Moves:
UK & Ireland
Weil boosts funds bench with A&O Shearman hire
Phil Baynes, who was previously a counsel in Weil’s private funds group before leaving for A&O in 2022, returns as a partner in London.
EY loses energy duo to Jones Day as exits continue
Energy partners Michelle T. Davies and Rob McNabb have left EY Law to join Jones Day’s London energy team.
Crowell hires 18-strong Dentons IP team in London
An 18-strong patent team led by renowned patent lawyer Justin Hill has moved from Dentons to Crowell & Moring’s London office. Hill, who was head of Dentons’ European patent prosecution and opposition practices, is joined by Marie Jansson Heeks, who was a senior associate at Dentons. The team is completed by six patent attorneys, four paralegals and six professional staff members.
Thorntons strengthens real estate and construction teams
Leading Scottish law firm Thorntons has appointed Simone Young as partner and Stephanie Zak as commercial real estate consultant, bolstering its commercial real estate team in Edinburgh. Simone joins from Davidson Chalmers Stewart while Stephnie joins from Balfour + Mason.
Taylor Wessing announces new real estate head
Taylor Wessing strengthens its real estate group with the appointment of Emma Chadwick as partner. She joins from Winckworth Sherwood.
Osborne Clarke expands its corporate team
Richard Porter, formerly with A&O Shearman, has joined Osborne Clarke as a partner in London. A specialist in cross-border M&A across the tech, media, and energy sectors, Porter brings deep experience advising global corporations and financial institutions. His hire strengthens Osborne Clarke’s corporate offering as the firm continues to grow its presence in key sectors.
The Americas
Sidley Grows San Diego Office With Global Finance Partner Parker Zangoei
Sidley has welcomed Parker Zangoei as a partner in the firm’s Global Finance group, based in the San Diego office. He joins Sidley from DLA Piper, where he served as co-head of the Private Credit practice and was a partner in the Finance/Venture and Growth Lending group.
Willkie Adds Leading Energy and Infrastructure Partner Blake Winburne in Houston
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced that Blake Winburne has joined the Firm as a partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department in Houston. Winburne joins from Orrick.
Restructuring Partners Ingrid Bagby and Michele Maman Join Haynes Boone’s Expanding New York Office
Ingrid Bagby and Michele Maman have joined Haynes Boone’s New York Office as partners in the Restructuring team. Both join from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
WilmerHale Adds Adrian Percer to IP Practice in California
Adrian Percer has joined WilmerHale as a partner in its intellectual property practice in Palo Alto, Calif. He joins from Weil Gotshal and Manges.
Jenner & Block adds Partner duo in Chicago from Mayer Brown
Jenner & Block has hired two partners, Richard Bulger and Daniel Ring in Chicago from Mayer Brown.
Former FTC General Counsel Anisha Dasgupta Joins Orrick’s Supreme Court & Appellate Practice
Anisha Dasgupta, former General Counsel of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, has joined Orrick as a partner in the firm’s Supreme Court & Appellate and Antitrust Litigation practices. She will be based in New York.
Former Microsoft Assistant General Counsel Scott Wise Joins Crowell & Moring
Scott Wise, who most recently served as assistant general counsel for global trade at Microsoft, has joined Crowell & Moring as a partner in the firm’s International Trade Group in Denver.
EMEA
Paul Hastings adds another partner from White & Case in energy and infra-focused buildout
Paul Hastings has hired finance partner William Watson in Abu Dhabi, he joins from White & Case.
Dentons bolsters Belgian Corporate and M&A team with hire of Erwin Simons
Global law firm Dentons has strengthened its Corporate and M&A practice in Brussels with the addition of partner Erwin Simons. Simons joins from DLA Piper.
Dentons welcomes Joost Elsenburg as financial regulatory partner in the Netherlands
Dentons has strengthened its Banking and Finance practice with the hire of Joost Elsenburg as a financial regulatory partner in the Amsterdam office He joins from HVG Law.
Clyde & Co continues to expand its global energy practice with Partner in Abu Dhabi
Clyde & Co has announced the growth of its energy practice in Abu Dhabi with the hire of two market-leading partners, Josh McFadzen and Bryan Wilson.
Covington Boosts European Life Sciences Practice with Spiros Drosos
Spiros Drosos has joined Covington’s Life Sciences Practice based in the firm’s Brussels office. He joins from European Medicines Agency.
Eversheds Sutherland Strengthens European Reach with Latham Partner Acquisition in Germany
Eversheds Sutherland has added Torsten Volkholz, a former partner at Latham, to enhance its German operations. He joins from Latham & Watkins.
Linklaters announced the expansion of its Global Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations practice in the Middle East. The Middle East practice will be led by Sean Cameron. Sean was previously the Head of Disputes & Litigation for NEOM Company.
APAC
Singapore’s Helmsman grows banking practice with hire from Gateway
Singapore law firm Helmsman has hired Teoh Su Yin as a director in its corporate, banking and finance practice group. She joins from Gateway Law.
SAM partner duo returns to firm after year at JSA
Indian law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (SAM) has reappointed partners Ambarish and Tanavi Mohanty to its Mumbai office, following their recent tenure at rival firm JSA Advocates & Solicitors.
Eversheds SG alliance firm adds first lateral partner with hire from Eng
GT Law, the Singapore alliance firm of Eversheds Sutherland, has appointed Yuh Huey Khoo as a partner to head its financial services, regulatory, and private client practices. She joins from PwC member firm Eng & Co, where she was a director.
Mills Oakley takes 3 partners from rival firms
Mills Oakley has promoted Jason Salman, Sarah Pick, and Yannis Vrodos to partner, highlighting their expertise in key sectors. Salman, with 27 years in financial restructuring and insolvency, joins the Perth office from Ashurst. Pick, formerly at MinterEllison, brings extensive experience in electricity and renewables. Vrodos, from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, specialises in major infrastructure, energy, and resources projects. CEO John Nerurker emphasised these moves strengthen the firm’s national capabilities and client service.
In-House
Bill Castner named new Rutgers general counsel
Bill Castner has been named Rutgers University’s Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel. He joins from Connell Foley where he served as Partner.
US nuclear innovator NuScale Power appoints CLO from Centrus Energy
US nuclear energy innovator NuScale Power has hired Shahram Ghasemian as chief legal officer, a newly created position. Ghasemian joins from US nuclear fuel business Centrus Energy, where he was general counsel and chief compliance officer.
Promotions & Appointments:
New leadership at Uría Menéndez
Salvador Sánchez-Terán and Antonio Herrera appointed senior partner and managing partner.
Singapore’s WongPartnership announces leadership changes
Sean Yu has been elected managing partner, replacing Wai King Ng, who will become senior partner alongside his existing role as chair
Walkers elevates 20 to partner in largest overall promotions round in 60-year history
The Promotions are as follows:
Michael Beck – Corporate, Cayman Islands
Sam Francis – Investment Funds, Cayman Islands
Joe Healey – Finance, Cayman Islands
Siobhan Sheridan – Insolvency & Dispute Resolution, Cayman Islands
Daniel Walford – Investment Funds, Cayman Islands
Jenna Wong – Investment Funds, Cayman Islands
Jamie Bookless – Regulatory & Risk Advisory, Guernsey
Eimear Burbridge – Tax, Dublin
Kirsten Faichnie – Investment Funds & Corporate, Jersey
Louise Hamilton – Banking & Finance, Jersey
Sian Langley – Regulatory & Risk Advisory, Jersey
Helena Lavin – Insolvency & Dispute Resolution, Guernsey
Gemma Palmer – Regulatory & Risk Advisory, Jersey
Laurent Thibeault – Insolvency & Dispute Resolution, Guernsey
Benjamin Twidle – Regulatory & Risk Advisory, London
Claire Winrow – Asset Management & Investment Funds, Dublin
Wei Ching Teo – Investment Funds & Corporate, Hong Kong
Kevin Ho – Investment Funds & Corporate, Hong Kong
Michael Kenny – Investment Funds & Corporate, Singapore
Reghard Smith – Corporate, Dubai
Dentons promotes 18, including 3 partners
The Partner Promotions are as follows:
Kurt Tiam – Corporate, Melbourne
Ryan Lennon – Recovery and Restructuring, Perth
Tamara Strack –Recovery and Restructuring, Perth
Mergers & Alliances:
Legal costs firms merge to form £3m business
Liverpool’s KE Costs and Carlisle’s Paramount Legal Costs are merging to form Peak Costs, a £3 million firm with 40+ staff. Martin Walsh will lead as managing director, with Kevin Fasting retaining a major stake. Peak Costs will offer full legal cost services, aiming to expand while maintaining quality.
Cairns boutique acquired by Moray & Agnew
Moray & Agnew has acquired Cairns-based Greenwoods Law, which has served the community for over 44 years. The firms share expertise in property, commercial, and estate law. Paralegal Danika Walker joins Moray & Agnew as part of the deal, effective July 1. Andrew Kerr confirmed efforts to ensure a smooth transition for clients.
Office Openings & Closing:
Willkie Launches in Hamburg, Its Third Office in Germany
On 2 July 2025, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced a new Hamburg office—its third in Germany and 16th worldwide. Launching with 25 lawyers, the office boosts the firm’s restructuring, litigation, and private equity capabilities, supporting its European growth strategy. Willkie’s German team has nearly tripled in five years, now totalling 90 lawyers.
Fieldfisher launches in Portugal with offices in Lisbon and Porto
Fieldfisher is launching in Portugal on 1 July 2025 with offices in Lisbon and Porto, integrating 68 professionals from André Miranda Associados. Led by joint Managing Partners André Miranda and João André Antunes, the team will offer full legal services. The move expands Fieldfisher’s Southern European presence, following recent growth in Austria, Poland, and Italy.
Addleshaw Goddard grows Scottish footprint as international expansion accelerates
Addleshaw Goddard is expanding its Scottish footprint with new offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Financials:
HSF Kramer and HFW Become Latest to Boost NQ Lawyer Pay
HFW has raised its newly qualified solicitor salary by 3.5%, from £100,000 to £103,500, effective immediately. This follows similar moves by firms like Bird & Bird and places HFW ahead of Dentons and Stephenson Harwood, but just below Pinsent Masons and BCLP (£105,000). The increase reflects growing competition and a wider trend of summer salary hikes across major firms.
Ashurst Revenue Grows 8% to Hit £1B
Ashurst posted record revenue of £1.034 billion for FY25, up 8%, with profit per equity partner at £1.39 million—its ninth straight year of growth. Key regions like Hong Kong, Australia, and the Middle East saw double-digit gains, while U.S. growth was strong in Disputes and Energy. Real Estate led sector performance with nearly 50% growth. The firm also expanded AI use with the rollout of “Harvey” and boosted pro bono work by 16%.
Bird & Bird bumps NQ solicitor pay to £102k
Bird & Bird will raise newly qualified solicitor salaries to £102,000 from September – its first time crossing the six-figure mark. The 4% boost brings it in line with Watson Farley & Williams and ahead of firms like Dentons, HFW, and Stephenson Harwood. The firm takes on about 18 trainees a year, currently paid £47,000. This move follows similar salary hikes at Eversheds Sutherland, Pinsent Masons, Ashurst, DLA Piper, and CMS.
Top-50 financial results table 2025: updated live
In the 2024/25 financial year, Ashurst’s revenue grew by 8% to £1.034 billion, with profit per equity partner (PEP) reaching £1.39 million. Stephenson Harwood saw a 17% rise in revenue to £309 million, a 29% increase in PEP to around £1 million, and a 33% jump in reported profit to £130 million. Shoosmiths reported a 5% revenue increase to £217.2 million, a 30% rise in PEP to about £1 million, and a 16% growth in profit to £76.6 million. Fladgate did not disclose revenue or profit figures but recorded a 20% increase in PEP, also to roughly £1 million.
Boodle Hatfield announces record growth as revenue reaches £43m
Boodle Hatfield has posted record revenue of £43.1 million for 2024–25, up around 20%. Over five years, revenue has climbed over 45%, with net profit rising more than 50% and PEP expected to exceed £900,000. This is the firm’s first full financial year since adjusting its year-end to match the tax year.
Technology & Innovation:
Will you embrace AI or risk being left behind?
The UK legal industry is slowly adopting AI for tasks like research and contract review, spurred by digital change and client expectations. Though it improves efficiency, it also brings ethical and security challenges, leading to increased regulatory attention. Viewed as a tool to assist rather than replace lawyers, AI’s use must be strategic, with human judgment and client connections staying central.
AI dooms the billable hour – and Big Law earning
AI’s efficiency threatens the traditional hourly billing model used by law and audit firms, where most revenue still depends on time-tracking. As automation reduces time spent on tasks, firms may need to rethink pricing structures to stay competitive.
How Your Firm Can Have Efficiency *And* Compliance With AI-Powered Legal Tools
Lawyers are under pressure to use AI for efficiency, but concerns over accuracy and confidentiality remain. Tools like MyCase IQ integrate AI into workflows without replacing human judgment, offering features like editing and summarisation to save time while supporting secure, ethical practice.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Lawyers come out for Dublin Pride 2025
Lawyers joined over 280 groups in Dublin’s 2025 Pride Parade, including LGBTQ+ legal advocacy group OUTLaw. The group held a pre-Pride event with speakers like Attorney General Rossa Fanning SC and Bar Council chair Seán Guerin SC. Co-chairs Miah Phelan-Sweeney and Orla Hubbard stressed the need for continued advocacy, especially for trans rights and LGBTQ+ families. OUTLaw will next take part in the Trans and Intersex Pride march on July 12.
EXCLUSIVE Doubt cast on Freshfields’ DEI claims
Data from RollOnFriday reveals Freshfields faces scrutiny over inconsistent diversity figures, questioning its DEI progress. Despite a 2021 five-year plan promising transparency and targets, the firm rebranded its efforts in 2024, ended annual reviews, and dropped U.S. targets, claiming success. However, the 2024 report shows some goals unmet and declines in key areas. Freshfields refused to share updated data, raising doubts about its transparency commitment.
Gender and ethnicity pay gap among barristers widens
The Bar Standards Board reports that gender and ethnicity pay gaps among barristers remain significant and have slightly widened. In 2023/24, women earned 70% and minority ethnic barristers 69% of White male peers’ median income, with minority ethnic women earning just 47%. On average, women earned £148,276 (57% of men’s £258,558), and minority ethnic barristers earned £167,741 (74% of White barristers’ £227,084).
Diversity report suggests solicitors still being barred from bench
Ministry of Justice data shows a decline in solicitors joining the judiciary, with their representation falling from 48% to 40% over the past decade. In 2024/25, non-barristers made up only 11% of new appointments but 36% of those leaving. Female representation has improved, with women holding 39% of court roles and 60% of new appointments, though only 28% of senior court roles. Ethnic minorities make up 11% of court and 14% of tribunal judges, with Black candidates seeing the least progress. Lower socio-economic background applicants remain underrepresented. Judicial leaders acknowledge the slow pace and vow to improve diversity.
Market Commentary:
Law Firm Mergers Up 21% in First Half of 2025
Law firm mergers in the U.S. jumped 21% in early 2025, with 35 deals by June. The biggest was Herbert Smith Freehills acquiring Kramer Levin, creating a 2,600-lawyer transatlantic firm. New York remains a hotspot as smaller firms struggle to compete in size and profitability. Other major deals include Schulte Roth & Zabel merging with McDermott Will & Emery. The trend reflects a growing need for scale and resilience amid intense competition for legal talent.
US Firms Dominate UK M&A Rankings for First Half of 2025
Kirkland & Ellis, the world’s largest law firm and originally founded in Chicago, has led the U.K. rankings for the first time, handling 34 U.K. deals totaling $37.4 billion in value between January 1 and June 30, 2025.
Major Biglaw Firm Ups Their In-Office Requirement For Attorneys
The push for a four-day in-office workweek is gaining traction in Biglaw, with A&O Shearman becoming the latest firm to implement the policy. Starting 2 September, lawyers will be expected to work in the office four days per week, up from the previous three. The firm cited the importance of in-person collaboration for mentorship, training, and maintaining a strong workplace culture, while still supporting some flexibility. This shift reflects a wider trend across the legal sector, with firms like Latham, Skadden, Davis Polk, and WilmerHale already enforcing similar policies, and Sullivan & Cromwell requiring five days in-office.
Ongoing coaching is increasingly valuable for in-house lawyers, not just during the transition from private practice but throughout their careers. As in-house roles evolve to include leadership and strategic influence, lawyers must develop skills beyond legal expertise, such as emotional intelligence, executive presence, and effective communication. Coaches help address challenges like burnout, imposter syndrome, and isolation by offering guidance, structure, and mindset shifts. Investing in coaching can boost both individual growth and organisational success, providing in-house counsel with tools to thrive professionally and personally.
HSF Kramer Sets Sights on U.S. Talent Market Post-Merger
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer intends to grow quickly in the U.S. following its June merger, aiming to bring on as many as 20 partners within the next 12 to 18 months.
City lawyer hiring hits record high: ‘There is a hyper-focus on London’
Partner hiring across London law firms reached record levels in the first half of 2025, with 349 partners changing firms, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year and 25% above the five-year average, according to data from legal recruitment firm Edwards Gibson.