Welcome to this week’s update, where we bring you the latest moves, promotions, and strategic appointments shaping the legal industry.
Partner Moves
Individual
UK & Ireland
MoFo lands tech trio from Bakers and Morgan Lewis
Partners, Mike Pierides and Will Holder, join Morrison Foerster’s London Technology Transactions group. Pierides joins from Morgan Lewis and brings Associate Oliver Bell with him. Holder joins from Baker McKenzie.
Greenberg Traurig boosts London Corporate bench with Baker McKenzie Partner
Greenberg Traurig has expanded its London Corporate practice with the hire of Partner Robert Gray from Baker McKenzie.
McDermott hires HSF Kramer Energy Co-Head in London
McDermott has poached HSF Kramer’s Co-Head of Global Energy practice Lewis McDonald, who will join the firm in October.
King & Spalding ramps up City recruitment with second hire this week
Competition Partner Jade Alexandra Fearns is joining King & Spalding’s London office from Paul Hastings. King & Spalding also hired Private Equity Real Estate partner Raymond Fang from Goodwin.
Arnold & Porter hires ex-Willkie competition litigator
Nicola Chesaites joins Arnold & Porter’s London office, having departed Willkie in July.
Gibney Hogan LLP welcomes Sarah Bruen
Gibney Hogan LLP has announced that Sarah Bruen has joined the firm as a Partner, leading the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice in Dublin. Sarah joins from Flynn O’Driscoll.
Holmes appoints David Curran as Partner
Holmes has announced the appointment of David Curran as Partner in the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Insurance unit. David joins from Flynn O’Driscoll and is based in Dublin.
Norton Rose Fulbright continues to expand Insurance Disputes team with Senior Partner hire
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright is pleased to announce that Mandip Singh Sagoo has joined the firm as an Insurance Disputes Partner in London. Mandip joins from Clyde & Co.
Eversheds Sutherland grows Corporate Financial Services practice with Partner hire Chrissy Findlay
Eversheds Sutherland has expanded its Corporate Financial Services and M&A practice with the appointment of Chrissy Findlay as a Partner in its London office. Chrissy joins from Pinsent Masons.
International Arbitration Partner Philipp Kurek Joins Haynes Boone in London
Haynes Boone has announced that it has welcomed Partner Philipp Kurek to its London office. Kurek joins from Signature Litigation.
Europe
RSM Ebner Stolz strengthens Restructuring practice with Dr. Marc Oberhardt
RSM Ebner Stolz is further expanding its Restructuring and Insolvency law practice in the legal field and has gained Dr. Marc Oberhardt, a renowned Restructuring lawyer, as a new Partner. Dr. Marc Oberhardt moved from McDermott Will & Schulte to RSM Ebner Stolz on May 1, 2026 and will advise clients in crisis situations from the Düsseldorf office in the future.
Wijn & Stael gains new Corporate & Commercial Litigation Partner
Bart-Adriaan de Ruijter joins Wijn & Stael from CMS. Bart-Adriaan is based in Amsterdam.
Middle East
Norton Rose Fulbright expands Middle East and Africa Energy offering with new Partner hire
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has strengthened its Middle East and Africa Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources offering with the appointment of Remy Lerner, who will join the firm’s Dubai office following a short transitional period in Paris. Remy joins from Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle.
Bird & Bird boosts team in Riyadh with new Partner hire
Bird & Bird has strengthened its Media, Entertainment & Sports (MES) team with the appointment of Commercial Partner Bandar Al Hamidani in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bandar joins from Al Tamimi & Co.
Team
DAC Beachcroft launches in Dubai with Clyde & Co Partner trio
The office will open with Michael Morris (Litigation), Michael Ducker (Healthcare & Insurance) and Mark Beswetherick (Arbitration & Litigation), who will join from Clydes.
Dentons adds seven-lawyer disputes team from PwC Legal in Germany
The group, which joined the firm’s Berlin office at the start of May, is led by Disputes Partners Roman Dörfler and Martin Beckmann alongside a Counsel, two Senior Associates and an Associate.
Addleshaws hires five-strong team in Poland
Addleshaw Goddard’s Warsaw office has established a public procurement and construction practice, with the hire of five lawyers from local firm Domański Zakrzewski Palinka (DZP). The quintet includes Partners Katarzyna Kuźma (Investment Projects) and Tomasz Michalczyk (Public Procurement and PPP Projects).
McDermott raids Italian firm for 12-strong team
McDermott Will & Schulte has hired a team of five Partners and seven lawyers in Milan, marking the latest step in its investment in Italy. The team is set to join from domestic firm Gitti and Partners, led by its Managing Partner Vincenzo Giannantonio, who joins as Co-Managing Partner of McDermott’s Milan office, and brings a particular focus on private equity and growth capital investments. Alongside him, four Partners will also join. They are Giacomo Pansolli and Domenico Patruno, who both bring a focus on Transactions, as well as Elisa Mapelli in Employment and Marco Blei in Intellectual Property, Life Sciences and Technology.
In-House
Pinsents Partner moves back in-house after two years
Pinsent Masons Partner Peter McCusker has moved back in-house, taking up a new legal job at financial services group People’s Partnership. Peter is based in London.
Promotions & Appointments
RPC elevates 10 to partner in one of its largest promotion rounds on record
RPC has promoted 10 lawyers to Partner and four to Of Counsel in its latest promotions round, one of its largest on record.
DLA Piper makes up 62 Partners
DLA Piper has promoted 62 of its lawyers to its partnership, a slight dip from the 65 made up in 2025.
WFW promotes seven to partnership
Watson Farley & Williams has promoted seven lawyers to the firm’s partnership for 2026.
Brodies appoints six Partners and new CFO
Brodies LLP has announced the appointment of six new Partners following its latest round of promotions as well as the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer.
Stephenson Harwood Partner takes on firm’s top innovation role
Stephenson Harwood has appointed one of its Finance Partners as its new Innovation Chief.
Charlotte Drake, who is currently a Partner in Stephenson Harwood’s Finance practice, will become the firm’s Global Head of AI and Digital Transformation on June 1. She is based in London.
Dillon Eustace LLP appoints Richard Lacken as Head of Taxation
Mr Lacken succeeds David Lawless, who continues as a Consultant and a Member of the Tax team. He is based in Dublin.
Devonshires appoints new Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Law firm Devonshires has announced that Nikki Bowker has been appointed its new Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution, taking over from Philip Barden. Nikki is based in London.
Addleshaw Goddard appoints Eckart Budelmann as Head of Germany
The international law firm Addleshaw Goddard has appointed Eckart Budelmann as its new Head of Germany. He will take over the strategic and operational management of the German practice at the firm’s new financial year. Eckart is based in Hamburg.
Chris Towle sets out vision for Gowling WLG as he takes on role of UK LLP CEO
“I’m proud to be taking on the role of CEO and excited about what we can achieve together,” said Chris. “We are entering a new phase of growth from a position of real strength with excellent people, a strong international platform and an enviable client base.”
Firm and Market Activity
Office Openings & Closings
DAC Beachcroft to open first Middle East office in Dubai
DAC Beachcroft (DACB) is set to open its first Middle East office in Dubai this summer. The office will be based in DIFC Square, a new development within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), alongside firms such as Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer.
Dr. David Weller, previously a Partner in the Hamburg office of Lubberger Lehment, has founded the law firm Peak together with Lubberger associate Freya Schiele. The new boutique focuses on consulting in IP, IT and Data law.
Market Commentary
A&O Shearman Partners Discuss Introducing Nonequity Tier
A&O Shearman Partners are discussing the possibility of introducing a nonequity tier. Several Big Law firms have adopted the structure in recent years in response to various market pressures.
A&O latest firm to cut business support roles in London
A&O Shearman is reducing headcount in its London business services workforce, becoming the latest major law firm to cut back-office roles. The firm is proposing around 20 cuts across its IT, Finance and Marketing teams.
London’s 39 Essex Chambers adds Addleshaw Goddard Construction Co-Head to open in Dubai
The office will be led by former Addleshaw Goddard’s Co-Head of Construction Stephen Burke, who joins the set along with former Pinsent Masons’ employed Barrister Madelaine Power, as well as existing 39 Essex Chambers’ member Nicholas Higgs.
Paul Weiss Sheds Litigation Associates
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has cut several Litigation Associates, with the firm tying the cuts to performance review decisions.