Moves:
UK & Ireland
Gibson Dunn Hires A&O Shearman’s Global Head of Real Estate Finance
The latest lateral hire comes as U.S. firms expand their presence in London, with Proskauer making a new addition last week. The firm said Tuesday that Mark Manson-Bahr will become a partner in its real estate practice area and join the London office.
Simmons Dublin hires Declan O’Sullivan as investment funds partner
Joining the business from the Dublin office of Dechert, Mr. O’Sullivan offers thirty years of expertise. He has advised both domestic and international clients on the creation and authorisation of various investment funds, such as property funds and management firms, hedge funds, private equity funds, and UCITS.
DLA Piper recruits financial services regulatory lawyer Chris Jessup
Chris Jessup, a specialist in financial services regulation, has joined DLA Piper as a partner in the firm’s litigation and regulatory department. He will join DLA Piper in May 2025. Mr. Jessup is currently partner and co-head of the fintech business at A&L Goodbody, which is headquartered in Belfast.
Clyde & Co enlists RPC partner for new global regulatory and investigation role
Sam Tate was previously RPC white collar crime head. He joins the London Clyde & Co office with two associates and a counsel.
APAC
Ashurst Expands PNG Practice with a Local Telco Partner
Ashurst is expanding its practice in Papua New Guinea with the addition of a litigator from Digicel, a local telecommunications company. Michael Henao joins the firm as a partner to lead the disputes and regulatory practice at Ashurst’s Port Moresby office.
Jones Day adds Corporate partner Frank Voon in Hong Kong
Voon is the second corporate partner Jones Day has added to its Hong Kong corporate practice in 2 months. Mr. Voon, who is leaving K&L Gates, has over 20 years of expertise providing advice on intricate, international M&A and private equity deals in a variety of sectors, such as technology, real estate, mining and energy, healthcare and life sciences, and automotive.
Norton Rose Takes Hong Kong Debt Partner from Ashurst, Hunton Andrews Kurth Adds to Tokyo Bench.
After working at Ashurst for more than three years, Jessica Li joins the Norton Rose. From 2009 to 2021, she worked at Clifford Chance and Legacy Allen & Overy after starting her career at White & Case.
Meanwhile, as the firm begins its investment funds activity in Hong Kong, Beijing-based Commerce & Finance Law Offices has appointed Frank FU as a partner to its Hong Kong base. Frank Fu previously spent four years as senior associate at A&O Shearman.
EMEA
Honigman adds Big Law quartet in Israel, launches investment funds practice
Am Law 200 firm Honigman has launched an investment funds practice in Israel after hiring a quartet of lawyers from Big Law firms for its Israeli subsidiary, HLI. Joshua Gottesman has joined HLI as a partner having been an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and will found the investment funds practice alongside existing partner Sam Katz. Funds associate Mayer Stein has joined him for the move from Simpson Thacher.
Associate Oron Eli, who focuses on private equity investments and M&A, has joined from Paul Weiss and insurance disputes specialist Amit Roitman has moved over from Pillsbury Winthrop. All four joiners will relocate to Israel from the US.
The Americas
Clifford Chance Welcomes 3 Lateral Hires in New York Within a Week as Part of Ongoing US Expansion
The company said last week that Gianluca Bacchiochi, an energy and infrastructure financing partner, will be returning. Joanna Nicholas, a partner in structured finance at Mayer Brown, joins the company and will be part of the global financial markets division. Last but not least, Clifford Chance said on Tuesday that it was hiring Bryan Luchs, a corporate veteran and partner at White & Case.
Commerce Department Attorney Rejoins Akin as DC Partner
Sean Conway, who recently left his role as deputy chief counsel for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce, previously worked at the Federal Communications Commission.
On the Move: Ex-Georgia U.S. Attorney Rejoins Ballard Spahr
Jill Steinberg has returned to Ballard Spahr after serving two years as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Debevoise M&A Head Moves to Davis Polk
Michael Diz held multiple leadership positions at Debevoise, including playing a key role in expanding the firm’s presence in Northern California in recent years. Michael is based in Redwood City, California.
M&A Expert Eric Schiele Moves from Kirkland to Paul Hastings, Takes on Role of M&A Co-Chair
Large-cap public M&A is a challenging market to enter, but Paul Hastings believes its growth, combined with Schiele’s arrival, will help the firm break the “oligopoly” at the top. Schiele will join Paul Hasting’s NYC office.
Cuatrecasas hire sees another tax partner leave Creel García-Cuéllar
A few months after the head of the tax department departed the Elite Mexican company for Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, SC, Cuatrecasas (Mexico) bolstered its tax department by adding a Luis Vázquez from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez SC. Luis, based in Mexico City, frequently advises and represents global corporations in audits and tax refund petitions before the Mexican tax authorities.
Perkins Coie boosts IP litigation practice with Finnegan duo hire
Perkins’ Silicon Valley offering in cutting-edge technologies like AI and medtech will be strengthened by the recruits. Arpita Bhattacharyya, a patent lawyer, co-led Finnegan’s AI working group during her more than 17 years there. During his 25 years at Finnegan, Robert McCauley co-led the company’s trade secret litigation.
In-House
US on-campus bookstore Barnes & Noble Education hires former Six Flags GC as legal head
Following the resignation of chief legal officer Michael Miller last year, Christopher Neumann was appointed general counsel by Barnes & Noble Education (BNED), a US college bookshop operator.
Domino’s Pizza promotes assistant GC to legal head role
Ryan Mulally was elevated to general counsel at Domino’s Pizza, the biggest pizza chain in the world, taking Kevin Morris’ place.
Team Moves
Gateley hits Clyde & Co for corporate team in Dubai
As Gateley embarked on establishing a Middle East base in Dubai, corporate partners Darren Harris and Nora Al Muhamad join with three legal directors and one associate.
Five-Partner Kasowitz Team Joins Loeb & Loeb as Departures Persist
Partners Mark Ressler and Paul “Tad” O’Connor are leading the latest group of laterals to depart Kasowitz Benson Torres. Joshua E. Hollander, Melissa A. Barahona, and Andrew H. Elkin, will all join Ressler and O’Connor as partners in Loeb’s New York office.
Dykema Doubles Houston Office Headcount, Adds Seven Attorneys
Dykema, a prominent national law firm, has added seven attorneys to its Houston office, effectively doubling its lawyer headcount. This expansion enhances the firm’s expertise in critical practice areas such as energy, bankruptcy and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, business taxation and planning, corporate and finance, labor and employment, and business immigration.
Michael Durrschmidt and Kim Lewinski join the firm from Hirsch and Westheimer P.C., while Arthur Nathan, William Hotze, Kari Lutringer, James Prappas, and Michael Twomey join Dykema from Kane Russell Coleman Logan PC.
Financials:
Latham & Watkins UK Revenue Approaches Magic Circle Levels
Latham & Watkins’ U.K. revenue rose by 25% to $850 million (£657 million) in 2024, according to a source familiar with the matter, reflecting a robust performance for the firm overall.
Reed Smith Achieves Record $1.5B in Revenue
Profits per equity partner increased by 13.8% to $1.8 million, with the London office—the firm’s largest—delivering a notably strong performance.
Jackson Lewis Sees Double-Digit Revenue Growth in 2024
Jackson Lewis, a firm primarily focused on labour and employment, generated $697.1 million in gross revenue in 2024. Firm leaders are optimistic about the future, with expectations running high for 2025. Key practice areas that performed particularly well for the firm last year included labour and employment, litigation, and immigration.
Garrigues revenue pushes past €480m in record result
In 2024, Spanish powerhouse Garrigues increased its global revenue by 6.1% to a record high of €481.9 million, which the firm claimed solidified its position as the top law firm in the EU in terms of revenue.
Kirkland & Ellis partner pay hits $9.2m
Following another successful year for the top-grossing legal firm in the world, Kirkland & Ellis equity partners received an average compensation of almost $9 million in 2024. According to Law.com, the company’s average profit per equity partner for 2024 was $9.2 million, up 16% from around $8 million the year before.
Promotions & Appointments:
National Grid Includes 7 Additional Firms in Updated £250 Million Legal Panel
National Grid Expands Legal Services Panel, Adding 5 New Firms. The U.K. energy giant has increased its legal panel from 10 to 15 firms as part of a refreshed £250 million “global legal services framework.” New additions to the panel include Norton Rose Fulbright, Burges Salmon, DWF, Osborne Clarke, TLT, Walker Morris, and KPMG, according to company disclosures.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Breaking Down Barriers For Women in Law: My Journey
Nikki Edwards, a partner at Howard Kennedy and president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, defied the odds to establish a successful career in law.
The Numerous Challenges of DEI Law and Policy for Corporate Counsel
One of the biggest challenges businesses and their in-house counsel face today is the broad public policy push to dismantle the DEI movement, along with the litigation, PR, and political risks that companies must navigate carefully in this area.
IBA announces next phase of its gender equality project
The ambitious 50:50 by 2030 gender equality project, which aims to address the lack of gender parity at senior levels across the legal profession, has begun its second phase, according to the International Bar Association (IBA).
Office Openings & Closing:
Ropes & Gray Opens Paris Office, Recruiting 11-Lawyer Team from Clifford Chance
The managing partner of the new Ropes office is private equity and M&A attorney Fabrice Cohen, who oversees a group of 11 former Clifford Chance attorneys. Along with two solicitors and six associates, Thierry Arachtingi, a finance partner, and Emmanuel Mimin, a private equity and M&A partner, also left Clifford Chance. According to Cohen, another associate will join later.
Holland & Hart Opens Phoenix Office, Bringing On 2 Partners from Perkins Coie
U.S. firm Holland & Hart has expanded by opening an office in Phoenix, Arizona, with the addition of two environmental partners from Perkins Coie. Christopher Thomas and Andrea Driggs have joined the new office, with Driggs previously serving as chair of the mining industry group and co-chair of the oil and gas industry group at Perkins Coie.
Portuguese Firm Reclaims Family Brand in Split From Uría Menéndez
Francisco Proença de Carvalho, a Portuguese lawyer, separated from Uría Menéndez in August after 14 years in order to take his family name on a new but familiar journey. The Spanish firm Uría Menéndez, which has offices in Lisbon and Porto, currently employs 94 lawyers and 18 partners.
In the meantime, Proença de Carvalho has taken back his family name and established a separate legal practice under the same name in January. He has brought together a small group of solicitors from different Portuguese firms to work at his new firm, which is based in Lisbon.
Mergers & Alliances:
Clifford Chance launches Shanghai FTZ joint operation with local firm
He Ping’s key practice heads are Liu Tianfeng, who oversees financial regulatory compliance; Peng Xuqiu, who leads the intellectual property practice; and Ma Yun, who specialises in cross-border investment and has experience in the industrial manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, and consumer retail sectors. The Shanghai Bar Association reports that the business currently employs 28 solicitors.
Japanese firm TMI forms alliance with Australia’s JWS, eyes Sydney office
TMI Associates has stated that it intends to establish an office in Australia by 2026 as part of the collaboration. “This office will serve as a key operational hub to further strengthen our collaboration with JWS. Additionally, we will maintain close coordination through office proximity and regular exchanges of legal professionals between both firms”. As part of the agreement, TMI partner Masayuki Nagai will be seconded to Sydney, he told ALB.
Technology & Innovation:
AI Has Yet to Revolutionize Law Firm-Client Relationships in the US and UK
A transatlantic survey commissioned by Definely reveals ongoing uncertainty regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on firm-client relationships, along with significant differences between the U.K. and U.S. legal tech markets.
Challenges in Gaining Stakeholder Support Hinder Gen AI Adoption
“Most organizations have established multifunctional committees to assess generative AI applications. However, these committees are currently overwhelmed due to the rapid emergence of new tools,” said Matt Bohn, senior counsel at Amgen.
French publishers and authors file lawsuit against Meta in AI case
The U.S. tech firm Meta (META.O) has been sued by France’s top publishing and authors’ unions for allegedly utilising copyright-protected information extensively and without permission to train its artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
Market Commentary:
Trump targets law firm Paul Weiss, restricting government access
On Friday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending Mark Pomerantz’s and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison employees’ security clearances. Additionally, the order limits government access to the New York-based law firm’s attorneys and staff. Trump has now attacked a law firms three times through executive orders.
Judge Blocks Enforcement of Trump Order Targeting Perkins Coie
The judge said that the executive order violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedom of speech, and that it is a form of retaliation against Perkins Coie for representing clients the president dislikes.
Bowmans Targets Africa Dominance with A&O Shearman and Clifford Chance Hires
As it aims to become a dominant force in Africa’s energy and infrastructure legal industries, Bowmans is actively acquiring top personnel from international titans A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, and Watson Farley & Williams. After employing more than 30 solicitors, Bowmans is ready to take over work that was previously completed by the continent’s international businesses, according to managing partner Alan Keep.
Firms in Australia Making More Partner Team Hires, Major Lindsey & Africa Data Shows
After examining last year’s lateral partner hires, recruiter Tom Stretton of Major Lindsey & Africa claims that law firms in Australia are employing more teams of partners in an effort to make sure the partners bring the work with them.
According to data compiled by the recruitment business, a team of two or more partners left together at least 22 times out of the 193 lateral partner moves that occurred in the top 50 commercial law firms in Australia in 2024.
In 2024, UK Legal Tech Investments and M&A Increase
LawtechUK’s 2025 Ecosystem Tracker Report revealed a notable rise in U.K. legal tech investments and acquisitions in 2024, driven by both public and private funding.
The Impact of Tariffs on the M&A Market
Deal activity declined in February compared to the previous year, similar to the trend in January. While some deals are still progressing, they are navigating an unpredictable and ever-changing environment.
In the Shadow of the Ruins: Why Law Firms Fail
Rarely does a law company dissolve amicably; instead, it usually implodes, torn apart by circumstances beyond its control. Lundgrens is a case in point. The firm went from being a well-known brand in Danish law to a partnership that was collapsing due to changing client needs, economic difficulties, and an inexorable tide of departures.