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
Paul Weiss hires London funds partner from Dechert
Funds Partner Nathalie Sadler joins Paul Weiss following more than 14 years at Dechert.
White & Case Head of EMEA Private Equity to Leave Firm
White & Case’s London-based head of EMEA M&A and Private Equity, Lucy Bullock, is leaving the firm at the end of the month.
Eversheds Sutherland continues growth trajectory with dual Pension Partner appointment
Eversheds Sutherland marks the further expansion of its Employment, Labour and Pensions Group with the appointments of Simon Borhan and Craig Looker as Partners in its UK Pensions team. Borhan joins in the London office from Linklaters, while Looker re-joins in the Leeds office from DLA Piper.
Leading tech transactions specialist joins Bird & Bird as new Partner in London
International law firm Bird & Bird has appointed Tech Transactions specialist Sue McLean as a new Partner in its London Commercial team. McLean joins from Baker McKenzie.
Goodwin exits continue as London Partner lines up Eversheds move
A Restructuring Partner is set to leave Goodwin Procter for Eversheds Sutherland. Simon Thomas, who is understood to have been the sole Partner in the London Financial Restructuring practice, will leave Goodwin after seven years. His exit leaves a Counsel and an Associate in the team.
Europe
Top 50 Firm Dechert Loses Another Partner to Simmons in Paris
Simmons & Simmons has hired Dechert Paris Funds Formation Partner Cyril Fiat to rebuild and lead the Paris Funds Formation practice.
Pentarc grows team with Partner from Taylor Wessing
Stefanie Engmann joins from Taylor Wessing bringing experience in Arbitration.
Middle East
Akin Hires Leader From Rival as it Joins Rush to Build in Saudi
Ibrahim Siddiki joins the firm from Addleshaw Goddard where he was co-head of the firm’s Saudi arm. He will become Co-Partner-in-charge of Akin’s Riyadh office.
Team
Ashurst adds three-Partner PE team from Goodwin in London
Ashurst has hired a three-Partner Private Equity team from Goodwin in London. Ian Keefe, Michael Miranda and George Weavil are joining the firm’s corporate practice.
Promotions & Appointments
Lisa Carty to lead Pinsent Masons’ Dublin office
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed Lisa Carty as the new head of its Dublin office. Ms Carty joined Pinsent Masons in 2023 as a Partner, having previously practised at William Fry.
Macfarlanes promotes four in scaled-back Partner round
Macfarlanes has announced four Partner promotions in London in its 2026 round, with the new Partners spanning the firm’s Disputes, Private Client, Finance and Employment practices. The new partners are Alex Evans (Disputes), Hannah Kalveks (Private Client), Ryan Moore (Finance), Kirti Tiwari-Mehta (Employment).
Slaughters halves Partner promotions in leaner 2026 round
Slaughter and May has promoted three Partners for 2026, making this round its smallest since 2019 and half as big as last year’s six-Partner lineup. The new Partners are Simon Bartle (Real Estate and Projects), Jack Dickie (Competition), Mark Gulliford (Real Estate and Projects).
The new partners are based in 29 cities in 21 countries around the world, reflecting the firm’s international strength and depth. Women account for 52% of global promotions.
Raft of promotions at Gillespie Macandrew
Gillespie Macandrew has announced the appointment of two new Partners and 13 further promotions across its legal team in Scotland.
Trustmoore appoints new Managing Director of Governance, Legal and Compliance
Trustmoore appoints Sabrina El Abbadi as Managing Director Governance, Legal and Compliance in Luxembourg.
Gowling WLG UK LLP announces leadership changes
Gowling WLG has announced the appointment of two new Practice Group Leaders (PGLs) to its UK LLP board, effective from May 2026. Felicity Lindsay has been appointed as PGL of the firm’s Real Estate Group (REG), and Kate Swaine of the Dispute Resolution Group (DRG).
Arthur Cox appoints Jennifer Ward as CTO
Arthur Cox LLP has appointed Jennifer Ward as the firm’s chief technology officer – an increasingly important role in law firms amid the rise of AI.
Weil Gotshal appoints new Executive Chair
Weil Gotshal & Manges has appointed a new Executive Chair of the firm, as longstanding boss Barry Wolf prepares to stand down. Ramona Nee will take on the top job, taking over from Barry Wolf who has led the firm since 2009.
O’Flynn Exhams promotes William Hanly to Partner
Cork-based O’Flynn Exhams LLP Solicitors has promoted Litigation and Dispute Resolution lawyer William Hanly to Partner.
Fraser Oliver to step down as Digby Brown Chief Executive
The firm has announced that Mark Gibson has been chosen as Chief Executive Designate and will spend the next 12 months shadowing Mr Oliver to expand his understanding and knowledge of the role.
Gorrissen vows to champion rule of law under new Managing Partner
One of Denmark’s largest law firms, Gorrissen Federspiel, has ushered in a new Managing Partner, with Jacob Skude Rasmussen stepping into the role as of 1 April. He is currently a Dispute Resolution & Investigations Partner.
Simpson Thacher Adds Energy and Infrastructure M&A Partner in London
David McKendrick has joined the Firm’s London office as a Partner in the Energy and Infrastructure Practice. He joins from Weil where he was a Counsel.
Firm and Market Activity
Office Openings & Closings
Fieldfisher shifts 90 roles to Belfast in back office consolidation
Fieldfisher is relocating around 90 business services roles to Belfast from offices including London, Manchester and Birmingham. The move will take the firm’s Belfast headcount to around 220 as it expands its operations hub.
Johnsons Solicitors acquires Belfast firm Mackenzie & Dorman
Belfast-headquartered Johnsons Solicitors has acquired long-established legal practice Mackenzie & Dorman.
Mergers & Alliances
J.W. O’Donovan amalgamates with Eamon Murray & Co Solicitors
Cork-based J.W. O’Donovan LLP has amalgamated with Eamon Murray & Company Solicitors, boosting its headcount by 40 per cent to create a combined firm of 35 staff, including 20 solicitors.
Financial Results
Addleshaws to stretch top of equity to £3m in City push
Addleshaw Goddard is shaking up its compensation structure following a partner vote on Friday, which will move the top of the modified lockstep from £2m to £3m. The change, which will take immediate effect, forms part of a concerted effort to reach deep into the City talent market in London.
Goodwin London revenue surpasses $225m
Goodwin Procter’s London office has recorded another year of double-digit growth, with revenue surpassing $225m for the first time. The London office generated $226.4m in revenue in 2025, reflecting a 12.7 per cent increase from $200.9m the previous year.
Kirkland smashed $10m PEP as Partners make enough to buy a Rolex a day
Kirkland & Ellis has become the first law firm to surpass the $10m mark for Profits per Equity Partner, with PEP rising 20 per cent from $9.3m in 2024 to $11.16m last year.
Kirkland’s revenue jumps 20% to top $10bn
Kirkland & Ellis has posted another barnstorming performance, with gross revenue increasing by 20% to hit $10.56bn in 2025.
Morrison & Foerster posts 9.2% rise in gross revenue in 2025
Steady growth in both the litigation and corporate groups at Morrison & Foerster led the firm to post a 9.2% rise in gross revenue in 2025, surpassing the $1.5-billion mark, and a 6.6% increase in net income, which rose to $567 million.
Pérez-Llorca pushes past €200m mark in revenue bump
Iberian firm Pérez-Llorca has posted a revenue surge of 28 per cent in 2025, pushing the firm’s turnover past the €200m mark for the first time ever. The firm posted revenues of €211.3m. It marks the fifth consecutive year that the firm has posted double-digit growth, and includes its revenue across Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Colombia.
White & Case sets sights on $5bn turnover goal
White & Case’s revenue grew by 8 per cent over 2025 to $3.6bn, as the firm seeks to generate $5bn in turnover by 2028. White & Case’s leadership put forward a goal to hit $5bn by 2028.
Market Commentary
Stellan Partners joins the Luxembourg Stock Exchange as a Partner
The partnership reflects their commitment to the Luxembourg capital markets ecosystem and their work advising issuers, arrangers and financial institutions across a wide range of transactions involving the LuxSE markets and platforms.
Innovation & Culture
Technology & Innovation
DLA Piper rolls out Harvey in latest innovation pivot
DLA Piper has rolled out legal tech platform Harvey firmwide, after conducting a competitive trial between other providers. Lawyers across more than 40 countries will now have access to the tool.