Moves:
UK & Ireland
Allen & Overy Hits Milbank Again for London Partner Hire
Karen McMaster, a restructuring partner, has joined the firm, which plans to formally merge with Shearman & Sterling in May.
Dentons welcomes new partner to London Litigation & Arbitration team
Alex McGregor, a highly accomplished ESG litigation and regulatory lawyer, has joined Dentons’ Disputes team in London. Alex joins the firm as a partner from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in the UK, having begun his legal career in Australia.
DAC Beachcroft bolsters its team in Dublin
Seamus White, a legal director, has joined the Injury Risk team; Lisa Kelly and Feena Robinson, senior associates, have joined the Specialist Insurance team; and Sinead Morgan, legal director, has joined the Employment Team.
Gibson Dunn unveils hire of Linklaters’ former leveraged finance co-head in London
Gibson Dunn has announced the employment of former Linklaters partner David Irvine in London to co-chair its global finance practice.
EMEA
Merger-Bound Shearman Loses Paris Tax lawyers to McDermott
McDermott announced that its Paris tax practice now employs ten attorneys, including four partners, one counsel, and five associates.
EU Competition Boutique Hires Veteran Litigator to Open Paris Office
Geradin Partners, which opened offices in Brussels in 2015, London in 2021, and Amsterdam in 2023, continues its European development with the opening of its Paris office today, thanks to the hiring of former EU official and competition lawyer Marc Barennes and his team.
Fieldfisher raids SKW Schwarz to boost media and entertainment practice in Germany
Martin Diesbach, Elisabeth Noltenius, and Julia Schafdecker, media and entertainment partners at SKW Schwarz, will join Fieldfisher’s Berlin office, as will a four-person IP team managed by partner Sascha Pres and IP litigators Christina Kufer, Tien Nguyen, and Laura Krug.
APAC
Deloitte Hires Former DLA Piper Partner Melinda Upton in Australia
Melinda Upton, an intellectual property lawyer, has joined Deloitte’s Australian legal team as a partner.
Troy Doyle is departing, citing customer needs for real flexible pricing structures and experienced partner engagement in restructuring cases.
Divest Patel, a former partner in Johnson Winter Slattery’s private equity and M&A practice divisions, holds dual qualifications in Australia and South Africa.
Clyde & Co Australia Departures Continue as 3 Partners Leave for Kennedys
Nicole Wearne, Ganga Narayanan, and Mark Attard, insurance partners, are the latest prominent lawyers to quit Clyde & Co.
Allen & Overy Hires Technology Duo to Bolster Asia Pacific Offering
Ravi de Fonseka and Daniel Thompson have joined from Australian business Johnson Winter Slattery.
Latham, Norton Rose Add Partners in Tokyo, Singapore
Yohei Nakagawa and Beelee Seah, who were both made partners last year, are leaving Morrison Foerster and Baker McKenzie, respectively.
The Americas
Littler Lures Toronto Partner From Ogletree Deakins as Part of Canadian Expansion
Stephen Shore stated that the global labour and employment giant’s drive towards expansion was one of the factors that drew him to the company.
Orrick Lures Kramer Levin’s Life Sciences Practice Head
Alyssa Caridis, co-head of Orrick’s IP business unit, about Irena Royzman noted “We see her as another game-changing addition to our growing national team handling cutting-edge cases,”.
Liberty McAteer has returned as a partner at Moses & Singer’s intellectual property, AI, and data law divisions, while John M. Nolan III has joined Margolis Edelstein’s employment practices liability group.
People in the News—April 15, 2024—Lamb McErlane, Burns White
Lamb McErlane has announced the addition of Curtis L. Sebastian to its municipal law department.
Weil Adds Simpson Thacher Infrastructure Partner in Houston
Jacqui Bogucki, an infrastructure partner from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, has joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as a partner in Houston as the firm expands its energy and infrastructure practice.
On the Move: Thompson Coburn Enters Southeast With Birmingham Office Launch
Thompson Coburn expanded its higher education business with four lateral additions, including the construction of a new office in Birmingham, Alabama. The presence of partners Tres Cleveland, Brandt Hill, and Evan Moltz in Birmingham, as well as Roger Swartzwelder in Washington, D.C., has prompted widespread coverage by legal media organizations.
Lowenstein Sandler Adds Bankruptcy Vet from Loeb & Loeb
Daniel Besikof worked as the deputy chairman of Loeb & Loeb’s bankruptcy group.
After Less Than a Year at Simpson Thacher, 2 Partners Head to Latham
Tracey Zaccone and Justin Rosenberg joined Simpson from Paul Weiss last year.
Lewis Brisbois Adds New Partner in Delaware
Ann Kashishian joined Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith’s Wilmington office as a partner in the firm’s complicated business and commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and insolvency areas.
People in the News—April 16, 2024—Eisenberg Rothweiler, Stradley Ronon
Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg & Jeck announced the recent hiring of Stephan A. Cornell as an attorney in Philadelphia.
Goodwin Continues Recruiting From Cooley, Adding Longtime Tech Industry Litigator
Over the years, Patrick Gunn’s clients have included Zoom and eBay, as well as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
2 More Morrison Cohen Partners Exit for Loeb & Loeb
Partners Michael Weinstein and Joshua Saidlower will join former colleague Stephen Budow, a founding member of midsize firm Morrison Cohen and chair emeritus of the corporate department, as well as partners Andy Arsiotis, Michael Barry, Matt Friedman, Mike Martell, Steven Rockoff, and Henry Zangara.
Top State Insurance Regulator Joins Alston in New York
Mona Bhalla led a 130-person agency tasked with overseeing New York’s life insurance market.
Tarter Krinsky Continues Hiring From Shuttered Ingram Yuzek
Tarter Krinsky hired nine lawyers from the recently closed New York law firm Ingram Yuzek.
Chasan Lamparello hires three new education attorneys and Genova Burns elevates one of its partners.
Midsize Moves: Saxton & Stump Adds Clement Rivers Partner, Barley Snyder Hires ERISA Counsel
Saxton & Stump reported that Jason A. Daigle has joined the company as an equity stakeholder, working out of the Charleston, South Carolina office. Barley Snyder stated that attorney Karen E. Toth has recently joined the firm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Dentons Loses Corporate Practice Head in Montreal to Miller Thomson
Seon Kang has joined the national Canadian corporation after more than 20 years at the multinational conglomerate.
The end of an era as HSF’s arbitration head Paula Hodges bows out
After 16 years in the top spot, Hodges will hand reins to new practice co-heads, reports Ben Rigby
In-House
Longtime Mary Kay Legal Chief Julia Simon Joins Top Texas Litigation Firm
“If I wanted to stay in-house, I would have stayed at Mary Kay. What I wanted was a different challenge,” Mary Kay’s retired legal chief Julia Simon told Law.com on her return to private practice in April. “The idea of bringing my broad knowledge and skills back to private practice and to a top tier trial firm was compelling.”
Legal Ops Director Jenn McCarron Exits Netflix
Jenn McCarron wrote “If I sound defiant, it’s because I am,”. “I cannot and will not accept the status quo. The stakes are too high, and our industry will get left behind if we do.”
Patent Data Unicorn Names First GC, Hiring From Another AI-Driven Unicorn
Eric Topel joined Patsnap this month from Nevada’s Socure. The Singapore-based startup raised $300 million from an investment group that includes Japan’s SoftBank, with a valuation of more than $1 billion in 2021.
Founding GC of Animal Health Giant Zoetis Steps Down
Heidi Chen worked at Pfizer for 13 years before helping to spin off the company’s animal-health business as a standalone public company in 2012 and becoming its first legal head.
Orthofix names CLO replacement following trio of executive dismissals last year
Andres Cedron arrives from Stryker Corporation to replace departed legal chief Patrick Keran.
Team Moves
3 Partners on Crowell & Moring’s GM Team Move to Morgan Lewis
April Nelson Ross and Rachel Raphael are located in Washington, D.C., while Mohamed Awan resides in Chicago.
Gaining Steam in Los Angeles, Shook Hires Litigation Group From Carlton Fields
Four litigation partners from Los Angeles, Atlanta, and South Florida have joined Shook, Hardy & Bacon.
Tarter Krinsky Continues Hiring From Shuttered Ingram Yuzek
Tarter Krinsky hired nine lawyers from the recently closed New York law firm Ingram Yuzek.
Baker McKenzie Adds Leading Energy Litigation Team in Texas
Baker McKenzie, a global legal practice, has announced the addition of highly acclaimed litigators David Baay, Jack Massey, Kelsey Machado, Ian Shelton, and Matthew (Matt) Rawlinson to its Houston team.
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo has added three attorneys to its education practice group: Dennis McKeever, Marcie Mackolin, and Jaclyn Morgese. The attorneys join the firm from Cornell, Merlino & Osborne, where they practiced school law and served as board of education counsel.
Promotions & Appointments:
New York Community Bancorp Taps Skadden Partner as GC Amid Financial Turmoil
Bao Nguyen succeeds Patrick Quinn, who joined NYCB in 1999 and had been general counsel for the previous two years.
Orthofix Replaces Legal Chief Fired for ‘Offensive Conduct’
Andres Cedron said “This is an exciting time for the company, and I look forward to helping Orthofix become an even stronger competitor in the market,”.
People in the News—April 17, 2024—Klehr Harrison, McAndrews Mehalick
Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg stated that Lisa Lori, a partner in the firm’s litigation department, has been named Marywood University’s next president.
People in the News—April 18, 2024—Feldman Shepherd, Strassburger McKenna
Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig, a Philadelphia personal injury and class action law firm, has announced the addition of attorney George A. Donnelly to its team.
Freshfields Promotes 23 to Global Partnership
The latest round represents a tiny dip from the firm’s highest promotion round last year, when it elevated 30 lawyers to partnership.
A&O Shearman Names Middle East Managing Partner
Following Garousha’s recent election as senior partner of the newly amalgamated firm, A&O partner David Foster will take over the job.
Argentina’s Beccar Varela Appoints New Managing Partner
Maximiliano D’Auro takes over as the firm celebrates its 127th anniversary, succeeding a managing partner who had headed the huge Argentine firm for more than 20 years.
CMS makes up 54 in latest partner promotions round
CMS has promoted 54 partners in its most recent promotions round, which includes 10 across the UK.
Herbert Smith Freehills promotes four
Herbert Smith Freehills has added Murphy Mok in Hong Kong, Emily Fox in Paris, Marco de Sousa in New York, and Matthew Shelley in Brisbane to its partnership.
Mergers & Alliances:
Ellingboe, who oversaw Faegre Baker Daniels’ corporate litigation division prior to its 2020 merger with Drinker Biddle & Reath, stated that the virtual environment allowed attorneys to meet and communicate, which likely resulted in greater cross-office collaboration.
Where Do the Most Merger-Hungry Law Firms Get Their Appetite?
Fennemore Craig and Clark Hill have dominated the law firm merger scene in the past year.
Lawyers See Positive Outlook for Mergers & Acquisitions in Australia
They will encounter additional challenges, as Australian regulators, like those in many other nations and areas throughout the world, tighten their examination of M&A transactions.
Crowell Builds in Chicago, Luring Neal Gerber Corporate and Securities Leaders
Following its merger with a Chicago-based intellectual property boutique in 2021, the firm is currently expanding its corporate practice.
Troutman Pepper and Locke Lord in Merger Talks to Create New Am Law 50 Law Firm
The merger would result in a firm with almost 1,600 lawyers, propelling it squarely into the Am Law 50.
Skadden, Slaughter and May lead on International Paper’s £5.8bn DS Smith acquisition
Skadden is assisting longtime client International Paper on its £5.8 billion recommended bid for FTSE 100 UK packaging company DS Smith, which is represented by Slaughter and May.
Office Openings & Closing:
Pullman & Comley Celebrates Expansion of Westport Office
One of the state’s largest firms has expanded its base in Westport to better serve clients in lower Fairfield County.
White & Case Expands Miami Office, Doubling Down On Market’s Long-Term Growth
The New York-based firm, which added another level to its long-term home in the Southeast Financial Center, has followed Greenberg Traurig in renewing office contracts.
Greenberg Traurig Becomes Fully Incorporated in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a global law company, is now fully incorporated as a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) law firm after receiving all essential government licenses.
Mid-Market Roundup: Growing Midsize Firms Take More Space and Find Talent in Boutiques
One of Connecticut’s top law firms doubled its size, while five partners from a now-defunct boutique joined New York’s Warshaw Burstein.
Six CMS Partners in Chile Exit to Form Own Firm, With Associates in Tow
A/C/R Legal will focus on transactional work, such as mergers and acquisitions, as well as supporting startups and handling highly complicated litigation and collective bargaining agreements.
Financials:
Twilio GC Sees Pay Drop 73% in 2023
Twilio’s chief legal officer Dana Wagner is no longer one of the highest-compensated general counsel, as his stock award shrank by more than $20 million in 2023.
Hinshaw, After Lateral Hires and Combination, Grows Revenue and Profits Double Digits
Firm chair Peter Sullivan reported that the average PEP shot up more than 34%, as retirements and the progression of some lateral partners through a contract stage had some effect.
Norton Rose Fulbright Grew Revenue 8% Amid Management Exits
According to U.S. managing partner Jeff Cody, demand for the worldwide legal firm’s platform has increased.
The 2024 Am Law 100: Ranked by Profits Per Lawyer
Profits per lawyer is an alternate approach of looking at firm profitability that aims to remove the impact of issues like indebtedness. The average is around $518,000, with the top of the list being around $3.04 million.
The 2024 Am Law 100: Ranked by Profits Per Equity Partner
In 2023, the Am Law 100’s average PEP increased by 9.3%. Thirty-seven enterprises experienced at least 10% growth, up from 14 last year. Twenty enterprises saw reductions in 2023.
The 2024 Am Law 100: Ranked by Gross Revenue
Fifty-four companies reported gross revenue of $1 billion or more in 2023, four more than in 2022. Ninety enterprises reported increases in gross revenue.
Netflix CLO’s Pay Hits Record, but Big Changes Loom
A redesigned executive pay program went into effect on January 1, linking pay more closely to performance. Executives will no longer be able to pick how much of their compensation comes in the form of a wage.
Technology & Innovation:
Law Firm Leaders Say Gen AI Can Level Playing Field Between Large and Smaller Firms
John Polson of Fisher & Phillips said that “[Generative AI] does help the smaller firm punch above its weight on projects and matters that require a lot of people,”.
We’re Entering the Golden Age of Legal Technology
Technological skills, such as the ability to automate procedures and use artificial intelligence to get more insight into data, are being introduced to the legal industry at an unprecedented rate.
Thomson Reuters Expands CoCounsel to All Business Segments, Adds New Gen AI Legal Capabilities
In addition to providing three new talents for legal and tax professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom, Thomson Reuters announced ambitions to expand the CoCounsel generative AI assistant across all professional lines it covers, including risk, fraud, and media.
AI-Generated Works Dilemma: Balancing AI Terms of Service With Contractual Obligations
Artificial intelligence, like any other developing technology, is fraught with legal difficulties. These legal issues may not provide appealing entertainment, but they are critical in influencing the use and potential of AI.
BT Group offers automatic panel spot to firm that makes best use of AI
BT Group has reduced its legal panel from 15 to 11 companies and declared that the panel firm that best utilizes AI and legal technology would receive an automatic spot when the roster is next evaluated.
Diversity & Inclusion:
People in the News—April 19, 2024—McMonagle Perri, Klasko
On April 1, McMonagle Perri McHugh Mischak Davis’ partner Charles M. Gibbs held a virtual town hall with Philadelphia Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.
Nearly 14% of ABA-Accredited US Law Schools Haven’t Had a Woman Dean
A 2021 Villanova Law Review paper said, “despite these very real barriers, women should not be discouraged from contemplating becoming a dean,”.
South Korea’s legal profession lags on gender equality, IBA report finds
Only 29% of all lawyers in South Korea are female, and women hold only 13% of senior positions in legal firms.
Freshfields beats gender target for fourth year in a row in latest partner promotion round
The 52% female promotions represent the fourth consecutive year that the Magic Circle firm has exceeded its diversity target of at least 40% new partners being women. This indicates a significant shift from 2020, when only four (19%) of the 21-person cohort were female.
McCann FitzGerald backs women in finance initiative
McCann FitzGerald LLP has signed Ireland’s Women in Finance Charter, an industry-led and government-backed initiative aiming at expanding women’s participation at all levels of the Irish financial services industry.
Market Commentary:
Can You Be a Diligent Parent And an Equity Partner?
The Global Lawyer: Gender diversity progress at the equity partnership level has stalled, and long-term goals are failing—most likely due to systemic discrimination against primary careers.
Indonesia’s M&A and Project Finance Market Expected to Take Off in 2024
The results of the country’s presidential election in February have restored investor confidence in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, and multinational law firms are bracing for a surge in Indonesia-related work.
In another big deal this week, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer led Johnson & Johnson’s $13.1 billion acquisition of Shockwave Medical (represented by Fenwick & West), while Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett assisted Blackstone Real Estate Partners X in its $10 billion acquisition of Apartment Income REIT Corp (represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom).
vLex Expands Vincent AI With Document Analyze, Launches Law Firm AI Co-Development Lab
vLex announced the launch of Document Analyze, a suite of generative artificial intelligence-powered tools for responding to litigation and transactional documents, as well as vLex Labs, an initiative in which the company will collaborate with leading global law firms to develop custom AI products.
Susman Godfrey Jumps to Am Law 100 Ranking, Joining 5 Other Homegrown Texas Firms
Four of the six native Texas firms reported better income in 2023 than the previous year, propelling them up the Am Law 100 ranks.
Weil Revises Partner Pay Criteria, as Firm Plots Leadership Succession
Barry Wolf has overseen the firm since 2009 and will reach the obligatory retirement age of 68 in the next four years.
Several DC Law Firms Rose in Latest Am Law 100 Ranking
While three D.C. companies fell in the Am Law 100 rankings, six rose and three remained.
Law Firms Seek Out ‘Money-Generating’ Partner Moves Amid Big Law’s Arms Race
Even while partner movements were down year on year, Decipher said that law firms last year discovered one of the quickest ways to grow: purchasing partners with books of business.
Mason Hayes & Curran wins three IP awards
The team was named Ireland Trademark Prosecution Firm of the Year, Ireland Copyright Firm of the Year, and Ireland IP Transactions & Advisory Firm of the Year, after being shortlisted in five of six categories.
Eversheds Sutherland are Recognized at the Real Deals Private Equity Awards 2024
This year marks the 23rd annual Real Deals Private Equity Awards which are the longest running and most prestigious private equity awards in Europe. The awards celebrate excellence in European private equity and recognizes and rewards those who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry.