Moves:
UK & Ireland
Shearman’s EMEA, Asia M&A Head Quits for Sidley Austin
Another Shearman & Sterling partner has quit the firm amid its merger talks with Hogan Lovells.
HSF Adds Kirkland Private Debt Partner To London Office
Herbert Smith Freehills has strengthened its London finance practice with the addition of a Kirkland & Ellis partner.
White & Case Partner Leaves To Join U.S. Rivals Jones Day
Jones Day has strengthened its London arbitration practice with the addition of a White & Case partner, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Julian Bailey, who is leaving after a decade at the firm, first made partner in early 2016, according to a spokesperson for the firm.
White & Case Private Credit Partner Moves to Akin, Gump
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has hired private credit partner Fergus Wheeler from the London office of White & Case.
Slaughter and May Corporate Star Andy Ryde Retires
Slaughter and May heavyweight Andy Ryde is retiring after 35 years at the firm, having acted on some of the biggest deals in the U.K. elite firm’s corporate practice during his tenure.
Shoosmiths hires COO from DLA Piper
Shoosmiths is kicking off 2023 by appointing Rachel Reid as the firm’s chief operating officer (COO).
The Americas
White & Case Grabs 3 Bracewell Trial Partners in Houston
Bracewell partners Sean Gorman, Chris Dodson and Andrew Zeve joined White & Case as partners in Houston on Tuesday, expanding the global firm’s trial team in the Texas city.
Brown Rudnick Lands 4-Lawyer Corporate Group From Seyfarth Shaw
The group will operate out of the firm’s Washington, D.C., office while also spending time in New York and on the West Coast as the need arises.
Jones Day’s Atlanta Office Scoops Up Former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice
On Wednesday, Jones Day announced its Atlanta office is getting a new partner straight from Georgia’s highest court.
Clyde & Co, Cuatrecasas Add Partners in Chile
The South American country has been a key focal point for both international firms as they expand their footprints in Latin America.
K&L Gates reels in seven-partner private equity team from Dentons’ Pittsburgh arm
K&L Gates has hired a seven-partner corporate and private equity team from Pittsburgh-based rival Dentons Cohen & Grigsby.
Goodwin Procter adds 14-partner team from Troutman Pepper to cement Philadelphia presence
Top 20 US firm Goodwin Procter has secured a group of 14 partners from Troutman Pepper to officially launch in Philadelphia. The team includes rainmakers and former practice heads and is split between Goodwin’s life sciences, healthcare transactions and white-collar defence teams.
Pallas Partners grows in New York with partner hire from Gibson Dunn
London-based litigation boutique Pallas Partners has grown in New York with the hire of a commercial litigation partner from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher along with two associates from other firms.
In House
Nokia Appoints Permanent Chief Legal Officer
Telecoms company Nokia has appointed Esa Niinimäki as its chief legal officer.
Mimecast promotes compliance chief to general counsel
Mimecast has promoted its deputy counsel and compliance head to the general counsel role, the Lexington, Massachusetts-based company has announced.
Royal London appoints new GC from insurance rival AXA
Royal London has hired AXA’s UK group regulatory and compliance director as its new general counsel (GC). Julie Whitehead has made the move after 17 years with AXA, beginning her career at the insurance giant in 2005 as senior counsel.
Promotions & Appointments:
Jones Day Names New Corporate Leaders Following Top M&A Lawyer’s Departure
Vica Irani, one of the new leaders, is based in London. The others – Andy Levin and Randi Lesnick – are based in New York. They will lead the firm’s newly structured corporate practice, which includes M&A and private equity sub-practices.
Email Security Company Mimecast Promotes Deputy GC to Legal Chief
Chris Dollase is taking the legal reins of Mimecast eight months after it was sold to a private equity firm for $5.8 billion.
Travers Smith Names New Head of Private Equity Following Departures
Travers Smith has promoted partner Lucie Cawood to head of its private equity and financial sponsors practice.
Lewis Silkin names incoming co-managing partners
Lewis Silkin has announced that employment partner Richard Miskella and IP and advertising law specialist Jo Farmer will serve as its next joint managing partners.
Macfarlanes maintains status quo with leadership reappointment
The senior partner at Macfarlanes has been reappointed for a second term.
Mergers & Alliances:
Hogan Lovells, Shearman Talks Progress With Management Meetings in London & New York
Merger talks between Hogan Lovells and Shearman & Sterling have continued to progress in recent weeks, with management from both firms meeting on each side of the Atlantic.
Atlanta, Chicago law firms announce merger to create AmLaw 150 firm
Atlanta-based Smith Gambrell & Russell (SGR) is to merge with Chicago’s Freeborn & Peters in a move that will create a firm with turnover of more than $260m.
Taylor Wessing in talks with Iberian firm over strategic alliance
Taylor Wessing is looking to develop a strategic alliance with Iberian firm ECIJA in a move that would greatly expand the former’s geographic offering to its tech and venture capital clients.
Office Openings & Closing:
Phila. Law Firm Leaders Find Opportunity, Not Threat, in Goodwin Procter Arrival
While Goodwin Procter’s arrival into the Philadelphia legal marketplace may slightly raise the competitive pressures on homegrown law firms, leaders in the city hope that the entry of another Am Law 50 firm will raise the region’s profile as a life sciences transactional hub.
Clydes’ Manchester staff move offices as BLM integration continues
Seven months after Clyde & Co merged with insurance firm BLM, integration plans are underway in Manchester as staff prep to switch offices.
Financials:
A&O, DLA and Noerr Build in Germany’s Financial Hubs
Three law firms have expanded their financial offerings in the heart of Germany’s two main financial hubs, Frankfurt and Munich.
Merger or Not, Hogan Lovells Charts Path Toward Greater US Market Share
CEO Miguel Zaldivar expects the firm’s 2022 revenues and profits will land below the previous year’s record-setting levels. But his interest in growing the firm’s heft in New York, Texas and California remains unchecked.
Mason Hayes & Curran sees turnover pass €100m mark for the first time
Turnover at Irish firm Mason Hayes & Curran (MHC) has exceeded €100m for the first time after growing revenue 8% in 2022 to reach €106m.
Technology & Innovation:
Legal Departments Say They’re Headed in Right Direction on ESG, But It’s Straining Their Resources
Legal departments at major companies say almost universally that they have become the in-house hub for environmental, social and governance issues (ESG), a new white paper has found.
Live Nation Antitrust Showdown May Accelerate Attacks Against Big Tech
The antitrust hearing on Capitol Hill this week was about Live Nation, not Big Tech, but it likely will add momentum to efforts to clamp down on the power of tech giants, legal experts say.
BCLP Launches New Billable Hours Policy Including ‘Vacation Bonus’ Reward
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has become the latest firm to shake up its billable hours policy, introducing a scheme the allows its best performers to earn a vacation bonus.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Are Greenwashing Lawsuits a Passing Fad?
Greenwashing lawsuits are on a meteoric rise. Over the past five years, private and government plaintiffs have filed numerous greenwashing lawsuits to challenge business claims about sustainability achievements and environmental friendliness. These lawsuits have impacted nearly every major industry. But, are greenwashing lawsuits simply the latest litigation fad that will die down as businesses adapt to avoid the claims made in the lawsuits or will they continue to grow in volume in a hostile regulatory environment?
Clifford Chance Appoints First Woman As Americas Managing Partner
Clifford Chance has appointed its global antitrust co-chair as its next Americas managing partner. Washington D.C.-based partner Sharis Arnold Pozen will take over the role from May 1.
BCLP adds former Baker McKenzie recruiter in Chicago as US diversity director
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has appointed a new US director of diversity and inclusion. Devin Carter has joined the firm in Chicago from consultancy AlixPartners and previously worked in diversity at firms including Baker McKenzie and McKinsey.