Fladgate Breaks £100m Revenue Barrier for First Time as Turnover Doubles in Five Years
Fladgate, a Top‑100 UK law firm, announced revenue of over £102 million (≈ $129 million) for FY 2025/26, a 16% increase and the first time it has breached the £100 million mark. Turnover has doubled from £51.7 million (≈ $65.7 million) in 2020/21, reflecting rapid growth in its private‑capital focus. The firm promoted four lawyers to partner, strengthening real‑estate, IP and dispute‑resolution practices, and hired senior tax partner Richard Harbot from DLA Piper. Profit‑per‑equity also rose 20% to exceed £1 million (≈ $1.27 million).
The Da Vinci Dilemma: Where Do Elite Lawyers Add Value in an AI World?
The article argues that AI is accelerating the breakup of legal work into standardized, repeatable components, forcing elite law firms to rethink the partner role. Senior lawyers will add value primarily through judgment, risk‑bearing, and client assurance rather than billable...
Reed Smith Boosts Boston Office with Disputes Team Hire From K&L Gates
Reed Smith has bolstered its newly opened Boston office by hiring a disputes team from K&L Gates, including three partners—Jennifer Nagle, Robert Sparkes, and Kathleen Parker—and two associates, plus partner Loly Tor in Princeton. The hires raise the Boston attorney...
Singapore Fintech Finmo Hires Ex-PayPal, eBay Lawyer as First GC
Finmo, a Singapore‑based treasury‑management software provider, has hired Matt Poblocki as its inaugural general counsel to support regulatory expansion. Poblocki joins from Binance, where he led the Australia‑New Zealand business, and brings prior senior legal roles at PayPal, eBay, Carousell and...
Trio of Firms Guide Pershing Square’s €55bn Bid for Universal Music
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital is pursuing a non‑binding €55 billion (~$60 billion) offer to acquire Universal Music, the world’s largest label. The bid, led by a trio of advisers—Sullivan & Cromwell, White & Case and Dutch firm Stibbe—will merge Universal with Pershing’s blank‑check vehicle...
US Computer Chip Giant Intel Taps Zoom for CLO Replacement
Intel has appointed Aparna Bawa, formerly Zoom’s chief operating officer, as its new chief legal and people officer. Bawa will oversee global legal, ethics, compliance, human resources and culture, reporting directly to CEO Lip‑Bu Tan. She replaces April Miller Boise, who...
Brick Court’s Hollander to Take Silk in Hong Kong
Chief Justice Andrew Cheung announced that Charles Hollander KC will be appointed Senior Counsel – Hong Kong’s equivalent of King’s Counsel – in May, joining a six‑barrister elevation round. Hollander, a Brick Court silk who splits his practice between Temple...
Sidley Austin Adds Cravath VC Co-Head in New York
Sidley Austin announced the addition of Scott Bennett, former co‑head of Cravath’s venture capital, growth equity and digital assets practices, as head of its technology capital markets group and partner in its capital markets practice. Bennett brings extensive experience advising...
Where Premiums Will Be Paid: Fashion and Beauty M&A Trends
2025 reshaped fashion and beauty M&A as brands pursued scale, supply‑chain resilience, and AI‑driven capabilities. Flagship deals—Prada’s €1.25 bn (≈$1.35 bn) purchase of Versace, Caleres’ $105 m acquisition of Stuart Weitzman, and e.l.f. Beauty’s $1 bn buyout of Rhode—highlighted a premium on tech‑enabled, culturally resonant...
Simpson Thacher Eyes Sports Deals in Triple Partner Swoop From Hogan Lovells, Sidley and the NBA
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is bolstering its sports M&A practice by hiring three senior partners from Hogan Lovells, Sidley Austin and the NBA. Michael Kuh and Eric Geffner join as co‑heads, while Matthew Carpenter‑Dennis will arrive later, adding New York and Los Angeles coverage. The...
Businesses Consistently Overlook Culture when Assessing M&A Value – Study
Organizations pursuing acquisitions continue to prioritize financial modelling and legal diligence while underinvesting in cultural integration, according to RGP’s new study. Although 81% of executives deem culture, talent and knowledge critical, only 18% feel their firms protect these assets effectively....
Renewable Energy Company BlueWave Hires Former US Department of Energy Lawyer as GC
BlueWave, a Boston‑based developer of solar and battery storage projects, has appointed Becky Limmer as its new General Counsel, succeeding retiring chief legal officer Deborah Collum. Limmer previously served as chief counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy’s loan programme,...
Perfumes in Brazil: Legal Protection Beyond Scent
Brazilian law prohibits registering fragrances as trademarks because only visually perceptible signs are protectable. Consequently, perfume makers cannot rely on traditional trademark exclusivity for their olfactory signatures. Protection instead hinges on trade secrets, know‑how, and the visual identity of bottles,...
Eversheds Sutherland Hires DLA Piper’s London Managing Partner in IP Disputes Push
UK law firm Eversheds Sutherland has bolstered its London IP practice by hiring Ruth Hoy, DLA Piper’s managing partner, and partner Huw Cookson, both IP litigation specialists. Hoy, a leading brand‑management litigator, joins after two decades at DLA Piper, while Cookson brings...
Bridger Aerospace Lines up GC From Bristow as Legal Head Set to Depart
Bridger Aerospace, a Montana‑based aerial firefighting firm, appointed Justin Mogford as general counsel, effective April, replacing James Muchmore after a decade of service. Mogford joins from Bristow Group, where he led the legal function for its advanced air mobility division...
The Global Legal Post Launches Comparative Guide to Fashion Law
The Global Legal Post has released the third edition of its *Law Over Borders* Comparative Guide to Fashion Law, edited by Julia Holden of Trevisan & Cuonzo. The guide offers a jurisdiction‑by‑jurisdiction analysis of brand protection, e‑commerce, marketing and emerging sustainability requirements,...
Cooley-Backed Contract Review Start-Up Crosby Raises $60m in Fresh Funding
Crosby, an AI‑driven contract review startup backed by law firm Cooley, closed a $60 million Series B round, its third raise in under a year. The round was co‑led by Lux Capital and Index Ventures, with participation from Sequoia, 01 Advisors, Bain...
Clyde & Co Hires 18-Lawyer Team in Bangkok From DLA Piper
Clyde & Co has recruited an 18‑lawyer team from DLA Piper to bolster its Bangkok office, marking one of the most significant hires in Thailand’s legal market this year. Led by partners Robert Tang and Samata Masagee, the group adds...
Bird & Bird Re-Elects Bartsch for Second CEO Term
Bird & Bird re‑elected Christian Bartsch as CEO for a second four‑year term, reinforcing its ambition to reach €1 bn (≈$1.09 bn) in revenue by 2029. The firm posted a 6% revenue increase to €672.6 m (≈$733 m) for the year to 30 April 2025, marking...
High Court Judge Orders Split Trial in £85m Vodafone Class Action Claim
A High Court judge has ordered the £85 million (≈ $109 million) class action by 62 former Vodafone franchisees to be heard in two separate trials, one on liability and another on damages. The claim alleges Vodafone breached its duty of good faith...
AI Boom Fuelling Demand for Private Equity Investment in Law Firms, Experts Say
Law firms are turning to private‑equity to fund AI and other technology upgrades, with UK mid‑size firms leading the trend. A recent MHA‑Law Society survey shows seven out of ten firms have been approached by PE firms and 65% already...
How AI, Digital Doubles and New Laws Are Rewriting Fashion and Beauty
Artificial intelligence has moved from hype to a core production tool in fashion, apparel and beauty, powering everything from recommendation engines to virtual try‑on and synthetic model creation. Brands are attracted by AI’s ability to cut costs, speed creative cycles...
US Multi-State Employment Rules Prompt Hiring Pause on Compliance Concerns – Study
A new FoxHire Multi‑State Hiring Compliance Burden Index reveals that half of U.S. employers reject qualified candidates over state‑specific employment rules, while 48% delay hiring or expansion due to regulatory uncertainty. Nearly half of respondents admit to turning down hires...
US Credit Union First Tech Hires Federal Reserve Bank of Boston GC as First CLO
First Technology Federal Credit Union announced the hiring of Steven Wright as its inaugural chief legal officer. Wright joins from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where he was general counsel and chief ethics officer, bringing extensive regulatory and law‑firm...
The Kochi-Muziris Biennale: Provoking Conversations on Craft and IP
The sixth Kochi‑Muziris Biennale, concluding in March, shifted its focus from finished artworks to the artisanal processes that create them. Exhibits such as Lakshmi Madhavan’s “Looming Bodies” highlighted the legal tension between designers and the craft communities whose techniques they...
London International Disputes Week Refreshes Board with Double Appointment
London International Disputes Week (LIDW) has refreshed its board, appointing Quadrant Chambers COO Sarah Longden and Stewarts partner Sherina Petit as new members. They replace Ben Giaretta and Emily Morris, who helped steer LIDW’s post‑pandemic revival. Longden brings 30 years...
Pinsent Masons Makes up 23 Partners
Pinsent Masons announced the promotion of 23 new partners effective 1 May, a slight decrease from the previous year. The cohort is 65% male, reversing last year’s female majority, and is heavily weighted toward energy and infrastructure specialists. Sixteen partners join...
Squire Patton Boggs Names Andrew Wilkinson as Next European Managing Partner
Squire Patton Boggs has appointed Andrew Wilkinson as its new European managing partner, taking over from Jonathan Jones in May. Wilkinson, a London partner since 2003, leads the firm’s IP and technology practice, advising on AI, fintech, telecoms and other...
'We're Keen to Deploy More and More AI Use Cases': Quint CLO Sheraz Afzal
Quint Group’s chief legal, risk and compliance officer Sheraz Afzal marks his five‑year anniversary, highlighting the firm’s aggressive AI rollout across legal workflows. He notes that AI now automates routine tasks such as financial‑promotion approvals and answers basic HR and contract...
Due-Diligence Gaps Fuel Uptick in M&A Disputes in 2025 – Survey
A BRG survey of over 200 deal professionals found that 46% of M&A disputes in 2025 stemmed from due‑diligence gaps, the highest level since the study began. Earn‑out disagreements surged to 35%, up 11 points, while purchase‑price allocation issues fell...
Mega Deals Power Sullivan & Cromwell and Wachtell to Summit of Global Q1 M&A Ranking
Sullivan & Cromwell topped the global M&A legal‑advisor rankings for Q1, handling 36 transactions worth just under $178 bn—about 18% more than runner‑up Wachtell, which closed 23 deals for $149.6 bn. Their lead was boosted by advising OpenAI on a $110 bn equity raise...
Paul Weiss, Jones Day, Wachtell, Macfarlanes Advise on Sysco’s $29bn Purchase of Restaurant Depot
Sysco is acquiring Jetro Restaurant Depot in a deal valued at roughly $29 bn, advised by Paul Weiss, Jones Day, Wachtell and Macfarlanes. The transaction provides $21.6 bn in cash and 91.5 million Sysco shares priced at $81.80, yielding an enterprise value of...
Managed Legal Services Startup NuCAS Enlists Former Hogan Lovells Chair as Adviser
NuCAS, a managed legal services startup, has hired former Hogan Lovells global chair Nicholas Cheffings as a strategic adviser. Cheffings will counsel the firm on operations, governance, growth, market positioning, client services, and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Newcastle‑based company,...
‘The Variety Has Really Sharpened My Thinking’: Funke Abimbola on Being a Fractional GC
Funke Abimbola, former Roche UK‑Ireland GC and MBE‑honoured lawyer, has been offering fractional general counsel services through The Legal Director since November 2024. She explains that high‑growth tech, AI and SaaS firms often need senior legal judgment before they can...
Baker Botts Adds Arbitration Partner From Norton Rose Fulbright in Singapore
U.S. law firm Baker Botts has added seasoned energy partner Katie Chung from Norton Rose Fulbright to its Singapore office, bolstering its international arbitration capabilities in Asia. Chung arrives with two decades of experience handling high‑stakes disputes across energy, infrastructure...
AI Business Gong Hires Ex-Lacework Legal Head as CLO
Gong, the San Francisco‑based AI revenue‑intelligence platform, announced the appointment of Joe FitzGerald as chief legal officer, succeeding John Slavitt. FitzGerald arrives from Lacework, where he served as CLO, and brings more than 25 years of experience in compliance, corporate...
What to Watch in 2026: Key US Fashion, Apparel and Beauty Cases
In 2026 a wave of U.S. lawsuits is testing intellectual‑property limits across fashion, apparel and beauty. Whoop alleges Chinese maker Shenzhen Lexqi copied its minimalist wearable design, while Lululemon claims Costco’s Kirkland dupes infringe trademarks, design patents and trade dress....
Fieldfisher Relocates 90 Business Services Roles to Belfast
Fieldfisher will relocate roughly ninety business‑services roles from its London, Manchester and Birmingham offices to Belfast, consolidating finance, IT, HR and marketing functions under a single centre of excellence. The move is designed to streamline workflows, cut overhead and accelerate...
Top Media Lawyer Receives High Court Apology over ‘Lawfare’ Allegation
Northern Ireland media lawyer Paul Tweed received a formal apology in the High Court after academic Andreas Krieg falsely accused him of "lawfare" against UAE critics. Krieg admitted the allegations in his book *Subversion* were defamatory and agreed to have...
Pérez-Llorca Posts 28% Increase in ‘Pro Forma’ Revenue to Hit €211.3m
Spanish law firm Pérez‑Llorca announced a 28% rise in pro forma revenue, reaching €211.3 million. International operations—Portugal, Mexico and a newly merged Colombian practice—contributed €55.5 million, representing 26% of total earnings. Domestic revenue grew 17% to €155.8 million, continuing a five‑year streak of...
Ashurst Hits Goodwin for Three-Partner London PE Team
Ashurst has recruited three partners—Ian Keefe, Michael Miranda and George Weavil—from Goodwin Procter to bolster its London private‑equity practice. The team brings experience advising major funds such as Bridgepoint, TA Associates and The Carlyle Group, as well as mid‑market sponsors,...
Weil Names Successor to Longtime Leader Wolf
Weil Gotshal & Manges announced that co‑managing partner Ramona Nee will succeed longtime executive partner Barry Wolf as executive partner on 1 January 2027, with Wolf remaining chair of the management committee until the end of 2027 before retiring. Nee, who also...
Kirkland’s Revenue Jumps 20% to Top $10bn
Kirkland & Ellis reported a 20% jump in gross revenue, reaching $10.56 bn for 2025, while profit per equity partner (PEP) also rose 20% to $11.1 m. The firm’s equity partnership grew modestly by 3.8% to 595 partners, but total partnership numbers...
CMS Makes up 54 in Latest Partner Promotions Round
CMS announced the promotion of 54 partners worldwide, the largest cohort to date, with 28 women representing 52% of the group – the highest gender proportion ever for the firm. The promotions span 29 cities across the UK, Europe, Asia,...
‘We Finally Have the Tools to Harness and Scale Law Firm Knowledge’
A Global Legal Post webinar highlighted how generative AI is unlocking firm‑wide knowledge for legal drafting, allowing even small practices to create sophisticated templates without large knowledge‑management teams. Panelists from Gleiss Lutz, Hengeler Mueller and Pérez‑Llorca explained that AI now drafts complex...
Luxury Brands Must Respond to Maturing ESG Frameworks, New Policy Survey Says
Baker McKenzie and Positive Luxury released the fourth edition of their ESG Policy Guide, warning luxury firms that maturing environmental, social and governance rules now demand concrete actions on circular design, packaging and supply‑chain traceability. Regulators across Europe, the U.S., Latin...
Macfarlanes Elevates Four to Partnership in London in Reduced Promotions Round
Macfarlanes announced a four‑partner promotion round for April 2026, cutting the intake to half of last year’s nine. The new partners span dispute resolution, private‑client, finance and employment, with women representing 50 % of the cohort. The promotion size sits in the...
Canary Wharf Group Hires Experienced Real Estate Lawyer as First GC
Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has created its first group general counsel position, appointing Rachel Walker to lead legal, governance, risk, compliance and insurance functions. Walker joins from Ares Management after senior roles at GLP Capital Partners, GLP Europe and a...
HSF Kramer and Taylor Wessing Secure IP Partner Hires in Germany and London
HSF Kramer and Taylor Wessing announced senior IP hires in Germany and the UK, respectively. HSF Kramer appointed Philipp Cepl from DLA Piper as a partner in Düsseldorf, expanding its European patent‑litigation bench to three partners. Taylor Wessing’s UK practice brought in Henry Priestley from...
Almost One in Five Women Lawyers Plan to Leave Profession Due to Workplace Issues – IBA Study
The International Bar Association’s new report, *Raising the Bar: Women in Law*, reveals that almost one in five women lawyers are contemplating leaving the profession, with 19% considering roles in academia or consulting. While 62% intend to stay at their...
