The American Lawyer

These Ex-Brown Rudnick Lawyers Used an MSO to Get Their New IP Boutique Off the Ground

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:44:37 EST

]]>The law firm Miletus Intellectual Property Management LLP, located in Washington, D.C., operates in concert with a related life sciences advisory business.

Trump, Obama Nominees to Hear Law Firm EO Appeals

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:06:06 EST

]]>Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, Judge Cornelia Pillard and Judge Neomi Rao have been selected to be on the panel that will hear arguments on May 14 in the combined appeals cases, involving Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

In the AI Era, Coherent Investment is the Cost of Entry

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:35:45 EST

]]>AI behaves differently from prior sources of advantage in many respects.

The New Tournament: Power Ranking the 2026 Am Law 100

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Competition now has different rules and higher stakes.

Parking Lot or Productivity Expressway? Making Sense of the Booming Nonequity Tier

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The gap between nonequity and equity partner population grew markedly since 2024. But the 10-year trend is even more revealing.

The 2026 Am Law 100: Ranked by Gross Revenue

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Seven of the top 10 firms in our gross revenue ranking remained the same, though there was some shuffling.

Who Pulled Away, Who Dropped Off: The Am Law 100 Through the Years

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The Am Law 100 has changed a lot over the last 25 years. In this infographic and analysis, we dig into how—and why.

The 2026 Am Law 100: Ranked by Profits Per Lawyer

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Wachtell tops the list with a PPL of $3,525,000.

Am Law 100 Lights the Way Through Dark Periods to Turn Out a High-Growth Year

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Just as in the prior year, collective Am Law 100 revenue overall grew by about 13%, while net income rose faster by 16.3%, even in a year of tumult and uncertainty.

The 2026 Am Law 100: Ranked by Average Compensation - All Partners

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Eighty-nine posted increases in CAP, compared with ninety-five the previous year.

The 2026 Am Law 100: A Guide to Our Methodology

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>A closer look at how we report law firm financials.

More Work, Better Work: Law Firm Bean Counters Shouldn't Fear 'Revenue-Enhancing' AI

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>"If legal services are less expensive because of efficiency, it's not unreasonable (to conclude) the clients will want more," one Am Law 100 firm leader said.

The 2026 Am Law 100: Ranked by Revenue Per Lawyer

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Ninety-two firms posted a gain in revenue per lawyer—long regarded as the most reliable measure of a firm's financial health.

The 2026 Am Law 100: By the Numbers

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Each year we dig through the numbers to compare the country's largest firms across more than a dozen financial metrics. Here we present some of the most important, interesting and surprising facts.

From Fear to 'Footnote'? Executive Order Activity Under the Financial Microscope

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Nearly all of the 13 law firms hit with an executive order, or who struck deals to resolve or head off an order, experienced revenue growth in 2025—in several cases, very significant growth.

The 2026 Am Law 100: Ranked by Profits Per Equity Partner

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>For the Am Law 100 as a whole, PEP was up by 14.0 percent in 2025.

The Super Rich Keep Cranking It Up—So We Did, Too

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The Super Rich list—for which we have raised the RPL and PPL thresholds this year—includes 37 loud-and-proud Am Law 100 firms.

Davis Polk Adds Skadden LA Leader, Opening New Southern California Office

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:32:05 EST

]]>Jason Russell handles complex litigation and had been at Skadden for over 30 years.

Texas Trial Firm Susman Godfrey Posts Double-Digit Growth in Key Financials

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:34:05 EST

]]>Revenue grew by 23.2% at Susman Godfrey in 2025 and profits per equity partner by 19.2% at the Houston-founded trial firm that handles about two-third of its work on a contingency fee.

More Cadwalader Finance Lawyers Head to Orrick

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:43:44 EST

]]>The departures come as Cadwalader and Hogan Lovells are expected to finish their partner vote soon on the merger, aiming for a July 2026 merger.

Fish & Richardson Grew Revenue by 7% Thanks to 'Critical and Complex' IP Disputes

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:32:40 EST

]]>Large, cross-jurisdiction disputes propelled the intellectual property-focused firm's growth in 2025, firm President and CEO John Adkisson said.

White & Case Fights IT Worker's Anonymity in Suit Over Naked Photos

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:14:41 EST

]]>The law firm said the worker filed his complaint to maximize public exposure for his allegations, which the firm argues runs counter to the point of anonymity for such lawsuits.

Relying on Rate Hikes, Fox Rothschild Saw Modest Growth in 2025

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:14:04 EST

]]>As demand held steady, Fox Rothschild saw 8.1% growth in its top line. However, the firm's partner composition shifted drastically as aging partners sold their equity and transitioned to the nonequity tier.

DLA Piper Did Not Discriminate Against Pregnant Associate, Jury Finds

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:08:20 EST

]]>The jury found that a senior associate failed to prove that the firm was liable for discrimination under the New York City Human Rights Law. The panel also said the firm was not liable for interfering with their Family Medical Leave Act Rights.

Deal Watch: Dealmakers See Rise of 'Resilient' SPACs

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:59:49 EST

]]>Joel Rubinstein, a partner in the capital markets practice at White & Case, said the market familiarity and the presence of more experienced teams should make SPACs a viable alternative to traditional IPOs this year.

Dechert Deepens Trial Bench by Hiring 3 Litigators From White & Case in D.C.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:24:07 EST

]]>New arrival Tara Lee formerly served as the national trial practice lead at White & Case. Dechert has now brought on 35 lateral partners so far in 2026.

Anthropic GC Joins Chorus of Lawyers Predicting Demise of Billable Hour

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:21:15 EST

]]>“Now we've got a technology that's going to eliminate the sorts of things that allow people to become wealthy off of tedious work, said Jeff Bleich, general counsel of Anthropic.

DOJ Argues Certain Sections of Law Firm EOs Could Stand if Some Parts Get Invalidated

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:02:41 EST

]]>"There can be no dispute here that the president wants some of the provisions to take effect even if others are enjoined," the DOJ says.

Ashurst, Perkins Coie Partners Vote Through Merger

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:53 EST

]]>Partners at Ashurst and Perkins Coie have "overwhelmingly" voted in favour of the trans-Atlantic tie-up to create a $2.8 billion firm with around 3,000 lawyers.

Former Skadden, Munger Tolles and MoloLamken Partners Launch Boutique

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:59:59 EST

]]>The new firm, Liu Shur Kravis, will focus on representing businesses, organizations, executives and other individuals in high-stakes disputes, investigations and trials.

Weil Taps Kirkland, DLA Piper for Funds, Tax Practices

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Private funds are a “key group within the firm, and Weil sees an opportunity to scale that practice, said Jonathon Soler, co-managing partner at Weil.

With Potential Economic Shock, Law Firms Aren't 'Freaking Out.' But They Are Ready to Pivot

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Mulling existential crises is sort of “the new reality of being a firm leader, one leader said.

Fast Growing Taft Launches in NYC With Steptoe Energy Projects Team

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Taft chair Robert Hicks says the firm has long eyed the New York City legal market, and the decision to move into the Big Apple was guided by client requests and demand.

When Clients Learn to Love AI

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:59:59 EST

]]>The trust gap between clients and AI is closing as sophisticated businesses use the technology at a deeper level, and a faster rate, than lawyers, which could pose a unique challenge to Big Law, writes the Global Lawyer.

M&A Under Fire: The Hidden Cost of the Middle East War

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:59:59 EST

]]>M&A activity is holding up, but lawyers warn of rising war-related risk.

On Cusp of Merger, Winston & Strawn Grew Revenue by 8%, Profits 15%

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:41:46 EST

]]>Winston and Taylor Wessing have regulatory approvals, and they'll announce a final closing time within the range of May to June, said chairman Steve D'Amore.

Hunton Andrews Grows Revenue 10%, PEP 25% in Focus on Key Industry Sectors

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:36:34 EST

]]>The Virginia-founded firm performed over budget overall in 2025, and just wrapped up the fiscal year with its busiest March ever.

How Ex-Kirkland Lawyers Are Shaking Up Big Law Consulting, Comms and Recruiting

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:59:19 EST

]]>“We're turning the entire law firm consulting and communications and recruiting industries on their head, said Jon Henes. “Those are three things that law firms need to actually succeed in today's world, but nobody puts those together. We're the first.

Lowenstein Sandler's Insurance Recovery Group Decamps for Barnes & Thornburg

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:02:48 EST

]]>As Barnes & Thornburg picks up Lowenstein Sandler's insurance recovery practice, Lowenstein is pivoting to representing insurance carriers with a new insurance litigation and advisory group.

Ropes' Revenue Surges 9% Amid Growth in Asset Management, Real Estate

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>For the first time, Law.com is reporting a portion of Ropes' partnership as nonequity, based on Am Law 100's methodology.

Clifford Chance Claims Last-Minute M&A Crown as Mega Deals Fuel Busy Start to Year

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:56:52 EST

]]>Data from the London Stock Exchange Group reveals that total deal values jumped significantly on the same period last year, even as overall deal counts softened.

Taft Adds Industrial Real Estate Expert From Alston & Bird as First Lateral Partner Since Opening of Atlanta Office

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:44 EST

]]>Rick Pilch joins the growing firm with a practice focusing on large-scale leasing for distribution and warehouse facilities.

Nonequity Expansion Goes Hand-in-Hand with Lateral Additions

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:40:16 EST

]]>Lateral talent raids and exits among Am Law 50 firms have been more poignant in 2026, with nearly every day a Big Law firm announcing the addition of a practice group leader or rainmaker from a competitor firm.

Jackson Lewis Hires New Chief Operating Officer from K&L Gates

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:21:11 EST

]]>Gavin Gray spent about six years as the chief operating officer at K&L Gates. Before that, he served as North American regional operating officer for Baker McKenzie.

Gibson Dunn Partner Taking SEC Enforcement Chief Role

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:25:34 EST

]]>David Woodcock led the agency's Fort Worth office for four years and went on to serve as a partner at two Am Law 50 firms and as an assistant general counsel at Exxon Mobil.

Smith Gambrell & Russell's 'Big-Ticket' Matters, Full Integration of Merger Leads to 2025 Gains

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:13:24 EST

]]>Profits ticked down immediately after the firm's 2023 combination with Chicago's Freeborn & Peters, but those growing pains are in the past.

White & Case Recruits 2 M&A Partners, Including Reed Smith Practice Chair

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:18:06 EST

]]>The global head of mergers and acquisitions at Reed Smith has moved to White & Case amid a lateral hiring tear for its M&A practice.

Kirkland Counters Paul Hastings' London Gains With Rare German Partner Hire

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:37:44 EST

]]>Kirkland has hired debt financing partner J Melchior Raiser from Paul Hastings in Munich—reversing a pattern in London that had benefited its rival in the past year.

Wilmer's $35M Fees to Face Review After Billionaire Dispute

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:37:13 EST

]]>London's High Court found the firm had failed to give its client adequate costs information.

Sidley's Revenue Grows By 9%, as PEP Soars 16%, Amid Focus on Laterals and Balanced Portfolio

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Sidley's partnership system will change this year, with the firm creating what it says will be its own nonequity tier for the first time. Starting in June, income partners will not have equity in the firm, but associates will be eligible for income partner status a year earlier.

Day Pitney Taps Real Estate Leader as Next Managing Partner

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:28:23 EST

]]>Michael P. Byrne—based in Stamford, Connecticut—succeeds Gregory A. Hayes. He arrives following a "record year" for the firm.

Gibson Dunn Posts 18% Revenue Increase to $4.2B

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:19:58 EST

]]>Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher cracked the $4-billion revenue mark in 2025, a year that saw the firm continue to reap the rewards of its diversified practice areas, global reach and “destination practices, said chair and managing partner Barbara Becker.

Mistakes to Avoid Before Entering a Legal MSO Transaction

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:47:44 EST

]]>The firms that succeed in this environment are not necessarily the largest, the oldest, or the most decorated, Frederick Shelton and Ayven Dodd write.

Husch Blackwell, Missouri AG Say They're Not to Blame for VC Fund's 'Decisions' That Could Cost It Millions

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:17:17 EST

]]>The Am Law 100 firm and its former chair are among a group of Big Law firms and lawyers that allegedly gave bad advice to a VC fund's management about its founder's eligibility to raise money.

Renewed Activity in Technology Sector Boosts Fenwick & West's Profits 19%

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:52:31 EST

]]>The firm's profits per equity partner were up about 15% year-over-year in 2025.

6-Lawyer Team Departs K&L Gates for Reed Smith in Boston

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:52:15 EST

]]>The four partners and two associates join Reed Smith less than a month after the firm opened its new Boston office.

Buchanan Boosts Net Income by 23%, Citing Demand and Rate Increases

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:17:28 EST

]]>The Pittsburgh-founded firm, which celebrated its 175-year anniversary in 2025, saw more modest gross revenue and head count growth even as profitability soared.

Skadden Execs Turned Legal Tech Advisers Talk Navigating Client Tech Demands

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:01:04 EST

]]>Harris Tilevitz recently stepped away from his role as Skadden's chief AI and technology officer to advise Harvey. He and former Skadden CEO Eric Friedman—now an adviser to Ironclad and Litera—discussed how law firms can balance security and innovation.

Perkins Coie Re-enters China With Shenzhen Office Amid Ashurst Merger Push

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:20:11 EST

]]>New launch follows Beijing and Shanghai exits as the firm reshapes its Asia strategy and pursues a global tie-up with Ashurst.

Ex-Troutman Pepper Associate Agrees to Settle Discrimination Claims With Firm

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:53:11 EST

]]>Former associate Gita Sankano sued Troutman Pepper in January 2024, accusing the firm of firing her after she flagged racist behavior by several partners.

Spencer Fane to Merge With Southwest Law Firm, As Part of Broader Talent Strategy

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:59:59 EST

]]>Pat Whalen said this merger, and the combinations his firm has done previously, are a result of what's going on across the industry: clients and talent looking for larger firms that can handle a higher volume of increasingly complex work across more locations.

'Accounting Was the Precursor': The Private Equity View on Why Law Is the Next Big Target

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:01:49 EST

]]>Law.com sat down with the U.K. private equity firm August Equity to find out why it has invested in law and what it is hoping to achieve next.

Corporate Work, High-Profile Litigation Pushes Nelson Mullins Over $1B Revenue Threshold in 2025

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Nelson Mullins has tripled its revenue in 10 years amid M&A success, representing defendants in Roundup and talcum powder class actions.

Weil Partner With Power, Renewables Experience Moves to Gibson Dunn in Houston

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Weil, Gotshal & Manges partner Omar Samji of Houston, who focuses on the power and renewable energy sectors, has rejoined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, which is adding to its energy and infrastructure team in Houston.

King & Spalding Adds Third Winston & Strawn Partner Team in 3 Months

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:29:58 EST

]]>Jeff Cole and Brian Jansen have followed 12 litigation partners who moved in February and March to King & Spalding.

Jones Day Hacking Reflects Constant Threat of Phishing Attempts Against Big Law

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:53:11 EST

]]>The law firm's cyberattack exposed 10 of its clients' data, the firm confirmed in a statement, and the attack appears to have come from a hacker group that targets law firms.

Foley Grows Revenue by Nearly 14%, PEP by 27%, in a 'Year When It All Came Together'

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:30:05 EST

]]>Strategic lateral hiring and a focus on cross-selling across the firm led to double-digit increases in revenue and profits at Foley & Lardner in 2025.

Simpson Adds Trio of M&A Partners, in Latest Signal of Talent War in Sports Practices

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:55:09 EST

]]>Sports transactional practices in Big Law have seen a flurry of moves, as competition heats up for the top partners with relationships with private equity leaders, asset managers, owners, teams and organizations.

Encrypted GC Survey Offers Rare Window Into How Trump EOs Have Warped Outside Counsel Selection

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:09:28 EST

]]>"The government says the harms are speculative because the orders haven't been fully enforced, but our members didn't need enforcement to change their behavior, because the risk alone was enough, and that's the key issue here," said 10x Genomics chief legal officer Eric Whitaker, one of the founders of General Counsels United.

Many New York Elites See Financial Surges, But Gains Were Uneven

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:22:03 EST

]]>The growth metrics spanned the full bell curve, and there were outliers in each direction, as the transactional market last year was unpredictable in the first half, and some countercyclical practices didn't perform as expected.

The World's Most Misunderstood Legal Market Is Making Moves. It's Time to Pay Attention

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:29:59 EST

]]>The legal markets of the Asia Pacific are seeing seismic shifts. International firms that don't take note will lose out—again, the Global Lawyer writes.

China's Legal Elite: Redefining the Top Tier in a Fragmenting Market

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:14:59 EST

]]>After spending months closely analyzing the transformation of China's legal market and the performance of China's top law firms, Law.com International has identified six firms that stand out as The China Elite ( ).

Associate Mistakes, Compensation Part of Opening Arguments in DLA Piper Pregnancy Bias Trial

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:46:11 EST

]]>DLA Piper and the former associate alleging pregnancy bias led to her termination gave opening statements to a federal jury Monday in New York as the trial for those bias claims began.

Deal Watch: These Law Firms Jumped to the Top of Q1 M&A League Tables

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:34:29 EST

]]>Big deals, and fewer of them, was the story of Q1.

Kirkland Adds First Transactional Partner in Philadelphia

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:12:55 EST

]]>Stephanie Haas' arrival from Dechert confirms the firm's intention to beef up its transactional work in the firm's Philadelphia office, which opened in early 2025.

Conflict Lawsuits Against Am Law 200 Firms Emerge in Law.com Radar Roundup

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:53:37 EST

]]>Big Law firms last month faced a flurry of lawsuits alleging conflict problems, malpractice, financial fraud and employee discrimination. Plus, see who's suing for unpaid legal fees.

Sidley Lures Cravath Co-Head of VC and Growth Equity

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:28:02 EST

]]>Bennett is positioned to help Sidley "capture the next wave of IPOs and growth-company relationships while driving meaningful cross-practice collaboration across the firm," noted Sidley's Sam Gandhi.

Read the Doc: 800-Member GC Group Supports Law Firms Hit by EOs

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:39:04 EST

]]>General Counsels United, which formed last year in revolt against President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting Big Law firms, wrote in an amicus brief Friday that the orders have had a chilling effect on what members of the legal community say and do and have created an "ethical and legal minefield for general counsels."

Morgan Lewis Adds Hunton Andrews Litigation Trio

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:59:59 EST

]]>Regan was a practice group leader of Hunton's corporate and securities litigation and government investigations practices.

Simpson's Revenue and Profits Surge, Amid Rapid Partnership Expansion

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Even after the firm's equity ranks surged in 2025, Simpson is planning for more equity partner expansion this year and next, said the firm's chair, which will help balance out growth in the associate and nonequity partner ranks.

25 Law Firms That Beat Europe's M&A Turbulence in Q1 2026

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:59:59 EST

]]>Despite global economic turbulence and geopolitical uncertainty, Slaughter & May led European M&A in Q1 2026 with $47 billion in deals, while Italian firm Gianni & Origoni and Switzerland's Lenz & Staehelin also performed strongly in Q1.