The new year often heralds a time of change and transition, particularly in the legal sector, as many firms seek to renew their rosters with fresh talent. As 2024 gets underway, significant personnel switches have been reported, particularly within in-house legal teams worldwide. One noteworthy instance centers around Cowboy, a Belgian bike start-up, who has…
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments this Tuesday concerning shareholder rights and the accountability of corporations. The key question to be addressed is the extent to which investors, beyond regulatory bodies alone, should have the capacity to hold companies accountable for non-disclosure of information that might negatively impact stock prices. This upcoming…
Starbucks Corp.’s new general counsel, Bradley Lerman, landed approximately $3 million in total recompense after being employed by the coffee giant midway through the prior year. Before joining Starbucks in May 2023, Lerman, a former litigating partner at Kirkland & Ellis and Winston & Strawn, had announced his retirement in 2022, following his stint of…
Discord Inc., an online chat and social media platform known for its rapid growth and subsequent controversy, has expanded its legal team with the recruitment of veteran technology industry lawyer Hilary Ware. Ware’s appointment comes amidst a turbulent time for Discord as the company confirmed plans to lay off 17% of its workforce in a…
Aging attorneys often encounter emotional difficulties when contemplating retirement, even those employed by Big Law firms that have mandatory retirement ages. These attorneys often seek out loopholes to avoid leaving their roles, despite being aware that they should retire. Some individuals suggest that law firms should intervene when their partners are unable to make the…
In a significant shift, Lauren Livingston, the General Counsel at CVC Capital Partners, made the decision to leave the firm. Having contributed her expertise to one of Europe’s largest institutions for seventeen years, her departure will surely be felt within the private equity giant. Due to the proprietary nature of the original post, there may…
The legal world begins the year with a surge in merger activity, led by the likes of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. On Wednesday, the firm announced it would be merging with HMB Legal Counsel, based in Chicago. Notably, Fennemore Craig also shared its plans to enhance its presence in Seattle through a merger with the…
Brown-Forman Corp., known for its distillation of the globally celebrated Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, unveiled plans on Wednesday for the retirement of its longstanding General Counsel. Serving the company for a span of 16 years, the incumbent legal head’s departure from the firm symbolizes the end of an era. The reveal also included the company’s succession…
After over 16 years of service at Southwest Airlines Co., lawyer Kerrie Forbes has departed the company to lead her own legal team at Dallas-based charter carrier JSX Inc. Forbes announced her professional shift via a LinkedIn post, where she previously held the position of managing director and associate general counsel for litigation and regulatory…
The Clooney Foundation for Justice has added two fresh faces to their executive team. Former Warner Bros. Pictures general counsel, David Sagal, and former Withersworldwide law firm partner, Emma Lindsay, have been named co-CEOs of the foundation run by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her husband, popular actor George Clooney. Sagal is expected to…
Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is preparing for a major leadership change as the company’s General Counsel announced plans to step down in the coming months. This concludes a nearly three-decade-long tenure with the movie studio giant. This decision was made public by the company itself earlier this week. The outgoing General Counsel’s commitment and contributions…
Parker Group Inc., a financial technology startup that became visible to the public last year, has appointed Matthew Kopko as its chief legal officer. Prior to this, Kopko spent a year working as a senior vice president of legal and compliance as well as the head of proxy services for Strive Asset Management, an investment…
For general counsels across the globe, one key strategic objective in the annual docket is to build an effective Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) program. With over 50% of general counsels identifying ESG as a top five risk for their respective companies, the urgency of implementing an ESG program is ramping up, particularly as ESG…
Judge James Wynn Jr. announced plans to take senior status, a form of semi-retirement, on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This gives President Joe Biden a fourth opening to fill on the 14-member court, a notable opportunity given the influence circuit courts hold in shaping U.S. law. The Fourth Circuit covers…
The esteemed legal firm, K&L Gates has recently announced the addition of Drew Tedford to its partnership. Tedford will join the public policy and law practice based in Austin, Texas. Bloomberg Law reports on the details of this recent development. Prior to his new role, Tedford has held significant positions in the legislative sector. His…
Anna Chauvet, a copyright law specialist, has returned to Finnegan LLP to take charge of the firm’s copyright practice. Before this reappointment, Chauvet served as vice president of public policy at the National Association of Broadcasters. She was previously associated with Finnegan from 2007 to 2012. Besides her time at Finnegan and the National Association…
In a notable shift within the legal industry, Karen Ingram, a long-term partner at the prominent law firm Clayton Utz, has left her position to join Insurance Australia Group (IAG), one of the country’s leading insurance companies. Ms. Ingram’s role at IAG will be as interim general counsel, according to Law.com. During her tenure at…
In response to the ever-increasing digitalization of the world, legal professionals are reevaluating their legal tech budgets to address the reality of ‘Digital Transformation Budgets’. This focus on digital transformation is expected, especially amidst the ongoing global pandemic that has compelled corporations and law firms to invest more in digital infrastructure. A key figure in…
William J. Hochul, Jr., spouse to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, has made the transition to Davis Polk, joining the law firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice in New York as counsel. Prior to his recent exit as the General Counsel of hospitality conglomerate Delaware North, Hochul had an illustrious public service history, experience…
With 2024 on the horizon, legal industry analysts and numerous general counsels are anticipating a spirited upswing in in-house hiring, even in the face of fiscal stressors confronting corporate counsel. The landscape of the employment market in this sector points towards an increasing demand for specialized attorney roles within corporate legal departments. These specialized positions…
On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied an injunction against a Mississippi law that created a state-operated legal district in Jackson, the state capital. The court concluded that the plaintiffs in the case hadn’t demonstrated a sufficient basis to uphold a case for an initial injunction. The initial appeal was…
Western Digital Corp.’s chief legal officer Michael Ray is stepping away from his role at the corporation as it prepares to subdivide following unsuccessful merger discussions with Kioxia Holdings Corp of Japan. As disclosed in a securities filing on January 4, Ray will officially leave his post on January 12 to pursue another venture. Set…
In recent legal developments, New Jersey’s emerging legal cannabis market has been pointed to as a positive exemplar for other states to follow. Christopher Riggs, the chief counsel to New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission, expressed optimism on the state’s progress. Additionally, various law firms in the region, such as Scura Wigfield Heyer Stevens & Cammarota,…
Raine Group, an investment bank started by Big Law alumni, has announced the appointment of Daniel Satin as its new general counsel. Previously serving as a former Cravath, Swaine & Moore associate, Satin joined Raine as a deputy general counsel in mid-2022 from the Meritage Group. He has taken over from Alfred “A.J.” Chianese III,…
BakerHostetler, a notable law firm, recently confirmed that Melissa Leonard has returned to the fold as a partner in the business practice group and member of the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) team based in their Cleveland office. Leonard is stepping into this role after previously being a part of BakerHostetler from 1995 until 2021. Prior…