Moves:
UK & Ireland
Boies Schiller Boosts London with Six-Lawyer Team Hire
The appointment of the highly-ranked partner and his team marks the latest move in the firm’s bid to rebuild its London operation. Pierre Valentin is set to join the firm along with five lawyers from boutique firm Constantine Cannon, the firm announced on Monday.
EMEA
Reed Smith Snaps Up DLA Piper’s UAE IP and Tech Law Head
Jamie Ryder will be based in the firm’s UAE offices when he joins the firm on July 3. He most recently headed up DLA Piper’s UAE-based intellectual property and tech practice.
Webber Wentzel Nabs M&A Partner Back from Herbert Smith Freehills
Webber Wentzel has re-hired M&A specialist Huneiza Goolam as a partner in the South African firm’s corporate business unit. She re-joins from international firm Herbert Smith Freehills, where she had been a partner since November 2020, according to a spokesperson.
Orrick Adds 2 Partners in Paris
The hires, in energy and infrastructure, are an investment in growth in a key practice area at a time when the firm is retrenching in other ways. Christophe Lefort will join on July 3 as a partner and leader of Orrick’s Paris energy and infrastructure and Africa practices, the firm has announced.
New Wilson Sonsini Data Privacy Partner: ‘Regulatory Tsunami’ Coming to EU
Yann Padova, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s newest member of the firm’s privacy and cybersecurity practice in Brussels,discusses how the GDPR has evolved in its five years in action, and what areas are likely on regulators’ radar going forward.
APAC
Charles Russell Speechlys Adds Family Lawyer to Hong Kong Partnership
The firm now counts six partners and 14 other lawyers in the city-state. Vanessa Duff, who has spent the last 15 years at Withers and was most recently a senior associate, joins the firm to focus on family law including issues arising from divorce, financial arrangements and separation, custody, child maintenance, and pre-and post-nuptial agreements.
Han Kun Kick-Starts Singapore Operations With Duane Morris Director Hire
Beijing-based Han Kun Law Offices has hired Duane Morris & Selvam’s Singapore-based director Lan Yu as a partner for its newly-opened Singapore office.
M&A Duo Leave Australia’s Gilbert + Tobin to Join Ashurst
Partner Neil Pathak will leave Australia’s Gilbert + Tobin and join Ashurst as head of its Australian mergers and acquisition practice. He will be joined by Susannah Macknay, who is also coming across from G+T.
Baker McKenzie Adds Deacons’ Tax Practice Head as Counsel in Hong Kong
Stefano Mariani’s joining will give Baker’s Hong Kong tax practice ten members in total, including partner and practice head Pierre Chan.
The Americas
Clifford Chance Grabs Baker Botts Partner as Houston Launch Rolls Along
Baker Botts partner Jonathan Bobinger, in Houston who handles transactions for the renewable energy, power and natural gas sectors has joined Clifford Chance’s new Houston office.
Norton Rose Adds Kirkland Corporate Finance Partner in Dallas
Kirkland & Ellis corporate finance partner Kimberly Perdue has joined Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner in Dallas, as the firm deals with high activity in the practice.
Lowenstein’s Crypto Vice Chair Moves to Sterlington
Eric Swartz, Lowenstein’s former crypto vice chair, said he was recruited by Sterlington “to accelerate the growth that we’re already seeing and bring in the work to attract talent on the legal side.”
Akerman Poaches Corporate Team From Harter Secrest
The firm is building up its New York office with corporate lawyers after it recently suffered a loss of nine corporate litigators to Blank Rome.
McGuireWoods, With New Office Leadership, Eyes More Lateral Growth
McGuireWoods has named new attorney leadership in several offices across the U.S., including areas where the law firm is still seeking to grow through lateral hires.
Shook Launches Civil Rights, Racial Justice Pro Bono Practice
Shook, Hardy & Bacon hired a former civil rights division prosecutor in Houston to lead a pro bono practice focused on civil rights and racial justice litigation.
Kirkland Adds Partner From A&O as Energy Practices Boom
Sam Kamyans, who has joined Kirkland’s D.C. office, said the recent merger talks between Allen & Overy and Shearman had “no impact” on his move.
Morris Nichols Adds Bankruptcy Attorney
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell announced that Scott D. Jones has joined the firm’s bankruptcy and restructuring group as an associate attorney.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Poaches Dentons Global IP Founder in 15-Person Raid
BCLP landed Dentons’ former U.S. chair Jeffrey Haidet, as well as former global IP and technology chair Song Jung. A group of 15 lawyers and patent professionals has decamped from Dentons to join Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, the latter firm announced Tuesday morning.
Holland & Knight Scoops Up Finance Trio From McGuireWoods as Clients Demand Deeper Bench
Former McGuireWoods attorneys Hamid Namazie, Yoojin Lee and Mark Spitzer are joining the Florida-founded firm’s financial services practice group, bringing their experience representing commercial lenders even as economic conditions slow the sector.
Jackson Walker Launches Public Finance Practice With Orrick Team in Houston
Orrick public finance partners Rick Witte, Todd Brewer, Tanya Fischer and Hoang Vu moved to Jackson Walker in Houston on June 13, and tax partner Russell Miller, who joined from public finance firm Hawkins Delafield & Wood in California, made the move on Tuesday. All are partners based in Houston.
Paul Hastings Lands Two Fintech Partners, Including Co-Chair of Perkins Industry Group
Dana Syracuse and Josh Boehm said they believe strongly in their client relationships, when asked whether they expected their client base to move with them.
Holland & Knight Lands IP Team From Perkins Coie
“We have been working to expand our intellectual property practice, particularly on the West Coast, and before the ITC as well,” said Holland & Knight’s David Donoghue. James Coughlan and Terrence Wikberg have joined Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C., office, and Amy Simpson joined the Los Angeles office earlier this month, bringing experience with the International Trade Commission and Patent Office post-grant review proceedings, the firm said Wednesday.
Todd Silliman Exits Dentons’ Atlanta Leadership Role for Eversheds Sutherland
Silliman’s departure comes soon after Dentons lost another prominent Atlanta partner, former U.S. chair Jeffrey Haidet. Prominent environmental lawyer Todd Silliman is moving from the Atlanta managing partner role at his longtime firm, Dentons, to lead Eversheds Sutherland’s U.S. environmental practice.
Arnold & Porter Adds CIA Lawyer as National Security Remains a Top Enforcement Priority
Deborah Curtis will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, focusing her practice on national security investigations and defense, and other litigation and enforcement matters.
In-House
Private Equity Giant Permira Names Ex-Clifford Chance Lawyer as General Counsel
Private equity firm Permira has appointed Peter Gibbs as its global general counsel. The long-time Permira executive will take over the role in January 2024, replacing current general counsel Ulrich Gasse, who the firm said will retire at the end of 2023.
Caterpillar’s CLO to Hand Legal Reins to Deputy
The chief legal officer of heavy equipment maker Caterpillar, Suzette Long, plans to retire on Dec. 31, paving the way for company attorney Derek Owens to succeed her.
Building-Materials Giant Blue Linx Brings in New Legal Chief After C-Suite Shakeup
The company in March replaced CEO Dwight Gibson with then-legal chief Shyam Reddy. Now, it’s backfilling the legal role with a veteran attorney, Tricia Kinney who has deep experience from ServiceMaster and Kimberly-Clark.
World’s Largest Truck Maker Hands Legal Reins to Insider
Florian Hofer, who two years ago was a key player in splitting Daimler AG into two separate businesses—Daimler Truck AG and Mercedes-Benz AG—will lead legal for a colossus with 100,000 employees and $49 billion in annual revenue.
Donnelley Financial Replaces Longtime GC With Morningstar’s No. 2 Lawyer
Jennifer Reiners, the only legal chief the financial software company has ever had, will receive severance following her replacement by Morningstar’s deputy chief legal officer, Leah Trzcinski.
AI Firm Taps Ex-HP, Dell Attorney as First Legal Chief
Jim Rittinger will help Empower AI’s new owner navigate the increasingly complex intersection of government contracting and technology.
Embattled Regional Bank Hires GC, Continuing Leadership Overhaul
Republic First Bancorp CEO Thomas Geisel said newly hired legal chief Brian Doran “brings a deep understanding of the legal intricacies and challenges faced by financial institutions such as ours.”
Promotions & Appointments:
Hogan Lovells Names New Singapore Office Managing Partner
Hogan Lovells has named corporate partner and India practice co-head Biswajit Chatterjee as managing partner of its Singapore office. Biswajit Chatterjee has advised on a number of billion-dollar transactions in India and Southeast Asia.
Goodwin’s Wait for New CFO Comes to an End
AmEx veteran Christina Wong has joined the firm in New York. Goodwin had been without a CFO since early 2022, when longtime CFO Jon Kanter left.
Clark Hill Expands C-Suite, Creating Chief Legal Officer Slot
Dallas appellate member Jadd Masso is the firm’s first chief legal officer, with responsibilities beyond the office of the general counsel.
Hogan Lovells Changes Leadership in DC and New York
Ajay Kuntamukkala takes over the D.C. office role from Michele Farquhar, who will join the firm’s Americas leadership team. Farquhar is replacing Tim Aragon, who left Hogan Lovells to become GC for the Denver Broncos.
Mergers & Alliances:
Canadian Firm Segev Inks Cooperation Agreement with India’s S&Co
Canadian law firm Segev and India’s Singhania & Co. have taken early steps to establish a reciprocal relationship to deliver legal services and collaborate on corporate development between their two countries.
Andersen Global Adds First Singapore Law Firm Member
In Asia, Andersen Global counts only a handful of traditional Asian law firms as members. Domestic Singapore law firm CNPLaw has become the country’s first practice to join Andersen Global, an international association of independent tax and legal practices founded in 2013.
Office Openings & Closing:
Elite Paris Firm August Debouzy Opens First Foreign Office in Brussels
Fielding a team with experience in government and industry as well as the law, the firm is significantly expanding its ambitions in advising on European law and institutions.
Spain’s Pérez-Llorca Ramps Up International Expansion Efforts
Pérez-Llorca is bringing on its first Portugal-based partner while doubling its office space in London and New York; two markers of the Spanish firm’s international expansion.
Ex-Dentons Leader Aims to Create Top US-Based Korea Practice at BCLP
“We’ve always wanted to build a stronger U.S. Korean practice,” said Jeff Haidet. “Song and I coming to [work] with Kwon Lee probably creates one of the top U.S.-based Korean practices that there is.”
Is Toronto the Next Hot Spot for US Firm Expansion?
Canada’s largest city has a lot to offer and firms like Mintz and Cozen O’Connor have already started the trend to move north of the border.
Financials:
An Emerging Financial Crisis In 2023? A Primer on Old Metrics
Potential weaknesses in the financial system are augmented by social media and the gamification of financial markets. This article explores risks that have surfaced in prior financial crisis cases and potential strategies for mitigating exposures.
Technology & Innovation:
The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and ESG
AI tools have the potential to help or hinder companies in achieving ESG goals. To minimize use risks, corporate counsel may wish to consider what AI tools they are using, as well as why and how these tools intersect with ESG goals.
Cautious to Invest, Pennsylvania Law Firms Experiment With AI
While most firms are eyeing preexisting tools or those that are currently in development from outside vendors, others are building their own customized tools to mitigate risks.
Fact, Fiction or Privacy Infringement: Artificial Intelligence and Deepfake Liability
Most agree that internet deepfake content is widespread and may be used to manipulate the public, attack personal rights, infringe intellectual property and cause personal data difficulties. However, little agreement exists as to who is legally liable for internet AI deepfake content.
How Vendors and Clients Can Bridge the Divide Over How AI Applies to CLM
Training AI is an aspect of implementation that vendors need to discuss more with their prospects during sales calls—and one that prospects must educate themselves better on to make more informed CLM purchase decisions.
Breaking Boundaries in Legal Tech: The Game-Changing Potential of Generative AI
Despite an outpouring of media coverage for generative artificial intelligence (AI), some may still wonder whether reality will actually measure up to all the hype. Sure, this is a clear technological advancement, but haven’t we been here before?
Diversity & Inclusion:
The Top Law Firms for LGBTQ+ Representation, 2023
Though a handful of firms have consistently performed well year on year, the sector as a whole is struggling to improve its numbers.
Market Commentary:
ESG Backlash Creates Maze of Challenges for GCs
“The world wants companies to take positions on the issues,” said Rob Chesnut, a former general counsel of Airbnb. “You might want to duck it in some cases, but sometimes you can’t.”
‘A Huge Concern’: Big Law Leaders Grappling With Attorney Disengagement
“We can’t just measure ourselves on billable hours,” said Paul Schmidt, chair of Baker & Hostetler. “In the long run, engagement is important, and we’ve got to get people engaged.”
Perkins Coie Defers Incoming Corporate Associates
Corporate associates will receive a $15,000 stipend and begin in January. Perkins is the latest of several tech-oriented law firms to defer its incoming class.
Inside Track: Why In-House Lawyering Isn’t for the Spineless
“In-house counsel needs to have a view. It’s unacceptable for lawyers to put a couple of different paths in front of the business decision-makers and say, “Go ahead and pick one,” said Tim Parilla, chief legal officer of LinkSquares.
‘With Everybody Getting Back,’ More Law Firms Want Lawyers in the Office
A new Savills survey finds that 90% of firms either recommend or mandate in-office attendance for lawyers and staff, up from a total of 67% a few months ago.
In Era of Disengagement, How Do Law Firms Motivate Lawyers and Staff?
Law firm leaders are trying to spark a sense of pride and ownership in their law firms for the next generation, a sense they feel has diminished since the pandemic.
Australia’s MinterEllison and Clyde & Co Make Back Office Job Cuts
Both firms say they are streamlining their businesses. Both firms also confirmed the cuts but did not provide details on the number of staff affected, whether any lawyers have also been made redundant, and whether the redundancies were in response to the slowing economy.
Layoffs Are Spreading. After All, There’s Only So Much Work to Go Around
A patchy corporate market has created a mismatch between staffing and demand levels at several law firms with broader client bases that stretch beyond the tech sector.
The EU Court Decision That Could Change Data Breach Class Actions
Hausfeld’s Tim Brown argues for the need for data protection laws that provide cost effective remedies.
‘No Way to Get This Right’: Why Law Firms Are Getting Pushback on Office Returns
In the second part of Legal Speak’s conversation with Ira Coleman, chairman of McDermott Will & Emery, about returning to the office, Coleman takes the position of an associate trying to convince a managing partner to loosen up on the firm’s attendance policy.