Patrick Smith

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

Connect with this author

February 03, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Cadwalader Hires Willkie Compliance Chair in Two-Partner Move

Martin Weinstein left Willkie partly because of its retirement policy, he said. "I believe I can still practice at a high level."

By Patrick Smith

3 minute read

February 03, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Stroock's Merger Talks Face Pension and Accounting System Hurdles

The New York law firm has been in talks with Squire, McGuireWoods and Steptoe. But the firm's pension program and its accrual accounting system could complicate a merger.

By Patrick Smith

6 minute read

February 01, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Cadwalader Lands 4-Partner Leveraged Finance Group From King & Spalding

The move is the latest in a series of Big Law lawyers in private credit and special situations practices changing firms.

By Patrick Smith

4 minute read

February 01, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Paul Weiss Partner Heads to Akin Gump's Private Credit Practice

The move comes just after Akin Gump added White & Case private credit and special situations partner Fergus Wheeler in London. Overall, Akin Gump has added 15 corporate partners over the past year.

By Patrick Smith

3 minute read

February 01, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Paul Hastings Lands Kirkland Derivatives Partner

Jaime Madell said the derivatives practice at major law firms is at an inflection point.

By Patrick Smith

2 minute read

January 31, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Shearman & Sterling's Decisions Over Partner Pay, Practice Mix and Office Strategy Fuel Struggles

The New York law firm is now about "a third as profitable as its top competitors," said a former partner, diminishing its ability to hit market compensation for partners and leading to some exits.

By Patrick Smith

8 minute read

January 30, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Deal Watch: Kirkland and Others Grow in Funds Work Amid Slower Times in M&A

John O'Neil, who heads Kirkland's investment funds group, said the firm "couldn't be more bullish on the future growth potential for this industry."

By Patrick Smith

4 minute read

January 30, 2023 | The American Lawyer

The Lawyers Are Not All Right

As law firms are pushing lawyers and staff to return to offices, constant stress, triggered by the pandemic and other events, has changed people and the legal workplace.

By Andrew Maloney | Patrick Smith | Hank Grezlak

9 minute read

January 27, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Shearman & Sterling's Long Road From Wall Street Darling to Merger Partner

Once an Am Law 10 law firm, Shearman & Sterling is now playing catch-up as it pursues scale and a transformative merger.

By Patrick Smith

9 minute read

January 25, 2023 | The American Lawyer

Brown Rudnick Lands 4-Lawyer Corporate Group From Seyfarth Shaw

While M&A activity may be down in 2023, the incoming Brown Rudnick lawyers believe the coming years will be a boon for work related to emerging companies.

By Patrick Smith

4 minute read

More from ALM

Legal Speak is a weekly podcast that makes sense of what’s happening in the legal industry.