International Legal News

Duane Morris boosts New York arm with Satterlee Stephens merger

Addition of 60-lawyer outfit will make national firm's Manhattan practice its second-largest

'Alternative' legal business models and processes fast becoming the norm, report claims

Report on US market claims 'fundamental shift' under way as clients take control of relationship with their advisers

Clyde & Co forms Chile alliance as Squire Patton Boggs targets Lat Am growth

International law firms highlight Latin American focus as they seek to grow regional work

Law firm investment in automation lagging behind other sectors, survey finds

Firms struggling to adopt new tech due to lack of skills and poor legacy platforms despite employee appreciation of digitisation's benefits

Reed Smith launches in Brussels after hiring partners from five rival firms

New hires forge fifth continental office for the firm, anchored in competition, regulatory and trade capabilities.

Spanish independent ECIJA secures Mexican merger

Chacón & Rodríguez deal adds to ECIJA's growing Latin American network of offices

Annual US patent grants at all-time high

Samsung tops the IFI's global ranking with most patents currently held, while IBM leads again with most US patent grants in 2019

Singapore's PK Wong joins forces with litigation boutique

Former EY Singapore firm merges with Nair & Co to form PK Wong & Nair

Initiative to grow black GC count at top US companies boosted by website launch

Black General Counsel 2025 site contains directory of GCs and application process for 'GC-ready' candidates

Around the house: The latest general counsel appointments across the globe

Rio Tinto's new general counsel starts in her new role while the co-founder of the initiative Black GC 2025 switches companies

New law pioneer Atrium lays off lawyers in restructuring

In-house legal team at high-profile start-up to be cut with most legal advice now provided by independent advisers

Norton Rose Fulbright launches suite of online law services for Canadian clients

Firm claims tech platform requires little coding enabling it to design new services quickly

Polsinelli teams up with UnitedLex to launch litigation support centre

Am Law 100 firm signs deal to utilise alternative service provider's proprietary ediscovery know how and capabilities

French firms kick off 2020 with merger

MGG Legal and Voltaire Avocats have announced their merger under the name MGG Voltaire.

Top 10 dispute resolution trends for 2020

In a new report, Baker McKenzie has identified ten of the biggest topics emerging in the field of dispute resolution.

Legal ops company in combo

Legility and Inventus to combine and aim to create 'world's preferred partner' for legal operations services.

Senior executive advisor forum launches in London

With senior executives making headlines, a forum for their advisors will be launched in London next month discussing legal and reputational issues for corporates.

Managing reputation risk for senior executives: marrying the legal and PR response

The reputations of corporates and their senior executives are more closely linked than ever. But what steps should a company take when an employee faces a media storm?

Clyde & Co offers dispute resolution agency service

Firm moves to offer bespoke agency service to the Scottish market, giving law firms outsourced disputes capability.

Cooley launches in Singapore

New dawn as firm's 16th global office seeks to take up opportunities across Asia, including in venture capital.

Reynen Court's financing accelerates legaltech offer

Single platform for legal technology prepares for commercial launch with $3m of additional funding.

Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton agree to merge creating a top 50 US firm

Partnerships vote through deal to forge Troutman Pepper in second national law firm merger in a month

Wachtell, Sullivan and Kirkland top global M&A ranking after a near-record year for mega deals

US firms dominate Mergermarket's 2019 legal advisor league tables; Europe and APAC regions witness sharp falls in deal activity

Australia's law firms step up efforts to help bushfire victims as crisis grows

King & Wood Mallesons, Ashurst, Herbert Smith Freehills and Gilbert & Tobin among firms providing aid

Insurance solutions grow for Turkish M&A deals

Warranty and indemnity insurance is relatively new to the Turkish M&A market but the number of projects involving them is expected to grow.

Debevoise to move headquarters to New York's fashionable Hudson Yards district

Am Law 100 practice joins growing roster of law firms committing to Manhattan's far west side business district

Dentons to launch in Ireland after hiring partner duo from top local firms

Global giant promises to grow Dublin office quickly after securing founding team from William Fry and Matheson

UK supermarket giant Asda secures new general counsel from Mars

Helen Selby to join Walmart-owned grocer amid speculation it is gearing up for a float

Around the house: The latest general counsel appointments across the globe

The founding partner of a firm that boasts Donald Trump as a client features in this week's round-up

Winston & Strawn closes Dubai office in major strategy shift

Chicago-based international firm puts closure down to evolving client needs as team joins Squire Patton Boggs

Allen & Overy wins licence to launch Shanghai joint venture

UK magic circle firm is latest international practice to offer Chinese law capability through local alliance

Singapore's top judge reveals government scrutiny of new law regulation

Chief Justice highlights 'worrying' lack of tech investment by local law firms as alternative legal service providers come under spotlight

US law firms secure record number of tie-ups in 2019

Deals involving small firms dominate M&A tally of 115; Dentons accounts for bulk of crossborder transactions

Hong Kong's Law Society and Bar condemn 'outrageous' graffiti accusing top judge of bias

Representative bodies step in to defend judiciary as pro-democracy protests show no signs of dying down

BCLP secures seven-partner Paris team from French independent Franklin

Addition of 21 lawyers is largest collective hire since BCLP's formation; Franklin secures eight-lawyer team hire

MeToo, diversity, Brexit and new law: a look back at 2019's biggest stories

The Global Legal Post reviews the legal stories that made the headlines

UK lawyers celebrate 100th anniversary of law granting women access to profession

Landmark prompts debate over obstacles to creating a level gender playing field

Blockchain payments provider BitPay hires its first general counsel

Eden Doniger joins Atlanta-based cryptocurrency leader as it bolsters leadership team

Global M&A falls in 2019 despite resurgence of mega deals

Research by Allen & Overy finds domestic deals propping up the market as cross-border activity slumps by 27%

Top Dutch firm NautaDutilh helps secure historic court ruling demanding climate action

Leading independent firm teams up with boutique Höcker to win case forcing Dutch government to cut emissions

Halliburton turns to long-term adviser Baker Botts for next general counsel

Head of litigation Van Beckwith follows well-trodden path from client's adviser to its general counsel

Foreign bidders drive Australia's public M&A market

American, Canadian and Japanese investors target Australia for deals, according to Minter Ellison research

Hogan Lovells votes in Asia head Zaldivar as new CEO

Venezuelan partner is chosen as international firm's next leader

Relief after ECJ backs global data transfers

Ruling that Facebook can rely on standard contractual clauses welcomed although question marks remain

Bar president urges senators to protect 'sacred' constitution with impartial Trump trial

New York State Bar president delivers passionate call for senators not to be partisan during historic impeachment trial

Dentons hires signal Paris TMT practice launch

Data privacy and AI expert departs from Simmons with associate to set up team

Legal sector credited for underpinning London's global city status

Report highlights law's role in making UK largest net exporter of financial services despite Brexit fears

US national stalwarts Faegre Baker and Drinker Biddle to create top-50 firm

Duo to join forces in February in what they are portraying as merger of equals

US litigation boutique lights up bonus season with $115k-plus pay outs

Susman Godfrey sets the pace in an otherwise predictable bonus round for big law associates

Jersey-based firm lists in London to fund US and European growth

Alternative asset management specialist MJ Hudson raises £31m after listing on London's AIM market

Top Brazilian law firm opens for business in Tokyo

In rare international move for Latin American firm, Pinheiro Neto launches in Japan

Latest gender pay gap figures reveal extent of diversity challenge facing top UK law firms

Linklaters joins magic circle rival Allen & Overy in reporting its latest gender pay gap numbers with little evidence of progress

Law firm marketers to target social media in bid to stand out from the crowd, survey finds

Annual Lexis Nexis marketing survey finds marketers bemoaning broad-brush approach and looking to digital for better results

Geopolitical uncertainty and poor performance of unicorn IPOs blamed for fall in global listings

Listings down by 20% despite some mega IPOs as research by Baker McKenzie predicts a subdued 2020

Legal profession to benefit from UK government's vision for innovation-led economy, report states

Hogan Lovells election briefing cites 'powerful reasons' for optimism over UK deal activity

Landslide UK election result met with relief by City firms

Johnson triumph ends Brexit deadlock, but experts warn of unprecedented deadline for EU trade deal

Norton Rose and Clayton Utz appoint new leaders in Australia

First female managing partner for Norton Rose; Clayton Utz promotes international strategy head

CMS adjusts billable hours targets to encourage innovation

Lawyers working on innovation projects can count work towards targets

HSF appoints chief exec as Allen & Overy prepares for leadership votes

Justin D'Agostino gets nod at Herbert Smith Freehills while A&O faces contested elections

Climate change risk flagged as growing headache for company directors

Forty per cent of respondents to survey of directors 'very worried' by global warming threats

Clyde & Co boosts governance with first non-executive directors

Former Lloyd's of London and Grant Thornton heads to join management board on 1 January

DWF unveils €50.5m acquisition of Spanish independent firm RCD

UK-listed firm will use deal as platform for expansion into Portugal and Latin America

Stephen Allen: 'Lawyers using the technology will triumph over those who do it the old way'

Q&A: Hogan Lovells' innovation head on the power of AI to enhance decision making and his obsession with quantum mechanics

Research highlights AI threat to UK legal profession

Four per cent decline in lawyers by 2027 predicted if AI take up is faster than expected

Sheppard Mullin launches team to protect clients' organisational integrity

New practice group promises a values-driven approach to solve reputational threats

Eversheds' new law arm launches tech product for in-house lawyers

Konexo unveils workflow and document management service as it pursues growth remit

GCs to face 'uncharted' AI challenges, report warns

Lex Mundi sets out risks posed for in-house lawyers by AI's 'profound impact'

Ashurst appoints global sustainability partner

Hong Kong-based head of high-yield tasked with addressing climate-change risk agenda

Pinsents' legal resourcing arm expands into Germany

Vario extends international reach with acquisition of Xenion Legal

US firms write off up to fifth of fees due to 'overwhelming' billing demands

Survey of nearly 200 law firms calculates that outside counsel guidelines are costing some firms $4m a year

Hogan Lovells underlines tech ambitions with head of innovation role

Service delivery director promoted with brief to work with the firm's US-based innovation partner

Law firms missing out with 'misguided' innovation drive, GCs claim

Top GCs tell report that firms are failing to tailor technology for their needs

Deloitte Legal launches UK tech incubator with 14-strong cohort

Accountancy giant's legal arm admits first start-ups to Deloitte Legal Ventures programme

Robotics and AI law think tank launches in Singapore

Government minister opens research unit operated by city state's national university

High Court puts brakes on Australia's litigation funding boom with landmark ruling

Lawyers digest implications of decision to strike down common fund orders

ABA warns US law firms not to 'punish' lawyers who defect to rival practices

New guidance underlines importance of keeping client interests uppermost when dealing with exits

San Francisco, London and Singapore among 10 cities vying for global legal tech crown

Report by The Law Society of England Wales highlights international competition to attract legal start-ups

Steptoe launches in Hong Kong with three-partner office

US top 100 firm says more hires to follow after launch of regulatory practice.

High profile hires see Supreme Court advocate and bitcoin regulator sign up with US firms

O'Melveny and Willkie Farr celebrate as leading practitioners quit public office for private practice

UK firms step up new tech investment despite tight budgets

PwC survey warns of technical debt danger as firms invest an average of £579k in new projects

Allen & Overy, Linklaters and Eversheds lead race to register UK lawyers in Ireland ahead of Brexit

Record year for admissions to the Irish Roll of Solicitors with applications up 163% in 2019

Business-friendly legislation stifled by UK's Brexit impasse, report finds

Research published by Thomson Reuters shows sharp decline in legislation passing into law

Facebook adds 'correction' to post under Singapore fake news law

Controversial law requires statements deemed false by government to be 'corrected'

UnitedLex CEO warns 'over-hyped' AI is in danger of 'losing meaning'

Dan Reed steps into AI debate with The Times article claiming many are in denial about its potential

Baker McKenzie sets new environmental targets

Baker McKenzie announces plan to significantly reduce its global carbon emissions over the next decade.

Calling out e-privacy regulation shortcomings

Flagging shortcomings, Hogan Lovell as calls for an alternative approach to regulating privacy in the digital economy.

Oxbridge prizes disability moots

Herbert Smith Freehills showcases promising new legal talent at the first-ever Oxford v Cambridge disability moot as 18 teams challenged for the prize

Squire Patton Boggs ship in new team

Reed Smith partners join firm to launch commodities and shipping group with more hires in the pipeline.

Partners worry over ?war for talent?

Survey reveals despite increase in average revenues, 84 percent of partners say retaining talent is key challenge amongst others.

Orrick's freewheeling engine

Firm marks Wheeling transformation with a renaming to the Global Operations & Innovation Center.

In-house at a "tipping point"

Law firm's white paper warns in-house legal functions they must adapt and be nimble to thrive in digital age.

Equator principles on the in-house agenda

General counsel finding sustainability risk is increasingly part their portfolio says Norton Rose Fulbright as they advise Equator Principles Association on wider adoption of EP4.

Arbitration most constructive in disputes

Legal counsel hails new research arguing arbitration is seen as the best process for resolving international construction disputes.

Around the house

Appointments from Australia to America, with a number of European appointments, ring the changes around the house this week.

HFW culls team from Locke Lord

Firm continues its Greater China transactional expansion with major team hire following recent hire of Locke Lord's Hong Kong managing partner and two other lawyers.

Matheson creates new digital services group

Responding to digital disruption and client demand for legaltech, Irish firm Matheson launches new, multi-disciplinary digital services group.

?Urgent need? to tackle online hate speech

Cardiff University in Wales and its Hatelab partners with Mishcon de Reya to launch online hate speech report to tackle ?urgent issue.?

Diversity needed in arbitration

Leading arbitrator calls for greater diversity in changing global arbitration landscape.

Brexit battering Irish confidence

Dramatic drop in confidence in the Irish legal sector over 12 months impacted by Brexit, although there is also much to celebrate says new report.

Thomson Reuters Elite expands Helm360 partnership

New product partnership aims to provide business intelligence solution for ProLaw Customers.