Financials:
Profits Swelled at Hughes Hubbard in 2024, With PEP Up 24%
Hughes Hubbard & Reed saw modest revenue growth in 2024, while profits per equity partner surged by 24.1%, driven by robust demand in litigation, aviation finance, and corporate transactions.
Starting law firm associate pay has been flat since 2023, NALP reports
The median base salary for first-year associates at U.S. law firms remained unchanged over the past two years, holding steady at $200,000, according to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). This is despite some large firms increasing starting pay to $225,000. The figure reflects data from NALP’s biennial U.S. Associate Salary Survey, last conducted in January 2023 and again in January 2025.
Mattos Filho releases integrated report with 2024 results
Mattos Filho has published the second edition of its integrated report, Pulso, underscoring the firm’s ongoing commitment to transparency with clients, partners, and broader society. The report highlights a robust performance in 2024, with the firm achieving a 14% year-on-year revenue increase, reaching BRL 1.7 billion.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Gender Pay Gap Grows at Largest UK Firms
Recent gender pay gap reports from leading UK law firms—Freshfields, Linklaters, Clifford Chance, and Allen & Overy—reveal notable increases in median gender pay disparities over the past four years.
Goodwin Procter Cuts Recruiter Contract After EEOC Criticism
Goodwin Procter terminated a contract with a recruiting operation following its founder’s critical comments about the law firm’s response to a federal diversity probe.
Bar Standards Board announces about-face on diversity and inclusion proposal
The Bar Standards Board (BSB), which regulates barristers in England and Wales, has shelved a proposal to introduce a core duty requiring barristers to “act in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion” following claims it lacked clarity and would be unenforceable.
Office Openings & Closing:
Data Protection Commission opens new HQ in Dublin
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan attended the official opening of the Data Protection Commission’s (DPC) new headquarters in Dublin yesterday.
Eversheds ditches Irish merger plans, and will go it alone instead
Eversheds Sutherland has decided to abandon its proposed merger with Irish law firm William Fry and will instead establish its own operations in Ireland. The firm plans to open new offices in Dublin and Belfast this September, aiming to launch with up to 20 partners as part of its international expansion strategy.
Taylor Wessing Expands into Shenzhen, Reshapes China Presence
In a move to strengthen its presence in China’s high-tech sector, Taylor Wessing will open a new office in Shenzhen by 2026.
KNM & Partners Expands Regional Presence with New Chandigarh Office
KNM & Partners has opened a new office in Chandigarh, marking a significant step in its regional expansion. The move aims to strengthen the firm’s legal service footprint across Punjab and Haryana.
Simmons & Simmons officially opens Riyadh office with disputes partner at helm
Simmons & Simmons has officially launched its Riyadh office, marking its expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The office will be led by disputes partner Amer Al Amr, who brings over 25 years of legal experience in the country. First announced in January 2024, the office is now fully operational.
Mergers & Alliances:
Wolters Kluwer to acquire global legal software provider Brightflag
Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory has announced its agreement to acquire Brightflag, a cloud-based provider of AI-powered legal spend and matter management software, for approximately €425 million in cash.
Pérez-Llorca furthers LatAm ambitions with landmark Colombia merger
Spanish law firm Pérez-Llorca is set to enter the Colombian legal market through a merger with leading local firm Gómez-Pinzón, marking the first such union between a top-tier Colombian firm and an Ibero-American counterpart.
Thomson Geer to nab Ashurst’s Canberra office in July
Ashurst has announced that its Canberra office will officially join Thomson Geer in early July 2025, marking a significant strategic move for both firms.
CMS establishes presence in Indian market with IndusLaw alliance
Global legal powerhouse CMS has announced that Indian law firm IndusLaw will join its network.
HSF, Kramer Levin complete combination into Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin have completed their combination into Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer as of 1 June.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Addleshaw Goddard strengthens Finance Disputes team with high-profile hire
International law firm Addleshaw Goddard has appointed experienced financial services disputes specialist James Southworth as a Partner in its Finance Disputes team. James joins from Eversheds.
Denise Hunt appointed to Northern Ireland Social Care Council
Barrister Denise Hunt BEM has been named a non-executive member of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
Pillsbury adds Corporate Tech Partner Sarah Melaney
Pillsbury has recruited Sarah Melaney to join its London office. She joins from Withers.
Employment partner appointment at MFG Solicitors
Tim is a Partner within the nationally recognised Employment Team at mfg Solicitors LLP. He joined the firm after more than 20 years at George Green LLP.
Pinsent Masons hopes to bolster firm’s Aberdeen offering with new hires
Energy sector specialist Chris Sawyer has joined the firm’s corporate team from EnQuest while former Burness Paull director Gillian Harrington joins as a partner to lead the employment team.
Cadwalader strengthens London team with Crowley
Cadwalader has welcomed top infrastructure lawyer Rebecca Crowley as a partner in its London office. She joins from Latham and Watkins.
Shakespeare Martineau strengthens regulatory offering with partner hire
Shakespeare Martineau has hired Kamal Chauhan who joins the firm from Knights.
The Americas
EY legal heavyweight Monica Gogna leads team to Squire Patton Boggs
EY legal partner Monica Gogna is leading a five-lawyer team to join US law firm Squire Patton Boggs.
Global law firm Clifford Chance has bolstered its U.S. Funds & Investment Management practice with the addition of partner Charles (Chase) B. Tanenbaum, who joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
Simpson Picks Up Partners From Cravath, Kirkland and White & Case in Lateral Spree
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has announced the addition of four new partners over the past week, Among them is Jana Hymowitz, an executive compensation partner who joins from Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York.The firm also welcomed Anat Holtzman, a private funds partner from global investment firm Carlyle in Washington, D.C.; Fern Han, a finance partner focused on project, energy, and infrastructure transactions, from White & Case in Houston; and John Ilardo, a banking and credit partner from Kirkland & Ellis in Boston.
Gibson Dunn is pleased to announce that Andrew W. Cheng has rejoined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group and the Liability Management and Special Situations Practice Group. He joins after three years at Goodwin.
Winston & Strawn Welcomes Michael Kimberly as Co-Chair of the Appellate & Critical Motions Practice
Winston & Strawn LLP has announced that Michael Kimberly has joined its Washington, D.C. office as co-chair of the Appellate & Critical Motions Practice. He arrives from McDermott Will & Emery.
Leading M&A Lawyers Graham Robinson, Laura Knoll and Chadé Severin Join Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis has announced the addition of leading M&A attorneys Graham Robinson, Laura Knoll, and Chadé Severin as partners. The trio, who specialize in public company M&A with a strong focus on the biotechnology sector, join the firm from Skadden.
Texas Lawyer: O’Melveny Expands Energy Team in Houston With Bradley Practice Co-Chair
O’Melveny has announced that prominent Texas trial lawyer Meghan McElvy has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in its General Litigation Practice Group and Energy Industry Group. She joins from Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.
Freshfields Adds Silicon Valley M&A Partner From Debevoise
Freshfields has hired former Debevoise & Plimpton partner Aly Love as co-head of its U.S. Tech & Life Sciences M&A practice. She will be based in the firm’s Bay Area offices.
Morris Manning Exits Continue as Health Care Duo Jumps to Bradley Arant in Atlanta
Partners Michele Madison and George Reinhardt are the latest additions to Bradley’s two-year-old Atlanta office.
US boutique DEMC hires luxury law partner from Holland & Knight
Danielle Garno moves to sports and entertainment firm Daniel, Ebeling, Maccia & Cohen from Holland & Knight.
APAC
Addisons adds Brigid Clark as employment and workplace relations partner
Addisons, a Sydney-based full-service commercial law firm, has announced the appointment of Brigid Clark as a partner in its employment and workplace relations practice. She joins from Macpherson Kelley.
Penningtons adds banking expert from WongPartnership
UK law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper has further expanded its Singapore office with the hire of banking and finance partner Zhi Chao Chor from WongPartnership.
Anand Kumar Joins ADP Law Offices as Partner
Anand Kumar has joined ADP Law Offices as a partner, reflecting the firm’s strategic focus on deepening its expertise in corporate finance and regulatory advisory. He joins from Deloitte.
Leading Vietnamese lawyer Hai Nguyen joins A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman is pleased to announce the appointment of Hai Nguyen. Nguyen joins from YKVN.
EMEA
Greenberg Traurig and Simmons & Simmons make key partner hires in Saudi Arabia
Greenberg Traurig has hired Dr. Yazid AlMasoud as a partner in Riyadh from Z&Co., strengthening its public policy and regulatory offering. Simmons & Simmons has added Umera Ali as a partner from Dentons, where she led the Saudi banking practice.
Al Tamimi taps Clyde & Co for tax partner
Al Tamimi & Company has bolstered its tax practice in Dubai with the hire of Rachel Fox from Clyde & Co, where she led the Middle East tax team.
In-House
Brandon Barkhuff named as new NV Energy president and CEO
NV Energy announced that Brandon Barkhuff will succeed Cannon as the new president and CEO of the utility. Before stepping into the top executive role, Barkhuff served as general counsel.
Nil Loy Joins Feed the Children
Feed the Children has announced the appointment of Nil Loy as its new Chief Legal OfficerShe joins from Population Services International and HealthX Partners Incorporated, where she most recently served as General Counsel.
US nuclear power innovator Terrestrial Energy hires GC ahead of public listing
US nuclear reactor business Terrestrial Energy has hired Brian Romanzo as general counsel ahead of its transition to become a publicly-listed company.
Children’s book publishing giant Scholastic appoints first new GC in 17 years
The world’s largest children’s book publisher and distributor Scholastic has promoted Chris Lick to general counsel, replacing Andrew Hedden who is retiring from the role.
Team Moves
Kirkland & Ellis has announced the addition of 13 litigation partners, led by nationally recognized product liability and mass tort litigator Kristen Fournier, prominent trial lawyers Kim Bueno and Morty Dubin, and environmental and mass tort specialist John Ewald. They join from King & Spalding, along with nine additional partners across New York, Austin, Houston, and Los Angeles.
Paul Hastings Adds Preeminent 5-Partner Real Estate Team in Los Angeles
Paul Hastings has further strengthened its elite real estate practice with the addition of partners DJ Moore, Beth Gordie, Winston Stromberg, Benjamin Hanelin, and Lauren Paull in Los Angeles. The group joins from Latham & Watkins.
Pierson Ferdinand Continues Rapid Growth with Four Partner Appointments
PierFerd continues its strategic expansion with the addition of several experienced attorneys across key U.S. markets. Priscilla O. Arthus joins the firm’s Houston office from Polsinelli. In Florida, Nicole Llopis comes aboard from Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP. Thomas O’Grady joins as a Partner in Princeton, New Jersey from Goldberg Segalla LLP and Porzio, Bromberg & Newman. Additionally, Tom C. Vincent II strengthens the firm’s Cyber, Privacy & Technology and Banking and Financial Services practices, joining from full-service firm GableGotwals.
Pinsents snaps up IP team from Deloitte Legal
Pinsent Masons has strengthened it’s IP practice with the hire of a NINE strong team from Deloitte Legal in London; 3 partners, 1 legal director and 5 associates.
Promotions & Appointments:
K&L Gates Announces New Leadership Team
The firm has appointed Stacy Ackermann as its new Global Managing Partner and Rick Giovannelli as Co-Chair of the Management Committee.
Withers names private client disputes partner as new chair
Paul Hewitt to succeed Justine Markovitz at helm of private client powerhouse on 1 July 2025.
Technology & Innovation:
364,000 Impacted by Data Breach at LexisNexis Risk Solutions
LexisNexis Risk Solutions has disclosed a significant data breach affecting over 364,000 individuals. The breach occurred on December 25, 2024, but was not detected until April 1, 2025.
Inside Garrigues’ Plans to Diversify Its Income Through Its Digital Business g-digital
The law firm has also launched its own generative AI platform, Garrigues GAIA.
Herbert Smith Freehills releases free global AI tracker
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), a global law firm, has launched a new free AI-powered tool designed to help clients keep track of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence policies and regulations around the world.
AI integration in the legal sector
As O’Keeffe succinctly observes, “As the technology evolves, so must we. AI will never replace lawyers, but it will change what we do, how we do it…’
Market Commentary:
Hundreds of lawyers call for UK sanctions on Israel over Gaza war
Hundreds of UK-based and qualified lawyers, including former Supreme Court justices, have urged the UK government to take stronger action to help end the conflict in Gaza. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, 828 legal professionals called for the government to use “all available means”—including reviewing trade relations with Israel and imposing sanctions and travel bans on Israeli ministers.
UK GCs say they will keep more work in-house as cost pressures bite
More than half of UK in-house lawyers plan to reduce reliance on external counsel over the next five years, according to Thomson Reuters’ 2025 State of the UK Legal Market report. The survey reveals that 54% of in-house legal teams expect to bring more work in-house, while only 35% of law firms anticipate this shift—highlighting a potential disconnect in expectations between clients and their legal service providers.
What’s Behind Eversheds’ Growth in Europe’s Benelux Region?
A regional approach, rather than a country-specific focus, has been instrumental to Eversheds’ growth in Europe’s Benelux countries