Global CEO of Norton Rose Fulbright, Gerry Pecht, has retired early from his leadership role, leaving the firm’s partnership unexpectedly. Pecht was set to serve in the position until 2024, a fact that Norton Rose confirmed upon his appointment in 2020. The circumstances surrounding his early departure are yet unknown as Norton Rose Fulbright have…
As of January, William Peake, an Irish litigator who transferred to the Cayman Islands early in his professional journey, now carries the responsibility of the global managing partner at offshore firm Harneys. At 45 years of age, Peake is juggling the task of unifying a diverse firm culture across Harneys’ 11 offices located throughout the…
Yesterday, Canadian legal technology companies CiteRight and Jurisage announced their plans for a merger under the Jurisage name. As reported by Law.com, both companies are known for unique technological contributions to the Canadian legal sector. CiteRight is a litigation drafting platform, while Jurisage’s software specializes in the instant extraction and embedding of legal insights from…
Friday evening marked a significant occasion for the African legal community, as professionals from various countries and fields convened for the African Legal Awards 2023. Although the full range of achievements and details of the event are locked behind a paywall, the occasion serves as a testament to the strides being made within the African…
Axiom Ince’s suspended owner, Pragnesh Modhwadia, is under a High Court-imposed freezing order of over £57 million. The firm accuses Modhwadia of misappropriating significant sums of money, leading to this legal action. Fears regarding Modhwadia’s whereabouts have been dismissed by his lawyer. The order sums to £57,522,510.00 and was enacted after Modhwadia’s suspension by the…
Two major Macau law firms, MdME and DSL, announced their plans to merge. The impending amalgamation intends to enhance their comprehensive legal offerings, with operations expected from their Macau, Hong Kong, and Lisbon offices starting October 1. These established law firms join forces amid an evolving global legal landscape, aiming to fortify their capabilities and…
Miguel Zaldivar, who was recently reelected as Hogan Lovells CEO until 2028, has expressed his intent to double down on the firm’s expansion in key U.S. markets. His strategy includes making group lateral acquisitions while maintaining the company’s presence in China, a region from which many peers are withdrawing. In an interesting twist of events,…
White & Case has recently augmented its global financial restructuring and insolvency practice by onboarding Sophie Lyall as a partner situated in their Hong Kong office. Lyall is a defector from the ranks of Ashurst; at her former employer, she held a partner position for over four years. Lyall’s legal career started at Bell Gully…
In recent legal news, it has been reported that China’s Haiwen law firm has hired two new partners from Mayer Brown, further expanding its legal team. This move follows the addition of three new partners from Herbert Smith Freehills three months prior, illustrating Haiwen’s aggressive expansion in the Greater China capital markets sector. Although details…
The stereotype of French professionals nurturing working relationships over long, indulgent lunches features prominently in the Netflix series “Emily in Paris.” However, when it comes to French lawyers, the reality might be a touch different. While it’s true that French lawyers often entertain their clients over midday meals rather than having a solitary lunch at…
UK Top 50 firm, Kennedys, has recently added a new partner to its branch in Chile. Rodrigo Hayvard, previously acting as general counsel and chief compliance officer for leading Chilean insurance company FID Seguros, is making a return to Kennedys where he had formerly held a senior associate position. This move further bolsters Kennedy’s strong…
Allen & Overy, having lost a long-serving partner after over 25 years of dedicated service, is facing a notable shift in personnel. Piotr Lesinski, a debt capital markets and finance regulatory partner based in Warsaw, has chosen to leave his familiar roost and has flown to new pastures over at Bird & Bird. Lesinski had…
K&L Gates has recently expanded its Hong Kong team with the addition of Paul Haswell, a technology-focused partner from Seyfarth Shaw. Haswell, who has now become the 19th partner at K&L Gates’ Hong Kong unit, is expected to enrich the firm’s abilities in handling tech-related legal matters. While extensive details about Paul Haswell’s new role…
Senior legal officers and general counsel from leading corporations including Vodafone, Rolls Royce, and BP have joined hands with partners from prestigious law firms such as Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom to launch a new campaign geared towards LGBTQ+ inclusivity. This new initiative called OUT@work seeks to assist law firms and companies in enhancing their…
Offshore law firm Appleby continues to deepen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region with the recent addition of corporate M&A and private equity partner Hannah Yao to its Shanghai office, marking the firm’s first ever partner hire in the city. Yao, who has a background in both U.S. and Chinese law, was previously counsel at…
International law firm Jones Day has recently expanded its Asia Pacific energy practice amid a wave of significant hires. The hires include Simon Brown, former Ashurst partner, who is now joining the firm’s Brisbane office, and Paul Greening, previously associated with Akin Gump, who is moving to Jones Day’s Singapore office. The addition of these…
Nishimura & Asahi, the largest law firm in Japan by headcount, has significantly changed its ownership structure, granting foreign-qualified lawyers the legal ability to serve as equity partners with management rights. The firm inaugurated its foreign law joint enterprise structure on September 4 and is now operating as Nishimura & Asahi (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo). Fascinatingly,…
Renowned law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC) has strengthened its Hong Kong team with the addition of a new partner, Ivan Chang. Chang, formally a partner at Addleshaw Goddard’s Hong Kong office, which is currently defunct, brings with him a wealth of experience in dispute resolution. More about the new incorporation can be found here….
Herbert Smith Freehills has augmented its Asia private capital team, bringing Peiwen Chen on board from White & Case in Singapore. Chen was previously a local partner at White & Case and will join Herbert Smith Freehills as a partner. Simultaneously, the firm has arranged for the relocations of its Sydney-based M&A partner, Malika Chandrasegaran,…
The annual African Legal Awards ceremony is a prominent event in the global legal calendar, recognising the outstanding work conducted by legal professionals across Africa. This year, the awards highlighted both established firms and rising stars, with Webber Wentzel garnering the most accolades. Webber Wentzel, a South African law firm, proved to be the biggest…
As the summer season closes, regulatory lawyers worldwide are dealing with a shifting landscape of trade, technology, data, and climate rules. For those who might have taken a leisurely August break, priority one now is to get acquainted with these changes. Whether you are a seasoned observer of Italy’s Ferragosto, or lean more towards being…
The accelerated pace of news stories throughout the summer has meant that major events may have slipped through the purview of even the most diligent still on duty. Whether you took time off for rest or to manage the paradoxical workload of 2023, here’s a quick recap of some significant legal news posts you might…
A lawsuit has been filed against Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities by Tokyo-based Yamazaki Marunouchi Law Office, with proceedings lodged at the Tokyo District Court. This legal action represents 66 Credit Suisse Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bond investors, who are claiming approximately $36 million in compensation. Details regarding the case have been obtained from Law.com…
In a significant move that underscores the burgeoning demand for specialized mining law expertise worldwide, global legal firm Norton Rose has recently bolstered its operations in South Africa. The firm has managed to score a major hire from the Bar for its Johannesburg location, thereby considerably enhancing its mining law capabilities. While crucial details of…
The renowned French law firm, Moncey, has recently attracted high-profile talent into its ranks by hiring veteran Linklaters partner, Fabrice de La Morandière. The legal jungernaut, known for his extensive industry experience and expertise, had previously operated at Linklaters for a noteworthy 22-year tenure. During this period, Morandière led the private equity practice and functioned…