2022 has found top UK firms are bouncing back, but they have a long way to go to make up for the losses of the last few years.
Sullivan & Cromwell Is a Quiet Force in Australia
The firm recently brought in a partner from London who specializes in private equity markets — a strategic move as more capital is being raised today through private equity and private credit funds than in public markets.
Kirkland, Building on $6B in Revenue, Grew Almost 8% in Down Market
The firm rapidly grew in lawyer head count, rising 13% last year. Its associate population shot up 14.5%.
