News

UK Body Probes Dentons Over Dismissal of Ex-Human Resources Manager

Joseph Evans | April 20, 2018

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed an investigation of Dentons after an employment tribunal ruled against the firm for dismissing a former recruitment manager. The move comes the same week that Dentons suspended a Canadian partner in an unrelated matter.

Analysis

Chinese Firms Are Coming for Your Partners — Again

Anna Zhang | April 19, 2018

Top Chinese firms like Han Kun and Fangda Partners are racing to hire away partners from global firms as they grow financially and seek more recognition.

News

Singapore GCs Eyeing Higher Impact, Chief Executive Roles, Report Finds

Stephanie Forshee | April 19, 2018

General counsel in the city-state seem to be an ambitious bunch—and may have their eyes on the CEO or COO's chair.

News

New Guide Warns GCs of Anti-Corruption Compliance Challenges in Latin America

Caroline Spiezio | April 19, 2018

New anti-corruption laws are taking hold in Latin America, and GCs, even those based in the United States, should take note.

News

Latham Opens Nominations to Replace Ousted Leader Voge

Anna Ward | April 19, 2018

Almost a month after the shocking exit of former global chair and managing partner William Voge, Latham & Watkins has started a succession process to replace him.

How Lawyers Used CFIUS Review to Defeat Broadcom’s Takeover of Qualcomm

MP McQueen | April 18, 2018

The White House blocked Broadcom’s $117 billion bid to take over Qualcomm by issuing an executive order in March, citing national security concerns. Could it be the "poison pill" of the future?

News

Contract Review Tool LawGeex Takes $12M in Series B Funding

Gabrielle Orum Hernández | April 18, 2018

The contract review platform will use the money to further develop its review capabilities, but plans to stay the course within an increasingly crowded contract analysis technology market.

News

US Slaps China's ZTE Corp. With Export Ban Over False Statements

Sue Reisinger | April 17, 2018

The move was spurred by the government's assertion that, contrary to terms of a 2017 settlement, ZTE paid full bonuses to employees that had engaged in illegal conduct and failed to issue letters of reprimand.

News

Dentons Canada Partner Suspended After Fatal Hit-and-Run

Meghan Tribe | April 17, 2018

Shane Stevenson, a corporate partner with Dentons Canada, has been suspended from the firm following a fatal hit-and-run that killed a teenage girl in Edmonton.

News

Locke Lord Hires Troutman Sanders International Arbitration Duo in Hong Kong

Anna Zhang | April 17, 2018

The Texas-based firm has hired the two-lawyer disputes team as Atlanta-based Troutman winds down its Asia practice.

News

Supreme Court Ruling Ends Microsoft Email Privacy Case

Tony Mauro | April 17, 2018

“No live dispute remains between the parties over the issue with respect to which certiorari was granted,” the court stated in a three-page order.

News

A&O to Launch Firmwide Rollout of New Performance Evaluation Scheme as Firm Targets More 'Honest' Feedback

Rose Walker| April 17, 2018

The Magic Circle firm becomes the latest to scrap annual reviews in favor of ongoing feedback

News

The Transfer Window: Latest Partner Hires for Latham, Ashurst and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Legal Week| April 17, 2018

A review of notable moves.

News

Dechert Life Sciences Exits Continue as Frankfurt Team Leaves for McDermott

Joseph Evans | April 17, 2018

The defections from Dechert to McDermott come on the heels of four other Dechert lawyers leaving for Goodwin.

News

Global Law Firms Join Legal Battle for Gay Spouse Visas in Hong Kong

Anna Zhang | April 16, 2018

Davis Polk & Wardwell is acting pro bono on behalf of 16 global law firms that have filed a petition to intervene at Hong Kong's highest court in the landmark case, along with 15 financial institutions.

Holland & Knight Grabs Baker's Mexico City Litigation Chief Salvador Fonseca

Catherine Wilson | April 16, 2018

Fonseca had been the head of litigation and arbitration in Baker McKenzie’s Mexico City office.

News

Hogan Lovells Launches London Trade Practice Ahead of Brexit

Rose Walker| April 16, 2018

London partner Aline Doussin joins the trans-Atlantic firm amid upturn in Brexit-related demand for trade advice

Squire Patton Boggs Global Managing Partner Relocates to London

Joseph Evans | April 16, 2018

Stephen Mahon is taking the helm from longtime London chief Robert Weekes.

News

Mayer Brown Taps Ex-London Leader as New Managing Partner

Rose Walker| April 16, 2018

Real estate and property expert Jeremy Clay has been named the Am Law 100 firm's new global managing partner.

News

Orrick Poaches V&E Energy Partner and Office Head in Tokyo, Hughes Hubbard M&A Dealmaker in NYC

Dan Packel | April 15, 2018

James Atkin was Vinson & Elkins’ Tokyo office managing partner before moving to Orrick.

News

With GDPR Fast Approaching, How Should Companies Fill the Data Protection Officer Role?

Caroline Spiezio | April 13, 2018

Many companies will need to hire or appoint a data protection officer under GDPR. But who should they go for?

News

Allen & Overy Faces Skepticism Over O'Melveny Merger as Doubts Emerge Among Partnership

Rose Walker| April 13, 2018

Partners are expressing reservations over a U.S. tie-up, as O'Melveny talks leave some unconvinced.

News

China Hacks on US Corporations Rising, With Law Firms and GCs Prime Targets

Ian Lopez | April 13, 2018

While China has been largely compliant with an agreement with the U.S. to not hack for intellectual property, new data indicates M&A info and contracts are fair game.

News

Business Groups Sound Alarm as EU Proposes Law to Permit Consumer Class Actions

Sue Reisinger | April 12, 2018

Lisa Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, worried the proposal "could make the EU a major global hub for abusive litigation."

Skadden, Paul Weiss Advise in Global Deal as Chinese Consortium Completes Takata Acquisition

Anna Zhang | April 12, 2018

Key Safety Systems parent Ningbo Joyson Electronic teamed up with private equity firm PAG and provided $1.6 billion to close the deal.

Analysis

Lawyers on Alert Over Russia Work as Tensions Turn Up Scrutiny on Client Connections

Joseph Evans | April 12, 2018

Lawyers at global law firms are being extra cautious about their work for Russian clients.

News

Reed Smith Wades Into Fight With Mueller for Russian Company

Ryan Lovelace | April 11, 2018

Eric Dubelier and Katherine Joanne Seikaly entered appearances for Concord Management and Consulting, one of the Russian companies charged with seeking to tinker with the U.S. election.

News

Mayer Brown Expands in Tokyo

Anna Zhang | April 10, 2018

Former Ashurst banking counsel Shri Maski and Shearman & Sterling corporate associate Gordon Palmquist are now both partners at the U.S. firm's latest Asian office.

News

Freshfields Paris Office Head Departs for Jones Day

Rose Walker| April 10, 2018

With the move, Elie Kleiman reunites with Freshfields' former French real estate team, which joined Jones Day last year.

News

Will A&O's US Merger Move Impel Other Magic Circle Firms to Follow Suit?

Rose Walker and Anna Ward| April 09, 2018

The Magic Circle firm’s trans-Atlantic merger talks could shake up the market as rivals rethink their U.S. strategies.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's Post-Merger Shake-up Continues

Anna Ward | April 09, 2018

Dubai office head and founder Mohammed Kamal has left to join Watson Farley & Williams.

News

Allen & Overy, O’Melveny Eye Potential Trans-Atlantic Union

Christine Simmons and Rose Walker| April 06, 2018

The two firms are in deep discussions about a potential combination, according to two sources briefed on the matter. At least one high-ranking partner at O'Melveny & Myers is poised to leave the firm as a result of the deal.

News

Berwin Leighton Asia Head Among Two Senior Departures as Bryan Cave Merger Goes Live

Anna Zhang | Anna Ward | April 06, 2018

Hong Kong-based Bob Charlton stepped down after three-and-a-half years as the legacy U.K. firm's Asia practice leader.

The GDPR’s 'Legitimate Interest' Is Creating Legitimate Confusion

Rhys Dipshan | April 06, 2018

Many companies will seek to process data under the legitimate interest basis of the EU’s upcoming General Data Protection Regulation. But that doesn’t mean they necessarily understand it.

News

Canada Gets Into Law Firm Merger Game With Boutique Bolt-On

Meghan Tribe | April 05, 2018

The law firm consolidation craze continued north of the border this week, as leading Canadian firm Bennett Jones absorbed Vancouver-based boutique McCullough O'Connor Irwin.

News

Look Out, Big Law: Global Companies May Favor Smaller Firms in the Future

Rebekah Mintzer | April 05, 2018

According to new data, the need to save money and get local expertise may soon push legal departments into the arms of small- and medium-sized firms.

News

DLA Piper Ditches New Zealand Partner After #MeToo Claim

Meghan Tribe | April 05, 2018

The New Zealand Law Society is currently investigating two "behavioral" incidents that occurred in DLA Piper's Wellington office in December.

News

Transportation Blockchain Platform DAV Hires New General Counsel

Stephanie Forshee | April 05, 2018

Tung Chan's varied in-house career has taken her from insurance, to an airline, to blockchain firms.

News

Gibson Dunn Hires 2 Hong Kong Funds Partners From Weil Gotshal

Rose Walker| April 05, 2018

The addition of John Fadely and Albert Cho follows the firm's hire of a high-profile Hong Kong team from Ropes & Gray last year.

News

White-Collar Cases See Big Drop Under Trump but Big Firms Still Finding Work

Miriam Rozen | April 04, 2018

Firms with substantial white-collar practices say they are still finding work despite the dramatic drop in federal government prosecutions of white-collar crime.

News

Reed Smith Hires Norton Rose Partner in Singapore

Anna Zhang | April 04, 2018

Daniel Perera is the second energy and natural resources partner the firm has hired in Southeast Asia over the past six months.

News

That Big Law Merger You Just Read About? He's Behind It

Roy Strom | April 03, 2018

Three Big Law combinations closed this week. It could be a record. And Kent Zimmermann should know: He advised firms in all three deals.

News

Cyber Attack Doesn't Stop DLA Piper From Big Gains in Revenue, Profit

Anna Ward | April 03, 2018

DLA Piper grew revenue and profits in 2017 as the firms international arms performed strongly and it rebuilt from the cyber attack that downed its systems last summer.

News

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Brings Together 2 Leaders, 2 Firms

Roy Strom | April 03, 2018

Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner's transatlantic merger was notable for achieving financial integration. Its formation was aided greatly by the two women who led their respective firms and will now co-lead the combined entity.

News

UK Law Firms Struggle to Understand Financial Value of Legal Technology

Rhys Dipshan | April 02, 2018

A survey by LexisNexis found that though many U.K. law firms believe using legal technology improves their bottom line, few are measuring the ROI of their tech investments.

News

Skadden Advises on $2.7B Chinese Streaming Site IPOs in the US

Anna Zhang | March 29, 2018

Baidu-backed video streaming site iQiyi is raising $2.25 billion on Nasdaq while video sharing site Bilibili went public in a $438 million New York Stock Exchange listing.

Analysis

Lawyers Wary as US-China Trade Tension Escalates

Anna Zhang | March 29, 2018

Trade lawyers are busy helping clients understand the actions the Trump administration has taken against China, but that's not necessarily the work they are looking for.

News

Covington & Burling Absorbs German Firm for Frankfurt Launch

Ryan Lovelace | March 28, 2018

Washington-based Covington is planting a flag in the European financial hub with six new partners from Frankfurt's Heymann & Partner Rechtsanwälte.

News

Global Telecom Ericsson Names New Chief Legal Officer

Rebekah Mintzer | March 28, 2018

The Swedish company with a broad global reach has chosen Xavier Dedullen, a seasoned in-house leader who has worked at legal departments all over the world.

News

SEC, Kinross Gold Settle FCPA Charges Over African Mines

Sue Reisinger | March 28, 2018

Kinross is slated to pay out nearly $1 million in the settlement.

News

Ex-Skadden Associate Charged in Mueller's Russia Probe Seeks Nonjail Sentence

Cogan Schneier | March 28, 2018

Alex van der Zwaan told a federal judge that his career is destroyed, and that his extended stay in the U.S. has essentially been the equivalent to serving time. The Justice Department counters that he "presents a scarcity of mitigating factors, and several aggravating circumstances."

News

Stephenson Harwood to Take Over Troutman Sanders' Beijing Office

Anna Zhang | March 28, 2018

Partner Allen Shyu will add U.S. securities law capability to the firm's Asia capital markets practice.

News

Allen & Overy Partner Questioned in UK Parliament About Firm's Role in Weinstein NDA

Rose Walker| March 28, 2018

A U.K. Parliamentary committee quizzed A&O partner Mike Mansell over advice he provided in a 1998 sexual harassment settlement involving disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

News

Hughes Hubbard Advises Ride-Hailing App Grab on its Acquisition of Uber's Southeast Asian Operation

Anna Zhang | March 27, 2018

The sale marks the second time Uber has pulled out of a major Asian market.

News

Gibson Dunn and Squire Patton Boggs Take Lead Roles Advising on Cambridge Analytica/Facebook Scandal

Joseph Evans | March 27, 2018

The U.K. firm Gunnercooke also has a role, advising both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica on efforts to confirm the deletion of the data trove.

Analysis

After UK’s WhatsApp Ruling, GDPR Poised to Rein in Data Sharing

Rhys Dipshan | March 27, 2018

The U.K.’s Information Commissioner's Office ruling that WhatsApp cannot share data with its parent company Facebook portends the even bigger challenges tech companies will face under the GDPR.

News

Microsoft Names First EU Data Protection Officer Under GDPR

Sue Reisinger | March 26, 2018

With the GDPR implementation date looming, other companies are surely busy appointing their own officers. But will they be drawn from the legal department or elsewhere?

News

Dentons to Absorb Large Part of Australian Firm DibbsBarker

Anna Zhang | March 26, 2018

The global firm has scooped up 17 new partners in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as the 130-year-old local firm prepares to close its doors.

News

Allen & Overy Called to Appear Before UK Parliamentary Committee in Inquiry Into Abuse of Nondisclosure Agreements

Rose Walker| March 26, 2018

The Magic Circle firm has been asked to appear before the select committee because it reportedly played a role in obtaining a NDA as part of a sexual harassment settlement with Weinstein.

News

Indictment in Massive Iranian Cyberbreach Shows Companies Still Vulnerable

Sue Reisinger | March 23, 2018

The breaches, which made up what U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman of New York called “one of the largest state-sponsored hacking campaigns ever prosecuted," hold lessons and warnings for GCs.

News

The Asian Lawyer Announces Winners of the 2018 Asia Legal Awards

Asian Lawyer Staff| March 23, 2018

Davis Polk & Wardwell, Korea's Lee & Ko and India's Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas are among the top winners of the fifth annual event honoring the leading firms and lawyers in Asia.

Analysis

Search Begins for Latham's Next Leader

Scott Flaherty | March 22, 2018

As Latham & Watkins grapples with the sudden departure of its chairman amid misconduct allegations, who could be next to take the helm?

News

Starbucks Ops Boss Explains How Legal Spend Assessment Gave Her Team More Direction

Caroline Spiezio | March 22, 2018

In a Q&A with Lisa Kremer Brown of Starbucks and Vince Vetri of Elevate, Corporate Counsel learned how they used an assessment to give Starbucks a whole new level of insight into both internal and outside counsel spend.

News

GE Inks Legal Outsourcing Deal With UnitedLex, Eying Big Savings

Miriam Rozen | March 22, 2018

UnitedLex says the agreement will help GE shave 30 percent off its legal spend in areas ranging from e-discovery and document review to litigation and operations.

News

Fallen Latham Chair Bill Voge Rose From Iowa Farm to Big Law Pinnacle

Scott Flaherty | March 21, 2018

Bill Voge's life story seemed like the quintessential American dream, as he followed a trajectory from Iowa farm boy to the top of Latham & Watkins before he abruptly resigned amid misconduct allegations.

News

CMS Dismisses Singapore Managing Partner, Reports Matter to UK Regulators

Rose Walker| March 21, 2018

The firm cited "serious sensitivities" and picked corporate partner Toby Grainger to take over as Singapore head.

News

Eversheds Sutherland Picks Up 10-Strong German Employment Team as Firm Plots European Growth

Rose Walker| March 21, 2018

Co-CEOs Lee Ranson and Mark Wasserman say the firm is setting its sights on expansion in Europe and the United States.

News

Latham Chief’s Resignation Linked to Christian Group Helping Men Deal With Temptation

Ben Wheway | March 21, 2018

Bill Voge's link to the New Canaan Society is under scrutiny following his resignation after "lapses in personal judgment."

News

Latham & Watkins Copes With Leader’s Sudden Sex-Tinged Ouster

Scott Flaherty | Gina Passarella Cipriani | March 20, 2018

Bill Voge’s resignation shocked most at the firm and in the industry, as the #MeToo movement extends its impact on Big Law.

News

Wynn Macau Data Protection Case: A Warning to Multinationals

Sue Reisinger | March 20, 2018

A recent case out of Macau demonstrates the tricky nature of internal investigations when conducted on an international scale.

News

Legal Departments Have Data On the Brain, But Could Do More to Keep It Safe, Compliant

Stephanie Forshee | March 20, 2018

A new report says in-house counsel are working hard to overcome the issues of GDPR and cybersecurity threats, but there's more to be done.

News

Latham Chair Steps Down Immediately Over 'Communications of a Sexual Nature'

Gina Passarella Cipriani | March 20, 2018

William Voge, based in London, apologized for his "lapse in judgment" in a statement about his resignation.

News

Mayer Brown JSM Poaches New China Projects Head From White & Case in Beijing

Anna Zhang | March 20, 2018

Banking and finance specialist Hallam Chow makes the move after 23 years with White & Case.

Fieldfisher Scales Up for Brexit and GDPR-style Projects with New Outsourcing Partnership

Anna Ward | March 20, 2018

Deal with legal process outsourcer Integreon hands firm new scope to tackle large-scale routine work for clients.

News

Akin Gump Involved in Korean Corruption Scandal Implicating Former President Lee

Anna Zhang | March 19, 2018

Longtime client Samsung is alleged to have paid the U.S. firm $3.7 million in legal fees on behalf of another company in exchange for a presidential pardon for group chairman Lee Kun-hee.

News

Latham Magic Circle Recruitment Continues with Hire of Freshfields Germany M&A Partner

Legal Week| March 19, 2018

Energy-focused Freshfields partner Tobias Larisch becomes the latest to join Latham as the firm continues its M&A push.

News

Pinsent Masons Sells 'New Law' Compliance Business to Dow Jones

Alex Berry| March 19, 2018

U.K. firm sells Cerico compliance business it co-founded in 2013.

News

Herbert Smith Freehills to Fire Australian Partner Over Workplace Misconduct

Anna Zhang | March 16, 2018

Peter Paradise, a former Sydney-based regional head of the projects practice at the global legal giant, is poised to be fired over sexual harassment allegations.

India rules against foreign firm bases and sets 'casual' criteria for fly-in, fly-out advice

Anna Zhang| March 16, 2018

India's Supreme Court says fly-in, fly-out work by international firms must be "casual" and not amount to "practice"

News

Offshore Law Firm Crippled by Hack to Close Its Doors

Brian Baxter | March 15, 2018

Panama’s Mossack Fonseca is poised to shut down at month’s end, almost two years after suffering a massive data breach. Its founders are facing money laundering charges.

News

India Says 'No' to Foreign Law Firm Offices but Allows Foreign Lawyers to Advise Clients on a 'Casual' Basis

Anna Zhang | March 15, 2018

The nation's Supreme Court upheld the "fly-in, fly-out" rule, which allows foreign firms to give ad hoc international law advice.

News

Fed Smacks China Bank, Demands Lengthy List of Money Laundering Reforms

Sue Reisinger | March 14, 2018

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is drawing serious scrutiny in the U.S. from the Fed.

News

Burford Investors Get Rich as Financier Deepens Am Law 100 Ties

Roy Strom | March 14, 2018

The litigation finance giant announced Wednesday that it had tripled its investment commitments on new cases.

News

Qualcomm Order Sparks Fresh Jitters for Some M&A Deals

Miriam Rozen | March 14, 2018

With a regulatory cloud already shadowing cross-border tech deals, Trump's move to block the potential takeover of Qualcomm sparked new concerns among some deal lawyers.

News

Orrick Tokyo-based Partner Specializing in Technology Companies Leaves to Start Own Business

Anna Zhang | March 14, 2018

Edward "Ted" Johnson is the latest Asia-based Big Law partner to strike out on his own following a longtime career at a large firm.

News

Dentons Touts Seven More Tie-Ups in Africa, Asia and Caribbean

Rose Walker| March 14, 2018

Firms in the Cayman Islands, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia and Mauritius are among those being absorbed by Dentons in its latest round of global expansion.

News

Stefanie Straub Gets Sweet GC Promotion at Candy Maker Mars

Rebekah Mintzer | March 14, 2018

The company behind M&Ms, Snickers, Twix and other favorites has a new general counsel.

News

Glympse Hires a New GC as the Location-Sharing Startup Expands

Caroline Spiezio | March 13, 2018

The Seattle-based company has made Alan Koslow its brand new general counsel.

Beyond the Am Law Lists: Clifford Chance’s Americas Practice

Nicholas Bruch, Senior Analyst ALM Legal Intelligence | March 13, 2018

Clifford Chance’s Americas practice is bigger than you think – and it had a great year

News

Top Lawyer at Global Food Company Aryzta to Step Down

Rebekah Mintzer | March 13, 2018

Morrissey's departure is the latest in a spate of recent executive exits at the Swiss-Irish company.

News

UK Legal Regulator Warns Firms Not to Use NDAs to Cover Up Sexual Harassment Reporting

Rose Walker| March 13, 2018

The move comes in the wake of several sexual harassment scandals that have rocked the legal profession.

News

Europe Surpasses US in Number of Ongoing Bribery Investigations, Report Says

Sue Reisinger | March 13, 2018

The report from TRACE International also revealed that China surpassed every other country as far as where the most bribery violations occurred over the past four decades.

News

Large Baker McKenzie Team Joins Allen & Overy in Johannesburg

Rose Walker| March 13, 2018

The 11-member team includes four litigation partners and follows the hire of former Baker McKenzie Johannesburg co-head Gerhard Rudolph last year.

Analysis

Life in the (Regulated) Fast Lane: Companies Must Navigate Global Privacy Rules on Self-Driving Cars

Caroline Spiezio | March 12, 2018

The race is on to develop the best technology for autonomous vehicles, but there are also drives to increase regulation around the data these cars and trucks collect, a situation that poses challenges for in-house counsel.

News

Big Law's at the Trade Table in Trump Administration

C. Ryan Barber | March 12, 2018

Former Skadden trade partner Robert Lighthizer is front and center as the White House looks at tariffs targeting steel and aluminum imports. Several Skadden and King & Spalding lawyers were picked for key trade slots in the Trump administration.

News

O'Melveny & Myers Continues Hong Kong Expansion With Corporate Hire

Anna Zhang | March 12, 2018

Li Han was most recently group general counsel for Chinese internet entrepreneur and billionaire Chen Tianqiao's Shanda Group.

News

Prominent Anglo-American Lawyer Under Fire for Racist Comments

Alex Berry| March 09, 2018

Lady Barbara Judge, an American-born lawyer who was once a partner at Kaye Scholer, has resigned as chair of the U.K.'s Institute of Directors amid accusations of bullying, racism and sexism.

News

Anheuser-Busch InBev GC on Beer, Business and His Backpack Office

Stephanie Forshee | March 09, 2018

Corporate Counsel spoke to Blood about his career path and the legal complexities of the booze business.

News

Clifford Chance, Norton Rose Fulbright Advise on World's First Sovereign Islamic Green Bond

Anna Zhang | March 09, 2018

With this bond, known as a "sukuk," the Republic of Indonesia sold $1.25 billion notes to fund renewable energy, green tourism and waste management projects.

News

Network of Boutique Law Firms Goes Global to Serve General Counsel

Sue Reisinger | March 09, 2018

A new offering from Select Counsel underscores the advantages of staying small when scouting out overseas law firms.