Moves:
UK & Ireland
Simpson Thacher Swoops For Weil Gotshal Partner Duo in the UK
According to Simpson Thacher, Paul Hibbert and Emma Serginson will concentrate on finance and credit issues in the infrastructure industry, among other things.
Former Milbank Partner is Latest Paul Weiss UK Addition
Miko Bradford is now a senior legal counsel and chief operational officer for the sponsor finance team at the prestigious U.S.-led firm.
Nick Swimer to Join Lee & Thompson
Nick, a Partner in the Entertainment & Media Industry Group at Reed Smith, will join the company on April 15th.
Kirkland & Ellis Announces New Partners
They are proud to announce the launch of their construction practice with new partner James Clark in the Middle East.
McDermott signs up veteran dealmaker who led Kirkland’s London expansion in 2000s
Former Kirkland and Fried Frank employee Graham White will provide the US firm’s transactional service more strength with his presence.
William Fry hires Derina Bannon as funds consultant
Derina Bannon has been hired by William Fry as a consultant in the asset management and investment funds division of the company.
EMEA
Shearman Europe Head to Exit Firm Ahead of Merger
Ward McKimm spent over two years as Shearman’s co-global head of leveraged finance before taking on the role of president of the company’s EMEA division in 2020.
Ashurst Expands Again in Munich With IP Partner from Bird & Bird
Roman Brtka, an intellectual property partner at Bird & Bird, is joining Ashurst in its Munich office as part of an effort to grow the company’s dispute resolution and digital economy practices in Germany.
Partner Eileen Duncan of the international law firm Trowers & Hamlins has relocated to the United Arab Emirates to assume the role of Head of Real Estate, Middle East, therefore bolstering the firm’s real estate business in the region.
APAC
Linklaters announces new Managing Partner for China
Andrew Chung has joined Linklaters as its new Managing Partner for China. Andrew will participate in important management choices that influence the company’s strategy in this capacity.
Yulchon adds co-head to international dispute resolution team
David MacArthur was hired by Yulchon as a partner and co-head of international dispute resolution, broadening the scope of its offering in international arbitration.
New Partner Boosts White & Case’s Beijing Presence and M&A Practice
White & Case’s M&A Practice and Beijing Presence Are Enhanced by New Partner Alan Bao.
Ashurst Expands Australian Disputes Practice with Partner Hire
The hire signifies the return to Ashurst for Angela Pearsall, who was a partner with the firm for 12 years until 2016 when she joined Clifford Chance.
The Americas
Paul Hastings Lands Goodwin PE Partner as New Vice Chair of Private Equity
Following in the footsteps of a group of private equity attorneys led by Scott Joachim in Palo Alto last year, Josh Ratner moved from Goodwin to Paul Hastings.
K&L Gates Beefs Up West Coast Corporate Practice With Hires From Reed Smith, Hanson Bridgett
Since the start of 2023, Mattias Luukkonen and Michael Gorback have joined K&L Gates as the newest partners located in California.
Paul Hastings Hires White & Case Partner as Co-Chair of International Arbitration Practice
Jonathan Hamilton oversaw White & Case’s arbitration practice in Latin America before.
People in the News—March 20, 2024—Wisler Pearlstine, Reichman Jorgensen
Carla Marino, a Chester County lawyer, joined Wisler Pearlstine’s family law practice as a partner in its Malvern office recently.
Newsmakers: Former Federal Prosecutors Michael Elliott, Mindy Sauter Join McGuireWoods in Dallas
Former federal prosecutors with a focus on healthcare issues, Michael Elliott and Mindy Sauter, have joined McGuireWoods as partners in Dallas. They support McGuireWoods’ government investigations and white-collar litigation group in Texas, together with Chris Quinlan counsel.
People in the News—March 22, 2024—Flaster Greenberg, Gawthrop Greenwood
Owner/Shareholder Eric Palombo is a new member of Flaster Greenberg’s litigation and transportation law practices. He works in both areas of the business.
DLA Piper Hires Former Hong Kong Office Head of Canada’s McMillan
New partners have also been added by Canadian law firms Borden Ladner, Osler Hoskin, and Dentons Canada.
Midsize Moves: Nossaman Adds 2 Partners in Texas, Crowe & Dunlevy Hires Director in Oklahoma
Sejin C. Brooks and Melissa Ferringer have become partners in Nossaman’s eminent domain and valuation practice in the Austin, Texas, office; Chris Vaught, an employment lawyer, has joined Crowe & Dunlevy as a director at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, office of the firm.
‘Bridgegate’ Prosecutor Joins Arnold & Porter in Newark
Paul Fishman, New Jersey’s former top federal prosecutor, has joined Arnold & Porter, his position will involve leading the firm’s crisis management and strategic response team.
In-House
DXC Taps NetApp’s Strategy Chief to Lead Legal
Matt Fawcett, a veteran of the software sector who held the position of legal officer at JDS Uniphase and NetApp, has joined the IT behemoth.
9,000-Screen Cineworld Hires Sally Beauty’s GC as Part of Fresh Start
Global cinema chain operator Cineworld has appointed John Henrich as general counsel as part of a broader refresh of its executive team following its emergence from Chapter 11 proceedings last year.
AI-Based Cybersecurity Startup Plotting IPO Hires Zoom’s Jeff True as Legal Chief
Before joining Zoom in 2020, Jeff True held the position of general counsel at cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks. Now, he is returning to the field as the head of legal at one of the industry’s hottest startups.
US-listed gaming business Inspired Entertainment announces GC succession plans
Carys Damon will be replaced by Sportingtech CLO Simona Camilleri at the start of July
Team Moves
Troutman Pepper Construction Team Jumps to Cozen O’Connor in LA
Marion Hack is reunited with several former Pepper Hamilton colleagues in Cozen, where she is leading a group of six attorneys.
Dentons Canada Loses Five-Lawyer Banking and Finance Team to McMillan
The firm’s expanding Calgary office will be home to partners Gary Rose, Glen Peterson, Ben Nuttall, and David Fendley, while associate Adam Palmer will operate out of Vancouver. Rose stated that a minimum of one additional attorney, along with a few clerks and paralegals, will be relocating to McMillan shortly.
DAC Beachcroft Absorbs Litigation Team in Mexico
Members of the firm said that the additions will help the firm build out its capabilities in Mexico and position it to take advantage of untapped opportunities.
Katten adds financial services partner trio in London from Curtis
Daniel Lewin, a transactional tax planning attorney, is joined by funds duo Thomas Laurer and Ryan Hansen.
On the Move: Morris Manning, After Bankruptcy Team Exit, Adds Partner in Atlanta
Brian Levy, an attorney, joined Morris Manning from Burr & Forman, while Frank DeBorde, Lisa Wolgast, and two other partners joined Barnes & Thornburg’s finance, insolvency, and restructuring division in Atlanta from Morris Manning.
Promotions & Appointments:
Kilpatrick Elects IP Lawyer Wab Kadaba to Chair Firm
Kilpatrick’s first new chair in more than ten years will be Wab Kadaba. Henry Walker will be succeeded by him.
Newsmakers: Michael Best Names George P. Bush as Office Managing Partner in Austin
The firm’s Austin office now has George P. Bush as its managing partner. Richard J. Ressler is replaced by Bush, who will be in charge of strategy planning and office operations.
Nancy Valentino, Joe Serrantino, Mark Parise, Robert Chomiak, Jr., Christine Blethen, and Mark Parise are among the recent hires and advancements at several state-wide businesses.
CLO of North America’s 5th-Largest Bank Promoted Ahead of Big Merger
Maria Douvas joined the Toronto-based Royal Bank of Canada eight years ago and has since risen quickly through the ranks of the organization’s leadership.
Slaughter and May Promotes Five To Partner
The company will have 106 partners worldwide as of May 1st, with 96 of those partners being situated in London.
Australia’s HWL Ebsworth Appoints Temporary Leader after Managing Partner Dies
After a lengthy illness, Juan Martinez, the longtime CEO of HWL Ebsworth, Australia’s largest independent legal firm by headcount, passed away. A temporary replacement has been named.
Squire Patton Boggs Elevates Abdulaziz Al-Alami to Partner
Among the newly promoted partners is Abdulaziz Al-Alami, who hails from the Corporate practice at the firm’s Riyadh office
Slaughter and May unveils latest partner promotions round
As part of a promotion round, Slaughter and May has selected five attorneys as partners, adhering to the “ambitious” set of diversity targets it first announced three years prior.
Herbert Smith Freehills names lawyer quartet to global ESG leadership
Partner Rebecca Perlman, who oversaw HSF’s ESG practice for the UK, US, and EMEA before joining Kirkland & Ellis’s London office earlier this month, is essentially succeeded by the new leaders.
Mergers & Alliances:
Legal Chiefs Snaring Hefty Golden Parachutes as Merger Activity Perks Up
Cindy Schipani, a professor of business law at the University of Michigan said “I think there is a point that they become so large that they encourage executives to take the deal, regardless of whether it is in the best interests of the shareholders,”.
Key Delaware Decision in ‘Activision’ Upends Standard Board Practices for Approving Mergers
In reaction to the recent ruling in Ap-Fonden v. Activision by the Delaware Court of Chancery, which creates a new avenue for contesting a board’s merger approval procedure, this paper outlines best practices. The decision’s impact on the merger agreement procedures is examined, along with future considerations for practitioners navigating this ruling.
Dentons Expands to New Zealand’s Christchurch with Health Firm Acquisition
Legal firm Claro specializes on the health sector.
Withers Enters into Alliance with Indonesian Boutique
Karna Partnership was established in 2020 and currently has 12 attorneys and five partners.
Office Openings & Closing:
Fox Rothschild Moves to New Wilmington Office
Fox Rothschild announced that its Wilmington office has moved to 1201 North Market Street, Suite 1200, this became effective from March the 11th.
US Firms With Expiring Leases Were Much More Likely to Relocate in 2023 Than Stay Put
In 2023, the number of leases from law firms reached a record high in square footage, with eight of the top ten largest leases in New York, per a recent Cushman & Wakefield research.
Many foreign businesses have been compelled to reduce their activities in Asia due to the market slump, particularly in Greater China. Latham & Watkins, Perkins Coie, Proskauer Rose, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld have all closed their mainland China operations in the last 12 months.
Stephenson Harwood’s China Affiliate Firm Launches New Office
Joanna Jiang, a corporate partner who joined Wei Tu a year ago, will be in charge of the company’s Shanghai office.
Six Partners Depart from Three Different Firms To Launch New Firm in Mexico
The partners, Ibarra del Paso Gallego, Creel Abogados, and Norton Rose Fulbright, stated that their goal is to run a lean and equitable “one-stop-shop” for corporate affairs in the nation.
Akin Settles On Bishopsgate For Next London Home
According to a statement, the Dallas-based company has selected 155 Bishopsgate as its new London address. The company’s current headquarters are in Spitalfields’ Bishops Square.
India’s Cyril Amarchand Launches Abu Dhabi Office, Marks Second Overseas Foray
In view of the growing investment in India by UAE-based organizations, the firm states that it is concentrated on ‘expanding co-operation between India and the UAE’.
Kinstellar Breaks into Southeast Asia with Vietnamese JV
Their Asia Counsel was established in 2015 and now has one office in Ho Chi Minh City with 21 lawyers.
Financials:
In Year of ‘Difficult Decisions,’ Perkins Coie Grows Revenue 4% and PEP 7.6%
Chair Bill Malley stated that Perkins Coie saw both associate deferrals and layoffs in 2023. “We bent the curve on cost and delivered some excellent results for our partners,”.
Mayer Brown Sees Revenue and PEP Climb Amid Higher Demand, Drop in Equity Tier
The company’s 8.2% decrease in equity partners contributed to a 4.4% increase in PEP, or $2.44 million. The revenue per attorney increased by 1% to around $1.01 million.
Gibson Dunn Breaks $3B Revenue Mark With Litigation, Transactions Firing on All Cylinders
The firm experienced its 28th consecutive year of revenue growth, with a 12.3% increase in gross revenue and a 13.4% increase in earnings per equity partner.
Revenue, Profits Soar at Susman Godfrey as Fees Pour in From Trial Wins, Settlements
Trial firm Susman Godfrey, established in Houston, had an almost twofold increase in revenue in 2023 and a more than twofold increase in earnings per equity partner as its attorneys handled high-profile, high-stakes cases.
Wilmer’s Revenue and Profits Soar Amid Boom in Countercyclical Practices
Wilmer’s income and profit increased by 10% or more in 2023 despite the firm being in the public eye due to the congressional testimony of its clients, thanks to improvements in litigation and investigative techniques.
Despite Cuts, Fenwick Sees Revenue Growth and Remains Bullish on Tech Business Bounceback
Firm chair Richard Dickson said this about about the firm’s scope of work “Some uncertainty remains. But it will come back, and come back stronger,”. “We just don’t know exactly when.”
Revenue Up 6.2% at Orrick, But Profits Grew by Much More
Internationally, the London branch of the company has demonstrated strong performance, according to Mitch Zuklie, Chair of Orrick. In addition, he stated that the company began to get a sizable volume of cross-border work from China, where it had offices in Shanghai and Beijing.
Alston Sees Litigation ‘Spike,’ Contributing to 8% Revenue and Net Income Growth
The firm achieved another financial milestone in 2023, when its PEP passed the $3 million mark for the first time, increasing 9.3% to $3.252 million.
Barnes & Thornburg, Driven by Hiring, Grows Revenue Double Digits
According to Barnes managing partner Andy Detherage, “people were the engine of the Am Law 100 firm’s gains last year, with 34 lateral partners and around 90 lawyers joining the firm overall.”
At Goodwin, Growth Investments Scuttle Profits While Revenue Ticked Up
Goodwin stated that it has no intention of reducing staff in 2024, even if its headcount was larger in 2023.
At Morrison & Foerster, Reduced Overhead and Steady Demand Led to 19% Profitability Gain
Good results in middle-market mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy, and litigation resulted to a 6.2% rise in gross revenue for the company.
Womble Bond Dickinson’s Revenue Rises Amid Flat Profits Per Partner
CEO Betty Temple said “We’re not going to limit the people who should be partners when they’ve achieved the firm’s milestones,”.
Fried Frank Crosses $1B in Revenue as PEP Soars 21% and Equity Tier Declines
Firm chair Kenneth Rosh said that “There was no plan for mass de-equitization”. “We do manage it [the partnership], and there were some laterals who left and some retirements.”
In Year of ‘Difficult Decisions,’ Perkins Coie Grows Revenue 4% and PEP 7.6%
Although the firm closed its office in Shanghai early this year, but chair Bill Malley said it plans to open an office in Shenzhen. He also said the firm is eyeing a possible launch in London, where it would emphasize its strengths in IP, litigation and privacy.
Mayer Brown Sees Revenue and PEP Climb Amid Higher Demand, Drop in Equity Tier
Launched last year, the firm’s legal venture in Singapore was dubbed “a big deal” by chair Jon Van Gorp, who also mentioned the firm’s excellent performance from its offices in London, Paris, and Brazil.
Gibson Dunn Breaks $3B Revenue Mark With Litigation, Transactions Firing on All Cylinders
The firm experienced its 28th consecutive year of revenue growth, with a 12.3% increase in gross revenue and a 13.4% increase in earnings per equity partner. The company went worldwide in 2023, with offices in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East. A nine-lawyer energy and infrastructure team was also established, based in Paris.
At Goodwin, Growth Investments Scuttle Profits While Revenue Ticked Up
The company will be relocating to a bigger space in the city after seeing a 25.9% rise in revenue in London in 2023. According to the company, Goodin has also extended its operations into Europe and Asia.
At Morrison & Foerster, Reduced Overhead and Steady Demand Led to 19% Profitability Gain
The company provided advice to Toshiba’s board during its $15 billion take-private transaction, the biggest of its kind in Japanese history, on foreign markets. According to the company, its offices in Berlin and London also enjoyed impressive performance.
Led by Record Results in Germany, Noerr Posts 5.7% Higher Revenue for 2023
The leadership of the German company anticipated sustained development as a result of the domestic market’s economic restructuring.
Lowenstein Sandler Sees Double-Digit Drops After Contingency-Aided 2022
Chairman and managing partner Gary Wingens claims that if contingency fees are subtracted from the total, core revenue grew over the prior year. Additionally, the company is about to hire Michael Caplan, a former employee of Goodwin Procter, as its new chief operating officer.
Technology & Innovation:
AI in Law: Navigating the Tightrope Between Innovation and Ethics
Lawyers can efficiently leverage AI’s capabilities while properly managing associated liabilities by continuously exercising independent judgment, following to recognized best practices, and being alert to potential hazards.
AI Risks Are Evolving—And Organizations May Not Be Keeping Up
Defining artificial intelligence (AI) or assuming onerous vendor control requirements may not be the best ways to reduce AI risks, attorneys from Debevoise & Plimpton stated during a webinar on Monday.
Another Look at How AI Is Shaping Litigation Finance
The CEO and co-founder of Legalist, a litigation funding company, Eva Shang, explains how generative AI influences the company’s outreach to attorneys.
With AI Training, Data ‘Anonymization’ Runs Risk of Becoming a Fig Leaf
A popular word among tech companies looking to train their generative AI systems on user data is “data anonymization.” However, experts in data privacy advise being cautious because this description could be vague or unreliable.
Ethical Use, IP Implications: Am Law 200 Firm Tackles Legal’s Gen AI Questions
During a webinar on Tuesday, the legal company Hanson Bridgett examined some of the unanswered issues facing the legal sector.
Why This Australian Gaming Company GC Loves Legal Tech
Legal IT, according to Ivana Kovacevic, saves businesses money and time while allowing in-house attorneys to focus on higher-value tasks.
Tech Titans Unleash Hiring Spree for AI-Focused Lawyers
“The problem about AI is that the field is always changing. AI experts don’t exist, and even those who think they do aren’t quite there yet, according to Anna Gorodetsky, a managing director on Major, Lindsey & Africa’s internal hiring team.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Women of Legal Tech: ‘Every Failure Is an Opportunity,’ Says Kirkland’s Valerie Pennacchio
Practice Innovation Advisor at Kirkland & Ellis Valerie Pennacchio talks about how mentorship can help fight sexism in the workplace, how peer law firms are surprisingly honest about legal technology, and how she realized that her current position is the table she wants to be at.
Senate Confirms Labor Lawyer, First Openly LGBTQ Judge to 4th Circuit
Judge Diana Gribbon Motz, who assumed senior status in September, will be succeeded by Nicole Berner.
People in the News—March 21, 2024—Capehart Scatchard, Anderson Kill
Lawyers from Capehart Scatchard’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) committee recently participated as guest readers in the Read Across America Week 2024 event.
Q&As With Florida Firms Recognized for Their Diversity Initiatives
This year, four law firms were named finalists for the 2024 Diversity & Inclusion award by the Daily Business Review.
Using AI to Improve DEI Outcomes in the Workplace
It is a challenge for employers to integrate AI capabilities carefully and cautiously in the workplace, especially when it comes to DEI goals and activities.
Market Commentary:
In Another Round of Layoffs, BCLP Cuts 50 Roles Across US And UK Offices
A spokesperson confirmed. “We are conducting a small and targeted restructuring in selected areas of the firm to manage costs and shape our size and capabilities to practice demand”.
Bonuses With Strings Attached Play Role in Partner Retention
Forgivable loans have been used by firms such as Kirkland & Ellis and DLA Piper to turn down offers from competitors, while Shearman & Sterling has employed them as a means of encouraging partners to remain with the company during the merger with Allen & Overy.
Raising Concerns on Long-Term Strategies, Midsize Law Firms Remain Stagnant on RTO
The process of getting lawyers back into the office is being made more difficult by a number of factors, including cultural incentives and concerns, a lack of consistency in standards, and the requirement for leadership to set an example for younger attorneys.
The Asia Market Continues to Baffle Law Firm Leaders. In Singapore, Cracks Have Emerged
Jessica Seah writes in the Asia Legal Briefing that Asia is no longer cheap, and the region’s markets are mature enough that firms scoping out opportunities must first do their homework and do it carefully. If they don’t, they may not last.
Regulatory, Governance and Compliance Technology Winner, Law Firm: Hogan Lovells
Jeremy Burdge, Head of Legal Engineering—Americas at Hogan Lovells said that “Encouraging innovation in the legal sector necessitates a blend of cultural change, technology investment, and strategic partnerships,”.
How to Grow Fast Like Kirkland
It is not always easy to comprehend how Kirkland & Ellis became so large. With revenues over $7 billion, the largest law firm globally has confounded law firm strategists by maintaining a relatively restricted practice and office mix, despite being twice as large as most of its competitors.