Law.com - The American Lawyer

'No One Wants to Go First': The Waiting Game in Big Law

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Many Big Law firms have explored PE investment, weighing the pros and cons of creating a managed service organization for back-office work. What will it take for one to pull the trigger?

Clark Hill Recruits International Trade Group Leader From Crowell & Moring

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:19:04 EST

]]>Nicole Janigian Simonian, who will chair Clark Hill's global supply chain practice, joins the firm's Los Angeles outpost alongside two senior counsel hires.

After Crackdown by Pa. Gov. Shapiro, Data Center Lawyers Expect Rising Demand for Services

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:53:33 EST

]]>One practitioner said he got "a million emails" after Shapiro signed an executive order Tuesday aimed at restricting data center development in Pennsylvania. As more jurisdictions enact obstacles, clients intent on building projects will require even more guidance.

AI Can Help Fiduciaries Serve Clients Better. Here's How to Get It Right.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>AI can help fiduciaries reclaim time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on understanding clients, exercising judgment and building lasting relationships. The key is integrating AI thoughtfully—with strong confidentiality, security, vendor oversight and governance—to support rather than replace the fiduciary's core obligations of care, prudence and loyalty.

DLA Piper Adds Ex-Federal Prosecutor From Freshfields in DC as Clients Face Rising Global Compliance Challenges

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:14:59 EST

]]>Eric Bruce—a former counselor to the U.S. attorney general—joins the firm at a critical juncture, as companies are increasingly facing compliance and risk management challenges including new Foreign Terrorist Organization designations and related sanctions and enforcement developments.

Hanson Bridgett Appoints Pillsbury and O'Melveny Alum Martin Metz as CTIO

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:59:59 EST

]]>In the newly created role, Metz will oversee both AI adoption initiatives and the firm's broader IT infrastructure.

Chipping Away at Big Law's Market Share

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Without pursuing bet-the-company work, Blackstone-backed Norm Law is targeting a significant portion of Big Law's diet.

Moore & Van Allen Expands to D.C. With Seyfarth Shaw National Security Specialist

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>"Our strategic plan ... really has called for expansion beyond the Carolinas. D.C. is the next logical step for us," said Thomas Mitchell of Moore & Van Allen.

Law Firm Leasing Activity Continues Upward, Outpacing 2025 Through First Half of the Year

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:54:25 EST

]]>New York was the hottest market for law firm leases during the first half of 2025, and a lack of high-quality space in Manhattan leads firms to expand into additional buildings.

Steptoe, Greenberg Traurig, O'Melveny Among Big Law Firms Making DC Hires

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:12:58 EST

]]>Big Law firms announced a flurry of hires in their real estate, financial services, white-collar, IP and litigation practices in D.C.

Baker & Hostetler Doubles Down on Digital Assets With New Crypto Disputes Team

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:43:27 EST

]]>The unit is led by seasoned New York-based litigator Joanna Wasick, whose work in digital assets dates to 2014, when she first began advising clients on securities law issues arising from Bitcoin transactions.

Troutman Pepper Locke Sued for Discrimination, Retaliation After Associate Reported Alleged Billing Fraud

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:19:08 EST

]]>Litigation associate Matthew Cali alleged that the firm retaliated against him and derailed his upcoming promotion to partner after he went on medical leave for a heart attack, and later reported concerns that partners were allegedly committing billing fraud.

Deal Watch: Big Law Firms Steer Flurry of Sports Deals, in Another Banner Week for Dealmakers

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:14:16 EST

]]>A&O Shearman, Latham, Orrick, Cleary, Gibson Dunn, Katten and Paul Weiss all helped guide sports transactions in the last week. "High-profile transactions involving premier sports franchises are important market signals,” said Eric Geffner, co-head of Simpson's sports group.

Wilkinson Stekloff and Clement & Murphy Team Up in ABC Suit Against FCC

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:01:20 EST

]]>The two litigation boutiques filed the lawsuit on Tuesday on behalf of the broadcast network, alleging that the FCC violated its First Amendment rights.

Quinn Emanuel Expects to Reach $3B Revenue Goal, as Leaders Reshape Management Strategy

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The firm's co-managing partners shed light on AI and private equity considerations, talent strategy, and ambitious financial targets, as firm founder John Quinn steps into a non-executive role.

As White-Collar Prosecutions Fall, AG Blanche Expected to Follow Trump Status Quo

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>"They've all but abandoned white-collar enforcement to focus on street crime and lawfare; I don't expect that to change," noted one practitioner.

Barnes & Thornburg Recruits 12-Lawyer K&L Gates Healthcare Team

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>The firm's latest group hire, a team of several healthcare partners in Raleigh, brings the tally of lateral partners added so far this year above 130.

Clifford Chance Asks Court to Compel International Arbitration in $5.8M Pay Clawback Dispute

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:46:23 EST

]]>Lawyers for Clifford Chance called the former partners' attempt to change the arbitration jurisdiction in an ongoing pay clawback dispute "a transparent attempt to hijack the arbitral process before it even begins."

Big Law Firms See 'Rare' Demand Growth, but Expenses Accelerate

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:06:35 EST

]]>Demand was up 4.2% through the first six months of 2026—higher than the historical growth of 1.5% or 2%, Citi said.

AI Is Giving Legal Departments More Reasons to Keep Work In-House

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:08:06 EST

]]>“The presumption that I always pressure test with them is sort of that first capacity constraint reflex is to go and get outside counsel because this is a new question or a complex question, said Rishi Varma, chief legal, compliance and corporate affairs officer and corporate secretary at Cargill.

Simpson, Continuing Boston Build, Recruits PE Pro From Ropes

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The firm will be moving to a new location in Boston that will give it enough space to double its current headcount in the city.

Kirkland's Alternative Fee Structures Help Fuel Litigation Business

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Roughly 30% of its litigation revenue is through AFA structures, amounting to more than $1 billion through these arrangements last year.

ArentFox Schiff Launches FoxAI Tech Tools for Industry-Focused Approach

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The new framework, FoxAI, pulls together the firm's proprietary tools and licensed third-party AI platforms, including Harvey, Microsoft Copilot and DeepJudge, to speed up the rate of client work.

Maynard Nexsen to Expand Atlanta Footprint Fivefold as Firm Prioritizes Full-Service Growth

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The firm's rapid expansion includes more than doubling its head count within a year of merging with a real estate boutique.

Clifford Chance Adds Jones Day Partner to Growing Houston Finance Team

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:59 EST

]]>The managing partner of Clifford Chance's Houston office, Alex Wilde, said the firm aims to strengthen its U.S. finance practice, particularly in Houston.

Parker Poe Adds Healthcare Team in Atlanta Amid Strategic Expansion

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:13:29 EST

]]>"Healthcare is one of the rare industries where we did not already have a major presence in Georgia," said office development leader Ellen Smith.

Beyond the Billable Hour: What Is 'Leading Up' For Associates?

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 23:59:59 EST

]]>Partners are not looking for associates who are always right—being wrong and correctable is far more useful than being vague and safe, Henry O'Connor writes.

Law Firm Disrupted: Closing the 'Human Skill' Gap in the Era of AI

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 20:45:03 EST

]]>The "human skill" gap that incoming lawyers face after graduation isn't new, but AI is exacerbating it. Educators and employers have an opportunity to address it.

Big Law Firms Staff Up National Security Practices as Work Picks Up

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:21:45 EST

]]>Latham & Watkins, Sullivan & Cromwell, Nixon Peabody and Morrison & Foerster are among the firms that have made hires in their national security practices in the past two months.

It's ‘Follow the PE Leader' in Big Law

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:08:19 EST

]]>Big Law has been avoiding it for as long as possible, but the hum of private equity investment in law firms, through managed service organization (MSO) structures, is growing louder.

Industry Awards Finalists Announced

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:08:02 EST

]]>Join us in congratulating these honorees, who will be honored at The American Lawyer's annual gala on Nov. 12 in New York.

Straight From the Judges: 7 Ways to Position Yourself for the Bench

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:44:43 EST

]]>Past and present appellate and superior court judges outline seven steps lawyers can take to best position themselves for judicial appointments.

Goodwin Rolls Out Proprietary Venture Financing Tool

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:37:45 EST

]]>The new attorney-built tool is intended to be the first in a suite of new software built and acquired by the firm with substantial annual investments.

Kirkland Leaders Take Full Control of Retirement Age Waivers as Partnership Vote Eliminated

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:55:03 EST

]]>Exclusive: The change to the firm's partnership agreement heightens the authority of the firm's executive committee.

Law Firms Rate Hikes Persist—But With 'Much Stronger Anxiety' for Many

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Billing rate increases have remained “robust so far in 2026, according to a recent survey on legal industry pricing, and most expect rates to either continue on-trend or increase heading into 2027.

Linklaters, Kirkland Continue to Lead as China's Restructuring Work Splits Between Domestic and Foreign Firms

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:51:43 EST

]]>Chinese situations generated more than 90% of the region's mandated debt in the second quarter, but domestic Chinese firms picked up only two of eight local counsel roles.

Morrison Foerster, Nelson Mullins Dismissed From VC Fund's Malpractice Case

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:13:22 EST

]]>A St. Louis County Circuit Court judge ordered that the firms be dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction for their alleged roles in advising a venture capital fund.

Ogletree Deakins Sues Client Over $1.38M in Unpaid Legal Fees

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:53:23 EST

]]>The firm claims lawyers, paralegals and other legal professionals worked more than 2,450 hours "for which Equinox has paid nothing."

Davis Polk Brings Suit Against Energy Company for $3.2M in Overdue Fees

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:20:23 EST

]]>Because of the unpaid invoices, which Davis Polk said account for more than 2,000 hours of work and “tens of thousands in out-of-pocket disbursements, the firm said it had to withdraw from the case.

The 2026 A-List: Runners Up

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>With progress in key areas, these 20 firms could climb the ranks to join next year's A-List.

The 2026 A-List: Top 20 Firms

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The firms topping our annual A-List posted strong results in RPL, pro bono, diversity, female equity partner percentages and associate satisfaction.

How AI Will Impact the Future of Law Firm Excellence

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The investments firms make today are likely to impact earnings, talent management, and many other areas that feed into overall firm excellence.

‘What It Means to Be Excellent': A-List Firms Succeed Because of—Not in Spite of—Disruption

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Moving forward and maintaining success may ultimately be about leaning in, even embracing, the disruption.

Amid ABA Battle With Trump, DOJ Says Executive Privilege Extends to Outside Advisers

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:13:43 EST

]]>Meanwhile, most law firms that have received the DOJ's subpoenas have objected to them and, as of Tuesday, have produced nothing or minimal responses, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Law Firms Target AI Skills, First-Gen Connections in Summer Training Programs

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:00:14 EST

]]>Law firms are expanding pre-career training for law students, offering programs that range from early professional guidance for incoming 1Ls to courtroom-skills development for top 3Ls.

Mayer Brown Global Investment Co-Head Plans Move to White & Case

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:29:36 EST

]]>Timothy Clark said his move is a “tremendous opportunity to help White & Case continue building its funds practice in the U.S.

Deal Watch: With Longer PE Hold Times, Is Software Still a Safe Bet?

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:15:47 EST

]]>The timing of recent events has put significant pressure on PE firms that have invested in software companies.

Texas Trial Firm Set to Pay Associates a Third Round of 2026 Bonuses

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:54:50 EST

]]>Reid Collins Tsai is set to make a third bonus payment to its associates this month, boosting total associate bonuses to $130,000 to $170,000 so far this year at the plaintiff's trial firm — with more to come later in the year.

With an Aggressive Growth Plan, Benesch Looks to Solidify Foothold in Miami

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:14:55 EST

]]>For Jodi Schwimmer, former global co-chair of Reed Smith's financial industry group, the goal for her is to "help lead the number one establishment" of Benesch's Miami office and its growth, and that the firm is "looking for an aggressive growth plan" because it is "not going to just be a satellite office."

With Strategic Focus in Finance, King & Spalding Recruits Duo From McDermott

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:33:13 EST

]]>“We set our strategy every five or six years, and we're in the middle of this round of strategy and we have been charged with growing, said Carolyn Alford of King & Spalding.

Orrick Poaches Kirkland Lifer for Global Capital Markets Leader Role

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:42:53 EST

]]>Incoming global capital markets leader Michael Keeley joins the firm from Kirkland alongside partner Ben Richards.

HSF Kramer, Mayer Brown Targeted in Latest Law Firm Data Breaches

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:47:53 EST

]]>Weil Gotshal & Manges, Goodwin Procter, and Wilmer have reportedly paid about $50 million ransom in total to suppress the release of data stolen in breaches.

Is the Recruiting Target on Wachtell Partners Growing?

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:32:01 EST

]]>Wachtell will likely continue to face poaching attempts, as they are faced with more rival firms that have grown their profitability.

Sidley Lures Project Finance Energy Lawyer From Milbank

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The firm has been focusing on growing its energy practice and energy-related talent pool to meet strong demand in the market, noted Yvette Ostolaza, Sidley's management committee chair.

Meet the Attorneys Behind Law Firm Private Equity-MSO Deals

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:03:07 EST

]]>A select group of law firms are carving out a niche to handle the M&A, ethics and regulatory questions around private equity investment in the legal industry.

2nd Circuit Orders Pillsbury to Repay $3.6M Fraud-Funded Retainer

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:42:51 EST

]]>The Second Circuit found Pillsbury violated an asset freeze by spending fraud proceeds on a convicted technology executive's legal defense.

Paul Weiss Continues to Lean Into Corporate Hiring, Adds Cap Markets Partners

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:51:00 EST

]]>Peter Byrne, joining from Cooley as partner, and Tristan VanDeventer, joining as a partner from Ropes & Gray, are both based in New York, the firm said Monday.

Kirkland Lures Gibson Dunn Litigator

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Kirkland, which grew its Texas head count by 7% in 2025, continues to expand in the Lone Star State.

Will Rising Expenses Dampen Big Law Profitability?

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:18:25 EST

]]>AI and innovation investments are rising faster than any other expense category, according to Q2 Law.com survey results.

Ramping Up Partner Hiring, Cleary Adds New Head of Energy and Infrastructure from Jenner

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>The firm said it has hired 17 lateral partners in 2026 and is on track to match or surpass its lateral hiring last year, when it hired 21.

Holland & Hart Lifts 3-Partner Patent Team From Ashurst Perkins Coie

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:59:59 EST

]]>Partner Amanda Tessar cited a "long history of Perkins lawyers moving from Perkins to Holland & Hart" as context for the group move.