On Monday 17 August, the SRA issued a warning notice on the use of AI in law firms, following a number of high-profile AI-related missteps at firms including Pinsent Masons and Sullivan & Cromwell. The SRA highlighted two principal concerns: hallucinations – which it defines as AI-generated ‘fictitious cases, references or seemingly factual assertions that … Continue reading "‘Shocked it has taken…
Anthropic has appointed a new general counsel, as current GC Jeffrey Bleich steps into a new role as an international special envoy. The AI giant has handed the GC role to Elena Leichty, who has worked at Anthropic since 2023 as associate general counsel. In a LinkedIn post announcing his new role, Bleich said: ‘I’m … Continue reading "Anthropic names new general counsel as current GC steps into…
Paul Weiss has hired a new head of its Supreme Court and appellate litigation practice from Goodwin in Washington DC. William ‘Willy’ Jay (pictured), a Legal 500 Hall of Famer, has joined after a 14-year stint at Goodwin, where he chaired the firm’s Supreme Court and appellate practice between 2013 and 2023, before becoming co-chair … Continue reading "Paul Weiss hires new Supreme Court practice…
Milbank is set to launch in Chicago, the firm announced today (24 August), hiring in a White & Case practice co-head as its first partner in the city. The New York-headquartered firm has hired Nadav Klugman (pictured), co-head of White & Case’s global project development and finance practice, and a Legal 500 leading partner for … Continue reading "Milbank launches in Chicago with White & Case…
Latham & Watkins and Skadden are among the firms advising as China-founded fast fashion retailer Shein prepares for its long-trailed IPO in Hong Kong. Skadden is acting as lead advisor to the issuer, while Latham is principal advisor to the joint sponsors and the underwriters, which include Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and J.P. Morgan Securities. … Continue reading "Latham and Skadden lead on…
Weil’s New York-based private equity co-head Christopher Machera is leaving the firm, just 18 months after he was appointed to a new-look leadership team. Machera, who is understood to be joining Paul Weiss in New York, is recognised as a Legal 500 leading partner for high-value PE buyouts. He has spent the majority of his career … Continue reading "Weil private equity co-head set to leave for…
White & Case has hired Mayer Brown global head of funds and investment management Timothy Clark in New York. Clark moved from Dechert to Mayer Brown in 2021, and previously spent six years as a partner at O’Melveny & Myers. He advises PE, credit and sovereign wealth clients on fund formation, private fund investments and … Continue reading "Trading Places: White & Case hires Mayer Brown funds head…
National firms Knights and Fletchers have carved up Moore Barlow in a deal that has seen the South East firm split into two and taken over. Knights, which confirmed this March that it was in talks over an acquisition, has reached a deal which will see it pay £27m for Moore Barlow’s commercial and private … Continue reading "Knights and Fletchers carve up £45m Moore Barlow in two-way takeover"
‘When I started my business law degree, I loved it from day one,’ says Huma Allana van Reesch, general counsel, EMEA at Starbucks. ‘Pretty early on, I knew I wanted to be some kind of business lawyer, although at the time I didn’t really appreciate the difference between working in-house and being in private practice.’ … Continue reading "Starbucks EMEA GC on leadership, business turnarounds and…
Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Arnold Bloch Leibler have advised on EQT’s majority investment in top National Rugby League (NRL) club Melbourne Storm, as sport cements its place as an attractive asset class for private capital. The deal, which reportedly values the club at AUD $150m, marks the first time that EQT has made a direct … Continue reading "Australian duo score roles on EQT’s acquisition…
Cleary Gottlieb, Orrick and Fenwick & West have taken the lead roles on the latest multibillion-dollar tech deal, as Stripe has agreed to acquire AI startup OpenRouter. Cleary advised OpenRouter, with a team comprised of tax partner Swift Edgar and M&A partner Charles Allen in New York, and M&A partner Benet O’Reilly in California. Orrick … Continue reading "US trio lead on multibillion-dollar…
Michelman & Robinson’s London office is not immediately obvious, tucked away on a cobbled Shoreditch backstreet behind an inconspicuous black door. The Californian firm’s arrival in London last October was equally low-key – a decision Dan Burbeary (pictured), the firm’s first non-US office managing partner, says was intentional. ‘It’s not about coming in with sharp … Continue reading "‘A…
Latham & Watkins and Paul Weiss are among a new group of firms winning spots on EQT’s panel as the PE house finalises its full roster. LB revealed last month that Europe’s largest buyout shop had appointed a clutch of firms to its ‘platinum’ panel, with EQT now finalising the ‘gold’ panel that will operate … Continue reading "Latham and Paul Weiss among eight new winners as EQT finalises panel"
Pinsent Masons’ profit per equity partner has fallen a little over 7% to £740,000, with managing partner Laura Cameron (pictured) citing ‘a bumper year in terms of investments.’ Meanwhile, revenue was up 3.3%, to £703m. The results mark a slowdown on the previous year’s, when Pinsents increased its revenue by 4.7%, and its PEP by … Continue reading "Pinsents PEP drops 7.2% after ‘bumper year of…
Newly merged Ashurst Perkins Coie has announced its new board, with equal representation for each legacy firm, and without the two non-executive seats that legacy Ashurst had. The board is chaired by global co-chairs Karen Davies, formerly global chair of Ashurst, and Brian Eiting, formerly corporate practice co-chair at Perkins Coie, and comprises a further … Continue reading "Ashurt Perkins Coie…
Three international law firms have secured roles advising on the upcoming sale of Welsh spirits startup Au Vodka to US giant Sazerac, in a deal valued at £500m. DLA Piper is advising Au Vodka on the transaction, Dorsey & Whitney is advising Sazerac, and PwC is advising on tax planning aspects for the founder shareholders … Continue reading "International trio serve up as BuzzBallz owner Sazerac…
National and regional firms increased their revenue at a faster rate than international or London firms last year, according to preliminary LB100 data – but international firms are surging further ahead on partner profits. The early results point to a widening divide in the strategies being pursued across the market, from acquisition-led expansion among national … Continue reading "LB100 results…
Latham & Watkins, A&O Shearman and Clifford Chance have scored lead roles on a major deal that has seen Liverpool FC owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) sell a stake in the club to a group of investors including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. FSG, which has owned Liverpool FC since 2010, is a selling a ‘strategic … Continue reading "Latham, A&O Shearman and CC up front as Jeff Bezos-backed consortium…
Weil and Jones Day have secured lead roles on the near-£1bn sale of Saputo’s UK dairy division, which includes household name brands such as Cathedral City and Clover. The deal will see French dairy giant Lactalis, which currently owns brands such as President and Galbani, take ownership of Canadian parent company Saputo’s UK brands for … Continue reading "Weil and Jones Day say cheese on £1bn…
