In a notable legal proceeding, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in London is set to decide on whether to approve a £200 million settlement in the case of Merricks v Mastercard. This case is significant for being the first to be certified under the U.K.’s collective actions regime. The dispute has intensified with litigation funder…
“`html As the London Stock Exchange (LSE) experiences a significant decrease in initial public offerings (IPOs), with a record low of £737 million raised in 2024, U.K. law firms are shifting their focus towards opportunities in the European IPO market. Major deals in countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are taking precedence as…
Jones Day has enhanced its presence in Australia by recruiting Elizabeth Wile from Norton Rose Fulbright. Wile brings 30 years of expertise in environmental law to Jones Day’s Sydney office, with a focus on contaminated land issues and remediation law. This move aligns with Jones Day’s strategy to expand its Australian operations, aiming to add…
CMS has expanded its presence in Singapore by hiring a partner from Baker McKenzie to lead its financial services regulatory group. Operating as CMS Holborn Asia following a merger in 2017, the firm has appointed Ying Yi Liew as a director in its banking & finance practice. Liew leaves Baker McKenzie’s joint law venture in…
The Hong Kong stock exchange is currently bustling with activity, as evidenced by the 110 active applications for initial public offerings (IPOs) as of February 11. Capital markets lawyers are expressing optimism that the city’s IPO market is making a comeback. However, it appears that some major law firms are finding themselves edged out of…
The U.S. decision to freeze foreign aid has compelled Lawyers Without Borders, a non-profit focused on advancing access to justice and the rule of law, to suspend several of its international initiatives. Among the five affected programs is a critical effort supporting women judges and lawyers in Afghanistan. This development underscores how recent policy shifts…
In a prominent development in the Spanish legal landscape, partners from Garrigues and Uría Menéndez have emerged as leading figures in the M&A sector for 2024. Fernando Vives Ruiz, Garrigues’ executive chairman and managing partner, and Javier Redonet Sánchez del Campo of Uría Menéndez topped the charts in total deal value, as reported by TTR…
Linklaters, the global law firm, has confirmed the upcoming transfer of its Warsaw office operations to Addleshaw Goddard. This strategic move involves approximately 80 lawyers, including eight partners, and is slated for completion by April 30, pending a partner vote. While Linklaters officially describes this as a “transfer”, insiders note it is essentially a sale,…
King & Spalding is strategically expanding its international trade team in Brussels by acquiring a four-lawyer team, including two partners, from Baker McKenzie. This expansion comes amidst an anticipation of significant U.S. trade tariffs under Donald Trump’s administration. The move bolsters King & Spalding’s government matters and regulation practice group with the addition of Arnoud…
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has reported a significant case involving the former head cashier at CMS, Amanda Bell, who transferred funds from the law firm’s account to her personal account on 124 occasions. According to the decision published by the SRA, Bell attempted to disguise these fraudulent transactions as genuine financial transfers. This incident…
In a high-profile legal maneuver, Linklaters successfully assisted Thames Water in securing a £3 billion emergency debt package at the London High Court. This financial intervention was deemed crucial as Thames Water, a major supplier serving 16 million customers, faced potential collapse without the additional funding by March 24. The case has attracted attention from…
Two environmental groups, Lawyers Are Responsible (LAR) and Fossil Free London, have held another protest outside the offices of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and A&O Shearman in London. The protestors accused the law firms of contributing to “fuelling climate chaos.” This isn’t the first time these firms have been targeted; similar demonstrations took…
OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence firm, is confronting legal challenges in India as a group of major media companies has initiated a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement. The litigation, filed by entities including the Delhi-based news agency Asian News International (ANI) at the Delhi High Court, marks a significant legal action against AI platforms in India….
OpenAI, the artificial intelligence group backed by Microsoft, is currently entangled in legal battles over copyright infringement claims from some of India’s largest media organizations. The case, which is the first of its kind against an AI platform in India, has been filed at the Delhi High Court, with hearings set for March 18. This…
The rapid evolution of geopolitical, energy, and AI landscapes is prompting general counsel (GCs) to reconsider their negotiation approaches. A recent report from the Lex Mundi General Counsel Summit, which brought together over 50 international GCs, highlights that rivalry between China and the U.S. is a significant factor reshaping their risk environment. The report indicates…
Kirkland & Ellis, alongside Hengeler Mueller, is providing legal counsel for the acquisition of Apleona Group, a comprehensive European real estate and facility management provider, by a consortium led by Bain Capital. The transaction, valued at €4 billion, entails the procurement of Apleona from the Parisian private equity firm, PAI Partners. Apleona, with its headquarters…
As the remote work landscape evolves globally, law firms in the UK appear to be standing firm on flexible working arrangements despite a wider shift towards in-office presence. While many sectors, influenced by policy changes across the Atlantic, may be witnessing a return to traditional office settings, UK law firms have largely maintained their remote…
American law firms are proactively seeking new opportunities in the UK as the landscape for legal practice structures evolves. While KPMG’s bid for an alternative business structure (ABS) license in Arizona remains under deliberation, major U.S. firms such as Reed Smith, Perkins Coie, and Alston & Bird have already secured ABS licenses in the UK….
The landscape of legal services is evolving as United States law firms secure alternative business structure (ABS) licenses in the United Kingdom. High-profile firms, including Reed Smith, Perkins Coie, and Alston & Bird, are seizing these opportunities amidst the absence of similar licenses in their home country. Meanwhile, KPMG awaits a decision from Arizona to…
The Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) is positioning itself as an emerging leader in dispute resolution within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With an ambitious expansion strategy, the SCCA aims to compete with established arbitration centers in Dubai and Cairo. This push is fueled by Saudi Arabia’s significant $1.8 trillion construction…
In recent developments across the Asia Pacific legal sector, notable hires have been made by top firms demonstrating a strategic bolstering of their talent in key markets. Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed the general counsel from Australia’s banking regulator, enhancing its financial services capabilities with this acquisition. Concurrently, Nishimura & Asahi has expanded its presence…
In a move that indicates a shift within the Hong Kong legal market, Iris Yeung, previously associated with legacy firm Allen & Overy, has transitioned to an in-house position with John Swire & Sons. Yeung, who had joined Allen & Overy in 2023, appears to be taking on new challenges within a corporate framework. The…
Baker McKenzie is set to undergo a leadership transition as its Global Chair, Milton Cheng, completes his second term in October 2025. Cheng has been at the helm for six years, stepping into the role during a challenging period following the sudden passing of former leader Paul Rawlinson. In light of the upcoming elections to…
With Arizona yet to decide on granting KPMG an alternative business structure (ABS) license in the U.S., several American law firms are capitalizing on opportunities in England, where ABS licenses have been available since 2012. Among those seizing this opportunity are AmLaw giants Reed Smith, Perkins Coie, and Alston & Bird. These moves indicate a…
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has announced the closure of its Beijing office, which currently employs seven lawyers, including two partners. This decision forms part of a strategic move to consolidate the firm’s Greater China presence in its Hong Kong office, according to a statement from a firm spokesperson. The spokesperson indicated that this reorganization…