The General Counsel Conference Middle East is set to be a significant event in the legal calendar for the region, featuring participation from prominent legal figures including those from Mastercard, Ericsson, and Siemens Energy. The conference, organized by Law.com International, will convene on April 30 at Hilton’s Conrad Dubai Hotel. This event promises to be…
One year has passed since the legal industry’s spotlight on toxic work culture, following the tragic death of Pinsent Masons partner Vanessa Ford. According to a coroner’s verdict, Ford’s death was partly due to the demanding 18-hour work days she endured. Advocates for change in the legal sector expected Ford’s case to initiate reforms. However,…
A recent analysis on the representation of Black partners in UK law firms has shed light on the slow pace of progress in diversity at senior levels. As of 2022, a study revealed that Black partners comprised merely 1% of partners at leading law firms, despite Black individuals making up over 4% of the UK…
As Toronto prepares for the world’s largest mining conference next week, the Canadian mining sector shows resilience despite global financial and geopolitical uncertainties. A prominent example is the recent CA$2.6 billion merger of Equinox Gold and Calibre Mining, underscoring a robust mergers and acquisitions (M&A) climate in Canada’s mining industry. John Wilkin, an M&A partner…
In a significant move within the legal industry, KPMG has announced the launch of a U.S.-based law firm after securing approval from Arizona’s Supreme Court under the state’s Alternative Business Structure (ABS) program. This development, reported on February 27, 2025, marks a strategic expansion for the Big Four accounting firm, allowing it to offer legal…
Latham & Watkins has advised Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica on its sale of South American assets worth $1.25 billion to Telecom Argentina. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton represented Telecom Argentina in this deal. This transaction is part of Telefónica’s ongoing strategy to reduce its exposure to the Latin American market, a process in which Latham…
In a notable observation from the Spanish legal sector, Pérez-Llorca has significantly increased its global revenue by 33% for 2024, thanks in part to its international expansion efforts. This brought the firm’s turnover to over €165 million, with a substantial share derived from its burgeoning overseas operations. Concurrently, another Spanish law firm, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo,…
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has announced the recruitment of two senior finance partners from Sullivan & Cromwell in London. Chris Howard, who headed the European restructuring practice, and Presley Warner, a specialist in European credit and leveraged finance, will be joining Gibson Dunn. The transition of these partners is notable, as Sullivan & Cromwell seldom…
In an unusual legal confrontation, Leng Beng Kwek, Chairman of City Development Limited (CDL), Singapore’s largest listed real estate developer, has initiated legal proceedings against his own son, Sherman Kwek, who serves as the company’s CEO. The dispute, filed in Singapore’s High Court, centers on allegations of an attempted “coup” by Sherman and six other…
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has reported a substantial increase in its financial performance for the past year, marking what firm chair Brad Karp has described as a “transformative” period. The firm achieved a 31.6% surge in revenue, reaching an impressive $2.63 billion. Additionally, the firm saw its profit per equity partner rise by…
With the announcement that Paul Philip, the Chief Executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), will be stepping down later this year, the Law Society has issued a call for “significant organisational change.” This departure occurs at what the Law Society CEO Ian Jeffery describes as a “critical time” for the SRA, particularly in light…
Private equity investment in UK law firms surged to a remarkable £534 million in 2024, nearly equaling the total equity inflow of the preceding four years combined. From 2019 to 2024, these investments totaled £1.2 billion, signalling a burgeoning interest from private equity in the UK legal sector. This growing trend raises important questions about…
Baker McKenzie is representing British Airways in a legal battle involving claims totaling £514 million brought by former employees. The employees allege that the airline used the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext for dismissing them. British Airways, however, contends that its actions were a financial necessity due to the severe impact of the pandemic on…
Herbert Smith Freehills experts outline that the U.K., particularly in England and Wales, maintains its standing as a leader in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Mediation has become a key element in the English courts, as commercial disputes now rarely proceed to trial without attempting ADR at least once. To bolster this competitive edge, proposals for…
Two Singaporean ministers have initiated a defamation lawsuit against Bloomberg, a prominent U.S. publication, alleging that “libellous” statements were made about the ministers in its coverage. The legal action, filed in Singapore’s Supreme Court, involves the nation’s home affairs and law minister, K. Shanmugam, and manpower minister, Tan See Leng. The Singaporean legal firms Davinder…
Singapore’s prominent law firm Rajah & Tann is preparing for a change in leadership as Patrick Ang steps down from his position after completing two terms as managing partner. Kim Beng Ng, currently co-deputy managing partner, will assume Ang’s responsibilities starting April 1. Ng will lead the firm’s strategic focus on advancing artificial intelligence (AI)…
In the highly competitive legal industry, the question of how swiftly lateral partner hires should deliver returns on investment is becoming increasingly pertinent. A notable example of this is at White & Case, where the firm has invested at least $25 million in top-tier lateral partners in the global private equity sector. This scenario highlights…
The European Unified Patent Court (UPC), which launched in June 2023, is reshaping the landscape of European patent law. Historically, legal proceedings to defend or litigate patents had to be conducted separately in each country, leading to significant expenses. The UPC offers a new central authority where patent owners can pursue legal protection across multiple…
Baker McKenzie, Pérez-Llorca, and Von Wobeser y Sierra have recently expanded their teams by hiring new partners in Mexico, highlighting the robust demand for legal services in the country despite some trade uncertainties with the United States. Among the new additions are Andrés Barroso and Santiago Villanueva, previously of Creel García Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez…
The European Union has announced revisions to its existing sustainability laws, a move intended to support the competitiveness of its member states. At the forefront of this legislative shift is Valdis Dombrovskis, the European economy chief, who highlighted the burdensome nature of current regulations on both individuals and businesses. Dombrovskis mentioned that these complexities could…
The 2024 report by litigation platform Solomonic highlights Clyde & Co, DAC Beachcroft, and Herbert Smith Freehills as leading the rankings for high-value litigation law firms in the UK. Clyde & Co topped the list with 197 new claims, followed closely by DAC Beachcroft and DWF with 164 and 160 claims, respectively. Solomonic’s annual report…
The UK Arbitration Bill, recently enacted as the UK Arbitration Act 2025, seeks to reinforce London’s status as a preeminent hub for arbitration. The UK government’s announcement emphasized the bill’s potential to bolster the legal services sector and drive economic growth, suggesting that it could “deliver millions more to grow the economy.” However, the measure’s…
CMS Hasche Sigle has expanded its presence in Asia by merging with its Hong Kong alliance firm, Lau, Horton & Wise. The combined entity will now operate under the name CMS Hong Kong. This strategic move is part of CMS’s broader growth strategy in the region. The Hong Kong practice is composed of approximately 40…
In a significant shift within Greater China’s legal landscape, Kirkland & Ellis has seen the departure of ten partners over the past year, a trend drawing attention given the firm’s prominent position in the region. Among the partners who have exited, five have transitioned to other major firms such as Herbert Smith Freehills, Jones Day,…
In a notable development within the Indian market, both domestic and international law firms have secured advisory roles in significant transactions, including a billion-dollar initial public offering (IPO) and a large-scale healthcare deal. Latham & Watkins and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas are involved in the IPO of Hexaware, marking a major milestone as India’s largest-ever IT…