International beauty giant L’Oréal is set to expand its portfolio by acquiring a majority stake in UK-based premium skincare brand Medik8 from the mid-market private equity firm Inflexion. While specific terms of the transaction remain undisclosed, reports suggest the deal is estimated to be valued at approximately €1 billion (about $1.14 billion). Leading the legal…
Paul Hastings has bolstered its New York office by bringing in two private equity partners, Chris Zochowski and Bradley Noojin, from A&O Shearman. Zochowski, formerly serving as the U.S. co-head of private equity and private equity sector lead at A&O Shearman, along with Noojin, adds significant expertise to their new firm. The duo has represented…
“`html Recent developments at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison signal continued change as two more partners have departed to join a new spinoff firm. This follows the firm’s March engagement in a pro bono deal with former President Trump. The departing partners, including Melissa Zappala who was promoted to partner last year, have joined…
Gleiss Lutz, a prominent German law firm, has transitioned to a salary partnership model, diverging from the traditionally conservative, all-equity partnership structure that has long characterized Germany’s legal landscape. This move aligns Gleiss Lutz with other major German firms such as Hengeler Mueller, Rödl, and Noerr. The new model introduces an intermediate stage between associate…
Baker McKenzie, a global top 10 law firm, has elected London-based partner Sunny Mann as its new chair. Mann will take over from Milton Cheng, marking a leadership shift from Singapore to London, the firm’s largest office. Sunny Mann, who works in the firm’s trade, compliance, and investigations practice, will begin his four-year term in…
Debevoise & Plimpton has instituted a new nonequity partnership tier while maintaining its existing lockstep compensation model for partners. This dual approach illustrates the firm’s attempt to balance market adaptability with its commitment to long-standing cultural values. Presiding partner Peter Furci emphasized that these changes are part of Debevoise’s strategy to evolve with market demands…
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has made a significant addition to its team by hiring Mihir Rale, the former General Counsel of Disney India. Rale will be taking on a co-lead role in the firm’s technology, media, and telecommunications group, as well as the newly established Digital+ practice. His appointment follows the recent completion of the $8.5…
The legal industry is facing a critical challenge as law firms risk devolving into homogeneous entities often likened to “clone factories.” Within these environments, diversity of thought and inclusion of minority groups are increasingly overlooked, leaving fear and silence to prevail. This concern is highlighted in discussions within the legal community as firms grapple with…
The Big Law Secondment Program is fostering cross-border expertise by linking emerging African legal talent with international firms, such as Clifford Chance and Latham & Watkins. This initiative aims to build professional networks and provide young African lawyers with invaluable global exposure. An example of its impact is Silver Kayondo, a partner at Uganda’s Ortus…
In the ongoing legal battle between eHarmony and Australian regulators, the key issue revolves around the allegation that the online dating site misled consumers about its prices and subscription terms. As the case unfolds in Australia, it features two prominent law firms, Norton Rose Fulbright and Baker McKenzie, representing the opposing sides. The core matter…
The alluring prospect of Spain’s vibrant real estate market and the demands of arbitration work are drawing substantial interest from global law firms like Jones Day, Clifford Chance, and Hogan Lovells. These firms are positioning themselves within the Spanish market amidst a backdrop of competitive legal hiring and business transactions. Notably, in the first four…
“`html Legal giant Ashurst is strategically positioning itself to capture a significant share of the Indian market, as it meticulously prepares for its launch operations. Last year, the firm bolstered its capabilities by hiring two partners from Khaitan & Co, reflecting its commitment to building a robust India strategy. However, Ashurst is currently holding its…
Allen & Overy Shearman (A&O Shearman) and Bredin Prat are steering the exclusive negotiations for the sale of ExxonMobil’s refining operations in France. A&O Shearman is advising ExxonMobil, while Bredin Prat is representing Canadian energy company North Atlantic. The transaction, which involves the acquisition of an 82.89% stake in Esso Société Anonyme Française and 100%…
Lateral partner hires are witnessing a surge across Asia with significant law firms bolstering their partner benches. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a renowned legal entity, alongside South Korea’s Yulchon and India’s Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, have recruited new partners to strengthen their teams in Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, and Mumbai. This trend indicates a strategic expansion…
Ocado has announced the appointment of Mollie Stoker as its next general counsel. Stoker will rejoin Ocado after serving as the general counsel for Britvic. Previously, she was Ocado’s deputy general counsel before transitioning to Britvic in 2023. This hiring marks a return to familiar grounds for Stoker as she steps into a significant leadership…
Bruce Embley, the new London partner at Clifford Chance, has secured his first significant mandate at the firm. Joining from Skadden in January, Embley is advising the private equity firm TPG on a notable transaction. Clifford Chance is providing counsel to TPG Rise Climate for its acquisition of a majority stake in the energy forecast…
“`html Private equity has successfully integrated into the mid-market legal space, but this has not been achieved by building firms from scratch. The allure of creating a greenfield law firm by luring marquee partners with financial incentives may overlook the intrinsic challenges of sustainability and the portability of talent. As explored in this analysis, the…
Law.com International, Law.com, and The American Lawyer have been recognized with multiple journalism awards. The publications won three national-level Azbee Awards of Excellence from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. These awards highlight their commitment to delivering high-quality journalistic content in the field of legal journalism. For more details, the original article can be…
Law.com International, along with Law.com and The American Lawyer, have been honored with several journalism awards. These publications were recognized by the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) with three national-level Azbee Awards of Excellence. The ASBPE Awards celebrate outstanding work in business journalism. These accolades mark another achievement for these widely read and…
In the evolving landscape of legal operations, the practice of tracking diversity metrics for outside counsel has come under renewed scrutiny. According to Jennifer McIver, a legal operations consultant at Wolters Kluwer, the current conversation is shifting from the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to the potential risks associated with tracking these…
A team from Davis Polk & Wardell, distributed between New York and São Paulo, is advising Brazil’s largest airline, Azul, on a Chapter 11 restructuring process. The move aims to significantly reduce Azul’s debt by more than $2 billion and involves a $1.6 billion debtor-in-possession financing plan. This strategic financial overhaul seeks to optimize Azul’s…
Clifford Chance is setting its sights on expanding in the Australian market by capitalizing on the burgeoning private capital sector. According to Mark Currell, the newly appointed Australia managing partner, the firm is poised to leverage its global strength in private capital to participate in regional growth opportunities. Currell highlighted the significant backlog of portfolio…
Recent trends highlight a significant decline in partner promotions in Greater China, accompanied by a shift toward promotions in Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore and Tokyo. This change aligns with widespread layoffs and office closures in Greater China, reducing the necessity for law firms to expand their partner networks in that region. On the contrary, international…
In a recent unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Mexican government against U.S. gun manufacturers. The litigation sought to hold these manufacturers financially responsible for billions of dollars in damages attributed to firearm violence by drug cartels that allegedly use their weapons. Central to the Court’s decision was the…
Clifford Chance’s Spanish office is making a strategic expansion with the addition of three new partners, enhancing its capabilities in regulatory and litigation sectors. Among the notable hirings is María Guinot, previously the head of Deloitte Legal Spain’s regulatory department. Her transition follows nearly six years of service at Deloitte and marks her as the…