Financials:
Crowell & Moring Sees 5% Revenue Growth, Up to $626M
The firm’s profits per equity partner rose by more than 9% to $1.22 million, while its number of equity partners declined by 8% to 113. However, Crowell Chair Phil Inglima noted that the firm’s core business revenue grew by 11%.
After ‘Challenging’ 2023, Debevoise Roars Back With 19.7% Revenue Bump, 32% PEP Jump
Firm presiding partner Peter Furci said that after a challenging year, the firm took a close look at what set it apart and focused heavily on those strengths in 2024 — and the strategy paid off.
Profit Drop Takes Bite Out of Pay for McDonald’s Legal Chief, Other Execs
Desiree Ralls-Morrison’s pay fell 19% last year as McDonald’s cut back on short-term incentive pay for its top executives.
Jackson Walker Agrees to $617K Settlement in Second Bankruptcy Fee Dispute
This is the second publicly disclosed settlement in under a week, as numerous former bankruptcy clients have petitioned a bankruptcy judge to overturn fee and expense orders awarded to Jackson Walker. The requests follow the firm’s failure to promptly disclose a past romantic relationship between a former partner and a former bankruptcy judge.
Katten Sees 20% Spike in PEP, 10% Jump in Revenue, Reaping the Benefits of Long-Term Investments
In an interview with The American Lawyer, Katten Chairman Gil Soffer reflected on the firm’s 2024 financial performance, emphasizing a 20% rise in profits per equity partner and a 10% growth in revenue, along with other key accomplishments.
Citing Litigation Demand, Buchanan Ingersoll Grows Revenue by Almost 9%
The firm, which began 2024 with a merger with IP boutique RatnerPrestia and named a new chairman and CEO in May, generated more than $326.6 million in revenue.
Strong Demand Across Transactional Practices Led to 9.2% Revenue Boost at Foley & Lardner
“It’s been a great few years for the firm,” said Foley Chairman and CEO Daljit Doogal in an interview. “We have experienced consistent growth over the past decade.”In 2024, the firm’s revenue reached a record $1.28 billion, marking a 9.2% year-over-year increase. Revenue per lawyer rose by 6.8%, while profits per equity partner grew by 10.9%.
Sheppard Mullin Notches 33rd Consecutive Year of Revenue Growth
The firm grew profits per equity partner by 4.7% to $2.4 million in 2024.
Munger Posts 22% Revenue Rise, 38% Spike in PEP in 2024
The litigation powerhouse’s revenue per lawyer rose to $2.1 million last year, with brisk demand for mass torts, antitrust, securities and appellate matters.
‘A Record Year, by a Significant Amount’: Davis Polk Sees Revenue Surge 25%, PEP Jump to $7.8M
Firm chair Neil Barr said the firm had a “record year” across “every financial metric we measure.”
Fenwick Sees Revenue Gains Despite Dip in Fee Earners
Chair Richard Dickson said that a jam-packed litigation practice made up for softness in the tech transactional market.
Diversity & Inclusion:
On 5-4 Vote, Supreme Court Allows Education Department Freeze on DEI-Related Teacher Training Grants
In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court stated that the Trump administration is “likely to succeed” in demonstrating that a federal court lacked the legal authority to direct the Education Department to restore millions of dollars in cancelled funds for teacher training.
Once a Powerful Proponent of DEI, BlackRock Removes Term from Latest Proxy Statement
Asset manager BlackRock (BLK), once a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), is now scaling back its commitment. The company quietly removed references to its DEI goals from its annual report filed on Tuesday. BlackRock joins a growing list of firms reducing their focus on DEI, which the Trump administration has argued could potentially violate federal anti-discrimination laws.
Corporate Values, Public Risks: the GC’s Role in Navigating Today’s DEI Dilemmas
In today’s polarized environment, many companies are caught in the middle of investor lawsuits, employee discontent, political scrutiny, and consumer backlash, all while facing an uncertain path ahead.
FTI Managing Director: ‘Widely Proven That More Diverse Teams Are More Innovative’
Brandon Lee, Managing Director of FTI Technology, which won the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Award for Championing Diversity in Tech (Individual), discusses how legal service providers “can play an ongoing and central role in nurturing diversity in innovation” and the benefits of doing so.
Prada to buy rival fashion brand Versace for $1.36bn
Prada has reached an agreement to acquire its competitor, Versace, in a billion-dollar deal aimed at merging two of the most prominent designer fashion labels. The deal, which brings together the two iconic Italian brands, is valued at an estimated $1.36 billion (£1.06 billion), according to the Prada Group’s announcement on Thursday.
Office Openings & Closing:
A&O Shearman Launches in Chicago with Mayer Brown Duo
Chicago is now A&O Shearman’s tenth office in the United States
McDermott, Closing Singapore Office, Relinquishes Asia Presence
McDermott Will & Emery has shut down its Singapore office, marking the end of the firm’s on-the-ground presence in Asia.
Working Group Set to Reopen, Restore Harlem Problem-Solving Court
Chief Judge Rowan Wilson’s Working Group on the Future of the Harlem Community Justice Centre will focus on revitalizing and fully reopening a problem-solving court that was closed at the onset of the pandemic.
Weber Gallagher Launches New Office in Long Island
This is Weber Gallagher’s second office in New York, alongside its Manhattan location, and its 13th office overall. Leading the launch of the Long Island office is Neil Sambursky, a new partner, along with his team of eleven.
Inside Skadden’s New Abu Dhabi Office
Skadden is excited to announce the opening of its first office in the Middle East, situated in Abu Dhabi’s ADGM, the financial hub of the United Arab Emirates’ capital.
The office will be led by corporate transactional attorney Michael Hilton, who previously served as the regional managing partner for the Middle East and North Africa at a Magic Circle firm.
Brown Rudnick opens in Los Angeles with four-partner team hire – The Global Legal Post
Brown Rudnick has opened a new office in Los Angeles, launching with the addition of four partners from California-based firm Stubbs Alderton & Markiles.
The team—Daniel Rozansky, Nicholas Rozansky, Jonathan Friedman, and John De La Merced—brings a broad range of expertise across litigation, corporate law, privacy, and brand management.
Mergers & Alliances:
KPMG Partners With Google Cloud to Build Agentic AI Platforms for Legal Services Clients
KPMG LLP unveiled an expansion of its strategic AI partnership with Google Cloud, introducing modular, scalable AI solutions designed to transform business operations across industries such as legal services, banking, and more. As a key deployment partner for Google Agentspace, KPMG will assist clients in developing integrated, scalable AI platforms that enhance decision-making and efficiently manage AI agents, unlocking value through trusted and secure AI technology.
Freshfields Partners With Google Cloud to Build AI Agents, Boost AI Innovation
Freshfields has teamed up with Google to accelerate the use of generative AI across the firm, with plans to deploy Google’s Gemini platform and co-develop custom AI tools for legal and business workflows. The partnership will involve a firmwide rollout of Gemini alongside Google Workspace, integrating AI into tools such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google’s research and writing assistant, NotebookLM.
Private Client Firm Withers Collaborates with Australian Accounting Firm Bentleys
The partnership will involve Withers and Bentleys collaborating to provide clients with legal and accounting advice on their business, personal, and charitable matters. While the agreement is non-exclusive, the two firms will work together on client projects and marketing initiatives. This association was formed through a long-standing relationship between Withers partner Marsha Laine Dungog and Bentleys director David Laanemaa, who have observed a growing demand for cross-border services.
Addleshaw Goddard to Take Over Linklaters’ Warsaw After ‘Decisive’ Partnership Votes
Linklaters and its Warsaw partners have entered an agreement for the transfer of Linklaters’ Warsaw office to Addleshaw Goddard. Addleshaw said it does not plan to comment further before the deal is completed.
Three of South Africa’s leading law firms announced their involvement in the legal proceedings initiated by Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) to challenge the government’s legal sector BEE code. In a joint statement, Bowmans, Webber Wentzel, and Werksmans explained that their decision to intervene is intended to ensure that any legal sector code is “evidence-based, practical, and tailored to the unique nature of the legal profession.”
European IP firms NLO and Ipsilon enter PE-backed partnership
Two prominent European intellectual property firms, the Dutch-based NV Nederlandsch Octrooibureau (NLO) and Paris-headquartered Ipsilon, have formed a “strategic partnership” supported by the pan-European investment fund Waterland Private Equity.
Moves:
APAC
Linklaters Promotes Hong Kong Partner to Lead Global Financial Regulation Group
Linklaters is pleased to announce the appointment of Carl Fernandes, partner in the Hong Kong Financial Regulation Group, as the new Global Head of the Financial Regulation Group.
EMEA
South African M&A Hiring Heats Up After A&O and Hogan Lovells Exodus
South African firms are expanding their M&A teams by poaching senior talent from rivals.
Quinn Emanuel, Freshfields Lawyers Among 11 To Join Germany’s Elite Constitutional Court
Freshfields counsel Maximilian Menn is the youngest-ever male lawyer at the elite Federal Court of Justice and the number of women on the list doubles.
King & Spalding Hires Former EU Head of Squire Patton Boggs’ Data Privacy Practice
King & Spalding has announced that Charles- Albert Helleputte has joined the firm as a partner in the Brussels office. Helleputte joins from Squire Patton Boggs.
Australia’s Mills Oakley Hires Partners from EY and K&L Gates
Tania Sibree joins Mills Oakley from EY, bringing over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a background in multiple jurisdictions, including the UK and Asia Pacific. Randall Gerkens, who comes to Mills Oakley from K&L Gates, brings experience in commercial property transactions, as well as commercial, industrial, residential, and infrastructure development.
Willkie Hires High-Profile Duo from Gibson Dunn’s German Antitrust Team
The firm has recently added Gibson Dunn antitrust partner Georg Weidenbach and counsel Jan Vollkammer in Frankfurt, according to sources familiar with the matter. Previously, the pair joined Gibson Dunn from Latham & Watkins.
UK & Ireland
Cleaver Fulton Rankin recruits immigration lawyer Nick Bennett
Belfast-based firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin has welcomed Nick Bennett as an associate in its Employment and Immigration department. Mr. Bennett, an immigration solicitor since 2019, brings more than 12 years of experience in immigration services. His background includes roles at the Home Office and two international professional services firms, where he specialised in this highly specialised area of law.
Latham Hires Two A&O Shearman Partners in London
Latham & Watkins is pleased to announce that Franz Ranero and James Smallwood will be joining the London office as partners in the Structured Finance Practice. Both highly respected in their field, Ranero and Smallwood frequently advise investment funds, financial institutions, and asset managers on a wide range of complex, cross-border structured finance, and structured products transactions, with a special focus on collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and customized funding solutions.
The Americas
People in the News—April 7, 2025—Flaster Greenberg, Barley Snyder
Intellectual property attorney Danielle C. Kucera has joined Flaster Greenberg as an associate in its intellectual property department and patent practice group.
Sidley Lands Milbank M&A Partner in NYC
Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Andrew Fadale has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in its M&A and Private Equity practice. Before joining Sidley, Fadale was a partner in the New York office of Milbank, where he was a member of their Global Corporate Group.
Cravath Private Equity Leader Heads to Sidley
Sidley is pleased to announce that Dave Perkins has joined the firm’s M&A and Private Equity group as a partner in the New York office. Perkins comes from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where he served as co-head of the Private Equity group.
People in the News—April 8, 2025—Gross McGinley, Antheil Maslow
Gross McGinley is pleased to announce that Hope Stakes has joined the practice as Marketing and Communications Manager.
DOJ Antitrust Attorney Carrie Syme Joins DiCello Levitt
Carrie Syme, a former trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, has joined DiCello Levitt’s renowned Antitrust and Competition Litigation Practice Group in New York as a partner. With decades of experience in complex litigation, government enforcement, and trial advocacy, Syme brings extensive expertise to the firm.
Bradley Arant Hires Veteran COO to Help Firm ‘Continue to Grow and Thrive’
Rance Sapen was part of Butler Snow’s leadership as the firm grew financially and geographically.
Buchalter Adds Longtime San Diego Office Leader from Gordon Rees
Kristin Reyna DeHart joins Buchalter after more than 24 years at Gordon Rees Skully Mansukhani, eight of which she spent as managing partner of its San Diego office.
People in the News—April 10, 2025—Kleinbard, Burns White
Kleinbard is pleased to announce that State Representative Jared Solomon has joined the firm as Of Counsel. With a legal career that includes expertise in securities, antitrust, and trial defence in the Army National Guard, Jared brings a wealth of knowledge across various practice areas. His experience will be a valuable addition as Kleinbard continues to expand its practice throughout Pennsylvania.
Saxton & Stump welcomes respected trial attorney Rory Connaughton as shareholder
Saxton & Stump is further strengthening its top-tier litigation team with the addition of seasoned Lancaster County trial attorney Rory O’Connaughton as a shareholder in the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Labor and Employment practices. O’Connaughton moved Brubaker Connaughton Goss & Lucarelli LLC, where he was partner.
On The Move: Eversheds Adds M&A Specialist
Mr. Phillips returns to Eversheds Sutherland after serving as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Argos North America Corp., a heavy construction materials manufacturer, where he was integral to the legal aspects of its dual IPO and M&A sale process. He had previously been a partner at Eversheds Sutherland from 2017 to 2023
People in the News—April 9, 2025—McNees, Faegre Drinker
McNees Wallace & Nurick has announced the addition of two new attorneys to its growing York office: Lara Bream and Steven Ahlbrandt. Prior to joining McNees, Bream worked as a professional liability claims consultant, managing complex cases from investigation through litigation. Ahlbrandt, before joining McNees, gained substantial experience in real estate law through his work as a real estate associate and law clerk.
In-House
Slaughter and May Hong Kong Partner Leaves to Join Securities Regulator as Senior Director
Wynne Mok previously did a stint at the Securities and Futures Commission before joining Slaughter and May.
World’s largest cinema operator AMC Entertainment names interim GC
US cinema-owner AMC Entertainment has named Edwin Gladbach as interim general counsel after long-time GC Kevin Connor announced his retirement.
Team Moves
Duane Morris Hires 5 Corporate Attorneys from Nelson Mullins
Duane Morris LLP has announced that Andrew M. Tucker and Rebekah D. McCorvey have joined the firm’s Corporate Practice Group as partners, with Tucker based in the Washington, D.C. office and McCorvey in the Atlanta office. Senior associates Jon Anderson and Zalak Raval have also joined the firm’s Atlanta and Washington, D.C. offices, respectively, while associate Ana García Bodán has joined the Miami office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, all the attorneys practiced at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.
At Least 10 Lawyers Plan Exit from Cadwalader to Sidley
Cadwalader is offering some attorneys an immediate promotion to partner and retention bonuses, sources said, but it is not clear if any of the group will choose to stay put.
Wilson Sonsini Partner Trio Takes Team to Baker McKenzie Following Beijing Closure
The move follows the announcement of Wilson Sonsini’s office closure in Beijing last month, which was the firm’s largest outpost in Greater China by partner head count.
In a clear sign of the ongoing competition for talent among South Korea’s top law firms, the renowned Big Six firm Yulchon has recently expanded its Mergers and Acquisitions team with the addition of four new partners based in Seoul. The new team consists of Sung-Jin Kim, Kayoung Kim, Hyerim Kang, and Junghwan Lee, all of whom have rejoined Yulchon as partners.
Promotions & Appointments:
Weil Promotes Litigator to Silicon Valley Co-Managing Partner
Bambo Obaro has been promoted to the Co-Managing Partner of Weil’s Silicon Valley office, a member of the firm’s national Complex Commercial Litigation practice, and a skilled trial lawyer. With over a decade of experience, Bambo has handled a diverse range of commercial issues and disputes in both state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings. Bambo Obaro has worked at Weil for more than 15 years as a commercial litigator.
Senate Confirms Paul Atkins as SEC Chair
The Senate confirmed Paul Atkins as the next Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) leader.
M&A Maven Who Helped Honeywell Make 100 Acquisitions Passing GC Role to Deputy
US conglomerate Honeywell has appointed Su Ping Lu as its new general counsel, succeeding Anne Madden, who is transitioning to a new role within the company.
Peter McNaney appointed to board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners
Solicitor and former Belfast City Council chief executive Peter McNaney has been appointed as a non-executive board member of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
Two promoted to partner at Taylor Wessing Ireland
International law firm Taylor Wessing has promoted Dannie Hanna and Jo Joyce to partners in its Dublin office.
Technology & Innovation:
Eversheds Sutherland’s Head of AI Discusses How the Firm Built a Risk Management Tool
Rachel Reid, Partner and Head of AI (US) at Eversheds Sutherland, which won the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Award for Regulatory, Governance and Compliance Technology, discusses the challenges of developing and maintaining the firm’s AI Risk Navigator tool.
Superior Court Affirms Social Media’s Regulation of Gun-Rights, Automobile Accounts
A Pennsylvania Superior Court has upheld the authority of social media platforms to manage content related to gun rights, affirming the dismissals in the case of Armslist v. Facebook. Judge Maria McLaughlin noted that the court found no evidence of the companies yielding to government pressure, instead concluding that they are exercising independent judgment to uphold community standards.
Paul Weiss’ Director of AI Innovation Strategy: Gen AI Models are not ‘Easy Button’ Solutions
Iris Skornicki, Director of AI Innovation Strategy at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, which won the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Award for Tech-Enabled Transactional Practice of the Year, discusses why automation solutions can be more practical for some clients than gen AI solutions.
George E. Phillips, Director of eData Development & Technology at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, which won the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Award for Litigation Technology, discusses how his team evolved to prioritize projects, encourage creativity and support development.
Did an AI Discriminate in Hiring? Employer Faces Lawsuit
Immunovant Inc. is accused of discriminatory hiring due to the use of artificial intelligence in the hiring process. But one legal observer said the AI claims are not well-supported and might have been included simply to attract attention.
Latham & Watkins Partner Discusses the Firm’s AI Academy, Training Efforts
Michael Rubin, partner and Global Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Practice at Latham & Watkins, which won the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Award for Best Tech Training Program Implementation, discusses how the firm approaches training and legal innovation.
John Wilson, Chief Information Security Officer and President of Forensics, and Rene Novoa, Vice President of Forensics, at HaystackID, which won the Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Award for Best Emerging Technology (Non-AI), discuss how they see their companies role in the industry and why the pace of innovation keeps them energized.
Nokia Sues Acer for Alleged Patent Infringement Over Video Technology
Nokia has taken legal action against Acer, Asus, and Hisense for the unauthorized use of its technologies in their devices. The PCs from Acer and Asus, along with Hisense’s smart TVs, infringe on a range of Nokia’s video coding patents. The cases have been filed in Germany and the European Unified Patent Court.
Actfore CEO: Lines Between Legal and Privacy Technologies Are Increasingly Blurred
Christian Geyer, CEO for Actfore, discusses why data mining can be crucial to cybersecurity preparedness.
Open AI countersues Elon Musk to stop alleged harassment and ‘sham’ takeover bid
On Wednesday, OpenAI filed a countersuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of a pattern of harassment and requesting a federal judge to prevent him from taking any “further unlawful and unfair actions” against the company. The legal battle revolves around the future structure of OpenAI, the organization instrumental in sparking the AI revolution.
MoFo advises SoftBank on record-breaking $40 bln OpenAI investment
U.S. law firm Morrison Foerster has advised SoftBank Group Corp. in its role as lead investor in a groundbreaking financing round of up to $40 billion for artificial intelligence trailblazer OpenAI.
Market Commentary:
Skadden, Wachtell called in for Versace’s $1.4bn sale to Prada Group
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz have been engaged to advise on the sale of Versace by Capri Holdings to Prada in a deal valued at nearly $1.38 billion in cash.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Paul Weiss are advising U.S. private equity firm Stonepeak on its $5.7 billion funding agreement with Woodside Energy—represented by Norton Rose Fulbright—for an LNG development project in Louisiana.
White House Moves Against State Climate Policies in New Deregulation Push
In a broad executive order signed late Tuesday, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to “halt the enforcement of state laws” related to climate change that the administration deems unconstitutional, unenforceable, or overridden by federal law.
‘Politics and Not the Facts’: Luigi Mangione’s Defence Counsel Moves to Preclude Capital Punishment
In a motion submitted on Friday, April 11, to the federal District Court in Lower Manhattan, attorneys for Mangione requested that the judge prohibit federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty. They contended that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s decision to pursue capital punishment is “politically motivated, arbitrary, capricious, and a deviation from established death penalty procedures,” adding that it has “permanently compromised the fairness of the process.”
Skadden Makes a Strategic Play for Middle East M&A
Sovereign wealth funds and large, regional corporate clients are expected to form a significant part of Skadden’s work.
Five Major Law Firms Cut $600 Million Deals with Trump
Five of the world’s biggest law firms struck deals with Donald Trump to sidestep potential punitive executive orders, helping the former president amass $940 million in pro bono legal services. Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, A&O Shearman, and Cadwalader collectively contributed $600 million through agreements that Trump revealed on his social media platform Friday.