Financials:
As Dell Hits Groove, GC’s Pay Soars 63%
Pay for Dell Technologies General Counsel Richard Rothberg ballooned last year, thanks to stock grants the maker of computer hardware awards every three years.
Shoosmiths’ revenue grew by 6 percent to £206.7 million, Linklaters also reported record-breaking results with firm revenues exceeded £2 billion for the first time, and Weightmans with income surpassing £140 million for 2023/24.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Pathetic or Pragmatic? GCs Respond as Big Law Backtracks on DEI
Some GCs expressed concerns that if law firms won’t stand up for their own DEI policies, it bodes badly for their willingness to stand up for their clients.
Dentons law firm celebrates zero per cent gender pay gap
The Australia arm of global law firm Dentons has announced that it is the first large law firm in the country to obtain a zero per cent median gender pay gap.
Trump’s FCC leader threatens to kill mergers over DEI policies
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told Bloomberg that he’s not inclined to approve deals involving companies with pro-diversity initiatives.
Office Openings & Closing:
Cleary to shutter Frankfurt office after 34 years
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is set to close its Frankfurt office in November, bringing an end to its presence in Germany’s business capital after 34 years.
Bird & Bird Middle East is growing with a new office in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
UAE’s Habib Al Mulla establishes Delhi foothold
UAE-based powerhouse Habib Al Mulla & Partners has launched its fifth international office in New Delhi, signaling a strategic move to capitalize on the expanding legal services corridor between India and the Gulf amid rising bilateral trade volumes.
Ex-A&O leaders launch consultancy for PE investment in law
Two former senior partners of the legacy UK Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy have launched a consultancy focused on advising private equity investors on opportunities within the legal sector.
Mergers & Alliances:
Ashurst’s Canberra office to join Thomson Geer
Global law firmAshurst and leading Australian firm Thomson Geer have announced that Ashurst’s Canberra office will transition to Thomson Geer. The office will officially become part of Thomson Geer in early July 2025.
The team making the move includes seven partners: Rob Andersen, Mathew Baldwin, Melanie McKean, Steve McKinney, Sarah Ross-Smith, Elissa Speight, and Angela Summersby.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Leading M&A dealmaker heads back to A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman is pleased to announce that leading dealmaker George Knighton is returning to the firm from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP.
Digital disputes heavyweight James Hyde joins Addleshaw Goddard
International law firm Addleshaw Goddard has further strengthened its commercial disputes team with the appointment of James Hyde as Partner in its Leeds office. Hyde joins from Eversheds Sutherland.
Norton Rose Fulbright hires arbitration partner from Howard Kennedy in London
Norton Rose Fulbright has hired arbitration partner Duncan Bagshaw as a partner from Howard Kennedy.
A&L Goodbody recruits Clare Cashin as construction partner
A&L Goodbody has appointed Clare Cashin as a partner in its construction and engineering practice. Cashin joins from Philip Lee.
The Americas
Weil Continues Growth in Corporate Practices, Adding Real Estate Partner Jessica Pillai
Jessica joins from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she was a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group.
Barley Snyder Adds Employee Benefits Attorney Nikolajs Gaikis to Lancaster Office
Prior to joining Barley Snyder, Gaikis served as an Honors Program Attorney with the IRS, Office of Chief Counsel in its Litigation & Advisory division where he litigated and advised on cases across a wide range of issues in the U.S. Tax Court.
Withers adds prominent tech litigator Jessica Nall in California
Jess joins Withers from Baker McKenzie
Paul Hastings Boosts Market-Leading Global Finance Practice on West Coast
Jeffrey Senac has joined the firm as a partner in Southern California from Latham & Watkins.
Sheppard Mullin Adds Securities Litigator In San Francisco
Partner Joshua Hess Deepens Firm’s Capabilities in Northern California. Hess joins from Dechertt.
Former White House Counsel Gregory Craig Joins Foley Hoag
Foley Hoag is pleased to announce that Gregory Craig, former White House Counsel for President Barack Obama, is joining the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
Cooley Taps Lyndsey Kruzer as Employment Partner in Boston
Lyndsey Kruzer joins Cooley’s Boston office as a partner in the firm’s labor and employment practice and global litigation department. Kruzer joins from Choate.
APAC
The additions include Jennifer Ng from Davis Polk & Wardwell, Jenny Ho, also from Davis Polk, Xu Zheng from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, and Weina Guan from A&O Shearman.
Tony O’Malley Joins Kain Lawyers
Tony O’Malley, the former global head of PwC Legal, has joined Kain Lawyers, a boutique transactions firm in Australia, as a non-executive director.
HK firm Howse Williams welcomes TMT partner from K&L Gates
Hong Kong law firm Howse Williams has expanded its technology, media and telecommunications offering with the hire of Paul Haswell as a partner from U.S. law firm K&L Gates.
EMEA
Bird & Bird add Energy Partner in Amsterdam
Matthijs van Leeuwen joins Bird & Bird as a new partner in our Energy & Utilities team in Amsterdam.
Baker McKenzie Bolsters German M&A Team with Key Hire from Gibson Dunn
Baker McKenzie is bolstering its German M&A and private equity practice with the addition of Jan Schubert, a former partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Schubert will join the firm’s Frankfurt office on June 1, enhancing its global M&A and corporate transactions expertise.
Alfonso Lamadrid Joins Latham’s Powerhouse Antitrust Practice in Brussels
Latham & Watkins LLP is pleased to announce that Alfonso Lamadrid will join the Brussels office as a partner in the Antitrust & Competition Practice and a member of the Litigation & Trial Department. Lamadrid joins from Garrigues.
In-House
Starling Strengthens Leadership Team with New General Counsel
Monica Risam has been named Group General Counsel, succeeding Matt Newman. A dual-qualified US and UK attorney with deep financial-services expertise, she joins Starling from Lombard International Group, where she served as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary.
US’s second largest bookstore chain Books-A-Million hires second GC in a year
US bookstore chain Books-A-Million has rehired Catherine Hogewood as general counsel, seven years after she previously held that position. Hogewood joins from Marsh McLennan.
Dentons construction lawyer joins Drake & Scull as general counsel
Ahmed El-Bayouk has been appointed general counsel and head of legal at the company as it embarks on a new chapter following a successful restructuring. He joins from Dentons’ Dubai office.
Team Moves
Reed Smith hires A&O Shearman trio across Singapore, Hong Kong
A&O Shearman’s joint Singapore managing partner, Tim Beech, has transitioned to the US firm along with newly promoted partner Regina Lui and an associate, strengthening its global corporate trust team.
Paul Hastings adds two more White & Case partners in energy and infrastructure push
M&A lawyer Stefan Mrozinski and projects lawyer Habeeb Rahman are the latest of seven partners the firm has hired for the practice across Abu Dhabi, Paris and London since the start of last month, six of them from White & Case.
4 major partners exit Paul, Weiss after Trump deal
The departures include Karen Dunn, Jeannie Rhee, Jessica Phillips, William Isaacson.
Promotions & Appointments:
Tríona Walsh has been promoted to of counsel specialising in insurance litigation, while Ed Kelly has been promoted to associate solicitor specialising in employment litigation.
Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments
The Prime Minister of Singapore has announced his Cabinet line-up and other appointments.
Derville Rowland joins new EU authority for anti-money laundering
Derville Rowland, deputy governor for consumer and investor protection at the Central Bank of Ireland, has been appointed to the executive board of the EU’s newly-established Anti-Money Laundering Authority.
Technology & Innovation:
Theo Ai, an AI-powered litigation prediction platform, has secured a $4.2 million seed round just six months after announcing its $2.2 million pre-seed funding in November. The round was co-led by returning backer NextView Ventures and new investor Collide Capital.
German legaltech startup Noxtua snaps $92M to develop Europe’s sovereign AI
Noxtua, a German startup previously known as Xayn, is entering the market with an ambitious goal: to develop sovereign, domain-specific legal AI tailored to meet the rigorous standards of the German legal system.
Definely enters legal AI agent race with new contract review tool
Legal tech startup Definely has launched its own agentic AI product, marking the UK-founded company’s move into one of the most competitive frontiers in the legal AI space.
AI, art and the law: new frontiers in creativity and IP
AI’s growing role in art creation and curation raises some of the industry’s most important IP issues.
House of Lords demands more protection for copyright holders against AI
The UK government has been defeated for a third time in the House of Lords as it demands increased protection for copyright-protected works used by AI models.
Market Commentary:
Former UK prime minister David Cameron in talks to join DLA Piper
The talks, first reported by the Financial Times, could see Cameron take on an advisory role at the firm focused on geopolitical risk.
Sinn Féin bill would end Irish role in sale of Israeli bonds
Legislation banning the Central Bank of Ireland from facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds across the European Union has been proposed by Sinn Féin.
UAE litigants in London Commercial Courts hits record high, overtaking US, Russia and Switzerland
The UAE has become the second most active foreign jurisdiction in London’s Commercial Courts, according to a new report, overtaking the US, Russia, and Switzerland for the first time.