Moves:
UK & Ireland
A&O Shearman Suffers Another Partner Departure as Paul Weiss Continues London Expansion
An analysis by Law.com last month revealed that A&O Shearman had seen the departure of 60 partners over the past eight months. They have experienced yet another defection as partner Nick Charlwood leaves the firm’s restructuring team to join Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison in London.
Linklaters Strengthens Leveraged Finance Team with Hires from Latham & Watkins, Paul Hastings
The partners are set to join the London office, following the firm’s addition of another partner in April. Peter Hayes and Angel Quek will join the firm to further bolster the Leveraged Finance practice.
US Firms Continue London Expansion in Latest London Hires
Akin has revealed two lateral hires just this week.
Paul Weiss Hits A&O Shearman for Second Partner Hire in 24 Hours
Paul Weiss Poaches Second Partner from A&O Shearman Within 24 Hours. They have recruited digital infrastructure partner Tom Levine.
Erc Walsh joins RDJ as real estate partner in Galway
RDJ has appointed Eric Walsh as a partner in the firm’s real estate and finance practice.
APAC
Asia Pacific Moves: HSF, Maddocks, Yoon & Yang and Wilson Sonsini Keep Markets Abuzz with New Hires
The Australian legal market remains active with ongoing lateral partner moves. Over in Asia, Yoon & Yang has recruited senior tax partners from a Big Six competitor, while Wilson Sonsini is taking steps to rebuild after recent partner departures.
Orrick Hires Another A&O Shearman Partner for Singapore Outfit
Energy and infrastructure specialist Adam Moncrieff has been brought as a partner from A&O Shearman. Moncrieff will relocate to Singapore from Vietnam. Orrick also brought on two additional energy and projects lawyers from A&O Shearman’s Jakarta office last year.
Third Australian Legal Regulator Leaves for Private Practice
Finance and investment regulator, Michael Hershan joins MintterEllison.
Jakarta: Former WCA managing partner joins ALTA Advocates
Kristo Molina, formerly the managing partner of Witara Cakra Advocates (WCA), White & Case’s erstwhile Indonesia association firm, has moved to local outfit ALTA Advocates as a partner in the capital markets practice.
Birds boosts SG corporate offering with hire from NRF
International law firm Bird & Bird has welcomed corporate lawyer Shahin Foroughian as a partner in Singapore from Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was a counsel.
HK: Wilson Sonsini welcomes capital markets partner from Davis Polk
U.S. law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has grown its corporate offering in Hong Kong with the hire of Yang Chu as a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Ropes expands PE offering in Hong Kong with hire from Freshies
U.S. law firm Ropes & Gray has welcomed private equity expert Richard Perks as a partner in its private equity practice in Hong Kong from Freshfields, where he had spent the entirety of his two-decade-long legal career.
EMEA
Kirkland Builds Luxembourg Capability with Partner Hire from Local Firm
Thibaut Partsch is set to join the firm’s London office, where they will concentrate on advising clients utilizing Luxembourg-based structures.
Paul Hastings Adds Another Key White & Case Partner to Abu Dhabi Team in Strategic Power Play
Paul Hastings is bolstering its energy and infrastructure practice in Abu Dhabi by hiring Ibaad Hakim the fourth partner from White & Case, following the recent departure of three of its London partners to Freshfields in a notable reshuffle of top-tier talent.
Greenberg Traurig and Simmons Hire Key Banking Partners in MidEast Shake-Up
Greenberg Traurig scooped up Alex Roussos a top banking partner from Dentons and three more capital markets lawyers are expected to join within weeks.
The Americas
Baker McKenzie Adds Dispute Muscle in Colombia
María Angélica Burgos de la Ossa has rejoined the firm as a partner after running her own boutique practice, while Sebastián Quintero has been elevated to partner.
Akin Adds Two Ex-Government Lawyers to DC International Trade Team
Matthew Borman and Eileen Albanese, both longtime veterans of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld on Monday as part of the firm’s expansion of its international trade practice.
Polsinelli Adds Energy, Infrastructure Finance Partner in San Francisco
Robert Nelson Jr. joins the firm after five years at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.
Taft Adds Fintech Leader From Nelson Mullins in 2-Partner Move
Denver-based attorneys Richard B. Levin and Bobby Wenner come to Taft Stettinius & Hollister from Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, where Levin served as chair of the fintech practice.
Foley Adds 2 Norton Rose Digital Infrastructure Partners in Chicago
The two newly appointed partners at Foley & Lardner, Daniel Farris and Joe McClendon, bring with them a practice that bridges the firm’s energy and infrastructure group with its innovative technology sector.
‘Serious About the Adoption of Legal Tech’: Former EY Law Leader Joins Dentons
Cornelius Grossmann served as the global managing partner of the legal practice at Big Four accounting firm EY for 13 years. He’s now at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, as its first-ever global head of solutions development.
Sorrels Law Adds Trial Boutique Partner as Head of Commercial Litigation
Brian Baker, formerly a name partner at the trial firm Stacy Baker, has joined Sorrels Law as a partner and will head the firm’s commercial law practice.
Jones Walker Strengthens Construction, Restructuring Practices By Adding Two In Miami
Matt Maranges joined the firm as a partner on its construction team, and Nicole Grimal Helmstetter joined as a special counsel on the bankruptcy and restructuring team.
Sheppard Mullin Adds Health Care Partner From Polsinelli in Chicago
Linas Grikis joins Sheppard Mullin after more than 13 years at Polsinelli.
In-House
US pharma heavyweight Bristol Myers Squibb hires internally to fill GC vacancy
Cari Gallman is promoted to legal head role, replacing Sandra Leung who is retiring after 33 years at the company
US video games industry body ESA hires IP veteran to lead legal team
US video games industry body the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has named Stan McCoy as its general counsel, replacing Gina Vetere who stepped down in January.
Team Moves
Taylor Wessing Snaps Up Pinsent Masons Team to Launch Paris Patent Practice
The team is headed by partner Jules Fabre, who joins from Pinsent Masons, where he previously led the intellectual property practice in Paris.
Baker McKenzie Hires Fintech Partner Duo in Washington From A&O Shearman
New partner Todd Beauchamp, who is joining the firm with Charles Weinstein, will take the lead of the fintech and payments practice. Meanwhile, Lawrence Lee, a partner since 2019, has been appointed to head the North America fintech M&A practice.
Saxton & Stump Adds Two Litigators From Kleinbard
Shohin Vance and Joshua Voss have both litigated electoral disputes in state and federal appellate courts.
Reed Smith Snags Greenberg Traurig Labor and Employment Co-Chair in 3-Partner Move
The three partners are joining Reed Smith’s Philadelphia office following a strong 2024 for the firm, which reported revenues exceeding $1.5 billion and a 11.4% increase in its bottom line.
The departures leave DLA Piper with no dedicated energy practice partner in Greater China. They include energy specialists Carolyn Dong, Neil Macdonald, and Russell Wilkinson from DLA Piper, and maritime disputes expert Andrew Rigden Green from Stephenson Harwood.
Financials:
King & Spalding Hits $100M Goal in London
According to firm chair Robert Hays, demand has “surged” since 2022 for international arbitration and disputes, along with finance and corporate matters.
Promotions & Appointments:
Ogier promotes finance lawyer Eoin Hamill to partner
Eoin Hamill has been promoted to partner in Ogier’s banking and finance team.
Chris Clarke and Rich Hawkins replace Shane Barber, who is stepping down as Bird & Bird Australia’s head of country and managing partner after a decade in the role.
Diversity & Inclusion:
McCarthy Tétrault’s New DEI Chief Says Firm ‘Unwavering’ in Its Commitment to Inclusion
Steeves Bujold has assumed the role of Chief Inclusion Officer at the firm following the departure of three senior Black lawyers, including his predecessor.
DEI, Immigration Policy Shifts Putting Legal, HR Teams to the Test
Nearly half of the 350 respondents to Littler Mendelson’s annual employer survey worry about prospective litigation over diversity, equity and inclusion—roughly double the percentage a year earlier.
Office Openings & Closing:
Australia’s Wotton Kearney to Open Second Asia Office in Thailand
The firm has secured private equity backing to support its expansion efforts.
Fieldfisher Plants Flag in Poland With Dual Office Launch and 25-Lawyer Team
The firm has secured private equity backing to support its expansion efforts.
American Labor Firm Fisher Philips Breaks Into Asia With Tokyo Launch
Fisher Phillips holds the 167th spot on the Global 200 list, with gross revenues totaling approximately $340 million.
Luxembourg Funds Lawyers form their own alternative legal services boutique
Alix van der Wielen, Benoit Dardenne, Benoit Kelecom, Christophe Balthazard, Olivier Wuidar, and Renaud Graas have joined forces to form LAB Partners, a Luxembourg Alternative Boutique legal company, following years of collaboration!
Mergers & Alliances:
McDermott and Schulte in Merger Talks
The proposed merger would result in a firm generating $2.8 billion in combined revenue, placing it among the top 20 in the Am Law 100, and employing over 1,600 lawyers.
Technology & Innovation:
India’s Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Launches AI-Focused Law Research Centre
“India has a chance to lead in shaping ethical frameworks for AI and digital technology policy and regulation,” said Cyril Shroff, managing partner at CAM, whose endowment supported the establishment of the platform.
AI-Powered Legal Marketing Startup FirmPilot Announces $4.7 Million in New Funding
The new funding—led by Thomson Reuters Ventures and HubSpot Ventures—builds on a $5 million Series A round headed by Blumberg Capital in June 2024, and comes as the company broadens its focus beyond personal injury firms.
‘Dangerously Innovative’: Putting AI to Work at Firms and in the Courts
Attorneys and judges are becoming more comfortable using artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Eminent AI Researcher Foresees an In-House Revolution
“We have a study showing that junior professionals tend to be less effective with AI than their senior counterparts because they lack a clear sense of what ‘good’ work looks like,” said Ethan Mollick, co-director of Generative AI Labs at the Wharton School. “They might receive a legal memo and think, ‘This is excellent!’ without realizing its flaws.”
Market Commentary:
The Importance of Change Management In Law Firms: Winning Lawyers’ Support for Behavioral Change
Law firms, traditionally grounded in precedent and resistant to disruption, often face challenges in managing change. However, in today’s fast-changing legal environment, embracing new technologies, workflows, and rising client demands is no longer a choice — it’s a necessity for staying competitive.
During a month when many countries spotlight mental health awareness, The Global Lawyer examines how members of the legal profession—long recognized as facing significant well-being challenges—can navigate these difficult times.
A former co-head of government investigations at Winston & Strawn has established a boutique firm with two former Skadden associates who resigned in protest at their firm’s unwillingness to speak out against President Donald Trump’s targeting of Big Law firms.
BCLP launches redundancy consultation
Transatlantic firm to cut around 8% of business services staff globally