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
Vinson & Elkins lands Ashurst Partner to lead EMEA Energy M&A
Ashurst Perkins Coie partner Michael Burns has been hired by Vinson & Elkins as its Head of Energy and Infrastructure M&A for EMEA in London. Burns brings more than 20 years of experience advising private capital investors and corporates on energy and infrastructure transactions.
Paul Hastings adds London Restructuring firepower with Senior Partner hires
Paul Hastings has added senior Restructuring Partners in London from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader and Sidley Austin, respectively, as the US firm continues its multi-practice hiring spree in the City. Bevis Metcalfe, who was Co-Chair of the Financial Restructuring group at legacy Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft prior to its merger with Hogan Lovells in July, has joined alongside Kieran Sharma, who previously led the London restructuring team at Sidley.
Ashurst Perkins Coie grows Tax practice with London Partner hire
Global law firm Ashurst Perkins Coie announces the appointment of Chris Hyde as a Partner in the Tax practice, based in London, as the firm continues to build out its corporate capabilities. Christopher is based in London and joins from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, where he worked as a Counsel.
Shoosmiths strengthens Banking & Finance practice with Partner hire
Shoosmiths has appointed Alastair Carruthers as a Partner in its Banking & Finance team in Manchester, strengthening its asset-based lending capability in the North West and across the UK. Alastair joins from DLA Piper.
Bird & Bird appoints expert tech patent litigator as new Partner in London
Bird & Bird has appointed experienced tech patent litigator Huw Edwards as a Partner in its London Intellectual Property team. Huw joins from Nokia UK, where he worked as a Director and Head of Litigation Operations.
Leading AI, Digital and Emerging Tech Partner Rafi Azim-Khan joins BCLP
BCLP announced that Rafi Azim-Khan will join its Global Technology, Commercial & Data practice as a Partner and has also been appointed global Co-Leader of the firm’s Digital Transformation and Emerging Technology offering. Rafi will be based in both the London and San Francisco offices and will collaborate closely with the firm’s Intellectual Property practice and Sports, Media and Entertainment sector group. Rafi joins from Crowell & Moring, where he worked as a Partner, Head of Digital Law and Global Co-Chair of Ad & Media Law.
Ashurst Perkins Coie expands Cyber offering with Risk Advisory Partner hire
Global law firm Ashurst Perkins Coie announces the appointment of Mark Hendry to its Risk Advisory business in the UK, as the firm further builds out its integrated risk, legal and delivery offering in the cyber security space. Mark is based in London. Mark joins from S&W, where he worked as a Partner and Head of Risk Advisory.
Akin Continues London Restructuring Momentum with Addition of Partner Jonny Woods
Akin announced that Jonny Woods is returning to the firm as Partner in London. Jonny reunites with Neil Devaney, Lois Deasey and Matt Benson, who recently rejoined the firm to lead the next generation of Akin’s Band 1 ranked London Restructuring practice. Jonny joins from Weil, where he worked as a Counsel.
Mishcon de Reya further strengthens International Arbitration practice with new London hire
Mishcon de Reya has announced that Robert Rhoda has joined the firm as a Partner in its Disputes department. Before joining Mishcon de Reya, Robert led the International Arbitration practice of Denton’s Hong Kong.
Simmons & Simmons strengthens Fund Finance offering with Partner hire
Simmons & Simmons has further enhanced its Fund Finance offering with the appointment of Partner Natalie Sharkey in its London office. Natalie joins from Reed Smith, where she worked as a Counsel.
McDermott Funds Partner exits to Simmons amid London Funds push
Simmons & Simmons has hired McDermott Funds Partner Jim McNally in London, continuing a recent push to build out its Funds practice. He is known for his work with hedge funds and asset managers, as well as advising activist investors on campaigns across Europe.
Ellis Walls promoted to partner at WJM
Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) has promoted real estate expert Ellis Walls to partner. Ellis is based in Edinburgh, and joins from Davidson Chalmers Stewart, where he worked as a Solicitor.
Al Zucker joins Simons Muirhead Burton as a Partner
Simons Muirhead Burton hires Al Zucker to its Corporate & Finance team as a Partner. Al is based in London. Al was previously working as a freelance Consultant Solicitor with various companies.
Europe
Jean-Philippe François joins Trego Legal as a Partner
Trego Legal has hired Corporate/M&A Partner Jean-Philippe François to its Luxembourg office. Jean-Philippe joins from DSM, where he worked as a Partner.
Middle East
Pillsbury Expands Middle East and Global Regulatory Platform
Pillsbury expands Middle East and Global Regulatory platform with addition of former Saudi Ministry of Investment Senior Legal Advisor Amal Alotaibi as a Partner in Riyadh. Amal specialises in Regulatory, Corporate and Investment Law.
Team
Bird & Bird hires EY quartet to launch legal transformation team
Bird & Bird has hired a Technology Partner from EY, along with three of his former colleagues, to launch a legal transformation team. Shahin Baghaei will lead the development of legaltech aimed at handling clients’ routine work more efficiently.
DAC Beachcroft hits RPC in three-Partner Insurance hire
DAC Beachcroft has strengthened its Cyber and Data Risk practice by appointing three specialist cyber Partners from RPC. London Partners Richard Breavington and Rachel Ford have joined DAC Beachcroft alongside Bristol-based Daniel Guilfoyle from RPC, where they were Partners in the cyber and technology insurance team and Breavington was team leader.
Promotions & Appointments
Irwin Mitchell promotes Court of Protection lawyer to Partner
Irwin Mitchell has promoted Katie Strong to Partner in its Court of Protection department. Katie joined Irwin Mitchell in 2016, and is based in London.
Firm and Market Activity
Office Openings & Closings
Fieldfisher launches Berlin disputes practice
Fieldfisher has hired former Flick Gocke Schaumburg lawyer Benny Wünschmann to lead the launch of its Berlin dispute resolution practice and marking the seventh partner to join Fieldfisher’s office in the German capital. Wünschmann focuses his practice on litigation and corporate law, with an emphasis on disputes relating to corporate and transactions.
Financial Results
Clyde & Co revenue inches up 2% as profit falls by nearly 10%
Clyde & Co’s profit dipped nearly 10% in the year to 30 April 2026 against what the firm described as a ‘volatile geopolitical and commercial backdrop’. Profit dipped 9.9% from £177.5m in FY25 to £160m. Revenue inched up 2% to £857m, marking the 28th consecutive year the UK firm has increased turnover. For the second consecutive year the firm did not disclose profit per equity partner.
Market Commentary
Simmons breaks £100k mark for Bristol NQs, also lifts London pay
Simmons & Simmons has pushed newly qualified pay in Bristol above £100,000, extending its lead as the highest-paying major law firm in the city. The firm has increased Bristol NQ salaries from £96,000 to £104,000, about an 8% rise and a new record for the Bristol market. London NQs have also received a £10,000 increase, taking salaries from £120,000 to £130,000.
Innovation & Culture
Technology & Innovation
Goodwin Rolls Out Proprietary Venture Financing Tool
Goodwin Procter announced Wednesday the rollout of a proprietary artificial intelligence-powered tool for venture capital financing, as first reported in Bloomberg Law. The tool is intended to be the first of several rolled out as part of a $25 million annual investment in building and buying AI tools.
HSF Kramer, Mayer Brown Targeted in Latest Law Firm Data Breaches
Weil Gotshal & Manges, Goodwin Procter, and WilmerHale have reportedly paid about $50 million ransom in total to suppress the release of data stolen in breaches.
Claude is getting a watermark. That could matter for every law firm using AI
It felt like something quite significant happened this week when Anthropic – the AI giant behind Claude – announced it will start adding an invisible watermark to all outputs it generates. The move is Anthropic’s response to new requirements under Article 50(2) of the EU AI Act, which says that providers of AI systems must ensure their outputs are detectable as AI generated. Despite the legislation only applying in the EU, Anthropic said it will mark Claude’s outputs globally.
Stockholm produces another legal AI startup as Aloi raises €6.1m
Another legal AI startup founded in Stockholm has announced a fundraise. This time, it’s Aloi, which has raised €6.1 million as it looks to expand internationally and prepare for a larger Series A later this year. The company was co-founded by CEO Johan Häger who was previously a partner and head of finance and restructuring at top Nordic firm Roschier.
Mayer Brown enters strategic arrangement with AI-powered legaltech company Scissero
Mayer Brown has announced a strategic arrangement with AI-powered managed legal services provider Scissero, combining the latter’s finance-focused legal workflow tools with Mayer Brown’s structured products practice. The agreement will allow Mayer Brown clients to use Scissero’s platform as a verification service for automated documents related to structured product issuance. This enables clients to compare their documents with Mayer Brown’s approved templates and pre-agreed transaction rules.