Patrick Smith, based in New York, covers the business of law, including the ways law firms compete for clients and talent, M&A and corporate work, leadership and marketing innovation. Reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @nycpatrickd
January 20, 2021 | The American Lawyer
Big Law Is Adding to Its Diversity-Focused Leadership RanksFour firms have onboarded new diversity leaders, while two have appointed regional heads, potentially signaling a shift to a more localized presence when it comes to diversity and inclusion efforts by law firms.
By Patrick Smith
7 minute read
January 19, 2021 | The American Lawyer
Deal Watch: Smaller Deals, Lots of SPACsA smattering of midsize deals kept 2021 M&A on the uptick and the presence of a slew of SPAC deals shows maybe 2021, not 2020, may be the year of the SPAC.
By Patrick Smith
10 minute read
January 19, 2021 | The American Lawyer
'The Problem Is It Isn't Improving Fast Enough': High-Profile Women M&A Attorneys Weigh In on Fixing Inequity in Big M&ASeeing signs of progress on an anecdotal level, these attorneys are optimistic about the future, even though they know the numbers don't currently bear that out.
By Patrick Smith
9 minute read
January 13, 2021 | The American Lawyer
When It Comes to Leading Big M&A Deals, Women Are an IllusionAn analysis of the deal teams of the largest M&A transactions of 2020 shows very few women are in charge of running the deals.
By Patrick Smith
6 minute read
January 12, 2021 | The American Lawyer
Deal Watch: Big Deals Anchored Another Strong Week in M&ADealmakers are going full steam ahead in 2021 with back-to-back weeks of strong deal work in tech, health care and pharma.
By Patrick Smith
7 minute read
January 12, 2021 | The American Lawyer
Big Law Firms Join In PAC-Freezing Following Capitol AttackFollowing the lead of several major banks and corporations, the firms are reassessing where money from their political action committees goes.
By Patrick Smith
4 minute read
January 11, 2021 | The American Lawyer
To Retreat or Not to Retreat? For These Law Firm Leaders, It Isn't Really a QuestionDespite the overwhelming success of virtual conferences and retreats, these law leaders want to get their people back in front of clients and each other.
By Patrick Smith
6 minute read
January 08, 2021 | International Edition
Latham, Freshfields and Wachtell Top 2020's Tech-Powered Global M&A RankingsThe latest report by Mergermarket demonstrates a year of two halves, with a late surge in high-value deals occurring in H2.
By Patrick Smith | Hannah Roberts
4 minute read
January 08, 2021 | The American Lawyer
Boies Defections Continue as Jenner Snags Prominent Congressional Investigations AttorneyThe latest partner to leave Boies Schiller for Jenner worked with his new colleagues on Apple antitrust matters.
By Patrick Smith
4 minute read
January 07, 2021 | The American Lawyer
M&A Report: Tech Saved US M&A in 2020, Dissonance for Names Atop League TablesMergermarket's 2020 review shows how important the sector was to M&A in 2020 and has some differing opinions on which law firms were at the top of the deal value rankings.
By Patrick Smith
4 minute read