Moves:
UK & Ireland
Ashurst expands London disputes coverage with partner hire from Goldman Sachs
Banking litigation and investigations lawyer Philip Linton returns to private practice after 12 years at Goldman
Latham & Watkins secures antitrust partner in London from Linklaters
Leading merger control practitioner Simon Pritchard joins US firm after 10 years at magic circle rival
Sidley Austin makes double partner hire from Weil to bolster London private equity practice
James MacArthur and Ed Freeman bring vast deal experience, notably in the energy and infrastructure sectors
Linklaters secures leveraged finance partner in London from Shearman & Sterling
International departures from Shearman mount as Rahul Chatterji heads to magic circle rival
APAC
Herbert Smith Freehills Singapore ally launches local disputes practice with Morgan Lewis team
Leading litigator Daniel Chia joins Prolegis with three-lawyer team to head new practice
Big Law Trio Expand Key Practices with Partner Hires in Korea and Singapore
K&L Gates, Norton Rose Fulbright and Squire Patton Boggs have deepened their practices in South Korea and Singapore with key hires. K&L has strengthened its energy, infrastructure and resources practice in South Korea with the lateral hire of project finance lawyer Sarah Park from White & Case in Seoul, where she was most recently a local partner.
The Americas
Jenner & Block Builds Investigations, Fintech Practice With Former Federal Prosecutor
Jenner & Block is expanding its investigations and fintech practices with the addition of former federal prosecutor Laurel Loomis Rimon as a partner at the Washington, D.C., office.
Connell Foley Adds Four Attorneys, Including Two Partners, to Real Estate Practice in Newark
The new team members enhance a well-established Connell Foley real estate practice in Newark, New Jersey, and the Northeast. Professionals in Newark provide transactional and litigation services and solutions-oriented advocacy to companies and now hold an even stronger presence with 22 attorneys in the Newark office.
Mapes works with private equity real estate investors and energy and industrial businesses, among others. In addition to guiding his clients on the environmental aspects of real estate transactions and on regulatory compliance issues, he guides businesses through all stages of complex environmental litigation filed in state and federal courts and in appeals before administrative agencies.
Norton Rose Fulbright Hires Baker Botts Corporate Partner
Corporate partner Yan Zhang was drawn to Norton Rose’s global platform for clients, as their needs become more international in nature.
Shipman & Goodwin Announces High-Profile Hires
Shipman & Goodwin has announced two high-profile hires in the firm’s litigation and environmental law practices. Eric Del Pozo, former assistant solicitor general for the New York state attorney general’s office has joined the firm as a partner in Shipman’s litigation and appellate practices, and former clerk to the Connecticut Supreme Court, Sarah Kettenmann, has joined as an environmental law associate.
Holland & Knight Recruits Partners From K&L Gates to Build Tech Policy Team
As lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to eye tech regulation, Holland & Knight is adding a three-person policy and regulatory team, including two technology-focused partners, from K&L Gates in Washington, D.C. The team includes lawyers Daniel Ritter and Paul Stimers and Dennis Potter, a senior policy adviser.
Wilmer Hires Allen & Overy Securities Litigator in New York
Andrew Rhys Davies is the third government lawyer to join Wilmer’s New York securities litigation practice in the past year.
Gibson Dunn Hires 2 Lawyers from Paul Hastings, Expanding Fintech and Reg Practices
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has brought on two attorneys from Paul Hastings who will join as partners in its fintech and financial institutions practices, as the firm continues scaling up its regulatory groups. The lawyers, Sara Weed and Jason Cabral, join as partners in Washington, D.C., and New York, respectively.
Arnold & Porter Adds Senior Lawyer From NY Fed
James Bergin, former acting co-general counsel and deputy general counsel at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, joined Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer as a partner in New York.
NYC’s Morrison Cohen Expands Its Connection to Miami With New Hire
New York-based Morrison Cohen scooped up a white-collar litigation duo from Armstrong Teasdale in New York, adding strength in the practice and tapping into one of the lawyers’ Florida connections. Partners Eric Creizman and Melissa Madrigal are joining the New York mid-sized firm after over three years at Armstrong.
In-House
Ex-WeWork CLO Moves to Fintech Unicorn DailyPay
A month after stepping down as WeWork’s chief legal officer, Jared DeMatteis has joined payroll services star DailyPay as its first chief legal officer and strategy officer.
Around the house: Former WeWork CLO joins US fintech DailyPay, Levi Strauss replaces veteran CLO
This week’s roundup of top in-house hires includes the appointment of former WeWork chief legal officer Jared Matteis by DailyPay to head up its legal and strategy team.
Suntory Beverages Hires New UK GC Amid Reshuffle
Lucozade and Ribena manufacturer Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I has brought in a new U.K. general counsel, amid a spate of senior in-house moves. Ewa Chappell takes on the role of general counsel at the Japanese company’s Great Britain and Ireland branch, following predecessor Mary Guest’s promotion to deputy legal director for Suntory Suntory Beverage and Food Europe. Chappell will report to Guest.
Promotions & Appointments:
Linklaters Promotes 41 to Global Partnership
The firm has matched last year’s overall figure, and has equalled its 2022 record of number of women elevated to partner.
Reed Smith Appoints New Asia Pacific Head
Praj Samant, a partner and global chair of Reed Smith’s energy and natural resources group, has been appointed as the firm’s Asia Pacific managing partner.
Law firm Herbert Smith Appoints Joint Managing Partner for Global Disputes
The appointment succeeds current dispute resolution managing partner Damien Byrne Hill, who is set to return to full-time practice, according to the firm.
Investment Managers M&G Appoint New Legal Chief
London-based investment manager group M&G has appointed the former legal chief of insurance group RSA as its next general counsel and company secretary. Charlotte Heiss joins from The Very Group, the multi-brand online retailer behind very.com and Littlewoods, where she has been group GC and company secretary since May last year. The Very Group did not reply to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Bird & Bird Chair Reappointed For Second Term
Bird & Bird has reappointed its former international technology and communications head, Graeme Maguire, as chair of the firm’s board. Maguire was first appointed as Bird & Bird’s chair at the start of the pandemic in 2020. His reappointment is effective from April 1.
Mergers & Alliances:
Shakespeare Martineau Adds Consultancy Business In Latest Expansion
U.K. top 50 law firm Shakespeare Martineau has expanded its company secretarial expertise with the addition of a business consultancy business. The outfit has added London based Bruce Wallace Associates, which comprises a team of five, including co-founders and directors Susan Wallace and Martha Bruce.
Norton Rose Strengthens Saudi Offering with Local Law Firm
Norton Rose Fulbright has become the latest international law firm to augment its Saudi Arabia presence, as the government strips away local market entry restrictions on foreign firms. The firm is forming an association with the Company of Mohammed A. Altammami for Legal Services (LOMAT).
Office Openings & Closing:
Morgan Lewis Takes Entire Shearman Office in Munich, Including Personnel and Real Estate
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius’s new Munich office, which opened its doors Monday, doesn’t just include 19 lawyers from Shearman & Sterling. It also includes the ailing firm’s lease and office personnel.
Linklaters Break Into Riyadh as Squire Forms Local Alliance
Linklaters and Squire Patton Boggs have become the latest firms to augment their positions in Riyadh following the liberalisation of the Saudi legal market. After being granted a licence by the Saudi Ministry of Justice to practise law, Linklaters will establish a new Riyadh office, the firm said in a statement. The new office will be the firm’s third in the Middle East, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills’ Singapore alliance adds 4 from Morgan Lewis
Herbert Smith Freehills’ Singapore alliance firm Prolegis has launched a disputes practice in the country with the hire of four lawyers from Morgan Lewis, including its head of Asia disputes. Daniel Chia will join Prolegis as a director and head of litigation in early April, according to a statement from Prolegis and HSF.
Financials:
Mergers Help Smith Gambrell Grow Revenue by Record 15.5%
“I think it was a very good year, our best financially speaking. We’re very fortunate that our clients remained resilient in the face of economic headwinds,” Stephen Forte, Smith Gambrell’s managing partner and executive committee chair, said.
Foley & Lardner in a ‘Position of Strength,’ as Revenue, Profits Improve in 2022
With a focus on strategic industry sectors of energy, manufacturing, life sciences and health care, and innovative technology, Foley & Lardner grew in 2022 and improved its revenue by 5.4%.
Kilpatrick Townsend Grew Revenue 2.6% as It Focused on Mid-Market and Tech
“Overall, we felt 2022 turned out pretty well and that we are well positioned for the future,” said Kilpatrick’s chair and CEO Henry Walker.
‘Body Blows but Nothing Fatal’: With Cap Markets and M&A Down, Cahill Drops 19.5% in Revenue
After explosive growth due to strong transactional and capital markets work in 2021, the flip side of that equation was some significant drops in most key financial metrics.
Technology & Innovation:
Legal Industry Reacts to Goldman Sachs Generative AI Report: Keep Calm and Panic
Few challenged the Goldman Sachs report stating that 44% of legal tasks would be replaced by generative AI. But many had distinct theories about what that would mean for the industry.
Generative AI Could Automate Almost Half of All Legal Tasks, Goldman Sachs Estimates
A Goldman Sachs report found that, while generative AI will be more of a supplementary force for many jobs, its impact on legal could be more disruptive than in other industries, with many legal jobs at risk of automation.
How the Law Can Keep Up With Fast-Moving Advances in Technology
Big Tech and social networks of every stripe continue to wield growing influence over the information that we consume, how we interact online, and the practices of data collection and sharing at every turn. Naturally, one has to wonder: What changes are needed to global and national legal or regulatory systems to adapt to a world where the pace of industrial progress now moves at the speed of silicon?
Tracking Generative AI: How Evolving AI Models Are Impacting Legal
A running compilation of how the legal landscape continues to be shaped by generative AI tools, from GPT technologies to art generation tools and beyond.
I Robot: the rise of AI, machine learning and ChatGPT in legal
3Kites’ Paul Longhurst and Kemp IT Law’s Richard Kemp discuss the potential for AI in the legal profession and how the technology is likely to impact law firms
How legal technology can enhance the delivery of a public inquiry
From livestreaming to bringing key stakeholders together, Taryn Auchecorne and Roopal Patel of Opus 2 consider how judicious use of tech can make a public inquiry more efficient and transparent
Diversity & Inclusion:
Eckert Seamans Forms ‘Inclusion Council’ to Direct Diversity in Recruiting, Better Retention
The newly minted Inclusion Council has already created a language guide to educate employees on the implications of the language they use even in ordinary conversation and how certain terms or phrases might impact co-workers.
Anusia Gillespie, SVP Enterprise Solutions at UnitedLex, discusses educating clients on current options and resources for modernizing the legal function, how DEI is the core mission of modernization, and why it’s critical to take a data-driven approach to non-billable activities.
Linklaters meets gender diversity target for third consecutive year in latest promotion round
Magic circle firm elevates 41 to its partnership, with 17 women making the cut – just above its 40% goal.
Freshfields Reveals First Socio-Economic Pay Gap Data As Other Gaps Grow
The firm has reported a mixed set of results for its people and revealed how its peoples’ socio-economic backgrounds have impacted their remuneration.
Market Commentary:
Am Law 200 Firm Leaders Aren’t Sweating Double-Digit Profit Drops. Here’s Why
For some, the dip was a necessary consequence of spending more on travel for much-delayed in-person meetings. For others, 2022 was the right time to invest in growth aimed at generating long-term rewards.
Allen & Overy’s Next US Leaders Seek Broader Profile in Corporate America
Allen & Overy’s U.S. chair will pass the leadership reins in May to a pair of partners who aim to deepen the firm’s relationships with deal-seeking corporate clients. The newly christened U.S. co-chairs said they would like to broaden the firm’s image in corporate America from a banking and finance-focused firm to a trusted M&A advisor.