Moves:
UK & Ireland
Ex-NatWest CEO Emerges from Nigel Farage Storm to Join Mishcon
After a crisis involving right-wing British politician Farage last year, Alison Rose resigned from her position at NatWest.
Emer O’Hora joins Johnson Hana as head of legal
Emer O’Hora has taken a position as head of legal and data protection officer at Johnson Hana, an alternative legal services provider.
EMEA
A&O Shearman Hires Veteran Latham Paris Partner to Expand Debt Finance in Europe
Michel Houdayer has joined A&O Shearman’s Debt Finance worldwide practice division as a partner in France.
Skadden Bolsters Financial Sponsor Team in Germany with Addition of Dr. Matthias Schudlo
Skadden welcome Dr. Matthias Schudlo as a partner in their financial sponsor practice. He is based in their Frankfurt office. Dr. Schudlo was previously at another global law firm, where he was a partner in its private equity practice.
APAC
DLA Piper Boosts Employment and Real Estate Offering in Japan With Senior Partner Hires
The hires follow a series of high-profile movements across the firm’s offices in Asia, including securing a fund finance specialist from Mayer Brown in Singapore last week.
Former Harry Elias IP head becomes RHTLaw partner
Singapore’s RHTLaw Asia has appointed Esther Wee, the former head of intellectual property at local rival Harry Elias Partnership, as a partner (foreign lawyer), as they aim to bolster their corporate and IP practices.
Tokyo International continues growth with two more partners
Tokyo International Law Office, a Japanese law company, has expanded this year by adding two new partners: building specialist Hojung Jun joins from Baker McKenzie, and Makiko Kawamura joins from EY Japan to start a new tax practice.
JSA bolsters M&A, PE practice with Quillon partner
The market-leading 2024 expansion of JSA Advocates & Solicitors has continued with the recruitment of Rohan Kumar as a partner in its M&A and private equity practice located in Mumbai. He was a partner with Quillon Partners before.
SAM hires white-collar specialist in Delhi
In its Delhi white-collar crime practice, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. has made investigations specialist Rohit Dhingra a partner. Dhingra was formerly a managing director at FTI Consulting, where he oversaw the risk consulting and investigation unit.
In house
‘Ready to Move Forward’: Lewis Brisbois COO Talks About Priorities and His Move
Richard Davis stated that he was attracted to the fact “that this management team acknowledged some of the challenges but was really ready to move forward.”
Lisa Zornberg, Chief Counsel to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Resigns Post
On September 14, she sent a letter to Adams saying, “I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position.”
Kellogg Veteran Takes Legal Reins of Wendy’s
John Min rose through the ranks of Kellogg’s legal department, eventually taking charge of the legal side of the company’s division into Kellanova, a snack manufacturer, and WK Kellogg, a cereal manufacturer, last year.
Former EDNY Prosecutors Head to Am Law 200 Firms
Faegre Drinker has recruited Craig Hereen, a former deputy chief of the office’s national security and cybercrime unit, while Carlton Fields has hired Brian Morris, a former assistant U.S. attorney.
Google Taps One of Its Own for Senior Litigation Post
The internet giant fired Director of Competition Law Matthew Bye and Chief Privacy Officer Keith Enright and reorganized its legal department at the same time that the appointment was made.
Hawaiian Airlines CLO Out of Job but Set for Soft Landing
Before Aaron Alter became Hawaiian Airlines’ legal officer in 2015, he served as the airline’s outside counsel for many years.
Warner Bros. Discovery CLO Exits as Frustrated Investors Turn Up Heat on CEO
Savalle Sims, a vital aide to CEO David Laslav since 2011, is departing for unspecified reasons, according to her and the business.
The Americas
People in the News—Sept. 16, 2024—Barley Snyder, Antheil Maslow
Kristen L. Hartman and Gloria A. Shatto, two new attorneys, have joined Barley Snyder’s Lancaster office, the company said.
Vinson & Elkins Grabs 2 Cadwalader Securities Litigators, Including Global Litigation Group Chair
Along with special counsel Sara (Bussiere) Brauerman, Jason Halper, chair of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft’s worldwide litigation group, became a partner at Vinson & Elkins on Monday in New York.
Deputy GC of Fed Reserve Board Returns to Sullivan & Cromwell
Charles Gray began his legal career at S&C as an associate before moving to the public sector.
Gibson Dunn Hires Akin Partner to Lead Private Credit Efforts
In order to enhance the lending component of Gibson Dunn’s private credit products, Ryan Kim joins the company.
Brown Rudnick Brand and Reputation Co-Chair Joins Sheppard Mullin
One of the seven attorneys that joined Sheppard Mullin from Brown Rudnick is Benjamin Chew, a former co-lead counsel for Johnny Depp.
Paul Hastings Recruits White & Case National Security Partner
Paul Hastings stated that Keith Schomig’s presence will improve the national security and compliance help the company offers to clients including SAP, Mitsubishi Corp., and G42, among others.
Med Mal Defense Litigator Gary Samms Jumps to Marshall Dennehey
For the previous twenty-six years, Samms was the chair of the professional liability and catastrophic loss groups at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel.
Weil Continues Building Funds Practice, Recruiting from Goodwin
In the previous several months, the company has brought on four new funding partners. That will probably continue, according to Jonathon Soler, head of Weil’s U.S. private funds business.
Freshfields Adds Former Y Combinator General Counsel in Silicon Valley
Nicole Cadman leaves the startup accelerator after almost eight years to become a partner at Freshfields’ Bay Area office.
Connecticut Movers: Recent Hires in Stamford and New Haven
One attorney returns to private work after serving as an assistant U.S. attorney; another comes to Connecticut from the New York City market.
Taylor English Adds Nelson Mullins Practice Leader, Ballard Spahr IP Lawyer
A corporate lawyer from Balch & Bingham has joined Bradley Arant in Mississippi, while a former in-house counsel has joined Eversheds as a West Coast intellectual property partner.
Clark Hill Hires Mexico Tax Partner from Holland & Knight
Mario Barrera has joined Clark Hill’s Mexico City office as a member of the corporate practice group, the company announced today. Barrera joins Clark Hill with more than 25 years of expertise in Mexican tax law.
Team Moves
Cooley Hires Three Partners to Communications Regulations Practice in D.C.
The new hires will work extensively with regulatory bodies including the Federal Communications Commission.
Baker McKenzie’s Korea Joint Venture Law Firm Launches Tax Practice with Team Hire
A team of three joins Baker McKenzie from Big Six Korea firm Kim & Chang.
Orrick Adds Partner-Led Paris Finance Team as European Firms Ramp Up M&A and Finance Hiring
Orrick and Willkie are the latest Big Law firms to bolster their finance and M&A teams as part of the ongoing expansion across Europe.
Greenberg Traurig adds arbitration partner trio in London from Pinsent Masons
Jason Hambury, the former worldwide co-head of international arbitration at Pinsent, along with Gurmukh Riyat and Clea Bigelow-Nuttall, have become shareholders in the US firm.
Addleshaw Goddard adds highly regarded IP team from Stobbs
Leading retail brands have been represented by a five-person team under the direction of Geoff Steward.
Loeb & Loeb hires 17 from Perkins Coie in Beijing
Partners Scott Palmer and James Zimmerman lead the team to Loeb prior to Perkins’ closure in Beijing.
13-lawyer IndusLaw infra group moves to JSA
The newest company to use IndusLaw to expand its partner ranks is JSA Advocates & Solicitors. With the addition of partners M. Arun Kumar and Deepak Chowdhury, who specialize in infrastructure and projects, together with their teams in Hyderabad and Gurugram, respectively, the firm has become even more formidable.
Financials:
Report: Firms Should Focus on Collections to Prepare for Uncertain 2025
“If firms are prepared for a softening demand economy, and are surprised that demand is strong, they’re going to be in better shape than if they plan for future demand and find that it’s weak,” Bill Josten, an analyst at Thomson Reuters, said.
The 2024 Global 200 Ranked by Revenue
In the most recent fiscal year, the 200 biggest legal firms globally—most of which are U.S. companies—saw growth, with certain regions outperforming others.
Armstrong Teasdale Faced Regulatory Inquiry Before Shuttering in London
The firm’s London branch, which debuted in 2021, brought in $14 million in sales in 2022 but posted less than $250,000 in earnings.
Promotions & Appointments
Eversheds Sutherland Elects New Co-CEOs Beginning in Spring 2025
The present executives, Lino Mendiola of Austin and Keith Froud of London, will take over. They managed the 2017 merger that established the transatlantic firm.
EU President Nominates Spanish Minister as Antitrust Chief Role
This position is among the most prominent and influential ones within the European Commission.
Sheppard Mullin Hires Tech Chief to Optimize Data, Explore AI Use
In order to handle corporate data and investigate the usage of AI, Sheppard Mullin has appointed Kate Cain as their new chief knowledge and innovation officer. Cain, who started working for the company last week, will concentrate on putting appropriate AI practices into place and streamlining the data infrastructure of the company. Her position developed in part as a result of client questions regarding the company’s use of AI and security procedures.
Michelman & Robinson Promotes Lara Shortz to Los Angeles Managing Partner
Prior to this, Shortz led the company’s labour and employment practices.
Herbert Smith Freehills appoints new Africa leadership
The group’s new co-heads are Paris-based partner Paul Morton and Johannesburg office managing partner Jean Meijer. The group’s former co-head, London-based partner Martin Kavanagh, has been named as chair.
DWF appoints 16 to Belfast office
The company has added Nick Nolan as a senior associate to the real estate team, Alan Bissett as a consultant in the regulatory team, Stephen McGuigan as an associate, and Lauren Hamilton as a solicitor to the construction team.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Meet the 2024 Women, Influence and Power in Law Honorees!
At an awards luncheon on September 24, as part of the Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference in Chicago, these exceptional women were given recognition.
The 2024 WIPL Awards: In-House Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion
With this award, Corporate Counsel honors a company or internal leader that has actively promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the industry.
Women-Owned Midsize Law Firms Are Embracing Flexible Work Arrangements
Although adopting flexible work arrangements has been important to their companies’ cultures, midsize legal firms are more sensitive to absences, especially brief ones.
Office Openings & Closing:
The company had previously worked remotely and internationally, but it is now one of the leaders in AI in the legal field.
Michael Best Adds Nebraska Office in Combination with Venture Capital Boutique
Bart Dillashaw formed Enterprise Legal Studio, a venture capital boutique, and all six of its attorneys have gone to Michael Best & Friedrich, a Milwaukee firm.
10 Lawyers Abruptly Exit GrayRobinson to Start Spinoff Boutique
Two litigation shareholders are leaving GrayRobinson and taking eight other attorneys with them to form a spinoff boutique with offices in Orlando and Tallahassee.
GMS&P Debuts in Cairo, Aiming to Disrupt Egypt’s Legal Landscape
According to Gomaa, the company has already established a “best friends” connection with a mid-sized British company that doesn’t have any branches outside.
Four SRM&O senior partners set up boutique KMAPS Law
Growing foreign direct investment and a more liberalized regulatory environment are bringing more legal work to the Philippines, prompting four senior partners from one of the oldest legal companies in the nation, Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako, to branch out and create their own boutique law company.
Mergers & Alliances:
UK and US Law Firms in Merger Talks as Demand for Scale Grows
A corporate consultant reported, “There have been several direct outreach inquiries from U.K. to U.S. firms.”
UK and US Law Firms in Merger Talks as Demand for Scale Grows
“There have been a number of direct outreach inquiries from U.K. to U.S. firms,” noted a firm consultant.
Technology & Innovation:
Navigating the New AI Landscape: What Legal Teams Need to Know for 2025
Many anticipate a notable rise in the application of generative artificial intelligence by 2025 as more businesses prioritize gradual, sustainable adoption.
Workday to Acquire Evisort, Bringing AI-Powered Document Intelligence to Finance and HR
This transaction represents the enterprise software company’s second significant acquisition of a CLM company in 2024.
Startup Eve Launches New AI Agents for Legal Drafting
With its latest offering, Eve, a generative AI legal tech platform that debuted in October 2023, is primarily meeting the legal writing requirements of the plaintiffs’ bar.
Consilio Rolls Out ‘Guided AI Review’, Pairing Gen AI with Human Oversight
Large language models, hosted on Consilio’s proprietary data centers instead of the cloud, underpin the AI Guided Review solution.
The Future Is Now: The Case for Adoption of Generative AI Document Review in E-Discovery
The case for GenAI is strong, and it’s time to investigate the possibilities this technology presents. Hesitant parties run the risk of falling behind in a field that is changing quickly.
BARBRI Acquires Skillburst, Growing Its Digital Training Resources for Lawyers
With the assistance of several Am Law companies, law firm training supplier SkillBurst Interactive has refined their generative AI training.
The George Washington University Law School Is Helping Train Federal Employees on AI
The federal government’s Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice program is hosting an educational series that the school and a few other organizations are directing.
Agency Leaders Accept They Must Use Existing Law to Regulate Artificial Intelligence
The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Rohit Chopra, stated, “We have the tools that we have,”
Europe’s First Look at the Logikcull E-Discovery Platform
Reveal, the global provider of the leading AI-powered eDiscovery and investigations suite of technologies, announced the launch of its Logikcull platform in Europe.
Market Commentary:
Midlevel Associates at Akin, Susman Godfrey Give High Marks to Firms in Survey
Based on the poll of associate work satisfaction, Texas-founded firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Susman Godfrey are among the highest-ranked businesses in the 2024 Midlevel Associates poll.
‘Social Inflation’ in California Insurance Market Drives Kennedys’ West Coast Expansion
Kennedys, a U.K.-based legal practice, has been expanding quickly in the United States ever since it merged seven years ago with Carroll McNulty & Kull, an insurance law firm.
How Hogan Lovells’ South African Dream Crashed—Twice
Although Hogan Lovells claims it wants to concentrate on strategic markets and is closing its Johannesburg office, there is much more going on here.
Tie-Up or Break-Up? Latin American Firms Are Doing Both
Being independent gives regional legal firms the freedom to work with anybody, whenever they want, but it also strips them of some of the institutional backing that comes with being a part of a larger, international firm.
The Techification of the Law Firm C-Suite
The effects of generative AI were being felt all the way up to the venerable C-suite of Big Law, even though many lawyers were preoccupied with how it will affect legal practice.
Nonequity Tiers Are Growing, but These Big Firms Say Path to Equity Remains the Same
Executives from Paul Weiss, McDermott, and Weil outline their company’s collaboration strategy and its advantages.
Pryor Cashman’s New Leader Plans Growth, but ‘Embraces’ Firm Independence
Pryor Cashman, according to Ron Shechtman, “has been certain and unequivocal in our lack of desire to become part of another firm, or to integrate another firm into ours.”
The Disruptors: How Paul Weiss and Freshfields are Transforming the Global Elite Race
They have starkly different backgrounds. But both firms have succeeded in ways that other firms have not when breaking into significant foreign markets. Leaders at both firms explain how.
‘Put Up or Shut Up’ in Office Attendance: Law Firm Leaders Still Hold the Cards
This year, enforcing office standards may entail lowering bonus pool eligibility or withholding a partner’s draw, sometimes up to a percentage.
‘A Tug of War’: New Research Finds GC-CFO Relationship Fraught with Tension
Susan Hackett, CEO of Legal Executive Leadership said, “It is part of the uniquely arrogant nature of the legal profession that we often argue that what we do is more important than what others do”.
Chinese Law Firms Are in Trouble as Downward Spiral Show No Signs of Easing
Gross revenue decreased in 2023 for more than half of the companies that comprise the China 45.
Baker McKenzie’s Key Linklaters Hire Unveils Game-Changing Global M&A Plan
With over 1,300 M&A lawyers across 45 countries, the firm suggests that there’s “more to come” in Germany.