Welcome to this week’s update, where we bring you the latest moves, promotions, and strategic appointments shaping the legal industry.
Partner Moves
Team
Latham & Watkins adds Private Equity quartet from Clifford Chance in Paris
The incoming quartet are Partners Benjamin de Blegiers, Daniel Zerbib and Gauthier Martin alongside Counsel Alexandre Namoun. The team is led by de Blegiers, who brings expertise across Private Equity and M&A, Zerbib specialises in Financing, Martin adds Public Law and Regulatory capabilities, while Namoun adds further Private Equity and M&A expertise.
Bird & Bird gains team of six from Wiggin
Bird & Bird’s London office has gained a team of six lawyers from Wiggin, including the firm’s Head of Telecommunications Gordon Moir. Moir will be joined by Wiggin’s Tech Lead and Telecommunications Partner Marcus Bagnall, as well as four more lawyers from Moir’s team.
Proskauer builds out PE with eight-strong Paris team
Proskauer has hired an eight-strong Private Equity team from Hogan Lovells in Paris, led by three Partners. Matthieu Grollemund, Hélène Parent and Pierre-Marie Boya are set to join the firm in Paris later this month, bringing with them five more lawyers.
Paul Hastings duo to join ex-colleagues at Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell is continuing to build out across Private Credit, High-Yield and Restructuring, hiring London Partner duo Patrick Bright and Will Needham from Paul Hastings. At Paul Hastings, Bright chaired the firm’s High-Yield Financing practice, while Needham was Chair of its European Financial Restructuring Group.
HEUKING gains 5-person team in Hamburg
HEUKING strengthens its Hamburg office with Patrick Narr and Dr. Karsten Alex as new Equity Partners, enhancing its Corporate/M&A and Real Estate practices. They join from Norton Rose Fulbright LLP along with three colleagues: Dr. Tobias Block (Senior Counsel), Malte Meyer (Salaried Partner), and Sebastian Sievers (Senior Associate).
Ian Hopkinson and Milena Szuniewicz join Keystone Law London Office
Ian Hopkinson and Milena Szuniewicz leave Clyde & Co to join Keystone Law in the firm’s International Arbitration practice.
Individual
UK & Ireland
Paul Hastings continues London tax build with Macfarlanes Partner
Paul Hastings has hired Macfarlanes Tax Partner Alicia Osei in London, as the US firm continues to rebuild and expand its city tax bench.
Macfarlanes announces appointment of Partner in Tax Disputes
Macfarlanes has announced that Tax Disputes Partner Kate Ison joins from BCLP. Ison will be based in the London office.
Micheál Ó Mulláin to succeed Shane Crossan at O’Flynn Exhams LLP
Micheál Ó Mulláin has been appointed Managing Partner in Cork, taking over the role from Shane Crossan. In addition to the strategic leadership post, Micheal will continue to head up the Real Estate, Banking and Finance team.
Europe
BAHR continues to hire from rivals after Danish launch
Following the firm’s Copenhagen launch just last week, Partners Jesper Møller (Tax) and Kristoffer Lund Poulsen (Banking & Finance) join the office from Gorrissen Federspiel and Poul Schmith, respectively.
Jones Day announced that Sarah Blazek, a deeply experienced German and EU Antitrust, State Aid/Subsidies and FDI lawyer, has joined the Firm in Munich. Blazek joins from Noerr.
Dr Kaymar Abrar returns to Weil Gotshal & Manges
Based in Frankfurt, Dr. Kamyar Abrar is leaving Willkie Farr & Gallagher and returning to Weil Gotshal & Manges. The former Co-Managing Partner of Germany will lead Weil’s German Private Equity practice together with Dr. Sebastian Pauls.
Romanian Arbitrator joins Eversheds
Luminita Popa (International Arbitration) has joined Eversheds Sutherland as a Partner in Bucharest, a year and a half after leaving Romanian firm Suciu Popa to launch an independent Arbitrator practice.
Dr David Huthmacher moves to Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Moving from Hogan Lovells, Dr David Huthmacher will join the Munich office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher in the Private Equity practice.
Middle East
Nezar Al-Abbas joins Ashurst’s Riyadh Office
Ashurst welcomes Nezar Al-Abbas as a Partner in the Global Projects & Energy Transition team in their Riyadh office, joining from White & Case.
Promotions & Appointments
Appointments
Jones Day names Joe Goldman Partner-in-Charge of Europe
Based in Maryland, Jones Day announced the appointment of Joseph A. Goldman (Tax) as Partner-in-Charge of Europe.
Browne Jacobson names new Senior Partner
Browne Jacobson has appointed Jonathan Tardif (Business & Professional Risk) as Senior Partner at the Nottingham office. He succeeds Caroline Green, who has held the role since 2019 and will step down after seven years.
The daughters of managing partner Gerard O’Donnell, the pair represent the third generation of the O’Donnell family to practice law in Galway City spanning almost 90 years.
Stewart Gordon joins Aberdein Considine in Edinburgh
Aberdein Considine has appointed Stewart Gordon as a Partner in the firm’s Edinburgh office. Stewart joins the firm from Addleshaw Goddard, where he was a Managing Associate in the Infrastructure, Projects and Energy team.
Dentons appoints new Global Sector Leaders to advance client-focused excellence around the world
Newly appointed Global Sector Leaders include Alex Coulter (Real Estate, London), Dogan Eymirlioglu (Consumer Products and Services, Istanbul), Jean-Marc Grosperrin (Life Sciences and Healthcare, Paris), José Ignacio Morán (Energy and Resources, Santiago).
Gillespie Macandrew LLP has appointed Gavin Merchant as its new CEO
Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew appoints new CEO, Gavin Merchant. Gavin succeeds Robert Graham-Campbell, who retires after eight years in the role.
Ailidh Ballantyne has been appointed Executive Director at Scottish law firm
Based in Glasgow, Ailidh Ballantyne has been appointed Executive Director alongside her existing role as Head of Wills, Powers of Attorney and Bereavements at Scottish firm, Scullion LAW.
Jan Geert Meents appointed as Country Managing Partner for DLA Piper Germany
DLA Piper announces the appointment of Dr Jan Geert Meents (Technology) as Country Managing Partner (CMP) for Germany, effective 1 May 2026. Dr Jan Geert Meents is based in the Munich office.
Promotions
Greenberg Traurig elevates three to Partner in first Dubai promotions since office launch
Greenberg Traurig has promoted three lawyers to Partner in Dubai. Lewis Calder (Sports), Benjamin Jones (Litigation), and Krishen Patel (Corporate) are the first lawyers to be promoted to Partner since the firm opened its Dubai office in 2023.
Leah O’Leary promoted to Partner at DLCM LLP
Daly Lynch Crowe & Morris LLP has promoted Immigration lawyer Leah O’Leary to Partner in the Dublin based firm.
Three Lawyers have been appointed to Partner at Habib Al Mulla and Partners
Dr Karen Seif (Arbitration), Dr Kamel Elshendidy (Litigation) and Ali Dakhlallah (Litigation) have all been appointed Partners at in the Dubai office.
Firm and Market Activity
Office Openings & Closings
HSF Kramer joins City HQ upgrade trend with Broadgate move
HSF Kramer has confirmed it will relocate its London headquarters to 8 Exchange Square at the Broadgate Estate in the City, signing a 21-year lease. The move will see the firm consolidate its current London offices into a single, modern base, with completion targeted for 2030.
Mergers & Alliances
Higgs strikes first deal since private equity backing
Higgs has acquired a Scottish-based legal business, its first deal since it secured backing from August Equity last summer. The Black Country-headquartered firm has acquired Vialex Limited, along with its specialist employment law arm Navigator Employment Law Limited.
Financial Results
Regional revenue growth at the UK Top 100
UK law firms’ regional offices have become a central driver of growth, challenging the traditional London‑centric view of the legal market. The Lawyer’s Regional Powerhouse data, shows how regional revenue has surged, which firms are leading that growth, and how expansion, consolidation and cost pressures are reshaping firm strategies outside the city.
Market Commentary
The Chambers Global Guide 2026 is now out.
Innovation & Culture
Technology & Innovation
DLA Piper saves up to £125,000 after energy upgrade
DLA Piper’s transition to smart meters in its London office could save the firm £125,000 per year, accounts show.
CRS Innovation Chief leaves after two years
Charles Russell Speechlys’ Director of Innovation Joe Cohen has announced he is leaving the firm. Based in London, Cohen declined to say where he was moving to, however an announcement on his next role is set to be made next week.
Slaughter and May creates Digital Regulation practice
Slaughter and May has established a Digital Regulation practice. The team will be led by Will Manley, a Technology and Digital lawyer based in the firm’s Brussels office.