Tony O’Malley, the former global head of PwC Legal, has joined Kain Lawyers, a boutique transactions firm in Australia, as a non-executive director. In this role, O’Malley is expected to provide strategic leadership to support the firm’s expansion across Australia. His move to Kain Lawyers follows a trend of other former PwC lawyers joining the…
In a recent strategic move, Reed Smith has expanded its Asia practice by acquiring a corporate trust team from Allen & Overy’s joint venture with Shearman & Sterling (A&O Shearman) in Singapore and Hong Kong. This team includes three lawyers: a partner, a counsel, and an associate. Tim Beech, formerly a partner and co-head of…
In a strategic move reflecting the evolving dynamics of Australia’s energy sector, Clayton Utz has appointed Alexander Danne as the new leader of its energy practice. Danne joins the firm from Gilbert+Tobin, where he notably established and headed their energy and infrastructure team over a period exceeding 13 years. His transition to Clayton Utz is…
Three British and Swiss attorneys, including former FIFA anti-corruption counsel Mark Pieth, have lodged a formal complaint challenging FIFA’s decision to award Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup. They argue that the sports body violated its own human rights policy. The complaint criticizes an allegedly “flawed” assessment by AS&H Clifford Chance, which purportedly overlooked significant…
Ashurst has strengthened its cross-border practice with the hiring of partner Alexis Werl from Eversheds Sutherland, who is set to lead the firm’s white-collar crime and investigations team in Paris. Werl, who arrives with an associate, brings extensive experience in criminal business law and compliance matters. This includes his expertise in cross-border investigations, anti-corruption and…
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has announced a pivotal leadership change just two weeks prior to its impending merger with the New York law firm Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel. Jeremy Walden is set to replace Alison Brown as the executive partner for the U.K. and EMEA regions, effective from June 1. This date coincides with…
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is currently navigating an intricate internal discussion regarding its partnership structure. The decision at hand is whether to extend its current lockstep model and sustain an all-equity partnership, or to conform to a widespread trend among large law firms by instituting a non-equity tier. This debate underscores a significant ideological crossroads for…
A recent report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) unveils the circumstances that led to the tragedy aboard the Bayesian superyacht, which claimed the lives of several individuals, including the yacht’s owner, tech tycoon Mike Lynch, and his lawyer, Christopher Morvillo, a partner at Clifford Chance. The investigation pointed to extreme winds, reaching possible…
High Court judge Sir Robin Knowles CBE, along with former law firm leaders Matthew Layton and Mike Francies, has joined the panel of judges for the British Legal Awards. These additions further enhance the prestige of the awards, which are known for recognizing excellence and innovation in the legal sector. Joining them on the panel…
The focus on law firm culture, particularly in terms of diversity and inclusion, is gaining prominence as firms navigate an evolving landscape. Law.com International, in collaboration with Diversity Lab, is inviting legal professionals to a webinar scheduled for May 21 at 10 a.m. ET (3 p.m. BST). The session, titled “The Future of Law Firm…
A Jenner & Block lawyer’s government security clearance has been suspended by the Justice Department. This action comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the firm. The suspension was communicated to the lawyer during proceedings in a criminal case where the individual was representing a defendant. The notification was part of…
In a strategic move that underscores the growing prominence of the United Arab Emirates in the digital assets sector, Coinbase is acquiring the Dubai-based cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, Deribit, for approximately $2.9 billion. This acquisition is part of Coinbase’s efforts to expand its footprint in the crypto derivatives market. The transaction, expected to be finalized in…
International law firms are reacting positively to the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) new regulations permitting foreign legal practices in India. The rules, detailed in a notification released on May 14, 2025, arrive over two years after initial plans to open the market were unveiled. However, despite the favorable reception, some firms have expressed caution…
International law firms have expressed a positive outlook following the Bar Council of India’s recent decision to amend regulations, thereby allowing foreign legal practices to be established in India. This move marks the culmination of efforts that began over two years ago when the Indian authority initially suggested opening its legal market to foreign entities….
Dentons South Africa has taken a different stance from other prominent law firms by endorsing South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) code. This policy mandates that 50% of legal practices should be black-owned. In contrast, firms such as Norton Rose Fulbright, Bowmans, Webber Wentzel, and Werksmans Attorneys are actively challenging the policy in court, asserting…
Microsoft is currently facing a class action lawsuit in the UK that could amount to billions of pounds, marking it as one of the largest class actions ever filed in the region. The case, encompassing a wide range of UK-based individuals and businesses, including public bodies, is being spearheaded by barrister Alexander Wolfson serving as…
The Law Society of England & Wales has introduced a new ethical framework designed to assist in-house solicitors with navigating workplace challenges. This initiative comes in response to sentiments indicating that the role of in-house lawyers can often feel overwhelming, leading to potential ethical oversights. The framework offers tools, resources, and templates to support legal…
Kirkland & Ellis is poised to relocate to its new London office this summer, following a series of setbacks. The firm is set to serve as the primary tenant at 40 Leadenhall Street, occupying over half of the available floors. Initially, the move was anticipated by the end of 2023, but successive delays have pushed…
China’s largest pharmaceutical company, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, is seeking to raise up to $1.3 billion through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Renowned law firms Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Commerce & Finance Law Offices are advising Jiangsu Hengrui on this significant listing. The underwriters for this IPO are…
Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth is playing a key advisory role for CoStar Group in its acquisition of the real estate website Domain, valued at $1.9 billion. The transaction involves CoStar, a U.S. company specializing in information and analytics services for the commercial property sector, acquiring full ownership of Domain. Concurrently, legal firm Ashurst…
In a significant transaction within the real estate industry, Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth is providing legal advice to CoStar Group on its $1.9 billion acquisition of real estate website Domain. CoStar, a U.S.-based company specializing in information, analytics, and marketing services for the commercial property sector, is set to acquire the remaining shares…
The legal powerhouse Kirkland & Ellis spearheaded an effort to align an array of law firms to broker a mutually agreeable deal with the White House. Chair Jon Ballis, prominently from Kirkland, was instrumental in reaching out to firms listed in an EEOC inquiry, endeavoring to muster a “critical mass” capable of engaging constructively with…
In recent years, several European law firms opted to scale back or close their offices in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia, redirecting resources to the United States. This strategic move was initially seen as a vote of confidence in the long-term prospects of the U.S. market. However, evolving geopolitical and economic conditions have…
Garfield.Law, a law firm in the U.K. that incorporates artificial intelligence at its core, has become the first AI-driven firm to receive authorization from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to provide regulated legal services in England and Wales. According to Law.com, this authorization marks a significant evolution in the legal services sector by recognizing the…
Squire Patton Boggs has made a strategic move to strengthen its corporate practice group in Sydney by hiring a private equity lawyer, James Nguyen, from the Australian firm Allens. This recruitment comes as law firms in Australia are increasingly competing for work in the burgeoning private capital sector. For more details, visit the full article…