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
Travers Smith hires Baker McKenzie’s International Arbitration Chair in London
Travers Smith has hired Arbitration specialist Andy Moody from Baker McKenzie to strengthen its London Disputes practice.
Latham returns to Gibson Dunn for London PE Real Estate hire
Latham & Watkins has hired Private Equity Real Estate Partner Patrick Hennessy from Gibson Dunn in London, adding to a run of investment in its Real Estate practice.
Bird & Bird expands AI advisory practice with new Partner appointment in London
Bird & Bird is strengthening its AI offering with the appointment of Michelle Sally as a Partner in its London Commercial team. Michelle joins from TLT, where she worked as a Partner.
McDermott expands London Transactions bench with Natalie Blanc
McDermott Will & Schulte announced that Natalie Blanc has joined the firm as a Partner in its Transactions Practice Group in London. Natalie joins from Ropes & Gray, where she worked as a Counsel.
Hill Dickinson adds to Restructuring expertise with London Partner hire
Hill Dickinson have strengthened their Business Services Group, appointing Rhiannon Paine as a Partner to their national Restructuring and Insolvency practice. Rhiannon joins from Simmons & Simmons, where she worked as a Managing Associate.
Carpmaels & Ransford hires new Patent Litigation Partner
Carpmaels & Ransford has hired Christopher Stothers as a Partner in their Patent Litigation practice group. Christopher joins from Freshfields, where he worked as a Partner, and is based in London and Dublin.
Travers Smith hires Funds Partner Laura Houët
Travers Smith LLP has announced the hire of Laura Houët as a Partner in the Funds practice. Laura joins from CMS, where she was a Partner in the firm’s Financial Services team and Global Co-Head of ESG. Laura is based in London.
Pinsent Masons strengthens IP offering with new Patent Attorney Partner Fred Nicolle in London
Pinsent Masons has appointed Fred Nicolle as a Partner in its Intellectual Property team in London. Fred joins from Simmons & Simmons, where he worked as a Managing Associate.
Orrick hires Kirkland Partner as Finance buildout continues
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has hired a Financial Regulatory Partner from Kirkland & Ellis, as the firm continues to strengthen its burgeoning transatlantic finance bench. Sumit Indwar joined Kirkland in April 2025 following 20 years at Linklaters, where he qualified in 2006. Sumit is based in London.
Travers Smith hires Mayer Brown Antitrust Head in fourth partner move in fortnight
Travers Smith has hired its fourth Partner in a fortnight with the addition of Mayer Brown’s UK Antitrust Head Daniel Vowden. Vowden joins as a Partner, splitting his time between the firm’s London office and its recently opened Brussels office, following three years at Mayer Brown.
William Fry Appoints Cormac McGrady as Corporate M&A Partner
William Fry has appointed Cormac McGrady as a Partner in its Corporate / M&A department. Cormac joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where he worked as a Counsel. Cormac is based in Dublin.
Walker Morris hires leading City lawyer to expand Equity Capital Markets practice
Walker Morris is adding to its Equity Capital Markets team with the appointment of DLA Piper’s former Co-Head of UK Equity Capital Markets, Martin Penn. Martin brings more than 20 years of experience to lead and expand a growing portfolio of mid-market public company advisory work. Martin is based in London.
Europe
BonelliErede and Hogan Lovells Cadwalader latest to boost Brussels ranks with Partner hires
Two international law firms have appointed new Partners in Brussels as they look to expand in the city and increase their EU law capabilities. Francesco Maria Salerno has joined Italian firm BonelliErede as a Local Partner, while Dutch-qualified Michael Frese becomes Partner at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader (HLC). Salerno was most recently Managing Partner of the Brussels office of Gianni & Origoni. Frese, meanwhile, joins HLC after spending his entire 13-year career at Skadden Arps, where he was a Counsel.
Norton Rose Fulbright Appoints Eda Zhuleku as Partner and Head of Life Sciences Regulatory Europe
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has strengthened its European life sciences and healthcare practice with the appointment of Eda Zhuleku as a Partner in Munich and Head of Life Sciences Regulatory Europe. Eda joins from A&O Shearman, where she worked as a Counsel.
Paul Chiellini-Morge joins Harneys in Luxembourg
Harneys announced that it has hired Paul Chiellini-Morge as a Partner in their Corporate/M&A practice. Paul joins from Maples, where he worked as an Of Counsel.
Senior CEE Partner leaves Freshfields for White & Case
White & Case has hired a Senior M&A Partner from Freshfields in Hamburg, as exits from the magic circle firm in continental Europe continue. The firm has hired M&A, Infrastructure, and Private Capital Partner Natascha Doll, who has been Co-Head of the firm’s CEE/CIS practice since 2019.
Middle East
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Expands Middle East Offering with Head of UAE Tax Hire
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader has strengthened its Middle East platform with the appointment of Barbara Schwartz as Head of UAE Tax, based in Dubai. Barbara joins from ATOZ Tax Advisers, where she worked as a Principal.
Team
Weil loses London Co-Managing Partner to Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell is hiring Weil London Co-Managing Partner David Avery-Gee and Corporate Partner Sarah Flaherty, adding two senior M&A lawyers to its growing City office. Avery-Gee currently co-leads Weil’s London office alongside Jonathan Wood and heads its London M&A practice. Flaherty is a Partner in Weil’s London Corporate group, advising on public and private M&A, restructurings and joint ventures.
Proskauer Takes Four-Lawyer DLA Piper Antitrust Team in Strategic Paris Build-Out
Proskauer has hired veteran Antitrust Partner Edouard Sarrazin from DLA Piper in Paris, along with a Counsel and two Associates, building on a series of strategic Partner additions in France across key practice areas, including private funds, private equity and M&A. Sarrazin joins Proskauer after more than 11 years as a Partner at DLA Piper.
Promotions & Appointments
Baker McKenzie appoints Kate Corby as Global Head of International Arbitration
Leading global law firm, Baker McKenzie, is pleased to announce that Kate Corby has been appointed as Global Head of International Arbitration. Kate has over two decades’ experience of representing clients in complex litigation and arbitration, with a focus on arbitration of construction, engineering and infrastructure related disputes. Kate is based in London.
Browne Jacobson appoints Vicky Tomlinson as Head of Independent Health and Care
Browne Jacobson has appointed Vicky Tomlinson, Corporate Partner, as Head of Independent Health and Care as the firm continues to strengthen its market-leading offering to organisations operating across the sector. Vicky is based in Nottingham.
AS&H Clifford Chance promotes Aysh-Ahmed Chaudry to Partner
AS&H Clifford Chance has promoted Aysh-Ahmed Chaudry to Partner in their Riyadh office. Aysh specialises in Corporate, M&A and Private Capital law.
Murlands Solicitors appoints Brenda Allen and Alanna McCall as Partners
Murlands Solicitors has announced the appointment of Brenda Allen and Alanna McCall as Partners in the firm. Ms Allen joined Murlands in 2016 and is one of the firm’s Residential Property solicitors. Ms McCall, completed her apprenticeship with Murlands and qualified as a Solicitor in 2019, she is a member of the firm’s Private Client team, specialising in wills, trusts, estate administration, and Enduring Powers of Attorney.
Macdonald Henderson appoints Laura McKnight as Managing Director
Laura McKnight will succeed David Beveridge, who has served as Managing Director since leading the management buyout of the firm in 2009. Mr Beveridge will continue as head of corporate and will continue to play a key role in the firm’s leadership and long-term growth.
BT lines up former Rolls-Royce GC as next legal chief
UK telecoms giant BT Group has lined up Mark Gregory as its next Chief Legal and Public Affairs Officer to replace Sabine Chalmers who is retiring from the role. Gregory was most recently General Counsel at Rolls-Royce, before leaving earlier this year. At BT, he will lead its legal, regulatory affairs, company secretariat and compliance functions, as well as oversee policy and public affairs matters.
Other Notable Moves
Skadden Hires Weil Real Estate Partner Jessica Pillai
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates has hired Jessica Pillai as a Partner in its New York Real Estate Group. Jessica joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where she worked as a Partner.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Hires Four Kirkland Private Equity Partners
Sullivan & Cromwell is hiring four Kirkland & Ellis Partners as it builds out its U.S. Private Equity practice. Hamed Meshki, Luke Guerra, Guirgis Nasief, and Y. Michael Chung are joining the firm, with Meshki set to lead S&C’s Global Private Equity practice. Meshki, Guerra, and Nasief are based in Los Angeles, while Chung is based in New York.
Ashurst Perkins Coie appoints Funds Partner to accelerate private capital growth
Ashurst Perkins Coie announced the appointment of Ben Plotnik as a Partner in its Corporate practice, based in Melbourne, as the firm continues to expand its global private capital team. Ben joins from Freehills.
Norton Rose Fulbright expands in New York with eight-lawyer Real Estate team
Norton Rose Fulbright announced that Partners David Szeker, Darwin Huang and Matt McElroy have joined its New York office from Kasowitz, enhancing the firm’s highly regarded Real Estate practice amid renewed momentum in one of the country’s most active commercial property markets. They are joined by Senior Counsel Kathleen Maurer and Robert Novick, along with Associates Jason Re, Christina Sim and Amanda Bradley as well as Practice Specialist Hyacinth Buckmore.
Firm and Market Activity
Office Openings & Closings
Thompsons Solicitors has moved into larger office premises in Dundee
The firm’s new office, at Albert Square, will serve Thompsons’ Dundee team of 10 lawyers and paralegals. The office move is driven by specific market growth within Dundee for the firm and the desire to maintain local connections and give strong client service to their immediate clientele in Dundee.
Broadfield Expands Into Continental Europe with the Launch of Paris Office
Broadfield, a global law firm in a strategic partnership with Alvarez & Marsal Inc.’s affiliate, SHP Legal Services, announced today the opening of its Paris office, marking its expansion into continental Europe. The launch reflects the firm’s continued growth and its commitment to clients in one of Europe’s most important business and investment markets.
US employment specialist Fisher Phillips has opened in London
The nearly-900 lawyer firm has opened its first office in Europe and 52nd globally with a team of employment specialists from Charles Russel Speechlys and other firms. The launch team includes partners Dan Pollard, Richard Harvey and Ian Fraser, with further senior hires planned. The team will operate from The Scalpel on Lime Street in the City.
Sullivan & Cromwell opens first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi
Sullivan & Cromwell said the Abu Dhabi office will allow it to better serve clients in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and across the wider region. The office will initially focus on finance, regulation and transactional work, with specific emphasis on complex, cross-border and large-scale mandates.
Devonshires continues national expansion with the launch of a Cardiff office
Devonshires have announced the opening of a Cardiff office and the appointment of leading Real Estate and Social Housing lawyer Liz Gibbons to head their Welsh practice. The move marks the launch of their fifth office – a significant milestone in their continued national expansion – joining established offices in Birmingham, Colchester, Leeds and London.
Dutch IP litigators launch AI-native law firm in Amsterdam
Arvid van Oorschot and Jelle Drok have launched Driven Lawyers in Amsterdam. Drok is a former Patent Litigation Partner at Freshfields, van Oorschot is a former Vondst Partner. They position their boutique as the first AI-native law firm in the Netherlands, built around a self-developed software platform and a fixed-fee model.
Market Commentary
CME Group promotes Associate GC for litigation to top lawyer role
US derivatives marketplace CME Group has promoted John Marchese to General Counsel, succeeding Jonathan Marcus in the role. Marchese was previously associate GC for Litigation and Information Technology. As GC, he will be responsible for overseeing all legal matters.
Latham Boosts German Associate Salaries 20% to €180,000, Surpassing Kirkland
The decision will catapult Latham and Watkins’ newly qualified lawyers into the top tier of the Big Law Pay Scale, just behind Quinn, Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, which pays NQ German Associates €190,000 with a maximum possible bonus of €15,000. The new Associate pay would also put Latham on par with Milbank and Willkie Farr & Gallagher and overtake Kirkland & Ellis. Latham’s Counsel, meanwhile, will pocket another €50,000 per year.
The Global Legal 200 has been released
The Global 200 rankings are out! The Global Legal 200 is an annual ranking by The American Lawyer of the world’s 200 largest law firms, based primarily on gross revenue. It is widely used as a benchmark of a firm’s size, financial performance, international reach, and market position.
White-collar crime comparative guide launches
The guide provides practical, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction guidance on areas including domestic laws and enforcement agencies, corporate and individual liability, internal investigations, whistleblower protections, self-reporting and emerging reforms.
Scotland’s Court of Sessions welcomes four new judges
Four Judges – Lady Anwar, Lord Ewing, Lord Ghosh and Lady O’Neill – have been sworn in as Senators of the College of Justice earlier this month, elevating them to members of Scotland’s senior judiciary. The ceremony, held in Edinburgh, marked the first time lawyers with South Asian heritage have been appointed as Senators: Aisha Anwar KC and Julian Ghosh KC.
Global Compliance and Governance Leader leaves Amazon
Laura Tiuca, who specialised in AI and Digital Infrastructure as a Senior Legal Executive, has departed Amazon after ten years with the business.
Innovation & Culture
Technology & Innovation
Legora calls for safety first as AI alarm mounts
The company argues that while AI can significantly improve efficiency in tasks such as contract review, due diligence and legal research, lawyers must retain oversight and responsibility for all advice produced. Leonard Schreij, Legora’s VP of Revenue, emphasised the importance of robust data security, non-retention policies and secure AI environments to protect sensitive client information, highlighting that safe and responsible deployment is essential for wider adoption of AI in legal practice.
Wolters Kluwer launches agentic AI outside counsel management tool
Wolters Kluwer’s Enterprise Legal Management (ELM) solutions business has launched an AI-powered outside counsel management tool that allows legal operations teams to compare firms in areas such as cost, staffing and billing compliance. The company says the software acts as a decision support tool by monitoring staffing efficiency, ensuring that law firms are operating within budget, identifying recurring billing anomalies and comparing market rates.
OpenAI launches legal-focused AI platform, escalating race for law firm users
On Thursday, OpenAI released a legal industry-focused version of its latest AI technology, GPT-6 Astra, that it said is designed to help law firms and legal software providers conduct research, draft advice and build custom applications for lawyers. The launch of Astra for Law marks the latest push by the top AI labs into the legal market, where technology companies are racing to capture business.