A recent Canadian report reveals a high level of adoption of artificial intelligence within legal departments, with over 97% of in-house lawyers finding AI to be somewhat or very useful. This sentiment was shared by Scott Stevenson, CEO of Spellbook, which co-sponsored the report. The rapid uptake of AI tools, as highlighted by Stevenson, reflects…
Ontier, a Spain-based law firm, has expanded its presence in Chile by integrating a tax-focused boutique firm. This strategic move involves the acquisition of a 12-member team from Matthei Abogados, which includes two partners. As a result, Ontier’s workforce in the Andean nation is set to double. For further details, you can read the original…
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has recently expanded its investment management team by hiring DLA Piper partner Skye Smith, who brings with her a portfolio of sovereign wealth fund clients. This strategic move is part of Akin’s efforts to bolster its presence in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Abu Dhabi…
“`html The recently published report by the Civil Justice Council has significant implications for the UK litigation funding industry. It emphasizes a call for the UK government to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in the PACCAR case. For the past two years, the funding sector has faced instability following the 2023 ruling that rendered numerous…
In a move to enhance their regional capabilities, several prestigious law firms have announced key partner hires across Asia. Notable among these are Morrison & Foerster (MoFo), Ashurst, and the recently-merged Allen & Overy Shearman. These firms are actively bolstering their presence in significant legal markets, reflecting a growing trend of international and regional firms…
FisherBroyles, a distributed law firm, has made strategic moves to bolster its presence in Latin America with the addition of three new partners in Mexico. The firm has welcomed Jesús García-Moncada (intellectual property), Rodrigo García-Moncada (corporate law), and Mario Facio Salazar (environmental law) to its Mexico City office. These partners previously worked with law+dgtal, a…
In a competitive move to strengthen its legal offering, Addleshaw Goddard has announced the addition of two new partners at its London office. Among these hires is James Moss, a former general counsel for the Information Commissioner’s Office, who joins from Bird & Bird to enhance Addleshaw Goddard’s tech division, particularly in the data and…
Legal sector movement continues as Dechert boosts its U.K. finance team with a four-lawyer departure from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Significantly, Sushila Nayak and James Jirtle, now Dechert partners, bring their expertise to the firm, with Nayak taking a lead role in developing Dechert’s London-based CLO efforts. Concurrently, Dechert experiences a shift with the departure…
Macfarlanes has played an advisory role for Valterra Platinum, a leading producer of platinum group metals, regarding its approximately £7.5 billion secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange. This move complements Valterra’s current primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The listing also constitutes a notable de-merger from Valterra’s parent company, Anglo American, which previously…
In a notable transaction in the financial sector, Japanese insurer Dai-ichi Life Holdings is working with legal advisors from Linklaters to acquire a $1.1 billion stake in the British asset management company M&G. This strategic acquisition, marking a 15% share, will establish Dai-ichi as M&G’s largest shareholder. The British firm is receiving counsel from Freshfields…
In a move that underscores Dai-ichi Life Holdings’ strategic effort to diversify beyond its traditional life insurance operations, the Japanese life insurer has confirmed its acquisition of a 15% stake in the British money manager M&G for $1.1 billion. This acquisition will see Dai-ichi become the largest shareholder of M&G and signals its increased focus…
Reed Smith has enhanced its global commercial disputes group by securing Richard Kovalevsky KC, a top-ranked financial crime partner. Kovalevsky, recognized for his expertise in white-collar defense and high-stakes investigations, joins from Cohen & Gresser, where he served as partner and head of criminal defense at the firm’s UK office. This strategic move is anticipated…
Ropes & Gray, currently the world’s 8th largest law firm, is contemplating the introduction of a nonequity partner tier. This consideration marks a significant shift for the firm, which is among the few remaining in the Am Law 100 to maintain an all-equity partnership structure. The move comes amid a trend where many major international…
The legal community in Turkey continues to face significant challenges amid a prolonged government crackdown on lawyers. The case of Fırat Epözdemir, a board member of the Istanbul Bar Association, is emblematic of these difficulties. Recently released from detention after his arrest upon returning from a Council of Europe meeting, Epözdemir was charged under allegations…
The merger of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel has officially gone live, resulting in a new entity known as Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in the U.K. and HSF Kramer in the U.S. This strategic alliance, bringing together approximately 2,700 lawyers, positions the new firm among the top 30 global firms by…
The European Legal Innovation & Technology Awards 2025 was recently hosted at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan. This 11th annual event highlighted advancements in legal innovation within European in-house departments, private practice, and vendor services. The ceremony, which took place in Milan for the first time after a decade in London, was hosted…
Eversheds Sutherland has been instrumental in advising the Department for Transport (DfT) as South Western Railways enters an unprecedented phase by transitioning into public ownership. This development is significant as it represents the first instance of a train operator in the UK going under public control. Occurring on May 25, this move is a key…
Clifford Chance’s co-head of tech, Jonathan Kewley, who was recently recognized as Partner of the Year at the 2024 British Legal Awards, engages in a candid discussion exploring several pressing topics for the legal profession. In a Q&A featured on Law.com International, Kewley shares his insights on mental health, diversity, and the influence of artificial…
The Leadership, Influence & Inclusivity Conference and Awards, a new event poised to reshape the focus on leadership, influence, and inclusivity within the legal sector, will debut in the UK. Scheduled for December 4, 2025, at the Intercontinental Park Lane in London, this initiative broadens the scope of the former Women, Influence & Power in…
In a significant move within the mining sector, Ashurst is advising South Africa’s Harmony Gold on its $1 billion acquisition of Australia’s MAC Copper. This transaction marks the second Australian mining takeover by a South African company in May. Harmony’s acquisition of the CSA Copper Mine, a well-established underground operation, is set to bolster its…
Indus Law, an Indian firm, is on a “rebuilding path” following a challenging period characterized by the loss of teams to local competitors. In an exclusive interview, Avimukt Dar, co-founder of Indus Law, discusses the strategic rationale behind their recent alliance with CMS, a major international law firm. This partnership appears to be a part…
Spain’s Pérez-Llorca has broadened its presence in Latin America through a merger with Gómez-Pinzón, a leading law firm in Colombia. This strategic move significantly increases Pérez-Llorca’s capabilities, adding 120 lawyers to its team. This development comes approximately a year after the firm’s expansion into Mexico. For more details, please refer to the full article. Note…
On May 29, 2025, A&O Shearman announced its ninth cohort for the Fuse incubator program, marking the largest class since its launch with over 20 inductees. The program, which began in 2017, aims to cultivate startups by refining their legal, financial, and operational technology solutions with support from A&O Shearman staff. The firm, in turn,…
In a significant shift within the Mexican judicial system, voters will cast their ballots on Sunday to elect nearly 900 federal and hundreds of local judges. This move is part of a sweeping change replacing the long-standing merit-based appointment system with a democratic process. The transition has sparked concern among legal experts, who fear that…
Norton Rose Fulbright, Gowling WLG, Goodmans, and Stikeman Elliott are leading the advisory efforts on a significant transaction involving InterRent Real Estate Investment Trust. The CA$2 billion take-private sale of InterRent will see the Canadian REIT being acquired by a newly formed entity, Carriage Hill Properties Acquisition Corp. This entity is owned by CLV Group…