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
Walker Morris hires Corporate Partner from Pinsents
Leeds firm Walker Morris has refreshed its corporate bench with a hire from Pinsent Masons. Andrew Senior will join Walker Morris after more than 14 years in Pinsents’ Leeds office, where he began as a trainee in 2012.
Litigation Partner Richard Mumford joins Alius Law
Richard Mumford has joined Alius Law as a Partner. Richard is one of the UK’s leading commercial litigators, with nearly three decades of experience advising businesses. Richard was previously a Partner at Clyde & Co.
CMS recruits Osborne Clarke’s international AI law chief in London
CMS has boosted its tech transactions bench in London with the hire of Osborne Clarke’s international AI chief. John Buyers will join CMS’s technology, media, IP and competition (TMIC) practice early next month as a Partner.
Womble Bond Dickinson Appoints Richard Sharpe as Partner in Leeds Office
International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has appointed Richard Sharpe as a Partner in its Residential team, based in the firm’s Leeds office. Richard joins from Devonshires.
DAC Beachcroft strengthens health and public law team with senior hires
International law firm DAC Beachcroft has bolstered its health, care and public law offering to clients with the appointment of Charlotte Harpin and Matthew Alderton as Partners. Charlotte and Matthew – who arrive from Browne Jacobson – will be based at DACB’s global headquarters in London.
Ben Wilson joins the partnership at Weightmans’ Manchester office
Ben Wilson joins the partnership at Weightmans in Manchester. Ben will join the Contentious Trusts and Probate team. He was previously a Partner at JMW Solicitors.
Gibson Dunn Hires ex-Blackstone, Simpson Thacher Partner
Angus Lennox has been added to the London office just under three years after he left Blackstone to join Simpson Thacher. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has made its second real estate Partner hire in London in two months, adding a Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Real Estate Partner to the team.
Europe
Paul Hastings hires Paris duo from White & Case
Elizabeth Oger-Gross and Tolu Obamuroh, who are both defending Nigeria in an ICSID claim lodged by a UK mining company, have left White & Case to join the partnership at Paul Hastings in Paris.
Team
DAC Beachcroft Strengthens Middle East Practice
The leading international law firm DAC Beachcroft has significantly expanded its Middle East presence with the appointment of Partners Michael Morris, Mark Beswetherick, Michael Ducker alongside colleagues Jodie Adoki, Suhad Omar Qushair, and Rebekah Jones. The strategic hires reinforce the firm’s insurance, disputes, and healthcare capabilities across the GCC and support its long-term regional growth strategy.
Orrick Hires Energy & Infrastructure Finance Team in Paris Led by Antoine Bouzanquet
Antoine Bouzanquet, leader in energy and project finance, joins Orrick as a Partner on the Paris Energy & Infrastructure team from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. He will serve as head of French Project Finance. With Antoine and the further addition of two Associates joining the team, Orrick will have eight project finance lawyers in Paris.
Squire Patton Boggs taps pensions duo from Eversheds Sutherland in Manchester
Joining their former head, Amanda Small and Alison White expand firm’s defined contribution and benefits capabilities.
Mishcon corporate quartet quits for Seyfarth
Mishcon de Reya is losing a four-Partner corporate team to a US firm in London, including the head of the group. Kevin McCarthy, one of Mishcon’s best-known corporate lawyers, has more than 25 years’ experience in M&A and private equity, with a reputation in both UK and international transactional work. McCarthy is joining Seyfarth Shaw to launch a corporate transactional practice in the US firm’s London office.
Turning point in Banking: Maura Magioncalda joins Giliberti Triscornia
A lateral with high strategic value in the debt market. Maura Magioncalda, a leading figure in Banking & Restructuring and a long-standing pillar of PedersoliGattai, joins Giliberti Triscornia e Associati as an equity partner together with a team of eleven professionals.
US
Davis Polk welcomes prominent M&A partner Bill Curtin in Washington DC
Davis Polk announced that prominent M&A practitioner Bill Curtin has joined the firm as a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice in Washington DC. Bill joins from Hogan Lovells.
Ben Henry joins White & Case in Chicago
Ben Henry joins as a Real Estate and Data Centre Partner in the Chicago office of White & Case. Ben was previously Partner at Locke Lord.
Roxanna Pierce joins Scott+Scott in Washington D.C.
Roxanna Pierce joins Scott+Scott as a Partner in the Securities Litigation practice group in Washington. Roxanna was previously Partner at DiCello Levitt.
Investment Funds and Real Estate Tax Partner James Manzione Rejoins Gibson Dunn
Gibson Dunn announced that James Manzione has rejoined the firm’s New York office as a Partner in its market-leading Tax Practice Group. James joins from DLA Piper.
Promotions & Appointments
Brabners Adds Six to Partnership in Record Year for Partner Promotions
A total of 36 colleagues have been promoted across the firm, with Daniel Finn, Deepika Raino, Ellen Hawthorne, Hannah Morrison, Mark Gannon and Oliver Andrews joining our 108-strong partnership. In 2025, Brabners promoted 41 lawyers across the firm, including 2 to partnership.
Simpson Thacher Adds Derivatives Partner in London
Netanya Clixby, has joined the Firm’s European Finance and Capital Markets group as Partner in its London office. Netanya joins the firm from Sidley Austin where she was a Senior Managing Associate.
Promotion to Tax Partner at Paul Hastings Paris office
Damien Fenard promoted to Partner in the Tax Department at Paul Hastings in Paris.
White & Case Appoints Abdullah Al-Hoqail in Riyadh
The leading global law firm, White & Case LLP, has strengthened its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the appointment of Abdullah Al-Hoqail as a Partner in its Riyadh office, reinforcing the firm’s continued investment in one of the region’s fastest-growing legal markets.
Firm and Market Activity
Office Openings & Closings
DAC Beachcroft relocates global headquarters in London
International law firm DAC Beachcroft has relocated its global headquarters from The Walbrook Building to Woolgate, a newly refurbished landmark office building in the heart of the City of London. Located at 25 Basinghall Street, EC2, just a short walk from the firm’s previous London home, Woolgate provides a modern, sustainable and flexible working environment designed to support clients and colleagues from across DACB’s international network.
Mishcon plots move to larger City HQ
Mishcon de Reya has signed a 20-year lease at MidCity Place in Holborn, with the firm set to move to larger premises in 2029. Mishcon has signed the long-term lease with Oxford Properties Group, which is undertaking a £20m refurbishment and decarbonisation of the 350,000 sq ft office space. The UK-headquartered law firm will take 161,000 sq ft of the space across four floors, with the option to take an additional floor depending on its future growth plans. The space will include amenities such as a library podcast studio and social workspaces, as well as outside spaces with a rooftop terrace and courtyard.
Burness Paull invests in additional Glasgow office space to support growth
Burness Paull has taken additional space at its Glasgow office at Two Atlantic Square. The firm will extend its footprint into the second floor of the grade-A building – where it already occupies the entire fourth floor – allowing for more desks, collaborative working areas, and a larger events space for hosting clients.
TC Young Moves to New Edinburgh Office
TC Young has relocated its Edinburgh office to a new, modern workspace at 2 Castle Terrace, marking a significant investment in the firm’s future growth in the capital. The move sees more than 30 members of staff relocate from the firm’s long-standing George Street office to a vibrant, contemporary workplace designed to support collaboration, innovation and the continued expansion of the Edinburgh team.
Mergers & Alliances
HF acquires multiple companies
Legal advisory firm, HF, has acquired Ennis & Associates LLP (Ennis), Matrix Claims Services Ltd (Matrix) and Cardinal Claims Services Ltd (Cardinal).
Financial Results
HSF Kramer’s revenue hits $2.4bn in first post-merger results
HSF Kramer has revealed its first set of post-merger financial results, with revenue reaching $2.4bn and profit totalling $850.8m over 2025/26. Average PEP also came in at $2.05m.
DAC Beachcroft profits leap by 20 per cent
DAC Beachcroft has posted double-digit revenue growth as the firm continues to expand its international presence. The firm reported 10 per cent revenue growth for 2025/26, rising to £385m, while profit before tax shot up by 20 per cent to £91m. Profit per member now stands at over £800,000, the firm added. The results are a marked improvement on the performance for 2024/25, where revenue increased by 6 per cent and profit before tax rose by 7.5 per cent.
Linklaters’ revenue inches closer to £2.5bn
Linklaters’ turnover rose nearly 7 per cent over 2025/26, while profit rose by double-digits. The magic circle firm saw revenue rise from £2.32bn to £2.47bn. Pre-tax profit was also up by 11.6 per cent from £1.1bn to £1.2bn, with profit growth of 7 per cent in the UK. The biggest profit growth was in the firm’s US offices, which reported a 39 per cent uplift. The majority of Linklaters’ Partners are in its equity, with profit per equity Partner up 11.4 per cent to £2.48m from £2.2m. Profit per all Partners reached £2.31m, a rise of nearly 11 per cent.
Stevens & Bolton squeaks to growth against Corporate headwinds
Guildford-headquartered Stevens & Bolton saw revenue growth – just – in 2025/26 after a challenging year for its flagship corporate team. The firm generated revenue of £46.7m, up 0.5 per cent on the previous year. Net profit was broadly flat, while average profit per equity Partner rose slightly to £380,000.
Clifford Chance flags US push as global revenue climbs 9% to £2.6bn
Clifford Chance (CC) has reported 9% revenue growth to £2.6bn in the year ended 30 April 2026, fuelled by strong growth in the US and Asia Pacific. Partnership profit exceeded £1bn for the first time after growing 11% to reach £1.05bn, while profit per equity Partner (PEP) rose 9% after marginal growth over the past two financial years, reaching £2.3m.
DLA Piper grows PEP nearly 20% in final year as verein
DLA Piper grew profit per equity Partner (PEP) nearly 20% in 2025, the firm’s last full financial year before its new corporate structure came into effect at the start of May. PEP at the 4,800-lawyer firm reached $4.1m, up 19.6% on 2024, while revenue rose 8.4% to $4.6bn.
Travers Smith returns to growth with record £229m revenue
Travers Smith’s revenue has rebounded after falling 2% in FY2024/25, with the firm recording record turnover of £229.4 million, up 9.1% from last year. Profit rose 5% to £78 million, while profit per equity Partner climbed to £1.4 million, up marginally on last year’s mark of £1.3 million.
Norton Rose Fulbright rings in revenue, profit rises
Norton Rose Fulbright’s (NRF’s) Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific business has posted what it characterised as a strong financial performance for its latest financial year, marking its seventh consecutive year of growth. Reported turnover increased 25% to £763.5m, following the integration of the firm’s Australia and Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) businesses last July. Profit rose 34%. On a like-for-like basis, underlying revenue in the firm’s legacy EMEA business grew 12% to £681m, with profit up 20%. UK revenue, the largest part of the legacy business, grew 17%.
Dentons says more complex work behind 10% UK revenue bump
Dentons has posted a 10 per cent increase in revenue for its UK, Ireland and Middle East (UKIME) arm for 2025/26. Revenue reached £336m for the financial year ended 30 April 2026, with all UK practice groups growing, notably the restructuring team, up 33 per cent; banking, up 23 per cent, and regulatory and investigations, which grew 25 per cent.
Withers signs up a billionaire a week as profits soar for 2025/26
Withers has added an average of one new billionaire client every week over the last four years, with its results for 2025/26 revealing that net profit has risen by 58 per cent over the last two. The results come a month into the tenure of new CEO Ceri Vokes, who has taken over the role from Margaret Robertson, who recently stood down after almost 25 years in post.
Market Commentary
Mishcon hikes NQ pay to £110k amid City salary climb
Mishcon de Reya has boosted its newly qualified solicitor pay to £110,000 from £100,000 as early career salaries continue to inch up across City law. Trainees will also earn £2,500 more a year, with salaries increasing to £52,500 for first years and £57,500 for second years.
Baker McKenzie boosts NQ salary to £150k
Baker McKenzie has added £5,000 to its newly qualified lawyer salary, matching the Magic Circle at £150,000. The change took effect from 1 July. Trainee salaries remain unchanged at £56,000 for first year trainees and £61,000 for second years.
Gateley CEO steps down as revenue rises and net debt jumps
Gateley’s CEO has announced his resignation as the firm reported its annual results, with revenue rising, net debt increasing and the firm confirming plans for up to 40 redundancies. Rod Waldie, who became CEO in May 2020, will step down from his role at the listed firm from 1 August, citing “personal, health-related reasons”. Martin Pike, previously an executive at risk advisory firm Willis Towers Watson and a current non-executive director at Gateley since April of last year, will serve as chief executive on an interim basis.
Dutch engineering company Arcadis confirms former KLM legal head as next GC
Dutch engineering business Arcadis has named Barbara van Koppen as group general counsel, having served as interim since the start of the year.
HSBC Appoints Sabah Khan as Senior Legal Counsel
HSBC has appointed Sabah Khan as Senior Legal Counsel in Dubai, where she will support the bank’s Debt Capital Markets (DCM) team.
Innovation & Culture
Technology & Innovation
Harvey signs up Microsoft as client as in-house market battle rumbles on
US tech giant Microsoft is rolling out Harvey to its legal teams across the globe, marking a major in-house deal for the legal tech start-up. As part of the announcement, Harvey also announced that it would expand its use of Microsoft products to help its teams “operate on the same trusted platform used by many of its customers”.
Willkie strikes deal with OpenAI to build new tools
Willkie Farr & Gallagher has struck a deal with OpenAI to help develop AI tools for the firm. The US firm said its new partnership with the AI giant will give the firm access to OpenAI’s latest models and its technical resources to help advance its portfolio of internally developed AI-powered platforms, as well as create new ones.
Clifford Chance builds 400,000-document AI knowledge library with Epiq and Microsoft
UK Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance has partnered with alternative legal services provider Epiq and Microsoft to create an AI-powered knowledge management library containing more than 400,000 curated documents.