HSF Hires Trio for Luxembourg Launch, Builds Private Capital Practice

European Court of Justice Reaffirms Right to Interest in Deutsche Telekom Victory

Alex D'Elia | June 13, 2024

The decision by the EU's top court may have implications for Intel Corp.'s quest for €593 million in interest from the European Commission.

3 minute read

BeReal GC Departs as App Sold in $500M Deal, Weil and Orrick Lead

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | June 13, 2024

The GC leaves after just over a year in the role following its takeover by fellow French app developer Voodoo.

3 minute read

How to Build an Arbitration Practice: An Interview with 37-Year HSF Veteran Paula Hodges

Kasvi Sehgal | June 12, 2024

The firm's former arbitration head of 16 years dives into the changing disputes landscape and provides words of advice for the upcoming generation.

4 minute read

Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici Adds 4-Lawyer Finance Team in Milan

Alex D'Elia | June 12, 2024

The hires come on the heels of a seven-lawyer addition to the Italian firm's Milan office last month.

2 minute read

Multinationals Face Huge Fines for Supply Chain Breaches Under New EU Directive

Rick Mitchell | June 11, 2024

International companies that fail to comply with the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive by 2027 could face fines as high as 5% of their worldwide turnover as well as increased compliance costs and lawsuits.

5 minute read

Kenya Challenges Authority of Cash-Strapped East African Court It Helped Establish

Alfred Olufemi | June 11, 2024

The Supreme Court of Kenya has challenged the EACJ's authority in a precedent-setting decision that poses a significant threat to the future of the regional court and the rule of law in eight East African countries.

5 minute read

De Brauw Revenue Bounces Back After Slump

Louis Altmann | June 11, 2024

The firm had reported pre-COVID revenue of €200 million, shrinking to €177 million in 2022.

2 minute read

Willkie Raids Latham for 11-Lawyer Restructuring Team in Major German Expansion

James Jackson | June 11, 2024

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has hired former Latham bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers Jörn Kowalewski, Ulrich Klockenbrink and Hendrik Hauke as part of its new German strategy along with counsel Jan-Philipp Praß and a team of seven associates.

4 minute read

Latham, Orrick and Linklaters Land Roles in €3.1B Budapest Airport Sale

Kasvi Sehgal | June 11, 2024

France's Vinci Airports has been in acquisitive mode, having lately added airports in Scotland and Mexico to its portfolio.

2 minute read

CMS Luxembourg Hires 4-Lawyer Disputes Team From NautaDutilh

Linda A. Thompson | June 10, 2024

CMS Luxembourg has hired NautaDutilh's litigation and arbitration head to lead its own dispute resolution practice.

2 minute read

Travers Smith and Dentons Unveil Latest Promotion Rounds

Jack Womack | June 10, 2024

Travers Smith has added 6 partners, while Dentons across Europe has added 10.

2 minute read

Features

Rising Stars: The UK Legal Industry's Best Up-and-Coming Black Lawyers, 2024

Law.com International | June 10, 2024

In its inaugural list, Law.com International highlights 10 exceptional Black lawyers aged under 40 working in the UK legal industry.

11 minute read

Young People are Setting the Political Agenda. Can Law Firms Cope?

Krishnan Nair | June 09, 2024

Social media has given a voice to young people who are setting the political (and moral) agenda—law firms are struggling to keep up, writes The Global Lawyer.

4 minute read

After EU Elections, Next Competition Chief May Preside Over New Chapter in EU Antitrust History

Linda A. Thompson | June 09, 2024

The next head of the world's toughest antitrust enforcer will be appointed after the European elections and faces two new and sweeping laws.

5 minute read

HSF Steps in to Defend Google in £13.6B Adtech Collective Action

Jack Womack | June 06, 2024

According to the claim, Google is abusing its dominant position by favouring its own advertising technology.

2 minute read

Mayer Brown's Pro Bono Head To Stand Against Keir Starmer in General Election

Kasvi Sehgal | June 06, 2024

Sir Keir Starmer has been the Labour MP for the constituency since May 2015.

2 minute read

McDonald's Loses 'Big Mac' Trademark Case in EU Dispute Over Chicken Burgers

Rick Mitchell | June 05, 2024

McDonald's Irish rival Supermac's described the case as "trademark bullying" and called the ECJ General Court decision a significant victory for small businesses worldwide.

4 minute read

K&L Gates Expands German IP Practice With Four-Person Disputes Team

Ulrike Barth | June 05, 2024

K&L Gates has hired an experienced team of IP disputes lawyers who will be based in Frankfurt and provide clients with integrated cross-border advice.

2 minute read

Linklaters Halts Plans to Withhold Distributions to Departing Partners

Jack Womack | June 05, 2024

The decision is part of wider suite of changes to how the firm rewards departing partners and will see it stop paying sums it handed partners who depart the firm after more than 20 years' service.

2 minute read

Litigation Funder Therium Accused of 'Wilful Negligence' in 'Rogue Arbitration' Lawsuit

Jack Womack | June 04, 2024

Therium is known for funding the postmasters' successful litigation against the Post Office over the Horizon scandal.

3 minute read

Expert Opinion

The Rise of Legal Finance in Spain's Growing Market

Philipp Leibfried | Charlie Rooke, Burford | June 04, 2024

With appropriate regulation and fast litigation times, the country's litigation finance market is increasing quickly.

5 minute read

Clifford Chance Leads on Brookfield's $6.1B Acquisition of French Renewable Company

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | June 03, 2024

Bredin Prat and Gide have also landed roles on what is one of the biggest deals in Europe so far this year.

2 minute read

Gen AI Adoption Is Taking Off. Law Firms Are Finally Ready

Lisa Shuchman | June 02, 2024

This is good news, especially in an industry that is not known for readily embracing change. But in truth, firms don't really have a choice, writes The Global Lawyer.

8 minute read

Taylor Wessing UK Managing Partner Re-Elected For Third Term

Jack Womack | May 31, 2024

Shane Gleghorn's third term starts in October 2024 and continues into 2027.

2 minute read

Latham, Linklaters Lead as Permira's Luxury Shoe Brand Golden Goose IPOs

Kasvi Sehgal | May 31, 2024

The float is the latest indication of Europe's recovering capital markets.

2 minute read

Making Partner Isn't What it Used to Be. So What are Young Lawyers in Asia Made Of?

Jessica Seah | May 31, 2024

The stuff of hard revenue and profits, such as deal-making and bringing in new business, is still important. But now aspiring partners have to show they can offer a lot more.

6 minute read

Clifford Chance and Freshfields Secure Places on Coveted EQT Panel

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | May 30, 2024

The appointments will be viewed as a coup for the U.K.-founded duo, who have been in fierce competition with U.S. firms for the top private equity mandates.

3 minute read

Ex-Baker McKenzie UAE Partner Firm Launches in Russia

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | May 30, 2024

The firm was dropped by Baker McKenzie after the founding partner made a series of homophobic tweets in 2022.

2 minute read

US Duo Lead on Merck's $3B Acquisition of UK Eye Drug Company

Kasvi Sehgal | May 30, 2024

It is the latest example of a US business acquiring a UK company, a growing trend in UK M&A.

2 minute read

Linklaters, White & Case Act on Fosun's Latest $730M Private Bank Divestment

Jessica Seah | May 29, 2024

In a bid to pare down its debt, Fosun has been streamlining its portfolio for assets for years.

2 minute read

A&O Shearman's Fuse Incubator Announces 8th Cohort of Startups

Rhys Dipshan | May 28, 2024

In addition to legal tech startups, this year's Fuse cohort includes many companies innovating with blockchain technology.

3 minute read

Is There a Maximum Number in This Salary Race?

Paul Hodkinson | May 27, 2024

What we need is a market peak, a Usain Bolt of the legal world that sets a junior lawyer pay rate so far ahead that no one can beat it, but AI might make the problem worse, writes the Global Lawyer.

6 minute read

Spain's Garrigues and Microsoft Form Alliance to Drive AI Innovation

Alex D'Elia | May 27, 2024

The Spanish firm will integrate its own generative artificial intelligence tool with Microsoft's Copilot and Azure.

4 minute read

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Halt Rafah Offensive

Alex D'Elia | May 24, 2024

The order of the International Court of Justice is binding, but the court does not have enforcement powers.

3 minute read

Slideshow

Gallery: The Legal Innovation and Technology Awards, 2024

Law.com International | May 24, 2024

See pictures of the attendees and the ceremony here.

1 minute read

French In-House Counsel May Finally Get Limited Confidentiality Protection for Internal Consultations

Rick Mitchell | May 24, 2024

France has adopted bills that would give in-house legal professionals limited confidentiality protection but the French Conference of Bar Association Presidents—which encompasses about half of the country's lawyers—opposes the proposals.

8 minute read

Eversheds Sutherland Shutters Berlin Office

Cian Muenster | May 22, 2024

The closure bucks the trend of expansion in the German legal market by global law firms.

2 minute read

Dramatic Drop in Russian Litigants Using London Commercial Courts, Report Finds

Louis Altmann | May 22, 2024

Research also found a record number of international litigants using London's Commercial Courts.

3 minute read

Island States Celebrate Historic Climate Change Ruling

Caroline Byrne | May 21, 2024

The opinion is not legally binding but it is seen as a groundbreaking precedent that could influence two additional climate change cases before the International Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court on Human Rights.

4 minute read

Simpson Thacher, DLA Piper Lead as EQT Preps for £2.2B Takeover of UK-Listed Keywords

Kasvi Sehgal | May 21, 2024

This potential takeover of the video games group is the latest example of foreign private equity houses acquiring U.K.-listed companies.

2 minute read

Range of Firms Hire to Corporate, Tax and Banking Teams in Spain

Alex D'Elia | May 21, 2024

Firms including Baker McKenzie, Eversheds Sutherland, Garrigues, Dentons and others have secured hires in recent weeks.

3 minute read

Death by a Thousand Cuts: Should Big Law Still Invest in Asia?

Jessica Seah | May 20, 2024

Some firms in Asia see lingering uncertainty and bad news as a sign that it's time to cut and run. But law firms cannot tout a global offering without having a presence in Asia, writes Jessica Seah in the Asia Legal Briefing.

7 minute read

Omni Bridgeway Partners With Singapore's Drew & Napier to Fund $270M Credit Suisse AT-1 Bonds Class Action

Jessica Seah | May 20, 2024

Withers, Reynolds Porter, Quinn Emanuel, Pallas Partners and Clyde & Co are all also acting for investors on their claims in relation to the write-down of Credit Suisse's AT1 bond.

4 minute read

ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants for Hamas, Israeli Leaders

Alex D'Elia | May 20, 2024

The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan KC, has announced arrest warrant applications for three Hamas leaders as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his minister of defense.

3 minute read

13-Strong Clyde & Co Madrid Team Exits for Kennedys

Jack Womack | May 20, 2024

The 3-partner-led team departure is the latest in a series of insurance exits from Clyde & Co over recent months.

2 minute read

Goodwin, White & Case Grow Investment Funds Practices in Luxembourg

Rick Mitchell | May 17, 2024

Jones Day also added to its head count, hiring a disputes partner from Eversheds Sutherland in Amsterdam.

5 minute read

Klarna Lawyers Told to Use ChatGPT to Save Time Drafting Contracts

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | May 17, 2024

The fintech company's CEO has told staff to "test, test, test and explore", with 86% of the legal function now making use of generative-AI models in their day-to-day work.

4 minute read

Lex Mundi Appoints Partner at Mexican Member Firm Basham as Chair

Amy Guthrie | May 16, 2024

Carlos Velázquez De León will guide the network of more than 150 leading independent law firms from around the globe as Lex Mundi embarks on a new strategic plan.

2 minute read

Swedish Gen AI Assistant Leya Raises $10.5M in Seed Funding

Rhys Dipshan | May 16, 2024

Leya offers a generative AI assistant that looks to streamline legal tasks such as document analysis, due diligence review, data extraction, legal research and drafting legal documents. The company will use the funding to grow its international expansion.

3 minute read

Paul Weiss London Office Secures Biggest M&A Mandate to Date with €3.5B Siemens Deal

Kasvi Sehgal | May 16, 2024

Several of the firm's recently-hired big-name partners are working on KPS Capital Partners' buyout of Siemens' electric motors company.

2 minute read

A&O Shearman and Linklaters Land Roles on Rare London IPO

Kasvi Sehgal | May 16, 2024

A potential listing by the British personal computer maker would be one of the first big ticket matters undertaken by A&O Shearman since its merger went live earlier this month.

2 minute read

Features

'Soccer Through and Through': This Partner Just Guided Her 14-Year-Old Son to an Unprecedented Pro Deal

Amanda O'Brien | May 15, 2024

Heike Sullivan, who leads the firm's private client practice at Ballard Spahr, guided her 14-year-old son Cavan as he negotiated a contract that will see him play with Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union and then join global power Manchester City when he turns 18.

4 minute read

British Legal Awards 2024: Former CVC General Counsel Joins Stellar Judging Panel

Kasvi Sehgal | May 15, 2024

The panel will be chaired by Lesley Wan, general counsel and company secretary at banking venture All Africa Capital.

2 minute read

Big Law's AI Talent War Aims to Influence Software Development

Justin Henry | May 14, 2024

In the last month alone, Latham & Watkins, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, DLA Piper and Reed Smith have hired technology specialists to newly created roles.

8 minute read

Ranking

Rising Stars: Europe's Best Up-and-Coming Female Lawyers, 2024

Anne Bagamery | May 14, 2024

More than 100 submissions from across more than 40 firms and 16 countries have been whittled down to find the best up-and-coming women practicing in Continental Europe.

24 minute read

Shearman-Associated Firm in Italy Is Being 'Dissolved' Following A&O Merger

Alex D'Elia | Rick Mitchell | Anne Bagamery | May 13, 2024

The Italian firm, created in 2021 by a spinoff of Shearman's Rome and Milan offices, has seen most of its lawyers move to other firms in the run-up to the merger, according to insiders.

4 minute read

British Legal Awards 2024 Nominations Open For Entry

Kasvi Sehgal | May 13, 2024

The awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of legal professionals, firms, and teams shaping the landscape of of the UK legal industry.

2 minute read

What's Going On at Paul Weiss?

Lisa Shuchman | May 12, 2024

The U.S. firm has good reasons for rapidly expanding with top-tier lawyers in London, writes The Global Lawyer. But now it has also set down roots in Brussels and has even launched a Latin America practice. Is the New York firm going global?

9 minute read

Companies Face New Regulations From the US, UK and EU, Creating Increased Compliance Challenges

Chris O'Malley | May 10, 2024

In the United States, regulators are increasingly holding companies accountable for the compliance problems of their third-party vendors. A new law in the United Kingdom will help prosecutors pursue corporate fraud, and a new EU regulation takes aim at subsidies granted by nonmember states that give companies an undue economic advantage.

5 minute read

Africa Deal Roundup: Major Firms Lead on $1.25B Petrochemical Financing in Nigeria

Alfred Olufemi | May 10, 2024

White & Case, Norton Rose Fulbright, Hogan Lovells, Sidley Austin and Baker McKenzie have been active in the region lately on deals ranging from oil and gas to tech to banking.

4 minute read

Expert Opinion

Mega-Deals and AML, How To Stay Compliant

Andrew Hawkins | May 10, 2024

In light of the SRA's AML 'crackdown', Shieldpay's CEO Andrew Hawkins talks about the challenge posed by compliance for law firms and the risk breaches can bring in terms of financial sanctions and reputational damage.

5 minute read

Eversheds Hires Partner-Led Banking Team in Milan, in Latest Shearman-Related Exit After A&O Tie-Up

Rick Mitchell | May 08, 2024

The hire of a partner from a Sherman & Sterling-affiliated firm comes as Eversheds aims to expand in the Italian market in "strategic" sectors.

4 minute read

Italian Practices Hire Up Amid A&O Shearman Launch

Alex D'Elia | May 08, 2024

White & Case, Orrick, and A&O Shearman have brought on lawyers from the firm formerly associated with Shearman & Sterling in Italy, while Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici brought on a lawyer team from White & Case.

3 minute read

Paul Weiss Expansion Drive Continues With Further Additions in Brussels and London

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | May 08, 2024

In Brussels, the firm has added a director general from the European Commission who is leaving after 33-years, which comes days after its Latin America practice launch.

3 minute read

Another Exit For Travers As Corporate Partner Walks To Linklaters

Kasvi Sehgal | May 08, 2024

The hire comes as Linklaters recovers from some major exits, including its leveraged finance co-head in London David Irvine's move to Gibson Dunn.

2 minute read

Expert Opinion

My Experience of Working as a Mother in Big Law

A mother working in Big Law | May 07, 2024

'I was constantly asked when I was leaving the firm. I wasn't. I was often asked if I was leaving early to see my infant. I wasn't. I was asked where my infant was. My dedication was questioned.'

5 minute read

Spanish Law Firm Uría Menéndez to Shutter Office in New York

Alex D'Elia | May 06, 2024

At the end of June, the Spanish law firm will close its Park Avenue office after 34 years in New York City.

3 minute read

When Global Visions Go Awry

Paul Hodkinson | May 05, 2024

A series of closures in Greater China is calling into question the already shaky notion that law firms need to be everything everywhere, writes the Global Lawyer.

5 minute read

Is OpenAI's Video Generator Sora Uncharted Territory for the GDPR?

Cassandre Coyer | May 03, 2024

Data privacy experts are closely watching for the outcome of an investigation into OpenAI's video generator Sora by Italy's data protection authority, which could test the legitimate interest exemptions generative AI companies may rely on for data processing.

7 minute read