In the ever-competitive world of Biglaw, where productivity measures often justify the hefty price tags of headcount, recent developments suggest a different story. One of the top 20 Biglaw firms has reportedly laid off a number of its staff down under, although lawyers appear to have emerged unscathed. Productivity isn’t justifying the Biglaw headcount. Important…
When Peter Zaman was hired by Holman Fenwick Willan in 2021, his role as a climate finance and environmental products expert was clearly aligned with the firm’s energy, commodities, aerospace, shipping, construction and insurance sectors in Asia. All of these sectors deal heavily with fossil fuels, indicating a problem that Zaman, a former partner at…
In the aftermath of recent events surrounding a tax advice scandal, PwC Australia continues to witness the departure of partners. Florence Riviere, an experienced professional in advising energy and infrastructure sector clients on environment and planning matters, has exited the firm. Riviere has joinedPinsent Masons as a planning and environment partner, and will be based…
The legal sector has experienced a sharp rise in law firm headcount during the first half of 2023. However, this has coincided with a significant decline in productivity, as highlighted by a recent survey conducted by Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group. Featuring 130 firms in its participant list, including 66 Am Law 100 firms, the…
Thomson Reuters has completed its acquisition of legal tech firm Casetext, a company that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to create innovative legal products, including the AI-based legal assistant CoCounsel. The acquisition is part of Thomson Reuters’ strategy to incorporate generative AI solutions and redefine the professional world with its applications. This acquisition…
Last week marked another loss for Donald Trump’s legal team in court, this time in New York. Judge Lewis Kaplan decisively rejected Trump’s motion to delay the second E. Jean Carroll defamation case, clearly branding the appeal as ‘frivolous’. According to documentation provided by Court Listener, this motion was aiming to postpone the lawsuit based…
Following the annual ranking of Law360, six firms worth paying attention to in California have risen to prominence. The named firms are a combination of established California-based Biglaw firms and those recognized for their high-level plaintiff-side work. Unfortunately, the full list of the six recognized powerhouse firms wasn’t available. However, analysis suggests law firms that…
Hawaiian Electric Co. has yet to address in court the increasing number of lawsuits filed against it concerning the recent fatal wildfires in Maui. Likely defenses could primarily hinge on questioning the inverse condemnation claims and whether the company’s fallen power lines were indeed a cause of the fire. Partners at Honolulu’s Cox Fricke, Joachim…
The annual gatherings of the International Legal Technology Association (ILTACON) have seen a gradual shift in attitude towards artificial intelligence (AI). Where once this technology was viewed with a degree of skepticism, it is now recognized by many as a tool with the potential to change legal industry practices. Nonetheless, AI is not expected to…
The severity of the Hawaiian wildfire tragedy continues to escalate, with 114 confirmed fatalities and another 850 still unaccounted for. As the lives of locals are drastically affected by this disaster, it is crucial to recognize Hawai’i as more than an idyllic tourist destination. Despite the ongoing crisis, Addleshaw Goddard, a renowned international law firm…
Recently, some of the world’s most notable law firms, such as White & Case, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Orrick, and Latham & Watkins, have provided legal advice on a notable cross-border debt restructuring deal. This multibillion-euro deal involves none other than Casino Guichard-Perrachon, one of the largest retail chains in France and an established…
In a recently leaked image of the forthcoming iPhone 15, Apple confirmed what industry observers long presumed: the tech giant is moving away from proprietary charging ports and aligning itself with other major smartphone manufacturers by incorporating a standardized USB-C plug. This modest shift is significant within the scope of global regulatory practices as per…
For aspiring law students who chose to continue their path to becoming a lawyer in the face of mounting challenges, recent events underscore the pitfalls of online standardized testing. This year’s August Law School Admission Test (LSAT), run by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), was offered in two formats: at a physical test center…
It is a reality that a strong jurist can be a poor manager, a fact that becomes all too relevant when judges are appointed for life, given immense power, and tasked with running high-stress, intimate workspaces. These individuals oversee some of the most crucial facets of the legal world, and their administrative abilities, or lack…
In a recent turn of events, a top 20 ‘Biglaw’ firm has let go of a number of its staff in Australia. The redundancies were carried out primarily among the firm’s business services personnel, following observations of efficiency gaps in these functions. The firm emphasized that these were tough decisions to make and all individuals…
Shearman & Sterling continues shaping its team with a familiar face in the international legal community. The firm welcomes back Alejandro Gordano, a capital markets attorney with expansive global experience across Buenos Aires, Zurich, London, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and New York. This appointment comes after Gordano’s three-year term as New York-based counsel at Linklaters. Born in…
In a recent development in the legal sector, Detroit-based Am Law 200 firm, Clark Hill has solidified its position in the Dublin market by acquiring the Irish law firm, HBMO Solicitors. This move resulted in an addition of 10 solicitors to Clark Hill’s existing office in Ireland, marking the firm’s fifth merger of 2023. The…
Mark Meadows, the former chief of staff during Donald Trump’s presidency, is making an attempt to get his case of violating Georgia’s RICO act and soliciting a public officer to violate their oath transferred to federal court. As reported, Meadows was charged by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for his misconduct but has sought…
The Maryland Supreme Court recently issued a tight 4-3 ruling, interpreting a former chief justice’s administrative COVID-19 orders about the scope of a 15-day extension. The court majority agreed that the order, issued by the prior Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, pertained solely to the period between March 16, 2020, and…
The heated exchanges surrounding the Donald Trump indictments have left Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the aisle arguing their respective positions. Republicans posit that the sole reason for Trump’s indictment is his intent to run for re-election, viewing the legal actions as a political strategy employed by the Biden administration. On the other…
Many corporate Biglaw attorneys have experienced difficulties through the past year as demand has diminished. As layoffs become a concern, these lawyers might be contemplating other options for their careers. Intriguingly, midsize firms could offer a more appealing environment for corporate attorneys. Steve Cooperman, chair and co-managing partner of Morrison Cohen, a midsize international firm,…
Leading law firm Sidley Austin’s partner, Marisa S. West, has shared her insights on the journey to partnership, emphasizing that hard work alone is insufficient for successful elevation. Instead, she points out, a social presence within the profession plays a crucial role. West argues that one of the most common mistakes attorneys make is overlooking…
In a series of consolidated wrongful-death suits against a nursing home relating to COVID-19 complications suffered by residents during the pandemic’s outset, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District fielded a significant question. The court was asked to determine whether Executive Order No. 2020-19 offers “blanket immunity for ordinary negligence [claims] to healthcare facilities that…
The ongoing economic downturn has demonstrably impacted various sectors worldwide, and the field of law has clearly not been exempt from this. Lateral partner recruitment in law firms, typically a complex process, has endured a significant increase in difficulty. In times of economic contraction, law firms are often faced with increasing competition for securing top-tier…
The International Legal Technology Association’s annual conference, ILTACON, is taking an unorthodox measure this year. Attendees of the event in Orlando, known for uniting professionals concerned with the overlap of legal practises and technology, are facing a $50 fine if they neglect to return their name badges post-convention. These badges, better known as Klik SmartBadges,…