In this year’s Pro Bono Innovators issue, Davis Wright Tremaine (DWT) and Microsoft Corp. have been recognized by Bloomberg Law for their exemplary pro bono work. They have made significant strides in providing free legal services, particularly to independent journalists and newsrooms in underserved areas. In six states across the U.S., DWT and Microsoft have…
As year-end tasks dominate legal departments worldwide, the importance of both reflecting on and preparing for future challenges cannot be overstated. Several trends will notably keep in-house lawyers busy this coming year. The politically charged climate of election years has a profound impact, penetrating the various layers of society, including businesses. Debate on social issues…
In conversation with Olga V. Mack, a notable Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT, we delve into some thought-provoking insights for legal professionals. Her career has been remarkable in her dedication to redefining and streamlining the future of law. Around the potential intersection of technology…
The world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is constantly evolving, and recent developments have implications for legal professionals across the globe. Reuters analyzed the EU’s proposed AI regulations, suggesting that these rules may affect service industry professionals and might also impact other legislative approaches to AI worldwide. The report draws on surveys from professionals operating in…
The issue of nonlawyer ownership of legal services providers hasn’t had significant traction in the United States. Meanwhile, in England and Wales, nonlawyers have been allowed to own and manage legal services since the implementation of the Legal Services Act in 2011. However, this act wasn’t universally adopted, but it did find some application among…
Although considerable data is meagre, available indicators and experience underline a significant leadership diversity gap in the sphere of high-value commercial disputes. This void appears even more pronounced than in other sectors of law-related business operations. In this context, immense responsibility falls on businesses that appoint law firms to navigate substantial litigation and arbitration cases….
In a recent professional update, Hogan Lovells has renewed Marie-Aimée de Dampierre’s term as their chair for another three years, initiating from May of next year. A litigator deeply embedded within the Hogan’s intellectual property, media, and technology practice, her responsibilities involve maintaining the firm’s quality standards and fostering its work environment. More about this…
Allen & Overy and Sullivan & Cromwell are among four law firms selected to join Standard Chartered’s new diversity task force. The initiative is spearheaded by the group general counsel of the bank. The other two firms included in the task force are UK Top 50 firms Simmons & Simmons and Eversheds Sutherland. Their shared…
Success in the legal industry is never an isolation from hard work, but it’s key for an attorney to understand that hard work alone doesn’t guarantee them achievement of their career goals. This stands particularly true when transitioning to the role of an in-house counsel. Looking back at my own career, it’s clear that every…
The image-sharing company Pinterest has announced the hiring of Michele Lee as their new General Counsel. An emerging talent in the legal field, Lee was recently featured in the San Francisco Business Times’ 2023 “Women of Influence” class. Having joined Pinterest in January 2021, initially as an assistant general counsel, her journey reflects a rapid…
Scott A. Stengel is set to join Truist Financial Corporation as senior executive vice president and chief legal officer. His appointment, effective from December 26th, will see him take the helm in Charlotte, North Carolina, a detail confirmed in a recent news release. Stengel will succeed the outgoing Ellen M. Fitzsimmons, occupying not just the…
British oil and gas titan BP is bidding farewell to its longstanding executive vice president of legal, Eric Nitcher, as he retires after dedicating 33 years to the company. Filling Nitcher’s sizable shoes is Michael Sosso, slated to ascend from his current position as SVP legal to the top legal job on January 1, 2024,…
Fox Rothschild has recently announced the return of Adam Busler as a partner in the litigation department, based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Busler is known for his work in resolving commercial and employment disputes, displaying a wealth of experience in both state and federal litigation. His past cases have spanned a range of topics…
Continuing the reshuffling in the corporate world, Baker Hughes announced the appointment of Georgia Magno as its new Chief Legal Officer, to start effective from January 1. The disclosure made on Tuesday marks a critical milestone for both the company and Magno. Bloomberg Law Automation reported the news. Prior to this appointment, Magno held the…
London-based diamond behemoth, De Beers, has revealed a recent shakeup in its executive team, which includes promoting in-house lawyer Tom Johnson to the role of general counsel. Johnson’s journey with De Beers began in 2016 when he joined as head of legal for Element Six, a subsidiary of the company that deals with synthetic diamonds…
During the frenzy of BigLaw’s bonus season, it’s time to take a moment to look at law department compensation by way of our latest report. As every year, the findings are presented in collaboration with Paragon Legal, once again throwing light onto the often opaque world of in-house legal remuneration. In 2023, more than 1,900…
Contract tools are presently at the forefront of demand for professionals in the corporate legal sector, even though there have been reports of contract life-cycle management (CLM) tools not wholly meeting user expectations. This finding is part of the latest State of Legal Technology report by Lexion, which involved a survey of over 200 in-house…
K&L Gates, a multinational law firm with its roots in the US, has resorted to layoffs in four of its US based offices due to lower-than-expected volume of work. The affected offices are located in Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., and Pittsburgh. Further details about the layoffs can be found on Law.com. In other news, legal…
In the wake of an eight-figure verdict, the legal department of Temple University Health Network is undergoing a significant transformation. The changes were sparked by the realization that their approach to litigation needed to adapt. For more details this article details the conversation between Law.com Litigation Reporter Aleeza Furman and Temple University Health Network General…
In the legal landscape, the balance between narrative and data cannot be overstated. Stories, subjective experiences, and personal anecdotes can often shape our perspectives, drive our decisions, and inevitably impact the future of law. On the other hand, the surge of technological innovation has given increased significance to data. As lawyers navigate this paradigm, the…
In a notable legal development, AI-powered writing assistant service Grammarly has announced the appointment of Jennifer Miller as the company’s general counsel. The news was officially released on a Friday press statement by the company. Miller’s role places her at the helm of Grammarly’s legal function, working with the operating team. Miller comes to Grammarly…
The roles of chief legal officers, chief communications officers, and chief information officers within Fortune 500 companies are increasingly filled by external hires. According to a recent report by Spencer Stuart, 53% of leaders in these roles originate from outside the organization. This novel insight, gleaned from a first-of-its-kind analysis of Fortune 500 C-Suite leadership,…
CS Disco Inc. enlisted the assistance of Cooley to defend themselves against an anticipated class action lawsuit triggered by the departure of Kiwi Camara, the company’s co-founder, and former CEO. Mr. Kiwi, who maintains the distinction of being the youngest-ever graduate of Harvard Law School, left the company under a cloud of allegations about his…
Volvo Cars, the Swedish automaker, is seeing a shift in their legal department as Helen Hu assumes the position of General Counsel. She takes up the reins from Maria Hemberg, an influential legal veteran to whom Hu paid homage, citing her as a mentor. Despite transferrable skills from her predecessor, Hu brings her own unique…
Jeremy Barton, the U.K. General Counsel for KPMG, one of the Four Big accounting firms, recently announced his decision to step down from his position. Barton has played a lead role in the organization’s legal team for the past eight years. His decision to depart comes largely as a result of the firm closing a…