Law.com - The American Lawyer

DOJ Preps for Law Firm EO Battle

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:38:15 EST

]]>The arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C Circuit represent the next litmus test for how far the Trump administration's battle against law firms in court will go.

Law Firm Aggregate Market Has Trendline 'Pointing Down' in 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:24:38 EST

]]>Global wars and instability are also affecting both dealmaking and restructuring practices, according to the latest Law Firm Financial Index.

Before Law Firms Link Up With PE, Partners Need Persuasion

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:10:23 EST

]]>‘Selling' the idea of an PE-backed, MSO arrangement to rank-and-file partners may be new, but it is analogous to the process underpinning past law firm mergers.

DLA Piper Boosted PEP by Nearly 20% in Final Year of Verein

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:36:14 EST

]]>The global law firm also increased gross revenue by more than 8% during the fiscal year.

The Future of Lawyer Development Requires AI and Human Relationships

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:05:59 EST

]]>We must use AI and human relationships not as replacements for each other, but as mutually reinforcing efforts. If we do, we will see a genuine and lasting advantage in developing the lawyers this industry needs.

After Surprise Resignation, John Quinn Is Focusing on Travel, Practice Growth

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:19:36 EST

]]>In a statement to Law.com this week, Quinn explained his departure as “logical, adding that he “didn't really think about what day of the week it was when he decided to make his announcement.

Deal Watch: Dealmakers Guide More Secondaries and Continuation Transactions

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:10:31 EST

]]>Attorneys said they anticipated continued, and increased, secondary and continuation fund growth. In Big Law, that means a growing pie of work, but also more appetite and competition for the work.

Anticipating AI-Driven Rise in Demand, Alston & Bird Invests in IP Bench

Tue, 12 May 2026 17:25:35 EST

]]>The firm hired a trio of IP partners from Winston & Strawn earlier this month.

Latham Lures Practice Leader Talent from Skadden, Ropes

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:45:42 EST

]]>By adding Ryan Rohlfsen and Marco Caffuzzi this week, Latham is turning to practice area leaders at other firms for lateral partner talent.

Former DLA Piper Summer Associate Alleges Discrimination Due to Palestinian Origin, Pro-Palestine Activism

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:38:51 EST

]]>The firm rescinded a full-time employment offer in July 2024 to Yasmeen Elagha, who has also sued Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law on discrimination claims.

Strong Transactional Performance Drove Increased Q1 Demand, but Expenses Rose Too

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:29:53 EST

]]>Mega deal M&A activity was up and middle market deal work increased year-over-year. But expenses—chiefly compensation—also swelled, according to Citi analysts.

4 Partners Exit Sidley for Akin Gump in New York, London

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:48:04 EST

]]>The private equity quartet are the latest partners in Akin's recent hiring drive.

To Merge or Not to Merge: How Leverage Could Be the Deciding Factor

Tue, 12 May 2026 06:32:31 EST

]]>A Law.com analysis of leverage data reveals the firms that have fewer tools at their disposal to increase revenue-per-lawyer and profit margin, and why, for some, a merger might be an economic necessity.

'Shot Across the Bow': Insider Trading Scheme May Prompt Changes in Big Law

Tue, 12 May 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>The misappropriation of confidential M&A data from six top law firms may lead to changes in firms' controls over client data, ex-SEC and white-collar defense lawyers said.

Revenue, Demand Up at Homegrown Texas Law Firms in Q1, but Growth Lagged the Industry

Mon, 11 May 2026 17:47:39 EST

]]>Homegrown Texas firms continue to face pressure from an increasing number of Big Law firms launching Texas offices, where they compete for top Texas talent and clients.

Letter from Asia: Built in America, Tested in Asia

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:59:59 EST

]]>Lean teams, shifting strategies and new alliances are reshaping how U.S. law firms compete—and survive—across Asia.

Finance, Real Estate Favored as Half of Charlotte Big Law Firms Increased Local Head Counts in 2025

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:36:19 EST

]]>Two firms together employed one of every three attorneys practicing in the 41 Am Law 200 firms in Charlotte in 2025, analysis shows.

DC Law Firms in Q1 Lagged Behind Industry in Revenue Growth Amid Softer Regulatory Demand

Mon, 11 May 2026 14:18:49 EST

]]>Despite softened demand, lawyer head count growth for D.C. firms outpaced the industry. Some D.C. firms are hiring based "on demand from last year that is not currently justified by the numbers,” noted Wells Fargo's Owen Burman.

Taft Taps Minneapolis, Chicago Office Heads as Next Generation of Firm Leadership

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:59:59 EST

]]>Current firmwide managing Partner Robert Hicks will serve until the end of 2027. He will then be succeeded by Minneapolis partner-in-charge Justin Weinberg. Chicago partner-in-charge Paul Jenson will serve as vice managing partner, a new role.

In Billing Rate and Realization 'Trade Off,' Law Firms Still Aren't Seeing Caution Signs

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:43:15 EST

]]>"When are you going to start to see clients push back? Well, when you start to see standard realization start to decline outside of that standard, normal, 1% to 2% point margin,” said Wells Fargo's Les Starck.

Let's Applaud Big Law Leaders for Their Greater Engagement. But The Stilted Videos?

Sun, 10 May 2026 17:58:54 EST

]]>The campfire video is now standard in the Big Law merger timeline; but what are they for, asks the Global Lawyer.

John Quinn Steps Down From Quinn Emanuel Leadership

Sun, 10 May 2026 00:11:35 EST

]]>Quinn, who co-founded Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in 1986, made the sudden announcement to partners on Sunday.

Law Firm Disrupted: Are Associate Ranks Headed for a 'Course Correction'?

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:27:01 EST

]]>Some corporate clients only want to use a law firm when it's partner-level work, noted one New York recruiter. How will that shape the future of associate legal work?

Linklaters Launches New Practice to Build Matter-Specific AI Solutions

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:01:02 EST

]]>The firm's Applied Intelligence practice will unite attorneys and data scientists to build bespoke AI tools and workflows for complex matters with a fixed fee approach.

How Six Big Law Firms Lost Confidential M&A Data to a Global Insider Trading Scheme

Fri, 08 May 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Alleged perpetrators in some cases accessed material non-public information on deals in which they weren't staffed, charging documents show.

AI Paradox: Clients Want Lower Billing From Tech Efficiency, But Also More Human Oversight

Thu, 07 May 2026 16:05:01 EST

]]>A new report by a global leadership consultancy shows that law firm clients would like billing to decrease if their lawyers incorporate AI use in legal work, but they simultaneously want more man hours spent on human oversight and risk mitigation.

Big Law Talent Battle Accelerates in Congressional Investigation Practices

Thu, 07 May 2026 15:28:42 EST

]]>Simpson's recent move has caused ripples in the D.C. talent market and has caught the attention of others, including other New York firms.

Paul Weiss Sheds Litigation Associates

Thu, 07 May 2026 14:52:24 EST

]]>After Paul Weiss and McDermott's associate cuts, it's possible other firms may follow, encouraged that top firms are taking these steps without apparent financial weaknesses, sources said.

Am Law 200 Law Firms Hit With Discrimination Suits, Law.com Radar Shows

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:27:03 EST

]]>Big Law firms faced allegations of race, gender and pregnancy bias in April. Plus, cyber negligence claims smacked two firms.

McDermott Associate Layoffs Point to 'Shifting Client Needs'

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:38:13 EST

]]>The news of associate cuts at a high-ranking Am Law 100 firm has frayed the nerves of some in Big Law, amid economic concerns this year related to rising energy prices and inflation, and worries about timeliness of clients paying legal bills.

A&O Shearman Makes Job Cuts in London

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:02:46 EST

]]>The firm is trimming headcount across its business support teams in the latest in a wave of similar moves by major law firms.

International Law Firm Broadfield Continues Growth Trajectory With Partner Hires From Sidley, Cooley

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Michiel Visser arrives at Broadfield from Sidley Austin, and Patrick Flanagan comes to the firm from Cooley. The two Am Law 50 alums join lawyers with experience at Dentons, White & Case, Venable and other firms.

Growing Beyond M&A, Paul Weiss Adds Litigation Partner to New Houston Office

Wed, 06 May 2026 19:42:58 EST

]]>In the months since Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison launched in the Houston market, it had focused on hiring transactional lateral partners.

Big Law Firms Robbed of Confidential M&A Information Stolen by Global Insider Trading Ring

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:58:33 EST

]]>An ex-Goodwin Procter associate is among 30 people charged with trading on stolen and confidential information from law firms.

Perkins Coie Turns to AI Avatars to Train Lawyers on Soft Skills

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:30:22 EST

]]>The law firm's London office is beta testing training simulations with gen AI avatars to provide a safe space for legal professionals to fail and learn.

Some DC Area Firms Lost Ground in Latest Am Law 200 Rankings, Despite Revenue Growth

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:15:46 EST

]]>Three of the five Second Hundred law firms in the greater Washington, D.C., area fell in the Am Law 200 rankings, despite all of the firms reporting revenue growth in 2025 over the prior year.

Cooley Hires Baker Botts Energy Leader to Co-Chair New Energy, Infrastructure and Real Estate Group

Wed, 06 May 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Mona Dajani will co-lead the new practice group alongside co-chair Michelle Schulman, an 18-year veteran of Cooley.

Paul Hastings Partner Becomes King & Spalding's Second London Hire This Week

Wed, 06 May 2026 05:33:53 EST

]]>The hire comes a day after the firm added a Goodwin Procter London real estate private equity partner.

A&O Shearman Partners Discuss Introducing Nonequity Tier

Wed, 06 May 2026 05:12:52 EST

]]>Several Big Law firms have adopted the structure in recent years in response to various market pressures.

Where Sponsor Relationships Really Sit—And Why It's Reshaping Private Funds Hiring

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:57:55 EST

]]>A blanket assumption that the funds partner holds the sponsor relationship, or that the M&A partner holds it, will often be wrong in both directions, Rose Corbett and Melinda Wallman write.

Second Hundred Law Firms, Many in an 'Exploration Phase,' Seek Worthwhile Uses of AI

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Facing the extensive task of modernizing their firms in a cost-effective way, Am Law 200 firms are often consulting clients for input on how to use artificial intelligence.

Will Outside Capital Start Flowing to the Second Hundred First?

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>One M&A adviser focused on the legal industry predicts the first Big Law MSO deal will come from the Second Hundred—potentially later this year. "In the Second Hundred, you still have founders that are active in their firms."

Earnings Are Growing For Second Hundred Firms—But So Is the Gap

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Lower billing rate increases and lower demand contribute to a "widening gap" between the Second Hundred and the Am Law 100, even as both tiers posted strong financials metrics for 2025.

AI On a Budget: How Second Hundred Law Firms Are Investing in Tech Carefully

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Second Hundred leaders are making sure they know where their money will go the furthest, before pot committing, firm leaders said.

The 2026 Am Law 200: Top Performers in RPL, PEP & VPL

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>While Am Law 100 firms dominate these lists, a few Second Hundred firms make the cut.

The 2026 Am Law 200: At a Glance

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>An alphabetized listing of the Am Law Second Hundred firms and their core financial and census data.

The 2026 Am Law 200: A Guide to Our Methodology

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>How we report law firm financials.

The 2026 Am Law 200: Ranked By Gross Revenue

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Gross Revenue for the Second Hundred increased in 2025 by 6.0 percent, compared to the 10.8 percent increase in 2024.

Bridging the Gap: Bold Second Hundred Firms Eye Mergers to Jump Up in Class

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The Second Hundred firms that engaged in mergers over the course of 2025 generally outperformed their peers, but many others have good reasons to be content with their current scale.

The 2026 Am Law 200: By the Numbers

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>A closer look at the numbers that mattered most for the Am Law 200—in visual form.

McDermott Hires 12-Strong Team in Milan

Tue, 05 May 2026 06:21:25 EST

]]>The team spans a variety of practice areas with one partner being named co-managing partner of the office.

Goodwin London Loses Another Partner to Rival

Tue, 05 May 2026 06:00:19 EST

]]>The firm's London base has parted ways with around 13 partners in the past 18 months.

Law Firms (an Asset Class in Waiting?) See Valuations Climb Higher

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>The aggregate value of the Am Law 100 surpassed $400 billion for the first time in CFO Madhav Srinivasan's latest effort at applying Wall Street valuation techniques to the apex of the legal industry.

Proskauer Hires Private Funds Partner, A&O Shearman Taps US Energy Practice Lead

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Zeeshan Ahmedani joined Proskauer Rose as a private funds partner in Los Angeles, and Andrew Lanius joined A&O Shearman as a partner and practice leader in Houston.

Kirkland Adds 9-Lawyer Energy, Infrastructure Team From Latham in Houston

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:18:10 EST

]]>Led by Latham & Watkins partner Christopher Peponis, the team also includes three partners and five associates.

After Less Than a Year Post-Merger, HSF Kramer Says It's Winning New Clients for US Transactions in Australia

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:52:54 EST

]]>The firm expects future U.S. investment to focus on the tech and defense sectors, and anticipates an increase in private capital investment in Australia.

Ahead of Merger, Winston Partner Trio, Including IP Co-Chair, Heads to Alston

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:32:07 EST

]]>An IP partner trio from Winston headed to Alston & Bird, the second group of IP lawyers to leave the firm in the last couple of weeks, as its pending merger with Taylor Wessing grows closer.

Foley Launches On-Demand Learning Hub for In-House Lawyers

Mon, 04 May 2026 15:15:35 EST

]]>The hub, called LearningLab, provides on-demand continuing legal education courses in six states, and other business and legal training targeted at in-house lawyers.

K&L Gates Taps Seattle-Based Partner to Lead Firm's Global AI Strategy

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:56:38 EST

]]>Jake Bernstein emphasized the value of having a practicing lawyer in the firm's lead AI role: “Lawyers are a prickly bunch. We don't really want to take direction from nonlawyers.

Paul Weiss Adds Partners From Kirkland, Latham to New Houston Office

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:45:38 EST

]]>Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison is building out its new Houston office with Big Law transactional partners.

In Era of Surging Partner Pay, How Can Second Hundred Law Firms Stay Competitive?

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Even firms with $3 or $4 million in average profits per partner will have a hard time going toe to toe for talent with firms that can more than double that, noted Matthew Bersani, of the Cliff Group.

Too Fast to Fake It: Can Big Law's Top Partners Keep Up?

Mon, 04 May 2026 03:57:16 EST

]]>Geopolitical upheaval, corporate accountability, and the rise of AI are testing whether Big Law's top partners are worth their multimillion-dollar price tags, writes The Global Lawyer.