Moves
UK & Ireland
Brick Court bolsters senior clerking team with rare hire from Fountain Court
Brick Court has bolstered its clerking team with the hire of Fountain Court Chambers deputy senior clerk, Katie Szewczyk, in a rare lateral move between the rival commercial sets.
Sullivan & Worcester has hired trade finance partner Robert Parson from Squire Patton Boggs as a Trade Finance Partner in London.
Dentons recruits Brian Clarke as Dublin disputes partner | Irish Legal News
Global law firm Dentons has appointed experienced commercial litigator Brian Clarke as a partner in Dublin. He joins from Maples Group.
Shoosmiths grows emerging companies and venture capital offering with new corporate partner
Shoosmiths has announced the appointment of VC specialist Geoff Dragon to the firm’s corporate practice.
Penningtons Manches Cooper hires a new Partner in Real Estate
Leading law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper has appointed Sarah Finch as a partner in its fast growing real estate disputes team.
Law firm strengthens tech and digital health expertise with latest partner appointment
Commercial law firm Bevan Brittan has boosted its technology and digital health expertise with the appointment of a new specialist partner. Brett Lambe, who joins from Ashfords, has more than 15 years of experience in the technology and digital health sectors.
Americas
Ontier Appoints Michael Mena as Managing Partner of Its Miami Office
The international business law firm Ontier announced the appointment of Michael O. Mena as Managing Partner of its Miami office, from where he will lead the firm’s U.S. strategy and strengthen its ability to support clients in cross-border transactions and litigation between Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
Squire Patton Boggs makes twin transatlantic structured finance hire from Reed Smith
Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) has hired two structured finance lawyers from Reed Smith in New York and London to bolster its transatlantic finance capabilities. Trish O’Donnell joins the firm in New York as a partner, while Nathan Menon joins in London as a director.
Stewarts hires family law silk from 4 Paper Buildings to head up specialist children’s team
Stewarts has hired leading family law silk Alex Verdan KC from 4 Paper Buildings (4PB) to head its specialist children’s team.
HSF Kramer marks first US partner hire since merger
Burr Eckstut has joined the firm in New York as head of its US technology transactions practice and a partner in its corporate group. has joined the firm in New York as head of its US technology transactions practice and a partner in its corporate group. He joins from White & Case.
EMEA
Milbank hires new Partner in Frankfurt Office
Jan Häller has joined Milbank’s Frankfurt office as a partner in our Corporate/M&A practice. He joins from Hengeller Mueller.
Osborne Clarke hires Paris practice head
London-headquartered firm Osborne Clarke has hired Jessica Madesclair from Paris boutique HMN & Partners to lead its international arbitration practice in the French capital. Madesclair joins from HMN.
APAC
Goodwin hires investment funds expert in HK from Gibson Dunn
U.S. law firm Goodwin Procter has grown its private investment funds offering in Hong Kong with the hire of Youjung Byon as a partner from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she was an of counsel.
Korea’s Yoon & Yang bolsters antitrust practice with hires from BKL, KFTC
South Korean law firm Yoon & Yang has hired veteran antitrust lawyer Keum Seok Oh as partner and former Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) commissioner Yeong Ho Shin as senior advisor, strengthening its competition law practice.
Singapore’s Oon & Bazul hires lit partner from Davinder Singh Chambers
Singapore law firm Oon & Bazul has appointed Sngeeta Rai as a partner in its dispute resolution practice from Davinder Singh Chambers, where she served as a director.
NRF Asia fintech head joins Reed Smith as partner
U.S. law firm Reed Smith has hired Etelka Bogardi as a partner in its financial industry group in Asia, recruiting her from Norton Rose Fulbright where she served as Asia head of fintech and financial services regulatory.
Rajah & Tann disputes partner joins PRC firm Han Kun
The PRC’s Han Kun Law Offices has added dispute resolution expert Jerald Foo as a partner to its Singapore office. Foo joins from Big Four law firm Rajah & Tann.
Ashurst Hires Energy Transition Partner in Tokyo
Global law firm Ashurst is delighted to announce the appointment of James Hearne as a partner in its projects & energy transition practice, based in Tokyo.
In-House
US nuclear business The Nuclear Company hires former Tesla deputy GC as CLO
US nuclear energy innovation business The Nuclear Company has hired Robert Harmon as its chief legal officer, a newly created role. Harmon joins from construction tech business ICON, where he was general counsel.
US mortgage giant Freddie Mac hires MUFG Americas GC as next legal head – The Global Legal Post
US mortgage giant Freddie Mac has appointed Matthew Abrusci as general counsel, replacing Heidi Mason who retired at the start of this month. Abrusci joins from Japanese bank MUFG, where he was GC for the Americas region.
Paramount Hires Former DOJ Antitrust Head Makan Delrahim as Chief Legal Officer
Paramount has set Makan Delrahim, a former assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust division during President Donald Trump’s first term, as its new chief legal officer.
Team Moves
Hogan Lovells adds two-partner trade team in Brussels from Steptoe
Hogan Lovells has boosted its Brussels bench with the hire of a three-lawyer EU trade team from US firm Steptoe. Partners Renato Antonini, who was head of Steptoe’s EU trade practice, and Eva Monard have joined the firm alongside Byron Maniatis, who has made partner on the move, having been of counsel at his previous firm.
DWF bolsters UK major injury and casualty group with 28-strong Kennedys team
DWF has hired a 27-strong team from Kennedys to boost its major injury and casualty group across London and Leeds. The group is led by partners Richard West, Claire Mulligan, Gareth Thomas and Jennifer Harris, alongside a director, 10 senior associates and a wider team of associates, solicitors and legal professionals.
Promotions & Appointments
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Names Thomas Hong as First Atlanta Office Managing Partner
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP announced that Thomas Hong has been appointed the firm’s first Managing Partner of its Atlanta office.
Quarles Appoints Joanne Buser Next San Diego Office Managing Partner
Quarles & Brady LLP announced today that Joanne Buser has been named San Diego office managing partner, effective October 1. She succeeds Fred Plevin, who will continue with the firm as a Labor & Employment partner.
Dr Andrew Murray steps up as CBP’s new managing partner
Dr Andrew Murray will become Colin Biggers & Paisley’s new managing partner as of 1 October. He will succeed Nick Crennan, who steps down on 30 September.
Corporate partner Keavy Ryan to chair A&L Goodbody
A&L Goodbody LLP (ALG) has appointed Keavy Ryan as chair of the partnership.
Ms Ryan will succeed ALG’s current chair, Séamus Ó Cróinín, on 1 October.
Bird & Bird appoints two new country heads in the Middle East
Bird & Bird has today announced the appointment of two new country heads in the Middle East. Melissa Murray has been appointed as head of the UAE office, while Simon Shooter has been appointed as head of the Saudi Arabia office.
Office Openings & Closing
Orrick to shutter Geneva office by year end
Orrick is set to shutter its office in Switzerland by the end of the year, following a review. The tech-focused firm said the decision arose from a “routine review in connection with the conclusion of the office lease,” adding the closure “enables us to continue to emphasise strategic investment in other markets in Europe and worldwide.”
Reed Smith secures long-term lease for new Atlanta office at Spring Quarter
Reed Smith, a leading global law firm, today announced that it has signed a long-term lease for its new Atlanta office, marking an important step in the firm’s continued U.S. growth strategy. The office will be located on the 11th floor of Ten Twenty, the premier office tower within Spring Quarter, a new mixed-use development in the heart of Midtown Atlanta.
Mori Hamada set to become latest Japanese firm to launch in London
Japanese law firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto announced plans to establish a London office in 2026, marking the latest expansion by a major Japanese legal practice into the UK capital as cross-border dealmaking activity intensifies.
Mergers & Alliances
Kennedys continues Americas growth streak with Brazilian alliance
Kennedys has formed an alliance with Brazil’s RPZ Advogados, in a move that brings the firm an insurance-focused team of five partners and 24 more lawyers.
Financials
US general counsel pays surges by a fifth since 2020, Equilar report shows
The 2025 General Counsel Pay Trends report showed that median GC compensation at Equilar 500 companies – the 500 largest companies headquartered in the US by revenue – rose to $3.4m in 2024, a 20.5% rise from $2.8m in 2020. Performance-related incentives were the largest component of GC pay, rising 11.9% to just over $1m during the same period.
Diversity & Inclusion
Blacks United in Legal Technology (BUiLT), a New York-based organization that aims to promote diversity and education in legal and legal tech, is looking to expand its reach, starting with a rebrand. The organization announced Thursday that it has changed its name to the Network for Excellence in Tech Law (NExT).
Technology & Innovation
Navigating Privilege Risks in the Age of AI: Practical Guidance for Legal Teams
As tools using generative artificial intelligence (AI) become more integrated into legal workflows, they introduce new and complex risks to attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, and discoverability. Data retention practices, unclear usage protocols and even routine interactions with AI tools can inadvertently expose confidential communications and compromise critical legal protections. This article outlines key risk areas and offers practical strategies for mitigating exposure, preserving privilege, and staying ahead of evolving legal standards.
Real-World Examples of How GCs Are Leveraging Generative AI
GCs leverage generative AI (gen AI) tools to assess disputes quickly and accurately, determine which matters to settle or defend, and which disputes can be adequately managed in-house. Collaboration with outside counsel is still important, but gen AI adds a catalytic dimension to dispute resolution workflow, allowing in-house teams to get to the heart of a matter faster than ever before.
Market Commentary
What Silicon Valley General Counsel Must Do to Keep Their Companies Competitive
For Silicon Valley to maintain its leadership, it needs Washington to evolve from reactive regulation to initiative-taking industrial co-architecture. The Valley needs defined strategic sectors in AI, semiconductors, robotics, and quantum computing with corresponding government co-investment. It needs capital market structures that reward strategic patience and enable appropriate IPO pathways for complex technologies. It needs immigration reform that treats talent mobility as a strategic imperative. It needs bold investments in secure, high-speed digital infrastructure and adaptive governance institutions capable of managing emerging technologies without stifling them.
Finding Your Way Back: A Three-Step Approach for Addressing Burnout as a Young Lawyer
For many young lawyers, the first years of practice bring both excitement and enormous pressure. Young lawyers are eager to prove themselves, to show they belong, and to exceed the expectations of partners, clients, and even themselves. As their skill sets grow, so do their responsibilities. Deadlines multiply, client demands increase, and the pressure to perform becomes relentless.