Moves:
UK & Ireland
Brown Rudnick secures Mishcon de Reya’s banking disputes head in London
Derval Walsh joins hot on the heels of commercial litigator Robin Pickworth’s move from Armstrong Teasdale. Brown Rudnick has hired a senior partner from Mishcon de Reya in London to bolster its disputes bench. Derval Walsh has joined the US firm’s litigation and arbitration practice as a partner after 13 years at Mishcon, where he was head of finance and banking disputes.
Pillsbury Recruits Hughes as Investment Funds Partner in London
Gawain Hughes has joined Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman as a partner in London, the firm said Tuesday. Hughes works with global institutional fund managers and investors on the structuring of an investment into unregulated investment funds. He has a focus on private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and debt investments, according to Pillsbury. He previously practiced at Morgan Lewis and led the EMEA funds practice at DLA Piper, Pillsbury said.
EMEA
Pinsent Masons expands team in South Africa with new senior hires
Pinsent Masons is expanding its Johannesburg office with the hire of new Partners, David Woodhouse and Anthony Crane, Legal Director Mark Thomas, and Senior Associates Nanri Labuschagne and Annelle Kamper. The new additions, together with other Associates from their teams, will join Pinsent Masons from the highly regarded, boutique Johannesburg law firm, Tabacks, and will help expand the firm’s client service offering in Africa, bringing in expertise in commercial and M&A law, employment and competition law, and commercial dispute resolution.
Firm strengthens Middle East practice with new Head of Disputes
Norton Rose Fulbright has bolstered its disputes offering with the appointment of top-ranked partner Nick Sharratt as its new regional Head of Dispute Resolution in the Middle East. Known for his exceptional client service, Nick has worked in the region for more than a decade, focussing primarily on litigation, international arbitration, asset recovery and multi-jurisdictional enforcement. His bluechip client base spans across a range of industry sectors including financial institutions, energy and infrastructure, construction, commodities, hospitality and transport. Nick will be based in the UAE.
APAC
HSF Turns To King & Spalding Again For Asia Energy Lateral
Anglo-Australian law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has hired a second energy-focused M&A partner from U.S. law firm King & Spalding in Asia in less than a month, as Lachlan Clancy joins the firm in Tokyo. Herbert Smith Freehills added energy pro-Anthony Patten from K&S in Singapore last month. The latest hire is part of a planned expansion of its Asian energy practice in response to growing client demand, the firm said in a statement. “At such a critical time for energy transition investment, their appointments strengthen both the firm’s energy credentials and its ability to respond to growing client demand in Asia and beyond,” said Graeme Preston, Asia managing partner.
The Americas
Bracewell expands IP practice with USPTO patent judge
Christopher Crumbley moves into private practice after long stints at the US Patent and Trademark Office and Department of Justice. A lead administrative patent judge at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has joined Texas-headquartered firm Bracewell as a partner in its Austin office. Christopher Crumbley brings more than 20 years’ experience to his new firm.
Senior Canadian Pharma GC Joins Fasken in Montreal
Robert Quesnel was head of legal affairs at Paris-based Sanofi for 15 before joining the national law firm.
High Profile Addition from Pharma Sector for Fasken
Montreal (Canada) – Fasken is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Quesnel as a legal counsel in the Life Sciences group at our Montreal office. He was until recently the Head of Legal Affairs & General Counsel Canada for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies. With over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Robert advises his clients on issues primarily related to life sciences and intellectual property. He is recognized for his expertise in managing complex product liability class actions, as well as high-profile patent litigation.
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP Announces Addition of Brett M. Haywood
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP recently announced the continued growth of its bankruptcy practice with the addition of Brett M. Haywood as counsel. With the addition of Brett, the Potter Anderson bankruptcy group now includes 5 partners, 2 counsel and 8 associates dedicated to advising clients in complex restructurings. Haywood joins Potter Anderson from Bespoke Financial, Inc. where he was Vice President, Corporate Counsel.
Baker McKenzie Expands Chicago Private Equity Team with the Addition of Erika López
Firm continues to strengthen its global M&A and private equity bench. Global law firm Baker McKenzie announced today that Erika López has joined as a private equity and M&A partner in the Firm’s Chicago office. A rising star in private equity and M&A, Erika brings significant experience advising clients on all aspects of complex M&A and private equity transactions. “Erika has very strong business acumen and a legal skillset that fits squarely within our needs in North America” said Alan Zoccolillo, M&A Partner and Baker McKenzie North America Transactional Practice Chair.
Williams Mullen lures another lawyer team, this time from Hampton Roads firm
For the second time in two months, Williams Mullen has lured a group of attorneys over from a smaller competitor. The downtown Richmond-based law firm in recent days added a team from Norfolk-based Pierce McCoy. The move involves six lawyers, including Pierce McCoy co-founder and namesake Gabe McCoy, and follows Williams Mullen’s addition earlier this month of a group of 10 attorneys from Richmond firm KVCF.
Quinn Emanuel Taps DOJ Official to Co-Chair Securities Litigation and Derivatives Group
Quinn Emanuel has hired Avi Perry, the justice department official who oversaw market-rigging cases, he will co-chair Quinn Emanuel’s securities litigation group as well as its commodities and derivatives group.
In-House
Kidney Care Startup Backed by Cigna and CVS Hires First Legal Chief
Monogram Health, the nation’s leading value-based provider of in-home, evidence-based care and benefit management services for patients living with chronic kidney and end stage kidney disease, has hired Adam McAnaney as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. Adam is a proven leader, and his extensive history of successful executive leadership roles at public companies as well as large-scale healthcare organizations demonstrates his robust capabilities. Adam served as General Counsel and Secretary for Signify Health, following its acquisition of Remedy Partners.
Locus Robotics, the market leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfilment warehouses, today announced the appointments of Kian Sin Ng as General Manager, APAC, and Joel Collins as Chief Legal Officer. These executives join Locus Robotics’ leadership team as the company continues expanding globally to serve growing customer demand. As Chief Legal Officer, Joel Collins will lead Locus’s global legal operations.
Standard Chartered Names Next GC for Global Investment Banking
Samallie Kiyingi, who will be based in Singapore, joins the bank from the Africa Export-Import Bank and will take over the role from current group GC Sandie Okoro, according to a LinkedIn post by the latter.
Vista Outdoor recruits GC for renamed outdoor goods business
US outdoor and sporting brands giant Vista Outdoor has named Jung Choi as general counsel of its outdoor products business following the announced sale of its sporting goods division to Czechoslovak Group (CSG).
Promotions & Appointments:
Lynsey Mallon to take reins of Arthur Cox in Northern Ireland
Arthur Cox has named Lynsey Mallon as the next managing partner of its Northern Ireland practice. Ms Mallon will take up the position in April 2024 in addition to her role as head of the firm’s corporate and commercial department, succeeding Catriona Gibson who, after an eight-year tenure as managing partner, will become chair while continuing as head of litigation. Having joined Arthur Cox in 2007, Ms Mallon is among the most pre-eminent corporate lawyers in Northern Ireland and is a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, investments, and corporate reorganisation and restructuring.
White & Case names new executive partner in London
Inigo Esteve succeeds Dipen Sabharwal as head of US firm’s 500-plus lawyer London office amid wider leadership reshuffle. White & Case has named capital markets lawyer Inigo Esteve as the new executive partner of its London office. Esteve will take over on 1 November from international arbitration partner Dipen Sabharwal KC, who has led the London office since the start of last year and has recently been appointed to White & Case’s global executive committee.
Blank Rome Brings In New Chief Innovation And Value Officer
Blank Rome has brought on Ashton Batchelor, formerly chief value and analytics officer at Robins Kaplan, as the firm’s latest chief innovation and value officer. Batchelor took up the position, previously held by Linda Novosel.
Taylor Wessing names next UK senior partner
Private wealth sector head Nick Warr to succeed Dominic FitzPatrick in January. Taylor Wessing has appointed the head of its international private wealth practice, Nick Warr, as its next UK senior partner. London-based Warr will begin his three-year term in January and succeeds Dominic FitzPatrick, who completes six years in the role in December having been re-elected to serve a second term in November 2020.
Ivor Fitzpatrick & Co announce appointment of new partner
Ivor Fitzpatrick and Company Solicitors has announced the appointment of Sandra Casey, previously a senior associate, as a litigation partner with the firm. Sandra joined the firm in 2001 and has been a valued, dedicated and hardworking member of the litigation team.
Two senior appointments at McInnes Dunnes Murphy
Specialist boutique employment law firm McInnes Dunne Murphy LLP has appointed Jane Babb as a consultant and Fiona Sharkey as a senior associate. Ms Sharkey joins from one of the biggest Irish law firms, where she trained and practised as an employment solicitor for eight years.
McDermott makes up 46 to partner in latest promotions round
Cohort grows 26% from 2022 in round once again focused on US firm’s transactions team. McDermott Will & Emery has made up 46 lawyers to partner in its latest promotions round, which also saw eight lawyers become counsel. The class represents a 26% increase on the 2022 cohort, when 32 lawyers made partner and 11 became counsel, and also sees the proportion of women increase from 47% last year to 61%. Last year the firm reported that 37% of the cohort identified as racially, ethnically and/or LGBTQ+ but declined to disclose the figure this time round.
Porter Hedges Elects Joyce Soliman as Co-Managing Partner
Porter Hedges has announced the election of Joyce Soliman as Co-Managing Partner – External Affairs. She succeeds Rob Reedy who has served in that role since July 2022 and prior to that, as the Firm’s sole Managing Partner since 2009. Joyce will lead the Firm alongside James Cowen who serves as Co-Managing Partner – Administrative Affairs. Rob will assume the role of Chair Emeritus. Joyce will prioritize lateral partner recruiting, marketing and business development, innovation, strategy and growth, and will serve as the primary external spokesperson for the Firm.
Target promotes general counsel
Target Corporation has promoted Matt Zabel, who has been executive vice president and general counsel at the company since 2022, to become chief corporate affairs officer. Matt Zabel has been with the retailer since 2010.
Mergers & Alliances:
Pillsbury Ends Merger Talks With Strook
The firm said it couldn’t reach an agreement “that adequately balanced Pillsbury’s long-term strategic objectives with the more immediate financial and other risks involved.”
A&O Shearman Merger – What’s Next?
Clients, compensation, partner exits, and regulator consent is next on the agenda for the management of the merged firm, writes one partnership expert.
Office Openings & Closing:
Mourant Set to Launch in Singapore with Funds Partner Hire from Maples
The Singapore office will start off with an initial team of five staff members consisting of associates and paralegals with Craig Luton being the first partner on the ground.
McNees Wallace & Nurick to Sell Harrisburg HQ Following Layoffs of Longtime HR Leaders
McNees Wallace is thying to modernise its approach to the business of law, by letting go of the three professionals that made up its HR team in September and putting their headquarters on the market for nearly $11 Million in August.
Financials:
Millar McCall Wylie to exceed growth target
Northern Ireland law firm Millar McCall Wylie is on track to exceed its goal of growing turnover by 50 per cent in three years, the firm has announced. Having set the three-year target in 2021, the locally-owned firm said expansion across its real estate, matrimonial and family, and employment law departments has outperformed expectations.
England: Solicitors to pay price for Axiom Ince collapse
All practising solicitors in England and Wales may have to pay up to £400 in order to cover the costs to clients following the collapse of a City law firm. Axiom Ince was closed down by regulators last month and police are investigating allegations of a £64 million fraud. The Law Society Gazette has calculated that each of the approximately 160,000 practising solicitors south of the border will have to stump up as much as £400 in top-up fees for the profession’s compensation fund.
In Cost-Saving Bid, Legal Departments Snatching Back Work From Law Firms
Legal departments are ramping up efforts to control costs by bringing more work in-house, shifting work to smaller firms, and leaning more on technology, including artificial intelligence, a new report from the Association of Corporate Counsel and Everlaw revealed.
‘It Takes a Long-Term View’: How Mills Oakley has Kept Up its Remarkable Growth
The Australian firm, which is now a national legal brand, has enjoyed 18 years of consecutive double-digit growth.
Technology & Innovation:
Legal regulation conference tackles challenge of AI
Artificial intelligence, access to justice and ethics in the legal profession are among the issues being examined by the two-day International Conference of Legal Regulators (ICLR) which opened this morning in Dublin. Ireland’s Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is hosting the 12th annual event, welcoming more than 100 attendees to the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire to share experiences and good practices, explore trends and themes, and network. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘The Future of Legal Regulation – Navigating the Decade Ahead’.
Mexican Law Firm Von Wobeser Launches AI-Powered Chatbot
The firm plans to use the chatbot as an in-house legal assistant that can field questions and summarize content.
LexisNexis Publicly Releases Generative AI – Powered Lexis+ AI, With New Functionalities
Initially unveiled in May, Lexis+ AI is now publicly available and comes with an updated user interface, new educational resources and added capabilities.
Inflation Redux: Legal Tech Prices are Skyrocketing
While legal tech prices didn’t come out of last year’s peak inflationary period unscathed, law firms’ technology budgets are feeling even more of a pinch these days.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Mothers Still Face Disproportionate Burden in Legal Field, ABA Report Finds
“The differences that data reflects are that mothers are disproportionately not getting important assignments, not being assigned matters with travel, not having sponsors and mentors, and there’s a disparity in income particularly as income rises”, attorney Roberta Liebenberg, a co-author of the report said.
Why More Female Lawyers Should Harness the Power of Storytelling
Telling your story can inspire, help others speak out and made a great impact – something more women in law should be encouraged to do, writes the London Lawyer.
The 2023 NLJ Awards: Professional Excellence – DC Diversity Initiative
We salute these law firms and lawyers for their success in their perspective fields.
Market Commentary:
Law firm marketing and BD teams spend more time on firefighting than strategy, study finds
Law firms also lack sufficient investment in their marketing and business development teams. A majority of law firm marketing and business development (MBD) teams are spending most of their time dealing with problems rather than on strategic initiatives, according to new research, presented at the Law Firm Marketing Summit earlier this month.
Paul Weiss Said to Mull Non-Equity Partner Tier
Paul Weiss reportedly is considering tinkering with the firm’s partner compensation system, including potentially creating a non-equity tier. A move to convert bonus payments to equity shares for the firm’s top-paid partners is also said to be on the table.
‘It’s the Main Industry We’re Getting Reach Out From’: How Sports Became Big Law’s Favourite Sector
As traditional deal markets remain deathly quiet, sports has developed into its own asset class, spawning all kinds of work for Big Law firms that have their foot in the lucrative door.
‘We Got the Mandate to Grow’: Linklaters Ups Focus on Latin America
The firm is building muscle in a region that increasingly intersects with its global network, while it has also increased referrals from local law firms.
White & Case is fastest-growing law firm in Africa since 2019, study finds
US firm grew African headcount 177% between 2019 and 2022, according to Africa Legal. US firm White & Case was the fastest growing law firm by headcount in Africa between 2019 and 2022, according to new research published by Africa Legal.
Lateral Partner Moves in DC Slow, as Law Firms Show Caution in Hiring
Lateral partner moves in Washington D.C., have slowed down in 2023, according to two legal industry groups, as law firms continue to show caution in hiring. Still, organisations that track lateral moves and recruiters say they are still seeing sustained demand for laterals in antitrust, competition, and government practices. Recruiters and practice leaders have pointed to robust demand within regulatory practices in D.C. this year.
Lack of a Succession Plan Can Lead to the Death of a Law Firm
Firms with aging managing partners should develop a succession plan for transferring clients and management responsibilities (over a five-to-ten-year transition period) to the firm’s younger attorneys.
Why More Big Law Firms Are Outsourcing Associate Training
An increasing number of law firms are questioning whether senior associates and partners are the best people to train associates on foundational skills. When Abdi Shayesteh arrived at King & Spalding as a New York corporate associate in 2007, he had a scary realization: Law school didn’t teach any of the tasks he was being asked to complete.
‘US Is Calling the Shots’: The Power Shift That’s Americanizing Freshfields
Once described as Anglo-German, the 280 year old firm is steadily transforming itself into a US firm, with far-reaching consequences for partners in its former power bases, sources say.
Law Firms Doing More ‘Tyre Kicking’ Before Hiring Lateral Partners
Recruiters who place laterals at Big Law firms said firms in many cases are more focused on Due Diligence before hiring, assessing books of business of the prospective partners and talking to their clients.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
2 Antitrust Partners Return to Freshfields and Linklaters
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have welcomed back antitrust and competition lawyers, both rejoining their previous firms as partners. At Freshfields, competition specialist Colin Raftery is set to join the firm from the Competition and Markets Authority, where he spent five years as senior director of mergers, following two years as director of mergers.
Kirkland Rebuilds in London with Simpson Thacher Private Equity Duo Hire
Kirkland & Ellis has hired two private equity partners from rival elite U.S. outfit Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in London, following a few defections at the firm to another rival, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wharton & Garrison. Partners Ian Barratt and Sinead O’Shea are set to be joining Kirkland’s London ranks, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The pair count some of the world’s largest private equity houses including KKR, Blackstone and Melrose as clients. The hires will go some way to rebuilding Kirkland’s Ranks following Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison defections.
Former WilmerHale Brussels partner rejoins Henderson Chambers
EU law veteran and former Wilmer Cutler Hale Pickering & Dorr partner John Ratliff has rejoined London’s Henderson Chambers. Ratliff was a door tenant with Henderson from 1986 to 1999 while also practising in Brussels with Stanbrook and Hooper, a specialist competition and trade law firm, which merged with McDermott Will & Emery in 2005. He joined WilmerHale after leaving Henderson, retiring from the partnership at the end of last year but remaining with the firm until this month.
Linklaters secures Addleshaws’ competition head in London
Linklaters has hired the head of Addleshaw Goddard’s (AG) competition team in London to bolster its antitrust and foreign investment practice. Bruce Kilpatrick brings more than 25 years’ experience advising clients on complex merger control, antitrust enforcement and foreign direct investment cases, as well as defending high stakes antitrust damages litigation and director disqualification proceedings before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. His return to Linklaters will follow more than 16 years at AG, where he had led the competition and regulatory team for more than a decade.
Senior London fraud partner quits Allen & Overy for London boutique Enyo
Senior fraud partner Andy McGregor is leaving Allen & Overy (A&O) to join London boutique Enyo just 18 months after joining the Magic Circle firm. His departure comes hard on the heels of Friday’s announcement by A&O and Shearman & Sterling that their respective partners had voted overwhelmingly to approve their landmark transatlantic merger.
HSF hires Sidley partner in London as head of international private equity
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has bolstered its private capital offering in the City with the hire of a private equity partner from Sidley Austin and a venture and growth capital specialist from DLA Piper. Eleanor Shanks will join HSF from Sidley to serve in the new role of head of international private equity in London, while Dylan Doran Kennett is leaving DLA Piper to co-lead the firm’s UK venture capital and growth capital practice with partner Michael Jacobs.
EMEA
Norton Rose adds Stephenson Harwood partner to lead Middle East disputes team
Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has hired a partner from Stephenson Harwood to lead its dispute resolution team in the Middle East. Nick Sharratt has joined the firm in Dubai after four years as a partner at Stephenson Harwood, prior to which he was counsel at Winston & Strawn. He replaces NRF’s former Middle East disputes head Paul Stothard, who recently relocated to the UK and remains with the firm.
APAC
Littler Adds Counsel Trio in Asia, Covers 7 Jurisdictions from Singapore
From Singapore, the firm’s first and only Asian office, it now counts 7 lawyers who are admitted in Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, India, mainland China, U.S. and the U.K. Littler Mendelson, the world’s largest employment-law focused firm, has added a trio of counsel-level lawyers to its four-year old Singapore office. Furthermore, joining the firm are Soowon Hong, Betty Lee and Shiau Sang Tee. Their additions will give Littler a total count of seven lawyers in Singapore, from where the team will advise on matters related to the U.S., South Korea, Hong Kong, Indian, mainland China, Malaysia and the U.K.
M&A Partner Leaves Australia’s Corrs Chambers Following Plane Incident
A high-profile mergers and acquisitions partner has left Australian firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth following an incident on a domestic flight. Chris Allen, one of six top corporate and banking partners poached by Corrs in a raid on rival ‘MinterEllison’ in 2021, has left the firm.
Morrison & Foerster Adds Veteran M&A Partner From Jones Day in Tokyo
Morrison & Foerster has expanded its mergers and acquisitions practice in Tokyo with the hire of highly experienced corporate M&A lawyer Stephen DeCosse from Jones Day. DeCosse, most recently of counsel in Jones Day’s Tokyo office, joins Morrison & Foerster as a partner. The move marks a return to the firm for the veteran lawyer. He was a partner at Morrison & Foerster in Tokyo before leaving in 2006 for Jones Day, where he was also a partner. He moved to of counsel last year.
Stephenson Harwood Adds Team of Eight from Ince in Greater China
Stephenson Harwood has added a team of seven lawyers plus shipping partner Paul Ho to its Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. Ho was the chief representative of Ince’s Shanghai office and the firm’s head of Greater China. The firm hopes the hire will provide opportunities to work with a greater pool of Chinese mainland clients, from shipyards to traders to LNG operators.
Nishimura & Asahi Adds Watson Farley Thailand Corporate Head In Bangkok
Nishimura & Asahi, Japan’s largest law firm by headcount, has expanded its corporate offering in Thailand with the hire of M&A lawyer Christopher Osborne. Osborne was most recently a partner and head of the Thai corporate practice at Watson Farley & Williams in Bangkok, he joins the Big Four Japanese firm as a partner. Osborne specializes in advising international and Thai companies on the development, sale and acquisition of renewable energy projects in Thailand and across Asia. He advises on onshore wind, solar and waste-to-energy projects, and provides legal advice related to power purchase agreements, project finance to post-commissioning exits and acquisitions. He also advises on mergers and and acquisitions in the region and has previously acted on deals involving the manufacturing, logistics, and technology, media and telecommunications sectors.
The Americas
Cuatrecasas Hires Government Lawyer to Lead Competition Practice in Chile
Cuatrecasas has hired the former head of mergers at Chile’s antitrust authority to lead a new practice area for the Spanish firm. Francisca Levin joins Cuatrecasas as a partner and head of its newly formed competition practice in Santiago, joining a team of nine partners and 28 lawyers in the country.
Vinson & Elkins Swoops for Milbank Corporate Partner
Vinson & Elkins has expanded its corporate and finance practices in London with the hire of a partner from Milbank. Chris Taufatofua joins the U.S.-headquartered firm after more than a decade at Milbank, where he was most recently a partner.
Cleary’s Bay Area Growth Continues With Hire of Ex-Cooley Litigator
Continuing its growth in the Bay Area, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has hired litigation partner Angela Dunning from Cooley. Dunning joined the firm as a partner in its Bay Area offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, marking Cleary Gottlieb’s fifth lateral partner hire since it opened in the market in late 2021. It has about 20 lawyers in the Bay Area now, according to its website. After hiring Angela Dunning, who spent 23 years at Cooley, Cleary Gottlieb now has roughly 20 attorneys in Silicon Valley and San Francisco.
U.K. firm Clifford Chance continues to expand the energy and infrastructure team in its new Houston office by adding Kirkland & Ellis M&A partner Cephas Sekhar as a partner and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett M&A counsel Kyle Kreshover as counsel. Sekhar is the 11th partner to join Clifford Chance in Houston since the office opened in early June. The others include a total of seven lateral partners hires from Big Law firms Latham & Watkins, Jones Day, Kirkland, Baker Botts and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and three Clifford Chance partners who transferred to Houston from New York and Paris.
Gunster Expands Corporate Litigation and Tax Capabilities With 2 New Hires in South Florida
Florida-based Gunster is bringing in two corporate lawyers to handle issues surrounding products liability, real estate and tax matters. Devin Moss is coming to the firm’s Miami office and joining the business litigation group as a shareholder from Shook, Hardy & Bacon, where he focused on products liability work. Meanwhile, David Sawyer is joining the firm’s tax group in Fort Lauderdale as of counsel after coming from an in-house job.
Day Pitney Expands Health Care Practice in Miami as it Prepares to Focus on Palm Beach Growth
After a year of growth at Day Pitney’s Miami office, it’s adding another health care-focused lawyer before the firm pivots to grow its West Palm Beach outpost. Magda Rodriguez is joining the East Coast-based Am Law 200 firm as a partner focused on health care clients out of the Miami office. Rodriguez is at least the firm’s fifth hire in Miami this year.
Paul Hastings adds partners from Cooley, Goodwin in Northern California growth push
Paul Hastings has hired partners from Goodwin Procter and Cooley as it moves to build its private equity and capital markets practices in Northern California. Scott Joachim has joined the firm as global vice chair of its private equity practice in Palo Alto from Goodwin Procter. Paul Hastings said he will be joined by two additional partners with extensive experience advising on tech-focused transactions, strategic investments, M&A and growth equity and venture financings. Meantime David Ambler, a partner specialising in capital markets, public company advisory and venture capital, has joined the firm from Cooley, also in Palo Alto.
In-House
Sainsbury’s Reappoints 8 Firms to Legal Panel
U.K. supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has completed a review of its legal panel, opting to reappoint all of its current advisors for at least the next three years.
Promotions & Appointments:
Brazil’s Mattos Filho Selects New Resident Partner for New York Office
Mattos Filho has selected a longtime mergers and acquisitions partner to represent the Brazilian legal powerhouse in the U.S. as the firm’s resident partner in charge of the New York office. Paula Vieira takes on the role following the departure of Amadeu Ribeiro, an antitrust specialist who left Mattos Filho in September to join DLA Piper.
Dentons Appoints New Head of Office for Papua New Guinea
International law firm Dentons has appointed a new leader for its office in Papua New Guinea, where mining, oil and gas are major industries. Wavie Kendino Leki, who is currently head of legal and company secretary for Australian bank ANZ in Papua New Guinea, will start with Dentons in January of next year. It will be her second stint at the firm, having worked there as an associate for nearly a decade until September last year.
On the Move: Eversheds Sutherland Creates Worldwide Marketing Position
Eversheds Sutherland has promoted one of its longtime business professionals to a new position as global business development and marketing officer— the firm’s first administrative position in its history that covers all of its offices. Erin Meszaros’ move, announced on Wednesday, highlights the firm’s intent to “collaborate” more closely across offices on developing new business.
Mergers & Alliances:
$240M Verdict: Law Firms Join Forces for Massive Victory
Attorneys with the Winstead law firm and at Irell & Manella secured a $240 million Texas jury verdict on three patent infringement claims against California-based Cloudera Inc., a major cloud data management software company.
“It was a success story of two firms working together. I think this is a top five verdict in the State of Texas for this year,” said plaintiff counsel Jamie H. McDole of Winstead.
Office Openings & Closing:
Am Law Second Hundred defense firm Wilson Elser has launched in Portland, Oregon, as Am Law 200 firms continue to plot geographic expansion on the West Coast. The Portland office is led by partner George Pitcher, who is joined by partners Michael Belisle, Dmitriy Golosinskiy and Ross Van Ness. All arriving from Lewis Brisbois, the team is focused on medical malpractice, professional liability, products liability and toxic tort work. Additionally, Wilson Elser hired six Lewis Brisbois partners in the Pacific Northwest.
Herbert Smith Freehills to Shutter Second Asian Office in 12 Months
Herbert Smith Freehills has announced that it will shutter its Kuala Lumpur office by the end of April next year, making it the firm’s second Asia office closure in 12 months. The firm counts a total 38 staff members in its Kuala Lumpur office, around 40% of those are legal practitioners, the rest are business professionals, a firm spokesperson told Law.com International. Two of its lawyers are partners including head of office Peter Godwin, who had relocated from the firm’s Tokyo office in 2017, and disputes lawyer Craig Shepherd.
Financials:
GC Pay Is Improving, But It’s Still Mission Impossible
Whatever job the GC did before, the transition to GC is an unfathomable leap for which there is no training. Many of the job specs which boards give to recruiters now look like mission impossible. f this was an easy job, anyone could do it. That’s the adage. But for lawyers, it understates the true picture. The levels of complexity and challenge faced by lawyers are not at a steady state. Nor do they grow evenly. They spike without warning or preparation. Yes, of course the job gets harder every year for a host of reasons, but then there are these big “transitioning moments” when the skills gap can be enormous. Transition training, or rather the lack of it, is one of our big themes at Lean Adviser.
Technology & Innovation:
Kirkland & Ellis Announces SideTrack, a Lawyer-Built Platform for Investment Funds Attorneys
Kirkland & Ellis launched SideTrack, a proprietary enterprise software platform for its investment fund attorneys. The development of the solution, publicly disclosed for the first time to Legaltech News, was led by James Desjardins, a partner in the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group, as well as other members of the group. The development didn’t involve third-party vendors or even the firm’s own information technology department.
Legal departments are starting to embrace generative AI to drive legal and business efficiencies. And just as in-house lawyers are under pressure to adopt new technologies, they’re placing similar expectations on their outside counsel. Certainly, caution reigns supreme in the ongoing dialogue between legal departments and law firms concerning the adoption of generative AI. Yet, in-house leaders are increasingly looking to outside counsel to at the very least understand the technology, if not use it to drive their own business efficiencies.
With Legal Tech Blockchain Experimentation, US Is Lagging Behind
New technologies, regardless of how advertisements and marketing campaigns may present them, are more often a part of a larger puzzle rather than the end-all-and-be-all of a finished product. For example, ChatGPT, which initially seemed to be a magic bullet to many, is slowly being broken down into its various elements beyond the tool itself, with many leveraging the underlying generative AI Model in new ways.
Can Standards, Guidelines Be Enough to Regulate the AI Industry?
A panel at the Soft Law Summit in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday looked at the drawbacks and advantages of having a light touch when it comes to AI regulation. In the U.S., efforts to regulate AI technologies have very much been ubiquitous. Just this year, state legislators have introduced almost 200 AI-focused bills, a 440% increase compared to the previous year, according to a report from the Software Alliance. Out of those, 14 became law.
NY Lawmakers Eyeing Rules for Admitting AI-Based Evidence
A New York lawmaker has introduced a bill that aims to set a series of parameters regarding the admission of evidence arising from artificial intelligence, relative to criminal and civil court proceedings. The proposed rules of the bill state that the AI-based evidence must be supported by something other than artificially created evidence, and the independent evidence must be admissible under the existing rules of evidence. It is still seeking a sponsor in the Senate.
Private Equity Firm Consello Capital Acquires Majority Stake in ProSearch
Today, the private equity firm Consello Capital, itself part of The Consello Group, announced it has acquired a majority stake in the e-discovery and compliance provider ProSearch.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Law Firms Tapping Resource Management for DEI and Talent Development
For law firms investing in resource management, the technology streamlines operations and increases transparency. It can also assist with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and career development programs, which boost talent recruitment and retention. DEI efforts and a well-functioning legal staff also demonstrate to clients that the firmday is keeping up with their interests and concerns.
Munsch Hardt Welcomes Largest-Ever, All-Women Associate Class
With nine female first-year associates at Dallas-based Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, women now account for half of the firm’s associates.
Women and Diversity in Law Awards unveil roster of 250-plus nominees
Top UK legal awards now accepting entry submissions for glittering ceremony in March 2024. More than 250 individuals, law firms, legal teams and not-for-profit groups are unveiled today as nominees for the Women and Diversity in Law Awards. The publication of the roster of contenders completes a crucial stage of the awards process in the run up to a glittering awards ceremony, to be held in London on 13 March 2024. All nominees are now invited to submit entries for consideration by a high-level judging panel comprising some of the legal profession’s leading DE&I campaigners, role models and experts.
Menopause in the legal profession: how senior managers can help
For World Menopause Day, Moore Barlow’s Sarah Andrews discusses how senior managers can help women continue to thrive in their legal careers as she describes her own menopause story. When I started my role at Moore Barlow three years ago, I was excited to work in the legal sector, but just six months in, I started to feel massive imposter syndrome. My concentration, focus, memory and sleep all began to change suddenly, and I stopped contributing to meetings in case I forgot what I would say. I started having high and low, dark moods. I regularly hid in the toilet, berating myself for being useless and feeling shame walking back into the office, my internal critical voice in overdrive. I wanted to make a good start at the firm, but instead, I felt like a failure in the workplace and that my career may be over. My relationship with my husband was strained, and parenting my six-year-old son became more challenging. I couldn’t work out what was happening to me.
Market Commentary:
Hello A&O Shearman. Goodbye ‘Magic Circle’
The grouping of what once were the biggest and best UK law firms no longer holds any meaning and should be retired for good.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Linklaters secures Addleshaws’ competition head in London
Bruce Kilpatrick to rejoin Magic Circle firm’s leading antitrust practice after 16 years at AG. Linklaters has hired the head of Addleshaw Goddard’s (AG) competition team in London to bolster its antitrust and foreign investment practice. Bruce Kilpatrick brings more than 25 years’ experience advising clients on complex merger control, antitrust enforcement and foreign direct investment cases, as well as defending high stakes antitrust damages litigation and director disqualification proceedings before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. His return to Linklaters will follow more than 16 years at AG, where he had led the competition and regulatory team for more than a decade.
Restructuring lawyer Kat Burke joins Maples
Kathlene Burke has joined Maples and Calder’s dispute resolution and insolvency practice as an of counsel in Dublin. Ms Burke will provide Irish restructuring advice to the firm’s European and global clients from Dublin and will work closely with the firm’s global dispute resolution and insolvency practices on cross-border matters.
Four senior appointments at Holmes
Ed Kelly has re-joined Holmes as a senior solicitor specialising in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, while Isabel Treacy has joined as a senior associate solicitor specialising in the areas of commercial property and public and administrative law. The firm’s Dublin office has also been bolstered with the appointment of Susan O’Reilly as of counsel in Holmes’ corporate unit and Rachel Naughton BL as legal counsel specialising in data protection.
Power Law appoints Billy Casserly to dispute resolution team
Power Law LLP has welcomed Billy Casserly to the firm as a senior associate in its dispute resolution team. Mr Casserly is an experienced corporate lawyer with a decade of experience working in-house and in large Dublin law firms. He will be based in the firm’s Galway office.
Linklaters Hires Kirkland IP Partner in London
The US-headquartered firm has seen a number of partner exits in 2023. Linklaters has hired a Kirkland & Ellis partner to boost its intellectual property litigation team in London. IP litigator Katie Coltart will join at the end of October after five years at Kirkland, according to LinkedIn. She previously worked at Allen & Overy for six years.
EMEA
Pinsent Masons adds partner trio in Germany from Dentons in Europe growth push
Public sector and EU law duo join in Dusseldorf alongside corporate partner and team of associates. Pinsent Masons has bolstered its bench in Germany with the hire of a trio of partners from Dentons. Public sector and EU law partners Andreas Haak and Dr Lars Hettich have joined the firm in Dusseldorf alongside corporate partner Dr Michael Krömker. The trio is joined by EU and state aid legal director Dr Barbara Thiemann and a team of associates.
Bowmans Boosts Private Equity Practice with Partner Hire
Zingisa Motloba brings 20 years’ experience to Bowmans, having previously worked at Mercedes, Eskom and the South African Bureau of Standards. Bowmans has enhanced its private equity skills-base with the appointment of Zingisa Motloba as a partner in its Johannesburg practice. She is joining from the South African Bureau of Standards where she was an executive for standards development.
APAC
Southeast Asian Firms Amp Up Hiring, White & Case, CMS Add to Partner Ranks
Dentons LuatViet, AZB & Partners and Tilleke & Gibbins have all hired new partners. CMS has hired a partner for its Hong Kong office, less than a month since the firm brought on a team of four lawyers including former Hauzen partner Anthony Woo as a senior consultant and DLA Piper of counsel Adrian Elms as a partner. This time around, joining CMS is shipping and insurance partner Richard Oakley from the Hong Kong office of Ince & Co. Ince recently also lost its litigation partner Stephen Chan to U.K. firm Charles Russell Speechlys.
Shin & Kim’s Senior Disputes Lawyer Joins Swiss-Korean Boutique
With Arie Eernisse joining, Peter & Kim, which has offices in Korea, Switzerland, Australia and Singapore, now counts 21 lawyers in Seoul. Swiss-Korean international arbitration boutique Peter & Kim has strengthened its cross-border dispute resolution capability with the hire of Arie Eernisse, who was most recently a senior foreign attorney at Big Six South Korean law firm Shin & Kim. At Peter & Kim, Eernisse will take on the title as senior foreign attorney.
Akerman Launches Japan Desk With Hire From Orrick
The firm’s Japan practice launch has been enabled, in part, by its hire of corporate M&A lawyer Hiroshi Sarumida. U.S. law firm Akerman has launched a Japan sector team focusing on Japanese businesses operating globally. The firm’s sector launch has been enabled, in part, by its hire of corporate M&A lawyer Hiroshi Sarumida, who was most recently the U.S. chair of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe’s Japan transactional practice. Sarumida is joining Akerman as a partner. Sarumida will serve as a co-leader of the Japan sector transactional team alongside corporate partner and co-leader Michael Doherty, with litigation partner Richard Brosnick acting as the Japan litigation team leader. The Japan sector team, which consists of 10 lawyers, covers transactional, litigation, regulatory, commercial and operational matters. Akerman currently has no offices based in Asia.
The Americas
Proskauer makes double litigation hire from MoFo in New York
Duo include first-chair trial veterans Grant Esposito and David Fioccola. Top 50 US firm Proskauer Rose has made a twin litigation partner hire from Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) as it seeks to expand its disputes coverage in New York. The duo include first-chair trial lawyers Grant Esposito and David Fioccola, who will join the firm’s commercial litigation and trial strategies groups respectively. Esposito brings experience across commercial and class action litigation in areas such as antitrust, mass torts, product liability, healthcare, environmental, securities and transactional disputes. Fioccola defends clients in complex commercial disputes and consumer class actions, including ‘bet the company’ litigation.
Paul Hastings targets US insurance M&A with trio of partner hires from Sidley Austin, Mayer Brown
M&A and regulatory partners join in New York and Chicago. Paul Hastings has added three partners from Sidley Austin and Mayer Brown to expand its insurance industry work. Insurance M&A partners Kirk Lipsey and Chad Vance have joined from Sidley in New York and Chicago respectively, while insurance regulatory partner Sanjiv Tata has joined in New York from Mayer Brown.
Family Law Boutique Expands into Miami Headed by Two South Florida Litigators
Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas, focused solely on high net-worth family law matters, is already in West Palm Beach and New York. Family law litigation boutique firm Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas is expanding into Miami with a new office, adding to its outposts in West Palm Beach and New York. The firm tapped Miami-based Richard Segal as co-managing partner along with Zachary Potter, who was already at the firm in its West Palm Beach office. Segal joins from Segal Zuckerman, a boutique he helped found with his lifelong friend Jamie Zuckerman.
Foley Hoag completes hire of all-female patent team from Cooley
Quartet of patent experts joins recent Cooley hire Amy Baker Mandragouras to boost Foley’s life sciences IP practice. Boston-based law firm Foley Hoag has put the finishing touches to a team hire from rival Cooley to bolster its life sciences and IP offerings. The all-female team is led by partner Amy Baker Mandragouras, who moved over from Cooley in August, and includes counsel Erika Wallace and Maya Elbert, an associate, a patent agent and a number of patent administrative professionals who have since joined the firm. Technology specialist Lillian Schmaltz has also joined the group; she was previously a graduate research and teaching assistant at the University of Texas. All the team members are based in Boston except Elbert, who will work out of Foley’s New York offices.
Baker & Hostetler Boosts Energy Team in Houston With Frost Brown M&A Partner
Frost Brown Todd M&A partner Cleve Glenn, who joined Baker & Hostetler as a partner in Houston, is also a former general counsel and chief financial officer at an energy company. Baker & Hostetler expanded its energy team in Houston by adding Frost Brown Todd M&A partner Cleve Glenn, who earlier in his career was an energy services company general counsel and chief financial officer. Glenn joined Baker & Hostetler as a partner on Monday in the business practice group and as a member of the M&A team and the energy team.
Troutman Pepper Launches Corporate Espionage Response Team
Legacy firms Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton both had similar capabilities in the area, according to partner Will Taylor, one of the two founders of the group. Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders has announced the creation of a new corporate espionage response team, which looks to help clients combat third-party theft or use of confidential or proprietary information for their own commercial advantage. The group, founded by national labor and employment practice partner Evan Gibbs and commercial litigation partner Will Taylor, is comprised of attorneys scattered across Troutman Pepper’s Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, Boston and Richmond, Virginia, offices, including 14 partners, one counsel and two associates.
Cooley Hires Foley & Lardner Health Care Transactions Leader
Alexis Bortniker, who spent more than a decade at Foley & Lardner, joined Cooley as a partner in San Diego. Cooley has hired Alexis Finkelberg Bortniker, the co-chair of the health care transaction group at Foley & Lardner, as a partner in San Diego. Bortniker joined Cooley in its global life sciences and health care regulatory practice group. Previously, Bortniker spent more than a decade at Foley & Lardner, where she also led its health care and life sciences sector’s payer/provider convergence area of focus.
Willkie Adds Kirkland Private Equity Partner With Energy Focus in Texas
Kirkland & Ellis corporate partner Tony Johnston joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher as a partner in Dallas as the firm, like others, expands its energy and infrastructure team due to activity in the sectors. With energy and infrastructure a standout sector this year, Willkie Farr & Gallagher continues to hire lawyers with that focus by adding Kirkland & Ellis private equity partner Tony Johnston as a partner in Texas. Johnston practices in Dallas, but will be based in the firm’s Houston office. He joined the firm on Wednesday as a partner in the corporate and financial services department.
In-House
Kim Kardashian’s underwear brand gets first GC
Skims Body, the underwear and fashion label co-founded by US reality TV star Kim Kardashian, has hired Colin Bennett as its first general counsel, Bloomberg reported this week.Bennett joined in July from meal-kit company Hello Fresh, where he was GC. At Skims, he will also serve as chief compliance officer. He told Bloomberg that he expects to grow the company’s in-house legal team and will report directly to Skims’ co-founder and CEO Jens Grede.
Charter Communications raids Madison Square Garden for GC replacement
US broadband and cable operator Charter Communications has named Jamal Haughton as its new general counsel, replacing Rick Dykhouse, who announced his retirement plans earlier this year. Haughton joins from Madison Square Garden (MSG) Entertainment, where he was GC, corporate secretary and executive vice president. At Charter, he will also serve as corporate secretary and executive vice president. As head of the company’s legal department, he will oversee all legal and regulatory matters.
Seeker Music hires experienced entertainment lawyer as GC
Music publishing and management business Seeker Music has hired veteran music lawyer Dan Stuart as general counsel. Stuart joins from Sony Music’s AWAL US, where he was senior vice president of business affairs. At Seeker, he will be responsible for handling all of the label’s legal matters.
Digital ID startup Prove Identity hires first CLO
Digital verification and ID platform Prove Identity has hired Mitch Bompey as its inaugural chief legal officer, taking over from interim general counsel Lesley O’Neill. Bompey joins from fintech data platform Addepar, where he was general counsel and chief risk officer, overseeing all legal matters and helping grow the company’s international presence. At Prove, he will assume a similar mandate.
New York community bank lands finance veteran as GC
US financial services group Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp has named Frederick Erikson as its new general counsel, replacing Michael Guarino who is retiring from the business next year. Erikson arrives from Liberty Bank, where he was deputy GC. In his new role, he will also oversee all legal matters for Metropolitan Commercial Bank (MCB), a community-focused bank in New York City and surrounding areas.
Barton Malow hires Honigman partner as CLO
US commercial and residential construction company Barton Malow has hired Brandon Booth as its chief legal officer, returning to the company after almost 14 years working in private practice. Booth joins from Honigman, where he has spent the past two years as a partner. He originally left Barton Malow as a project engineer in 2009 before going to law school. He will now lead all legal matters for its construction business and report directly to president and CEO Ryan Maibach.
GoDaddy Legal Chief Going to New Gig
GoDaddy is seeking a successor to Michele Lau, who made a splash at the internet domain registrar immediately on joining in July 2021. The chief legal officer of one of the world’s largest internet domain registrars will soon be changing her own web address. Michele Lau, CLO and corporate secretary of GoDaddy, will step down effective Nov. 17, the company said in a securities filing.
Bain-Backed Software Firm Hires Startup Veteran as Legal Chief
“With her expertise in M&A, technology licensing, and corporate governance, Liz [Fischer] emphasizes our commitment to upholding top-tier legal standards,” Rocket Software CEO Milan Shetti said. Rocket Software, an enterprise software development firm owned by Bain Capital, is building up its executive ranks to help boost growth, hiring seasoned tech industry lawyer Liz Fischer as its first chief legal officer. Fischer will report to Rocket Software CEO Milan Shetti. She joins Rocket Software from Perch, a venture-backed e-commerce platform that sells direct-to-consumer products made by its more than 100 brands. Fischer handled all legal functions as Perch’s general counsel, including managing litigation, negotiating mergers and acquisitions and debt transactions, and overseeing its intellectual property portfolio.
Promotions & Appointments:
Martin Kelleher to lead corporate department at Mason Hayes & Curran
Business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran has announced the appointment of Martin Kelleher as its new head of corporate. Mr Kelleher is a senior corporate partner with significant experience in international transactions, particularly in the technology and life science sectors.
Double partner appointment at MHP Sellors
Mid-West law firm MHP Sellors has announced the appointment of Caroline Meaney and Marina Keane as partners. Ms Meaney, a solicitor with 23 years of experience, now leads the commercial department at MHP Sellors. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in commercial law, commercial property transactions, and banking to clients. Ms Keane, with over 20 years of legal experience, is an experienced litigator with significant experience advising clients across a broad spectrum of contentious and non‐contentious matters. Her focus areas include public administrative law, judicial review, and regulatory law.
BCLP finalises leadership changes
New global department leaders and chief marketing officer named amid wider leadership shuffle. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has finalised the changes to its leadership team, following up the appointment of its first CEO and senior partner with new leaders for its transactions and real estate teams, among others. Earlier this week the transatlantic firm said it had appointed Carol Osborne as global leader for its corporate and finance transactions practice, Nazir Dewji as global leader of its real estate team and Joel Lander as regional leader for corporate and finance transactions. Today the firm also said that it had appointed Alessandra Almeida Jones as global chief marketing officer, with responsibility for leading the firm’s business development, marketing and communications function. Almeida Jones, who is based in London, joined the firm in the role of global marketing and communications director from Baker McKenzie in January.
Perkins Coie Names New COO, With Sights Set on ‘Strategic Growth’ Alongside Emerging Tech Innovation
Roger Wilkes, the former chief operating officer for U.S. marketing and sales at PwC, joined Perkins Coie as COO in New York. Perkins Coie has hired Roger Wilkes, the former chief operating officer for U.S. marketing and sales at PwC, as its new COO, based in New York. “Roger is a high-performing and collaborative business leader who will help further elevate our position as a trusted advisor to the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders,” Bill Malley, Perkins Coie’s managing partner, said in a statement.
Bayard Welcomes New Chair of Restructuring Group
Bayard announced that Ericka F. Johnson has joined the firm as a director and chair of the business restructuring and liquidations practice. Bayard announced that Ericka F. Johnson has joined the firm as a director and chair of the business restructuring and liquidations practice. Johnson brings over 15 years of local and national corporate bankruptcy and restructuring experience to Bayard. She is versed in bankruptcy litigation matters, including preference, fraudulent transfer, turnover, and breaches of contract and fiduciary duty actions.
Canada’s Fasken Elects Its First New Managing Partner in 9 Years
Martin Denyes takes over the lead management role in January after 13 years as a regional managing partner. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin’s longtime managing partner for the region that includes Toronto and Canada’s capital, Ottawa, will take on the leadership of the entire firm in the new year. For the last 13 years, Martin Denyes has been managing partner of the firm’s Ontario region, a member of its management board. He also played a management role in the U.K. office in 2015-16. He will take over the firmwide managing partner role on Jan. 1 from Peter Feldberg, who has led the firm since 2015.
Mergers & Alliances:
Partners vote through merger to create A&O Shearman
Deal will create transatlantic law firm with revenue of around $3.5bn. Partners at UK Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy (A&O) and New York’s Shearman & Sterling have voted through a landmark merger deal to create a transatlantic law firm with revenue of around $3.5bn, housing 3,950 lawyers across 48 offices. A partner vote on the planned merger began in late September and was completed today. The merger required approval from 75% of each firm’s partnership, however the firms said in a statement that more than 99% of the votes cast at each firm were in favour of the merger. It said that was “a powerful testament to the strength of the combination and partner support for it”. The merged firm will be called A&O Shearman and will have approximately 800 partners working across 29 countries. Its combined revenues will catapault the firm ahead of its three global Magic Circle rivals: Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters.
Baker McKenzie launches Korean joint venture
Bakers to offer Korean law advice through partnership with 20-lawyer KL Partners. Baker McKenzie is set to significantly expand its offering in Korea after forming a joint venture with high-profile Korean corporate and disputes firm KL Partners. Known as Baker McKenzie & KL Partners Joint Venture Law Firm (Baker McKenzie KLP JV), the JV will officially launch later this month and will be Korea’s largest international law firm by partner bench strength according to Bakers. Its 20-plus lawyer team will offer clients international and Korean legal advice spanning areas including energy and infrastructure, cross-border arbitration and litigation, and corporate/M&A.
Dentons Affiliate in Turkey Absorbs 23-Lawyer Istanbul Firm
The arrivals, including two partners, will establish a practice in life sciences and strengthen the firm’s force in regulatory compliance, energy, technology and insurance. A Dentons affiliate firm in Turkey has acquired a 23-lawyer firm in Istanbul to establish a practice in life sciences and strengthen its force in regulatory compliance, energy, technology and insurance. Balcıoğlu Selçuk Ardıyok Keki Attorney Partnership (BASEAK), the Istanbul-based firm that collaborates with Dentons in Turkey, has absorbed Bozoğlu İzgi Attorney Partnership (BI Legal).
Office Openings & Closing:
Venezuelan-born solicitor Yuli O’Grady launches Co Cork practice
Yuli O’Grady, the first Venezuelan-born solicitor to qualify in Ireland, has launched a new practice based in Kildorrery, Co Cork. O’Grady Solicitors & Co will provide services throughout the north Cork region in areas such as family law matters, property matters, succession planning including wills, probate and inheritance, power of attorney, personal injuries, employment law and immigration.
With Free Rent on the Table, Law Firm Leasing in San Francisco May Ramp Up
Gibson Dunn, Willkie and Gunderson Dettmer are among the firms that signed new office leases in San Francisco in the first half of 2023. Law firm leasing activity in San Francisco appears to be headed up, as firms regain confidence in the office market and look to take advantage of soft market fundamentals and increased concessions, according to a new report from Cushman & Wakefield. In fact, it’s not uncommon to receive an offer with greater than a year of free rent and over $200 per square foot in tenant improvements on a 10-year lease, the report said. “Legal occupiers are taking landlords up on those deals,” it said.
Dilworth Looking to Downsize Because of Hybrid Work
With its lease at 1500 Market St. expiring in the next year, the firm is looking to shrink from 80,000 square feet over four floors to 50,000 square feet spread over two. Philadelphia firm Dilworth Paxson is the latest law firm in the region looking to downsize its physical footprint, with chairman Lawrence McMichael indicating the firm was looking to shrink from 80,000 square feet over four floors to 50,000 square feet spread over two. “Like most law firms we expect to shrink the size of our footprint, largely because people work from home,” McMichael explained. “Most of our senior lawyers are here five days per week. … We have some people who are permanently working from home for personal reasons, and we accommodate that, others are in 2-3 days per week.”
New Zealand’s K3 Launches Legal Service Offering in Hong Kong
The firm is looking to build on opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area projects. New Zealand firm K3 Legal has launched its debut international presence in Hong Kong via an association with local practice, Fred Kan & Co. The firm attributes its launch in the city to the synergies with its existing clientele in mainland China, Hong Kong and Australia, as well as the desire to build on opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area projects.
Kirkland, Latham to Take on More Space at New London Offices
Latham’s new office space will be nearly 55% bigger than its current occupancy, while Kirkland is expected to be leasing more space than Linklaters. Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins have opted to take on additional office space at their new London offices, as U.S.-headquartered firms continue to grow their U.K. footprint. Kirkland & Ellis, whose new home is currently under construction at London office development 40 Leadenhall Street, will add space to the original minimum 215,000 sq ft it agreed to lease, according to one person close to the process.
Financials:
Trowers & Hamlins, Mishcon de Reya latest UK firms to cut jobs
Trowers to shed around 25 lawyers, including six partners, as Mishcon axes software solutions team. UK law firms Trowers & Hamlins and Mishcon de Reya have become the latest law firms to cut jobs. Trowers has begun a redundancy consultation, which is understood to affect around 25 UK lawyers including six partners, with most of those impacted working in the firm’s real estate department. Meantime, Mishcon de Reya is understood to have cut a team from its business services arm, making an 11-strong software solutions team redundant as its needs for lawtech change.
Stroock Cut Pay and Hours of Senior Staff as Merger Talks Dragged On
The cuts in pay and hours for senior staff raise questions about Stroock’s financial footing during its merger talks. Amid Stroock & Stroock & Lavan’s protracted pursuit of a merger, the law firm cut pay and hours for senior business professionals at the beginning of July, according to sources familiar with the moves. The cuts in pay and hours raise questions about Stroock’s financial footing during its merger talks with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.
Pay Gap Between GCs and CEOs Narrowing, as Legal Chiefs Become Jacks-of-All-Trades
General counsel compensation is rising partly because companies want their legal chief to have a slate of skills that is difficult to find in one person, according to a new report from Equilar. General counsel compensation is growing faster than CEO compensation, narrowing the pay gap for the two C-suite roles, a new study from the research firm Equilar found. The study found that median compensation for CEOs was 4.1 times that of general counsel in 2022. That compares with 4.3 times in 2018. The study included the 500 largest public companies by revenue that included GC pay in their proxy statements—179 firms in 2022.
Deloitte Legal Closes in on UK Top 50 as Revenue Grows
Deloitte Legal’s total lawyer headcount in the UK has also increased and is now comparable with some of the country’s Top 50 law firms. The legal arm of Deloitte has boosted its revenue in the U.K. by over a fifth, according to people with knowledge of the professional services firm. In its U.K. firmwide results announced last week, revenue for Deloitte’s wider tax and legal business was given as £1.21 billion in the 12 months to May 2023—which represents growth of 9% on last year. However, Deloitte Legal has seen revenue growth of over twice this percentage, at a rate that is higher than the vast majority of U.K. Top 50 firms in the last financial year.
How Law Firms Are Still Losing Millions, Even After Hiring Pricing Specialists
“We call it ‘change slipping through the back of the sofa,'” Steven Manton, part of a group of senior pricing professionals, said. ‘It’s millions and millions across a large law firm, when you add it all up.” Law firms have been increasing their investments in pricing and financial professionals. Yet, Big Law has still lost out on revenue over the last couple of years, due significantly to “self-inflicted” damage during the billing process. Why? It’s not that the pricing teams and firms’ own billing analysis aren’t working, analysts and consultants say. But a confluence of factors is holding firms back in realization.
With Collections Push Underway, Some DC Law Firms Remain Optimistic About 2023 Profits
Still, other law firm leaders are expressing concerns to partners about meeting budget, according to area legal recruiters. With the fourth quarter now underway, some law firm leaders in the Washington, D.C., region are optimistic about 2023 profits, citing sustained demand in large litigation and regulatory practices, despite slowdowns in transactional work.Firms in D.C., however, are still putting a greater emphasis on billing hygiene, as seen industrywide, according to the LawVision/BigHand report. Compared with last year, more law firms reported a focus on financial hygiene in billing and timekeeping and conducting profit education and training, according to the report.
Texas GC Compensation Report: Cash Drops Off While Total Compensation Rises
An updated ranking based on 2022 data has revealed shifts in the compensation structure among the highest paid general counsel in Texas, with notably less cash among the top 20 than last year but an increase in total compensation. Texas’ top-earning general counsel saw a notable decrease in cash earnings but an uptick in overall compensation, according to Texas Lawyer rankings based on 2022 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Several familiar names remained within the top 10 by total cash, including AT&T legal chief David McAtee, who held the No. 1 spot for the third year in a row. Several people also moved higher within the top 10, including Lori Schechter, with health care wholesaler McKesson; Sean N. Markowitz, with oil and gas companies Cheniere Energy; and Marcia Backus, who recently retired from Occidental Petroleum.
Technology & Innovation:
Behind the Prices: Is Generative AI Legal Tech Cheaper to Buy or Build?
The costs to run or buy generative AI-powered tools can be considerable, but there are no easy ways of getting around them. There are many questions still left unanswered about generative artificial intelligence: How will it be leveraged by the legal industry? How will it transform the delivery of legal services? But perhaps most interestingly, how much will it really cost?
Macfarlanes Showed Us How it’s Using Harvey AI. Here’s What We Learned
Law.com International sat down with Macfarlanes’ chief knowledge innovation officer to see what Harvey really brings to a law firm. Harvey has quickly become one of the most recognizable names in legal AI. Major law firms, including Allen & Overy, adopted the tech to leverage the newfangled generative technology where they could. So popular is the technology that you need to join a waiting list to start the Harvey journey. But, last month, following a pilot programme which involved more than 70 fee earners and knowledge lawyers, Macfarlanes became one of the fortunate few to have joined the ‘Harvey’ pack.
Clio Announces Gen AI Assistant, E-Filing Solution and More at ClioCon 2023
Clio will roll out over a dozen product updates and new tools through the early months of 2024, including a solution tailored to personal injury firms that is already available. On the first day of ClioCon 2023, Clio announced that it will be rolling out a bundle of new tools in the coming months. In total, the company is releasing 15 upgrades or new solutions from now through the early months of 2024. Hemant Kashyap, the chief product officer at Clio, told Legaltech News that many of the add-ons to the company’s offerings are a result of client demand, an effort to adopt new innovations within their tools, and a move to centralize capabilities and allow more personalization.
Cybersecurity—What Law Firms Need to Know Now, From a CISO in the Know
The White House’s National Cybersecurity Strategy rests on five pillars, all of which will affect law firms. So, it’s time for law firms to double check their cyber sophistication and cyber readiness. Their clients and the federal government are starting to demand much more from everyone—including law firms. And I can vouch for the seriousness of these demands—earlier this summer, I was invited to the White House by the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), the executive office which advises the president on cybersecurity and policy, to participate in the Technical Workshop on Space Systems Cybersecurity. The ONCD workshop is part of the White House’s ongoing efforts to identify gaps in U.S. cybersecurity policies and systems and prepare plans for tangible next steps to remedy those gaps in support of their National Cybersecurity Strategy. The report, released in March 2023 as a continuation of efforts started by previous administrations, aims to coordinate cybersecurity strategy and usher in a concentrated and centralized approach to cybersecurity.
Addressing the Abuses of Generative AI in the Legal Profession
Much has been written about the impact of generative AI on the legal profession, including in this column. This week we asked ChatGPT to compose an editorial on the issue and this is what we got.In an era where technology is rapidly reshaping industries, the legal profession finds itself at a crossroads, facing both incredible opportunities and pressing challenges. One such challenge that demands our immediate attention is the growing concern surrounding the misuse and abuse of generative AI in the legal field.
Three AI Trends in Intellectual Property
If your firm or organization has yet to explore AI for intellectual property processes, now is the time to begin exploring its capabilities and how AI can help your IP teams streamline operations and save time on manual tasks. The conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) in the intellectual property (IP) space is constantly evolving, and it is crucial to actively evaluate its potential. We often think of AI as a new technology because of its increased daily use and widespread media attention; however, while AI was once considered a novelty reserved for experts, it has now become a valuable tool for individuals and businesses alike, with increasing daily use and media attention. Law firms are recognizing the potential of generative AI, an AI system capable of generating, text, images or other media in response to prompts. A recent survey reported that 82% of law firm lawyers believe generative AI can be readily applied to legal work, and 51% said generative AI should be applied to legal work.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Sofiya Kalinova makes Irish legal history as first Deaf barrister
Sofiya Kalinova has become the first Deaf person to qualify as a barrister in Ireland and the first to practice law in Irish Sign Language (ISL). A graduate of University College Dublin and the King’s Inns, Ms Kalinova was called to the Bar by Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell.
Cooley Hires First Chief Diversity Officer From Deloitte
Kelly Batts will work with firm management and various diversity teams to develop and implement DEI objectives at Cooley. Cooley has hired Kelly Batts, a managing director focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy and workforce transformation at Deloitte, as its first chief diversity officer. In an email, Batts said he was drawn to “the opportunity to further DEI objectives at one firm, as opposed to the varied clients that I would be advising on the consultancy side.”
TLT commits to ethnic diversity target by 2030
UK law firm TLT, which operates in Northern Ireland, has announced a new ethnic diversity target designed to eliminate barriers to entry into the legal profession for aspiring ethnic minority lawyers and to improve diversity.
Diverse Attorneys of the Year Selected
After receiving nomination from across the New Jersey legal community, the Law Journal is pleased to announce the 2023 Diverse Attorneys of the Year.
Moving the Needle on Outside Counsel Team Diversity
The Diversity Dividends Collective shares in this article five “lessons learned” for legal departments that wish to influence inclusion with their outside counsel. The current profusion of outside counsel DEI surveys that law firms receive from their clients has hit an all-time high. While well intended, these surveys haven’t moved the needle at a rate commensurate with the work involved. And, at their worst, they can actually work at cross-purposes with legal departments’ objective of fostering a culture of diversity and inclusivity by diverting valuable time from diversity leaders to repeatedly define the problem rather than working on solutions. This need not be the case. Most legal departments have neither the resources nor the scientific expertise to craft and conduct an effective assessment of their outside counsel DEI that produces more inclusive teams. Many have told us they don’t know where to start other than perhaps the raft of firmwide data produced annually by dozens of reputable third-party organizations. And even then, it takes substantial time and ability to analyze the data and successfully operationalize the findings to align with organizational values.
How the Pandemic Highlighted the Importance of DEI
While law firms are prudent to view remote and hybrid work arrangements as an important recruiting and retention tool, the reason why some candidates prefer remote work illustrates the importance of robust and effective DEI programs. Some three years after the pandemic we are in a new world—and the workplace, like so many other spaces, has drastically changed. Of course, one of the most debated topics in the changing workplace is the long-term adoption of hybrid or fully remote working arrangements. While law firms are prudent to view remote and hybrid work arrangements as an important recruiting and retention tool, the reason why some candidates prefer remote work illustrates the importance of robust and effective DEI programs. The Desire for Flexible Work: Though hybrid and remote work arrangements were around before the pandemic, they were generally the exception, with only 2% of pre-pandemic job listings offering remote or hybrid work schedules. See Ella Ceron, “Escaping Discrimination by Working from Home,” L.A. Times, Nov. 3, 2022. Today, the number of positions offering remote work arrangements is trending at 15% of all job listings on LinkedIn, down from a peak of 20% in the early part of the pandemic. Though a seemingly low figure, it’s important to keep in mind that only about 39% of American jobs are capable of being performed remotely. See Kim Parker, “About a Third of U.S. Workers Who Can Work From Home Now Do So All the Time,” Pew Research Center, Mar. 30, 2023.
Market Commentary:
Among Am Law 50 Firms, a Growing Appetite to Share Risk With Clients on Plaintiff-Side Matters
In a roundtable published by litigation funder Burford Capital, leaders at Morgan Lewis, Gibson Dunn, Mayer Brown and Proskauer discuss the client- and firm-side motivations behind the growth in Big Law contingency practices.
Misaligned Compensation Drivers Are at Odds With Future Law Firm Leaders
Law firms risk missing out on an already-short list of leadership candidates without rewards and incentives that are directly linked to leadership goals. Law firms are tweaking partner compensation in response to competitive pressures. And certainly, some firms have taken steps to recognize nontraditional compensation criteria such as collaboration. But on the whole, compensation drivers have largely remained unchanged since comp plans were first developed. Many comp plans still in use today were created as early as the ’80s, when firms had fewer competitors, more regional work, and not many LPOs or other ancillary businesses. As a result, “compensation plans for yesteryear often fail to recognize what is required of lawyers today,” said Tim Corcoran, a law firm consultant at Corcoran Consulting Group.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Cooley Hires Jenner & Block Global Arbitration Chair
Cooley’s London office has been given a significant boost with the addition of Jenner & Block’s international arbitration practice chair and former London head, Charlie Lightfoot. Lightfoot, who joins Cooley after eight years at fellow U.S. outfit Jenner & Block, was originally brought in by the U.S. litigation specialists in 2015 to launch and subsequently lead the new London office.
Clifford Chance Hits Latham Again, Relocates London Partner to Build NY Leveraged Finance Practice
The firm, which hires again from Latham in the space of a week, is making a concerted effort to strengthen its US leveraged finance group. Clifford Chance has added another Latham partner, less than one week after it hired an infrastructure duo in London, in a significant boost to its U.S. leveraged finance and capital markets capabilities. New York-based debt finance partner Jason C. Ewart is to join Clifford Chance’s U.S. leveraged finance team, alongside current CC partner Thomas Critchley, who relocates from the firm’s London office.
Latham Partner Exits for Covington in London
Earlier this year, Latham experienced two partner departures in the space of a week. David Berman joined Latham as a partner in 2017, having previously been head of financial services regulation at Macfarlanes.
Travers Smith Environment Head Walks to Freshfields
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired a partner to join its global ESG and sustainability practice in London, the firm announced on Thursday. Doug Bryden is set to join the firm from Travers Smith, where he spent more than 13 years as partner, most recently as head of its environment and operational regulatory practice, as well as co-heading the firm’s ESG and Impact group.
EMEA
A&O Adds to Warsaw Disputes Team With Partner Hire from Bird & Bird
Adam Kowalczyk had practiced as a partner at Bird & Bird since 2018. Prior to that he was head of litigation, regulatory disputes, and white-collar crime at PwC Law in Warsaw, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Eversheds Swipes Corporate Partner from Freshfields in Saudi Arabia
Dhabaan & Partners, the associated firm with Eversheds Sutherland, has poached corporate partner Walid Salib as head of M&A in Saudi Arabia from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he spent nearly 13 years, latterly as head of its Saudi M&A practice. In recent years, several major firms have boosted their corporate M&A practices in the Kingdom.
Paul Hastings Taps Clifford Chance for Private Equity Partner in Frankfurt
He is the second partner to join from Clifford Chance in recent months. Gerd Hegele joins the firm after nearly a decade at Clifford Chance, where he was most recently a counsel, according to his LinkedIn profile.
DLA Piper, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Add Partners in Madrid
DLA Piper brings on a new capital markets head, while Gómez-Acebo & Pombo adds a competition and EU law partner from Cuatrecasas.
APAC
Greenberg Traurig Lands Senior Financial Regulatory Counsel From MoFo In Tokyo
Greenberg Traurig has expanded its banking and financial markets regulatory offering in Japan with the hire of Akihiro Wani, who was most recently a senior counselor at Morrison Foerster and a former joint managing partner of Linklaters in Tokyo, as a senior counsel. The latest lateral hire comes less than three months after the U.S. firm added Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe’s Japan real estate practice head Yuko Ino.
Hong Kong Law Firm Lands Former Osborne Clarke Head
Hong Kong-based law firm Georgiou Payne Stewien has bolstered its corporate and commercial practice with the addition of a partner from Asia Pacific law firm FitzGerald Lawyers. John Koh was previously the managing partner of U.K.-headquartered Osborne Clarke’s Hong Kong office, and a Hong Kong-based partner at Bird & Bird.
Charles Russell Speechlys Hires Disputes Partner from Ince Hong Kong
The hiring of Stephen Chan follows that of Vanessa Duff, who joined the firm from Withers.
Baker McKenzie, Clayton Utz Add Real Estate Partners in Australia
Adam Peppinck joins Clayton Utz and Emily Peverill joins Baker.
Dentons Adds Planning Partner as Brisbane Prepares to Host Olympic Games
Mitchell Osborne has over 15 years of experience in environment and planning law, and is also a qualified town planner.
The Americas
Milbank, Continuing to Poach From Dechert, Adds Another Private Equity Partner
Paul Bennett IV has represented clients such as The Blackstone Group, Rockwood Holdings Inc. and Pantheon N.V.
Haynes and Boone Grabs Mexico City Finance Partner From Baker McKenzie
The hiring of Diego Sánchez complements recent promotions and a move into a new office in the Mexican capital as the Texas-founded Am Law 100 firm bets big on Mexico.
Big Law in DC Continues to Invest in Litigation Lateral Partners
Life sciences patent litigators Howard Levine and Jennifer Swan from Dechert have joined Hogan Lovells as partners in its regulatory and IP, media, and technology practice.
McDermott Expands Tax Team in Houston With Mayer Brown Partner
Shawn O’Brien, who joined McDermott Will & Emery on Monday as a partner in Houston in the tax practice group, had been global co-head of the tax-energy group.
Defying Convention, US-Based Mintz Levin Grows Again in Toronto
The addition of Anthony De Fazekas and Mervyn Allen means that, since March, the firm has brought its Canadian contingent to 24 lawyers.
Feldman Shepherd Lands 3 Laterals to Fortify Core Practices
Philadelphia Board of Education President Reginald Streater, formerly of Berger Montague, Daniel Klaproth of Murray, Stone & Wilson and Samuel Mukiibi of Grant & Eisenhofer will also continue their individual niches in civil rights and nursing home neglect cases.
Latham Adds Partner From Simpson Thacher Amid Demand for Tech Transactions Talent
Latham is the latest firm to enhance its bench to support technology-related transactions. Jessica Cohen, the firm’s new partner, regularly counsels on IP and tech-related M&A, spinoffs and other ventures.
Manatt Hires New York’s Leading Cannabis Regulator as the Industry Hits an Inflection Point
Axel Bernabe, who developed and implemented all the regulations for New York’s cannabis industry, has joined Manatt as a partner in New York.
With ‘Renewed Focus’ in Silicon Valley, Hogan Lovells Hires Paul Hastings Private Equity Partner
Todd Schwartz brings a new private equity capability to Hogan Lovells in Silicon Valley, as well as a restructuring practice that aligns with the firm’s broader California team.
Womble Bond Dickinson Hires 6-Attorney Team to Kickstart West Coast Mass Torts Practice
The products liability team includes partners Claire Weglarz, Macy Chan and Thomas Remillard in Los Angeles, and partner Mirna Scheffy in San Francisco, all of whom are arriving from Hawkins Parnell.
In-House
Chief Legal Officer Joins Exodus From Fallen Star Flexport
The supply-chain-software company Flexport—not long ago one of the nation’s hottest startups, with a valuation of $8 billion—has shed an estimated 80% of its value and is seeing an exodus of executives, including chief legal officer Chris Ferro.
Goodwin Hong Kong Partner Takes on GC Role at Healthcare Investor
Philip Culhane had previously spent two decades at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
4 Longtime Netflix Legal Execs Out in Restructuring
“Parting ways with these valued leaders—all of whom have been at the company for many years—is very hard,” chief legal officer David Hyman said in a statement to Law.com.
TfL Appoints Interim General Counsel After Retirement of Long-Time Legal Head
London’s governmental transportation body, TfL, has appointed an interim general counsel for the next 12 months following the retirement of its former long-time general counsel. Andrea Clarke has taken over the top legal job from Howard Carter, who is stepping away after 17 years in the role.
Promotions & Appointments:
Fried Frank Leadership Sees Structural Shifts
While the leadership structure is in line with a trend of law firms spreading out management duties, new leadership may lack the diversity of some Big Law peers, especially those with recent changes. Fried Frank named as its upcoming chair Kenneth Rosh, a longtime member of the firm and chair of its private equity funds group, a position he will maintain in addition to his role as chair. He succeeds longtime chair David Greenwald on March 1, 2024
Australia’s Slater & Gordon Takes On New CEO After Buyout
The firm was taken over by private equity investor Allegro earlier this year. Dina Tutungi, Slater & Gordon’s chief client officer, will take over from current CEO John Sumerville when he retires in March next year.
Kirkland Crosses 200 in Latest Record Round of Partner Promotions
The new partner promotions represent about a 6% increase over last year’s 193, a relatively smaller addition than last year’s 28% jump.
Goodwin Promotes 40 to Partnership
Goodwin & Procter has promoted 40 lawyers to its partnership, a drop from last year’s record figure of 58, but still its second largest cohort on record. The majority of the promotions were concentrated at the Boston office, where the firm was first founded, which saw 15 lawyers make the cut. About a sixth of the promotions were at its Europe and Asia offices, with one in Munich, and one at the Paris, Singapore and Luxembourg.
Weil Refreshes London Leadership as Mike Francies Set to Retire
The London managing partner is set to retire at the end of 2024 after over 20 years at the helm. As Francies winds down his tenure, he will be joined in the leadership by private equity partner Jonathan Wood, and head of London M&A partner David Avery-Gee, who will both step up to co-managing partner, the person added.
Mergers & Alliances:
A&O Top Leader Will Take Charge If Shearman Merger Vote Approved
Allen & Overy’s current senior leadership will head the combined operation of A&O Shearman & Sterling, if the deal is approved. Senior partner Wim Dejonghe and managing partner Khalid Garousha will lead the newly combined firm in their current roles, according to several people with knowledge of the situation. Current Shearman senior partner Adam Hakki is expected to play a senior role in the new firm’s leadership, including sitting on its executive committee, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.
Midsize Firms Are Making Mergers Happen, Despite the Growing Odds
Rimon and Ligris & Associates are among the midsize firms that have completed mergers in the past week, finding commonality across culture and business objectives that set them up for the future.
CMS Incorporates Mexican Firm One Week After Inking Brazil Tie-Up
The addition of boutique firm Escalante y Asociados, which specializes in tax law, foreign trade and money laundering prevention, means five more lawyers, including one partner and a certified public accountant, are now part of CMS in Mexico.
Baker McKenzie Establishes Korea Joint Venture 10 Years After Office Launch
The global firm’s joint venture partner in Korea, KL Partners, specializes in international dispute resolution and corporate M&A.
Office Openings & Closing:
Quinn Emanuel Moves to Launch in Singapore, Says ‘Lots of Cases Veering That Way’
The firm’s two Asian office launches, taking place just months apart, are an indication of increased client demand and needs around complex, high profile commercial litigation and investigations in the region.
Bird & Bird Opens Office in Shenzhen, China
HFW and Morgan Lewis & Bockius have both established their own presence in the city in recent months.
Squire Patton Boggs Opens Office in Beirut
The move represents a bold step as Lebanon is still in the grip of a major political and economic crisis.
2 Former King & Spalding Lawyers Found Singapore Boutique
Several leading disputes lawyers have set out to lead their own practices in Singapore over the past two years.
Japan’s Biggest Law Firm Changes Management Structure With Aim to Compete Globally
Nishimura became the second Big Four Japanese law firm to adopt a foreign law joint enterprise structure, enabling it to hire and promote foreign-qualified lawyers as equity partners and attract the talent needed to expand its U.S. and European client base for Asia-bound work.
CMS’ Expansive Burst Continues with Saudi Launch
The firm’s new licence to practice in the Kingdom follows a feverish period of global expansion, with combinations and tie-ups in Mexico, Brazil and Mozambique.
Anderson Mori Doubles Down on European Market with Brussels Launch
Earlier in the year, the firm also announced new openings in London and Hanoi.
Financials:
Stephenson Harwood’s Top Partners to Receive Up to £2M as Firm Increases Top of Equity by 40%
The move means the firm’s highest paid partners will receive towards the upper end of what UK Top 50 law firms tend to pay out, ahead of many other mid-market firms.
Optimism About Profitability Declines Among Law Firm Leaders
Law firms are emphasizing billing hygiene, conducting profit education and improving utilization levels to shore up profits by the end of 2023.
Inside Track: Is Long-Anticipated Recession Finally on Horizon?
In-house attorneys are embracing “a mindset of staying put and appreciating ‘the devil you know’ job security,” according to legal department recruiter Mike Evers.
Technology & Innovation:
3 Firms Become Latest to Formalize AI and Tech Offerings, Naming Leaders
Eversheds Sutherland, Bird & Bird and Baker Botts join a raft of firms that have introduced more structured approaches to non-traditional sectors that have grown exponentially over the course of 2023.
4 Catalysts That Have Solidified Law Firms’ Cloud Transitions
Law firms, as a whole, haven’t been keen on swift cloud adoption. But like implementation of many technologies, external factors have done much to twist legal’s arm.
Norton Rose, Hogan Lovells, Other Global Law Firms Join Gen AI Training Consortium
They are working with law firm training provider SkillBurst to develop materials that give legal professionals “the basics” on how to effectively use these emerging tools.
Diversity & Inclusion:
“The issue that’s so egregious is that the number has only increased by about 0.5% in 15 years,” said Jill Lynch Cruz, a coach for young lawyers and researcher in career development for Latinas in law.
Mirroring MoFo, Perkins Coie Opens Diversity Fellowship to All Applicants
Edward Blum’s lawsuits against the two law firms were successful in opening diversity fellowships to all applicants, although firms are still asking for diversity of background and experience.
Bridging the Generational Gap of the Modern Legal Workplace
As the legal landscape continues to change shape and find its footing among its corporate counterparts, it’s essential that those of us in this environment work to remain competitive while expanding our identity to become more inclusive.
DEI Legal Pipelining: Understanding the Phrase ‘If You Can See It, You Can Be It’
Early and ongoing exposure to the legal profession is important given that attorneys often hold positions of influence in education, justice, legislation, business, regulations and global trade. The path begins early and starts with basic needs—particularly important in communities such as ours, where resources are lacking on so many levels: employment, housing, food security, and markedly personal safety.
A Push for More Progress: Increased Diversity in the Legal Profession
While diversity within the legal profession has improved over the last few years, progress has been slow, and law firm leadership must be further educated on the importance of diversity and inclusion so they will take greater steps toward enhancing diversity among leadership and increasing transparency of their firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
Market Commentary:
Paul Weiss Rockets Up Europe M&A Rankings, as Slaughters Slides in the UK
Only 3 of the top 15 law firms for European M&A in 2023 to date were firms founded in Europe.
Kirkland, Goodwin Lead League Tables as Global M&A Hits 10-Year Low
Davis Polk vaulted to No. 4 in the ranking of principal advisers in deal value, while Paul Weiss had the largest jump of the top five.
‘You’re Going to Hit a Wall’: Why Legal Wizards Aren’t Wise About Managing Stress
“This stuff about skipping lunch; I’m not going to stop—that has to go. We have to prioritize and make some decisions,” said Sheila Robinson-Kiss, CEO of Rebalancing America and Beyond.
UK & Ireland
Greenwoods snaps up nine-strong private client team from Ince & Co as exits continue
The team is led by Ince’s former head of private client and tax Matthew Biles and follows the arrival of former Ince tax lawyer Roger Harding, who joined Greenwoods earlier this month as head of tax and trusts.
Orrick hires first chief digital officer from Pinsent Masons
Nigel Tranter will head up the firm’s data and business transformation team in Birmingham. Tranter joins the firm’s Birmingham, UK office alongside a team of five, including head of data Chad Schuessler and director of business transformation Adam Marsland. The team will work closely with the firm’s innovation and IT teams, as they seek to use data, AI and other tools to improve productivity and client service.
Axiom Ince suffers further partner defections as future of firm in doubt
Latest losses include exits to Birketts, HF and Wikborg Rein. The team of 17 lawyers joining Wikborg Rein’s London office bring expertise across international dispute resolution and finance. They include a team of seven shipping disputes experts (Michael Volikas, Ian Chetwood, Charles O’Connor, Amanda Urwin, Sophie Henniker-Major, Jack Maxted, Alice Hoare), a team of three finance lawyers (Beatrice Russ, Sian Sanders and Ben Orchard) and a team of seven commercial disputes and international arbitration lawyers (Gillie Belsham, Ben Ogden, Chris Crane, Daniel Boden, Tim Wright, Iain Preston and Ellie Jones).
Clifford Chance makes twin energy partner hire from Latham & Watkins
The pair include Craig Nethercott and Chirag Sanghrajka who join in London and Dubai respectively. Nethercott brings with him almost three decades of experience in banking, capital markets and Islamic finance, advising energy and infrastructure companies on a range of project financings. Sanghrajka adds 16 years of experience advising on energy and infrastructure projects and complex financings, including export credit agency-led deals.
EMEA
Quinn Emanuel secures King & Wood Mallesons partner duo for UAE launch
Litigation giant hires KWM Dubai office head plus another partner to set up shop in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The litigation heavyweight has hired a pair of partners from King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) for the launch – current Dubai managing partner Joanne Strain and Parnika Chaturvedi, who will join Quinn Emanuel later this year.
Sara Aranjo joins Morgan Lewis to lead arbitration practice in Africa and Middle East as Arun Visweswaran moves over to Addleshaw Goddard from Clifford Chance.
Proskauer raids Shearman for 19-strong corporate team in Paris
Team includes Shearman’s former Paris office head Xavier Norlain and three other partners. The partners include Xavier Norlain, Jeremy Scemama, Maud Manon and Matthieu Lampel alongside a team of 15, who all bring extensive experience in private and public M&A, leveraged finance and restructuring. They regularly advise private equity firms, banks and alternative lenders, services groups and management teams.
Paula Fallon joins Gartlan Furey after merger
Gartlan Furey LLP has welcomed Paula Fallon to its private client team following a merger with Paula Fallon & Associates. Ms Fallon brings nearly four decades of experience in the law, having qualified in 1986 and run her own specialist practice in the area of wills and administration of estates since 2001. Her areas of practice include wills and estate tax planning, powers of attorney, probate and administration of estates and trust management.
Clifford Chance Swoops For PwC Tax Partner in Frankfurt
Stefan Herr will work in the German and European tax and funds practice of the firm.
Squire Patton Boggs Taps McDermott For Corporate Duo in Frankfurt
The hires are the latest development in the firm’s corporate and private equity expansion strategy across Europe and the UK.
APAC
Australia’s Mills Oakley Takes Public Law Team from MinterEllison
Partner Julian Pinder will join the firm in Sydney, while MinterEllison associate David McLaren also joins as a partner. Five other lawyers will also join Mills Oakley from MinterEllison.
PwC Australia Exodus Continues, Corporate Partner Joins Squire Patton Boggs in Perth
Samantha Smart becomes at least the seventh partner to depart the global accounting giant in the wake of its tax advice scandal.
The Americas
Akin Hires Space Industry Executive in Light of ‘Rapidly Expanding’ Commercial Space Industry
The firm has hired former government official and space industry executive Michael Mineiro to build out its space capabilities.
Winston Corporate Partner Duo Reunites With Colleagues at Holland & Knight
Winston & Strawn partners Douglas Lionberger and James Brown joined Holland & Knight as partners in the corporate, M&A and securities practice group in Houston, rejoining former Thompson & Knight colleagues.
Weil Continues Private Equity-Fueled Houston Energy Expansion With Pillsbury Hire
Irina Tsveklova is the fourth partner hired to the firm’s Houston energy team since April.
New Partners Added to Nelson Mullins’ Rapidly Expanding Office Footprint
“We find our growth curve to be very significant and we don’t see that diminishing,” said Michael Snyder, partner in charge of the firm’s five-office Midwest region.
With Sector Demand at ‘All-Time High,’ Willkie Adds Renewable Energy Deal Team
“We are seeing big developments in the industry overall related to energy transition and more, and this has brought increasing demand from clients and also new opportunities for us to expand our practices,” Eric Pogue said. Eric Pogue is joining as Willkie’s global chair of power and renewable energy; Samantha Leavitt and Amanda Rosenberg are joining as partners.
Arnold & Porter Lands Latin America-focused Finance Partner in New York
Carlos Lobo, who has worked at top firms in New York and Brazil, joins from Hughes Hubbard & Reed.
White and Williams Expands ‘Backbone’ Insurance Practice With 4 Additions
Victoria Fuller, Daniel Bryer and Dirk Haarhoff join the firm as partners in Boston, Newark and New York, respectively.
Schulte Hires Experienced Perkins Coie Regulatory Partner as SEC Gets Tougher on Private Equity
Schulte Roth & Zabel has hired Perkins Coie’s Michael Didiuk, who brings to the firm deep experience on both sides of the financial regulation coin as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission prepares to enforce new rules for private equity and asset management.
Mayer Brown Adds King & Spalding International Arbitration Partner in Houston
David Weiss, who joined Mayer Brown on Monday, said the firm is a good fit for his international arbitration practice, because of its global reach, and the caliber of its arbitration and energy practices.
Mintz’s Toronto Office Nabs Another Partner From Dentons, Continuing Its Canadian Expansion
Alex North is the 21st lawyer to join Mintz’s Canadian office since it opened six months ago.
Latham & Watkins Hires M&A, Private Equity Partner Duo From Fried Frank
Latham & Watkins has hired mergers & acquisitions and private equity partners Brian Mangino and Amber Banks from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, as the firm continues to bolster its M&A practice.
In-House
LGBTQ social network Grindr has appointed Zac Katz as general counsel, a newly created position. Katz joins from digital education provider Age of Learning, where he was head of legal and corporate affairs. At Grindr, in addition to his legal responsibilities, he will also serve as head of global affairs where he will be responsible for building the department and providing support to its Grindr for Equality initiative. He will report directly to CEO George Arison. The legal team was previously led by Bill Shafton, vice president for business and legal affairs, who remains in that role.
EV Startup Faraday Future Fills GC Seat
Scott Graziano will try to help Faraday Future Intelligent Electric stay on track after years of struggle. Last month, the company began delivering its $300,000 crossover, the FF 91.
Atlanta Children’s Hospital In-House Chief Moves to New All-Female Health Care Boutique
“You draw on the expertise of the team,” Rachel King, previously the chief compliance officer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, said of the model at Health Law Strategists.
Payment-Processing Unicorn Taps Fintech Veteran as Legal Chief
Lisa Roberts joins Stax from NCR, where she was chief counsel of payments.
AIG Hires Legal Chief at Star Startup as General Counsel
Patricia “Trish” Walsh is taking the legal reins of American International Group, returning to a corporate giant after four years in the startup sphere.
Fast-Growing Lazy Dog Restaurant Chain Hires Ex-Bloomin’ Brands VP as Legal Chief
Veteran restaurant lawyer Mark Heilig has exchanged the Bloomin’ Onion for BBQ bison meatloaf as the new general counsel of the fast-growing Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar chain.
Promotions & Appointments:
BCLP names Segun Osuntokun as new global senior partner
Leading litigator to step up from UK managing partner role in January to work alongside new global CEO Steve Baumer. Osuntokun, currently UK managing partner, also leads the firm’s Africa and civil fraud litigation practices, with deep experience of such disputes in that continent’s key industries. He will work alongside the firm’s global chief executive officer, Steve Baumer, from 1 January 2024.
Jeanne Kelly elected president of British Irish Chamber of Commerce
Browne Jacobson partner Jeanne Kelly has been elected as president of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce (BICC). Ms Kelly, a founding partner of Browne Jacobson’s Dublin office, has spent the last year as vice-president of the Chamber and is also outgoing chair of its ICT committee. She will now lead the organisation alongside vice-president Marie Doyle, president at Deloitte Northern Ireland.
BCLP London Head Elevated to Global Senior Partner
The firm’s current co-chair, Steve Baumer, will step up to global CEO.
Mergers & Alliances:
Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling partners start voting on merger approval
Voting will be completed on Friday 13 October, with the outcome to be announced shortly after. If partners approve the deal, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling will – subject to customary closing conditions – come together to create a transatlantic behemoth with just under 4,000 lawyers and about $3.4bn in annual revenue. The combined firm will be known as A&O Shearman.
CMS enters alliance with Brazilian firm FAS Advogados
Agreement adds to CMS’s Latin America presence in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. São Paulo-based FAS has 11 partners and more than 120 professionals, covering a full range of services including M&A, tax, banking and corporate law. It is also active in sectors with cross-border advisory and transaction work opportunities with CMS, including renewables, infrastructure, technology, consumer products, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing, automotive and agribusiness.
Drew & Napier’s Regional Network Expands with Thai Firm Tilleke & Gibbins
The network’s member firms are preferred local advisors to each other, though the arrangement is not an exclusive one.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman … & Stroock? Market Observers Are Bullish on Merger Talks
Firm leaders with fresh experience of acquisitions said the non-exclusive nature of Pillsbury and Stroock’s letter of intent is unusual. But other market watchers find evidence of compatibility.
Office Openings & Closing:
Private client quartet launch MEUM Group in London to cater for the ultra wealthy
Firm will provide legal advisory and financial management services under one roof. The founders include Keystone Law partners Sofia Syed and Gregor Kleinknecht, Spencer West family law specialist Julie Taylor and former Mishcon de Reya lawyer Gray Smith. The team will focus on law but with a range of advisory services bolted on, including financial management and support.
Axiom Ince set to close as departures intensify
Partner exits continue apace from troubled firm as SRA says it has told regulator it cannot continue “in its current format”.
After more than a century of being a top adviser to some of the world’s largest shipping companies, Ince’s brand began to tarnish before it ended in inglorious fashion.
CMS Extends Africa Footprint with Exclusive Mozambique Firm Tie-Up
The firm already has a presence in Angola, Morocco, South Africa, and Kenya, and further growth across the continent remains a strategic priority.
Linklaters Plans to Move People Into New London Office Early
Linklaters is taking 17 floors of the new 27-storey building at 20 Ropemaker from 2026.
Financials:
How Much? Law Firms Grappling With Cost of Leveraging Generative AI in E-Discovery
While a powerful technology, generative AI can also come with a hefty price tag. While some law firms are hopeful of lower bills down the line when using the technology in e-discovery, others aren’t so sure yet.
Ka-Ching: What’s Behind Legal Tech Providers’ Spike in Prices?
Many legal technology companies are under pressure from their venture capitalist and private equity founders, which some say has led to a surge in prices across the industry.
2023 GC Compensation
In The Legal’s GC Compensation supplement, find out how general counsel fare across the state and take a look at how the SEC’s new disclosure rule has held up one year in.
Technology & Innovation:
In-House Counsel: Big Law’s Clear and Present Danger
Hugh Simons looks at the growth of in-house counsel, the future impact of Gen AI and what it will really take to be an equity partner in Big Law moving forward.
The New Frontier: AI in Arbitral Decision Making
As AI technology evolves at a rapid pace, so do the opportunities that it will present to substitute human decision-making. As we approach this threshold, we must carefully consider and determine whether the lack of a human element in decision-making is acceptable to all those involved and whether AI might undermine trust in the process.
Cuatrecasas Deploys Harvey Artificial Intelligence Tool
The Spanish firm plans to use the technology across its 27 offices in 13 countries to dramatically cut turnaround time for drafting documents and other legal needs.
AI Study Reveals How Employers Are Using the Tools, and With What Safeguards
“Corporate adoption, while swift, is never breakneck speed, especially when the regulations are not finalized and the tech itself is not stabilized,” Niloy Ray, a Littler Mendelson shareholder, said.
Diversity & Inclusion:
We Cannot Relent: The Need to Remain Resilient in Your Firm’s DEI Efforts
The most recent threats to dismantle DEI in the United States are now aimed at the legal industry, but we cannot relent against these attacks and instead must remain resilient with our DEI efforts now and well into the future.
Market Commentary:
AI, Cybersecurity, and the Economy: Three Predictions for the Last Few Months of 2023
The author revisits three predictions made at the beginning of the year regarding AI, cybersecurity and the economy, and see where things are headed as 2023 winds down.
Lewis Silkin doubles Belfast workforce in first 24 months
UK-based employment law firm Lewis Silkin has more than doubled its Belfast footprint since expanding into Northern Ireland in 2021, the firm has announced.
With Consolidation Still Hot, What Should Small Firms Looking to Merge Keep in Mind?
“We learn how to be lawyers in law school, but law school doesn’t teach you how to run a business,” said Kristen Corpion, founder of CORPlaw, which recently merged with Trembly Law.
How Travers Smith Stopped the Partner Exodus
Former insiders spoke of issues around the firm’s inflexible lockstep and a perceived lack of global ambition—but the firm’s managing partner Edmund Reed explains how these and others matters are being addressed.
How Can Global Law Firms Embrace Change?
A ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach won’t necessarily work across offices, but one that is ‘purposeful’ will ensure they aren’t left behind in the dust.
Africa Top 50 2023: A&O, Eversheds and CMS Among Fastest Growers But ENS and DLA Still Lead
International firms made up 13 of the top 50, while 15 South African firms featured in the table and 11 were from Nigeria, according to the research produced in partnership with Africa Legal.
Asian Law Firms Seek Mergers as ‘Critical Mass’ Takes On New Meaning
Law firms across Asia are feeling pressure from both foreign and domestic players, prompting them to seek out mergers. Smaller firms fear they could end up missing out on a share of the pie, or worse, become irrelevant.
London’s Legal Industry Cannot Get Much More American
That means U.S. firms may not see the gains in the region they once experienced.
The China Dilemma: Should Law Firms Call It Quits?
U.S. leaders are finding it harder to justify substantia
UK & Ireland
Bellevue Law adds Slaughter and May senior manager as first chief operating officer
London disputes boutique Bellevue Law has hired a senior manager from Slaughter and May as its first chief operating officer. Kay Osborne has joined Bellevue after nearly six years at Slaughters, where she was most recently a senior manager in the firm’s partnership and executive office, working with outgoing senior partner, Steve Cook, who will retire in May 2024.
Stewarts adds Norton Rose Fulbright partner in London to head international arbitration team
Leading disputes boutique confirms arrival of Sherina Petit after nearly 15 years at NRF.
Italian firm BonelliErede builds UK base with London counsel hire
Experienced barrister Richard Samuel adds disputes capabilities as part of international growth push.
Quinn Emanuel boosts London partner ranks with raid on Cadwalader
Hire of arbitration specialist Melis Acuner brings litigation firm’s UK partner count to 28.
Arbitration partner exits Kirkland & Ellis in London for disputes boutique
Signature Litigation announces 20% revenue hike as Philipp Kurek joins after 14 years at US giant.
Allen & Overy bolsters London arbitration practice with White & Case partner hire
Construction specialist Daniel Garton adds to Magic Circle firm’s ranks ahead of Shearman merger
RWK Goodman hires employment team from Ince & Co in latest round of exits.
At least 15 lawyers have quit the troubled Axiom Ince group over the past week. The outgoing lawyers joining RWK Goodman include Marta Mendiondo, Martin Pratt, Holly Freuchen and Sudipta Dey. Mendiondo joins as head of immigration London and employment lawyer Pratt joins as a partner. Freuchen joins as a senior associate in the employment team and Dey joins as an associate and a senior immigration advisor.
8 London Associates Leave Kirkland to Follow Partners to Paul Weiss
Paul Weiss’ raid on Kirkland is ongoing, with 13 partners making the move in recent weeks.
EMEA
Squire Patton Boggs adds senior corporate partner in Dubai from Baker McKenzie
Omar Momany joins having led Bakers’ UAE corporate/M&A practice
ECIJA Makes Second Partner Hire in Madrid in as Many Weeks
Álvaro Rodríguez de la Calle joins the Spanish law firm after more than two years directing KPMG Spain’s labor area.
APAC
HSF Takes Singapore Project Finance Partner from King & Spalding
Herbert Smith Freehills counts 56 lawyers in its Singapore office while King & Spalding now has 29. King & Spalding project finance partner Antony Patten has left the firm to join Herbert Smith Freehills as a partner in Singapore.
The Americas
Duane Morris Lands Longtime Fox Rothschild Corporate Leader
Michael Harrington spent 26 years at Fox Rothschild and roughly a dozen as chair of its corporate department.
Baker Donelson, Jackson Lewis Among Firms Adding Partners in Southeast
“There’s a culture of congeniality here that’s very palpable. But they also hold each other accountable,” said new Baker Donelson shareholder Scott Bowers.
Brazil-Based Mattos Filho New York Office Head Jumps to DLA Piper
Antitrust specialist Amadeu Ribeiro, who is licensed to practice in Brazil and the U.S., has been the face of a leading Brazilian firm in the U.S. for more than a decade.
Commercial Litigation Partner Joins Hunton Andrews Kurth; Paul, Weiss Adds Infrastructure Adviser
Susan Shin has joined Hunton Andrews Kurth as a partner in its commercial litigation group. She joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where she was a partner in that firm’s complex litigation practice. Brown Rudnick has hired Kevin Brown as a partner in the firm’s tax group. He was previously counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell.
The firm just added two litigation shareholders in Phoenix, after adding another one in July. Laura Sixkiller’s practice mainly revolves around securities and M&A litigation while Kate Benveniste is focused more on real estate litigation, particularly in the property tech space. Both are rejoining Greenberg Traurig after leaving the firm for DLA Piper a number of years ago.
Foley & Lardner Adds 4-Lawyer Husch Blackwell Real Estate Team in Texas
Foley & Lardner hired a four-lawyer Husch Blackwell real estate team in Texas because of the Lone Star State’s robust economy.
In-House
This week’s roundup of top in-house moves also includes appointments at Disney Parks, Alcoa, Webster Financial Corporation and Cogeco. Global software giant Microsoft has promoted Hossein Nowbar to chief legal officer, replacing Lisa Tanzi, who announced her departure from the tech company earlier this month. Nowbar is elevated from general counsel, with former deputy GC and head of litigation Jonathan Palmer moved up to the GC role, Bloomberg reported. Cynthia Randall will take over Palmer’s previous role.
Alcoa Taps Canadian Exec for GC Role
Andrew Hastings is taking the legal reins of Alcoa, which has 15,000 employees and $12.5 billion in annual revenue.
Former Molson Coors GC Takes Legal Reins at Hilton
“I am honored to be joining Hilton, a company I have long respected for its history, innovation and award-winning workplace culture,” said Anne-Marie D’Angelo, who started Friday as general counsel.
Promotions & Appointments:
Addleshaw Goddard begins search for successor as managing partner opts to step down early
John Joyce to stand down next April a year before end of third term. The managing partner of UK law firm Addleshaw Goddard (AG), John Joyce, has announced he will stand down a year ahead of the end of his third term. Joyce will step down as managing partner 30 April 2024 at the end of the current financial year, 10 years after he was first elected and at the end of his 25th anniversary as a partner in the business.
Cooley appoints first woman CEO as Conroy prepares to stand down after 16 years
San Francisco corporate head Rachel Proffitt to take over in 2024; Conroy to stay on as chair
Winston & Strawn names new chairman after almost two decades
Global litigation co-chair Steve D’Amore to succeed veteran chair Tom Fitzgerald in June 2024
Longtime Red Lobster GC Claws His Way to the Top
“I am looking forward to working with my teams to address the challenges we face in light of industry headwinds and to execute on our plans and deliver results,” newly appointed CEO Horace Dawson said.
Mergers & Alliances:
Irwin Mitchell acquires leading family law boutique
UK firm absorbs North East-based Silk Family Law just a few weeks after snapping up 95-strong Scottish firm.
Pillsbury Becomes Latest Firm to Begin Merger Dance With Stroock
The firms have signed a non-exclusive letter of intent to combine, sources confirmed.
DC Civil Rights Boutique Expands to San Francisco Via Merger
Katz Banks Kumin, a civil rights boutique known for its work representing victims of sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein and others, launched in San Francisco via a merger with another boutique with wage-and-hour class action expertise.
A&O, Shearman Partners to Begin Merger Vote Later This Month
The partnership votes to approve the tie-up will start on September 28 and will be completed by October 13.
Office Openings & Closing:
Arnold & Porter adds senior Foley Hoag partner for Boston debut
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer has become the latest law firm to open an office in Boston, securing a co-leader of Foley Hoag’s life sciences industry group for the launch. Hemmie Chang has left Foley after nearly 13 years to lead Arnold & Porter’s new office, which the Washington DC-based firm said would focus on life sciences and health care transactions, litigation, regulatory counselling and government investigations.
Osborne Clarke to open in Miami to boost US arbitration and tech law strategy
Firm hires Samaniego Law’s Javier Fernández-Samaniego to head Miami office
With ‘Lots of Client Ties’ to Dallas, Seyfarth Launches Office With Bryan Cave Team
Seyfarth Shaw has opened an office in Dallas, with real estate lawyers and litigators, nearly three decades after it moved into Texas with an office in Houston. A Bryan Cave real estate partner in Charlotte, North Carolina, also made the move to Seyfarth.
King & Spalding Gets Foreign Law License to Operate in Saudi Arabia
As Bracewell appoints partner to the firm’s corporate and securities practice in Dubai.
Financials:
Lockdowns, Crackdowns and Tensions With US Hit China’s Once-Soaring Law Firms Hard
Chinese firm revenue plummeted despite growth in head count.
Showered With Stock, Tech GCs Incentivized to ‘Knock It Out of the Park’
“Base salary and bonus cash compensation isn’t something I’ve spent a lot of time discussing with my peers, because at some point it tops out. What we talk about is equity,” said Danielle Sheer, general counsel of Commvault.
UK Top 50 Ranked by Revenue per Lawyer: Average Down 2%
Like their U.S. counterparts, lawyers at the U.K.’s top commercial firms on average brought in less this year, with notable exceptions.
The 2023 Global 200 Ranked by Revenue
The 200 largest law firms in the world, made up mainly of U.S. firms, saw growth slow in the latest fiscal year, with some regions out-performing others.
The 2023 Global 100 Ranked by Profits Per Equity Partner
The 100 largest law firms in the world saw profit decline on the back of several boom years.
Technology & Innovation:
What Generative AI Can—and Can’t—Do for Contract Review
LLMs and generative AI are still under development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way lawyers work, including automating the drafting of contracts, translating legal documents, and identifying potential risks in contracts.
Data Hygiene: Critical in Building Firm Connectivity and Leveraging AI
The firms with a decided advantage in the AI arms race will be those who are operating from a place of “connectivity,” meaning that their internal operational teams are empowered to interact seamlessly. And this starts with an overlooked but crucial practice: good data hygiene.
Generative AI Captured Lawyers’ Attention. But What Ever Happened to Blockchain?
While blockchain-related law firm practices are still expanding, blockchain may have lost some of its development potential in the eyes of some lawyers.
Doing More With Less: A Disciplined Use of Legal Tech
Legal leaders can no longer be distracted by bells, whistles and gimmicks, and instead must be focused on identifying and implementing meaningful tools that enable in-house teams to be true catalysts for change across the business.
Diversity & Inclusion:
A New York State Bar report from a group of Big Law partners, corporate lawyers and academics focuses on methods of enhancing diversity that won’t leave organizations vulnerable to legal risks.
Generative AI Conversations Are a Peek Into the Legal Tech ‘Boys’ Club’
Many legal tech panels on generative artificial intelligence are still dominated by a homogenous group: white men. It’s a glimpse into the more insidious barriers that stand in the way of women tech founders fighting to make it in the industry.
Market Commentary:
The Flight to Quality and Workplace Experience
That the pace of change is “accelerating” is surely an understatement. What seemed almost a near certainty a year ago — that law firms would fully and permanently embrace work-from-home — is experiencing a seeming reversal. While many firms have, in fact, embraced hybrid operations, the meaning of hybrid has evolved from “office optional,” to an average required 2 days a week, to now many firms coming out with four-day work week mandates — this time, with teeth.
UK & Ireland
Allen & Overy Swoops on Akin for Corporate Partner Hire
The hire represents a rare corporate lateral partner addition for A&O in London. Sophie Jermine will join the firm’s London office as a partner in the firm’s corporate practice—leaving Akin after nine years with the firm. She has been a partner since 2006.
Allen & Overy Hits White & Case For Second Lateral Hire of the Week
Daniel Garton has joined the firm from White & Case, leaving after over 16 years with the U.S. firm. He has joined A&O’s international arbitration practice, and specialises in construction arbitration.
13th Kirkland Partner Quits for Paul Weiss
The dramatic team departure started in mid-August when Neel Sachdev quit the world’s largest law firm alongside several others. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has hired its 13th partner from Kirkland & Ellis in the space of a month with the appointment of London debt finance partner Stefan Arnold-Soulby. Arnold-Soulby, who has acted for private equity firms including Warburg Pincus, Investindustrial, Carlyle, Bain Capital and Partners Group, joins Neel Sachdev and eight other London partners making the move from Kirkland in addition to four partners in the U.S., according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
EMEA
Freshfields Adds White & Case Veteran Partner to White-Collar Defense Team in Paris
Firms in Europe are bulking up their teams in anticipation of more compliance work. Ludovic Malgrain joins Freshfields as a partner in the litigation team within the firm’s dispute resolution department.
Hogan Lovells Hires Energy M&A Team From Dentons in Germany
The team, led by two partners, will be based in Berlin and bring Hogan Lovells’ broader infrastructure and energy team to more than 40 lawyers, the firm said.
ECIJA and Andersen Make New Partner Hires in Spain
ECIJA adds to its urban planning and public law areas, whilst Andersen brings on a former CMS banking and finance partner. For ECIJA, the rapidly growing law firm brought on two partners: Ignasi Subirachs joined the firm’s urban planning, administrative and public law practice in Barcelona, while Jorge González Cortade joined to lead the public and regulatory law area in Madrid.
Clyde & Co Swoops for Tax Expert as UAE Implements New Corporate Tax Regime
The tax will be effective in financial years starting on or after June 1, 2023. Rachel Fox joins the firm from William Fry in Ireland, where she was made partner in 2019, and will lead the firm’s Middle East tax offering in its global corporate and advisory practice.
APAC
Proskauer Rose Greater China Partner Duo Finds New Home at Stephenson Harwood
The two partners are joining Stephenson Harwood with two other counsel. Two former Proskauer Rose partners, Jay Tai and Yong Ren, have joined Stephenson Harwood in Asia. Tai has relocated from Hong Kong to Singapore while Ren has moved to Hong Kong from Beijing for their new roles.
CMS Grows Hong Kong Offering with Team of Four Lawyers
The firm now has 16 fee-earners in its dispute resolution, shipping and insurance practice. CMS has expanded its Hong Kong offering with a team of four lawyers including partner, Adrian Elms.
Mayer Brown Adds New Corporate Partner in Hong Kong
Allison Lee was most recently an international counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton, where she had spent 15 years.
Australia’s Gadens Hires Data Partner from Allens
Michael Morris joins Gadens Brisbane office. Morris, who joins Gadens’ corporate advisory practice in Brisbane, has over 23 years of legal experience and is “a well-recognised legal expert” in data, intellectual property, information technology and telecoms, Gadens said.
The Americas
Fox Rothschild Adds Trust and Estate Partner in Wilmington
Fox Rothschild welcomed Denise D. Nordheimer to the firm’s Wilmington office as a partner in the taxation and wealth planning department.
Kirkland Private Equity Departures Continue, as Goodwin Picks Up Partner in San Francisco
Leon Johnson’s hiring is a signal that Goodwin is seeking to be a more comprehensive partner with its private equity clients as those firms diversify how they are investing their capital.
Potter Anderson Hires New Del. Partner
Potter Anderson & Corroon announced that Lauren E.M. Russell has joined the firm as a partner in the labor and employment group.
Trio of Pillsbury Partners Exits for Clifford Chance
Clifford Chance has hired three tech transaction partners from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, as the firm focuses on regional expansion in the Americas in several practices.New York-based Vipul Nishawala and Washington, D.C.-based Meighan O’Reardon and James McPhillips have all joined Clifford Chance’s global tech group.
Meta Associate GC Heads to Squire
Marty Mackowski has joined Squire as law firm demand for antitrust partners stays high. The “antitrust stakes have never been higher” for clients, Squire’s Diarmuid Ryan said.
Former Schnader Chair Moves to Welsh & Recker
Dennis Suplee led the now defunct firm from 1992 to 1998. Former Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis chairman Dennis Suplee has moved to Welsh & Recker as of counsel, following former Schnader partners Bruce Merenstein and Sam Silver who jumped to the Philadelphia litigation boutique prior to Schnader’s dissolution.
In Latest Exit, Stroock Litigation Partner Heads to Crowell
As “Stroock was going through its challenges, and I decided to make a move again,” Eric Aronson said, he contacted Crowell. “This was the only place that I really wanted to go.”
In Latest Exit, Stroock Litigation Partner Heads to Crowell
As “Stroock was going through its challenges, and I decided to make a move again,” Eric Aronson said, he contacted Crowell. “This was the only place that I really wanted to go.”
Kirkland Partner Jumps to McDermott to Lead Exec Comp Practice in New York
Kate Vera did most of her work at Kirkland with private equity clients and now looks to grow the practice at McDermott.
Duane Morris Lands 2 Securities Litigators From Maynard Nexsen in Atlanta
Terry Weiss and Stefanie Wayco arrive at the firm as it pursues growth in Texas, New York, California, Chicago and South Florida, as well as Georgia.
Hogan Lovells Picks Up Pryor Cashman Media Entertainment Partner in Miami
“I’ve been watching what they’ve been doing in sports, entertainment and media, and high-stakes litigation, and thought it’d be exciting to go back to the bigger global platform,” Hans Hertell said. “When I thought, in my career, I’d be going more boutique, I found that as I’ve grown my practice I’ve needed a more global platform to grow my own career and my client base.”
In-House
US Foods Goes Outside to Fill Legal Chief Vacancy
Martha Ha is jumping into the food-supply business after a legal career spent mostly in health care.
Ex-Facebook Lawyer Takes Legal Reins of GM-Backed Battery Startup
Mitra Future Technologies is focusing on North American production and distribution, believing it can overcome the stronghold China currently has in the lithium-ion battery market.
Banged-Up Airbnb Competitor Appoints General Counsel
Katherine Potter is taking the legal reins of Sonder after more than a decade at the senior living firm AlerisLife, where she rose to CEO.
Urgent Care Giant Taps Health Care Veteran for GC Role
Allison Kirk Griffiths has taken the legal reins of NextCare after rapidly ascending the legal leadership rungs at her last employer.
Taylor English, Seeing ‘Strong’ Demand in GC Practice, Adds Former Tesla Lawyer
The firm’s practice provides in-house counsel to about 50 clients that range from startups to 30-year-old companies. “There are certain entities that love this model,” Taylor English’s Allen Nelson said.
Promotions & Appointments:
UnitedLex Announces James Schellhase as New CEO in ‘Seminal Moment’ for the ALSP
The company’s previous CEO will stay on as UnitedLex’s chairman of the board of directors.
Microsoft CLO’s Retirement Sparks Chain Reaction of Promotions
A 26-year Microsoft veteran is taking over for chief legal officer Lisa Tanzi, who joined the company just before Windows 95 came out, thinking she’d get a few years of tech experience and move on.
In Transition to Next-Gen Leaders, Thompson Coburn Taps Litigator as New Chair
Chris Hohn, a Thompson Coburn partner in St. Louis who is on the management and executive committees, will become chair in August 2024.
After Nearly 2 Decades, Winston & Strawn Will Have a New Chair
Steve D’Amore, currently global co-leader of Winston & Strawn’s litigation department, has spent his entire career at the firm, starting more than 30 years ago. Outside of the U.S., Winston & Strawn has offices in Brussels, Paris, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and São Paulo.
Irwin Mitchell Names Group CEO Following Predecessor’s Passing
In August, Irwin Mitchell said that Andrew Tucker had passed away after an ‘unexpected illness’. The U.K. Top 50 firm has named Craig Marshall as Tucker’s successor. Marshall has been with the firm since 2007, becoming group chief operating officer in 2021.
Norton Rose Names Class Action Litigator as New Canadian Managing Partner
Jennifer Teskey takes over the role Jan. 1 from incumbent Charles Hurdon.
Mergers & Alliances:
Indian Firm JSA Revives Chennai Office with Merger
Indian firms have been bulking up significantly over the past few years.
Office Openings & Closing:
Ex-FTX GC Launches Law Firm, Says His ‘Hugely Disappointing Experience’ Will Be Asset for Clients
“The difference between something that’s illegal and something that needs your advice and counsel to get corrected is usually pretty stark,” said Ryne Miller, who left FTX after CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was charged with carrying out a massive fraud.
Denver Sees More Big Law Competition as Womble Plants Flag With Hogan Lovells Laterals
Citing a boom in energy and natural resources work and opportunities for an Am Law 100 firm focused on the upper middle market, Womble Bond Dickinson is launching an office in Denver with two laterals from Hogan Lovells.
US Patent Boutique Hires Partner from McDermott to Launch Debut International Office in Tokyo
Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone, founded by four former Paul, Weiss partners last November, now has three offices in New York, Washington D.C. and Tokyo. Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone, a U.S. patent litigation boutique established late last year, has launched its debut international office in Tokyo with the hire of partner Maxwell Fox from McDermott, Will & Emery.
Osborne Clarke Opens Third US Office in Miami
The firm also has offices in New York and San Francisco, but does not practise US law.
Financials:
Perkins Coie, McGuireWoods Among Top-Paid Counsel for DNC, RNC
Several Big Law firms and prominent boutiques have received large sums this year from the RNC and DNC. Legal spending by the parties has ballooned, as complex election laws have led to more litigation.
Paul Weiss’ Trio of Kirkland Hires Could Each Score $20M Yearly
Their potential pay may not be the highest for partners at high-end Am Law 25 firms, where annual compensation for a handful is more than $25 million.
2023 GC Compensation Survey: Find Out Who’s Atop New York’s Rankings
Legal chiefs for private equity giants snagged three of the top 10 spots. “Their GCs have gold-plated resumes, and those resumes command a lot of gold,” said Jason Winmill, an in-house consultant.
Are Cuts Looming for UK Law Firms? The Devil is in the Detail
This year’s ranking contains several warnings—chief among them being the need for further corrective measures to address the shrinking profit margins.
UK Top 50 Results: Are Cuts Looming? The Devil is in the Detail
This year’s ranking contains several warnings—chief among them being the need for further corrective measures to address the shrinking profit margins.
UK Top 50 Ranked by PEP: Biggest Drop Since the Financial Crisis
Many of the astronomical rises of the past couple of years have been ‘corrected’, with PEP at some firms dropping by as much as 55%.
Technology & Innovation:
Death of SEO? Nope, It Still Heavily Relies on Thought Leaders
In this article, Ioana Good presents a brief discussion on whether artificial intelligence will eventually replace the human element involved in SEO strategy and practices—and why that may not be the case.
Legal Tech’s Problem: Generative AI Is Readily Available, But Not Legal Data
While legal tech vendors are launching a host of generative AI-powered tools, clients are often prohibiting them from using their data for training purposes.
Legal Tech Vendors Are Taking On Generative AI Education. Are Attorneys Welcoming It?
While legal technology providers have often coupled their products with educational or training resources in the past, such offerings seem to be gaining traction in the age of generative artificial intelligence.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Littler Mendelson’s Newest Trial Lawyer Sees ‘Positive’ Signs in the DEI Landscape
Matt Stephens, one of the few openly transgender trial lawyers in California, joined Littler Mendelson as a partner in San Diego.
Big Law Sees Growing Client Demand for DEI Advice as Law Firms Also Face Scrutiny
McGuireWoods’ new DEI team was partly driven by the “onslaught of questions” from clients, said partner Amy Morrissey Turk.
Market Commentary:
Are Law Firms’ Real Estate and Tech Spending Invariably at Odds? It’s Not That Simple
The second and third largest capital expenses for most law firms can both compete for resources and be utterly dependent upon each other.
Top GCs Call for Role to be Formalised in UK Corporate Governance Code
A letter on behalf of nearly 80 GCs criticises the code’s ‘extraordinary’ lack of reference to the role of general counsel.
How Paul Weiss’ ‘Shocking’ Raid on Kirkland Unfolded—and What It Means for the London Market
The firm’s aggressive hiring strategy has so far seen 12 arrivals from Kirkland & Ellis, and one from Linklaters.
Remote GC Revolution Fizzles Out as Employers Flock to ‘Hard Hybrid’
“It has now moved to where, in most cases, you do need to work where the job is,” said Mike Evers, a Chicago-based in-house recruiter.
Will Lateral Battle Between Kirkland and Paul Weiss Create ‘Ripple Effects’?
If your firm is in the Am Law 100, the odds are good that the moves affect you and your firm, according to some veteran recruiters.
Slaughter and May Agrees to Meet Lawyer Climate Pressure Group
Slaughter is first large U.K. firm to engage with the climate group, which asks lawyers to pledge to withhold their services on matters that could support ‘new fossil fuel projects’.
Top GCs Call for Role to be Formalised in UK Corporate Governance Code
A letter on behalf of nearly 80 GCs criticises the code’s ‘extraordinary’ lack of reference to the role of general counsel.
Demand dropped in the first half of the year but counter-cyclical practices offset the decline, resulting in an increase in demand in the second half of the year.
Law Firms’ Herd Mentality is (Sometimes) a Force for Good
Law firms have the habit of following one another, which has sometimes resulted in inertia on the most serious social issues—but this week has shown that it could have positive effects, writes The London Lawyer.
Being an eighteen-year-old fresh out of A levels, and with limited real working experience, I found myself thinking that I had similarly limited options in how to approach the working world to fund my forthcoming gap year. As I have seen first-hand, young people in similar situations to mine tend to default to extensive hours of their summer, performing monotonous hospitality or retail roles. Yet now, time at legal head-hunters Fides Search has wholly challenged my preconceived belief of that being the best way forward. Despite some traditional student-suited jobs perhaps presenting pros in facilitating the continued laissez-faire attitudes of many school graduates, this article will explain why the former is exponentially outweighed by the possibilities presented by an early experience in executive search. While student-orientated jobs certainly allow for this more carefree transition into adulthood, with responsibility and commitment still relatively low, simply being aware of the plethora of options available within, around and moving on from executive search could be abundantly beneficial for a range of people in a variety of situations. Whether it be other students such as me with a keen eye on the legal sphere, those seeking to make their travels possible or young adults simply pursuing meaningful employment – employers such as Fides do provide unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth.
My own experience…
The industry: To fully appreciate the potential of an early career in legal executive search, it’s essential to understand the multifaceted nature of this industry. At its core, executive search involves identifying and recruiting top-tier talent for a diverse range of practices and positions, usually within law firms or in-house. It’s a field where success hinges on the ability to connect with people, understand their aspirations, and match them with opportunities that align with their skills and ambitions. Ultimately, this integrates a recruitment model with the legal world and thus demands those within the legal executive search to develop into founts of knowledge for various practices and the broader business dynamic of firms, partners, and associates.
What did I learn?
Alongside simply getting real-life experience working full-time for numerous months, my tenure at Fides taught me the criticality of a cohesive company – integrating different roles and providing different functions as efficiently as possible. I became well accustomed to the requirement for rapid responses and communication across the teams at Fides to reach this desired efficiency. Similarly, I had to quickly learn the right way to communicate with clients and candidates to instil the trust that is the foundation of Fides’ work and develop deeper relationships than the face-value headhunting process does. In turn, this showed me the importance of a network, as in particular the consultants at Fides that had developed an extensive professional network seamlessly navigated new and potential opportunities by being able to put the right people together. More specifically, I became increasingly comfortable with the legal and executive search worlds; the structures, goals, models, and dynamics that drive law firms forward and how that slot into recruitment – truly being able to understand what respective parties want.
How will this help my journey?
In terms of how this period of work will impact my future trajectory, it is important to consider both the short-term head-start that Fides has offered me in facilitating my travels (being able to get out and see the world before most of my peers) and also the longer term benefits I will have in a leg up into the wider corporate and specific legal spheres. My interest having already been piqued by law, the Fides experience has provided me with invaluable insight into the everyday working lives and communications of a lawyer, along with a deeper understanding of common aspirations and driving factors behind career decisions, potentially allowing me to pave my future way more in a more self-assured manner than those in similar shoes. Generally speaking, for my journey, I learnt that whilst there’s a plethora of professions which do provide short-term sanctuaries for those seeking to start new chapters travelling across the globe, there are just as many exceedingly more beneficial opportunities in industries like executive search offering long term leg ups into the legal and wider working world. Now as I look forward to new Asian-Pacific adventures and opportunities, I can look back at Fides fondly – knowing that at 18 I’ve already found a truly fulfilling profession on which my future self could choose to capitalise.
What can you glean from this experience?
From my early experience in the legal executive search industry, it’s clear that you can gain valuable insights and skills that can benefit you in various ways. Here’s what I’ve gleaned from my experience:
It’s a Multifaceted Industry: You can understand that the legal executive search industry is multifaceted and goes beyond just recruiting. It involves connecting with people, understanding their career aspirations, and aligning them with suitable opportunities. This knowledge can be applied to various industries, not just legal, as the skills of connecting people with opportunities are transferable.
Efficiency and Communication: My experience has highlighted the importance of efficiency and effective communication within a company. Learning to work cohesively with different teams and rapidly responding to clients and candidates are skills that are valuable in any workplace.
Building Trust and Relationships: In the executive search field, trust is paramount. I’ve learned the significance of building trust with clients and candidates, which is a crucial skill in any professional setting. Building and maintaining strong relationships can open doors and lead to future opportunities.
Networking: I’ve seen firsthand the power of having a professional network. Professionals in executive search often thrive because of their extensive networks. Networking is a valuable skill for personal and professional growth, as it can lead to opportunities and collaborations.
Understanding the Legal World: exposure to the legal world through this experience has given me a deeper understanding of the legal profession, its structures, goals, and dynamics. This knowledge can be beneficial if I decide to pursue a career in law or any field related to the legal industry.
Fulfilling Profession: I’ve discovered a fulfilling profession at a young age, which is a valuable insight. Many people spend years searching for a career that truly resonates with them. Knowing that I’ve found a profession I enjoy has provided a sense of purpose and direction in my future endeavours.
Overall, my early experience in the legal executive search industry has equipped me with a set of skills and knowledge that can benefit me in various career paths. It has also given me a head start in terms of understanding the legal and corporate worlds, which can be a valuable asset as I continue my journey.
Moves:
UK & Ireland
Paul Weiss Raid on Kirkland & Ellis Continues with 4 More London Partner Hires
The firm has also brought in a private equity partner from Linklaters, as part of an aggressive hiring spree that saw the firm add Neel Sachdev and others to its London office. Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison is set to further bolster its private equity offering in London with the addition of four more partners from Kirkland & Ellis and a partner from Linklaters. Kirkland private equity partners Roger Johnson and Andreas Philipson, and tax partners Timothy Lowe and Cian O’Conner—both of whom were previously lawyers at Linklaters—will all join Paul Weiss alongside Linklaters partner Will Aitken-Davies, people with knowledge of the move said.
EMEA
Shearman Loses 4-Partner Private Equity Team in Paris as A&O Merger Vote Looms
They will be joining Proskauer Rose in a few weeks, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Shearman & Sterling has lost four partners from its private equity team in Paris, the latest partner departures from the firm ahead of a planned merger vote next month with Allen & Overy. Xavier Norlain, Jeremy Scemama, Maud Manon and Matthieu Lampel, all partners in corporate/private equity, are leaving after just over two years at Shearman. They arrived in 2021 from DLA Piper in Paris.
Allen & Overy Finance Partner Flies to Bird & Bird in Warsaw
Bird & Bird has also hired a Dentons partner in Madrid. An Allen & Overy partner who had been with the firm for over 25 years has left the firm to join Bird & Bird. Piotr Lesinski, a debt capital markets and finance regulatory partner based in Warsaw, had been with A&O since 1998. He became an A&O partner in 2010, according to a person with knowledge of the hire.
Webber Wentzel Lures Forensics Team From PwC
The new team hire will bolster Webber Wentzel’s disputes practice as it navigates the legal landscape of the complex area of business crime. Webber Wentzel has hired a four-person team of business crime specialists from PwC. Lionel Van Tonder is joining the South Africa-based law firm as a partner in its disputes practice, effective 1 September having retired from PwC where he was a director in June this year.
Garrigues Hires Partner to Lead Criminal Law Practice in Lisbon
The firm is currently focused on recruitment in order to build a team under João Lima Cluny’s leadership, a spokesperson told Law.com International.
White & Case Launches Spain Antitrust Practice With 2 Hires
José Antonio de la Calle and Sanna Orkan previously made up a purely antitrust legal boutique, which has now been fully integrated into White & Case’s Madrid office.
APAC
Litigation Boutique Grows China Practice With Partner Hire from Loeb & Loeb
Benjamin Qiu, who has deep experience with cross-border transactions involving firms in China, joins the firm as increased regulations on both side of the Pacific are pushing international firms scrutinize their business operations in the region.
Herbert Smith Expands Asia Private Capital Team With Hire From White & Case in Singapore
White & Case has lost several partners and local partners to firms in Asia over the last year. Herbert Smith Freehills has expanded its Asia private capital team in Singapore with the hire of Peiwen Chen, who was most recently a local partner at White & Case in the Southeast Asian city-state. She joins the firm as a partner. Chen’s hire takes place as Sydney-based M&A partner Malika Chandrasegaran relocates to Singapore. Chen and Chandrasegaran are expected to help respond to growing client demand for private capital advice in their specialty areas of energy transition and technology, respectively, according to a statement.
Clifford Chance Poaches HSF Real Estate Partner for Sydney Office
Clifford Chance has poached Herbert Smith Freehills real estate and infrastructure partner Philip Podzebenko to join its Sydney office. Clifford Chance said Podzebenko will add senior capabilities in real estate and infrastructure investments, deepen relationships with private capital investors and strengthen the firm’s offerings in private equity, energy transition and infrastructure.
RPC Adds Contentious Practice Partner to Hong Kong
Reynolds Porter Chamberlain has hired a new partner for its Hong Kong office. Joining RPC is dispute resolution partner Ivan Chang, who was previously a partner in the now-defunct Hong Kong office of Addleshaw Goddard.
Jones Day Boosts Asia Pacific Energy Practice with Ashurst, Akin Gump Hires
Simon Brown joins in Brisbane and Paul Greening joins Singapore office.
White & Case Lands Restructuring Partner from Ashurst Hong Kong
Sophie Lyall has more than 15 years of experience, specializing in all aspects of front-end restructuring and insolvency matters across industries.
China’s Haiwen Makes Duo Partner Hire From Mayer Brown
Haiwen’s duo-partner hire from Mayer Brown comes three months after the Beijing firm added three new partners from Herbert Smith Freehills to its Greater China capital markets practice. Beijing-based Haiwen & Partners has hired banking and projects lawyers Hallam Chow and Boya Shen from Mayer Brown, who will both be dually-based in Haiwen’s Beijing and Hong Kong offices.
K&L Gates Hires Tech Partner from Seyfarth Shaw Hong Kong
Paul Haswell becomes the 19th partner at K&L Gates Hong Kong. K&L Gates has added a new partner in Hong Kong. Technology lawyer Paul Haswell has joined the Pittsburgh-headquartered firm from Seyfarth Shaw, where he was the head of the firm’s regional technology practice.
Appleby Adds First Shanghai Partner Almost a Decade After Office Launch
Appleby became the first offshore law firm licensed to provide offshore legal advice in mainland China in 2014. Hannah Yao is the firm’s first ever partner hire to be based full time in Shanghai, where it has had a presence since 2012. Admitted in the U.S. and in China, Yao was a counsel at Beijing firm Fangda Partner and formerly a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons.
Benjamin Qui, who has deep experience with cross-border transactions involving firms in China, joins the firm as increased regulations on both side of the Pacific are pushing international firms scrutinize their business operations in the region.
The Americas
Jackson Walker Adds 2 Winston Trial Lawyers in Houston
Hugh Tanner, who was chair of Winston & Strawn’s oil and gas litigation practice and a member of the executive committee, joined Jackson Walker along with James “Jim” Nye.
Kennedys Hires in General Counsel as a Partner in Chile
The UK Top 50 firm has six offices in Latin America, as well as a regional hub in Miami that serves the region and associations in other countries. Rodrigo Hayvard was general counsel and chief compliance officer at FID Seguros, a general insurance company, before returning to Kennedys, where earlier in his career he was a senior associate.
Canada’s Fasken Grows Emerging Tech Practice With Hire From Blakes
Marc Shewchun is the Canadian firm’s third significant hire in just over a week.
Paul Weiss Securities Attorney Heads to Schulte
Schulte Roth & Zabel has added Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison counsel David Curtiss as a partner in its M&A, acquisitions and securities group in New York, the firm said Wednesday. Curtiss had been at Paul Weiss the previous three years.
White & Case Takes Veteran IP Tech Partner From Orrick
Jordan Coyle, a longtime intellectual property and technology litigation partner with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, has joined White & Case as a partner in its IP practice and technology industry group in Washington, D.C.
Toronto’s Fasken Grows Emerging Tech Practice With Hire From Blakes
Marc Shewchun is the Canadian firm’s third significant hire in just over a week. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin has snapped up leading technology lawyer Marc Shewchun from Blake, Cassels & Graydon, where he launched Nitro, a legal services program that provides cost-effective legal services tailored to the needs of emerging technology companies.
Schnader Attorneys Scatter in Wake of Firm Dissolution
Ten lawyers have landed as shareholders at Segal McCambridge. Additionally, the firm’s Pittsburgh-based higher education chair joined Ogletree Deakins, while several New York partners have moved to Pryor Cashman and Gordon Rees.
Boies Schiller Hires Partner From Kobre & Kim to Handle Government Investigations
“Federal authorities in Miami have become increasingly more aggressive in pursuing cross-border and international cases,” said Martin De Luca, an incoming Boies Schiller white collar-focused partner.
Lowenstein Brings on Hedge Fund GC, Expects More High-Level Laterals
Am Law 100 firm Lowenstein Sandler is set to bring on Glenview Capital Management general counsel and chief compliance officer Jonathan Danziger, effective Sept. 18, with investment management group chair Robert Minion teasing more high-profile laterals to come later in the month. Jonathan Danziger spent the last 12 years at Glenview Capital Management, where he served as general counsel and chief compliance officer.
Judge Timothy K. Lewis Joins Blank Rome Following Schnader Dissolution
Lewis joins former federal Judges Stephen Orlofsky, from the District of New Jersey, and James Giles and Edward Cahn, from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, at the Am Law 100 firm.
Arnold & Porter Lures 6-Lawyer Trial Team From Shook Hardy
The group has represented clients in the medical device, tobacco and pharmaceutical industries, among others, in pretrial litigation and as trial and appellate counsel. Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer has brought on a six-lawyer trial team in its product liability litigation practice from Shook, Hardy & Bacon, as demand for litigation matters continues to soar across Big Law. Frank Cruz-Alvarez, Brian Jackson, Christopher Nease, David Thorne and Michael Walden joined the firm as partners and Rachel Forman joined as of counsel, the firm said Thursday.
Big Law Turns to Federal Government for Litigation and Regulatory Hires
Steptoe has hired former DOJ national security official Andrew Adams in its investigations practice, while Foley Hoag brought on former Biden administration official Beth Neitzel to its litigation team.
Offit Kurman Latest Firm to Add Schnader Talent
The firm is adding five principals and two associates split between Philadelphia, New York and Bethesda, Maryland. Joining Offit are principals Brad Jacobs, Ronald Karam, W. Drew Kastner, Stephenie Yeung and Deborah Rouse, alongside associates Andrew Chou and Niamh Drury.
In-House
Moody’s Hands Legal Reins to 17-Year Company Veteran
The ratings agency opted for an insider to fill its first opening for the GC role since 2000. Moody’s Corp.’s Richard Steele is taking the legal reins from longtime general counsel John Goggins. Steele will serve as senior vice president and general counsel. He will oversee Moody’s global legal and compliance functions and has joined the company’s executive leadership team.
Former PayPal Legal Chief Lands at Disney After 2 Years of Renewal
Louise Pentland made a surprise exit from the fintech star at the height of the Great Resignation, saying, “None of us are maximizing our potential if we continue in the same role forever.”
Star Startup Fetch Adds GC Amid Executive Hiring Spree
Madison, Wisconsin-based Fetch, a retail rewards app and customer-engagement platform with a $2.5 billion valuation, has hired the former general counsel of pet telehealth startup Fuzzy to head its legal department as it looks to move beyond rewards to become a shopping-data juggernaut. David Toomey departed Fuzzy after it abruptly shut down in June after seven years in business and $80 million in fundraising.
Ex-J. Crew GC Who’s in Court Fight Over Firing Lands Legal Chief Role in Academia
Maria Di Lorenzo alleged the retailer failed to accommodate her hearing disability as required by law and dismissed her instead. She had been out of work since late 2021.
Promotions & Appointments:
Reed Smith Gains CFO With Big Four and Staffing Solutions Background
James Metzger joins Reed Smith at a time when law firms seek to optimize their operational efficiency and closely track profitability and other business performance metrics.
AIG Lauds GC Lucy Fato for ‘Pivotal Role’ in Rebound, Hands Her Promotion
Fato is shifting from roles with a litany of specific duties to one with the general mission of helping “support AIG’s journey to become a top performing global insurer.” American International Group has elevated Lucy Fato, already one of the most powerful executives at the insurance giant, to vice chair, a newly created role.
Amid Rapid Growth in Region, Baker Donelson Names New Nashville Office Leader
Looking to Enter Philadelphia, Montco Law Firm Selects New Managing Partner
“We began transitioning our clients from more senior partners to junior partners and began with certain practice areas,” new managing partner William Roark said of Hamburg Rubin Mullin Maxwell & Lupin’s succession planning. “The analysis then turned inward, and we realized we should probably have a transition put into place as well.”
Baker McKenzie Promotes Houston-Based DEI Exec to Global Role
Marredia Crawford, now Chief Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Officer at global firm Baker McKenzie, said her focus is continuing to move forward with inclusion at the firm.
The law firm did not state the reason for global CEO Gerry Pecht’s early departure.
Mergers & Alliances:
With Latest Merger, Spencer Fane Lands in Both Northern and Southern California
While billing rate increases were among clients’ top concerns about a potential merger, Pahl & McCay told clients their hourly rates wouldn’t go up, the firm leader said.
Macau Law Firms MdME, DSL to Merge
The combined firm will offer legal services out of its Macau, Hong Kong and Lisbon offices from October 1.
Reelected Hogan Lovells CEO Says Merger Still a Possibility, Highlights Other Paths to Growth
“I don’t want to talk to firms that have huge pension commitments or revenue drops because of partner departures or that are suffering in branding recognition. We would like to be opportunistic and associate ourselves with winners,” said Miguel Zaldivar.
Canadian Legal Tech Companies CiteRight and Jurisage to Merge
The merger of the two companies will create a comprehensive, integrated legal research and drafting solution that is available in Canada and will soon also be available in the U.S.
Nishimura & Asahi Strikes Alliance with Philippine Firm
The Japanese firm has already allied with local law firms in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.
Office Openings & Closing:
Greenberg Traurig Renews Office Lease in Miami, Leaving Footprint Intact
The deal, for over 128,000 square feet, marks the largest office lease in the Miami market in the past five years, according to broker Cushman & Wakefield.
Greenberg Traurig Gets UAE Law License as Big Law Continues Middle East Expansion
This summer saw Am Law 100 firms gaining law licenses, opening offices and making partnerships in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Allen Matkins Launches in New York With 2 McDermott Partners: Marshall Brozost and Aly Shivji
California law firm Allen Matkins has added boots on the ground in New York, which will help it expand relationships with East Coast and international clients in the real estate industry.
Goodwin Secures New Phila. Lease, Marking Its Permanent Entry Into the City
The firm is moving into 31,500 square feet of space at Schuylkill Yards, close to 30th St. Station and a number of life sciences clients in University City.
Pérez-Llorca Continues International Push With Lisbon Launch
When the opening takes place in 2024, three of the Spanish firm’s five international offices will have been opened in just a three-year period.
Financials:
Facing Falling Profits, Cahill Seeks to Adjust Amid Drop in Leveraged Finance Market
This slowdown “is the longest since leveraged finance has been around,” said Cahill executive committee co-chair William Hartnett.
Nishimura & Asahi Changes Ownership Structure, Foreign Lawyers to Own Equity
Nishimura’s New York and Germany-admitted international dispute resolution partner Lars Markert has since been promoted into the firm’s equity partnership.
Gateley After-Tax Profits Take 47% Hit After Recent Acquisitions
Staff bonus payments will not be paid out this year, with the firm citing ‘the challenging economic back drop’. Listed U.K. law firm Gateley has announced reported group profits after tax of £12.2 million—representing a 47% drop on last year’s figure. While underlying operating profit climbed by 11% to £25 million, the firm said that discretionary staff bonus payments would not be paid out this year, “due to the challenging economic back drop”.
Technology & Innovation:
5 Lessons Legal Tech and Legal Departments Should Learn From Growing Generative AI Lawsuits
While the generative artificial intelligence lawsuits are ongoing, experts are already pointing to key ways legal technology providers and in-house teams can avoid risk.
The Constitution Has Entered the ‘Chat’: AI Violates the Right to Effective Assistance of Counsel
This column addresses how using artificial intelligence in the criminal justice system may be unfairly prejudicial to defendants and violates their constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.
Microsoft Says It Will Pay Tab for Infringement Suits Against Its AI Customers
The tech giant says it doesn’t want uncertainties surrounding patent infringement law for generative AI to scare away customers from its Copilot tool.
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.
Innovation Concerns Grow Over EU AI Regulation
“From the perspective of AI companies, people want clarity around which applications are prohibited, and what the obligations are associated with each category,” said Shannon Yavorsky, an Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe partner.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Female GCs Who Break Into Fortune 1000 Earn Big Bucks, But Men Hold Most of the Jobs
“We still have gender pay gaps in many companies, so let’s keep making progress,” said Melba Hughes of the recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa. Female general counsel at Fortune 1000 companies received slightly higher total compensation than their male counterparts last year, but they continued to be drastically outnumbered.
GCs Collaborate with Skadden and Others to Ramp Up Corporate LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
The campaign, which involves top lawyers from Rolls Royce, BP and others, comes just months after Law.com revealed stagnant LGBT representation in the legal industry.
Market Commentary:
A wave of “conservative” political lawsuits and advocacy campaigns seeking to advance “anti-ESG” or “anti-woke” themes have resulted in certain companies de-emphasizing disclosure of their ESG initiatives, according to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s Stephen Blake and Sareen Armani.
Flexibility Is a Talent Attractor, But It Comes With Its Own Challenges
For all the draws of flexible work, some firms still face challenges around compensation, expectations and cultural alignment that may stand in the way of using it as a strategy to attract talent.
CMS Launches UK Redundancy Process Among Corporate Associates
It comes after the firm revealed a slowdown in global revenue growth earlier this summer. CMS is conducting a review ahead of a redundancy process targeted at its associate ranks, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The review will centre on the firm’s U.K. corporate practice, the person added.
GCs, Outside Counsel Share Responsibility for Eliminating Artificial Emergencies
Highly paid lawyers know they signed up for responsiveness, but rising rates and modern connectivity are enabling some clients to expect instant responses on nights and weekends.
‘The Market Is Virtually Dead’: International Law Firms Are Struggling to Hire in China
International firms are struggling to hire and domestic Chinese firms are growing at a much slower pace than just two years ago. With continued volatility in China, law firms aren’t sure how to plan their growth and lawyers looking at the lateral market are wondering where they should go.
Can Continuation Funds Be a Lifeline for Private Equity?
In this article, Sonia Bhasin discusses the use of continuation funds as a solution for private equity funds that are nearing or past their expiration date and have unrealized assets in their portfolio.
Australian Government Plans to Consider Law Firms’ Pro Bono Efforts When Allocating Work
The Australian government wants law firms to log at least 35 hours per lawyer per year of pro bono work. The Australian government is planning to take account of how much pro bono work a law firm does when allocating work to firms. It will also publish a list of law firms on government procurement panels that do not meet its target of 35 pro bono hours per year per lawyer, according to an open letter by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, a member of Australia’s Labor Government.
Will Cahill’s Brand Save It From the Modern Big Law Environment?
The firm is smaller in partnership than most of its peers and lacks extensive practice diversification. “Is there a place for a 400-person firm in Big Law?” said an Am Law 50 chair.
All This Growth: What Is it For?
Law firms are obsessed with growth. More are merging, launching new offices, teaming up through associations, and even changing their structure so they can compete globally. But is their focus on expansion and revenue growth the way to go? Might it be short-sighted?
EMEA
Allen & Overy Finance Partner Flies to Bird & Bird in Warsaw
Piotr Lesinski, a debt capital markets and finance regulatory partner based in Warsaw, had been with A&O since 1998. He became an A&O partner in 2010, according to a person with knowledge of the hire. Bird & Bird has also hired a Dentons partner in Madrid.
French Firm Moncey Hires Veteran Linklaters Partner
Fabrice de La Morandière had been a partner at Linklaters for 22 years and headed the firm’s private equity practice and corporate department.
Norton Rose South Africa Boosts Mining Law Capabilities with Bar Hire
It is a significant hire for the firm in Johannesburg. Anneke Higgs’ joins NRFSA as a director—the equivalent of partner—from the bar where she has been an advocate for 15 years.
Addleshaw Goddard, DWF Scale Up in Dubai with Partner Hires
Several law firms are scaling up in the Middle East amid liberalizing markets. Sandeep Puri joins Addleshaws from Baker & McKenzie, having worked in the UAE for over two decades, advising on banking, finance and capital market matters, on both the lender and sponsor sides, according to a firm statement.
King & Spalding, Fieldfisher Add Partners in Paris
Fieldfisher has hired a biotech partner along with two associates while King & Spalding is building in arbitration. Amy Frey, an international arbitration partner, has rejoined King & Spalding after less than a year at McDermott Will & Emery.
Latham & Watkins Loses Veteran PE Partner in Hamburg to German Rival Gleiss Lutz
Stefan Widder, a 21-year veteran of Latham, will bring the number of partners at Gleiss Lutz Hamburg to seven and the total number of lawyers at the Hamburg office to 33.
The firm said it is seeing an increase in demand for advice on white-collar investigations, competition, litigation, and other compliance-related issues. The team will include current Stephenson Harwood lawyers as well as significant new recruits from outside the firm, including a compliance specialist from Baker McKenzie in Paris and a former French member of Parliament who was instrumental in drafting new laws extending legal privilege for in-house counsel.
APAC
RPC Adds Contentious Practice Partner to Hong Kong
Ivan Chang was a partner in the shuttered Hong Kong office of Addleshaw Goddard.
Appleby Adds First Shanghai Partner Almost a Decade After Office Launch
Appleby became the first offshore law firm licensed to provide offshore legal advice in mainland China in 2014. Hannah Yao is the firm’s first ever partner hire to be based full time in Shanghai, where it has had a presence since 2012. Admitted in the U.S. and in China, Yao was a counsel at Beijing firm Fangda Partner and formerly a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons.
K&L Gates Hires Tech Partner from Seyfarth Shaw Hong Kong
Paul Haswell becomes the 19th partner at K&L Gates Hong Kong.
Yulchon Grows Disputes and Antitrust Practices With Duo Partner Hire in Seoul
Big Six South Korean law firm Yulchon has recently made two key partner hires from the Korea Fair Trade Commission and Korea’s international dispute resolution law firm KL Partners. Following the recent addition of partner Jooyup Chae, who was previously the general counsel of Korea’s biotechnology company SK Biopharmaceuticals, the Seoul-based firm has further deepened its dispute resolution bench with the hire of international arbitration lawyer Eun Nyung Lee.
Former Rouse Disputes Head Set to Join Hong Kong Firm Tanner De Witt
Douglas Clark, who started his legal career as an associate at Hogan Lovells in 1993 left Rouse in 2022 to set up his own practice.
Clifford Chance Lands M&A Partner From Linklaters in Hong Kong
Hong Kong-based M&A lawyer Alex Bidlake was a lead partner on Cathay Pacific Airways’ $5.3 billion government bailout in 2020.
PwC Australia Departures Continue, Melbourne Partner Joins Pinsent Masons
Florence Riviere joins Pinsent Masons’ property team in Melbourne.
All of Proskauer’s Full-Time Greater China Partners Depart
The firm no longer has any full-time partners in China or Hong Kong, but it says it will continue to operate in Hong Kong and will not be leaving the market.
The Americas
Clifford Chance Hires Jones Day Energy Partner in Houston
Jones Day energy partner David Stringer joined Clifford Chance as a partner in Houston on Tuesday, as the U.K. firm continues to build an energy and infrastructure team in its new office.
Bennett Jones Grabs Partner From Blake Cassels for New Montreal Office
Yannick Beaudoin has been part of some of the biggest infrastructure and financing projects in the region.
Shearman & Sterling Lures Capital Markets Attorney Back From Linklaters
Alejandro Gordano is rejoining the firm as a New York-based partner in the Latin America group, after working at Linklaters and in an in-house role.
Holland & Knight Welcomes Zubin Khambatta to Growing Health Care Practice in Texas
Holland & Knight has strengthened its health care regulatory and enforcement practice group with the addition of Zubin Khambatta as a partner in Austin, the law firm said. He was previously a partner with Perkins Coie.
DLA Litigator Returns to Dentons as a Partner in Dallas
DLA Piper trial lawyer Matthew Nickel rejoined Dentons as a partner in Dallas on Monday, saying it was the ‘right time’ for his career.
Another Kirkland Partner Heads to Phillips Lytle, as Firm Builds Out Midwest Base
Former Kirkland partner Jaran Moten, now at Phillips Lytle, said he thinks clients are more often hiring multiple firms to work certain matters, and the ability to do so successfully will help give firms like his an edge.
McDermott Hires Former EY GC From Gibson Dunn, as Accounting Firms Face More Scrutiny
Ron Hauben’s arrival at McDermott coincides with increased regulatory activity from the SEC and PCAOB.
“This law firm functions as a team,” Bohrer said. “They’re all supportive of each other. It’s not like in a Big Law firm, where people are competing for that partnership spot.”
King & Spalding Continues Texas Growth With Locke Lord ‘Heavy Hitter’
Locke Lord partner Mitchell Tiras, who joined King & Spalding on Monday as a partner in Houston said his move provides his clients with broader-based services as they evolve.
Eversheds Sutherland Builds ‘Gateway to a Global Firm’ With New San Francisco Tax Partner
Michael Lebovitz, the co-head of the international tax and transfer pricing team at Mayer Brown, joined Eversheds as it builds its San Francisco presence.
McDermott Lands International M&A Partner From Dechert
Howard Kleinman has a focus on South America and cross-border transactions.
Milbank Adds Cahill Partner Who Will Co-Lead White Collar Defense Practice
The addition of Nola Heller boosts the firm’s pitch to land on clients’ most important matters, said Milbank’s George Canellos.
Troutman Pepper Takes 2 Private Equity Partners as Midmarket Deal Work Moves Ahead
Bruce Steinert, a Perkins Coie partner, joined the firm in San Francisco, while Gibson Dunn of counsel Jonathan Homer joined the firm in New York.
Baker McKenzie Regulatory Co-Chairs, Seeking Greater ‘Support,’ Jump to K&L Gates
Amy Greer and Jennifer Klass were recruited to build the practice from scratch in 2019, but they said they ultimately needed a firm that offered a broader set of skills and expertise to serve their clients.
Dilworth Paxson to Hire Up to 20 Lawyers From Dissolving Schnader Harrison
The group is composed of attorneys who’d previously belonged to Schnader’s trusts and estates, litigation, real estate, and transactional practice groups.
Sidley Picks Up Cooley Venture Finance Partner in Palo Alto
Cindy Lovering, who spent more than six years at Cooley, joined Sidley’s California global finance practice.
Jones Day Energy Partner Is Latest Big Law Hire for Clifford Chance
Jones Day energy partner David Stringer joined Clifford Chance as a partner in Houston on Tuesday, as the U.K. firm continues to build an energy and infrastructure team in its new office.
O’Melveny Hires Long-Serving SEC Regional Director in Los Angeles
O’Melveny has once again grown its roster of former high-ranking government officials with the addition of Michele Wein Layne to its white-collar defense and corporate investigations group.
White & Case Private Credit Partner Returns to Proskauer
As private credit continues to grow, Jessica Shearer’s “skill set will be an asset to the continued growth of our group and that of our clients,” said Proskauer’s Mike Mezzacappa.
Fish & Richardson Announces 2023 Del. Associate Hire
Fish & Richardson has welcomed nine lateral associates to the litigation practice group since the start of 2023, including Brandon Pakkebier in the firm’s Delaware office in February.
Cravath Public Company M&A Partner Heads to Latham
Latham & Watkins bolstered its public company M&A practice with the addition of Cravath, Swaine & Moore M&A partner Andrew Elken, announced on Monday. Elken, who had been at Cravath since beginning his legal career in 2009, will be based out of Latham’s New York office.
In-House
Ex-Foot Locker, Circle K Exec Takes Legal Reins of 520-Location Shoe Store Chain
Randolph Brodwin spent the bulk of his career at Foot Locker, rising from real estate counsel to associate general counsel over 23 years. Now, he’s becoming chief legal officer of a privately owned retailer that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Pax8 Taps Ethics and Compliance Veteran as First CCO
Mary Gill said she is thrilled “to have this opportunity to lead the design and build out of the company’s next generation ethics and compliance program.”
Archer Daniels Midland Taps Globetrotting Legal Vet to Succeed GC Who Put Out Fires
Food giant ADM has hired Regina Bynote Jones away from oil-field-services company Baker Hughes to serve as its senior vice president and general counsel.
Iconic Crystal Maker Swarovski Taps Former Nestle, Wrigley and Coca-Cola Attorney as Legal Chief
Stephan Mechnig appointment as chief legal and compliance officer comes a year after the nearly 130-year-old company installed someone outside the family as CEO for the first time.
Dollar Tree Hires Legal Chief to Replace Ex-Trump Official Who Abruptly Departed
Jonathan Leiken is taking the legal reins of Dollar Tree after helping guide his last employer, the ATM-maker Diebold Nixdorf, through bankruptcy.
Saying ‘Ja’ to Transfer Pays Off for BMG Legal Veteran
A year after relocating from Los Angeles to BMG’s Berlin headquarters, Tony Abner is taking the legal reins of the world’s fourth-largest music company.
Burgeoning UCSF Hospital System Appoints First Chief Counsel
Incoming general counsel Rachel Nosowsky will be “an excellent colleague and mentor for all the attorneys in our office,” said UCSF Chief Campus Counsel Greta Schnetzler.
Saint Louis Bank Axes CEO, Promotes GC to Succeed Him
Kevin King, the general counsel of the three-office Saint Louis Bank who’s practiced banking law for more than four decades, is succeeding CEO Travis Liebig. The bank isn’t explaining the ouster.
National Insurance Crime Bureau Promotes Ex-Federal Prosecutor to GC
At the Illinois-based nonprofit, Rich DiZinno will help ferret out fraud, something he battled as an assistant U.S. attorney and as chief counsel for national security and crime for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
Ex-Waymo Deputy GC Takes Legal Reins of Battery Startup
David Tressler spent six years at Google-owned Waymo, during which the company became the first self-driving car service to serve the general public without backup drivers in the vehicle.
Biden Picks Former Obama Lawyer for White House Counsel
During his first stint at the White House, Ed Siskel helped fend off attacks on the Affordable Care Act. He also spearheaded the response to congressional inquiries into the 2012 Benghazi attack that resulted in the killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya.
Legal Chief for Movie Theater Association Follows Other Execs Out the Exit Door
Jackie Brenneman is the third long-tenured executive of the National Association of Theatre Owners to depart this year.
CLO Cashes Out at ATM-Maker Diebold; Replacement Punches In
After guiding the manufacturer through bankruptcy, Jonathan Leiken is passing the legal reins to veteran Diebold attorney Elizabeth “Lisa” Radigan, whom he called “brilliant, caring and a wise teacher of the law.”
Lawyer Stepping Aside Who Helped Shape Charter Communications Into No. 2 Cable Operator
David Ellen played a key role in the transformation of the cable industry, first as general counsel of Cablevision before its $17.7 billion sale in 2016 and then as a senior executive at Charter as it digested nearly $100 billion in acquisitions.
Promotions & Appointments:
Norton Rose South Africa’s Incoming CEO Committed to Full-Time Executive Leadership
Being chief executive far outweighs the bitter-sweetness of no longer running the disputes practice, says CEO elect Brent Botha in an interview with Law.com International.
Hogan Lovells Names New San Francisco Leader, With Plans to Expand Office
Megan Nishikawa, an energy, environmental and life sciences litigator who joined the firm last fall from King & Spalding, is stepping into the San Francisco office managing partner role on Sept. 1.
Hogan Lovells Partners Are Voting on CEO Miguel Zaldivar’s Second Term
Board members unanimously recommended that Zaldivar, who’s led Hogan Lovells since July 2020, should continue serving at the helm for another four-year term.
Mergers & Alliances:
Canadian IP Firm Smart & Biggar Gets Bigger With Merger
The IPH Group-affiliated firm will combine with former competitor Ridout & Maybee, cementing its position as the largest IP shop in Canada.
Clark Hill Combines With Dublin-Based Firm
Clark Hill’s acquisition of the 10-solicitor Dublin, Ireland-based firm HBMO Solicitors follows earlier acquisitions in the U.S., in Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Fox Rothschild Absorbs Five-Lawyer Auto Boutique
Firm chair Mark Morris said Aboyoun Dobbs has been the “go-to firm for automobile dealerships in the tri-state area since its founding in 1989.”
A&O Shearman: The Compelling but Unspoken Rationale
Industry observer Hugh A. Simons dives into historical data and law firm dynamics to explore the true, though perhaps unspoken, benefits of a merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling.
One Big Advantage of Growth by Acquisition? Sticky Clients.
Law firms are continuing to seek out acquisitions as a means of growth, which comes with its share of both challenges and benefits.
Continuing Growth in Existing Markets, Clark Hill Combines With Dublin Commercial Firm
Clark Hill’s acquisition of the 10-solicitor HBMO Solicitors in Dublin follows earlier acquisitions in Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Stroock Loses Business-Side Leaders, as Uncertain Merger Future Poses Recruiting Challenges
“Joining Stroock, my goal was to focus on partner hiring…We were seeing a lot of success,” said Regina Robbins, the firm’s former director of talent acquisition. “When the information was getting out in the marketplace about the Paul Hastings group and about the merger talks, it was difficult to help the firm find partners and grow.”
Office Openings & Closing:
Eversheds Sutherland’s New Austin Office Boasts Prime Location, Amenities
To accommodate growth, Eversheds Sutherland moved into new offices in downtown Austin on Monday that will accommodate significantly more lawyers.
Law Firm Leasing Activity Rebounds to Highest Post-Pandemic Point
Building off a strong first quarter, U.S. law firm leasing activity remained robust in the second quarter, resulting in the strongest period of leasing on record since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest quarterly report from Savills. Los Angeles also saw multiple deals over 20,000 square feet.
Financials:
Nishimura & Asahi Changes Ownership Structure, Foreign Lawyers to Own Equity
Nishimura’s New York and Germany-admitted international dispute resolution partner Lars Markert has since announced his entry to the firm’s equity partnership.
White & Case UK Accounts Show Stagnant Profit Despite Turnover Boost
The LLPs also showed that the firm made almost £3 million more from currency exchange rate fluctuations in the past year.
DWF Profits Slide Ahead of Private Equity Takeover
Though the UK listed law firm’s revenue edged up, the firm’s leaders said they did not expect to undertake ‘any material M&A in the short term’ due to economic pressures.
General Counsel Compensation Chart: Who Made the 2023 Top-Paid GC List?
The tight talent market helped drive up compensation, as current employers tried to lock down legal chiefs with retention bonuses, and companies trying to fill openings dangled juicy signing bonuses and stock grants.
2023 Could Turn Out All Right, If Law Firms Can Collect on What They’re Owed
Clients are slower to pay, but that means inventory is building. If firms start seeing checks come in, the second half of 2023 could be much more promising, Citi’s midyear survey shows.
DC Law Firms See Rebound in First Half of 2023, Increasing Revenues and Controlling Comp Expenses
“The real standout was controlling the compensation line and that really helped D.C.-focused firms,” said Wells Fargo’s Owen Burman.
Big Atlanta Law Firms Saw Revenue and Profits Rise in First Half, Even as Collections Slowed
Billing rate increases appeared to be the largest fuel for revenue growth, as demand in Atlanta was down 1.6%, compared to a 0.4% decrease for all firms nationally, according to Wells Fargo.
Law Firms Are Still Grasping for the ‘Other Side’ of Uncertainty
Firms benefitted from 7.7% average billing rate increases in the first half, Wells Fargo said, noting they are continuing to absorb productivity hits in the hopes of getting to the “other side” of the economic storm.
How to Manage Partner Compensation Expectations in a Challenging Year
MesaFive consultant Blane Prescott recounts common firm compensation models and how firms can set comp in a down year
Technology & Innovation:
1 in 4 Large Law Firms Expect Generative AI to Replace Jobs Internally in Next 5 Years
Generative AI has ‘potential to take away many of the more mundane and administrative tasks that currently form a necessary part of the lawyer’s workload’.
5 Ways Legal Is Mitigating Generative AI Risks
As some of the risks of using generative AI have come to light, legal tech providers and law firms are accessing and using the technology in news ways.
Concerned About ChatGPT Risks, This Australian Law Firm Built an Alternative
It took about six months for the firm to build its own GenAI platform, which it has named “Airlie” in honor of Airlie Smith—the first woman lawyer to join any of the firms that merged to form Allens.
AI in the Workplace: Benefits and Potential Drawbacks
Estimates suggest that nearly 80% of employers are now using AI in some capacity, so it’s imperative businesses understand AI’s rapidly growing presence across the labor landscape.
Cutting Through the Mess: What Does AI Really Mean for Lawyers?
In this column, Katherine B. Forrest presents her views on how artificial intelligence will impact the legal profession moving forward. She also includes some practical guidance about what ethical and professional obligations lawyers should keep in mind as they contend with its increasing usage.
Use This Framework for Integrating AI Into Your Thought Leadership Content Process
There are opportunities throughout the writing process for humans to partner with AI. Here’s how to think about that division of labor.
Law Firms Say They Expect GenAI to Reduce Reliance on Billable Hour—but Observers Are Skeptical
The majority of large UK law firms expect GenAI to impact their approach to the billable hour, according to a Law.com International survey.
Troutman Pepper Rolls Out Proprietary Gen AI Chatbot ‘Athena’ With Painstaking Care
With its new chatbot Athena, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, the firm is drawing an unequivocal line when it comes to certain use cases—and keeping a watchful eye.
Where Generative AI Will Likely Have the Most Impact in Law Firms
A Tuesday standing-room only session at ILTACON 2023 in Orlando highlighted some of the areas of the law firm work where generative AI is expected to have the most impact.
Sullivan & Cromwell’s Investments in AI Lead to Discovery, Deposition ‘Assistants’
Two post-doctoral students set up a lab in Sullivan & Cromwell’s offices to develop and train AI technology. Its capabilities could alter the very fabric of being a lawyer.
Diversity & Inclusion:
GCs Collaborate with Skadden and Others to Ramp Up Corporate LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
The campaign, which involves top lawyers from Rolls Royce, BP and others, comes just months after Law.com revealed stagnant LGBT representation in the legal industry.
The Law Firm Disrupted: The Generation Gap in Big Law Is Real, but It’s Broader Too
Guess who made which damning statement about Gen Z.
Leading DEI with Practicality and Purpose
Corporate counsel are well positioned to play a key role in focusing their companies on the case for DEI, whether premised on fundamental fairness, correcting for historical underrepresentation, or aligning with the shareholder goal of profitability.
Lawsuits Over Big Law Diversity Fellowships Prompt Firms to Scrutinize DEI Program Language
The lawsuits filed this week take particular aim at language contained in the firms’ diversity fellowship applications that conservative legal activist Edward Blum’s group views as exclusionary against its “white, nondisabled heterosexual man” client.
This Weil Gotshal Duo Is Fighting to Make Class a Protected Characteristic in the UK
Two figures are quietly leading a nationwide push to reform the U.K.’s Equality Act in a way that could profoundly affect the way social class is perceived.
The Battle for DEI in the Court of Public Opinion
“Those who are fighting DEI efforts misunderstand and mischaracterize the work. There seems to be a significant disconnect between their characterization of the work and what the work actually is,” says Yusuf Zakir, chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at Davis Wright Tremaine.
Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: From Optimism to Action
Alyssa Levy, a first-year corporate associate with Sidley Austin talks to Lin Cherry, Chief Talent Experience Officer at the technology services company, Wizeline, on why it’s important for organizations to advance DE&I as well as some small but powerful steps any organization can take.
Market Commentary:
Is London on the Cusp of a White Collar Boom?
With a SFO soon to welcome a new director and a UK recession looking more likely, some partners are expecting an uptick in investigations, while others offer more sober takes.
India as an Emerging Hub for International Arbitration
The Delhi High Court recently established a significant precedent by clarifying third-party funders cannot be held liable to pay adverse awards, and here’s how it will change the landscape of arbitration in the country.
In recent months, global brands such as Volkswagen Group have been revisiting their Chinese target acquisition plans, while Japanese energy companies have been pushed by an energy resource-scarce domestic market to further their investments abroad.
Japanese Tech Startups’ Nasdaq IPO Thirst Generates Deal Work for US Law Firms in Japan
Japanese deep technology, life science and biotechnology companies feel that they are comfortable speaking to U.S. investment banks or U.S. stock exchanges such as Nasdaq, according to a Tokyo-based Greenberg Traurig lawyer.
A wave of “conservative” political lawsuits and advocacy campaigns seeking to advance “anti-ESG” or “anti-woke” themes have resulted in certain companies de-emphasizing disclosure of their ESG initiatives, according to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s Stephen Blake and Sareen Armani.
Crunch Time for ESG: When Will Green Advice Pay Off for Law Firms in Asia?
Most jurisdictions in Asia are at different stages in their ESG journeys and that disparity, compounded by the lack of alternative resources and the ambiguity of government regulations and policies across the region, presents significant challenges for companies.
Law Firm Merger Fever May Be Good News for Boutiques
With firm mergers expected to accelerate, boutiques feeling pressure from clients to grow may be ready to take calls from larger firms.
How the GC of a Startup Building ‘Harmless’ AI Balances Risks, Rewards
“It’s a surprisingly full time job at times . . . to really deeply understand where we’re willing to tolerate more risk in service of our mission and where we’re more sensitive to risk,” Anthropic AI legal chief Brian Israel said.
Should I Stay or Go? 8 Questions Partners Facing a Merger Need to Answer
With all the mergers—or potential mergers—taking place this year, what key factors should lawyers consider when deciding whether to remain at their firm or move on?
Partners Are Frustrated With ‘Zoom Associates.’ But Will Threatening Their Bonuses Change That?
Consultants and partners have bluntly described some younger associates as “lacking accountability and initiative.” But surveys suggest younger lawyers and aspiring lawyers are more varied in their motivations than earlier generations.
Law Firm Closures Highlight a Tale of Two Markets
Midsize law firms are seeing faster demand growth than big firms. But this segment of the market is still vulnerable to large, existential threats.
Where Have All the London Rainmakers Gone?
U.K. firms need to rethink their star culture if they want to compete on a global scale.
Prepare to Communicate More Law Firm Leadership Transitions
Since the pandemic, turnover in the leadership ranks of major law firms has been increasing. Transitions can cause anxiety and uncertainty—especially if firms don’t have a clear and consistent messaging. With a good plan, however, firms can use transitions as a way to re-tell their story.
How to Kill Your Culture in a Minor Recession, According to Midlevels
In our annual Midlevel Associates Survey, thousands of associates told us how their firms missed the mark in managing through a downturn—but they gave some praise.
Leveraging Lateral Partner Recruiting Strategies in a Down Market
While the economic downturn certainly adds a layer of complexity to the lateral partner recruitment process, it does not render it an insurmountable task.