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
Weil Hires Freshfields PE Partner in London Amid Upheaval at Both Firms
Weil, Gotshal & Manges has added to its London Private Equity team with a hire from Freshfields, at a turbulent time for both firms. Rebecca Ward has joined Weil’s Private Equity practice after spending approximately four years at Freshfields, where she was a Partner in the firm’s global transactions group. Before that, she spent 17 years at Private Equity-focused boutique Dickson Minto W.S., including nine years as a Partner.
Dechert Bolsters Leveraged Finance Capabilities, Adding Partner Ben Burton in London
Dechert LLP announced that Ben Burton has joined the firm as a Partner in its Global Finance Practice. Based in London, Burton’s extensive leveraged finance and restructuring experience will enhance the firm’s private equity and finance capabilities.
Fladgate breaks into Aviation Finance with hire of Clydes duo
Fladgate LLP has launched an Aviation Finance Practice with a double hire from Clyde & Co. Nick Harding and Kirstin MacDougall join the London independent as Partners. Harding is a lateral move. He trained at Dentons, arriving at Clydes in 2015 and making Partner in 2022.
Kirkland and Ellis hires new Debts and Finance Partner
Brad Taylor joins Kirkland and Ellis as Partner after 11 years at Debevoise and Plimpton where he was previously an Associate. He will work in the London office.
Paul Hastings hire new High Yield Practice Partner
Robert Bruno has joined as Partner in the High Yield team in the London Finance Practice. He was previously European Counsel at Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP.
Linton Bloomberg Joins Haynes Boone’s London Office as Restructuring Partner
Linton Bloomberg joins Haynes Boone in London from Reed Smith and previously practiced at Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Jones Day. He advises financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, private equity sponsors and corporate boards on a broad range of restructuring matters, including creditor and debtor representations, out-of-court restructurings, insolvency litigation and financial services matters.
Osborne Clarke hires new Partner in Financial Disputes Team
Tom Webley joins as Partner in the Financial Disputes Team in London after over 20 years at Reed Smith. He will strengthen the firm’s financial litigation offering.
gunnercooke hires new Corporate Partner
Seb Orton joins as Partner in the London office after 25 years at Jones Day. His move will further strengthen gunnercooke’s Corporate Practice.
Browne Jacobson appoints David Hill as new Health and Life Sciences Partner
Browne Jacobson has announced the appointment of David Hill as Partner in London. Hill joins the UK and Ireland law firm’s health and life sciences practice from Blake Morgan. He specialises in supporting healthcare organisations to successfully adopt new medicines, technologies, and service models that enhance care and improve outcomes.
Harbottle & Lewis launches Financial Crime Practice for corporates and individuals
Harbottle & Lewis has announced that it is extending into a new service area with the launch of a white-collar and corporate crime practice, spearheaded by Partner Steve Smith who joins from Eversheds Sutherland’s London office.
Greenberg Traurig hires new Energy and Natural Resources Partner
Greenberg Traurig hires Hannah Roscoe from Osborne Clarke as a Shareholder in its London Energy & Natural Resources Practice. Hannah advises clients across the energy and infrastructure sectors on M&A, JVs, commercial arrangements, restructurings, financings and project development. She will work closely with London Energy Practice Head Shashank Krishna, advising investors and other market participants on energy and infrastructure transactions in the UK and internationally.
Pinsent Masons bolsters Dublin office with new corporate Tax Partner James Quirke
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed new Partner James Quirke to lead its Corporate Tax team in Dublin. James joins from McCann FitzGerald LLP where he became a Partner in 2024.
Thorntons builds on Aberdeen growth with appointment of Stephanie Mann
Thorntons has appointed Stephanie Mann as a Partner in its Aberdeen office to lead the firm’s Residential Property Practice in the city. She joins from Laurie & Co Solicitors where she worked as Partner for 6 years.
DWF appoints David Kennedy Partner in Dublin office
DWF has appointed insurance lawyer David Kennedy as a Partner in its Dublin office. Kennedy joins DWF from DAC Beachcroft. David brings 18 years’ experience advising on employers’, public, product and motor liability claims.
Europe
Skadden hires Freshfields Antitrust Partner in Brussels
Merit Olthoff, who has been at Freshfields since 2012 and made Partner in 2022, is set to join Skadden in Brussels, in a move that will reunite her with former Freshfields Co-Global Managing Partner and antitrust specialist Rafique Bachour, who made the move to Skadden in January. Olthoff’s practice focuses on complex merger control and digital regulation, with a particular focus on the media and technology sectors.
Simmons & Simmons hire new Finance Partner in Luxembourg
International law firm Simmons & Simmons has appointed Fabien Debroise as Partner in its Luxembourg finance practice, strengthening its fund finance, acquisition finance and restructuring capabilities. He joins from Debroise Legal where he worked for one year. The hire reflects growing demand for fund finance expertise in Luxembourg, where asset managers increasingly use financing across the life of their funds.
Willkie Adds Tax Partner Charles del Valle in Paris
Charles del Valle joins as Partner in Willkie, Farr and Gallagher’s Tax Department where he focuses on the tax structuring of Private Equity, Leveraged Buyout, M&A and Restructuring transactions. He joins having previously spent the last 2 years at A&O Shearman in Paris.
Team
Gordon Nardell KC to join Michelmores to lead new International Arbitration and Trade offering
Michelmores is establishing a new International Arbitration and Trade Practice in its London office led by Gordon Nardell KC, strengthening the Firm’s existing International Disputes credentials. Nardell previously worked as Barrister at Twenty Essex. Gordon Nardell KC will be joined by two additional international disputes practitioners with experience across Scandinavian and African markets. Together, and with the support of the firm’s existing commercial dispute resolution team, they will focus on complex cross-border disputes and advisory work with a significant State or public law dimension.
Norton Rose Fulbright strengthens Italian finance offering with Marina Balzano and team
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has strengthened its Italian Banking and Finance offering with the appointment of Leveraged Finance Partner Marina Balzano in Milan alongside four members of her team.
Promotions & Appointments
White & Case elects 47 new Partners for 2027
Global law firm White & Case LLP has promoted 47 lawyers to its partnership, effective January 1, 2027. The new Partner class spans 13 practices across 21 offices in 13 countries, reflecting the global reach of the Firm.
Kirkland Promotes 196 Lawyers to Partnership
The latest round represents a 13% decrease from the record 225 lawyers promoted last year, and it is the lowest since 2022, when 193 made the cut. Promotions reached 205 in 2023 before falling to 200 in 2024. But the numbers do continue a broader expansion in Kirkland’s Partner promotion numbers over the past decade.
Fieldfisher Italy appoints Fabio Giuffrè as Deputy Managing Partner
Fabio Giuffrè appointed Deputy Managing Partner after two years at Fieldfisher Italy. He will work alongside Country Managing Partner Alessandro Mulinacci to support the continued growth of the firm’s Italian operation. The appointment strengthens Fieldfisher Italy’s leadership structure as it enters its next phase of development.
Firm and Market Activity
Office Openings & Closings
A&O Shearman gears up for three-stage move to new City HQ
Five years after signing its lease for new City headquarters, staff and Partners at A&O Shearman are preparing to leave their longstanding office at One Bishops Square for fresh space at Broadgate Circus. The firm is moving its 1,800 people across in three different stages this month, starting from today.
HSF Kramer launches Italy Real Estate Practice in new Milan office with K&L Gates team hire
HSF Kramer has launched a Real Estate Practice in Italy after hiring a six-lawyer team from K&L Gates. The team is led by Partners Francesco Sanna and Vanessa Boato, who have joined in Milan alongside an Of Counsel and three Associates.
Baker Botts relocates to larger premises as Riyadh team grows
Baker Botts has relocated its Riyadh office to larger premises in Laysen Valley, as the global law firm marks 25 years since it established its presence in Saudi Arabia. The move follows a period of investment in the Kingdom, with the firm’s Riyadh team growing to 22 lawyers and business professionals since 2025.
Haynes Boone expands California footprint with San Diego opening
US firm Haynes Boone is opening an office in San Diego to expand its presence in California and strengthen its life sciences practice. The San Diego office – its fourth in California, adding to its locations in Orange County, San Francisco and Palo Alto – will be led by Jeffrey Morton, who also Co-Chairs the firm’s biotechnology group.
Japanese Law Firm Nishimura & Asahi set to open Dubai office in January 2027
Japanese law firm Nishimura & Asahi is set to open a Dubai office in January 2027, formalising its regional presence after more than a decade of advising clients across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
Mergers & Alliances
Clifford Chance to end formal alliance with Singapore’s Cavenagh Law after 14 years
Clifford Chance is set to end its formal law alliance with Singapore disputes boutique Cavenagh Law, a relationship that allowed the UK-founded firm to provide local litigation advice. The FLA is expected to come to an end in four to five months, 14 years after it was formed, with the firms characterising the decision as mutual in a joint statement.
Sports Boutique Centrefield takes Private Equity Investment
Manchester-based sports boutique Centrefield has secured private equity investment as it targets international growth.
Clare Locke, Schillings launch intelligence and investigations joint venture
Reputation-focused law firms Clare Locke and Schillings have launched a specialist intelligence and investigations firm that will be led by a former Central Intelligence Agency leader and DC intelligence expert. The joint venture – CLS Vision – has named Allison Everhardt and Fred Glazier as Founding Partners.
Market Commentary
Law Society of England and Wales appoints Brett Dixon as next President
Brett Dixon has been appointed President of the Law Society of England and Wales, succeeding Mark Evans. Admitted as a solicitor in 1999, Dixon has extensive experience in civil litigation and is an accredited mediator.
Sidley Austin pushes Restructuring expansion with hires from Slaughter and May and Clifford Chance
Sidley Austin has hired two Counsel from Slaughter and May and Clifford Chance as it expands its European Restructuring Practice in London, which will reach 15 lawyers by next year, according to a firm representative. Joshua Bauernfreund from Slaughter and May, where he was Senior Counsel. Lewis Cymbal joined from Clifford Chance on 5 October. Both have more than 10 years’ post-qualification experience, according to the representative from Sidley Austin.
US employment law software platform SixFifty launches agentic HR compliance tool
US employment law software platform SixFifty has launched an agentic HR compliance tool to help companies access employment law information. The company says the tool enables legal and HR compliance teams to follow employment laws, while also completing admin-related tasks. The AI agent drafts and updates employee handbooks and workplace policies alongside employment contracts.
Solicitors Regulation Authority taps Professional Standards Authority for next Chair
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has appointed Caroline Corby as its next chair as it seeks to rebuild confidence after criticism over its oversight of failed law firms. Caroline will replace Anna Bradley in November.
Clifford Chance releases Defence Overview
Clifford Chance has released their overview of defence-related deals in 2026.
Innovation & Culture
Technology & Innovation
Loyens & Loeff has chosen Legora to put its AI strategy into practice
Legora will help embed AI into everyday legal and tax work in a practical, secure way, and give Loyens & Loeff’s team the tools to build AI fluency and develop new ways of working as the profession evolves.
Judiciary gives AI cautious thumbs-up
AI tools will be used to support judges, but the judiciary must stop short of fully AI-driven decision-making, according to a new position statement from the lead judge for artificial intelligence, Sir Colin Birss.
Freshfields weighs spin-out of legal AI unit worth ‘billions’
Freshfields Partners have discussed spinning out the firm’s in-house legal tech unit and bringing in outside investors, in a move that could create a business worth “billions”. Freshfields Lab is the firm’s internal legal tech arm, which develops tools for lawyers and clients. Senior Partners considered options including external investment and a potential IPO, according to an internal email exchange seen by the FT.
Legora says platform use has tripled among UK law firms and in-house teams since January
Swedish legaltech giant Legora says the use of its platform among UK law firms and in-house teams has more than tripled this year. The company said that in-house legal teams are now its fastest-growing client group, accelerating at more than three times the rate of law firms, and now account for just over half of the firm’s UK customer base.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Law Society to co-launch Solicitor Wellbeing Alliance, outgoing president announces
The Law Society of England and Wales has joined LawCare, the Solicitors’ Charity and the Mindful Business Charter to launch the Solicitor Wellbeing Alliance for England and Wales, outgoing Law Society president Mark Evans announced on Wednesday. Evans confirmed the society will commit to three more years of funding for LawCare and pro bono charity LawWorks.