HSF Hires Trio for Luxembourg Launch, Builds Private Capital Practice

Paris is Ripe For Private Equity Growth, Say Kramer Levin's New Office Leaders

Rick Mitchell | January 10, 2024

The New York-headquartered firm named the office's co-leaders for two-year terms at the start of the month.

4 minute read

White & Case Bolsters Disputes Practice in Paris With 2-Lawyer Hire From Quinn Emanuel

Anne Bagamery | January 10, 2024

The move, which includes a partner and practice head, is the latest by law firms to reinforce their Paris presence in cross-border litigation, commercial disputes, and criminal investigations.

3 minute read

Disney, Reliance Appoint Indian Firms for Antitrust Due Diligence on Mega Merger

Jessica Seah | January 09, 2024

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's majority ownership of the merged entity between Disney India and Reliance is likely to trigger antitrust reviews.

3 minute read

Veteran Paul Hastings PE Partner Jumps to French Firm August Debouzy

Anne Bagamery | January 09, 2024

The move may foreshadow brisk activity in an increasingly competitive private equity market in Paris.

2 minute read

Perez-Llorca Adds Four More Partners in Lisbon

Alex D'Elia | January 08, 2024

The Spanish law firm, which originally planned to open its Lisbon office in early 2024, said it has been operating ahead of schedule and now has 11 partners on board.

3 minute read

It's 2024 and You'll Probably Be Fine. But Remember to Expect the Unexpected

Lisa Shuchman | January 07, 2024

A new year brings renewed hope. It's a time when law firms lay out a path to achieve their goals. But that path is rarely smooth, writes The Global lawyer. It's often what you cannot see that makes all the difference.

6 minute read

8 Years Later, Cravath Registers As Foreign Agent for Ukrainian Firm Tied to Hunter Biden

Abigail Adcox | January 05, 2024

Cravath's filing comes after "discussions with the Department of Justice regarding FARA's scope," the firm said in a statement Friday.

3 minute read

APAC M&A Nosedived in 2023: US, Indian Firms Dominate Market Once Again

Jessica Seah | January 05, 2024

Save for the Japanese market, overall Asia Pacific M&A activity plummeted and hit a 10-year low last year, with deals in Australasia badly affected.

4 minute read

Freshfields Tops UK and European M&A Rankings as Megadeals Rejuvenate US Firms

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | January 04, 2024

Meanwhile, some firms, including Slaughter and May, suffered from the slow deal market.

4 minute read

Kirkland, Goodwin Take Lead in Global M&A Tables, as Simpson and Weil Fall in Rankings

Patrick Smith | January 04, 2024

Amid the battle for the top M&A spot, 2023 was the slowest full-year period for deal-making since 2013.

4 minute read

In EU, Law Firms, Clients and Regulators Are Adapting to Convergence Between Privacy and Antitrust

Linda A. Thompson | January 04, 2024

The convergence between privacy and competition questions has been driven by the ever-growing importance of data in the digital economy.

5 minute read

Disgruntled Former Hogan Lovells Employee Who Called Firm 'Liars and Scammers' Loses Case

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | January 04, 2024

The former employee also accused the judges and the firm of colluding in his most recent allegations.

4 minute read

Why Lawyers Need to Lead With Authenticity

Claudia Salomon | January 02, 2024

The President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration talks about the role of empathy, authenticity and emotional intelligence in leadership.

5 minute read

What You Missed While You Were Away

Kasvi Sehgal | January 01, 2024

From big wins, strategy talks and a look at the lawyers in the dock, here's a round up of the stories you should know about as you get started in 2024.

4 minute read

Clifford Chance Top Earner Pockets Less as Staff Numbers, Costs Swell

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | December 28, 2023

The firm's total number of partners and staff costs rose, as it continued to grapple with its pension liability, the latest LLP accounts show.

3 minute read

8 Stories That Changed the Legal Industry in 2023

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | December 27, 2023

From A&O Shearman to Israel-Gaza—here are our picks for the biggest stories of the year.

8 minute read

Allen & Overy Collaborates with Microsoft to Debut AI Contract Tool

Jack Womack | December 22, 2023

Over 1,000 of the firm's lawyers are already using the tool internally, and five clients have already agreed terms for a January launch, the firm said.

2 minute read

BonelliErede Names New Management Board and Promotes 7 to Partnership

Anne Bagamery | December 22, 2023

The moves are part of a previously announced leadership transition to shepherd the Global 200 firm through the implementation of a new multi-year strategic plan starting in January.

2 minute read

Dentons Advises Venezuelan State Oil Company After Lift of US Sanctions

Amy Guthrie | December 22, 2023

The South American country has rushed to revive agreements, including a joint venture with Spain's Repsol, in an attempt to jump-start its stalled oil industry.

2 minute read

Dechert, Neil Gerrard '100% Responsible' for Unnecessary ENRC Work, Judge Finds

Jack Womack | December 21, 2023

London's High Court ruled that 'ENRC is entitled to significantly more by way of damages than Dechert and the SFO have contended'.

2 minute read

Who Were the Winners in 2023?

Kasvi Sehgal | December 21, 2023

Find out who topped the rankings and scooped all the accolades in 2023—hardly the most straightforward year on record.

6 minute read

Clifford Chance Scores Landmark Victory for European Superleague Against FIFA and UEFA

Charlotte Johnstone | December 21, 2023

The judgment ruled that UEFA and FIFA had 'abused their dominant position' by banning players and clubs from joining the league.

3 minute read

Peruvian Tax Law Boutique Opens Office in Spain

Amy Guthrie | December 21, 2023

Zuzunaga & Assereto Abogados has launched an outpost in Barcelona—its first outside Peru.

2 minute read

Former Freshfields Cum-Ex Scandal Partner 'Totally Failed' as a Lawyer, Court Hears

Charlotte Johnstone | December 21, 2023

Freshfields had been at the heart of the tax scandal, its offices in Germany having been raided multiple times in recent years before the firm reached an out of court settlement with prosecutors.

2 minute read

Startup Nation at War: Israel's Legal Tech Companies 'Have to Keep Going'

Stephanie Wilkins | December 19, 2023

Israel is currently home to many companies and individuals working in legal tech. Legaltech News recently checked in with some of them to discuss how they continue to innovate in times of war.

10 minute read

Generative AI Platform Harvey Announces $80 Million Investment

Cassandre Coyer | December 19, 2023

In a blog post announcing the funding, Harvey noted that it planned to use this latest investment to "expand our custom model building, scale our team and build out our suite of product features."

1 minute read

Legal Innovation & Technology Awards 2024 Open for Entries

Kasvi Sehgal | December 19, 2023

The awards, now in their 10th year, are open to the legal community in the whole of Europe for the first time.

1 minute read

Sidley, Quinn, Cadwalader Announce Latest Global Partner Promotions

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | December 19, 2023

Cadwalader, Quinn and Sidley have announced which partners have made the cut.

3 minute read

EU Commission Opens First Probe Into X Under New Social Media Law

Linda A. Thompson | December 19, 2023

Competition chief Margrethe Vestager said Brussels officials had 'enough' evidence to open proceedings.

2 minute read

Garrigues Loses Partner to Deloitte Legal, Promotes 16 and First Female Senior Partner

Alex D'Elia | December 19, 2023

Luis Collado Moreno had been at the firm for almost two decades.

3 minute read

CMS' Spanish Arm Becomes Latest Victim of LockBit Cyber Attack

Kasvi Sehgal | December 18, 2023

The same attackers were behind a data breach at Allen & Overy last month, with experts at the time suggesting the firm may have to pay out several million to avoid confidential information being published.

2 minute read

Norton Rose Sees More Exits in Global Management Team

Christine Simmons | December 15, 2023

The firm has seen six global leaders depart the firm this year, including four since the exit of the former global CEO.

3 minute read

Clifford Chance Scores Win For Sports Agencies Against FIFA and the FA

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | December 15, 2023

Sports boutique Northridge and Ashurst advised the FA and FIFA on the 'extremely hard-fought litigation'.

3 minute read

Is Poland the Next Growth Market for Multinational Law Firms?

Anne Bagamery | December 15, 2023

Recent developments, both in the economy and in politics, are helping drive new movement on the legal scene, law firm partners practicing in Warsaw told Law.com International.

6 minute read

Close, But No Cigar: Key Barriers to Judgment and Award Enforcement

Michael Redman, Burford Capital | December 14, 2023

Increasingly we are seeing an increase in recovery activity against judgment debtors that are choosing not to pay, as opposed to those who simply don't have the money, says Burford Capital's London head.

6 minute read

Colombia Attempts to Toss Case Over $20 Billion in Sunken Treasure

Amy Guthrie | December 14, 2023

Arbitrators must decide whether treasure hunters have rights to a potential bounty of gold, silver and gems from a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Cartagena more than three centuries ago.

3 minute read

Hogan Lovells Stays the Course With Current Chair Amid Era of Leadership Transition

Dan Roe | December 14, 2023

Marie-Aimée de Dampierre earned asecond term as peer firms have selected new leaders.

2 minute read

Crowell, Loyens & Loeff and Strelia Counsel Pfizer Lawsuits Against Hungary and Poland

Alex D'Elia | December 14, 2023

Pfizer and BioNTech have sued the Polish and Hungarian governments over COVID-19 vaccine orders.

4 minute read

Lawyer Reticence on Climate Change is 'Weird': Partners From Kirkland, Clifford Chance and Linklaters Speak Out at COP28

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | December 14, 2023

As this year's COP comes to an end and the fight against climate change still seems long, lawyers discussed where they fit in at an event held at the Address Sky View hotel in downtown Dubai.

5 minute read

Should International Arbitrators Be Watch Dogs or Hound Dogs?

Lawrence W. Newman | David Zaslowsky | December 13, 2023

International arbitrations often involve large amounts of money concerning, on occasion, indications of illegality, including criminal activity. What arbitrators can and should do when they have some awareness of such illegal activity has recently become the subject of commentaries and analyses.

8 minute read

Ireland's Matheson Strengthens London Ranks with Former Kirkland Partner

Charlotte Johnstone | December 13, 2023

Mullarkey joins the firm's London base following a 15-year stint with Kirkland & Ellis.

2 minute read

Baker McKenzie Looks to Hengeler for Latest Germany Partner Hire

Cian Muenster | December 13, 2023

He is the firm's third hire from Hengeler Mueller in the last two years.

2 minute read

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's UK Profit Dropped 63% Last Year, Accounts Show

Kasvi Sehgal | December 13, 2023

The transatlantic firm attributed the drop to the global costs associated with its withdrawal from Russia in April 2022.

2 minute read

Increased Promotions for Jones Day and Norton Rose Fulbright

Jack Womack | December 13, 2023

The most represented offices in each firm's set of promotions were New York and Cleveland for Jones Day, and London for Norton Rose Fulbright.

5 minute read

EU's New AI Act Will Create Wave of Work for Law Firms

Linda A. Thompson | December 12, 2023

Lawyers say the landmark AI legislation agreed upon by EU officials on Friday will generate extensive work for Big Law, with multijurisdictional law firms that have strong regulatory practices best positioned to ride the wave of advisory and compliance work the new bill is expected to create.

5 minute read

Pérez-Llorca Builds Up Lisbon Operation With 17 Hires

Alex D'Elia | December 12, 2023

The firm has brought into its new Portugal office six partners, one counsel and a team of ten lawyers.

3 minute read

How China's Haiwen is Poaching from the West to Squeeze into the Driver's Seat

Jessica Seah | December 12, 2023

Chinese law firms are increasingly finding themselves in lead counsel roles on cross-border deals and foreign partners finding the move to local practices more and more palatable.

8 minute read

Clyde & Co. to Open in Warsaw With Large Partner-Led Team Hire From Dentons

Anne Bagamery | December 11, 2023

The new office will open in the new year with a team of around 23 professionals, including three partners originally from Dentons Warsaw, Clyde & Co. said.

3 minute read

Major Law Firms Secure Roles as Selfridges and Chrysler Building Co-Owner Files for Bankruptcy

Kasvi Sehgal | December 11, 2023

Austria-based Signa racked up debts numbering in the billions, it has been widely reported.

2 minute read

From A&O Shearman to India: What We'll Still Be Talking About in Five Years' Time

Paul Hodkinson | December 10, 2023

The last 12 months have given the industry law firm collapses, splits, ransomware attacks and scandals, but the year will be remembered for other things, writes the Global Lawyer.

5 minute read

Boies Schiller Flexner Names Matthew Schwartz as Chair-Elect

Dan Packel | December 08, 2023

Schwartz, who has served as co-managing partner of the firm for three years, will replace David Boies starting in 2025.

5 minute read

Volvo to Switch Gears in Legal with New General Counsel

Chris O'Malley | December 07, 2023

Helen Hu is taking the legal reins of the automaker, succeeding Maria Hemberg, whom Hu calls her mentor.

3 minute read

Europe Grows Its Own AI Legal Tech

Anne Bagamery | December 07, 2023

Jimini AI, which is based on European law, is currently being tested by leading law firms in France, including Gide Loyrette Nouel, and by in-house legal departments, including the French logistics company CMA CGM.

4 minute read

BCLP to Launch Luxembourg Desk in Paris Office With A&O Hire

Anne Bagamery | December 07, 2023

The firm is joining others in establishing a presence in the European center of investment funds and their regulation.

3 minute read

Jones Day Takes a Finance Partner in Paris From Orrick

Anne Bagamery | December 07, 2023

The partner hire is a strategic move as both firms, along with others, are building their capabilities in energy and infrastructure projects in France.

2 minute read

CEE Firm Schoenherr Adds 23-Lawyer Team in Poland

Anne Bagamery | December 06, 2023

The expansion by the Austria-based firm is a bet on continued growth in the Polish economy, which has attracted investors and law firms in recent years.

2 minute read

India's Legal Market Revolution: Watch Experts Discuss Liberalization, Rates and Talent Retention

Jessica Seah | December 06, 2023

Foreign firms are ready to break in, while talent retention is a top issue for domestic Indian firms as they continue to fight to move up the value chain.

5 minute read

Proportionality in Armed Conflict: How to Assess, and Who Decides

Amichai Cohen, Barnea Jaffa Lande | December 05, 2023

The current conflict between Israel and Hamas raises a host of legal questions about the application of the Law of Armed Conflict. For lawyers to engage seriously in the debate, it is important to state the law clearly and precisely, argues Prof. Amichai Cohen, an Israeli expert.

5 minute read

Spanish Media Sues Meta for €550M

Alex D'Elia | December 05, 2023

The lawsuit alleges the Facebook and Instagram owner violated data protection regulations, which led to unfair competitive practices.

2 minute read

Former Superdry GC Becomes CEO at British Triathlon Federation

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | December 05, 2023

The move is a rare example of a GC stepping into a CEO role—a position historically closed to lawyers.

3 minute read

Andersen Enters Irish Legal Market With Philip Lee Collaboration

Alex D'Elia | December 04, 2023

Andersen Global has entered a collaboration agreement with Irish law firm Philip Lee, adding legal services to its tax and accounting offerings in the country.

2 minute read

Undisclosed Use of ChatGPT to Draft Ordinance in Brazil Sparks Debate

Amy Guthrie | December 04, 2023

A councilman in the southern city of Porto Alegre revealed, after his colleagues passed the ordinance, that artificial intelligence had crafted the proposal.

4 minute read

Year-End Bonuses Top $300K for Several Boies Schiller Associates

Dan Roe | December 04, 2023

The litigation shop's formula compensation system rewards associates for originating clients and contributing to contingency cases.

2 minute read

Spanish Firms Cuatrecasas, ECIJA Recruit More Partners in Latin America

Amy Guthrie | December 04, 2023

Cuatrecasas has hired an M&A veteran from a top Chilean law firm in Santiago and a regional tax leader from EY in Bogotá, while ECIJA has added a labor and employment partner who will lead that practice in Mexico City.

3 minute read

Gowling Further Expands in Frankfurt With Four Partner Hires

Cian Muenster | December 04, 2023

The firm now counts nine partners in its recently-launched Frankfurt office.

2 minute read

Baker McKenzie, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier Advise on $1.4B French Bottle Maker Deal

Christopher Niesche | December 04, 2023

Australia's Orora buys luxury bottle maker Saverglass for $1.44 billion

2 minute read

The Ripple Effects Flowing Through the Global Legal Industry

Lisa Shuchman | December 03, 2023

By definition, a ripple effect occurs when a disturbance occurs in a system and moves outward to shake up an increasingly larger part of that system. And so it is in the legal industry—whether it be caused by salary wars, cybersecurity risks, artificial intelligence or geopolitics, writes The Global Lawyer.

9 minute read

How Hiring in Legal Markets Around The World Has Fared in 2023

Brent Harris, Major, Lindsey | Africa | December 03, 2023

Recruiter Brent Harris of Major, Lindsey & Africa explains the key trends across the US, UK, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

6 minute read

Boies Schiller Flexner Opens in Rome

Alex D'Elia | December 01, 2023

Two partners and three associates have joined from a local firm to start the operation, which is the firm's second in Continental Europe.

3 minute read

Danish Law Firm Ordered to Pay €59 Million Over Tax Advice Given By Former Lawyer

Linda A. Thompson | December 01, 2023

The firm's chief executive described the judgement as 'unexpectedly harsh'.

2 minute read

Timeline

2023: A Legal AI Odyssey

Stephanie Wilkins | November 30, 2023

On the first anniversary of the public release of ChatGPT, we take a look back on a year of innovation and retrace the path generative AI blazed through the legal industry in 2023.

2 minute read

With Gen AI, Is There a Machine 'Unlearning' Alternative That Is GDPR-Compliant?

Cassandre Coyer | November 30, 2023

Large language models trained on publicly available personal data don't really have the option to "forget" parts of their training set without being wholly retrained from scratch. Can they still be compliant with the GDPR's right to be forgotten?

6 minute read

Allen & Overy Swoops on Bird & Bird for IP Partner Hire

Cian Muenster | November 30, 2023

Anna Wolters-Höhne will guide clients on proceedings at the Unified Patent Court, following its launch earlier this year.

2 minute read

'Competition is in Our DNA': Head of Dutch Competition Authority on Keeping Markets Competitive

Linda A. Thompson | November 29, 2023

Under the leadership of Martijn Snoep, a former managing partner of one the country's most venerated law firms, the Dutch antitrust watchdog has advanced novel solutions to challenges affecting competition authorities across Europe.

7 minute read

European Privacy NGO Files Complaint Against Meta Over Paid Ad-Free Model

Linda A. Thompson | November 29, 2023

The NGO helmed by Max Schrems has filed what appears to be the first complaint over Meta's recently introduced paid, ad-free subscriptions to its Facebook and Instagram social networking sites.

3 minute read

Weil, Cooley and BCLP Latest Firms to Announce 2024 Partner Promotions

Habiba Cullen-Jafar | November 29, 2023

Most of the promotions across the three firms were in the US, but five of Weil Gotshal's promotions were in its London office.

5 minute read

UK to Reform Arbitration Act to Maintain Position as World Leader in International Arbitration

Davis Williams, Jones Walker | November 28, 2023

The proposed reforms, a fine-tuning of the 27-year-old arbitration law that has not been updated since its original passing, are intended to improve efficiency, lower costs, boost economic growth and ensure the U.K. remains a state-of-the-art seat of arbitration.

5 minute read

A Cohen & Gresser Spinoff Opens in Paris to Focus on Litigation and White-Collar Defense

Anne Bagamery | November 28, 2023

The new firm, Henriot & Associés, aims to stand out in a busy field that includes established specialty firms as well as growing departments of Global 200 players.

4 minute read

American Bar Association Retracts Israel Statements Following Backlash

Jack Womack | November 28, 2023

900 lawyers had signed an open letter condemning the ABA for statements that they said deprived Israel of its rights and suggested moral equivalence.

4 minute read

Tesla Files Lawsuit Against Swedish Transport Agency, Postal Company over Labour Dispute

Linda A. Thompson | November 28, 2023

The electric car maker is being represented by one of Sweden's leading business law firms.

3 minute read

Countercyclical and Regulatory Practices Dominate Partner Promotions in 2023

Dan Roe | November 27, 2023

Am Law 100 firms are promoting roughly the same number of partners as last year, but groups like debt finance, antitrust and tax are growing faster than most corporate practices.

4 minute read

EU's Extensive Rulemaking Spurs US Regulators, Say Former Agency, Division Heads

Maydeen Merino | November 27, 2023

"There's a natural competition among regulators to try to be the first," said Maneesha Mithal, who led the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection for more than a decade.

4 minute read

Dechert's Paris-Based International Arbitration Group to Break Away From Firm

Charlotte Johnstone | November 27, 2023

The exits follow the Paris office's shift towards life sciences, tech, private assets and private capital, as arbitration teams across the industry continue to be conflicted out of lucrative cases.

2 minute read

Allen & Overy Removed from Ransomware Website 1 Day Before 'Deadline'

Jack Womack | November 27, 2023

One person said the removal could mean the firm has paid a ransom to the hacking group, which is one of the most notorious in the world and is viewed as having strong links to Russia.

2 minute read

Australia's Allens and Gilbert + Tobin Advise in $1B Malt Maker Deal

Christopher Niesche | November 27, 2023

Allens advised the buyer while Gilbert + Tobin acted for United Malt Group.

2 minute read

COP 28: What to Expect

Silke Goldberg | Jannis Bille, HSF | November 26, 2023

COP28 is a good opportunity to take a step back to consider what sustainability means for each organisation, write two Herbert Smith Freehills lawyers.

5 minute read

Latham and Ashurst Bag Multibillion-Euro Refinancing Deals in Europe

Anne Bagamery | November 24, 2023

The deals are a rare burst of activity in a market that has been quiet due to high interest rates but could rebound next year as more loans become due, lawyers said.

3 minute read

Herbert Smith Freehills and Pérez-Llorca Behind €1.8B Norway-Spain Green Deal

Alex D'Elia | November 23, 2023

The deal involves Norwegian renewable energy company Statkraft and Spanish engineering and construction business Elecnor Group.

2 minute read

Iberian Law Firm Leader Interview: We Want to 'Break The Roof' and Double in Size

Alex D'Elia | November 22, 2023

Already having more-than-doubled its revenue in the past three years, Andersen is looking to break triple digits in the next three.

3 minute read