Moves
UK & Ireland
Eversheds Sutherland has further strengthened its tax offering with the appointment of Kevin Cummings as partner in its London office. Kevin joins the firm from McDermott Will & Emery.
Cadwalader enriches private wealth practice with new hire
Global law firm has welcomed partner Matthew Sperry to its London and New York private wealth practice. Prior to joining the firm, Sperry was an international attorney at Katten Muchin Rosenmann.
Baker Botts Adds Strategic Dubai-London Team to Expand Global Finance Offering
Baker Botts has strengthened its global finance platform with the arrival of Zahra Knapper Al-Bahrani and her team in London. The team joins from White & Case.
Hogan Lovells strengthens Private Equity platform with London duo
Global law firm Hogan Lovells has further expanded its Corporate & Finance offering with the addition of partners Michael James and Edward Meadowcroft in London from Paul Hastings.
Marie-Claire Scullion to head employment law team at Browne Jacobson
Browne Jacobson has appointed Marie-Claire Scullion as partner and head of employment in Ireland. She joins from Eversheds Sutherland.
Fieldfisher hires litigation and dispute resolution partner Dermot McEvoy
Fieldfisher has appointed Dermot McEvoy as a partner in its Dublin litigation and dispute resolution practice. Mr McEvoy joins the firm from Eversheds Sutherland.
Americas
Ropes & Gray hits Kirkland for M&A partner in New York growth push
Michael Brueck joins Ropes & Gray in New York after 15 years as a partner at Kirkland.
Veteran Energy Transactional Attorney John Thomas Joins Frost Brown Todd as Partner
Frost Brown Todd has announced that John Thomas has joined the firm’s Houston office as a Partner in the Private Equity & Venture Capital practice group. He joins from Grable Martin.
Latham & Watkins Strengthens New York Real Estate Team with Strategic Partner Addition
Latham & Watkins has announced the expansion of its New York real estate team with the addition of partner Michael S. Mercedes, who joins from Haynes and Boone.
White & Case Hires Back Former Partner in Mexico City
White & Case has hired back a former partner in Mexico City after he left the firm in 2009. Thomas S. Heather joins as counsel after holding a similar role at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez—a top Mexican firm.
Proskauer adds Cadwalader finance partner quartet for Charlotte debut
Proskauer Rose has added a team of four leveraged finance partners from Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft to open its 12th global office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ron Lovelace, who headed Cadwalader’s leveraged finance practice, has joined the 800-lawyer firm alongside Patrick Yingling, Jared Zajac and Joey Polonsky.
Clifford Chance hires partner Shellka Arora-Cox
Clifford Chance has hired Shellka Arora-Cox as a partner in its energy & infrastructure finance team in the US as it further strengthens its renewables and project finance practice. She will be joining from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw.
EMEA
Simmons & Simmons adds restructuring partner duo in Paris from Fidal
Simmons & Simmons has made a twin partner hire in Paris to expand its global restructuring practice. The incoming lawyers are Isabelle Vincent and Arnaud Roiron, who join from French firm Fidal.
Linklaters hires leading M&A deal maker Massimiliano Nitti as a partner in Italy
Linklaters has hired leading M&A dealmaker, Massimiliano Nitti, as a partner and Head of Corporate in Italy, further strengthening the firm’s global platform. He joins from Chionmeti.
Ashurst Hires Clifford Chance Partner Ouns Lemseffer to Launch Africa Presence
The leading global law firm Ashurst has hired Clifford Chance partner Ouns Lemseffer to spearhead the launch of its first office in Africa, located in Casablanca, Morocco. Ouns Lemseffer has joined as Head of Morocco and will serve as the Managing Partner of the firm’s new office, Ashurst’s 32nd globally. She joins from Clifford Chance.
Pinsent Masons hires Head of our Funds and Asset Management team in Luxembourg
Pinsent Masons has announced the hire of Manfred Dietrich to lead its funds and asset management team in Luxembourg. He joins from Maples Group.
Bird & Bird has announced the arrival of Charles-Henri Caron as a partner in the Litigation team and the Life Sciences & Healthcare group in Paris. He joins from Hogan Lovells.
APAC
Bird & Bird appoints Chris Case as partner in Australia
Bird & Bird has announced the appointment of Chris Case as partner in the firm’s Sydney office, strengthening its capabilities in the Defence and Energy & Utilities sectors. Chris will join the partnership on 1 October 2025. He previously worked for his own consultancy.
Nixon Peabody CWL bolsters corporate offering with two partner hires
Hong Kong. Nixon Peabody CWL has added further depth to its Hong Kong Corporate team with the arrival of partners Gary Lam and Nicholas Cook, enhancing the firm’s capabilities in cross-border transactions, regulatory matters, and growth sector work across Asia Pacific. They join from Oldham, Li & Ne.
Reed Smith hires regulatory partner in China from A&O Shearman
Reed Smith has appointed Jieni Ji as a partner in its global regulatory enforcement group, based across the firm’s Shanghai and Hong Kong offices. She joins from A&O Shearman, where she was of counsel.
Rajah & Tann boosts aviation finance practice with hire from Big Four rival A&G
Rajah & Tann Singapore has hired transport and aviation finance expert Michelle Zheng as a partner in its banking and finance practice in Singapore from rival Allen & Gledhill, marking a rare instance of partner-level movement among the city-state’s Big Four.
Kinstellar grows Cambodia offering with senior hire from Slovak firm
European law firm Kinstellar has hired corporate expert Roman Hamala as an international partner at its recently launched Cambodia operation from Slovakia’s HKV Law Firm.
In-House
US gym franchise Crunch Fitness hires first GC from Restore Hyper Wellness
US gym chain Crunch Fitness has hired Chris Flowers as its inaugural general counsel to support the company’s global growth plans. Flowers joins from Restore Hyper Wellness, where he was deputy GC.
Lucky Strike-maker BAT names GC replacement as 11-year veteran to step down
Lucky Strike-maker British American Tobacco (BAT) has lined up Paul McCrory as its next general counsel, replacing Jerome Abelman who is stepping down at the end of the year. McCrory is currently the company’s director for corporate and regulatory affairs.
New President has been appointed to lead Engine by Starling’s expansion in North America
Staling has announced that Jody Bhagat has been appointed to lead Engine by Starling‘s expansion in North America, from a new regional headquarters in New York. He joins from Personetics, where he served as President of Global Banking.
Team Moves
The team includes some of the country’s leading patent trial litigators including partners Steven Pepe––former Ropes & Gray intellectual property practice group chair––David Chun, Jim Davis, Kevin Post and Matthew Shapiro, along with 16 special counsel and associates.
William Fry recruits 12 from Eversheds Sutherland
William Fry has welcomed the arrival of 12 corporate/M&A lawyers from Eversheds Sutherland Ireland, including partners Gerard Ryan, Enda Newton, Gavin O’Flaherty and Maria O’Brien.
Promotions & Appointments
Freshfields Appoints M&A and Private Equity Partner to Oversee Continental Europe
Freshfields has appointed Konrad Gröller regional managing partner for continental Europe starting in early October.
Microsoft promotes GC to CLO role as legal chief steps down
Microsoft has promoted Jonathan Palmer to chief legal officer, replacing Hossein Nowbar who left the company this month. Palmer was previously the tech giant’s general counsel.
Willkie names private equity leader as new joint chair
Willkie Farr & Gallagher has named private equity co-head Jeffrey Poss as its new joint chairman, replacing veteran leader Thomas Cerabino who will step down from the role at the end of next year.
Office Openings & Closing
K&L Gates Set to Close Beijing Office
K&L Gates is closing its Beijing office and its staff members on the ground have been offered severance packages. The U.S.-based firm becomes the ninth international law firm to close an office in mainland China so far this year.
Bird & Bird to expand Iberian offering with launch of Lisbon office
Bird & Bird will open an office in Lisbon, establishing a presence in Portugal and strengthening its position in the wider Iberian market. The office will be led by Ana Rita Paínho, alongside Sofia Carreiro, one of-counsel, two senior counsel, a team of three associates and supporting staff. The initial team will cover IP, TMT, Life Sciences, Corporate, M&A, Employment and Litigation.
Ropes & Gray opens new office in Milan
Ropes & Gray has announced the opening of our new office in Milan. Led by Cataldo Piccarreta, Giorgia Lugli, and Luca Maranetto, our Milan team brings extensive experience in private equity, M&A, and complex transactions.
Mergers & Alliances
Belfast firms merge to form Elliotts Legal
Two long-standing Belfast law firms, Elliott Duffy Garrett and Johns Elliot, are to join forces as Elliotts Legal. From 1 October 2025, the two firms will operate from Elliott Duffy Garrett’s current offices at 40 Linenhall Street, Belfast, under the new name “Elliotts Legal”.
Financials
The 2025 Global 100 Ranked by Profit Per Equity Partner
The largest 100 law firms in the world enjoyed a strong rise in profits over the last financial year.
Profits at Freeths rise 13 per cent to £59.4m
Turnover rose by 14.8 per cent to £166.8 million, an increase of £21.5m compared to the previous year and overall profit climbed to £59.4m, an increase of 13 per cent from the previous year.
The 2025 Global 200: Rankings by Revenue
The largest 200 law firms in the world had another strong period during the last financial year, driven largely by the top U.S.-based institutions.
Diversity & Inclusion
Global firm Mishcon de Reya declares diversity commitment in annual report
Global firm Mishcon de Reya has reaffirmed its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion by outlining higher diversity targets in its 2025 annual report. By April 2027, the firm aims to have women comprise at least 35 percent of the senior equity partnership, up from the current percentage of 28 percent. It also looks to have 45 percent of the partnership be women (38 percent at present).
‘We can’t keep losing talent’ – African law firms urged to build sustainable careers for women
African law firms must create sustainable career paths for women lawyers if they are to retain their best female talent as work pressures continue to increase, delegates at the International Bar Association’s African Regional Forum Conference heard today.
Balancing Efficiency and Equity: Protecting Employers in New Jersey’s Diverse Workforce
This article explores how employers and carriers can proactively protect themselves, save time and limit expenses by anticipating these issues, all within the limits and protections of New Jersey workers’ compensation law. If employers and carriers fail to proactively protect themselves, today’s challenges may increase defence costs and expose employers to longer term cash liabilities.
The landscape of corporate law firms has long experienced a lack of diversity, particularly in terms of Black male attorneys. In Washington, D.C., a group of these attorneys is combatting isolation and stress by forming an informal network designed to support one another. This network provides a crucial social space that addresses the emotional toll faced by Black attorneys, who often encounter regular micro- and macro-aggressions, coupled with the expectation to outperform their non-Black peers to be seen as equals.
Technology & Innovation
Thomson Reuters rolls out Westlaw Singapore with SAL tie-up
Thomson Reuters has launched Westlaw Singapore to streamline legal research by centralising core local sources and applying AI-enabled search, a move the company says will help lawyers get to relevant law faster.
Chambers and Partners release new Market data tool
Chambers and Partners have introduced Market Pulse, a data product designed to help firms turn client demand into their next win. Powered by more than 200,000 client responses each year, Market Pulse provides evidence-led insights that enable teams to prepare for meetings, build thought leadership, and prioritise business development by geography and topic.
AI platform Harvey establishes first APAC base with new Sydney office
US-headquartered AI company Harvey has established its first APAC office in Sydney.
Market Commentary
As Competitors Eye Cadwalader for Talent, Law Firm ‘Not Engaged’ in Merger Talks
Following another group exit this week, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft has lost more than 40 lawyers to competitors this year. Industry observers highlight a challenging talent market, with rivals increasingly recruiting from the firm. “While Cadwalader has received interest from various firms over the years, we are not currently in any merger talks,” stated a firm leader.
New wind farm to power Matheson offices
Matheson has struck a deal to supply its Irish offices with renewable electricity from a proposed wind farm development in Co Cavan. The corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) signed by Matheson and Flogas, part of DCC plc, will provide the firm with a long-term 15-year supply of renewable electricity from Natural Forces’ Tullyhaw Wind Farm project.
Lawyers will play key role as Africa adapts to US tariff shock, IBA regional forum hears
African lawyers will have a key role to play in helping their business clients respond to the disruption caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, the International Bar Association’s African Regional Forum Conference heard today.