Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Achieves 8% Revenue Increase and Expands U.S. Presence International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer announced significant financial growth in its latest annual report ending April 30. The firm's revenue surged by 8% to reach an impressive 1.84 billion pounds ($2.38 billion), a remarkable accomplishment amid economic and geopolitical challenges faced by its peers. (24 views)
Ropes & Gray Law Firm Adopts 4-Day In-Office Workweek: A Bold Step in Post-Pandemic Legal Industry Ropes & Gray, a prestigious law firm rooted in Boston, has unveiled its latest initiative in response to the changing landscape of post-pandemic work arrangements: a four-day in-office workweek for all attorneys, set to commence on November 6. This move comes as many legal establishments seek to balance remote and in-office work, aiming to preserve the benefits of both... (64 views)
Outten & Golden United: Empowering Workers' Rights in Labor Litigation Outten & Golden, the esteemed U.S.-based law firm renowned for its dedicated representation of plaintiffs in labor and employment litigation, made headlines recently by announcing it's voluntarily recognizing a union formed by its associate attorneys. The groundbreaking union, named "Outten & Golden United," marks a momentous development in the legal industry, underscoring... (24 views)
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University Embraces AI Tools for Student Applications In contrast to the recent ban on popular artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT at the University of Michigan Law School, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University has taken a progressive step by explicitly allowing prospective students to leverage generative artificial intelligence tools to aid them in drafting their applications. This move aims... (2 views)
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Welcomes New Real Estate Private Equity Partner from Blackstone Inc. Leading law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has significantly added to its London office by hiring Angus Lennox, a seasoned real estate private equity partner, from Blackstone Inc., a long-time client. Lennox, who was managing director in Blackstone's European real estate business, will join Simpson Thacher's team later this year. (15 views)
Study Reveals Optimistic Overconfidence Among Law Students: A Wake-up Call for Expectations A new study published in the University of Illinois Law Review has revealed that incoming law students harbor overwhelmingly optimistic expectations about their academic performance. According to the research, most students anticipate landing in the top echelons of their class after their first year, with even those with lower grades displaying unwavering confidence in... (18 views)
U.S. Department of Education Investigates Harvard's Admissions Practices for Possible Racial Discrimination The U.S. Department of Education has investigated Harvard University's admissions practices following allegations of racial discrimination. The department's Office for Civil Rights took action in response to a complaint filed by three civil rights groups, which contends that the institution's preference for legacy applicants unfairly benefits white students, potentially... (13 views)
Former Kirkland & Ellis Associate Seeks Court Intervention to Protect Employment Records from 'Invasive' Subpoenas Zoya Kovalenko, a former intellectual property litigation associate at Kirkland & Ellis' San Francisco office, has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging gender bias and wrongful termination. In her latest move, she urges a federal judge to intervene and prevent Kirkland & Ellis from obtaining her employment records through "invasive and harassing" subpoenas... (91 views)
Antitrust Lawsuit: 17 Prestigious U.S. Universities Investigated for Financial Aid Restriction In a significant court hearing concerning a private antitrust lawsuit, seventeen prestigious U.S. colleges and universities face allegations of colluding to restrict financial aid, shedding light on a parallel investigation conducted by the U.S. Justice Department. As part of the government's probe into similar issues, at least one high-ranking admissions official has been... (14 views)
Stanford Law School's Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Announces Departure Amidst Free Speech Controversy Tirien Steinbach, the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Stanford Law School, recently announced her departure. The decision comes in the aftermath of her involvement in a disruptive incident during a speech delivered by conservative federal judge Stuart Kyle Duncan at the school in March of last year. The news of Steinbach's departure was revealed in... (23 views)
Fisher Phillips Expands into Mexico to Meet Surging Labor and Employment Demand Atlanta-founded law firm Fisher Phillips is strategically tapping into the growing demand for labor and employment advice in Mexico, driven by updated trade deals and the shift of manufacturing operations to the country. This decision marks Fisher Phillips's first venture outside of the United States, demonstrating its commitment to meeting the needs of the emerging... (27 views)
Daugherty Lordan Faces Further Departures Following Controversial Founding Incident In the wake of the unsettling revelations of bigoted emails penned by its former founding partners, the U.S. law firm that was once known as Barber Ranen is now grappling with more departures. Now rebranded as Daugherty Lordan, the firm continues to witness a steady stream of partners leaving, the latest of which includes a notable move to Cincinnati-founded Dinsmore &... (1613 views)
Eversheds Sutherland and King & Wood Malleson Forge Global Cooperation Deal In a significant move aimed at expanding their global reach, Eversheds Sutherland, a prominent international law firm, and China's King & Wood Malleson (KWM) have announced a strategic cooperation agreement. The deal, unveiled on Thursday, is set to strengthen the legal services offered by both firms in key markets. (25 views)
Biglaw Firm Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft Announces Associate Deferral Amid Financial Challenges As the legal industry faces economic challenges, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, a prominent law firm with $544,832,000 gross revenue in 2022, is grappling with financial pressures. The firm has recently announced the deferral of its incoming associates' start date to January 2024, joining a growing list of law firms making similar decisions. This move, though perhaps... (86 views)
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Bolsters Private Funds and Securities Practice with Key Hire To strengthen its global transactions group and expand its presence in the United States, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer announced the appointment of Tim Clark as the new Global Head of the Private Funds and Securities Practice. The London-founded international law firm has been expanding its team in the U.S. with a recent hiring spree to boost its capabilities. (65 views)
The University of Michigan Law School Implements AI Ban in Application Process The University of Michigan Law School's admissions department has introduced a groundbreaking policy to ensure personal statements and application essays submitted by aspiring attorneys are genuine reflections of their traits and writing abilities. However, there's a significant caveat – using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools in the drafting process is... (72 views)
Discontentment and Mixed Reactions Emerge Over New Bar Exam Format and Sample Questions July 19 (Reuters) - Anticipation surrounding the new bar exam, scheduled to be launched in July 2026, intensified when the organization behind its development released a preview of sample questions last week. However, the initial responses from legal educators have been far from unanimous, with some expressing disappointment and others seeing it as a step in the right... (32 views)
Top Law Schools Alleviating Tuition Burden: Generous Grants for Aspiring Legal Professionals Law school education is notorious for its exorbitant price tag, placing a significant financial burden on students. Recent data from U.S. News reveals that, on average, students paid $52,325 in tuition and fees at private law schools during the 2022-2023 academic year. In contrast, public law schools offered a relatively more affordable option, with in-state students... (17 views)
Regulation Gap: Only a Few Places Require Consent for AI Use in Hiring, Raising Concerns As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance and permeate various aspects of our lives, several state legislators recognize the pressing need to establish regulations for its use in the hiring process. According to the 2022 IBM Global AI Adoption Index, approximately one-fourth of businesses in the United States have adopted AI, reflecting a significant increase of... (9 views)
U.S. Supreme Court's Recent Decisions and Their Impact on Employers The U.S. Supreme Court concluded its most recent term by issuing controversial opinions. Two of these decisions are significant for employers, addressing race-based university admissions programs and religious accommodations for employees. While these rulings provide necessary clarifications, they do not directly alter existing employment-related laws. Nonetheless, they... (10 views)
Philip Morris International Appoints Yann Guérin as General Counsel | Latest News Philip Morris International Inc. has appointed Yann Guérin as its new general counsel, taking over from Suzanne Rich Folsom, who recently left the company. Guérin has an extensive background in legal and compliance roles, having spent nearly 18 years at PMI. In his most recent position as associate general counsel for corporate, he played a key role in overseeing PMI's... (94 views)
Fincom's AML Sanctions Screening Solution Wins Top Honors at the 2023 Banking Tech Awards USA Fincom, a leading provider of innovative banking technologies, emerged victorious in the highly competitive AML & Compliance Tech of the Future category at the prestigious 2023 Banking Tech Awards USA. The company's groundbreaking AML Sanctions Screening solution impressed the judges and industry experts, solidifying its position as a game-changer in anti-money laundering... (8 views)
Akerman: Leading US Law Firm in M&A and Private Equity | IFLR 1000 Recognition Akerman, a prominent national law firm, has been recognized as a leading player in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity by the esteemed International Financial Law Review (IFLR). The IFLR 1000 United States list, which identifies the most innovative firms, deals, and lawyers based on concrete transactional evidence and valuable feedback from clients and peers,... (11 views)
Trump's Legal Team Seeks Court Intervention to Thwart Georgia Election Probe Former President Donald Trump's legal team has launched a fervent bid to halt the investigation into allegations of election interference in Georgia. The team filed petitions with the Fulton County Superior Court and the Supreme Court of Georgia to block evidence obtained during the special grand jury investigation. They also seek the removal of Fulton County District... (19 views)
State Bar of California Proposes Fee Increases for Bar Exam and Attorney Licensure The State Bar of California is addressing a significant budget deficit by proposing fee increases that would affect law graduates and attorneys seeking licensure in the state. These fee hikes, the first since 2016, are intended to generate additional revenue and tackle a multimillion-dollar shortfall. (50 views)
Campbell Law School Recognized as Top-Performing Institution for Bar Exam Results According to a study published in the University of Florida Law Review, Campbell Law School has been recognized as one of the top-performing institutions in terms of bar exam results. The study, conducted by Professor Christopher J. Ryan from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law and Professor Derek T. Muller from the University of Notre Dame School of Law, analyzed the... (52 views)
Sidley Austin LLP Shines in First Half of 2023, Successfully Handling High-Profile Cases Sidley Austin LLP has reaffirmed its position as a leading law firm, showcasing its expertise by successfully navigating numerous high-profile cases in the first half of 2023. Notably, the firm was pivotal in a closely watched proxy contest involving biopharmaceutical company Alkermes plc. (44 views)
Law Firms Face Challenging First Half of 2023 as Global M&A Activity Slows Law firms experienced a more fantastic market for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) work in the first six months of 2023, with global M&A activity shrinking to $1.3 trillion. This represents the slowest first-half deal-making period since 2020, according to data from Refinitiv. (32 views)
California Legislative Committee Approves Bill Requiring Lawyers to Report Treasonous Activities A bill known as SB 40 has been approved by a legislative committee in California, signaling a significant step toward mandating lawyers in the state to report fellow attorneys involved in acts of treason. The proposed legislation is a response to the allegations against John Eastman, a lawyer for the Trump campaign, who currently faces charges related to his alleged... (7 views)
Weil Gotshal & Manges Implements New In-Office Work Policy for Lawyers Weil, Gotshal & Manges, a prominent U.S. law firm, has recently introduced a new policy requiring lawyers to be physically present in the office from Monday through Thursday, starting immediately after Labor Day. This significant change was announced through a firmwide email obtained by Law.com, and it follows the footsteps of other leading law firms like Skadden, Arps,... (17 views)