Moves:
UK & Ireland
Paul Weiss Secures Latest London Partner with Hire from Investment Firm
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has appointed an investment director from Blantyre Capital, an asset management company, continuing its trend of recruiting people quickly in London.
The most recent partner to join the New York-based company in the UK is Kai Zeng.
Latham & Watkins Adds Senior Energy & Infrastructure Partner in London
Pedro Rufino Carvalho, who was Managing Director and Global General Counsel at Patria Investments, has joined the company as a partner in the Project Development & Finance and Latin America Practices, based in the London office.
Emmet Quish joins Walkers as asset management and investment funds partner
Emmet Quish, a partner in Walkers’ asset management and investment funds unit, has been appointed to the Irish office of the multinational law company. Mr. Quish has worked for asset managers, investment funds, and management organizations during his nearly two decades of expertise advising customers on a variety of topics.
Sidley Duo Decamp to A&O Shearman in London
The private equity and M&A practices of A&O Shearman are welcoming Paul Dunbar and Dan Graham.
Latham Taps Baker McKenzie for London Corporate Hire
Since 2017, Melanie Howard has been a partner in M&A at Baker McKenzie. She spent ten years with Clifford Chance prior to this move.
EMEA
White & Case Hires Prominent Weil Restructuring Partner to Lead Its Paris Practice
Co-head of Weil’s Paris restructuring/insolvency practice Anne-Sophie Noury will collaborate with the head of White & Case’s private equity department.
Linklaters Hires White & Case Partner in Germany
welcome Riaz Janjuah, a market-leading expert in restructuring and insolvency (R&I), who bolsters the firm’s Restructuring & Insolvency practice in Germany as a partner in its Hamburg office.
Norton Rose, Latham & Watkins, and Squire Patton Boggs Recruit
To grow its own banking expertise, Norton Rose Fulbright has recruited Jeremy Grant, the chief of Stephenson Harwood’s Paris debt capital markets practice.
Squire Patton Boggs Expands International Disputes Capabilities with Partner Addition
Nicoleta Timofti, a former partner at Curtis Mallet-Prevost, joined Squire Patton Boggs in August as a partner in the international dispute resolution practice located in Geneva. She worked at Greenberg Traurig in Washington, D.C. for 15 years, and she has licenses in both New York and Washington, D.C.
Hogan Lovells strengthens its global M&A practice with Düsseldorf hire
The international legal practice Hogan Lovells is happy to announce that Dr. Mesut Korkmaz has joined the firm as a partner in its Düsseldorf M&A practice area. Mesut leaves Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to join the company. Mesut’s practice is extensive and includes capital markets, shareholder activism, corporate restructurings, corporate restructurings, core corporate advising problems, and large and complicated private and public M&A.
Kirkland Builds German Restructuring Practice with Gleiss Lutz Duo
The latest move by Kirkland & Ellis to strengthen its European restructuring capabilities is the employment of a partner and a counsel from the German legal firm Gleiss Lutz. Later this year, Düsseldorf attorney Friedrich Schlott and Frankfurt-based Christian Halàsz are anticipated to join the company.
APAC
HFW Continues to Grow in Australia with Hire of Partner Duo
The Melbourne office of Johnson Winter & Slattery welcomes Paul Buitendag, a partner who was previously the head of dispute resolution for the company, together with Rena Solomonidis, an associate, and a legal assistant.
HSF Expands Hong Kong Private Capital Team with Teneo Hire
Before joining White & Case in 2010, Anthony Vasey started his legal career in London and Hong Kong with Slaughter and May.
Jones Day Hires King & Spalding Corporate Partner in Singapore
In recent years, Parveet Singh Gandoak has provided advice on some of the biggest cross-border corporate deals in South Asia.
CAM continues hiring spree with PSA corporate partner
With the addition of Arya Tripathy to its corporate and technology practice in Delhi in 2024, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has maintained its robust growth in lateral partners. From PSA Legal Counsellors, Tripathy joins.
Senior SAM lawyer moves to Trilegal as antitrust market
Due to the continued need for antitrust attorneys in India, merger control specialist Aparna Mehra is leaving her ten-year partnership at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. to join Trilegal.
In house
Cigna Taps Rising Star as Chief Legal Officer
Longtime legal boss Nicole Jones is continuing with the company and will still be in charge of law. In recent years, she has assumed a number of additional leadership roles.
Former AbVie legal head Laura Schumacher, a director of General Dynamics and CrowdStrike, said, “The law teaches us how to think about both sides of things, how to anticipate issues, how to see around the corner, and all of those skills are very, very important to be a valuable board member.”
Tech Company and Luxury Hotel Name New GCs
The two women have been appointed to general counsel roles at the companies.
US chip-maker Credo replaces CLO for second time this year with Automation Anywhere hire
Jim Laufman has been appointed chief legal officer of US chipmaker Credo Technology Group, succeeding Kate Schuelke, who is leaving the company after little over six months of employment.
The Americas
Clark Hill Adds Litigator in Continuation of NY Office Expansion
Attorney Nate Goldberg has joined Clark Hill’s New York office, the company announced on Tuesday. According to firm leadership, the hire is a part of the company’s ambition to grow in New York and on the East Coast.
Former Dechert COO Jumps to Klehr Harrison
After 23 years at Klehr Harrison, Thomas Ecker is retiring, and Corey Smith takes his place.
Cooley Hires Securities Litigation Partner in Los Angeles
After working for O’Melveny & Myers for more than 12 years, William Pao joins the company.
Hueston Hennigan Hires Former AUSA in Los Angeles
After working for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles for more than eight years, Bram Alden has joined Hueston as counsel.
Jones Walker Welcomes Bankruptcy Partner
Sean Wilson has joined the Houston office of Jones Walker as a member of the bankruptcy and restructuring team and as a partner in the firm’s litigation practice group.
People in the News—Aug. 29, 2024—Laffey Bucci, Duane Morris
Personal injury law firm Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan announced that associate attorney Ragha Narasimhan has joined the crime victims’ team.
Winston Expands Health Care Transactions Team with Morgan Lewis Partner
Banee Pachuca, a partner at Morgan Lewis, joined Winston & Strawn as a partner in Houston, where she practices transactions law with an emphasis on health care issues.
Employment, Labor Litigation Partner Joins Kaufman Dolowich in Los Angeles
Experienced business litigator Francisco Cabada recently joined Kaufman Dolowich after leaving his own firm.
Sidley Austin Hires Commercial Litigation, Disputes Partner from McDermott
After working with McDermott Will & Emery for more than 18 years, Jon Dean has joined Sidley Austin.
In the largest economy in Latin America, firms are bracing for what they believe will be a pick-up in deal activity after a slow period of recent deals.
Team Moves
Facing Demand Surge, Weber Gallagher Adds 7 Transportation Attorneys in Harrisburg
The team from Rawle & Henderson expands the firm’s capacity to serve clients in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maryland, where it plans to create a new office later this year.
Dentons Takes Hong Kong Disputes Trio from Norton Rose Fulbright
Shirin Tang and Lip Kian Ang are joining Baker McKenzie, which has added more than 50 partners in major international financial hubs including Singapore and London in the last 18 months.
Triple appointment at Turley Legal
Attorneys Rachel Scroggie, Kathryn O’Hagan, and Eileen McKendry-Gray have joined the staff of Northern Ireland business Turley Legal.
Financials:
Revenue Growth for Homegrown Texas Firms Trailed Industry in First Half of 2024
In the Wells Fargo Legal Specialty Group Six-Month 2024 Survey, a group of Texas firms reported a reduction in demand on average during the first half of 2024.
DC Law Firms ‘Underperformed’ in First Half of 2024
Revenue for D.C.-based companies increased by 5.6% in the first half of 2024, which was less than the industry’s total revenue growth of 11.4%.
Hourly Rates Rocket Higher, as Elite Firms Leverage Pricing Power
Owen Burman, managing director of the Wells Fargo Legal Specialty Group said Legal departments are facing unprecedented financial pressure. “But when it comes to high-value work, they are willing to pay top dollar.”
New York City-Headquartered Law Firms Outpace Industry in First Half of 2024
The capital markets, private equity, and fund creation transactional activities have been the main sources of the additional demand. Late in the third quarter of last year, that trend began.”
California State Judges to Receive 2.6% Pay Hike
Judges’ statutory pay increases are the result of recent wage increases negotiated by some state employees in California.
Norton Rose Fulbright rings in revenue, profit rises
For the fifth year in a row, Norton Rose Fulbright’s business in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia reported strong financial results for the most recent fiscal year.
Accounts filed at Companies House show that the company made £109.9 million in profit before members’ remuneration and profit sharing during the eight months ending December 31, 2023, with a turnover of £401.2 million.
US law firms ring in strong performance in first half
According to a survey by Wells Fargo Legal Speciality Group, US law firms had revenue growth of 11.4% on average in the first half of the year, and there is increasing evidence that 2024 may be a historically strong year for the sector.
Promotions & Appointments:
In Monmouth County, Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri has two new partners: Albertina Webb and John Patti.
Nuzzo & Roberts and Day Pitney: Partner Ascensions in Cheshire and Stamford
At Nuzzo & Roberts, Richard Mather and Ashley Bertsch get recognition for their accomplishments, and Amy Drais joins the Day Pitney tax team.
Connecticut Movers: Continued Growth for West Hartford’s Gfeller Laurie
Mary Patryn has been appointed counsel in West Hartford, while associates Anthony J. Biraglia, Caitlyn A. Burridge, Melissa Modzelewski, and Kara A. Newell have been named; partner Chrystale B. Hewitt is in Princeton.
FedEx Promotes Its Top Lobbyist for Past Two Decades to General Counsel
Gina Adams, a 32-year corporate veteran, will take over as the company’s lawyer from 42-year veteran Mark Allen.
MoFo Singapore Managing Partner Takes Team to Baker McKenzie
Shirin Tang and Lip Kian Ang are joining Baker McKenzie, which has added more than 50 partners in major international financial hubs including Singapore and London in the last 18 months.
McCarthy Tétrault Names Litigation Group Leader as New Firm CEO
At the conclusion of the year, Dave Leonard, the Canadian firm’s senior boss, steps down and is replaced by Sunil Kapur.
Nazia Latif appointed to Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Nazia Latif has been appointed to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Her appointment by Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn will take effect from 1 September 2024 and last for a period of three years.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Would-Be Gaffer Found to Lack Standing in Bias Case Challenging Diversity Initiative
The Southern District of New York’s Chief U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain reasoned that the plaintiff’s grievance was too abstract because he wasn’t looking for job in the film industry.
IMF announces departure of its first woman GC as hunt for replacement begins
Rhoda Weeks-Brown, the chief counsel of the International Monetary Fund, has announced her retirement at the end of September. A hunt for her replacement has begun.
Office Openings & Closing:
Appleby Boosts Asia Offering with Launch of Offshore Fiduciary Service in Shanghai
David Bulley, managing partner of Appleby’s Hong Kong and Shanghai offices stated that the launch comes in light of growing “client demand for a full-service offshore law and fiduciary business”.
Firms asked to help trainees stranded by ‘imminent closure’ of US firm’s London office
The legal community in London has been urged to assist student attorneys who may be harmed by the upcoming closure of Armstrong Teasdale, a US firm with a London office. In a letter sent to member companies last week, Colin Passmore, the chair of the City of London Law Society (CLLS), made the request.
Mergers & Alliances:
Ohio Firms Combine to Create 200-Lawyer Shop
With effect from October 1, forty-three lawyers from Brouse McDowell will join NLJ 500 firm Roetzel & Andress.
Technology & Innovation:
AFAs Will Grow as Firms Increase Gen AI Usage, New Survey Finds
Barnes & Thornburg’s Cassie Vertovec, one of the authors of the study said, “When we first saw AFAs hit the market, it was totally client driven. With this new shift, it could be law firm-driven, because their profitability is at stake.”
Tracking Generative AI: How Evolving AI Models Are Impacting Legal
An ongoing collection of the ways that generative AI tools—from GPT technologies to art creation tools and beyond—are continuing to influence the legal landscape.
Checking In on AI, Lawyers, Judges and Skeptics
We are beginning to comprehend some of the practical uses that AI—more especially, generative AI—can provide, as well as how AI might integrate into the practice of law.
At Least 2 Midsize Firms Are Using Mysterious AI Startup Harveyv
By formally deploying the technology, Honigman and Whiteford, Taylor & Preston are capitalizing on the excitement surrounding the enigmatic AI startup Harvey.
At DataGrail Summit, Legal Leaders Call for Transparency in the Age of AI
“A year ago, AI was really in a misunderstood state. Executives were trying to understand how to deploy it,” said DataGrail CEO Daniel Barber. “Now it’s about, how do we use it responsibly? And it starts with trust.”
Mid-Tier Firms Falling Behind Top-Tier on AI, Report Finds
The analysis also reveals a difference in the number of internal teams devoted to AI transformation between the top 20 and second 20 largest UK corporations.
Market Commentary:
Pinsent Masons Trials New Measures to Combat Long Hours
The business began talking about mental health and the heavy workloads at big law firms after the untimely death of an equity partner in September 2023.
Over 50 Am Law Firms Without Fla. Offices Employ Lawyers Barred in the State
Husch Blackwell, Womble Bond Dickinson and Troutman Pepper led the list, according to a DBR analysis of Florida Bar data.
Second 50 Law Firms Are Trailing Elite Firms and Smaller Peers in Growth
The Second 50’s slower growth has been caused by slower collections, higher headcount, and lower billing rates than the top 50.
Germany’s Law Firms Defy Economic Downturn, Predict M&A Surge
In the biggest economy in Europe, the legal profession has avoided the recession, but what is ahead?
HSF Expects Another Strong 12 Months of M&A in Australia
As per the Australia Public M&A report 2024 by Herbert Smith Freehills, there were 14 megadeals valued over $676 million in the 2023–24 fiscal year, which is almost twice the average of eight deals per year over the previous five years. Kam Jamshidi, an M&A partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, stated that the company is optimistic about public M&A in the upcoming year.
Germany’s Law Firms Defy Economic Downturn, Predict M&A Surge
In the biggest economy in Europe, the legal profession has avoided the recession, but what is ahead?
Lawyers Cite Strong Appetite for Capital Markets Work in India as IPO Pipeline Grows
Lawyers add that the recent listings show a rise in activity in India’s capital markets, which is “driven by the surge in domestic liquidity.”
Africa Deal Roundup: Hunton Andrews Kurth, A&O Shearman & HSF Advise on Nigerian Oil Deals
In line with a larger trend of energy companies pulling out of Nigerian upstream operations, Eni sold its onshore oil and gas assets in Nigeria to Oando. The transaction involved multiple law firms.