International Legal News

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.

Ashurst introduces new parental leave policy

Ashurst has announced a new global parental policy in a move towards increasing diversity in the firm.

Law society asserts judicial independence

Hong Kong's law society takes unusual step of commenting in relation to ongoing case to express confidence in judiciary and assert rule of law.

Big 4 firm parachutes into another legal space

This time it is Andersen Global landing with a new law firm agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dentons and Nextlaw put Trans youth on the agenda

Transgender rights guide launched by Dentons and Nextlaw Referral Network with IGLYO and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

HSF launches digital law group

Herbert Smith Freehills says it is bringing digital and legal skills together as it seeks to serve clients in the face of digital transformation.

Dechert expands Dublin base

The firm expands Dublin presence in response to continued growth trajectory in the Irish capital and increased global client demand.

DLA Piper tops for social media says report

Release of latest US ranking of law firms in social media finds much to cheer in digital marketing but with room for improvement.

Maples caps a memorable year with 2000th employee

The Maples Group celebrates the 2000 employee milestone in a year marked by change and rebranding.

M&A still likes big MACs

Exciting times as material adverse change clauses remain a vital piece of M&A agreements, according to Nixon Peabody's 17th MAC Survey.

Littler gives employment low down

Workplace equality, mental health and Brexit top the agenda of European employers, according to Littler survey.

In-house US recession fears

Survey reveals law departments are showing caution on hiring and spending in 2019 as fears mount of US recession.

Around the house

Some major corporations top the bill in changes around the house this week,

Toyota case takes mental health issues to new level

Toyota acknowledges employee suicide case as car giant says it hopes to prevent further cases after authorities ruled on employee suicide.

RPC listens as the talent battle rages

Firm refreshes partnership structure and introduces new roles to increases opportunities for meaningful career progression.

New climate leader at Baker McKenzie

Form appoints Sydney-based Ilona Millar as global head of climate change.

Kennedys takes Virtual lawyer to LatAm

Innovation expansion continues apace for Kennedys as it takes 'virtual lawyer' platform to Latin America.

Expansion brings up a 'ton 80' for DWF

As DWF targets growth with McDonald Johnson lawyers joining, bringing the DWF headcount in Australia to 180 or a ton 80 as they say in darts.

New year to see new team

Simmons & Simmons due to kick off the new year with new administrative law team in Milan office in the new year.

UK gives landmark statement on cryptoassets

Lawyers welcome UK legal statement on the status of cryptoassets and smart contracts given by the chancellor of the High Court Sir Geoffrey Vos.

Linklaters launches digital transformation white papers

Firm collaborates with Microsoft to launch white papers on AI and open banking.

Ashurst pioneers German investigations

Ground-breaking collaboration with UnitedLex to launch new investigations solution in Germany.

Canada launches domain disputes centre

Canadian organization takes on global domain name disputes citing 350 million domain names world-wide where 'conflicts can arise.'

Irish law society launches training hybrid

Society says ?more options than ever? to qualify as a solicitor with launch of new professional practice course hybrid.

New Paris lead 'already partnered'

Gibson Dunn adds partner to lead employment practice and associate duo in Paris.

Feeling the lawyerly love in Philly

Two of Philadelphia's oldest and largest law firms are go into merger talks with regional peers to boost national presence.

Patented in Seattle

Polsinelli continues its nationwide US intellectual property growth with four new attorneys in Seattle.

Norton Rose Fulbright makes artful moves

In two announcements Nortons celebrates in Mexico City and shows delight in Toronto.

Pinsent Masons in data exploration push

Firm partners with the Open Data Institute (ODI) to explore next stage of data trusts to tackle global challenegs such as food waste.

Around the house

Around the house wearers a few changes this week as AccuWeather gets a new gc and aerospace general counsel lands new post.

BT lets go of ABS

UK communications giant gives ABS to law firm months after forming strategic partnership general counsel portrayed as transforming and simplifying.

Former Mastercard general counsel takes coaching role

BarkerGilmore adds former Mastercard worldwide general counsel to the firm's senior advisor roster.

General counsel under pressure

Technological transformation firmly on general agenda but in-house legal teams facing increasing pressures, says new report.

Nixon Peabody Boston strong

Firm names co-managing partners to give strong "law form of the future" lead at the firm's Boston office.

Oz sees law firms pulse rate falling

Bank survey shows Australian law firms expect lower profit growth as confidence in current business conditions slips from 85 percent in 2018 to 54 percent in 2019.

Time to ping those hours!

Ping clocks up $13.2M Series A funding in its mission to give lawyers their time back.

Brexit spurs US firm London opening

US firm Tully Rinckey opens London office in planned UK expansion and 'because of Brexit,' according to report in local news outlet.

Firm boosts data protection offering in Dublin

Lewis Silkin appointment of partner expands firm's commercial, technology, IP and data protection offering in the European market.

BRG opens permanent SA office

Johannesburg hub to focus on economic and financial consulting services relating to disputes, investigations, economic regulation and competition law.

Ashurst in disruption global reach

Ashurst collaborates with service providers to launch Ashurst Advance Reach with starting offers in UK and Australia.

Women ?tipping the scales?

Report celebrates 51 law firms recognized for ?tipping the scales? on women in new partner class.

DAC Beachcroft claims new team

Firm acquires five partner-led team from BLM Scotland to build their claims solutions business.

14 construction arbitrators jailed

Peru judge orders 14 arbitrators to be jailed as part of Odebrecht corruption probe

Conduct policies ?not fit for purpose?

Firms collaborate to highlight importance of professional ethics and personal conduct and say policies are outdated at many firms.

Property big data drive

Law firm research highlights property owners and investors look to data for the future of property value, but sees bright future for property valuers.

How luxury companies can navigate European and US antitrust risk

Partner Andreas Reindl of Van Bael & Bellis and Steven Cernak, Of Counsel at Schiff Hardin give their views on competition risks for luxury companies and how Europe and the US differ.

Cryptocurrency fees raises the alarm

Firm accepts bitcoin while advocacy groups and lawyers raise concerns of criminality and ethics, but they are not the first.

Saudi launches human rights database initiative

As Saudi Aramco prepares Riyadh IPO, the Kingdom launches database initiative to monitor implementation of international law mechanisms.

Arthur Cox prepares for another century

Geoff Moore takes office as new managing partner at Arthur Cox as firm prepares for its centenary year.

Former general counsel takes lawtech lead

Former general counsel leads lawtech project as UK ministry injects £2 million to promote technology change in the legal sector.

In-house scrutinise costs and diversity

The HBR Consulting annual survey reveals law departments are maximizing internal staff and embracing innovative resourcing strategies as legal needs continue to rise.

Around the house

Retirement and resignation ring the changes around the house this week.

Legal finance pushed by "discerning" in-house advocacy

Use of legal finance is growing and becoming more sophisticated, and In-house expect it to flourish further.

Nishimura & Asahi in Thai combo

Tokyo-based firm confirms it has purchased all outstanding shares in SCL Thailand's SCL Group to create new Thai powerhouse.

Allen & Overy get new Luxembourg space

La Porte de l'Europe welcomes Allen & Overy as firm opens up new space in Luxembourg,

Eversheds taps Simmons hire to build platform

Eversheds Sutherland appoints city corporate M&A partner to grow upper mid-market platform.

Hogan Lovells creates crisis team

Firm launches crisis leadership team to help clients lead through today's complex environment and offer new kind of support when emergencies arise.

Former law society president in big 4 move

In surprise move Christina Blacklaws has been appointed as legal services ambassador at Big Four accountancy KPMG.

Reed Smith lays claim to first ABS license

Laying claim to "first" international law firm to get licence, firm says regulatory approval enables broader client services, attracts top talent and is more agile.

Hogan Lovells in Jo'burg relaunch

After six years in South Africa, global law firm Hogan Lovells has launched its new fully-integrated office in Johannesburg.

Clifford Chance in robotic pilot

Firm launches pilot and training with plan in place to expand across Asia Pacific and create fully-functional legal bots.