The American Lawyer

SCOTUS Litigator Demand Surges in Big Law, Amid Partner Shuffle in Top Firms

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:16:55 EST

]]>At least seven law firms have announced hires within their Supreme Court and appellate practices since the beginning of 2025, and recruiters say they expect to see more moves over the coming months.

BJay Pak Departs Alston & Bird for GC Job at Delta Air Lines

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:24:20 EST

]]>The former Georgia U.S. attorney had resigned in the wake of Trump's challenge to the 2020 election results before joining the Am Law 50 firm.

O'Melveny Hires Corporate Restructuring Veteran From Cleary

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:40:23 EST

]]>Partner David Botter joined O'Melveny's New York office ahead of his 26th year as a Big Law restructuring partner.

Wachtell Tax Partner Heads to Sidley to Co-Head Practice

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:59:10 EST

]]>Sidley called Deborah Paul "one of the country's preeminent M&A tax lawyers, with an exceptional combination of technical skill, long-standing relationships, and leadership in the tax bar."

Davis Polk Hires Corporate PE Partner From Ropes & Gray

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Todd Kornreich, who helped lead Ropes & Gray's transportation and logistics sector group, joins Davis Polk in New York.

Goodwin Hires Cooley Life Sciences M&A Partner

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:29:59 EST

]]>Life sciences transactions partner Rowook Park said a need for innovation in the industry, combined with "optionality" in the market, is "driving a particularly active environment for strategic transactions."

Norton Rose Lures Crowell Office Leader Amid Busy Chicago Lateral Market

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Among the latest lateral activity in Chicago, Jason Stiehl, a former office managing partner for Crowell & Moring, has arrived at Norton Rose Fulbright.

Latham, MoFo and Davis Polk Line Up on SoftBank-Backed SB Energy's $7B IPO

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 01:40:09 EST

]]>The company is reportedly seeking to raise between $5 billion and $7 billion at a valuation exceeding $50 billion.

Why Big Law's Pay War Ends in Equity, Not Cash

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:26:59 EST

]]>AI is making star partners more valuable and the pay war more brutal. That reverses as firms build a “firm brain to capture partners' judgement and move to an enterprise model giving those partners permanent equity in what they help create.

2 More Weil Partners Plan Moves to Simpson Thacher

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:00:27 EST

]]>A source familiar with the conversations said that the actual exits could be weeks away, depending on Weil's hold policy for exiting partners.

Quinn Emanuel's Alex Spiro to Represent Joshua Kushner and Thrive in FIFA Legal Fight

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:12:23 EST

]]>Quinn Emanuel's representation of Joshua Kushner and Thrive Capital adds the firm to the growing roster of law firms advising the Kushner brothers on disputes and transactions.

Former Federal Judge Alan Albright Joins A&O Shearman in Austin

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:10:55 EST

]]>Alan Albright, a federal judge since 2018, grew a busy and influential patent litigation docket from his bench in the Western District of Texas.

Global Insurance Policyholder Law Firm Turns to Swiss Verein Model for New Combination

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:59:59 EST

]]>SDV Fenchurch will span eight jurisdictions across three continents and will exclusively represent policyholders and the brokers who advise them.

Midlevel Associates Increasingly Fear AI Will Replace Them

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Midlevels report confusion over how to choose the right tool for the job, and express desire for firm-specific options as the number of legal AI service providers grows.

The 2026 Midlevel Associates Survey: The Rankings

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>There was a significant amount of year-over-year rankings movement, including the top three spots, our data shows.

Associates Say the Darndest Things, 2026: Fewer Dweebs, Please

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Our survey of nearly 3,000 midlevel associates fielded thoughtful, substantive responses on serious topics. It also yielded these.

Fewer Midlevel Associates Believe They're Cut Out for Partnership

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Big Law looks like a steppingstone to an increasing proportion of midlevels.

Analyst Insights: What Expanded Associate Survey Data Reveals About Satisfaction, Retention and the Partnership Pipeline

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>For the first time, the annual associate satisfaction survey was distributed to juniors and seniors alongside its traditional midlevel population, revealing that firms face distinct engagement and retention challenges at each career stage.

Morgan Lewis Adds White & Case Life Sciences Co-Head in Boston

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:59:59 EST

]]>As competition for legal talent in Boston continues to heat up, Morgan Lewis & Bockius has added White & Case life sciences leader Andres Liivak in a bid to expand its transactional capabilities in the city.

Paul Weiss Hits Freshfields for London Structured Finance Partner

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:06:33 EST

]]>A sign that the firm's hiring appetite in London remains.

Linklaters Hires Johnson & Johnson Litigation Head in Latest US Build

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:24:59 EST

]]>The firm continues to grow in the U.S. with another disputes hire.

Quinn Emanuel, Paul Hastings, S&C, A&O Shearman Add Antitrust Partners in DC

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The antitrust lateral surge highlighted a busy week in D.C., where at least 11 Big Law firms have added lateral partners since Monday.

Skadden Poaches Orrick Global Banking and Finance Lead

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Orrick appointed corporate finance lawyer Bill Haft to assume Finley's vacated role on an interim basis.

Cahill Gordon Creates New Chief AI Strategy & Innovation Leadership Role

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Kelly Graves, a lawyer who has been with the firm for close to two years, was tapped for the new position. She was also simultaneously promoted to partner.

Law Firm Leasing Outpaces Last Year Through the First Half of 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:10:02 EST

]]>The Cushman & Wakefield Legal Sector Leasing Report for Q2 2026 finds that U.S. legal sector leasing totaled a record 7.3 million square feet during the quarter, and leasing for the first six months of the year is well above the same period in 2025.

Ex-Clifford Chance Partners Say Clawback Attempts Unenforceable Under NY Law

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:42:56 EST

]]>“The UK Partnership Agreement's claw-back provisions impose severe financial penalties on departing equity partners who seek to compete with the Firm" — provisions that a New York bar ethics committee has found "are clearly unenforceable, Sabin and Cone say.

'We Need to Consolidate Surface': How Weil Is Keeping Up With AI and Google Gemini

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:22:09 EST

]]>Weil's relationship with Google Cloud reflects a broader push to give lawyers fewer AI interfaces while allowing them to operate other tools they use for legal work.

Kirkland and Quinn Taking Different Paths Into the Same Litigation Future

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:45:33 EST

]]>Both firms appear to be preparing for a future in which the most important question is no longer how long something takes, but what it's worth.

Kirkland Adds Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn's State Attorneys General Practice

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:59:59 EST

]]>Prerak "Pre" Shah, who joined Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in Houston on Monday, formerly served as acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas as well as chief of staff and chief counsel for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

Inside Weil's Private Equity Partner Shuffle

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:07:25 EST

]]>It's the second time within two years that the firm has sustained a series of departures from key partners.

Building West Coast Bench, Weil Adds PE Pros From Kirkland, Dechert

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Weil has been growing in California, particularly in the Silicon Valley area, as PE demand in the tech and AI space accelerate.

DC Law Firms See Modest Growth in Demand, Revenue in First Half of 2026

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:32:11 EST

]]>Law firms in the D.C. region reported modest revenue and demand growth for the first half of 2026, which trailed industry-wide averages, as firms in the region weren't boosted as much by an M&A boom, according to a Citi report.

The Client Is the Strategy: Rethinking How Law Firms Grow

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 23:59:59 EST

]]>The lesson is a simple one: Define yourself too narrowly, and sooner or later you run the risk of losing relevance, Naz Vahid and Rajesh Madabushi write.

BakerHostetler Launches Proprietary, Firm-Built AI Platform

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:47:49 EST

]]>The Practice Intelligence Center, featuring tools developed in partnership with Clio, is designed to combine institutional knowledge and AI-powered workflows.

'Unresponsiveness' and 'Unclear Goals' Dog Big Law Marketing Departments—Not to Mention the AI Risks

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:35:47 EST

]]>According to Law.com's legal marketing survey for 2026, several nagging issues — including unclear and under-resourced expectations — are creating tension between law firm management and marketing departments, often leading to burnout.

Freshfields Asia Suffers Another Blow as Latham Lures Hong Kong Dealmakers Grace Huang and Edward Freeman

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 23:58:59 EST

]]>The hires give Latham heavyweight equity capital markets, private equity and M&A capabilities as Hong Kong's deal market rebounds. It also deepens a run of significant partner losses for Freshfields across Asia.

More States Look to Regulate MSOs, Outside Investment as PE Continues to Eye Legal Industry

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:04:50 EST

]]>California, Colorado and now Illinois are attempting to clamp down on private investment in the legal industry, and experts say it would not be surprising if other states follow suit.

In Latest Slate of AI Partnerships, Law Firms Claim Benefits of Early Access and Collaboration

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:56:14 EST

]]>Rather than keeping co-developed technology exclusive, firms are helping vendors develop tools that competitors will be able to purchase.

McDermott Shutters DC-Based Healthcare Consulting Business

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:07:12 EST

]]>The closure comes after McDermott+ had been exploring a linkup with a similar company owned by private equity, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Big Law's Partner Autonomy Conundrum

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:59:59 EST

]]>Today's challenges require coordinated change, which is simply not possible when every partner retains the ability to opt out, David Ackert writes.

KKR Says Outside Law Firms Will 'Fully Reimburse' Its $250M DOJ Penalty

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:54:20 EST

]]>Advising KKR in the investigation were Quinn Emanuel and Cleary Gottlieb.

Simpson and Milbank's Chicago Entrance 'Part of a Larger Pattern' in Big Law

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:34:29 EST

]]>Especially with the latest entry of New York firms, Chicago may be “too big to not pay attention to, some legal industry observers say. Others say the moves are "part of a larger pattern" of growth across Big Law.

Ex-Client Slams Davis Polk's $3.2M Fee Suit, Promises Counterclaims

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>A representative for Enel called Davis Polk's allegations against it “self-serving and a complete mischaracterization of facts.

Former McGuireWoods Deputy MP Reveals $7.7M Partnership Share

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:51:56 EST

]]>The figure was disclosed as part of Todd Steggerda's nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador and permanent representative of the U.S. to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva.

Worried About Outside Influence Coming Inside? Firm Leaders Might Be Watching the Wrong Door

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:32:39 EST

]]>All firm value sits inside people who cannot be owned—a strange thing to defend with a rule about ownership, Joe Calve writes.

Richard Hays' Leadership Turned Alston & Bird Into 'A True National Powerhouse'

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:12:10 EST

]]>Hays will end a 19-year run as managing partner in January 2027. During his tenure, the firm expanded nationally and into Europe, and its profitability metrics eclipsed peer firms.

Kirkland Adds Boston Boutique Founder, Growing Litigation Team

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:59:59 EST

]]>Aaron Katz founded his own boutique in 2022 after spending nearly two decades at Ropes & Gray.

These Am Law Firms Lead the Way on AFAs. Here's How AI and Data Collection Are Pushing More to Explore

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 07:20:28 EST

]]>Several big firms are significantly above the Am Law 200 average of 16-17% of revenue coming from alternative fee arrangements, according to Law.com survey data.

Mintz Sports Head Jumps to Norton Rose to Lead Practice

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Norton Rose Fulbright has a new leader for both its U.S. sports capital and transactions practice and its New York private equity team.

New Illinois MSO Legal Industry Law May Be Ripe for a Challenge, Experts Say

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:58:29 EST

]]>Legal experts say an Illinois statute that regulates outside investment in law firms may run afoul of the inherent powers doctrine, which puts regulation of lawyers under the purview of the judicial, not legislative, branch.

Increasing Demand and Rising Rates Boost Law Firm Revenues in H1

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:07:00 EST

]]>But inventory has risen to the point that it's "a challenge for our law firms to collect," said Owen Burman of Wells Fargo.

Paul Weiss and Simpson Thacher in Talks to Recruit More Weil Partners

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:54:03 EST

]]>The moves would follow those of Chris Machera to Paul Weiss and reportedly Brian Parness to Simpson Thacher.

ABA Says Trump Admin Must Disclose Advisers Involved in Drafting Law Firm EOs

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:19:00 EST

]]>As part of its suit against the Trump administration over its alleged law firm intimidation policy, the ABA says presidential communications privilege does not shield the Trump administration from disclosing the names of Trump advisers who were involved in drafting EOs against law firms.

Cleary, Weil, Freshfields and Williams & Connolly Among Those in on Google's Gemini Enterprise for Legal Launch

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:23:56 EST

]]>With Gemini Enterprise for Legal, Google joins a slew of other Big Tech companies building specialized tools for legal industry professionals.

How Big Law Firms Are Quietly Paying Associates Different Salaries

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:21:13 EST

]]>Lockstep associate pay is less in vogue, as some big firms offer customized bonuses, sign-on incentives for laterals, and forgivable loans.

Freshfields Faces More Departures as Partner Leaves With Team to Join Taylor Wessing

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:52:25 EST

]]>Du sseldorf energy and regulatory partner Stefan Schro der is leaving Freshfields for Taylor Wessing, marking the latest in a series of senior departures from the firm's German partnership.

Alston & Bird Announces First New Leader Since Great Recession

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:02:39 EST

]]>In January, litigation leader Bill Jordan will succeed Richard Hays, who led the firm to triple its revenue and quadruple its profits per equity partner since stepping into the role in 2008.

Big Law's Summer C-Suite Hiring Focuses on New Skills for Changing Legal Market

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:43:31 EST

]]>Firms such as Simpson Thacher, Paul Hastings, Vinson & Elkins and Mayer Brown have all added new c-suite and directors this summer, amid the need to navigate more attorney lateral movement and to spearhead technology.

With 4-Partner Hire from Winston Taylor, Sidley Brings Infrastructure Team to Growing Miami Office

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:50:57 EST

]]>The group includes Miami partner Richard Puttré—formerly Winston's project finance leader for Latin America—as well as partners in New York, Washington and Houston.

Paul Weiss Taps Goodwin Partner to Head Supreme Court Practice

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>“Willy is a standout appellate advocate and one of the most respected lawyers in the appellate bar, Paul Weiss chairman Scott Barshay said.

Milbank Launches in Chicago, Hiring White & Case Practice Leader

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Nadav Klugman is Milbank's first partner hire in Chicago, while the firm is exploring more hires.

Big Law's Leasing Costs Rise Even Amid Decline in Square Footage

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Real estate analysts say factors such as a slowdown in construction, rising construction and build-out costs and competition for top-notch space affected the leasing market in 2025.