The American Lawyer

'We Have Always Been Multicultural': What it Takes to Succeed in Big Law's Hottest Market

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 16:46:52 EST

]]>Miami has emerged as a boom town for the legal industry since the Covid-19 pandemic, but business gets done a little differently in the city widely regarded as the "capital of Latin America."

Seeking a Nonreplicable Edge: Why Ropes & Gray Built a Diligence Tool With OpenAI

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:25:46 EST

]]>Developed through a close collaboration with OpenAI, Ropes & Gray's proprietary tool is designed to replicate the firm's process for diligence reviews, allowing attorneys to address thorny issues earlier on.

Mayer Brown, Gibson Dunn, Greenberg and More Make Finance Partner Hires

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Finance-focused partners are on the move in Big Law this month, including those arriving at Mayer Brown; Gibson Dunn; Greenberg Traurig; and Vinson & Elkins, among others.

Kingmakers 2026: The Partners Who Control Designation in Private Equity

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:10:52 EST

]]>Designation in private equity deals, which has become one of the most lucrative, and often divisive, revenue-drivers in Big Law, is led by just a handful of leading partners; Law.com has the latest on who these individuals are.

California's New Law Targets Corporate Investment in Law Firms. Will It Change Much?

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:26:33 EST

]]>“AB 2305 is less a revolution than a reminder of where the boundaries have always been, one lawyer said.

Asia's Firms Are Paying Top Dollar for Partners. What Are They Actually Buying?

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:33:10 EST

]]>Senior lawyers are changing firms across Greater China, Singapore and Tokyo. The hiring announcements tell us who has arrived. The harder question, according to The Asia Legal Briefing, is what the market is paying for, and what walks out the door on the other side.

Orrick Hires New Tech Chief, Recruits Paul Hastings CFO

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 17:50:01 EST

]]>The leadership changes are part of Orrick's succession planning as the firm anticipates the departure of former CTO Justin Graham. Former CFO David Fries also plans to retire early next year.

Quinn Emanuel Adds to Litigator Bench in Chicago as Talent Competition Ramps Up

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:04:35 EST

]]>With two New York firms announcing openings in Chicago last month, the competition for talent in Chicago is accelerating.

Law Firms and Clients Battle Over Who Reaps AI Savings

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Big Law and corporate legal departments may ultimately agree on one avenue forward: billing by the outcome and value—not by the hour, corporate counsel sources and consultants say.

Vinson & Elkins Adds Latham Structured Finance Leader

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:38:38 EST

]]>The moves come as V&E seeks to expand its securitization practice beyond the upstream oil and gas markets it had already been working in.

Gordon Rees, Maynard Nexsen Grow Business Litigation Expertise in the Southeast

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:52:22 EST

]]>Baker Donelson also grew its Birmingham, Alabama, office with a two-attorney equipment finance team.

With Merger Rumors Swirling, Weil Says It's Staying the Course

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:10:50 EST

]]>The sources of the rumor mergers are unclear. Still, sources close to Weil said firm partners had floated with others internally the idea of a merger with specific firms.

An Inside Look at Cooley's New AI Tool for IPOs, Developed With OpenAI

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:09:23 EST

]]>Cooley GO Public, the first software released by the firm's AI development company, is designed to generate first drafts of SEC S-1 forms, a key form used in the IPO process, saving time for both the firm's attorneys and client executives.

Gibson Dunn Guides Media Giants in Lawsuit Over WH Press Ban

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:15:22 EST

]]>Partners Theodore Boutrous, Katie Townsend and Connor Sullivan are advising CNN, MS Now and Politico in a lawsuit against the Trump administration to restore their press access.

Big Law Lateral Moves Hit New Peak Amid Snowball Effect

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:38:28 EST

]]>“There's a lot more movement now, and momentum builds on itself. The more high-profile partners who move, the more others see moving as a real option," noted one recruiter.

Freshfields Global Funds Co-Head Exits for Debevoise

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:00:45 EST

]]>The exit comes days after the last London partner exit from the firm

The Hidden Cost of Big Law Partner Moves

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 13:59:59 EST

]]>The exits are public. The golden handcuffs buried in the partnership deeds are not.

Law Firm Disrupted: Enter the Chat(GPT)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:45:13 EST

]]>Is Astra for Law a market disruptor that resets the competitive landscape? Or a noninvasive species in legal's expanding AI ecosystem?The answer might be both.

Husch Blackwell Launches AI-Based CXT for Complex Torts Defense: A 'Concierge Support Model'

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:59:05 EST

]]>Husch Blackwell this week launched a new artificial intelligence-focused platform, called CXT (Complex Torts), which will focus on the management and defense of complex litigation such as mass torts.

The Data Center Boom is Inverting the Standard Rules of Lateral Recruiting

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:30:18 EST

]]>Firms are hiring partners from smaller shops and telling them not to worry about bringing clients along, according to one recruiter, and a recent group move offers evidence of that dynamic.

Gibson Dunn Hires Paul Weiss Products Liability Lead in 3-Partner Move

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 07:33:25 EST

]]>The firm pursued Kimberly Branscome to add first-chair trial experience in major mass torts, said litigation partner Theodore Boutrous Jr.

Law Firms Close 'Convenience Offices' in Post-COVID Shift

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 07:28:09 EST

]]>Several Am Law 200 law firms closed smaller offices last year, even in larger markets as D.C. and Chicago, as firms in general have grown more strategic about their footprints, decreased “convenience offices" with just a few lawyers, and redirected resources since the pandemic.

OpenAI Launches Legal-Specific Configuration of GPT-6 Astra, Its Latest LLM

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:59:59 EST

]]>The company said Astra for Law is target at Am Law 200 firms and legal tech vendors, and provided details on its co-development partnerships with Sullivan & Cromwell, Ropes & Gray, Skadden and Cooley.

Kirkland Recruits Partner in Boston, Amid 2-Lawyer Exit at Ropes

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:59:55 EST

]]>A tax partner and an asset management partner are leaving Ropes & Gray, according to sources familiar with the moves.

Proskauer Takes Four-Lawyer DLA Piper Antitrust Team in Strategic Paris Build-Out

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:53:09 EST

]]>Proskauer is pursuing a targeted growth strategy in France, strengthening its European antitrust offering while adding partners across key practices including private funds, private equity and M&A.

Are Defense Firms Being Outgunned by the Plaintiffs Bar? 2 Firm Leaders Argue Yes

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:15:47 EST

]]>Rate pressure from insurance clients may be putting their outside counsel at a disadvantage when it comes to technology like AI and data analytics, but one plaintiffs attorney noted that insurers are "multibillion-dollar concerns."

Gibson Dunn Sees Jump in Higher Ed Work, as 'Break Glass in Case of Emergency Firm'

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>"We're really more of the 'break glass in case of emergency firm' for colleges and universities. And unfortunately, that fire alarm has been ringing more often," said Jason Schwartz, a partner at Gibson Dunn, who leads the new higher education industry group.

Cleary Taps Paul Weiss Innovation Leader for New C-Suite Role

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:57:42 EST

]]>Elizabeth Wilkinson, the firm's first chief innovation officer, most recently served as director of knowledge and innovation at Paul Weiss. She previously spent 10 years practicing law.

Prioritizing Rapid Expansion, Weil Taps New Corporate Co-Heads

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:53:11 EST

]]>In an interview, Michael Lubowitz said the firm was in conversations “daily with potential lateral candidates as the corporate department looks to expand in every practice.

Michael Best Launches NY Office With Acquisition of Kane Kessler

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:55:35 EST

]]>Am Law 200 firm Michael Best & Friedrich has acquired New York midsize firm Kane Kessler, which has a significant corporate and securities practice.

Weil London Co-Managing Partner in Exit Talks as Firmwide Departures Mount

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:55:16 EST

]]>Exclusive: The London co-leader is expected to be joined by another M&A partner, as more exits are expected across the firm; they follow several senior departures on both sides of the Atlantic.

How AI Is Changing Latham, From Servers to Workflow Guidelines

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The firm has invested substantially in AI, and that investment has led to changes in workflow, guidelines, committees and tech partnerships.

Burford Exec, Holland & Knight Innovation Adviser Launch Employee-Side AI-Native Firm

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>David Perla and Sanjay Kamlani previously joined forces to create legal managed services business Pangea3 in 2004. Their new venture combines an investor-backed technology business with a law firm.

Nelson Mullins Grows Private Equity Team With 3 Partners From Arnall Golden Gregory

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:45:54 EST

]]>"They do the same thing we do, so it's pretty much 'plug and play. They can come in here and not miss a beat," said corporate practice group chair Doug Spear.

Why Parker Poe Hosted an AI Workshop for General Counsel and Corporate Leaders

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:18:25 EST

]]>The firm paired its own attorneys with in-house heads and other executives to see where AI may change the outside counsel relationship.

Saul Ewing Pulls Partners From 3 Am Law 200 Firms for Atlanta Launch

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:44:24 EST

]]>Hires from Holland & Knight, Squire Patton Boggs and Arnall Golden Gregory are joining two partners already with Saul Ewing in the new office.

Sullivan & Cromwell Raids Kirkland's Private Equity Team

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:44:28 EST

]]>Sullivan & Cromwell is adding four partners from Kirkland & Ellis, as competition accelerates for PE partners.

Why Big Law Mergers Turn Partner Pay Into a High-Stakes Balancing Act

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:29:59 EST

]]>Post-merger, law firms continue to confront a litany of challenges in their partner comp models, including how to pool profits, or iron out discrepancies based on values like seniority, origination or revenue-generation. Some firms also clash on how open and transparent their compensation systems should be.

The Global 200: The Top Firms Keep Getting Bigger, Richer, and Harder to Catch

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:29:59 EST

]]>The industry's leaders speak about why the top firms are pulling away from the rest.

Sustaining Status: These Firms Make Up Big Law's 'Global Elite'

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:29:59 EST

]]>Big Law's elite tier is solidifying, with the top seven firms in Law.com's Overall Global Elite ranking maintaining their exact positions for the second consecutive year—displaying evidence of a breakaway tier at the pinnacle of the industry.

Unpacking the Ambitions of Sidley and Gibson Dunn

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:29:59 EST

]]>Both firms have invested heavily in lateral hiring but insist that they aren't fixated on catching Kirkland and Latham.

The 2026 Global 200 Ranked by Revenue

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:29:59 EST

]]>The largest 200 law firms in the world had another strong period during the last financial year, driven largely by the top U.S.-based institutions.

Norton Rose Recruits 8-Lawyer Kasowitz Real Estate Team

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Partner David Szeker was the chair of Kasowitz's real estate transactions group. The Kasowitz firm website, as of early this week, shows zero partners left in the practice.

Orrick Recruits Former DOJ Antitrust Attorney in DC

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Aaron Teitelbaum previously litigated for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office before entering into federal government service in 2018.

Big Law Office Openings Back in Swing, Aiming for 'Strategic Scale'

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>About 70 firms in the Am Law 200 said they opened an office in a new market in 2025, compared to 56 in 2024. Fewer Am Law 200 firms oversaw office closures last year, too, according to Law.com data.

Am Law 200 Firm Fisher Phillips Opens London Office, First in Europe

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 04:50:19 EST

]]>It marks the firm's 52nd office globally after opening in Asia last year.

Former DOJ and White House Officials Crowd Into Big Law Firms

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:27:14 EST

]]>Covington, Ashurst Perkins Coie, Simpson Thacher, Winston Taylor and Stanford Heisler all added laterals with government experience.

Goodwin Debt Finance Veteran Jumps to Foley Hoag

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:51:11 EST

]]>Anna Dodson joined the firm's Boston office as co-chair of the debt finance practice.

Morgan & Morgan Has Been 'Quietly Building' Its Own In-House Artificial Intelligence Platform

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:11:56 EST

]]>The personal injury giant has thus far sunk $300 million into its MX2 AI program and plans an overall investment of $1 billion over the next 10 years.

Goodwin Procter Opens San Diego Office

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:29:59 EST

]]>Some 19 attorneys are based in the location, and co-chair Matthew Bresnahan says the firm will likely soon need to expand.

Winston Taylor Bolsters Antitrust Team With High-Profile DOJ Enforcer

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:59:59 EST

]]>David Dahlquist was lead trial counsel in the federal government's case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, before DOJ leaders settled the matter. Rejoining his old firm, he'll be working alongside the team that took over and secured a verdict on behalf of over 30 states.

What's Next for Weil After Top Rainmaker's Exit?

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:34:33 EST

]]>Mike Aiello's exit came about after a difference of opinion as to how the firm should grow, said a source inside Weil.

Sullivan & Cromwell Launches in Abu Dhabi Office with Latham Partner Hire

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 06:30:11 EST

]]>Abu Dhabi is increasingly becoming the starting point for many law firm operations in the Middle East.

The S&C, DLA and Boutique Lawyers Advising Trump in Litigation

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Trump has largely turned to Big Law firms to handle his high-stakes litigation while employing a small Florida-based boutique for media defamation lawsuits.

K&L Gates Adds 3 Pillsbury Partners in California and Texas, Boosting Asia Ties

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>The six-attorney group includes Pillsbury's former China, Korea and Taiwan practice co-heads.

Why Hiring From Wachtell and Cravath May Never Be Enough for the 'Magic Circle'

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 17:42:51 EST

]]>Without confronting hard truths and taking drastic measures, a genuine private capital build, and with it long term U.S. success, may always be out of reach for the U.K. elites, writes The Global Lawyer.