Weekly Update – 1st April 2022

Ukrainian Legal Developments:

Linklaters to Pay Out At Least Six Months’ Salary for Displaced Russian Lawyers and Staff

Linklaters is set to pay out “generous” financial packages to its Russian-based lawyers and support staff unable to relocate roles within the firm, as the legal industry deals with the fall out from the war in Ukraine.

Greenberg Traurig Aligns with Avellum; Focused on the Future of Ukraine

Greenberg Traurig has aligned with Avellum, a Kyiv based firm. Initially, Avellum lawyers will be seconded to Greenberg Traurig offices in London, Amsterdam, and Berlin.

Linklaters to sponsor Ukrainian legal scholars at Polish universities

Linklaters has joined Weil Gotshal and Manges in contributing towards the Warsaw-based Legal Solidarity Fund.The fund was initiated by Adam Bodnar, the dean of the Law School of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw, and retired Weil partner Anna Frankowska. Each contribution is valued at PLN 100,000 (£18,184.71).

Government of Ukraine Announces the Creation of a Legal Task Force on Accountability for Crimes Committed in Ukraine

The task force will also include legal experts from U.S. firm Covington & Burling LLP, led by Nikhil Gore, the French firm Sygna Partners, led by Luke Vidal, as well as the Withers firm, led by Emma Lindsay. Each of these firms is already representing Ukraine, including at the International Court of Justice.

‘Even pariahs have rights’: judge refuses request by Ogier to stop representing sanctioned Russian bank VTB

In rejecting the leading offshore firm’s application to ‘come off the record’, Mr Justice Jack held that VTB’s right to litigate had not been curtailed by the UK’s sanctions and that Ogier’s duties to the court ‘outweigh’ other considerations including reputational damage.

 

Moves:

CMS boosts London IP team with hire of HSF’s former global practice head

Mark Shillito, former head of IP at Herbert Smith Freehills, has joined CMS.

Dentons UK managing director to leave firm

Lisa Sewell is expected to carry out her duties and responsibilities until the post is transitioned.

Skadden partner exits for A&O

David Herlihy has joined Allen & Overy’s litigation, arbitration and investigations team from Skadden.

Retailer Very hires new GC from FTSE100 insurer

Charlotte Heiss has moved to Very Group from RSA.

Eversheds Sutherland Hires Paris Corporate Criminal Team from McDermott

Alexis Werl leads the corporate criminal team that is joining Eversheds Sutherland from McDermott Will & Emery.

Kirkland strengthens tax practice with addition of Michael Ehret as partner

Michael Ehret joins Kirkland & Ellis’ Munich office from Allen & Overy.

Linklaters partner exits in Brussels for Cooley

Jonas Kopone, competition partner, is moving to Cooley’s from Linklaters

KPMG Law Taps Bird & Bird For Warsaw Co-Managing Partner

Pawel Banjo, formerly the head of private equity at Bird & Bird, has joined KPMG.

Debevoise hires former Skadden IP litigation practice co-chair in San Francisco

John (Jay) Neukom, veteran trial lawyer, has joined Debevoise from Skadden.

Cerence hires Lenovo’s global litigation head as next GC as part of wider leadership shake-up

Jennifer Salinas has joined Cerence, an AI software company that develops voice-powered digital assistants for the car industry.

Morgan Lewis adds labor relations partner in Chicago

Mark Stolzenburg has joined Morgan Lewis from Vedder Price.

Schulte Roth & Zabel expands investment management and M&A practices

Peter Greene, Benjamin Kozinn and Eileen Overbaugh have joined Schulte Roth & Zabel’s New York office.

White & Case continues to expand its private credit capabilities in Boston

Jessica Ball and Jessica Shearer have both joined White & Case from Proskauer Rose.

Kennedys Makes Further US Strides With Team Hires Across New York, Miami

U.K.-headquartered law firm Kennedys is continuing its U.S. growth push with the addition of four lawyers, including two partners, in its Miami and New York offices.

Gowling WLG welcomes George Elvira to its intellectual property group in Montréal

George Elvira has joined Gowling’s IP team from Smart & Biggar.

Akin Gump hires four-strong disputes team from Gibson Dunn in Dubai

A team of four, led by Graham Lovett, former head of Gibson Dunn’s Middle East disputes practice, has joined Akin Gump.

Holland & Knight raids DLA Piper for Mexican capital markets team

A team of six, led by Xavier Mangino, have joined Holland & Knight from DLA Piper in Mexico City.

 

Promotions and Appointments:

Pinsents unveils 23-strong promotions round (thelawyer.com)

Pinsent Masons has given the nod to 17 partners in its UK offices, with a further six making the cut across Continental Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

Clifford Chance Re-Appoints UK Managing Partner For Second Term

Clifford Chance has re-appointed Michael Baes as its U.K. regional managing partner.

Matheson promotes four women in latest 13-strong partnership round

This round of promotions brings the partner headcount for Ireland’s largest law firm up to 105.

 

Mergers & Alliances:

Clydes and BLM partners say “yes” to £700m merger

Clyde & Co and BLM have agreed to a merger between the two firms in a transformational deal for the legal insurance market. The vote was last week, with the combination going live in July. Under the merger, BLM will lose its name with the merged firm coming together under Clyde & Co’s brand.

Offshore giant Ogier unveils merger with eight-partner Dublin firm

The transaction between Ogier and Leman closed on 22 March and the two firms will combine to form the Ireland-registered LLP Ogier Leman in June.

 

Office Openings & Closings:

Mills & Reeve to expand into Oxford as partners relocate

Mills & Reeve is opening its seventh UK office in Oxford.

Eversheds Sutherland Opens San Francisco Office With Morgan Lewis Partner

Baird Fogel has joined Eversheds to become the Partner in Charge of the new Bay area office.

 

Financials:

Paul Hastings’ London office shines with 41% revenue spike as global income rises 20%

Paul Hastings has seen global revenue rise 20% to reach $1.57bn, while the London office has had revenue rise 40.6%.

Contract review startup Della raises $2.5m in first seed funding round

Della, an Anglo-French contract review legal technology startup – whose clients include Mishcon de Reya, Eversheds Sutherland, and Fidal – has raised $2.5m in its first seed funding round.

Simpson Thacher’s London revenue jumps by 43 per cent

Simpson Thacher’s revenue jumped 43% to reach $333m, and their headcount has risen 18%, up to 145 qualified lawyers.

 

Technology & Innovation:

Skadden, Kirkland and White & Case Scoop Roles on $10B Software Deal

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case are among the law firms advising on private equity firm HG’s investment in cloud software vendors IFS and WorkWave.

Technology used in the justice system is outpacing scrutiny and regulation

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee publishes its report Technology rules? The advent of new technologies in the justice system. The report explores the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other advanced algorithmic tools in activities to discover, deter, rehabilitate, or punish people who breach the law in England and Wales. The report acknowledges the potential of these technologies but warns against the pace of their deployment and the absence of appropriate safeguards.

 

Diversity & Inclusion:

LOD Launches In-House SQE Programme

Alternative legal services provider Lawyers On Demand (LOD) has developed an in-house tailored Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam programme which will allow its trainees to train while also working at clients such as Adidas and Airbnb.

LSB will continue to focus on diversity, inclusion and innovation

The Legal Services Board (LSB) published its 2022-2023 business plan today, outlining it will continue to focus on diversity and inclusion (D&I) and technology and innovation in the profession.

Coca-Cola Scraps Diversity Policy for Outside Law Firms

The Coca-Cola Co. has officially walked away from race-based staffing requirements for law firms doing work for the company, following blowback from some investors and the removal of the executive who developed the plan.

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