Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has announced the promotion of 25 individuals to the partnership, with the changes set to take effect on May 1. This number marks a slight increase compared to the previous year’s promotions. The newly appointed partners are drawn from various regions, highlighting the firm’s global reach and diversity in its leadership. For…
Kirkland & Ellis has secured over 20 mandates from private equity giant KKR in the U.K. and Europe within the initial months of 2025, collectively valued at more than £10 billion. Despite a general downturn in transactional activity and significant declines in share values of major private equity firms like Apollo Global Management and Blackstone,…
A&O Shearman partner Kung-Wei Liu has transitioned to Eric Chow & Co, a Hong Kong-based law firm closely associated with Commerce & Finance Law Offices in Beijing. Liu, who is qualified in Hong Kong, New York, and Taiwan, brings expertise in advising Chinese companies on securities offerings and is also experienced in mergers and acquisitions….
The legal landscape surrounding mandatory retirement ages in law firm partnerships has recently come under scrutiny with the Employment Tribunal’s decision in Scott v Walker Morris LLP. This case serves as a critical lens into how tribunals examine the justifications offered by firms for imposing such requirements. The ruling underscores that firms must present compelling…
White & Case and A&O Shearman are playing pivotal roles in the significant asset acquisition by Nomura Group from Australia’s Macquarie Group, valued at $1.8 billion. This transaction involves the sale of Macquarie’s U.S. and European public asset management business to Japan’s largest investment bank. The completion of the deal is anticipated by the end…
Noxtua, a legal AI startup associated with CMS, has received a substantial boost through a strategic partnership, valued at €80.7 million, receiving investments from Dentons, a leading legal firm, C.H. Beck, a top German legal publisher, and Northern Data, a cloud computing company. This move comes at a time of complex relations between Europe and…
Cozen O’Connor has strategically hired Samuel Feigin, the former corporate group chairman of Crowell & Moring, to enhance its Israel practice and support the firm’s growth initiatives. Feigin is recognized for establishing Israel practice groups at Crowell, Nixon Peabody, and Mintz, where he focused on assisting Israel-based technology and life sciences companies with their US…
Gowling WLG partner Patrick Shea is undertaking an effort to preserve plaques honoring fallen military heroes as the Hudson’s Bay Company navigates through creditor protection proceedings. As Canada’s oldest company, the 355-year-old retailer filed for creditor protection last month, placing its collection of historical artifacts at risk. Shea’s personal involvement aims to ensure these items,…
TozziniFreire, one of Brazil’s major full-service law firms, has successfully attracted two corporate partners from its competitor Lefosse. Among the new recruits is Carlos Mello, a former managing partner of Lefosse, who will now lead a team of 20 corporate partners at TozziniFreire. This strategic move has generated significant interest in the Brazilian legal community,…
Jones Day is making strategic moves to enhance its presence in the European fintech sector by organizing “FinAccelerate Europe.” This event, slated for June 3-4 in Paris, is targeted at connecting U.S. and European fintech startups with potential investors. The initiative builds on a program originally launched in 2022 in the firm’s San Francisco and…
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Mayer Brown have played pivotal roles in advising on a significant $1.5 billion acquisition within Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale deposit. This deal aligns with the Argentine government’s strategy to foster drilling activities in the Neuquén Basin, located in northern Patagonia. The aim is to boost energy exports in a…
Addleshaw Goddard’s rise in the Persian Gulf’s restructuring market highlights its growing competitiveness against well-established international law firms, especially as the business landscape in Saudi Arabia benefits from more sophisticated legal frameworks. The firm’s involvement in some of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s significant deals positions it alongside prominent players like Latham & Watkins. The increased…
Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett enlisted the services of Ballard Partners, allocating $100,000 each for lobbying efforts in the first quarter of this year. The lobbying was directed towards “advice related to employment practices” as both firms were involved in negotiations with the White House. Notably, Ballard Partners is led by Brian…
A&O Shearman has marked its first major internal milestone following the completion of its merger in May 2024 by announcing its latest round of promotions. This year, the firm has elevated 33 attorneys to partnership across 16 offices worldwide, involving 11 practice areas. Notably, this includes the promotion of four lawyers based in the United…
In the Asia Pacific region, reaching retirement age carries significant legal implications for both employees and employers. A primary consequence is the automatic change in employee status once retirement age is attained. For instance, in China, employees are typically transitioned into retirement, becoming eligible for retirement benefits. This also indicates a shift in legal frameworks—employment…
Irwin Mitchell, a prominent UK law firm, has sold its asset management arm to Shackleton, a financial planner backed by private equity. The entity, IM Asset Management, which was established in 2004, registered a turnover of £9.9 million in 2024 according to the most recent financial data available from Companies House. The asset management division…
Prominent law firms are actively investing in artificial intelligence to revolutionize the delivery of legal services. Firms such as Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, CMS, and A&O Shearman are taking significant steps in this direction by acquiring startups, developing bespoke tools, and integrating generative AI into their workflows. These innovations are aimed at streamlining contract…
The private equity market is facing challenges as the impact of tariffs continues to cause uncertainty. One significant effect is the destabilizing nature of unpredictable tariffs, which has led some industry professionals to pause certain deals. According to Katten M&A partner Christopher Atkinson, this on-again, off-again tariff situation has had a tangible impact on the…
A recent survey by the Thomson Reuters Institute reveals that despite clients’ hopes, law firms are unlikely to reduce their rates in response to the adoption of generative AI tools. According to the 2025 Generative AI in Professional Services Report, published on April 15, law firms do not anticipate passing on generative AI expenses to…
The integration of artificial intelligence in arbitration proceedings is stirring debate among legal professionals concerning disclosure requirements and ethical standards. Experts are questioning whether arbitrators should be obligated to reveal their use of AI tools in case preparation or research. Additionally, there’s uncertainty about whether party consent is necessary, and how to address objections from…
The most recent data from the Am Law 100 reveals a notable shift with three firms—Dechert, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, and Jenner & Block—joining the ranks of what is being termed the “Super Rich” within the legal sector. This development increases the total number of such firms to 41, up from 38 the previous year….
Davis Polk & Wardwell and King & Wood Mallesons, both prominent law firms, played integral roles in the launching of Chinese bubble tea company Chagee’s initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The IPO successfully raised over $410 million, marking the largest consumer IPO for a Chinese company in New York since RLX Technology’s…
In the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate law, where financial transactions often overshadow the human aspect, pro bono work has historically served as a beacon of altruism and a source of pride for major law firms. However, recent industry developments are casting a shadow over this once-admirable facet of legal practice. The article, originally reported…
Retirement age legislation in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region varies significantly across countries, each adopting distinct approaches tailored to their socio-economic contexts. The recent updates to China’s retirement age laws illustrate this diversity, as the country plans a staggered increase starting from January 1, 2025. This change will incrementally raise the retirement age to 63 for…
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel concluded its final fiscal year before merging with Herbert Smith Freehills by achieving record financial results. The firm’s revenue increased by 7.3%, reaching $467.2 million in 2024. Additionally, due to a 17% reduction in the equity tier, the average profits per equity partner (PEP) surpassed $3 million for the first…