International Legal News

HSF highlights tougher UK pension regulation

Tougher regulation takes hold as pension regulator steps up requests for information, warns Herbert Smith Freehills.

Talking the legal talk

Microsoft signing up as first user is big boost for 'standard' legal language released last month by SALI.

Academic to lead Reed Smith innovation

Firm books collaboration with appointent of first innovation engagement manager to lead innovation hub in London.

NRF applauds Maritime women

Norton Rose Fulbright highlights Maritime women as two of their own are appointed to leading roles in Canadian maritime law organizations.

Russian lawyers forge academic partnership

Graduates of Swiss Academy for International Law to defend rights of Russians, with sports law as a new area for training.

Report offers industry guide to AI hype

Legal AI efficacy report published by Blickstein Group cuts through market hype in industry's first independent review of AI-Powered Legal Tools .

Around the house

As the new academic year beckons, two universities hiring new general counsel go to the top of the class in this week's moves around the house.

$900k general counsel may have her work cut out after IPO

WeWork SEC filing ahead of IPO reveals absence of women on the board and potential exposure to foreign corruption? oh yes, and how much its general counsel earns.

General counsel lack climate change leadership

In-house legal teams see their role as advisory rather than leading or pioneering says Dutch research.

General counsel criticises plea bargain in MeToo incident

In-house counsel who filed a complaint against lawyer who ?squeezed her butt? complains opposing counsel only received 'small slap on the wrist' for alleged assault.

Dentons in mindful move

Firm's appointment of chief mindfulness officer in response to "groundbreaking work" promotes more holistic legal practice.

A double-first for Kennedys

Firm appoints Suzanne Liversidge as first global managing partner, and first for a UK top 30 firm, following continued growth.

Law In Order builds ethical walls

Legal tech firm goes for Darktrace to boost compliance and builds ethical walls saying ?cyber AI is nothing short of ground-breaking.?

Clyde & Co expands its African horizons

Firm says NRF and Gildenhuys Malatji hires expands African business and consolidates status as key insurance provider on the continent.

Australian law firm embroiled in political probe

DWF finds itself drawn into probe of senior politician as critics ask questions about her links to the firm and work earning over A$5m in government fees, according to media reports.

Linklaters exploiting what they know

Firm launches new AI data-powered system to search and manage legal documents in what provider calls a textbook example for law firms.

Singapore adds MAS SPICE

Newly launched Code of Practice strengthens regulatory compliance for the digital asset industry with legal support from Linklaters.

Firm hits the big apple with blockchain

Taylor English enters the New York market with the addition of specialist partner.

NRF expands renewable energy practice in Texas

Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded its renewable energy capabilities in Texas with the addition of McGuireWoods duo.

Linklaters in German blockchain first

In DLT-based payments, Linklaters advises Commerzbank on pilot project for machine-to-machine payments.

NRF turns to duo for renewable energy

Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded its renewable energy capabilities in Texas with the addition of McGuireWoods duo.

Plaudits for Reynen Court beta launch

Five beta law firms and over ninety third-party application vendors go live with single platform for legal technology after twelve months of development.

Hogan Lovells in Boston move

After a couple of London office moves by international firms, Hogan Lovells opts to move its office on other side of the Atlantic.

AmLaw100 firm WSGR goes end-to-end

Tackling repetitive and low-value work, WSGR stated as first Am Law 100 firm to fully automate signing and closing process for entire practice area.

Law firm flags retail sector employment "suspicions"

Findings, including 1 in 10 retail workers experiencing "inappropriate sexual touching" in current job, ?confirm the suspicions of anyone working in employment law.?

A new take on guns and butter

According to the WSJ, some public companies are telling investors about how gun violence could affect their financial performance.

IP litigation spend skyrockets

Spending by companies on IP litigation is on the rise with larger and more complex matters, MoFo survey finds.

Counsel quartet make Latina power list

A quartet of Latina counsel make the cut as general counsel praises his deputy general counsel as she heads up the lawyers on the cross-industry list.

Around the house

Whether it's Spain or the US, transferring between in-house and private practice is in vogue this week, and so are in-house team promotions.

Fangda Partners duo in Linklaters China move

Linklaters' Shanghai Free Trade Zone joint operation partner, Zhao Sheng law firm, has hired duo from Fangda Partners.

Simmons & Simmons enters ?new era?

New leadership for dispute resolution practice as firm takes on board succession planning in what is termed a ?new era.?

LexisNexis delivers court research solution

Provider launches its enhanced CourtLink docket research solution on the Lexis Advance platform, offers free trial.

It's good to talk

New Perimeter provides training on contract negotiations to East African public sector lawyers.

Fintech firm marks legal milestone

White & Case and Cooley join 42 other law firms harnessing Shieldpay, as fintech firm marks major milestone ahead of changes to SRA rules.

Comprehensive picture of the US legal profession

Law by the numbers is revealed as new American Bar Association profile of the legal profession is published.

US lawyers get a taste for litigation funding

Once tried US lawyers are positive and say they would try litigation funding again says survey.

UK legal industry turnover at record high

In first half of 2019 legal industry generated almost £18bn of revenue recording a record high official statistics report.

HFW takes Ince yacht team onboard

Firm launching an office in Monaco with the hire of a team from Ince, though Gordon Dadds Group sees it differently.

Law firms open to change...sort of

Survey correlates change management and partner buy-in with law firm efficiency, but highlights some surprising findings on tech adoption.

Singapore bolsters disputes hub

In a busy week for Singapore AAA-ICDR bolsters its presence to serve as case management hub in Asia, and Maxwell Chambers suites are opened.

Ex-NRF duo lead launch of new Dentons risk consulting business

Dentons Risk Consulting will work alongside the firm's legal teams to provide a multi-skilled, integrated offering for clients.

HSF commits long-term to China

Firm adds China law capability following the approval of a joint operation with Kewei.

Brexit unbound

Increased throughput sees Brexit-related laws passed more than triple in first half of 2019, while significant non-Brexit legislation has been delayed.

Clyde & Co appoints drones expert

Eminent academic Professor Ron Bartsch to assist Clyde & Co's global drones strategy group.

Swiss Bank learns the cost of non-compliance

Bank which ignored advice from its compliance officer is slapped with a $10.6 million penalty.

General counsel indefinitely suspended

Bank general counsel caught up in ?biggest? US bank collapse in 2017 to be indefinitely suspended after pleading guilty in bank fraud.

Report looks forward to legal department 2025

Ready or not, Artificial Intelligence is already here as report highlights the ups and downs of adoption by corporate legal departments.

Around the house

It's summer and general counsels are doing the splits, while trend of c-suite appointments continues.

Singapore Convention in signing ceremony

The Signing Ceremony for the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (Singapore Convention on Mediation) was held today in Singapore.

Non-traditional merger in South Korea for Dentons

Dentons' combination with Lee International will uniquely position the firms to meet client needs in South Korea and around the globe.

Gordon Dadds to rebrand

Listed law firm Gordon Dadds is rebranding as The Ince Group, following its recent acquisition of shipping law firm Ince & Co.

LGBT poses challenge for Qatar World Cup sponsors

Sponsors of the Qatar World Cup tournament could face reputational risk if current laws against the LGBT community are not suspended for the event.

Ince appoints new heads for London and China

Global moves as firm names duo to head up London as group chief focuses internationally and appoints new head for China Practice in Singapore.

Dentons signals Central America expansion

Following African expansion last week, Dentons signals combination in Honduras to strengthen firm's offering in Latin America and the Caribbean.

China ready for Singapore lawyers

Singapore Ministry of Law launches training scheme to ready lawyers for working with China and meet the island state's business needs.

Luxury elite join Luxury Law Summit faculty in New York

Luxury leaders from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Macys and Ralph Lauren will discuss the latest issues for the sector this fall.

PLMJ lawyers depart for rival

Team moves round the top table of Portugese legal firms as PLMJ lawyers leave for Lisbon rival Abreu Advogados.

Britain's legal sector braces for £3.5bn Brexit shock no-deal slump

The UK is set for a significant slowdown in event of no deal Brexit, according to the Law Society.

IBA attacks Saudi beheadings

Saudi Arabia is flouting international law with surge in beheadings, says IBA report which highlights record rate of execution in the kingdom.

NRF insurance team heads over to DACB

Firm acquires partner-led insurance team from Norton Rose Fulbright in London as pivotal move in expanding global business.

Hogan Lovells restructures in South Africa

After a six-year relationship, Hogan Lovells is restructuring its legal practice in South Africa following a strategic review of its business in the country.

Simmons & Simmons expands in Germany

Addition to Frankfurt office reflects strong client demand in employment and labour services.

Holland & Knight in pro bono hack

Firm sponsors creation of a new Miami chapter of Legal Hackers, a pro bono group at the intersection of law and tech.

Eversheds Sutherland's essential app

Firm launches BDCESSENTIALS mobile app.

Dentons powers up with NZ combo

Firm to combine with a leading firm in New Zealand to create Australasia powerhouse, and biggest global firm in NZ ?on day one.?

JPMorgan's 'secret sauce?

Bank turns to tech in tackling shareholder activism with launch of analytics tool in trending of advisers using tech to help clients fend off activist investors.

Former general counsel in discrimination suit

Two general counsel for LSU Health Center in New Orleans sue over gender discrimination claims.

Around the house

Nordstrom's is just one of the corporates who went shopping for a new general counsel this week.

New arbitration centre for Asia

Arbitration centre focused on China and ASEAN to launch in Singapore

DAC Beachcroft makes insurance claim

The firm's counter fraud specialists predict 'explosion' in fraudulent vehicle accident damage claims.

Fans show Ronaldo a red card

Not tax charges or rape allegations this time, but angry fans seeking a lawsuit after he stays on the bench in South Korea friendly.

Diligen speeds up contract reviews

Toronto company releases Prodigy, a new machine learning-based self-training system.

Nexus Law takes flight in Sydney move

NewLaw firm expands commercial law footprint as new headquarters opens in Sydney.

?Bottoms up? for Clyde & Co innovation

Firm to use innovative visual search tool in development of machine learning projects.

Law and ethics Africa teaching initiative

Global firm White & Case joined with law schools to run a week of legal ethics programs and events in Rwanda.

Pinsent Mason lets the genie out

Pinsent Masons announces AI pilot to provide novel insights to clients using machine learning.

Cooley aims for Singapore with new hire

Firm in expansion mode with plans for fourth office in Asia.

US courts diversity problem

Minority groups and women underrepresented on US state supreme courts, as report suggests judicial elections lack of diversity threatens legitimacy.

LexisNexis and Knowable in joint venture

LexisNexis says its investment in Knowable underscores the promise and potential of contract data analytics.

Almost third of European companies not gdpr compliant

Thirty percent of European businesses are still not gdpr compliant as some companies revert to old ways, says survey.

Firm starts a revolution

Australian-based international firm MinterEllison launches innovative graduate program and welcomes tech-focused legal operations grads.

Updated: Summit meeting welcomes Ireland's 'AI moment'

The World Legal Summit Dublin to be held August 1, 2019, now with additional sponsorship from Bar of Ireland.

Cooley's office move reflects ambition

Firm confirms it is heading to 22 Bishopsgate in a 2020 relocation to the City's tallest and most advanced building.

HFW in Solomonic judgement

Global disputes law firm announces development partnership with litigation analytics start-up Solomonic.

Postcards from the legal edge

California State Bar looks set to push the boundaries of legal practice as it invites public comment on tech task force's regulatory reform options.

Around the house

General counsel trend of ceo appointees continues apace with sodastream, as does jumping the fence, while Eli Lilly seeks new top lawyer and we mark a sad passing in this busy week around the house.

Is your ceo spending less time at the top?

Among the world's biggest companies, ceos are spending less time at the top, as reserch raises issue of ethical failings and gender concerns.

New compliance support for in-house counsel

ComplianceHR offers employee policy compliance and management product for in-house counsel to manage increasing complexity.

Legal ops grow with tech roadmap

Legal departments emphasise legal operations and increase investment as a full-time role rather than one that might be shared with others, says survey.

A disruptive forty percent

Scale of alternative providers disrupting legal services market highlighted by increased number of corporate users of ?captive? providers.

Law Society sends out an SOS

?Save our justice system? Law Society urges new UK prime minister Boris Johnson, as Mr Johnson heads to Buckingham Place to take up the post.

Simmons & Simmons engineers change

Firm acquires legal engineering firm Wavelength, the first regulated legal engineering firm in the world.

EHRC rejects conflict of interest claim over Pinsent Masons partner

Left-wing UK daily newspaper attacks EHRC, citing Pinsent Masons partner who is chairman of watchdog, in Labour Party anti-semitism probe linked to refugee evictions, but firm rejects an old claim.

McDermott in healthcare acquisition

Integration strengthens client-focused health care consultancy as firm extends firm's health policy and private equity ambitions.

Ince in landmark move

Firm's specialists expands presence in historic Lloyd's building and chief executive lauds onboarding of Gibraltar unit.

Post-Brexit action heats up in Dublin

As UK prepares for new Prime Minister this week, Scots firm Shepherd and Wedderburn announces new office while Pinsent Masons continues expansion.

Mishcon de Reya mulls IPO

According to weekend media reports, the firm is considering a stock market flotation as a way to raise funds for an ?ambitious? expansion.

Clifford Chance settles on AI solution

Firm selects Elevate's AI platform ContraxSuite to power the firm's new data science lab.

Thomson Reuters clever HighQ move

Acquisition expands offerings and leverages Thomson Reuters channels and customer relationships in legal and regulatory market.

HSF strengthens Jo'burg bench

Herbert Smith Freehills expands South African office with three senior hires and their teams.