Clifford Chance, a global law firm, has expanded its team in Houston with the recruitment of energy partner David Stringer from Jones Day, furthering their concerted efforts to bolster their energy and infrastructure team in the area. This move is part of the firm’s strategic initiative following their launch in Houston last June, where they…
A new report from Uplift Legal Funding unveils an interesting perspective on the geography of the US legal profession. By assigning each state a score out of 10 based on a variety of factors, it seeks to determine which states offer conditions in which lawyers are the least stressed, overworked, or underpaid. They derived these…
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have remained relatively languid within the healthcare sector as we moved into the latter half of 2023. However, there is an air of expectancy that this lethargy might be lifted soon. Experts, such as M&A lawyer Matt Gardella from Mintz, argue that market conditions hint towards a resurgence in biopharma M&A…
Each year, numerous bright individuals begin their journey into the world of law by attending law school. This journey, starting with the 1L (first-year law student) experience, can be quite daunting due to the rigor of classes and the immense pressure to succeed. Because of this, the following tips, originally penned by an anonymous author…
Legal tech and publishing veteran Steve Errick, previously the chief operating officer at Fastcase and head of the Legal Research Information Division at LexisNexis, has recently taken up a new role with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) as senior vice president and chief development officer. In his new role, Errick will guide various strategic initiatives,…
The 2022-2023 term of the U.S. Supreme Court concluded in June, delivering significant rulings on subjects such as affirmative action, voting rights, and student debt relief. Yet, several other significant legal issues are brewing in the lower courts, potentially poised for review by the high court. According to The National Law Journal, some of these…
In a competitive landscape for patent litigation associates, Fish & Richardson is strategically utilizing remote flexibility to attract highly skilled professionals in locations far removed from its physical offices. Global Head of Litigation, Corrin Drakulich, has acknowledged that market unpredictability and a trial backlog are contributing factors to the increased demand for their patent litigation…
In a compelling turn of events, midlevel associates in Big Law are not holding back in expressing their sentiments about their firms. According to a recent article published on Law.com, despite the complaints from Big Law regarding the increase in salaries for these already well-compensated individuals, the companies cannot quell their vocal criticisms. These associates…
For professionals interested in understanding effective management during turbulent economic times, this insightful article brings forth the wisdom of Warren Buffett, who once famously stated that it’s during tough times that one discovers who isn’t adequately prepared for challenges. This particular wisdom was evident in the feedback from the annual Midlevel Associates Survey conducted by…
The developing story of former President Donald Trump and unresolved Georgia election issues raised eyebrows, with suggestions of Trump willingly turning himself in being taken as seriously as sales pitches for Brooklyn bridges. Experts remain skeptical about these claims. Trump prodonly treads risky political terrains, yet this move hints at something unprecedented. For more on…
On August 22, 2023, SCOTUSblog shared a round-up of daily noteworthy news articles and commentary related to the Supreme Court. The daily read kicked-off with a significant case concerning race admissions that the Supreme Court has been asked to hear. In addition to this particular case, an array of other legal matters pertaining to the…
The International Legal Technology Association Conference (ILTACON) hit the ground running this week, as it commenced in Orlando from Sunday and is set to wrap up by Thursday. Attendees numbering over 3,200 and 1,700 members onsite had the opportunity to absorb enlightening content, interact with new contacts, and explore potential business opportunities. One of the…
An international survey conducted by LexisNexis reveals that almost half of legal professionals and consumers see generative AI significantly impacting the practice of law. The study comprised of 7,950 participants including lawyers, law students and consumers from the US, UK, Canada, and France. Their inputs provided a better understanding of their awareness of generative AI…
In the esteemed tradition of attorneys as social reformers, from Mahatma Gandhi to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a new wave of legal advocates is emerging. Among these are two influential figures from the London office of Weil Gotshal & Manges, who are currently at the forefront of a significant push for reform. Their target is the…
In an endeavor estimated at €1.29 billion, Miranda Alliance and Baker McKenzie are extending their legal expertise to a major project in Angola. The ambitious enterprise is slated to provide sustainable electrical power to roughly one million residents in the African nation. The exact nature of the project, the legal intricacies navigated by the advising…
In a compelling development, the recently suspended partner of Axiom Ince has taken his appeal to the High Court against what his counsel referred to as a ‘draconian’ decision by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The senior partner’s lawyer mentioned that his client was ‘very shocked and distressed’ by this unexpected intervention from SRA. Unfortunately,…
Eugene Shvidler, a businessman in the oil industry and known associate of Roman Abramovich, has failed in his legal bid to overturn sanctions imposed on him by the U.K. government. These sanctions, which were introduced in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, were levied against Shvidler in March 2022. His attempts to challenge these measures…
Given the changing dynamics and increasing pressures on the legal industry, law firms worldwide are reportedly making staffing adjustments. A recent report shares an insight into this emerging strategy. However, it is worth noting that readers might encounter limited access to the full text as it is behind a paywall. Without delving into specifics, considering…
Morrison Foerster, Davis Polk & Wardwell, and Sullivan & Cromwell have been mandated to counsel on the initial public offering (IPO) for SoftBank Group-owned chip designer Arm on Nasdaq Exchange. This IPO is anticipated as the largest of the year. SoftBank’s Arm, a U.K. based chip designer, has filed a preliminary prospectus with the U.S….
In the ever-competitive world of Biglaw, where productivity measures often justify the hefty price tags of headcount, recent developments suggest a different story. One of the top 20 Biglaw firms has reportedly laid off a number of its staff down under, although lawyers appear to have emerged unscathed. Productivity isn’t justifying the Biglaw headcount. Important…
When Peter Zaman was hired by Holman Fenwick Willan in 2021, his role as a climate finance and environmental products expert was clearly aligned with the firm’s energy, commodities, aerospace, shipping, construction and insurance sectors in Asia. All of these sectors deal heavily with fossil fuels, indicating a problem that Zaman, a former partner at…
In the aftermath of recent events surrounding a tax advice scandal, PwC Australia continues to witness the departure of partners. Florence Riviere, an experienced professional in advising energy and infrastructure sector clients on environment and planning matters, has exited the firm. Riviere has joinedPinsent Masons as a planning and environment partner, and will be based…
The legal sector has experienced a sharp rise in law firm headcount during the first half of 2023. However, this has coincided with a significant decline in productivity, as highlighted by a recent survey conducted by Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group. Featuring 130 firms in its participant list, including 66 Am Law 100 firms, the…
Thomson Reuters has completed its acquisition of legal tech firm Casetext, a company that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to create innovative legal products, including the AI-based legal assistant CoCounsel. The acquisition is part of Thomson Reuters’ strategy to incorporate generative AI solutions and redefine the professional world with its applications. This acquisition…
Last week marked another loss for Donald Trump’s legal team in court, this time in New York. Judge Lewis Kaplan decisively rejected Trump’s motion to delay the second E. Jean Carroll defamation case, clearly branding the appeal as ‘frivolous’. According to documentation provided by Court Listener, this motion was aiming to postpone the lawsuit based…