The American Lawyer

Nelson Mullins Hires 8 Litigation Partners From Shook Hardy, Expanding MDL Capabilities

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:59:59 EST

]]>The group, led by E-discovery pioneer Patrick Oot, will also give Nelson Mullins a new Kansas City office, its 30th in the U.S.

Gibson Dunn Litigator Jumps to Kirkland in Dallas

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:59:59 EST

]]>Russ Falconer is the third Gibson Dunn litigation partner to move to Kirkland & Ellis in Texas in the last three months.

Davis Polk Hires First C-Suite AI Member, Arriving from LegalTech Hub

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>Nikki Shaver, co-founder of Legaltech Hub, is departing the company to become the first-ever chief AI and knowledge officer at Davis Polk on December 1.

How Weil's Leadership Change Was Kept Under Wraps Leading Up to Dissolution

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 08:29:55 EST

]]>Several former partners at Weil blame serious leadership and communication issues, including Nee turning down the job, and all the secrecy around that decision by various players at Weil, that helped facilitate Weil's dissolution decision.

How Big Law DC Practices Stand to Gain More After Midterm Elections

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 06:59:59 EST

]]>From congressional investigations and antitrust to trade practices and lobbying work, several core D.C. practices are expected to grow more in 2027.

Don't Fear the Rainmaker

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 18:29:59 EST

]]>Partners who have the key client relationships and the established platforms can generate huge sums for a law firm, but if their power goes unchecked, the risks can be devastating, writes the Global Lawyer.

Sheppard Implements 4-Day RTO Policy for US Lawyers, Staff

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 18:38:16 EST

]]>The new policy will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Lowenstein Eyes 'Tremendous' Client Base Growth in Centralizing Fund Finance Practice

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 16:43:13 EST

]]>“It's another great way for us to demonstrate to clients that we have this expertise, and we have the people here to answer those questions, practice group co-chair Marc S. Kurzweil said.

Law Firms Have Continued to Feast in AI Era, but They Now Face 'Sharper Risk-Reward Dynamic'

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 16:28:00 EST

]]>Despite the abrupt end of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, most law firms are thriving even as new technology promises to upend their long-established workflows.

'Rare Combination': Law Firm Distinguished Leader Jami McKeon on the Groundwork For Success

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 16:27:39 EST

]]>"The one thing that we really aspired to be—a nut we hadn't cracked yet—was being fully global,” Jami McKeon recalled of her time taking over as chair of Morgan Lewis in October 2014.

Law Firm Disrupted: PE is on the Precipice — Along With the Law Firms That Have Yoked Themselves to the Industry

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:06:56 EST

]]>The Democratic Party's resounding victory in Tuesday's election augurs further pressure on an industry that's recently seen declining returns. But there may be an opportunity for law firms that have made certain investments.

Kirkland Adds 40 Lawyer Group from Weil, Including Ramona Nee

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:52:33 EST

]]>The group hire from Weil makes it one of the largest group acquisitions from the collapsed firm.

An 'Opaque' System: Behind Reed Smith's Fund Finance Departures

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 07:02:41 EST

]]>The firm has suffered a series of partner exits in the highly regarded London fund finance team.

As Weil's Collapse Sends Shock Through Market, Big Law Leaders Scramble to Understand Lessons

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 06:59:59 EST

]]>Firm leaders are racing to understand core lessons from the collapse of the $2 billion law firm and how to avoid the warning signs for their firms.

Weil Partner in Dallas Plans Move to Simpson Thacher

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 19:08:15 EST

]]>David Gail, a private equity partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Dallas, is departing for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, according to two sources.

Nine-Lawyer Labor & Employment Team Joins Maynard Nexsen From Constangy In Midwest And Northeast

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:52:37 EST

]]>Group includes five shareholders, two counsel and two associates in New York City, New Jersey and St. Louis.

Sheppard Increases Associate Salaries, Matching Milbank-Set Scale

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:48:43 EST

]]>The firm's U.S.-based associates will see a pay bump this coming January.

Cravath Promotes Largest Partner Class Since 2020

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 17:59:24 EST

]]>The 11 attorneys elevated to partner match the firm's largest recent class in 2020.

Former Weil Attorneys Lawyer up as Firm Winds Down—but Is a Messy Fight in Store?

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 17:01:27 EST

]]>Nine out of the 12 most impactful law firm dissolutions since 2007 involved some form of litigation during or after the wind down process, according to a Law.com analysis, but scorched-earth fights were less common.

For the Leadership-Minded, the Weil Crisis Won't Go to Waste

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:40:35 EST

]]>Firm leaders are sharing with partners concrete reasons why their fundamentals and governance structures are sturdier than those at Weil.

Boutique Law Firm Sanctioned For 'Shameful' Malpractice Suit Against Thompson Hine

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 16:17:33 EST

]]>A New York judge slammed boutique firm Bochner Law for filing what he called a "frivolous," "shocking" and "egregious" malpractice suit against Thompson Hine and then including a fake citation in its brief opposing sanctions for the case.

Simpson Thacher to Hire Around 20 Weil London Finance Lawyers

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 11:45:33 EST

]]>Exclusive: The lawyers are joining the firm after five finance partners in London made the move last month.

Milbank Moves to New Los Angeles Office

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 09:59:59 EST

]]>The firm now occupies some 48,000 square feet at Anderson Towers in Century City.

A&O Shearman Commits Around $1B In Lawyer Hours to AI Development

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 07:05:30 EST

]]>It is among the largest investments announced by a law firm in AI so far, as Big Law firms increasingly target building bespoke platforms.

Weil Rainmakers Compagnoni and Wood in Talks to Join Sidley

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 06:31:49 EST

]]>Exclusive: Following last week's announcement of the firm's dissolution, its two London leaders are now in talks with a rival firm.

At Least 6 Law Firms Turned Over Docs to Trump DOJ Following Subpoenas

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:47:01 EST

]]>The responding firms provided roughly 40 documents, including text messages, emails and copies of deals with the administration, in August. Other law firms have provided objections to the subpoenas, DOJ attorneys said.

Sidley Continues Recruiting from Kirkland to Grow Funds Practice

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:14:41 EST

]]>Arman Zadeh is at laest the third funds partner to join Sidley from Kirkland in the last month.

In ‘Chasing Goodfellas,' a Senior Dechert Lawyer Reflects on His Time Prosecuting the NYC Mob in the ‘70s and ‘80s

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:11:19 EST

]]>Ed McDonald played himself in the Oscar nominated film and helped Henry Hill enter the witness protection program in real life.

'Lawyer Up': Big Law Attorneys Prepare for Congressional Investigations, M&A Flurry Following Democratic Landslide

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:04:00 EST

]]>Congressional investigations work is almost certain to pick up at a rigorous pace. Deal flow may also pick up before the end of year, as some companies look to get deals across the finish line before Congress changes over, another attorney said.

Dentons US Brings on Veteran Insurance Litigation Team From Faegre Drinker

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:02:39 EST

]]>Dentons says the new team—previously based in Faegre Drinker's Philadelphia office—will help its strategic growth in the U.S. The firm has added 100 lateral partners, principals and counsel across key practice areas stateside since 2022.

Ex-Sidley Associate Becomes First Gen Z Woman Elected to Congress

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:41:42 EST

]]>Melat Kiros had worked at Sidley as a first-year associate in New York for about a year when the law firm terminated her in November 2023 for penning an open letter on Medium titled, "Dear Law Firms."

Gibson Dunn to Hire Over 80 Lawyers From Weil's Private Funds Team in US

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 06:19:06 EST

]]>Exclusive: The latest swoop takes the firm's total number of Weil private funds hires to around 120 over the last week, and includes more than 20 partners.

Law Firm Data Is Valuable. Now It Might Come With a Price Tag

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>At least two AI-native law firms have put in bids for Weil Gotshal & Manges' data, raising the question of whether internal law firm data qualifies as an asset and if it can be sold to an outside buyer.

Hybrid Firm Athena Completes $2.5M Pre-Seed Funding Round

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:08:14 EST

]]>Led by founders with experience at Legora and Baker McKenzie, the firm aims to accelerate legal work in real estate, M&A and venture financing.

Kirkland Gets Closer to Hiring Weil's Ramona Nee, Along With 20-Member Team

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:49:36 EST

]]>Nee's group is viewed as one of highest-performing groups left at Weil, leading to competition among multiple Big Law firms.

Despite White House Pressure on Big Law, Several Law Firms Staffing Call Centers for Voters

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 15:32:33 EST

]]>Attorneys from Reed Smith, Davis Wright, Baker McKenzie, Dechert and Manatt Phelps are helping with the national nonpartisan Election Protection voter hotline.

Goodwin Eyes Weil Talent, Picks Up Real Estate Leader

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:03:08 EST

]]>Goodwin said Thomas Henry will join the firm as partner and co-leader of its real estate industry group.

Sidley Continues Building Real Estate Depth With Partner From Dechert

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:02:29 EST

]]>Sidley chair Yvette Ostolaza praised Jonathan Gaynor's ability to work “both sides," lenders and borrowers, as new entrants continue to enter the market via private capital.

The Analyst View: Weil's Numbers Tell an Important Part of the Story

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 08:31:49 EST

]]>Weil entered 2026 with little obvious indication of economic deterioration. The developments that followed raise a broader question for similarly structured firms.

Several Firms Dip Into London's Frenetic Hiring Market This Week

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 07:28:05 EST

]]>Freshfields, A&O Shearman and Wilkie are among the firms shedding partners as the lateral hiring market stays hot.

Orrick Adds Kirkland Partner, Building on Momentum in Energy, Infrastructure Growth

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 06:59:59 EST

]]>William Nicholson joins Orrick's New York office after about four years with Kirkland & Ellis.

Legal Marketing Community Vows Support as Weil Staffers Face Uncertain Future

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 05:59:59 EST

]]>Two Weil staff members told Law.com that the firm hadn't provided any additional information as of Monday morning to its professional staff about the dissolution beyond what was initially given during a company town hall in the middle of last week.

Arnall Golden Gregory Picks Boston for Its Second New Office in 77 Years

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:39:42 EST

]]>New England is a "natural market" because of its substantial life sciences client base, according to leaders at the Atlanta-founded Am Law Second Hundred firm.

Deal Watch: Weil's Fall Proves Elite M&A Work Makes Some Law Firms Targets for Poaching

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:00:24 EST

]]>Weil's top-performing partners in M&A and private equity were frequent targets of poaching, which partly led to its downfall.

Privilege Row Reveals Hogan Lovells' UK Tax Dispute

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:17:28 EST

]]>A dispute over the confidentiality of internal documents has exposed an HMRC investigation into whether Hogan Lovells' U.K. partnership can deduct payments made to its U.S. entity between 2014 and 2024.

Dechert Taps Another White & Case Partner to Expand in Dubai

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:02:17 EST

]]>Dechert is strengthening its M&A offering in the Gulf, as activity grows despite regional tensions.

Latham Expands Energy, Infrastructure Team With Baker Botts, Sidley and Orrick Partners

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:59:59 EST

]]>With demand in projects high, Latham & Watkins adds partners working in energy and infrastructure in Houston and Washington, D.C.

The Anatomy of a Large Law Dissolution: What Could Come Next?

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:12:45 EST

]]>Step one is to appease creditors while avoiding bankruptcy, according to industry observers.

Weil Has Collapsed. Maybe We All Should Be Afraid

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 21:04:59 EST

]]>It would be easy to single out Weil's mistakes and treat its collapse as an exceptional event. But that ignores the larger story—one that addresses the fragility of an industry undergoing major change—with compensation, lateral hiring, artificial intelligence, and other factors disrupting a business model that has lasted for 200 years,...

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