The American Lawyer

Lateral Growth Aids Gibson Dunn's Work for Musk-Owned Companies

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:53:58 EST

]]>The upcoming SpaceX IPO is one of two major deals the firm performed for SpaceX this year after the 2024 arrival of George Sampas, who was recently joined by four more former Sullivan & Cromwell partners.

Deal Watch: M&A Value Surges in Q2, as S&C, Kirkland, Paul Weiss Among Top Ranked

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:13:25 EST

]]>Several New York firms benefited from the explosion in mega deals in the first five months of the year.

Why 3 Attorneys Left Goodwin to Start an ‘AI-Native' IP Firm

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:59:59 EST

]]>Antheros leverages gen AI tools to automate routine portions of IP practice and offer clients subscription-based billing.

Seyfarth Launches New Miami Office, Led by Ex-Littler Partner With Latin America Expertise

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:28:36 EST

]]>In addition to new office managing partner Juan Carlos Varela, the firm has hired two other Venezuelan-American attorneys to guide its efforts in Miami and support clients in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Law Firm Clients Reap Relationship Benefits at Knicks Game, as Gibson Dunn Wins Courtside Seats

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:07:45 EST

]]>Several New York firms, and firms with a large presence in New York, are taking their clients or giving their tickets to clients, in what could be viewed as a top client benefit of working with a big firm.

Paul Weiss Debt Finance Partner Returns to Cahill

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:39:04 EST

]]>Debt finance partner Marc Shepsman previously worked at Cahill from 2016 to 2023, when he joined Paul Weiss.

Big Law Insider Trading Indictments Should Prompt Law Firm Leaders to Look Inward

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:06:05 EST

]]>The profit surface around a single curious associate is wider than it was five years ago, Jason Milch and Edward Marshall write.

Clifford Chance Formalizes 'Local Partner' Role

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:13:35 EST

]]>The firm has handed seven of its lawyers the newly-formalized title.

Lockstep Isn't Quite Dead, but the Eulogy Has Begun

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>It was as much a social contract as a compensation system. The market decided it shouldn't survive.

Adam Sugarman Takes the Helm as Firmwide Managing Partner at Gordon Rees

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Sugarman takes over the role of managing partner from longtime executive Dion Cominos, who will remain with Gordon Rees and continue to practice.

Gibson Dunn Hires Kirkland Litigator Matt Owen

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>The firm's litigation department is staying busy amid heightened scrutiny of technology firms from both sides of the political spectrum, said the chair of the firm's Washington, D.C., litigation department.

Big Law Needs More AI Failures

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:09:28 EST

]]>Can an industry that trades on trust convert AI woes into marketable know-how, asks The Global Lawyer.

With LMEs Primed for Growth, Will Consolidation Among Clients and Firms Come With Risk?

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:06:14 EST

]]>As Big Law and private capital consolidate, counterparties in contentious transactions are increasingly law firm clients as well.

Unlocking the Next Frontier: Revenue Strategies Beyond Traditional Profitability

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:59:59 EST

]]>The firms that succeed over the next decade will redefine how legal expertise integrates into the broader business value chain, Jeff Grossman and Rajesh Madabushi write.

Diversity Lab Closes After FTC Investigation

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:15:43 EST

]]>As part of the dissolution, Diversity Lab will shut down all its systems, including eliminating or destroying any client data it had stored on the hundreds of law firms and legal departments that it worked with.

Diversity Lab Is Ending. Its Impact Is Not

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:59:59 EST

]]>An open letter from Diversity Lab's founder, Caren Ulrich Stacy.

The New Shape of Partnership

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:03:37 EST

]]>What once looked like a pyramid, now looks more layered, more managed and less certain, writes a vice president at Major, Lindsey & Africa.

Dear Tokyo: Can Ambition and Tradition Coexist?

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:24:19 EST

]]>Japan's legal market, long defined by stability and continuity, is being pulled into a more volatile era of dealmaking, competition, and global firm entry.

Law Firm Disrupted: Boutiques Are Seizing Opportunities for Specialized Talent

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:22:35 EST

]]>“Boutiques are having an absolute moment in the sun, said one law firm recruiter.

Kilpatrick Debuts AI Lab Focused on Developing Custom Solutions for Staff, Clients

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:17:35 EST

]]>Kilpatrick Labs is currently piloting and developing over 15 custom AI tools that leverage Anthropic's Claude LLM in areas including patent and trademark prosecution and litigation monitoring, among others.

Law Firms' AI Investments, for Now, Are Failing to Fix Operational Inefficiencies

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:16:46 EST

]]>Revenue leakage is a real concern, but firms are escalating AI spending before correcting underlying fragmented systems, according to a new report from Law.com and legal industry technology provider Elite.

Kirkland and Palantir Launch AI-Led PE Fundraising Platform

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:09 EST

]]>The launch is the first in a series of AI rollouts and strategic partnerships planned as part of Kirkland's $500 million AI strategy.

Quinn Emanuel Next to Match Milbank's Associate Raises

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:41:54 EST

]]>The firm follows the scale announced by Milbank on Tuesday, in which first through fourth years are set to receive an increase of $10,000 to their salaries, while fifth years and above will earn an additional $20,000.

Cadwalader London Associates Set for Higher Pay Scale Than Hogan Lovells Colleagues Post-Merger

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:23:32 EST

]]>The soon-to-be merged firm is preparing to implement differing pay scales within its London associate cohort, with legacy Cadwalader London lawyers expected to remain on the 'Cravath scale', putting them on significantly higher base pay than their legacy Hogan Lovells colleagues.

A Tight Market for Top Talent Means Peers Will Fall in Line With Milbank's Associate Salary Increases

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Despite the relative silence from the rest of the market on Wednesday, sources expect other top firms to eventually match Milbank's salary bump, although there is still the possibility that a competitor will look to set a new market standard.

Ex-Clients Sue V&E for $30M, Allege Negligent Advice on Contract Terms

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:03:33 EST

]]>The plaintiffs allege in a petition filed in state district court in Dallas that Vinson & Elkins "failed spectacularly" in the execution of its duties to them by presenting contracts that endangered their right to receive more than $30 million in future payments from the sellers.

Lender's Suit Alleges Pillsbury Partner Conspired in $145M Fraud Scheme

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:46:38 EST

]]>A representative for Pillsbury denied the allegations, stating, “The claims against Pillsbury and Mr. Karamali are frivolous and lack any merit. We will vigorously defend ourselves in court.

Ex-Morrison & Foerster Contract Attorney Revives Race Bias, Wrongful Termination Suit Against Firm

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:51:05 EST

]]>Junius J. Joyner III initially sued MoFo in 2019, alleging he was subject to racism and wrongfully terminated from the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

Dentons Public Policy, Election Law Expert Ed Lindsey Moving to Atlanta Litigation Boutique

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:56:21 EST

]]>After a decade with the world's largest firm, the former state lawmaker said boutique Parks, Chesin & Walbert will allow him to blend his expertise in public policy with his background in litigation.

The 2026 NLJ 500: Top Five Cities

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:01:01 EST

]]>Be sure to check out this year's leading cities!

The 2026 NLJ 500: Ranked by Head Count

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The NLJ 500 is the National Law Journal's survey of the 500 largest law firms in the United States covering the previous calendar year.

Head Count Growth Further Slowed For the NLJ 500, Amid Economic and Political Constraints

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>In 2025, the total number of attorneys at NLJ 500 firms rose 2.5% in 2025, compared with 5.5% in 2024.

There Are Fewer First-Year Associates—But Don't Blame AI (Yet)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>At the largest 100 firms in the country, the total number of first-year associates stayed essentially flat between 2024 and 2025, while the average size of first-year classes continued dipping. Observers credit rate pressure and overcapacity, and anticipate AI having a sharper impact in coming years.

Law Firms Keep Planting Flags in Texas. What's the Cost to the Market?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Office openings by out-of-state firms grew at a much faster clip in Texas in 2025 than in the larger markets of New York and California.

As Top Partner Pay Eclipses $40M, Law Firms Increase Bonus Pools, Decrease Transparency

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>"There's more people than ever before earning those very high levels of income,” said Blane Prescott, managing shareholder at MesaFive, who counsels firms on compensation.

Cooley Recruits Energy, Real Estate Partner Duo From Kirkland

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Partner Jacob Clark said Cooley's focus on space law and growing data center practice attracted him to the firm.

London's Quiet Advantage: Why European Private Credit Remains the Legal Practitioner's Most Dynamic Frontier

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:15:03 EST

]]>McDermott's London head explains why predictions of a private credit reckoning miss the growing sophistication and resilience of Europe's market.

Proskauer Invests in Finance Practice with Hunton Andrews Hire

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>The firm hired global finance attorney Bryon Mulligan from Hunton Andrews Kurth in Charlotte as it continues to bolster its finance capabilities.

Katten Expands in London with Structured Products, Derivatives Practice

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:23:59 EST

]]>Katten Muchin Rosenman hired two Crowell & Moring partners in London to launch the firm's structured products and derivatives practice, and support the firm's growing structured finance practice.

Former Trump Lawyer Must Arbitrate Kasowitz Compensation Claims

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:20:24 EST

]]>Marc Kasowitz and his law firm got their motion to compel arbitration granted in a compensation suit brought by former partner and Trump attorney Eric Herschmann.

For Lawyers, AI May Increase Work Negotiating Contracts

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:14:03 EST

]]>Some attorneys report even higher billable hours from what was previously standard contract drafting and negotiating because of clients who have security and data concerns from a vendor's use of AI.

Milbank Boosts Associate Salaries, and McDermott Swiftly Follows

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:47:55 EST

]]>The latest round of associate salary increases comes just after two elite litigation boutiques announced midyear associate bonuses.

Gibson Dunn Hires Ex-Kirkland Partners in Munich Amid German Restructuring Boom

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:14:24 EST

]]>The hires come shortly after Germany marked a 12-year high in bankruptcies earlier this year, with one calling it “pivotal moment for the restructuring market.

Paul Hastings Expands Capital Markets, Public Company Team With Winston Partners in Dallas, Orange County

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The public company and capital markets partners are aimed at helping Paul Hastings grow market share in that busy practice area.

Sidley Partner Promotions Jump 79% Following Nonequity Tier Addition

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:00:29 EST

]]>A one-off summer promotions round has been introduced to accommodate the change in partnership structure.

As Creditors Lay Down Their Arms, Liability Management Takes Off

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Top firms are jockeying for talent in a practice primed for growth.

Paul Weiss Hires M&A Partners in Houston, New York

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:49:38 EST

]]>Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has hired an Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld energy and infrastructure partner for its growing Houston office, and a New York partner from Dechert.

Munck Wilson Launches Fort Worth Office Led by Longtime GC Client

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:39:27 EST

]]>Munck Wilson Mandala global managing partner William Munck said he has been thinking about opening a Fort Worth office for two decades, but was waiting for the right opportunity.

Deal Watch: Anthropic's IPO Another Signal of Capital Markets Bonanza for Elite Law Firms

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:00:36 EST

]]>Anthropic, advised by Wilson Sonsini in preparation, has announced its IPO: one of three coming down the pike that could shake markets.

Law Firm AI Training Isn't Working. Here's What Has to Change

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:44:13 EST

]]>The gap between what firms think their training is doing and what it's actually doing is where the real risk is, Patricia Libby writes.

White & Case Adds 5 Laterals, Including New Practice Co-Head

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:59:59 EST

]]>The firm, aggressively expanding its M&A team, has added 25 lateral partners with an M&A focus in the past year in New York, D.C., Boston and Houston, White & Case said.

Jones Day Hires SDNY Civil Frauds Co-Chief

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:29:59 EST

]]>Jacob Bergman joins the firm's health care and life sciences practice as a partner.

Cravath Adds DOJ National Security Attorney

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:44:59 EST

]]>Michael Patrick Daly will join several former government officials in Cravath's Washington, D.C. office.

Weil Lures M&A Partner Back from Simpson

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Iliana Karaoglan became the 20th lawyer to return to Weil since the beginning of 2023, the firm said.

6 Health Care Litigators Jump From Manatt to Epstein Becker Green in 3 Cities

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>The lawyers focusing on health care and commercial disputes join the firm in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington.

'We've Created an Amazing Trans-Atlantic Business': Winston Taylor Goes Live

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:39:46 EST

]]>Firm leaders say the integration of U.K. and U.S. offices was the heart of the deal closing Monday, noting the combination is already generating trans-Atlantic business opportunities.

Is Big Law Building an AI Tower of Babel?

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:33:24 EST

]]>Big Law's AI boom is reshaping the profession, but as firms chase ever-more-powerful technology, ambition may be outrunning wisdom, The Global Lawyer writes.

Kirkland & Ellis Opens Tokyo Office with New Partner Duo, Marks First Asian Office Outside China

Sun, 31 May 2026 20:59:59 EST

]]>The firm has hired White & Case debt finance partner Clara Shirota and Morrison Foerster M&A partner Naoya Shiota to lead its Japan office.