Clifford Chance has hired one of the most well-known M&A partners in the City, Bruce Embley, who previously served as co-head of Freshfields’ global M&A client group before leaving for Skadden in 2020. Continue reading “Clifford Chance snaps up Skadden M&A heavyweight Embley”
Following last month’s release of Legal 500’s first US city elite rankings, Legal Business checked in with the newly ranked Chicago lawyers to learn more about the city’s legal market from the perspective of top regional and national firms.
When talking to managing partners at law firms based across the UK, one thing is clear – there’s no shortage of challenges for them to contend with.
Whether it’s keeping their staff happy, competing for quality work, or staying on top of client priorities, law firm leaders have their hands full.
But while they juggle all these challenges, shifting dynamics in the major legal markets across the UK mean that new opportunities are emerging for national and regional players, as a tier of firms long viewed as the national elite increasingly turn their attention to the international arena.
Leading M&A partners are predicting an increase in deal activity in 2025 driven by sectors including tech, financial services and private capital, as full year M&A legal adviser rankings from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) highlight the increasing influence of top US firms on the market.
If there’s one thing litigators aren’t disputing, it’s that workflow is not likely to drop as we settle into 2025.
Activity in the UK dispute resolution market ‘is showing no signs of abating’, says Paul Lewis, joint managing partner of Herbert Smith Freehills’ global disputes practice. He maintains that with litigation remaining one of the country’s top exports, the market is set to stay busy. ‘The reputation of the English Courts continues to be at an absolute high’, he says, making the UK an attractive place for both claimants and litigation funders.
Investor-related disputes are a key driver for the steady uptick in claims, suggests Oliver Middleton, chair of the London litigation and trial department at Latham & Watkins. He points out that the increasing sophistication of investors has resulted in ‘a lean towards a US-style approach to litigation, which involves parties using it as a tool rather than as something to avoid.’
Revolving into 2025, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has bolstered its London leveraged finance practice hiring Bryan Robson and William Gwyn from US rival Sidley Austin.
Continue reading “Revolving doors: Simpson Thacher, Latham, Sidley lead New Year London moves”
Paul Hastings finance partner Reena Gogna, who joined the firm from Weil in summer 2024, on coming into law, inspiring women in finance and always keeping perspective.
Simmons & Simmons has begun the process of electing a new managing partner, with the firm confirming that it expects to choose a successor to longstanding leader Jeremy Hoyland in March. The successful candidate will take up the post when Hoyland steps down at the end of April.
Five Simmons partners are understood to be in contention for the upcoming election, with four based in London and one in Paris. All five are practice heads. Continue reading “Five partners vie to succeed Hoyland as Simmons managing partner”
Former Freshfields senior partner Edward Braham is among the legal practitioners to have been recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours List.
Braham, currently chair of investment advice company M&G, was senior partner at Freshfields between 2016 and 2020 and also served as global head of corporate during his 26 years at the firm. He has received a knighthood for services to corporate law and to business. Continue reading “Former Freshfields senior partner among recipients in New Year Honours List”
