Weekly Update – 18th of November 2024

Moves:

UK & Ireland

Latham Departures Continue as Capital Markets Partner Joins Greenberg Traurig

Fritz Ernemann is now a stakeholder in London, further enhancing Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s global capital markets expertise. Ernemann is the ninth new shareholder this year to join the London office, having previously been a partner at Latham & Watkins.

Pinsent Masons Hits K&L Gates for Double Partner Hire

To expand its London real estate portfolio, Pinsent Masons has brought on two new partners. Partners Tim Webb and Emma Maher are leaving K&L Gates to join the firm’s real estate practice. The two are experts in providing corporate real estate advice, especially in the residential build-to-rent market.

Pillsbury secures senior Taylor Wessing disputes partner in London

Laurence Lieberman, a disputes partner, has left Taylor Wessing to work in Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s London office. Many people considered Lieberman to be an important part of Taylor Wessing’s disputes offering.

Squire Patton Boggs hires André Vermeulen to establish new tax practice

André Vermeulen has been named director of Squire Patton Boggs in order to set up the company’s benefits and tax strategy in Ireland. Mr. Vermeulen specializes in providing advice to multinational corporations and large corporations on a variety of Irish corporate and transactional tax issues, with an emphasis on M&A, corporate restructurings, and foreign direct investment in Ireland.

 

EMEA

CMS strengthens Dubai tax practice with partner relocation

A significant member has moved to Dubai, strengthening CMS’s Middle East tax department. Andre Anthony joins from the London office of the global firm. He has been elevated to partner in addition to moving.

Kirkland grows Saudi construction practice with partner relocation

The company has set up its regional headquarters in Riyadh, and Ahmed Alrikhaimi moved there from Houston.

 

APAC

CMS Grows Hong Kong Office With Another Private Equity Hire from Mayer Brown

Amber Warren, a longtime partner, has been elected as Dentons’ first female Australia chair, and she will begin her term on January 1. As a member of Dentons’ Australian and international boards, Warren has been a partner since 2010. He is part of the firm’s regulatory advice unit for financial services, banking and finance, and litigation.

CMS boosts HK funds practice with another Mayer Brown hire

Helen Wang, a former counsel at Mayer Brown, has joined CMS, an Anglo-German legal firm, as a partner, bolstering the business’s Hong Kong funds practice. Wang was hired a few months after CMS hired senior associate Gigi Ma, also from Mayer Brown, and funding partner Paul Moloney.

Australia’s MinterEllison Loses More Partners from Canberra Practice

Following Holding Redlich’s appointment to all fields of law on the new Whole of Australian Government Legal Services Panel, Nevin Agnew and Jeremy Johnson joined the Australian company. A panel, most recently modified and merged in August, is typically used by the government to select its private sector companies. In three of the five distinct practice areas mentioned, MinterEllison was authorized to perform legal services.

Makarim disputes lawyer joins local boutique as partner

Raditya Anugerah Titus, a former senior associate at Makarim & Taira S, has joined the Indonesian boutique law firm Batavia Advocatorum (B.Av) as a partner, strengthening its dispute resolution practice.

Deacons bolsters disputes practice with hire from Bakers

Gillian Lam was a senior associate at Baker McKenzie before joining Deacons, the biggest legal firm in Hong Kong, as a partner in its litigation and dispute resolution division.

K&L hires Singapore energy duo from Gibson Dunn

Partner Brad Roach and senior associate Alexandra Jones, both energy attorneys from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, have joined K&L Gates Straits Law, the Singapore office of K&L Gates, to strengthen its energy practice in Singapore.

 

In house

Quantum Computing Company to Part with General Counsel

After working for Kymeta, a satellite antenna manufacturer, for little over a year, Rick Danis joined Rigetti in 2019.

Sustainable Packaging Company Packsize Finds New Legal Chief a Perfect Fit

After selling his previous two companies for a total of $2.1 billion, JD Ellis now works at Packsize.

Lockmaker’s Veteran GC Takes Old Job Back After Successor Lasts Just 3 Months

Allegion refused to provide an explanation for the departure of Stacy Cozad and the return of Jeff Braun as legal head.

Trump Picks William McGinley as White House Counsel

During the first term of President-elect Donald Trump, McGinley served as the White House cabinet secretary and the president’s assistant.

Trump Selects Matt Gaetz as Attorney General

Many aspiring DOJ lawyers might be surprised by the selection. Gaetz has recently become a fervent supporter of Trump.

As Uncertainty Hovers Over PGA Merger, LIV Golf Hires Entertainment Industry Veteran as Legal Chief

John Ruzich comes to the controversial Saudi-backed pro golf organization from Legends Hospitality, a provider of food and beverage services to venues, where he was legal chief for 12 years.

 

The Americas

Amid Ripple of Marketing Moves, Paul Hastings Hires 2 Pros from Skadden

There are some musical chairs as a result of the relative lack of applicants who have either held the position of CMO before or have risen to it.

Wilmer, Miles & Stockbridge, and Polsinelli Hire Litigation, Government Contract Attorneys

According to a new industry report released on Monday, “it looks like clear sailing for firms to outperform all but their profit heights of 2021” in 2024.

People in the News—Nov. 12, 2024—Fitzpatrick Lentz, Duane Morris

Ronald J. Reybitz has returned to Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, the firm said.

Morgan Lewis Snatches Up Former Orrick Partner in Boston

Stephen Hall is a litigator who specializes in defending businesses in a range of regulated sectors, including the life sciences and technology.

Polsinelli Hires Data Privacy, Tech Transactions Partner from Kirkland & Ellis

After over two years at Kirkland’s San Francisco office, Laila Paszti joins Polsinelli.

Lowenstein Hires Ex-FTX US General Counsel Ryne Miller to Lead Its Commodities, Derivatives Practice

Miller “has served on the front lines of the digital currency revolution, having been an essential and trusted adviser to many builders in the crypto ecosystem,” according to Lowenstein Sandler partner Ethan Silver.

Kirkland Tech Transactions Partner Heads to Polsinelli

After over two years at Kirkland’s San Francisco office, Laila Paszti joins Polsinelli.

Finance Lawyer Joins Mayer Brown in Charlotte After Hiring Mixup

Following his prior announcement that he will be joining Winston & Strawn, Jeff Mabrito has joined the Am Law 50 firm’s real estate practice.

Burr & Forman Adds Carlton Fields Lawyer to Lead Health Care Practice

Ogletree hires lawyers from Steptoe and McCarter & English in Boston and Texas, while an employment lawyer from D.C. is relocating to Morris Manning to head the employee benefits practice.

Proskauer Hires New C-Suite Officer After Litigation with Ex-COO

Carol Sawdye was Skadden’s CFO, she has notable experience within Big Law.

 

Team Moves

Brown Rudnick Picks Up Bochner Patent Trial Team in Houston

Brown Rudnick’s new and expanding office now includes a patent trial team in Houston from the midsize company Bochner, based in New York.

DWF Swoops in on Australian Firm For 9-Partner Hire

In the biggest partner defection in Australian history this year, nine partners from Hall & Wilcox have joined international insurance-focused legal firm DWF. Under the direction of partners Matt Curll and Rachael Arnold, the whole London market team of Hall & Wilcox will join DWF in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, and Melbourne.

 

Financials:

Milbank Leads Bonus Race, Rolling Out Year-End Pay News

The memo released on Monday details the total compensation from summer and year-end incentives, increasing pressure on law firms to equal Milbank for both.

‘Strength of the Market’: Big Law Revenue, Demand Continue to Climb

Gretta Rusanow of Citi said, “Not only are we seeing lawyers busier, but we’re also seeing them busier across a pretty broad cross section of practices.”

Texas Trial Boutique Matches Milbank Bonuses, Paying Up to $140K

Along with Milbank’s newly announced year-end bonus scale and the company’s summer bonus scale, Vartabedian Hester & Haynes, a spinoff of Alston & Bird that opened in Fort Worth in January, announced a year-end bonus scale that will pay colleagues $21,000 to $140,000.

Partner Compensation, Billing Rates Are Trending Higher in Dallas Than Houston

The recruiting company Major, Lindsey & Afric’s 2024 Partner Compensation Survey found that hourly billing rates for partners in Dallas and Houston averaged over $1.1 million, which is about the national average.

The Law Firm Disrupted: It’s Bonus Time

Milbank is the pioneer once more, and other companies will probably follow. However, there are still two questions. Which figure will they match? When?

Millar McCall Wylie reports 12 per cent increase in turnover

Although the independently held company has not released any financial data, it claims to have already exceeded the five-year growth goal of fifty percent that it set in 2021 and has expanded by seventy-five percent since then. This year, the company’s workforce grew by 30% at both its new city centre headquarters in the Printworks on Queen Street in Belfast and its east Belfast office.

 

Promotions & Appointments

Dechert’s Restructuring Co-Chair Heads to DLA Piper

The partner played significant roles in well-known cases including the BHS and Lehman disasters.

Cravath Elevates 7 to Partnership, Up from Last Year

The corporate practice group includes six of the firm’s seven new partners.

Freshfields Hires DOJ Official, Squire Taps Paul Hastings Atty for US Antitrust Head

Michael Wise, a partner at Paul Hastings, has departed to lead Squire’s antitrust practice in the United States.

Trump Picks Personal Criminal Defense Lawyers for Solicitor General, Deputy Attorney General

  1. John Sauer, who argued his plea for immunity before the Supreme Court, will be appointed U.S. solicitor general, according to President-elect Donald Trump. The deputy attorney general will be Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in the hush money case in New York.

Trump Nominates Ex-SEC Chief Jay Clayton to Helm Southern District of New York US Attorney’s Office

The former president’s attempt to appoint Clayton, a seasoned regulator and partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, as Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor was thwarted during his first term. Clayton would be serving as a criminal prosecutor for the first time in his role as U.S. attorney.

Wilson Sonsini Promotes 16 Lawyers to Partner

Five members of the firm’s litigation department and seven from its corporate department make up the new class.

Dentons Elects Amanda Warren to Chair Australian Practice

Amber Warren, a longtime partner, has been elected as Dentons’ first female Australia chair, and she will begin her term on January 1. As a member of Dentons’ Australian and international boards, Warren has been a partner since 2010. He is part of the firm’s regulatory advice unit for financial services, banking and finance, and litigation.

DLA and Kingsley Napley Name New Managing Partners

Liam Cowell, who has been in charge of the U.K. division since January 2019, will hand off to Andrew Dyson on December 1. Since joining the company in 2003, Dyson has held the roles of global co-chair of data, privacy, and cybersecurity and office managing partner for Leeds.

Travers Smith Appoints New Private Equity Head Following Latest Partner Departure

After yet another well-known partner left the company, Travers Smith has hired its third new head of private equity in three years. Following the announcement that Lucie Cawood, the previous leader of Travers’ private equity group, was leaving the company, Will Yates, a deputy head of private equity, was named the new head.

Malaysia’s JLPW gets new disputes head from Skrine

Hui Wen Tan was a senior associate at Skrine before joining the Malaysian law firm Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong (JLPW) as a partner and head of dispute resolution.

SIAC registrar appointed LCIA’s new director general

After ten years in the position, Jacomijn van Haersolte-van Hof will step down and be replaced by Kevin Nash.

US real estate financing business Walker & Dunlop promotes deputy to GC

Richard Lucas, who left the company earlier this year, is replaced by Dan Groman.

 

Diversity & Inclusion:

Newly Formed DEI Practices Expect Heightened Demand During Trump Administration

Regarding the ambiguity in the rules governing DEI matters, Gibson Dunn labour & employment co-chair Jason Schwartz observed, “It is regrettable that the only people who gain from this are the lawyers.”

Guiding LGBTQ+ Clients on Safeguarding Their Rights and Protections in Uncertain Political Climates

This article contains a detailed overview of the advice firms can provide to LGBTQ+ clients to ensure they are well protected.

 

Office Openings & Closing:

On a Texas Growth Surge, Paul Hastings Signs New Leases in Houston, Dallas

Paul Hastings will relocate into the Knox Street Development in Dallas, which is currently under development, and 609 Main in Houston, which has more than tripled the number of attorneys in Texas since 2023.

Gordon Rees Opens 80th Office, ‘Collaboration Hub’ in Palo Alto

According to managing partner Adam Sugarman, Gordon Rees’ Palo Alto location would cater to “major university” and IT clients.

Carlton Fields Downsizes in Move to New Atlanta Office

After 20 years in its first headquarters outside of Florida, the Tampa-based Am Law 200 business is moving to a new location.

More Than 2 Dozen Lawyers Leave DLA Piper Affiliate in Brazil to Form New Firm

Twelve partners make up the new full-service business COSRO Advogados, some of whom were in high positions at DLA Piper and its affiliate, Campos Mello.

Tokyo International makes Singapore debut with SE Asia in its sights

In January 2025, Tokyo International Law Office (TKI), a Japanese boutique, will launch its first overseas office in Singapore, marking a major turning point in the quickly growing firm’s global strategy.

TMI launches in Brussels as Japanese firms continue European push

To assist its Japanese customers wishing to conduct business in the EU, especially in the areas of data protection and antitrust, renowned Japanese legal firm TMI Associates has extended its global network to Brussels.

Kramer Levin’s Paris office to spin out ahead of HSF merger

It has been revealed that Kramer Levin’s Paris office will be split out prior to the New York firm’s historic merger with Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF).

 

Mergers & Alliances:

Herbert Smith Freehills to Merge with Kramer Levin

In one of the biggest transatlantic mergers in the industry, the companies will merge into Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, a single, completely integrated company.

King & Spalding to Enter Merger to Strengthen Saudi Arabia Presence

After obtaining a foreign law license to conduct business in Saudi Arabia last year, this transaction represents the company’s next stage.

Miles & Stockbridge to Combine With DC-Based Real Estate Finance Firm

In late December, roughly fifty lawyers, paralegals, and employees from Krooth & Altman will join Miles & Stockbridge, forming a combined group of over 200 lawyers, according to the businesses.

Kramer Levin, HSF Leaders Set Out Merger Timeline, Structure

The heads of both firms discussed the timing, structure, and priorities of the combined firm in their first interview with Law.com since announcing a transatlantic partnership.

 

Technology & Innovation:

Robin AI Announces Previously Undisclosed $25 Million Raise

According to the contract drafting and review service, the increase took place “earlier in 2024” and was financed by current clients and investors.

Lex Machina Launches Full Federal, Expands Legal Analytics to All Federal District Courts

Data analytics from 3.7 million federal court cases in 22 practice areas will be stored at Full Federal.

As Gen AI Acceptance Grows, Lawyers Race to Mitigate Risks

The ideal way to strike a balance between risk management and AI innovation was covered by speakers at EDRM’s webinar, “Balancing Ethics and Efficiency in GenAI and Legal.”

Ironclad Officially Launches New Gen AI Assistant Jurist

Jurist seeks to make legal practitioners’ contract management procedures more efficient and transparent.

AltaClaro Publicly Releases Feedback Tool Benchmark360

Associates participating in AltaClaro’s group training programs can receive data-based assessments of their training performance from Benchmark360.

Gowling WLG’s Commitment to AI and Innovation Attracts New Director of AI

Al Hounsell leaves Norton Rose Fulbright at what he sees as a turning point in the legal profession.

 

Market Commentary:

As Associate Business Development Gains Steam in Big Law, Mayer Brown Expands Networking Program

Sydni Eibschutz, an associate at Mayer Brown, said of a networking program, “It really is empowering from an associate’s perspective, because typically we’re put in situations engineered by partners.”

Why Litigation Demand Might Break Firms’ Boom-and-Bust Cycle

According to a recent Thomson Reuters study, law firm litigation practices were once again a major contributor to the third quarter of 2024’s robust economic performance.

New Battleground: Wall Street Law Firms Eye London Growth

As a hint that the U.K. market was growing more significant for Wall Street companies, Davis Polk created a finance unit in London and Cravath stole a staff from Linklaters.

Climate Groups Demonstrate Outside A&O Shearman and Akin London Offices

According to the demonstrators, a survey on which legal firms take on work related to fossil fuels gave Akin and A&O Shearman the lowest possible rating.

The New Hybrid Legal Professional: Equal Parts Law and Business

A new type of legal practitioner that is not only an expert in the law but also has keen business sense is required to meet multidisciplinary demands. Approximately 63% of CLOs concur, stating that they would most want to see their lawyers acquire commercial acumen.

‘Rebound’ In Demand for Legal Services Places Southeast Among Top 3 Regions in U.S.

Michael McKenney of Citi stated, “I think it’s a favourable setup for a strong year for [surveyed firms] in the Southeast,” which includes Miami and Atlanta.

Big Law Profits from Germany’s Painful Economic and Political Woes

Law firms are expected to do well in regulating and advising on the nation’s transformative issues, despite the fact that Europe’s superpower appears to be suffering.

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