International Legal News

UK regulator wants big 4 audit separation

CMA says legislation needed to address vulnerability of the industry to a big 4 loss, inadequate choice and competition, but no structural split?yet.

Terminological confusion impeding crypto regulation

Lack of standard terminology for cryptoassets hampers global regulatory response says a new Cambridge University report.

Law Society gets in on the act

Law Society of Ireland offers free global online course in arts entertainment and media law, forging mutual understanding.

Antitrust's crime and punishment

Global antitrust trends see politicisation and digital economy posing risks as regulators up policing and enforcement.

Oz in-house under pressure

In-house Australia expects a year of risk, elevated expectations, reduced resources and a strict need to focus on bringing value to their firms.

Around the house

High-powered women rule the moves in a women-only list around the house this week.

Data privacy next wave in class action spending

In-house survey reveals class action defence more complicated more expensive than ever, highlights data privacy as next spending wave.

Clifford Chance Paris trio form partnership

A trio from Clifford Chance have launched their own firm, flagging freedom from conflict of interests associated with larger firms.

Deadline approaches for new Commonwealth disputes study

Two weeks until deadline for participation in new Commonwealth study examining challenges faced by member countries in settling commercial disputes.

Argentinian lawyer Uber upset

Multimillion-dollar suit claims Uber's reckless entry into Buenos Aires had devastating impact on Argentine lawyer

DAC Beachcroft in Belfast deal

Firm announces second new location launch this year with July deal in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following recent Paris opening.

Oz arbitration centre gets its first female president

HSF partner appointed first female President of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)

TV channel sets its day in court

Court TV unveils launch date and programming plans promising ?gavel-to-gavel? live coverage of America's most fascinating trials all day.

Open and shut Qase

Canadian technology startup Qase launches new service seeking to transform how people find and work with lawyers around the globe.

IP battle creates $1.6 billion legal giant

IPH wins battle to acquire Xenith Group after QANTM declines to make counter-offer, as Xenith chair highlights diversity in brand culture.

Law firm extends social reach

Slaughter and May and upReach partner to launch legal sector access programme as firm builds on pioneering work in social mobility.

Osborne Clarke sheds light on Asian IoT

Asian manufacturing & logistics sectors powering ahead with adoption of internet of things, with government and regulatory help playing key role.

Crowell & Moring's pro bono weekend

Law firm's Brussels office joins forces with Young Bar to offer free legal services to show willingness to tackle societal issues.

The stubborn billable hour

Lawyers surveyed in Canadian Lawyer's 2019 Legal Fees Survey say fee reductions are unlikely, and suggests the billable hour is far from dead.

Bird & Bird takes AIM

International law firm Bird & Bird celebrates closing four Aim market placings in one week.

Eversheds lights up new practice

Firm launches cannabis industry team to help clients navigate changing industry and pursue opportunities in a murky industry landscape.

HSF concludes Ted Baker investigation

Ted Baker concludes independent investigation conducted by Herbert Smith Freehills into allegations surrounding former ceo.

Former Hertz general counsel rebuffs demand

Hertz demand to former general counsel and other executives return $70 million arising from accounting scandal is rebuffed.

Former SeaWorld lawyer insider trading charge

SEC charges ex-SeaWorld associate general counsel who bought shares day after receiving confidential earnings draft with insider trading.

Around the house

Not necessarily all's well that ends well in this week's in-house moves, as Wells Fargo ceo steps aside for general counsel as interim ceo.

PG&E lawyers and regulators in battle of the budgets

Pacific Gas and Electric Co lawyers paid over $8o million to outside law firms, while California utility regulators want $28 million to pay for help.

Hong Kong's eBRAM to stoke arbitration

New HK$150 million platform scheduled to launch fourth quarter 2019 backed by top law bodies, as centre seeks to stoke arbitration business.

Dentons in transformative technology move

Dentons launches Dentons Data in Canada to meet challenges of the digital economy,as firms sees critical mass of client demand.

HSF schools Aussie entrepreneurs

Applications sought by firm's start-up school in Melbourne, which now in its third year is annual staple for the firm and entrepreneurs alike.

Slaughter and May announces African essay prize winner

Slaughter and May has announced the winners of its 2018/19 Africa Essay Prize.

Ireland jockeys for EU position post-Brexit

Irish and European legal systems post-Brexit highlighted at the EU Bar Association conference held in Dublin, as Ireland positions itself.

London international disputes week hotting up

Two magic circle firms are the latest to put their weight behind next month's ?inaugural? London International Disputes Week (LIDW).

HSF team hitting for six in India

Herbert Smith Freehills says team is capitalising on billion-dollar India capital markets surge, with a busy month of deals.

Gordon Dadds' rock of Gibralter

Gordon Dadds acquires Gibraltar-based Ramparts as the latest law firm to join fast-growing network.

UK to get tough on 'online harms'

UK online harms white paper could lead to websites in contempt of court facing ban and putting a duty of care at the heart of new regulation.

Millennial lawyers say business model broken

New survey shows millennial lawyers aspire to partnership despite being critical of law firm culture, with women being more critical than men.

Jenner & Block adds 8-strong energy team

Jenner & Block strengthens energy practice with addition of right-strong energy team from dissolved boutique firm.

Rights lawyers condemn new sharia code

International rights groups have issued statements condemning Brunei over a sharia announcement which revives death penalty and laws contrary to human rights norms.

Bird & Bird venture forth

Bird & Bird launches twoVenture, an online platform for the UK high growth community

Dentons formalizes Oz relationship

In a new move towards seamless integration, Dentons combine with associate firm in Adelaide to extend national footprint.

Ince relationships blossom

Five former Ince & Co network firms join expanded Ince Gordon Dadds, bringing £23 million revenue to the party.

Around the house

Making moves around the house this week are two general counsel, from Krispy Kreme and US Steel, returning to private practice.

Harassment reports on the rise

Reports of Harassment continue to increase in wake of #MeToo, according to NAVEX Global's 2019 Ethics & Compliance Hotline Benchmark Report.

Data breach needs multi-faceted approach

IT leaders and employees differ on data ethics, ownership and root causes of insider breaches.

Luxury lawyers award night

Luxury awards showcased importance of IP protection issues and innovation at the annual Luxury Law Awards ceremony last night.

Law firm mergers continue ?unabated?

A busy start to the year as 27 law firm combinations announced in first quarter of 2019, according to merger report.

UK lawyers in Lagos mission

UK lawyers embark on government mission to boost legal services in Nigeria as part of forging global partnerships.

Do you speak crypto?

Latham & Watkins won't help you speak Klingon, but their new initiative ?The Book of Jargon? helps navigate the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain.

Alibaba on global mission to lead in IP protection

Alibaba aims to be global leader in IP protection, its president Mike Evans tells the Luxury Law Summit in London today.

Linklaters repeats reverse mentoring program

Firm launches a second round of reverse mentoring following successful pilot with 34 pairings globally.

NZ law firm alliance targets public policy

MinterEllisonRuddWatts announces strategic partnership with Iron Duke Partners to tap into growing demand for client global policy approaches.

Norton Rose takes another hit in Latin America

The firm is closing Bogota office two months after losing team in Venezuela, as focus turns to growth in Brazil and Mexico.

London Law Firm celebrates LTC4 certification successes

Seddons announces firm's lawyers and support staff certified by LTC4 in both the security and managing documents & E-Mail core competencies.

New AI trademark tool a boon for lawyers

Timely WIPO launch announcement of state-of-the-art AI-Based image search tool for brands as lawyers gather for Luxury Law 2019 tomorrow to talk AI and trademarks.

A&O reaches new milestone with Fuse 3

Allen & Overy introduces the Fuse cohort 3 in a another milestone since Fuse launch in 2017.

UK legal innovation 'in a strange place'

ICLR R&D head gives context to launch of ICLR&D, an innovative legal information lab for open research and development utilising ICLR's historic banks of case law data.

Cuatrecasas posts largest growth of the decade

Iberian firm celebrates 12 per cent growth in largest revenue increase in past decade, says innovation is mainstay of its success strategy.

Toxic timber trade not so 'eco-friendly'

Environmental agency reports on illicit destruction of Africa's forests and contamination of the US timber Market.

Benefits, celebrations and reprimands - law in transition

Linklaters enhances employee medical benefits to include gender reassignment, Dentons throws a party, and unnamed firm's lawyers reprimanded.

Herbert Smith Freehills inspires disability confidence

Law firm joins business leaders and employees with range of disabilities to discuss creating culture of inclusion and delivering better experiences.

Around the house

This week sees National Enquirer owner hiring a former SEC Lawyer as its general counsel, while alcohol e-commerce site appoints a former state authority counsel.

Shareholders being 'silenced' on environment

Environmental NGO say SEC is silencing shareholders and is allowing Wells Fargo and Goldman to evade responsibility for climate impacts.

In house leaders write to their law firms

European in-house leaders from major corporates pen letter urging law firms to improve diversity efforts, follows on from US january letter.

Whistleblowing general counsel gets $1.87 million payday

The former general counsel of the Houston Housing Authority has been awarded $1.87 million in a whistleblower suit.

Clifford Chance opts for iManage

After an 18-month evaluation, Clifford Chance selects iManage as global document, email management and collaboration platform

SEC makes it nine in a row with Merrill Lynch

Merrill Lynch ordered to pay over $8 million for improper handling of ADRs, as SEC puts spotlight on foreign investor compliance and abuse.

Staying awake for AI

Paul Hastings launches artificial Intelligence practice group, bringing in a broad team of legal experts.

Arthur Cox gets first woman chair

On the eve of Irish firm's centenary Arthur Cox, which turns 100 next year, appoints first woman chair.

Madrid inaugurates co-working centre

New initiative offers lawyers co-working space and mediation facilities in the heart of Madrid's judicial quarter at low cost.

IMO to tackle fraudulent vessel registrations

The IMO legal committee convenes in London tomorrow for two days to tackle fraudulent vessel registrations and rogue national flag registries.

LegalMation hits the sunshine state

Introduces litigation AI platform into Florida - which combined with three other states accounts for nearly 40 per cent of US litigation market.

Therium launches $430 million global fund

Fund to finance litigation and arbitration surpasses $1 billion milestone in global institutional investments.

Leading Oz law firms give heart-felt support

In a constitutional reform move, 18 leading law firms in Australia issue support of indigenous Uluru people's 'statement from the heart.'

No upgrade for major hotel chains

Lawsuit against major hotels on anti-competitive internet advertising to move forward, echoes 1-800 Contacts FTC complaint.

Legal working group formed to tackle blockchain

Blockchain industry association announces its legal and regulatory working group to tackle the blockchain legal and regulatory landscape.

Specialist media chambers to close

Despite cutting edge practice area, One Brick Court chambers announces 'painful' closure after 'well over a century' of service.

Solicitors prepare for Brexit

Preferential treatment for EU lawyers qualifying in England and Wales to end under no-deal Brexit says SRA, but Ireland keeps door open.

Law firm leads French real estate tokenisation

Group of experts come together in France to study the tokenisation of real estate in response to la loi PACTE and National Assembly draft bill.

Sports law firm aims to score with new club

Sports law firm launches club for high-growth technology companies in sport, entertainment and leisure sector, touted as alernative approach.

Risk, budget and skills gap worry for general counsel

Research finds risk landscape 'significantly' more complex, with budget and skills gap concerns and corporates unprepared for cyber risks.

Facebook reforming ad targeting rules

Historic civil rights settlement reached with Facebook following anti-discrimination legal actions, as tech giant 'takes concerns seriously.'

Asia patent applications reveal innovation shift

WIPO reveals innovators file record number of international patent applications, with Asia leading the way in West to East innovation shift.

Around the house

Two high-powered women take top public sector posts in Uganda and Europe, while two law firms poach general counsel from MacDonalds, General Electric and Goldman Sachs.

After 40 years it's all change at Milbank

Firm to expand London footprint in state-of-the-art development move to 100 Liverpool Street early 2021 in aim to facilitate continued growth.

Singapore tackles 'unstoppable force'

SAL to launch a 'first-of-its-kind' co-working space at new State Courts Towers to future-proof firms and offer affordable services.

UAE firms in joint-venture FDI drive

Al Otaiba & Hamdan Budebes and Banks Legal are partnering to launch a new legal practice in search of foreign investment.

Crowell & Moring pursues 'formidable force' ambition

Latest arrival welcomed from Squire Patton Boggs, with more new arrivals to come, as firm turns up the heat on its London ambitions.

Morgan Lewis takes concrete steps to mental health

With attorneys 'more likely' to turn to substance abuse, director to focus on lawyer, staff emotional health as firm launches ML Well programme.

French in legaltech fundraising boost

Legaltech gets a boost as Legalstart raises between 15 and 20 million euros, which firms says is the largest investment in France to date.

Major jump in UK partners

Despite political uncertainty UK law firms have added 307 partners, but is it an increase or a correction?

Iranian human rights lawyer to get 38 years and 148 lashes

Nasrin Sotoudeh, who defended Iranian women who removed their hijabs, tried in absentia.

Cybersquatting sets new record growth

WIPO reports cybersquatting cases grew by 12 per cent to reach a new record in 2018, director general calls for added vigilance.

Ireland seeks a 'Brexit dividend'

As landmarks 'go green' for St Patrick's Day, Ireland 's legal community heads to DC in campaign mode with ambition to reap a Brexit dividend.

Russia legislates digital rights and fake news

The country may be accused of promoting fake news, but lawmakers are rolling out legislation on fake news and digital rights.

New law 'catalyst' for tenfold foreign investment increase

US$1.5 trillion of inbound investment into China projected over next 10 years as new foreign investment law kicks in, says Linklaters research.

Dechert dress policy now includes jeans

Dechert lawyers don't need to wait until tomorrow's casual Friday to look this good.

Linklaters increases gender diversity in latest promotion round

Women now comprise 20 per cent of the firm's partnership.

Springtime in Paris for Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis announces its expansion in Europe with the launch of an office in Paris, bringing in talent from Linklaters.

China promises companies 'we will keep your secrets'

China's promise strengthens lukewarm drafting with a new foreign investment law due to be passed later this week.

Corporate counsel candidates in law society election diversity drive

In-house counsel seek influential role in Ontario's law society decision-making body and bring more diversity perspectives to the election.