Charles Russell Speechlys Gains Traction in Latin America

4 minute read

Law Firm Management

October 31, 2024

Latin American Wealth Spurs Boom for Miami Lawyers

5 minute read

Law Firm Management

October 30, 2024

Cuatrecasas, Holland & Knight Hire Antitrust, Energy Experts in Mexico

3 minute read

Law Firm Hiring

November 06, 2024

Trump Win Ignites Global Legal Market: Lawyers Prepare for High Demand & Uncertainty

7 minute read

Government

Mayer Brown Rode 'Calling Card' Practices to More Than 20% Revenue, Profit Growth

Andrew Maloney | March 17, 2022

Firm chairman Jon Van Gorp noted strong leadership in European offices, particularly Paris, London and Germany. The firm also has offices in Asia and South America, as well as in the U.S.

5 minute read

Video

Video: Implications of War - A Deep Dive Into the Ukraine Invasion's Impact on The Legal Industry

Law.com International Staff | March 16, 2022

Law.com International editors and reporters discuss the impact of the war on law firms and in-house legal departments.

1 minute read

Brazil's Lefosse Recruits Restructuring, Dispute Resolution Partners From Local Rivals

Amy Guthrie | March 15, 2022

Felipe Camara and Julio Neves join as the number of companies in crisis has been increasing, the firm said.

2 minute read

Skadden's Eric Friedman Discusses the Fight for Talent and the Firm's Russian Presence

Ben Seal | March 15, 2022

"With recent events in Europe, there is a lot of geopolitical uncertainty, and that always creates headwinds for empire-building, procyclical M&A," Friedman says.

11 minute read

US Gunmakers Blame 'Criminal Actors' for Arming Cartels in Second Joint Motion to Dismiss Mexican Suit

Amy Guthrie | March 15, 2022

Jones Day partner Andrew Lelling asserts that gunmakers lawfully manufacture and distribute products in the U.S. and are not liable for the misuse of their products by criminals in Mexico.

5 minute read

New Petition by Top US Law School Students Aims to Pressure Law Firms to Cut Ties With Russian Clients

Christine Charnosky | March 15, 2022

Ryan Donahue, a 2L at Harvard Law School who made headlines earlier this month when he walked away from a summer associate position at a large New York City law firm in protest of the firm's work in Russia, is part of the effort.

4 minute read

Garrigues Rides M&A Wave to Record Revenue for 2021

Anne Bagamery | March 15, 2022

The Spanish law firm posted a 7.1% top line increase on 2020.

2 minute read

With Demand at an 'All-Time High,' Clark Hill Revenue Up 11.7%, Profits Up 29.9%

Brenda Sapino Jeffreys | March 14, 2022

The Detroit-founded firm, which has 26 offices, including in Dublin and Mexico City, posted impressive financials with strong demand in practices such as M&A, labor and employment, litigation and cybersecurity.

6 minute read

Withers Lands Luxury Goods IP Team in Milan from Baker McKenzie

Anne Bagamery | March 14, 2022

The four-person, partner-led team is the latest expansion for Withers, which has been growing briskly over the past year.

2 minute read

Goodbye, Russia

Krishnan Nair | March 14, 2022

The Global Lawyer: The Moscow exodus we witnessed last week, though complex and messy, was necessary.

7 minute read

Who's Out of Russia? A Run Down of Big Law's Plans for the Region

Law.com International staff | March 11, 2022

All 25 large international law firms that had a base in Russia have now confirmed they are leaving following an unprecedented two weeks for the industry.

14 minute read

Sanctions: Will China Be Russia's Lifeline?

Jessica Seah | March 10, 2022

As law firms struggle to decide what to do with their Russian operations, Russia-tinged work continues to roll in as a result of fast-changing sanctions. Will China bow to the economic pressures or play a game of Russian Roulette?

7 minute read

Clyde & Co Snags Latin America Partner From Kennedys

Amy Guthrie | March 10, 2022

Susana Martínez's practice focuses on complex matters across EMEA and Latin America for leading insurers, with a focus on financial lines.

2 minute read

Fragomen Opens Uruguay Office as Firm's Latin America Practice Booms

Amy Guthrie | March 10, 2022

Montevideo has become a critical crossroads for businesses and investors in South America, which has created a need for more immigration services.

2 minute read

Expert Opinion

Emerging Markets Aren't Just in Cities and Countries Anymore

Justin Henry | March 10, 2022

While law firms continue to eye fertile geographic markets in the U.S. and abroad, they're also seizing on expansion via remote hires.

5 minute read

'We Urgently Need to Wake Up': Latin American Law Leaders Largely Silent on Ukraine

Amy Guthrie | March 10, 2022

Efforts to remain neutral in the conflict mirror positions taken by presidents of the region's two largest economies, neither of which have strong economic ties to Russia.

6 minute read

'Long Live a Free Ukraine': Legal 500 Takes Down Russia, Belarus Pages

Anne Bagamery | March 10, 2022

Competitor, Chambers and Partners, issued a warning about its global guide to firms in the region and has halted further research for now.

2 minute read

Cuatrecasas Nabs Tax Partner From KPMG Chile, Arbitration Partner From Holland & Knight in Colombia

Amy Guthrie | March 08, 2022

The Spanish firm has amassed a team of nearly 80 lawyers across four Latin American countries in recent years.

3 minute read

Greenberg Traurig Earned 16% More Revenue in 2021 as Transactional Work Boomed

Dan Roe | March 08, 2022

Nearly all of the firm's international offices did well, with the exception of Mexico City, which saw "business challenges" in 2021 as political uncertainty slowed mergers and acquisitions activity, said firm CEO Brian Duffy.

4 minute read

Reversing 2020 Results, Shearman & Sterling Grew PEP 58% In 2021 On Double-Digit Revenue Gains

Patrick Smith | March 08, 2022

The firm's 2021 results more than made up for the year before, with gross revenue growing 17.5%.

4 minute read

US Firms Completed a Deal for Russian Oil Giant Lukoil as Russia Invaded Ukraine

Amy Guthrie | March 04, 2022

Akin Gump guided Lukoil through the purchase of Mexican oil blocks in the Gulf of Mexico last week as Russian tanks and soldiers bore down on Ukraine.

3 minute read

Will Russia's War on Ukraine Set Off a War on Ethics?

Jessica Seah | March 03, 2022

As Russia's brutal war on Ukraine continues, the legal sector, unsurprisingly, has been criticized and scrutinized for the way it has responded to the crisis and for representing certain Russian business interests.

4 minute read

Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine: Reflections on Lawyers Waking Up to War

Lisa Shuchman | February 28, 2022

Lawyers around the world have been watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold in real time this past week. And the repercussions of the seizure of an independent state are being felt everywhere, including in the wood-paneled and glass offices of global law firms thousands of miles away.

9 minute read

Surging Litigation, Deals Practices Boosted Revenue, Profits at Haynes and Boone

Brenda Sapino Jeffreys | February 25, 2022

The firm's international offices had another strong year, managing partner Taylor Wilson said, particularly in Mexico City and London.

6 minute read

Law.com Trendspotter: The Big Four Keep Saying They're Not Competing With Law Firms. It's a Trap.

Zack Needles | February 24, 2022

If the Big Four really don't view traditional law firms as rivals, it's only because the accounting giants see themselves as superior. They're just biding their time until clients start to see them that way too.

12 minute read

Freshfields LLPs Remind Partners of Firm's 'Considerable Discretion' Over Distributions

Varsha Patel | February 24, 2022

The firm's management pay leaped by nearly 19% during the last financial year as the firm stated its "considerable discretion over the timing of any cash distributions to partners."

3 minute read

EU Corporate Due Diligence Bill Would Affect Thousands of Companies

Linda A. Thompson | February 23, 2022

The new EU-wide law would require companies to monitor, prevent and account for adverse human rights and environmental impacts in their own operations, as well as those of their subsidiaries and their entire supply chains.

3 minute read

Davis Polk Tops Milbank Scale for US Senior Associates

Patrick Smith | February 22, 2022

The firm said salaries for non-U.S. associates and fee earners and other attorneys with special arrangements will be determined and communicated separately, and counsel compensation will also be addressed separately.

2 minute read

HSF CEO Predicts Another Record Year, Rolls Out Refreshed Firmwide Strategy

Hannah Walker | February 22, 2022

Justin D'Agostino wants the firm's Asia business to bring in at least 20% of the firm's revenue by 2025, and is also targeting specific practice area growth.

5 minute read

Holland & Knight Snags Capital Markets Lawyer From Garrigues in Colombia

Amy Guthrie | February 18, 2022

The hire brings the firm's partner head count in Colombia to 11.

2 minute read

Mexico's Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa Bolsters Office in Madrid With Uría Menéndez Hire

Amy Guthrie | February 17, 2022

The Mexican law firm opened an office in Spain in 2018, the same year that Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador came into power.

2 minute read

Greenspoon Marder to Form Latin America Group as Leftism Fuels Inbound Investment

Dan Roe | February 15, 2022

Ruben Gotlieb left GrayRobinson to spearhead a planned Latin America group. Two weeks ago, he joined Greenspoon Marder's international asset planning and trusts and estates practices.

3 minute read

Fourth-Year Associates on Cravath Scale Earned $400K. How Can Other Firms Respond?

Dan Packel | February 15, 2022

"I don't worry about the Cravaths of the world," said LawVision's Joe Altonji. "It trickles down, even though they don't all match the market leaders."

5 minute read

Brazilian Firm Veirano Elects Its First Female Managing Partner

Amy Guthrie | February 15, 2022

Paula Surerus shares insights into the gender balance at law firms in Brazil, where there are more female lawyers than male lawyers registered with the local bar association.

5 minute read

The Global Legal Industry Is Less Monolithic Than You Might Think

Lisa Shuchman | February 14, 2022

It's easy to talk about a global legal industry but the news of the past week illustrates that whether it be a response to COVID-19, the strength of the Big Four, or reaction to the global pay war, there are stark regional differences among law firms around the world.

8 minute read

US Law Firms Slammed With Restructuring Work in Latin America

Amy Guthrie | February 11, 2022

Cleary Gottlieb, Davis Polk and White & Case are among the busiest in a region where the economic difficulties of the pandemic have pushed plenty of companies to the brink of insolvency.

4 minute read

Eversheds Sutherland to Donate Percentage of Profits to ESG

Paul Hodkinson | February 10, 2022

The firm's non-US business has amended its partnership deed to ensure money is ring-fenced for efforts such as reducing carbon emissions and charitable trust donations.

3 minute read

Who's Still Afraid of the Big Bad Four?

Jessica Seah | February 10, 2022

Since the Big Four started making a big push into Asia about five years ago, their performance in the legal arena has been rather underwhelming. Will the pandemic mark their turning point?

9 minute read

Carlos de los Santos, Longtime Garrigues Arbitration Head, Dies at 55

Anne Bagamery | February 09, 2022

De los Santos, who spent his entire career at Garrigues, was praised for his acumen, his practical approach, and his work at promoting arbitration in Spanish.

5 minute read

Treading On Ice: Winter Olympics Lessons for Big Law

Paul Hodkinson | February 07, 2022

In regions all across the world people are leaving international offerings to join local ones and it is not hard to spot the main reasons why.

7 minute read

ESG Matters Take Center Stage in Latin America as Region Eyes Sustainability

Amy Guthrie | February 03, 2022

Global law firms are increasingly guiding the issuance of sustainability-linked bonds from the region while brainstorming with clients to craft meaningful ESG goals.

6 minute read

As Young Lawyers Churn Through Jobs, Firms Search for Ways to Fulfill Them

Jessie Yount | February 03, 2022

Young lawyers want more from work and they're changing employers to find it. Can firms respond before they lose out?

8 minute read

Dozens of US District Attorneys, US State Attorneys File Amicus Brief in Support of Mexico Suit Against Gun Makers

Amy Guthrie | February 01, 2022

The sovereign states of Antigua and Barbuda and Belize also filed a brief in support of the case, arguing that guns trafficked from the U.S. harm people across Latin America and the Caribbean.

4 minute read

'One for the History Books': Dechert's Revenue Grew By 25%, Its Profits By 50%

Dan Packel | January 31, 2022

CEO Henry Nassau said the firm's greatest challenges were in the Beijing, Hong Kong and Moscow offices, owing to macroeconomic and political trends. But offices in Dublin and Luxembourg were bright spots.

5 minute read

Citigroup Taps Skadden—Again—For Mexico Asset Sale

Amy Guthrie | January 31, 2022

Latin America practice co-chair and M&A partner Paola Lozano has guided the U.S. bank through asset sales in nearly a dozen countries across the region.

3 minute read

Dentons Diversity Leader Takes Role in Global Board Discussions

Dan Packel | January 31, 2022

Toronto-based Kate Broer will become the firm's first global inclusion and diversity officer.

4 minute read

Is the Salary War Over? Law Firms Focus on Growth and the Rule of Law

Lisa Shuchman | January 31, 2022

Many law firms are tired of playing the salary war game. Meanwhile, some are busy launching and expanding overseas offices. And the legal community, once again, is reminded that sometimes it has to stand up for the rule of law. The Lunar New Year starts this week. Welcome to the Year of the Tiger!

9 minute read

Why Moving a Book of Business to a New Firm Is Now Easier Than Ever

Christine Simmons | January 27, 2022

Client loyalty to any one law firm has long been eroding, but the pandemic has accelerated the trend, observers say.

6 minute read

When Law Firm Demand Drops, Who Will Be Left Out in the Cold?

Bruce Love | January 27, 2022

Demand can't stay like this forever. When the music eventually stops, industry observers say, not everyone will be able to find a chair.

9 minute read

Latin America Practices Remain Hot as Greenberg Traurig Hires Shareholder From Nelson Mullins

Dan Roe | January 26, 2022

Greenberg Traurig and Greenspoon Marder added Latin America-focused corporate partners this week following Duane Morris's raid on Shutts & Bowen's international disputes group last week.

3 minute read

Dentons Promotes Colombia Partner to CEO Role for Latin America and the Caribbean

Amy Guthrie | January 24, 2022

Paloma Gomez has been deeply involved with business development and client relations since joining the firm in 2018, two years after Dentons launched its first offices in the region.

2 minute read

Steptoe Beefs Up White-Collar Defense and Investigations Team With Top FCPA, Cross-Border Specialist

Bruce Love | January 24, 2022

Iris Bennett has served as lead counsel on many cross-border matters in Latin America and her experience in the region would be "particularly useful," since the firm has seen dramatic growth in those markets, Steptoe chair Gwen Renigar said.

3 minute read

The Global Lawyer: Law = Money + Friction

Krishnan Nair | January 24, 2022

You could feel the heat emanating from many of our stories last week, with law firms taking lucrative work from one another, splitting apart, turning the money screw to near intolerable levels, and even throwing shade.

5 minute read

Burnout Is Real. But It Still May Be Avoidable

Dan Packel | January 21, 2022

A firm's commitment to well-being and attorneys' sense of "control" over their work have a significant impact on whether they're overwhelmed, according to new survey figures from the Institute for Well-Being In Law.

6 minute read

Spain's ECIJA Optimistic That Chile Will Remain on the 'Right Path'

Amy Guthrie | January 20, 2022

Santiago-based partner Alfredo Moreno anticipates passionate discussions on many topics that he hopes will improve Chilean society as a whole after President-elect Gabriel Boric takes office in March.

3 minute read

Asia Legal Briefing: The New Generation of Lawyers Is Less Forgiving

Jessica Seah | January 20, 2022

The new generation of lawyers are precisely that—they will create the future of legal services, whether senior lawyers like it or not. Rejecting the old and obstinate ways of practice, young lawyers are forcing change in the profession. They may not want for more, but they certainly want different.

6 minute read

'Miami Is the Center of the Universe With Respect to Latin America': Akerman's LatAm Chair Sees the Region as Key to Growth

Amy Guthrie | January 18, 2022

Luis A. Perez, who was recently named co-managing partner of the Miami office, says the firm has grown largely thanks to Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that's pouring capital into South Florida.

8 minute read

Eyeing Opportunities in Mexico, Clark Hill Adds Cross-Border Tax Lawyer

Brenda Sapino Jeffreys | January 18, 2022

Alex Perez, who has represented clients in Mexico for decades, joined Clark Hill as a member in San Antonio and Mexico City, citing the firm's commitment to the Mexico practice.

3 minute read

DLA Piper Snags 6 Lawyers From White & Case in Mexico

Amy Guthrie | January 18, 2022

The hires strengthen the firm's corporate, finance, tax and litigation capabilities in a key market for the Americas, and bring new leadership to the office.

5 minute read

EY Knowledge Management Leader: A Strong Culture Is Pivotal for Knowledge Management Programs

Victoria Hudgins | January 13, 2022

EY global law knowledge leader Mark Ford explains why the accounting firm decided to create the new role and the peculiarities and similarities of leading Knowledge Management in the Big Four versus his experience in Baker McKenzie and Clifford Chance.

5 minute read

Expert Opinion

For New Associates, Understanding Law Firm Economics Is Key to a Strong Start

Norm Bacal | M.C. Sungaila | January 13, 2022

The earlier you develop good docketing habits, the better.

5 minute read

Cuatrecasas, Carey Advise on Mitsui & Co. Acquisition of Car Rental Company in Chile

Amy Guthrie | January 11, 2022

The deal follows an initial investment made by Mitsui & Co. in 2018, during which the Japanese conglomerate also tapped Carey for advice.

2 minute read

The ESG Outlook for 2022

Dave Curran | Brad Karp | January 10, 2022

The past year was a watershed for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues. Here are the major trends and some strategies for navigating the ESG landscape in the year ahead.

5 minute read

Your Firm's Culture Can Impact Your Planned Tech Innovations. Here's How.

Alex Tapper, Frogslayer | January 10, 2022

Your firm's ability to take on tech innovation has less to do with its technical prowess than its ability to adapt and embrace change.

6 minute read

Cultivating Law Firm Culture: Will Law Firms Finally Define Themselves in 2022?

Lisa Shuchman | January 10, 2022

Law firms will have to be more creative as they seek to define their distinctive culture, especially now that hybrid work models will likely become the norm and firm loyalty is fading fast.

8 minute read

Will Talent Drive More Change in Firms Than Clients Could?

Gina Passarella Cipriani | January 06, 2022

Talent wars are causing firms to react faster than clients have ever been able to spur change, but is it true change or a more expensive version of the old way?

5 minute read

EY Legal Hits Baker McKenzie for Inaugural Global Law Knowledge Role

Varsha Patel | January 06, 2022

The London-based role will focus on building the global knowledge function for EY Law teams globally.

2 minute read

Hogan Lovells, Baker Botts Poach Latin America Projects Partners From Jones Day, DLA Piper

Amy Guthrie | January 05, 2022

The recruits bring extensive know-how in a region that faces tremendous need for infrastructure investment.

3 minute read

Will 2022 Be the Year Kirkland's Incredible Growth Slows?

Paul Hodkinson | January 05, 2022

If the market turns, the firm's decision to put all its eggs in the private equity basket could make it a victim of its own success.

5 minute read

The Global Lawyer: Reasons to Be Hopeful as 2022 Gets Underway

Krishnan Nair | January 03, 2022

With talk of impending lockdowns, the year seems to be opening in much the same way as 2021. Shrouded in uncertainty and apprehension. But there are many reasons to be more upbeat.

4 minute read

Booming Latin America Practices Eye 2022 With Caution

Amy Guthrie | December 31, 2021

Political shifts and social strife could dissuade investment in the region, although infrastructure and tech remain bright spots.

3 minute read

Uncertainty in Chile Stokes Demand for Legal Services in US, LatAm

Amy Guthrie | December 23, 2021

The election of a leftist former student protest leader as president has wealthy Chileans seeking legal assistance for asset sales, investments abroad and even immigration.

6 minute read

Littler Opens 3rd Office in Mexico With Saltillo Location

Amy Guthrie | December 23, 2021

Demand for labor and employment advice is on the rise in Latin America's second-largest economy, where companies are hustling to adjust to new requirements ushered in by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact.

3 minute read

Features

2021 In Review: Turbulent Politics Didn't Stop LatAm's Lawyers Hammering Out Deals

Amy Guthrie | December 23, 2021

Global liquidity helped stoke investment, despite political upheaval and a mishandled pandemic creating obstacles.

2 minute read

Chilean Firm Albagli Zaliasnik Opens in Miami as Clients Work Around Chile's Political Upheaval

Amy Guthrie | December 22, 2021

A growing number of Chilean law firms are following their clients to South Florida, which offers a thriving tech scene and shelter for assets as leftists seek to overhaul the South American country's conservative economic model.

3 minute read

Features

Why M&A Activity Soared to New Heights in 2021

Patrick Smith | December 21, 2021

According to financial data company Refinitiv, global M&A deal value hit $5.2 trillion by the end of November.

6 minute read

Squire Hands Global Staff An Extra Week's Salary

Hannah Walker | December 21, 2021

The one-off bonus excludes the firm's lawyers, but rewards business staff and paralegals following a "successful year" amid uncertainty.

2 minute read

Latin America-Focused Legal Consultancy to Accept Cryptocurrency as Payment

Amy Guthrie | December 20, 2021

Gericó Associates is making the shift after struggling to collect from a law firm in Argentina, where businesses operate under tight capital controls, and at the request of several clients looking for alternatives.

2 minute read

UK Supreme Court Reaches Judgment On $2bn Venezuelan Gold Case

Jack Womack | December 20, 2021

The verdict is a boost to Venezuela's opposition leader, and a blow to President Maduro's bid to access the resource.

4 minute read

The Unpleasant Truth About Law Firm Culture

Jordan Furlong | December 17, 2021

A law firm's culture is defined by what is rewarded, what is tolerated, what is overlooked, and what is punished. At many firms, the outcome is jarringly different from what leadership might want.

8 minute read

Brazil's Lefosse Nabs 6-Person Team to Launch Life Sciences & Health Care Practice

Amy Guthrie | December 16, 2021

Strong investment in the industry, coupled with regulatory changes, has stoked demand for a host of legal work.

2 minute read

Clifford Chance Elects New Global Managing Partner

Hannah Roberts | December 16, 2021

The new managing partner will take up the role next year when longtime postholder Matthew Layton stands down.

3 minute read

Greenberg Traurig Launches Labor and Employment Practice in Mexico City, Poaches Team From Holland & Knight

Amy Guthrie | December 15, 2021

The practice opens with a seven-lawyer team poached from Holland & Knight plus a former in-house counsel.

3 minute read

Brazilian Law Firms Eye Hybrid Work Model for Eventual Return

Amy Guthrie | December 15, 2021

Multiple firms plan to call lawyers back part-time in January, after having allowed attorneys to come in on a voluntary basis for several weeks.

5 minute read

Features

How Do You Change the Way Lawyers Think and Work?

Christopher Niesche | December 13, 2021

LawWithoutWalls is teaching law students around the world what they don't learn in law school—that innovation and collaboration are key to solving real-world problems. In a post-pandemic world, this is more important than ever.

8 minute read

Law Firms Are Struggling to Make the Hybrid Model Work

Andrew Maloney | December 13, 2021

Law firms faced a daunting, unprecedented challenge when COVID-19 forced them into fully remote work in March 2020. But 21 months later, after several hiccups and false starts, that setup may seem easier than the mix-and-match hybrid models many are still tinkering with.

4 minute read

No One Is Immune From Talent War Insanity

Paul Hodkinson | December 13, 2021

The Global Lawyer: The fog of war - a war for talent - has descended on the legal industry and no one is safe anymore.

7 minute read

The Asia Legal Briefing: Departing Hong Kong, Who or What's Next on the Chopping Block?

Jessica Seah | December 09, 2021

The cost of doing business in Hong Kong is high. Who will survive? | In Asia, which law firm metrics matter?

4 minute read

DLA Piper Brazil Affiliate Campos Mello Promotes Four Women to Partner

Amy Guthrie | December 09, 2021

Managing partner Fábio Campos Mello says the firm recognizes talent "regardless of gender." With the latest promotions, female lawyers occupy 40% of the leadership roles at the firm.

2 minute read