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Corporate

Every story on LexCircuit filed under corporate: court orders, regulation, ethics opinions, litigation and research, each summarized across its sources.

163 stories

THAILANDPeople moves

Stephenson Harwood takes over DLA Piper's Bangkok office

Stephenson Harwood has agreed to take over DLA Piper's Bangkok office, adding a team of more than 40 people, including four partners, led by DLA Piper Thailand country managing partner Waranon Vanichprapa. Bangkok becomes Stephenson Harwood's 12th office and fifth in Asia. The deal leaves DLA Piper with Singapore as its only Southeast Asian office, following earlier departures from Bangkok to Clyde & Co.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · In-House Community
CANADABreaches and incidents

McCarthy Tétrault hit by data breach exposing client files

McCarthy Tétrault, one of Canada's largest corporate law firms, said an unauthorized third party gained access to certain files, including client information, in a cybersecurity incident it identified late on October 22. The firm said it is working with a cybersecurity firm, contacted affected parties on October 25, and notified law enforcement and professional regulators. The Globe and Mail, which first reported the breach, later said Davies was also hit and thousands of files in total were compromised.

Report (The Globe and Mail) → · McCarthy Tétrault
UKPeople moves

Gibson Dunn set to hire Weil's roughly 40-lawyer London private funds team

Gibson Dunn is set to hire Weil, Gotshal & Manges' London private funds team, led by co-heads James Bromley and James Sargent, with six more partners and about 30 counsel and associates expected to follow. The move comes as Weil's management has recommended winding down the firm, though talks with the funds team reportedly ran for more than a year. Gibson Dunn declined to comment.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · Legal Business, Non-Billable, Law360
N.Y.Breaches and incidents

Weil confirms management committee recommends 'orderly wind-down'; partners to vote

Weil, Gotshal & Manges confirmed on Wednesday, October 28, that its management committee has recommended the partnership pursue an orderly wind-down after a review of strategic alternatives, with a partner vote expected in the coming days. The firm, which has about 1,200 lawyers and reportedly took in more than $2 billion in revenue in 2025, said it will keep serving clients during a wind-down lasting months.

Report (CNBC) → · Legal Business, Global Legal Post, LawFuel
N.Y.Breaches and incidents

Weil Gotshal tells partners it plans to wind down after 95 years

Weil Gotshal & Manges plans to wind down its operations, its leaders told partners on Wednesday, Bloomberg Law reported, citing a source briefed on the decision. The New York firm, founded in 1931, took in nearly $2.1 billion in revenue last year and ranked among the 30 largest U.S. firms. The decision follows a wave of partner exits, failed merger talks with Willkie Farr & Gallagher and a leadership succession that fell apart.

Report (Bloomberg Law) → · The Lawyer, Above the Law
ILL.People moves

Simpson Thacher adds four Chicago partners from White & Case and Kirkland

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has hired four partners for its Chicago office, which opened in August. M&A partners Shiva Sandill and Trevor Currie have joined from White & Case, and Kirkland & Ellis restructuring partner David Gremling and executive compensation and benefits partner Lauren Cates will follow. The hires bring the new office to nearly a dozen partners, The American Lawyer reported.

Announcement (The Global Legal Post) → · The American Lawyer
N.Y.People moves

Vinson & Elkins hires Simpson Thacher M&A partner Lisa Morales in New York

Vinson & Elkins has hired Lisa Morales as a corporate partner in New York. Morales, who joins from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, represents corporate and private equity clients on public and private M&A, divestitures, distressed deals and joint ventures across industries including healthcare, financial services, energy and technology, and advises boards on corporate governance.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Vinson & Elkins
N.Y.People moves

Phillips Lytle opens first Southeast office through combination with South Carolina boutique TaberPatrick

Phillips Lytle, the New York-based midsize firm, has combined with TaberPatrick, a corporate boutique in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, giving it its first office in the Southeast. The Hilton Head office is the firm's 10th. Managing partner Douglas Dimitroff said expansion to the Southeast is key to sustaining growth across the Northeast and Midwest under the firm's new strategic plan.

Announcement (Law360 Pulse) → · Law.com

Rulings this week

All court orders

U.S. FEDProduct launches

Latham partners with Harvey to build AI fund formation product

Latham & Watkins is working with Harvey to develop an AI-enabled fund formation product that will sit as a separate offering within Harvey's suite, the firm said on October 27, 2026. Targeting side letters, subscription documents and limited partnership agreements, the tool could later be marketed to other firms, though without Latham's market intelligence. There is no release date.

Announcement (Law.com) → · Legal Business
N.Y.Breaches and incidents

Weil turns to Davis Polk restructuring lawyers as private equity co-head leaves for Paul Weiss

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is being advised by Davis Polk & Wardwell lawyers, including restructuring partner Brian Resnick and chair Neil Barr, as it assesses its future, Bloomberg Law reported on October 27, 2026, citing people familiar with the matter. The same day, Law.com reported that Weil's global private equity co-head Doug Warner is joining Paul, Weiss, and Skadden announced it had hired two Weil regulatory partners.

Report (Bloomberg Law) → · Law.com
N.Y.People moves

Cleary Gottlieb hires Simpson Thacher private equity partner Mark Pflug

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has hired Mark Pflug, a private equity partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, for its Americas M&A and private equity transactions groups in New York. Pflug advises private equity sponsors across the life cycle of their portfolio company investments, Cleary said. He is Cleary's fourth private equity partner hire this year as the firm builds out its transactional bench.

Announcement (New York Law Journal) → · Bloomberg Law
CANADAFunding

Dunton Rainville enters Granby, Quebec, through merger with Ménard Notaires

Quebec law and notarial firm Dunton Rainville has merged with notary David F. Ménard's practice in Granby, entering the Haute-Yamaska market. Ménard, Aurélie Tessier and their team will operate under the Dunton Rainville name; terms and headcount were not disclosed. Granby gives the firm eight Quebec markets, following its acquisition of Hackett Campbell Bouchard in 2024 and its combination with Monty Sylvestre in 2025.

Announcement (Droit-inc) → · Canadian Lawyer
U.S. FEDFunding

Anthropic files publicly for IPO with Wilson Sonsini and Freshfields as lead counsel

Anthropic publicly filed its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2026, for a Nasdaq listing under the ticker ANT. The filing shows first-half 2026 revenue of $16.3 billion. Wilson Sonsini is counsel to Anthropic and Freshfields advises the underwriters, with Cravath, Orrick and Cleary Gottlieb also advising on governance and compensation matters.

Announcement (TechCrunch) → · Law.com, Legal Business
GERMANYPeople moves

Freshfields private equity partner Florian Sippel leaves Munich after nine months

Private equity partner Florian Sippel has left Freshfields' Munich office about nine months after joining from Kirkland & Ellis in February 2026, Law.com International and JUVE reported. Freshfields confirmed the departure to JUVE but declined to give reasons. Sippel's hire was part of the firm's response to the loss of four private equity partners to Latham & Watkins. He previously spent seven years at Freshfields, in Frankfurt, Munich and London, until December 2021.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · JUVE
N.Y.People moves

Weil leader-in-waiting Ramona Nee turns down top job amid partner exits

Ramona Nee, the Weil, Gotshal & Manges co-managing partner slated to succeed longtime leader Barry Wolf, has told the firm's leadership she will not take the top job, according to reports on October 25, 2026. Semafor reported that Nee has held talks to join Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. The decision follows a run of partner departures and the end of Weil's merger talks with Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

Announcement (Semafor) → · The American Lawyer, Bloomberg Law
DEL.Court order

Delaware Chancery approves $250 million Microsoft–Activision settlement, awards $60 million in fees

Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick on October 23, 2026, gave final approval to a $250 million settlement of stockholder class claims over Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. She overruled merger arbitrage funds that sought to carve their parallel federal securities claims out of the release, and awarded plaintiffs' counsel $60 million in attorney fees.

Order (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360
DEL.Court order

Delaware Supreme Court affirms that Verisk must pursue its $2.35 billion AccuLynx deal

The Delaware Supreme Court on October 23, 2026 affirmed a Court of Chancery judgment requiring Verisk Analytics to keep pursuing its $2.35 billion acquisition of AccuLynx. Vice Chancellor Bonnie David had held on August 7 that Verisk's termination of the merger agreement was invalid because its own willful conduct was the primary cause of the FTC second request that blocked closing, and ordered specific performance. Verisk said it respects the order and that the deal still needs FTC clearance.

Order (GlobeNewswire via Yahoo Finance) → · Law360, Delaware Court of Chancery
U.S. FEDProduct launches

Goodwin launches subscription AI governance program aimed at private equity and venture portfolios

Goodwin has launched an AI governance program for companies, built by its lawyers and in-house AI product team. It has three tiers: a free Health Check, Readiness modules that can be bought singly or as a suite, and an AI Decision Desk sold as an annual subscription that answers client questions and tracks AI regulation, enforcement and market practice. The firm says it is tailored for private equity and venture capital portfolios and boards.

Announcement (Business Wire) → · Law360 Pulse
U.S. FEDRegulation

United States directs Commerce study of critical infrastructure manufacturing within one year

The president signed H.R. 1721, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, on October 20, 2026. The Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct, within one year after enactment, a study identifying high-demand products in each critical infrastructure sector that are imported because of a manufacturing, material, or supply chain constraint in the United States.

Enrolled text (U.S. Government Publishing Office) → · The White House
U.S. FEDFunding

Weil Gotshal is negotiating a merger with an unnamed firm, Bloomberg Law and Law.com report

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is in talks to merge with another law firm and is negotiating a memorandum of understanding, Bloomberg Law reported on October 19, 2026, citing two people familiar with the matter. An announcement could come as early as this week, though the talks could still fail. Law.com, citing several sources, also reported that the firm plans to merge. Weil did not immediately comment.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Law.com (The American Lawyer)
MEXICOPeople moves

Snell & Wilmer opens Mexico City office with four-partner group

Snell & Wilmer opened a Mexico City office on October 19, 2026, with four partners and a group of associates, led by managing partner José I. Rivero. It is the firm's second office in Mexico, after Los Cabos in 2008, and the new team advises on corporate finance, M&A, real estate, and labor and employment matters for businesses and investors operating in Mexico.

Announcement (Snell & Wilmer) → · Bloomberg Law
DEL. CH.Court order

Delaware Chancery blocks Cloudflare founder-control recapitalization in major test of Section 144 safe harbor

Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster on October 16, 2026, preliminarily enjoined Cloudflare's recapitalization, which would have preserved co-founders Matthew Prince and Michelle Zatlyn's voting control through new preferred and nonvoting shares. The court sided with defendants on every question under the 2025 DGCL Section 144 safe harbors but found stockholders reasonably likely to prove the special committee failed to act in good faith, and ordered a prompt trial.

Opinion (Delaware Court of Chancery) → · Bloomberg Law, Law360
UKFunding

Lawfront swings to £2.1 million loss as interest costs double amid acquisitions

Lawfront Holdings, the private equity-backed UK law firm consolidator, made a £2.1 million loss in the year to March 31, 2026, after a £1.5 million profit the year before, according to newly filed accounts reported by the Law Gazette and Law360. Interest payments more than doubled to about £13.8 million as the group borrowed more to fund acquisitions; turnover now stands at about £129 million.

Announcement (Law Gazette) → · Law360
D.C.People moves

Foley Hoag hires Miles & Stockbridge PE and M&A partner Brandon Cuffy in Washington

Foley Hoag on October 15, 2026 added Brandon Cuffy as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office focusing on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and private capital, Bloomberg Law and the firm reported. Cuffy joins from Miles & Stockbridge and advises sponsors, portfolio companies, searchers and founder-led businesses on buyouts, add-ons and sales.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Foley Hoag
FLA.Litigation

Sports investor John Textor sues DLA Piper for malpractice over European soccer club deals

Former DLA Piper client John Textor filed a legal malpractice suit against the firm in Florida state court over a series of European soccer club deals, seeking damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Law.com reported October 14, 2026. Textor alleges the firm presented itself as his personal counsel while negotiating terms that exposed him to losses he values in the tens of millions.

Filing (Law.com) → · ABA Journal
UKFunding

Freshfields leaders discuss carving out AI unit Freshfields Lab for outside investors

Senior Freshfields partners have discussed placing the firm's legal AI unit, Freshfields Lab, into a separate legal entity that could take external investment or list publicly, according to a leaked internal email exchange first reported by the Financial Times on October 14, 2026. Leaders believe a carve-out could create a company worth billions.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Legal Business, Australian Financial Review
N.Y.People moves

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader hires Macquarie fund finance legal head Christopher Thalhammer in New York

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader hired Christopher Thalhammer, who led legal work for Macquarie's global fund finance business, as a banking and loan finance partner in New York, the firm announced October 14, 2026. Law.com said the combined firm has added 12 partners since Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft merged at the start of July.

Announcement (Law.com) → · The Lawyer, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, Bloomberg Law
UKPeople moves

Stephenson Harwood names James Linforth CEO as Eifion Morris steps down amid Taylor Wessing talks

Stephenson Harwood appointed James Linforth as chief executive from the start of 2027, replacing Eifion Morris, who is stepping down for personal reasons, Legal Business and The Lawyer reported October 14, 2026. The change comes as the London firm holds merger talks with Taylor Wessing, with the two firms eyeing a combination before May 1, 2027.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Legal Business, Law.com International, Law360
UKFunding

DMH Stallard merges with 17-strong Surrey firm GBH Law

Southeast England firm DMH Stallard merged with Godalming-based GBH Law, bringing a 17-strong team into a firm of more than 400 people including 93 partners, Insider Media reported October 14, 2026. Solicitors Journal carried the announcement the same day. Managing partner Richard Pollins said GBH Law will bring real strength to the firm's commercial teams.

Announcement (Solicitors Journal) → · Insider Media, DMH Stallard
OHIOFunding

Toledo firms Marshall & Melhorn and RCO Law to merge as Marshall Curphey

Northwest Ohio law firms Marshall & Melhorn and RCO Law, formerly Robison, Curphey & O'Connell, will merge and operate as Marshall Curphey from January 1, 2027, according to a firm announcement published October 13, 2026 and reported by The Blade. The firms said the combination expands their resources and expertise while allowing more focused investment in technology and operations.

Announcement (106.3 The Fox) → · The Blade
CAL.People moves

Sidley hires Kirkland funds partner Justin Solomon to co-lead private equity funds group

Sidley Austin hired investment funds partner Justin Solomon from Kirkland & Ellis in Los Angeles to co-lead its private equity funds group with John Muno, Bloomberg Law reported October 13, 2026. Solomon spent nearly 20 years at Kirkland building practices in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, and arrives as Sidley extends a funds build that has drawn teams from several rival firms this year.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Sidley Austin
HONG KONGPeople moves

Weil hires Skadden Beijing head Shu Du to launch Asia capital markets in Hong Kong

Weil, Gotshal & Manges hired Shu Du, formerly Skadden's Beijing office head and capital markets partner, to join as a Hong Kong-based Corporate partner and launch Weil's Asia Capital Markets practice, Law.com International reported October 12, 2026. The move continues Weil's Asia rebuild after closing its mainland China offices and follows the firm's rehire of private equity partner Peng Yu from Kirkland & Ellis.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · Weil, Gotshal & Manges
U.S. FEDPeople moves

DLA Piper hires Latham trio led by Jesse Sheff for capital solutions push

DLA Piper is hiring Latham & Watkins partner Jesse Sheff and counsel Seung-Ju Paik and Preeta Paragash to expand its capital solutions business as it pushes into private credit, Bloomberg Law reported October 12, 2026, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Sheff, who spent 16 years at Latham and has advised asset managers including Apollo and BlackRock, will lead the group.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Private Equity Wire
NETHERLANDS · ONDERNEMINGSKAMERCourt order

Amsterdam Enterprise Chamber rejects shareholder inquiry into Philips sleep apnea recall, finding no reason to doubt its policy

The Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal rejected a request by the VEB investors' association and institutional investors for an inquiry into Philips over its 2021 sleep apnea recall. It found no well-founded reasons to doubt Philips' policy: internal systems followed international standards, reliable foam-risk data emerged only in early 2021, the boards were not informed late, supervision was not shown lacking, earlier intervention at Respironics was not required, and disclosures were not misleading.

Order (De Rechtspraak) → · Reuters, De Telegraaf, TPO.nl
N.Y.People moves

WilmerHale hires Latham's Hugh Murtagh to lead and grow its restructuring group

WilmerHale has recruited Latham & Watkins partner Hugh Murtagh to lead its restructuring department and grow its headcount. The New York-based lawyer, who has represented Mallinckrodt in bankruptcy and Sam Bankman-Fried's business partners in FTX-related fraudulent transfer litigation, replaces Andrew Goldman, who left to lead Goodwin's financial restructuring practice. He will manage seven lawyers, compared with Latham's restructuring practice of more than 200.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360 Pulse
SWEDENFunding

Swedish firms Walthon and Ramberg to merge into 40-lawyer Walthon Ramberg

Swedish business law firms Walthon Advokater and Ramberg Advokater plan to merge at the turn of the year into 2027, forming Walthon Ramberg with more than 40 lawyers focused on transactions, dispute resolution and insolvency. Walthon reported revenue of SEK 45 million last year with 24 employees at year-end; Ramberg reported SEK 18 million and 18 employees.

Announcement (Dagens Juridik) → · Ramberg Advokater
D.C.People moves

Squire Patton Boggs hires Womble Bond Dickinson capital markets partner Reid Avett

F. Reid Avett has joined Squire Patton Boggs as a partner in its global corporate practice in Washington, D.C., from Womble Bond Dickinson, the firm announced on October 5, 2026. Avett, a licensed CPA, advises on capital markets transactions, corporate governance, securities law compliance, shareholder matters, M&A, and stock exchange listing requirements.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Law360 Pulse
U.S.Court order

Supreme Court declines to hear Corporate Transparency Act challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court on October 5, 2026, declined to hear two cases challenging the constitutionality of the Corporate Transparency Act, the federal beneficial ownership reporting law. The petitions argued the law violates the Fourth Amendment and exceeds Congress's commerce power; the denials came in the order list on the first day of the court's 2026 term.

Order (Bloomberg Law) → · MLex, Law360 Tax Authority, National Law Journal
UKPeople moves

Morrison Foerster hires Ashurst Perkins Coie tech M&A co-head Chris Grey in London

Morrison Foerster has hired Chris Grey, formerly global co-head of tech M&A at Ashurst Perkins Coie, as a partner in its London M&A practice and UK tech sector lead, The Lawyer and Nonbillable reported on October 5, 2026. Grey is the tenth transactional partner to join MoFo's London office since July 2025, and his arrival takes the London partnership to 25.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Nonbillable
ILL.People moves

Sidley hires Kirkland investment funds partner Ryan McNish in Chicago

Sidley Austin said on October 5, 2026, that Ryan McNish has joined its investment funds practice as a partner in Chicago from Kirkland & Ellis. McNish structures and forms private investment funds and related general partner and management company vehicles for private equity sponsors, and Sidley said expanding its private equity fund formation capabilities is a key strategic priority.

Announcement (Law.com) → · Sidley Austin, Bloomberg Law
HONG KONGPeople moves

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader hires Kirkland private capital partner Paul Guan in Hong Kong

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader said on October 5, 2026, that private capital and M&A partner Paul Guan has joined its Hong Kong office from Kirkland & Ellis. Guan advises private equity sponsors, institutional investors, and financial institutions on Asia-Pacific deals with a focus on real estate and data centers, and reunites with former Paul Hastings partners David Wang and Meka Meng as the firm continues Asia hiring after its July combination with Cadwalader.

Announcement (Hogan Lovells Cadwalader) → · Law.com International
UKPeople moves

Wolf Theiss opens London office led by Warsaw M&A partner Anna Dąbrowska

Vienna-headquartered Wolf Theiss said on October 5, 2026, that it is opening a London office led by partner Anna Dąbrowska, who previously led the firm's M&A team in Warsaw and is relocating from Poland. The office will connect London-based investors, corporates, and international law firms with the firm's teams across Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe, focusing on transactional, disputes, and compliance work.

Announcement (The Global Legal Post) → · Wolf Theiss
JAPANProduct launches

Harvey partners with Legalscape to put Japanese law research on its AI platform

Nikkei Asia reported on October 2, 2026, that Japanese legal-tech company Legalscape will make its proprietary Japanese law research tool available on Harvey's AI platform. The tool lets Harvey users query Japanese statutes, case law and licensed legal publications, with summaries tied to source references. LegalTech Digest reported that Legalscape works with more than 40 publishers and serves more than 3,000 clients.

Announcement (Nikkei Asia) → · LegalTech Digest
SPAINPeople moves

Andersen Iberia integrates Martín & Parés, adding Barcelona litigation partners

Iberian Lawyer and Líder Legal reported on October 2, 2026, that Andersen Iberia integrated Barcelona litigation boutique Martín & Parés Abogados. Eva López Parés and Víctor J. Martín join as litigation partners with four colleagues, lifting the Barcelona office to 42 professionals including 11 partners and deepening commercial litigation, contractual liability, and economic-crime work in Catalonia.

Announcement (Iberian Lawyer) → · Líder Legal
JAPANPeople moves

Mori Hamada plans Dallas, Houston, and Kyoto offices for 2027 expansion

Law.com and Global Legal Post reported on October 2, 2026, that Japanese Big Four firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto plans to open offices in Dallas and Houston in the first half of 2027, plus a Kyoto office that would be its ninth in Japan. The Texas launches would give the firm five U.S. offices after New York and the San Francisco Bay Area, targeting finance, manufacturing, logistics, energy, and Japan-related M&A work.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · Global Legal Post
N.Y.People moves

Simpson Thacher hires six Weil partners for sponsor and asset-manager deals

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett said Brian Parness, Simon Saitowitz, Andrew Nichol, Corey Dietrich, and Alexander Miachika joined as partners and Charles Cooper-Isow will join, expanding asset-management M&A, GP-stakes, and secondaries work across New York and London. Nonbillable reported the six-partner Weil move on October 2, 2026, with Parness leading a Sponsor Transactions and Advisory Practice.

Announcement (Simpson Thacher) → · Nonbillable
UKFunding

Taylor Wessing and Stephenson Harwood in early merger talks

London independent Stephenson Harwood and European-headquartered Taylor Wessing are in early-stage merger talks, Law.com International, The Lawyer, and Legal Business reported on October 1, 2026. The discussions follow Taylor Wessing's mid-2026 separation after its UK arm combined with Winston & Strawn as Winston Taylor; Law.com cited an internal Taylor Wessing email on media handling of an "SH" merger.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Law.com International, Legal Business
UKFunding

Banner Jones acquires Mansfield firm Harrop White, Vallance & Dawson

Banner Jones Solicitors acquired Mansfield practice Harrop White, Vallance & Dawson effective October 1, 2026, Chad and East Midlands Business Link reported. The nearly 150-year-old firm will move into Banner Jones's new Mansfield offices in November, expanding property, wills, family, and commercial capacity while keeping client relationships with the existing team.

Announcement (Chad) → · East Midlands Business Link
N.Y.People moves

Whiteford adds six Lazare Potter partners to expand New York office

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston said on October 1, 2026, that six partners from Lazare Potter Glazer & Moyle joined its New York office, taking it past two dozen lawyers, as Business Wire and Law360 Pulse reported. The firm said the group handles commercial and securities litigation, employment, cross-border and corporate work, and that the office will move to 535 Madison Avenue in early 2027.

Announcement (Business Wire) → · Law360 Pulse
CAL.Funding

AI-native law firm Arceus brings total funding to $17 million with Greycroft-led round

San Francisco AI-native law firm Arceus said on October 1, 2026, that it raised new funding led by Greycroft, with Craft Ventures and South Park Commons participating, bringing its total funding to $17 million, Business Insider reported; SiliconANGLE described the raise as $17 million. The firm pairs licensed attorneys with AI agents and its CounselOS software for flat-fee commercial contract work and plans to hire attorneys, engineers and AI researchers.

Announcement (Business Insider) → · SiliconANGLE
TEX.People moves

Buchalter absorbs Griffith Davison, adding Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston offices

Law.com's Texas Lawyer reported on October 1, 2026, that Buchalter absorbed Texas boutique Griffith Davison, expanding its Dallas office and opening Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston locations. The combination brings more than 40 Texas lawyers into Buchalter; Scott Griffith will chair construction litigation and Kimber Davison will serve as Texas regional managing partner.

Announcement (Law.com Texas Lawyer) → · Buchalter
UKPeople moves

HSF Kramer hires Sidley's Marie Manley to lead London life sciences regulatory

Nonbillable and Law.com reported on October 1, 2026, that Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer hired Marie Manley, Sidley Austin's London life sciences head, to lead its life sciences regulatory practice. Manley spent eight years at Sidley after heading regulatory work at Bristows; the move is HSF Kramer's second London partner hire of the week after private equity lateral Alex McCarney.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · Nonbillable
UKPeople moves

Lloyds Banking Group names Ajneet Jassey next chief legal officer

Lloyds Banking Group appointed Ajneet Jassey as its next chief legal officer as Kate Cheetham prepares to step down at year-end after more than two decades at the bank, Legal Business reported on September 30, 2026, and The Global Legal Post followed on October 1. Jassey is currently general counsel for disputes and operations and previously worked at the Bank of England and Herbert Smith; Cheetham became CLO in 2019 after joining Lloyds TSB from Linklaters in 2005.

Announcement (Legal Business) → · The Global Legal Post
UKPeople moves

A&O Shearman hires Stephenson Harwood secondaries partners as global co-heads

A&O Shearman hired Sarah de Ste Croix and Gabriel Boghossian from Stephenson Harwood as global co-heads of secondaries in London with their team, Global Legal Post and The Lawyer reported on September 30, 2026. They advise on continuation vehicles, LP portfolios, GP stakes, and other liquidity solutions. The firm said the hire places it among a small group of Band 1-ranked secondaries practices.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Law360, Global Legal Post, A&O Shearman
UKPeople moves

Pinsent Masons elects Richard Griffiths managing partner after contested vote

Pinsent Masons elected property group head Richard Griffiths as managing partner to succeed Laura Cameron on November 1, 2026, Global Legal Post and the firm reported on September 30, 2026. Cameron had sought a second term in a contested election against Griffiths and UK employment head Helen Corden. Griffiths will work alongside senior partner John Maciver, who takes office on October 1.

Announcement (Pinsent Masons) → · Global Legal Post, Law.com International, Scottish Legal News
SINGAPOREPeople moves

Greenberg Traurig hires Baker McKenzie Singapore M&A leader Bee Chun Boo

Greenberg Traurig hired Bee Chun Boo, Baker McKenzie's Singapore M&A partner, as a shareholder, Law.com International reported on September 29, 2026, as the firm expands its Singapore practice. Greenberg Traurig said on September 30 that Boo has handled M&A and private equity matters across Asia for more than 28 years, representing buyers and sellers in sectors including health care, energy, mining and infrastructure.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · PR Newswire / Greenberg Traurig
UKPeople moves

Luminance appoints former Featurespace CLO Don Riddick as chief legal officer

UK contract-intelligence vendor Luminance appointed Don Riddick as chief legal officer, Bloomberg Law reported on September 29, 2026, and the company said the same day. Riddick joins from amotivv, where he was founding principal and chief of strategy, after more than five years as CLO and company secretary of Featurespace through its acquisition by Visa in December 2024. He will lead Luminance’s legal, governance, and compliance functions and advise the board on material legal and risk matters.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Luminance
N.Y.People moves

Pierson Ferdinand surpasses 300 partners in AI-enabled partner-only model

Pierson Ferdinand said on September 29, 2026, that it has passed 300 partners globally less than three years after its January 2024 launch, a milestone Artificial Lawyer also reported. The distributed firm has no associates and said it embeds AI tools including Harvey in place of junior leverage; it named five partners who joined in September in Columbus, London, Chicago and Atlanta.

Announcement (Pierson Ferdinand) → · Artificial Lawyer
N.Y.People moves

Gibson Dunn hires Raymond Azar as New York power and renewables co-chair

Dr. Raymond Azar joined Gibson Dunn as a partner in its energy and infrastructure practice in New York and as co-chair of the power and renewables practice group, the firm and Bloomberg Law reported on September 29, 2026. Azar advises developers, borrowers, and lenders across renewable energy, energy transition, conventional power, oil and gas, petrochemicals, and infrastructure financings. He previously practiced at White & Case.

Announcement (Gibson Dunn) → · Bloomberg Law
AUSTRALIAPeople moves

Jones Day adds five partners in Australia across disputes, finance, energy, corporate, and IP

Jones Day hired five partners in Australia, Law.asia and Bloomberg Law reported on September 29, 2026. Dylan McKimmie joined global disputes in Brisbane from Norton Rose Fulbright; Leigh De Jong (financial markets/real estate), Christopher Flynn (energy), Lance Sacks (corporate), and Ken Saurajen (intellectual property) joined in Sydney from MinterEllison, Gilbert + Tobin, Baker McKenzie, and Clayton Utz respectively. Jones Day said it has added 10 lateral partners in Australia in 2026.

Announcement (Law.asia) → · Bloomberg Law, Jones Day
UKFunding

Nuvo Group acquires AG Corporate Law to launch Nuvo Legal service line

Derbyshire accountancy and advisory firm Nuvo Group acquired East Midlands corporate practice AG Corporate Law and rebranded it Nuvo Legal, Insider Media and Accountancy Today reported on September 29, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Mansfield-based team, led by founder Adam Gilbert, continues advising on corporate, commercial, and employment matters as part of Nuvo's Vision 2030 growth plan.

Announcement (Insider Media) → · Accountancy Today
ILL.People moves

Reed Smith hires Neal Gerber emerging tech partner Kate Campbell in Chicago

Kate Campbell joined Reed Smith as a partner in its global corporate group and emerging technologies group in Chicago, Bloomberg Law reported on September 29, 2026. Campbell advises on AI governance, data privacy, cybersecurity, technology transactions, and digital product launches for startups through multinational companies. She joins from Neal Gerber Eisenberg.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Reed Smith
UKFunding

Ison Harrison acquires Dootsons in first expansion outside Yorkshire

Employee-owned Yorkshire firm Ison Harrison acquired North West practice Dootsons, its first major deal outside Yorkshire, the Law Gazette and Legal Futures reported on September 28 and 29, 2026. The acquisition adds offices in Leigh, Culcheth, and Newton-le-Willows, lifting headcount to about 500 and turnover to £42 million. All 27 Dootsons fee-earners and staff are joining, including managing partner Andrew Stockton.

Announcement (Law Gazette) → · Legal Futures
HONG KONGPeople moves

Wilson Sonsini hires capital markets partner Jennifer Liu in Hong Kong

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati hired Jennifer Liu as a China partner in its Hong Kong office, Law.asia reported on September 28, 2026. Liu advises corporate and investment banking clients on Hong Kong and U.S. IPOs and follow-on equity and debt offerings across healthcare, life sciences, technology, consumer products, and financial services. She joins from Morgan Stanley, after earlier serving as counsel at Davis Polk in Hong Kong.

Announcement (Law.asia) → · Wilson Sonsini
ILL.People moves

Mayer Brown hires Sidley insurance deals partner John Grothaus in Chicago

John Grothaus joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its corporate & securities and global insurance practices in Chicago, Bloomberg Law reported on September 25, 2026. He advises insurers, financial services and private equity clients on M&A, capital raises, reinsurance and insurance financings, with a focus on life insurance and Asia-Pacific outbound reinsurance. He joins from Sidley Austin.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Mayer Brown
N.Y.People moves

Weil rehires Willkie restructuring co-chair Debra Sinclair as partner

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is bringing back Debra M. Sinclair as a partner in its U.S. restructuring practice, the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Law reported on September 24, 2026. Sinclair, co-chair of Willkie Farr & Gallagher’s strategic capital and restructuring department, began her career at Weil in 2013 and is expected to return in the coming weeks. At Willkie she led matters including the Saks Global chapter 11 restructuring, WSJ said, amid leadership changes at both firms.

Announcement (The Wall Street Journal) → · Bloomberg Law
CAL.People moves

Morrison Foerster hires ECVC partner Kaitlin Bagby in Palo Alto

Kaitlin Bagby joined Morrison Foerster as a partner in its Emerging Companies + Venture Capital group in Palo Alto, Bloomberg Law reported on September 24, 2026. Bagby advises high-growth technology companies from formation and venture financings through M&A and IPOs and represents venture investors. She joins from Orrick and is the firm’s tenth ECVC partner addition since 2024, Morrison Foerster said.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Morrison Foerster
N.Y.People moves

O'Melveny hires Linklaters restructuring partner Penelope Jensen in New York

O'Melveny & Myers hired Penelope Jensen as a New York bankruptcy and restructuring partner from Linklaters, Bloomberg Law and the New York Law Journal reported on September 24, 2026. Jensen advises creditors and lenders in chapter 11, chapter 15 and out-of-court restructurings. She is O'Melveny’s second New York restructuring partner addition in September after David Botter joined from Cleary Gottlieb.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · New York Law Journal
CAL.Funding

Massumi + Consoli launches Trive-backed ElevenHundred+ MSO, hires Glusky

Los Angeles private equity boutique Massumi + Consoli on September 24, 2026 announced ElevenHundred+, a management services organization backed by Dallas private equity firm Trive Capital, Law.com and a firm Business Wire release reported. The MSO will build technology and operational infrastructure and offer equity incentives aimed at lateral recruiting. Former Sheppard Mullin executive-committee member and firmwide lateral recruitment lead Shon Glusky joined as a New York partner and chief strategy officer.

Announcement (Business Wire) → · Law.com / The American Lawyer
CANADAFunding

Ontario Teachers’ invests $50M in Harvey, extending round to $600M

Teachers’ Venture Growth of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan invested US$50 million in legal AI company Harvey on September 24, 2026, The Globe and Mail and Canadian Lawyer reported. The tranche extends Harvey’s Diffusion and Lightspeed round from US$550 million to US$600 million at the prior US$15.5 billion valuation. Harvey said it works with more than 100 Canadian law firms and legal teams and will grow its Toronto staff.

Announcement (CNW/PR Newswire) → · Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, The Globe and Mail, Canadian Lawyer +1
SWEDENFunding

Magnusson merges with Swedish VC and tech boutique Gro Advokatbyrå

Nordic and Baltic business law firm Magnusson is merging with Stockholm boutique Gro Advokatbyrå, with full integration from October 1, 2026, Dagens Juridik and the firms reported on September 24, 2026. Gro advises growth companies and venture funds on capital raisings and has a tech and data-protection practice; it will cease as a separate firm and its staff will join Magnusson. Magnusson has more than 170 professionals across six countries.

Announcement (Dagens Juridik) → · Magnusson
UKPeople moves

Greenberg Traurig adds Sofiya Bumagin as London energy shareholder and Hayley Çapani as restructuring of counsel

Greenberg Traurig added Sofiya Bumagin as a shareholder in its London energy and natural resources practice from Sidley Austin and Hayley Çapani as of counsel to its London litigation practice from Shoosmiths, the firm announced on 23 and September 22, 2026; Bloomberg Law reported both hires on September 23. Bumagin advises financial sponsors on energy-transition and digital-infrastructure M&A including battery storage, district heating, data centers and fibre; Çapani advises on contentious restructuring and insolvency.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Greenberg Traurig
N.Y.People moves

Mayer Brown hires White & Case leveraged finance partner Kerrick Seay in New York

Kerrick Seay joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its global leveraged finance and private capital group in New York from White & Case, Bloomberg Law reported on September 23, 2026. His practice covers syndicated lending, private credit, restructuring-related financings, and liability-management exercises for financial institutions and direct lenders.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · New York Law Journal
UKPeople moves

Clifford Chance rehires Paul Weiss leveraged finance partners Hassan and Menendez

Clifford Chance said on September 23, 2026 it is bringing back leveraged finance partners Taner Hassan and Silvia Menendez from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Law.com International, Law360 and Non-Billable reported. Hassan, formerly Paul Weiss’s European leveraged finance head, will be based in London; Menendez will work across London and Madrid. The firm said the pair are its eighth and ninth private capital lateral partner hires this year.

Announcement (Law.com International) → · Law360, Non-Billable
N.Y.People moves

K&L Gates adds state and local tax partner Jeffrey Reed in New York from Kilpatrick

Jeffrey Reed joined K&L Gates as a New York corporate partner focusing on state and local tax controversies and planning, Bloomberg Tax and the firm reported on September 22, 2026. A former Massachusetts Department of Revenue litigator, he joins from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton and advises on multistate controversies, unclaimed property, and M&A state-tax consequences.

Announcement (Bloomberg Tax) → · K&L Gates
N.Y.People moves

Paul Weiss adds Weil PE co-head Christopher Machera and five-lawyer transactional team in New York

Paul, Weiss expanded its private equity practice with a six-lawyer transactional team led by Christopher Machera, who joined as a New York partner in the Private Equity M&A Group from Weil Gotshal & Manges, where he co-headed private equity, Pulse2 and Law360 Pulse reported on September 22, 2026. Timothy Burns, Noah Beck, Amanda Rotkel, Andrew Lawson, and Dylan Hans are expected to join in the coming weeks across PE M&A, tax, and executive compensation.

Announcement (Pulse2) → · Law360 Pulse, Paul, Weiss
N.Y.People moves

Milbank adds former O’Melveny tax chair Alex Anderson as New York partner

Milbank LLP announced on September 22, 2026 that Alex Anderson joined its New York Tax Group as a partner from O’Melveny & Myers, where he had chaired the tax practice, International Tax Review and Pulse2 reported. Anderson’s practice covers U.S. federal income tax in restructurings, financings, securitizations, M&A, fund formation, and entertainment and media transactions.

Announcement (International Tax Review) → · Milbank, Pulse2
N.Y.People moves

Willkie adds Kirkland private funds partner Shreyas Jhaveri in New York asset management

Shreyas Jhaveri joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher as a New York partner in its Asset Management Department from Kirkland & Ellis, Bloomberg Law reported on September 22, 2026 and Global Legal Insights followed on September 23. His practice focuses on private fund formation and operations with an emphasis on private credit, managed accounts, and secondaries; Willkie private funds chair Phil Isom highlighted his credit-fund experience.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Global Legal Insights, Willkie Farr & Gallagher
IDAHOProduct launches

Sorren adds lawyer-owned practice through Mansfield & Mayo rebranding

Accounting and advisory firm Sorren launched an affiliated legal practice built around Mansfield & Mayo, with Sorren Law remaining owned by lawyers. Reuters reported that Sorren and the lawyers co-invested in a separate management services organization providing administrative support, while the law practice plans to expand into additional markets.

Announcement (Sorren) → · Reuters
N.Y.People moves

Fiserv CLO Adam Rosman joins Nvidia-backed Nscale as chief legal officer ahead of IPO

Adam Rosman, chief legal and administrative officer of Fiserv, will become chief legal officer of Nvidia-backed AI infrastructure company Nscale as it pursues a New York IPO, Law.com Corporate Counsel reported on 22–September 23, 2026. A company release said he starts October 1, 2026 and will oversee legal, regulatory, and governance functions alongside Frank Slootman’s board appointment.

Announcement (Law.com Corporate Counsel) → · PR Newswire
FLA.People moves

Sidley Austin hires Squire Patton Boggs energy partner James Schneider in Miami

James Schneider joined Sidley Austin as a Miami partner in its energy, transportation and infrastructure practice from Squire Patton Boggs, Law.com’s Daily Business Review and Law360 Pulse reported on September 22, 2026. The hire follows Sidley’s August Miami energy launch and brings the Miami office past 70 lawyers and professionals.

Announcement (Law.com Daily Business Review) → · Law360 Pulse
CAL.Regulation

California keeps securities fee schedule funding the Financial Protection Fund

AB 2795 (Chapter 410), approved September 20, restated Corporations Code Section 25608, the fee schedule the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation charges for securities filings, broker-dealer and investment adviser certificates, examinations, and hearings. All fees collected under the section go to the Financial Protection Fund.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Governor of California
ISRAELFunding

Chamelio raises $26M Series A led by Entrée Capital for AI-native in-house CLM

Chamelio, an AI-native contract and in-house legal operations platform founded in 2024, raised a $26 million Series A led by Entrée Capital with Work-Bench, Emerge Ventures, and Bright Pixel Capital, CTech, Artificial Lawyer, and Law.com Legaltech News reported on September 22, 2026. The company said ARR has grown fourfold since its seed round and will use proceeds for its legal action model, legal engineering and product hiring, and onboarding technology.

Announcement (CTech) → · PR Newswire, Artificial Lawyer, Law.com Legaltech News
N.Y.People moves

Debevoise adds Abigail Lane as New York executive compensation and benefits partner

Debevoise & Plimpton hired Abigail Lane as a partner in its New York Executive Compensation & Benefits Group, the firm said on September 22, 2026, with Bloomberg Law confirming the move. Lane advises private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and public companies on executive compensation, governance, and disclosure, including management equity programs and executive transitions.

Announcement (Debevoise & Plimpton) → · PR Newswire, Bloomberg Law
UKPeople moves

Debevoise hires Freshfields global secondaries co-head Mary Lavelle in London

Debevoise & Plimpton hired Mary Lavelle, Freshfields’ global co-head of private funds and secondaries, as a London partner in its Private Fund Transactions and Investment Management groups, the firm said on September 21, 2026. Law.com, Real Deals, and Nonbillable reported she will advise on continuation vehicles, LP portfolio sales, co-investments, and recapitalizations after joining Freshfields from Akin in 2024.

Announcement (Debevoise & Plimpton) → · Law.com International, Real Deals, Nonbillable +1
N.Y.People moves

Weil Gotshal weighs strategic options including a possible merger after partner exits

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is considering options for its future, including a potential combination with a rival, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg, as the firm absorbs a wave of senior departures. Firm leaders have held informal discussions to gauge interest and have been canvassing partners while also studying lateral hires and promotions; a spokesperson said Weil is not engaged in merger discussions with any firm and could remain independent.

Announcement (Bloomberg) → · Bloomberg Law, Reuters
UKProduct launches

Definely brings contract review MCP tools into ChatGPT Enterprise for OpenAI for Law

Definely on September 18, 2026 said its Model Context Protocol tools for structured contract review are available inside ChatGPT Enterprise as an OpenAI for Law launch partner, letting lawyers run defined-term checks, precedent comparison, structural proofreading, and issues-list generation without leaving ChatGPT. Pulse2 independently reported the partnership on September 19.

Announcement (Definely) → · Pulse2
U.S. FEDProduct launches

OpenAI launches Astra for Law with legal search index and Trusted Access

OpenAI on September 17, 2026 released Astra for Law, a GPT-6 Astra configuration with legal analysis instructions, a U.S. Legal Search Index covering more than 230 million URLs, and partner plugins for law firms and legal technology vendors. Selected Am Law 200 firms receive Trusted Access through ChatGPT and Codex with zero data retention on the API, while API access for builders including Harvey and Legora was said to follow soon.

Announcement (OpenAI) → · Legal IT Insider, Business Insider, LawSites +2
N.Y.Funding

Michael Best combines with Kane Kessler to open New York office

Am Law 200 firm Michael Best & Friedrich completed a strategic combination with New York midsize firm Kane Kessler, establishing Michael Best’s New York presence. Kane Kessler brings roughly 40 attorneys and practices including corporate, securities, capital markets, M&A, litigation, IP, and real estate. Kane Kessler managing partner Rob Lawrence will lead the New York office; Michael Best now reports nearly 400 attorneys across 19 U.S. offices.

Announcement (New York Law Journal) → · Above the Law, Law360
ITALYFunding

Italian legaltech Iusful raises €2M pre-seed led by United Ventures

Milan startup Iusful closed a €2 million pre-seed round led by United Ventures and Italian Founders Fund, with family-office participation from Alecla7, Vento, Vesper Holding, and Ithaca Investments. The company combines a platform with a network of licensed lawyers to give Italian businesses ongoing legal support with transparent timing and pricing, and aims to serve at least 1,000 Italian companies by 2028.

Announcement (Teleborsa) → · EU Startups, ANSA
FRANCEPeople moves

Broadfield opens first mainland-Europe office in Paris under Isabelle de La Gorce

International firm Broadfield opened a Paris office—its first in mainland Europe—led by Isabelle de La Gorce as France managing partner after she left PwC Société d’Avocats, where she headed the M&A legal practice. The Paris team will initially focus on M&A and private equity for French and international companies and funds, with an employment practice planned later in 2026. Broadfield operates with operational support from SHP Legal Services, an Alvarez & Marsal affiliate.

Announcement (Law360) → · Le Monde du Droit, Non-Billable
UKFunding

Xapien raises $56M Series B led by Spectrum Equity for AI due diligence

Xapien, a London-based AI background-check and due diligence company, raised $56 million in Series B funding led by Spectrum Equity, CEO Chris Green told Axios Pro on September 10, 2026. Green said the platform returns third-party risk reports faster than manual teams. Axios reported the United States now accounts for about half of Xapien's revenue after recent expansion.

Announcement (Axios) → · Legal IT Insider
SAUDI ARABIAFunding

White & Case invests in Saudi legal AI startup Clauze.AI at launch

White & Case made a strategic investment in Clauze.AI as the Saudi enterprise legal AI platform launched on September 9, 2026. Founder Waad Alkurini previously headed the firm's Riyadh office. Amount undisclosed; White & Case called it its first Middle East technology investment. The platform is bilingual Arabic-English with Saudi data residency and on-premises deployment.

Announcement (Zawya) → · Sharikat Mubasher, Artificial Lawyer, Entarabi +1
UKFunding

Farleys acquires Houldsworth as Lawfront reaches 18 deals and £175m revenue projection

Farleys Solicitors, a Lawfront group firm, acquired Clitheroe-based Houldsworth Solicitors on September 8, 2026. Lawfront said the deal was its 18th acquisition and projected group revenue above £175 million this year. Trade press the same day also reported Fisher Jones Greenwood's acquisition of Giles Wilson; Giles Wilson's site dated that deal August 28, 2026.

Announcement (Farleys Solicitors) → · Law Gazette, Legal Futures, Legal IT Insider +2
SAUDI ARABIAFunding

Saudi IPO-readiness startup IDRAJ raises SAR 2.25M pre-seed led by ASAP Legal Tech

Saudi AI startup IDRAJ closed a SAR 2.25 million pre-seed round led by ASAP Legal Tech, about $598,000, to expand its team and build tools for corporate IPO and listing readiness. Founded in 2026 by Kholoud Al Saleh, the company said the product assesses listing readiness, analyses regulatory requirements and organizes documentation for Main Market and Nomu listings.

Announcement (entARABI) → · MENA Startup Digest, Khalf El Hadth