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Dispute resolution

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

55 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
UK · UKSCCourt order

UK Supreme Court backs insurer against Spain and France in Prestige oil spill arbitration case

The UK Supreme Court unanimously allowed the London Steam-Ship Owners' Mutual Insurance Association's appeal against Spain and France in the Prestige oil spill dispute. It held that a third party suing in breach of an arbitration clause under the conditional benefit principle breaches a contractual obligation, so the remedy is common law damages rather than equitable compensation. The arbitrators' monetary awards were upheld on that corrected basis.

Order (UK Supreme Court) → · Law Society Gazette
SINGAPOREPeople moves

Gibson Dunn hires Freshfields' Nicholas Lingard as international arbitration co-chair in Singapore

Gibson Dunn on October 19, 2026, said Nicholas Lingard will join as co-chair of its international arbitration practice, based in Singapore. Lingard led Freshfields' arbitration group in Asia and was managing partner of its Singapore office. Gibson Dunn says the hire anchors its push to expand arbitration and disputes work in Asia, where it is rebuilding after Singapore partner departures in 2024.

Announcement (Gibson Dunn) → · Legal Business, The Global Legal Post
UKResearch

Nuffield review by Christopher Hodges proposes single justice system and one legal regulator

A review published October 15, 2026 by Oxford emeritus professor Christopher Hodges for the Nuffield Foundation proposes merging courts, tribunals, ombudsmen, regulators and advice services in England and Wales into a single justice system. Resolving disputes: a framework for holistic reform also recommends replacing the eight frontline legal services regulators with a single independent regulator.

Paper (Nuffield Foundation) → · Law Gazette

Rulings this week

All court orders

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · DIFC COURTSProduct launches

DIFC Courts begin issuing NFT-based credentials to verify orders worldwide

DIFC Courts began issuing court orders and hearing records with nontransferable NFT-based authenticity credentials on the Avalanche C-Chain, the courts said and Gulf News reported on October 14, 2026. Recipients can verify a document's origin and integrity in seconds while the document content stays off-chain, which the courts said reduces cross-border authentication delays.

Announcement (DIFC Courts) → · Gulf News, Khaleej Times
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
SINGAPOREPeople moves

Clifford Chance and Cavenagh Law to end 14-year Singapore formal law alliance

Clifford Chance and Singapore disputes firm Cavenagh Law will end the formal law alliance formed in 2012 to give Clifford Chance clients access to Singapore litigation advice, a mutual decision the firms confirmed October 13, 2026, the Global Legal Post and Legal Business reported. The alliance is expected to wind down in four to five months; Clifford Chance will keep operating in Singapore under its Qualifying Foreign Law Practice license.

Announcement (The Global Legal Post) → · Legal Business
DENMARKFunding

SmallClaims raises €2 million seed led by Vendep Capital for AI small-claims litigation

Copenhagen-based SmallClaims raised a €2 million seed round led by Finnish venture firm Vendep Capital to expand its AI-agent platform for small-claims litigation across Europe, KapWatch reported October 12, 2026, and ArcticStartup reported October 13. The platform automates legal assessment, settlement negotiation, court filings, judgments and enforcement so businesses can pursue unpaid invoices otherwise too costly to recover.

Announcement (KapWatch) → · ArcticStartup
UKPeople moves

Shoosmiths hires RPC technology disputes partner Caroline Tuck in London

Shoosmiths recruited Caroline Tuck as a partner in its London Litigation, Risk & Compliance team to strengthen Technology & AI and commercial litigation capabilities, Solicitors Journal reported October 12, 2026. Tuck joins from RPC, where she specialized in high-value technology disputes, cross-border litigation and arbitration, and served on the firm's AI Board and Steering Committee.

Announcement (Solicitors Journal) → · CDR News, Global Legal Insights
UKPeople moves

RPC hires Kennedys' Michelle Johnston as Bristol professional and financial risk partner

RPC has hired Michelle Johnston, previously a legal director at Kennedys, as a partner in its professional and financial risk practice in Bristol, the firm announced on October 7, 2026, as reported by CDR News. RPC said Johnston has more than 20 years' experience advising and defending professionals, particularly in claims involving solicitors and barristers, and advises insurers on PI and D&O coverage.

Announcement (CDR News) → · RPC
U.S. FEDRegulation

U.S. sanctions the International Criminal Court as an institution

On October 9, 2026, Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added the International Criminal Court itself to the Specially Designated Nationals list under Executive Order 14203, blocking the court's property in U.S. jurisdiction and barring U.S. persons from dealing with it without a license. OFAC issued four general licenses, including General License 13, which authorizes transactions to maintain or wind down court operations through April 7, 2027. The ICC rejected the sanctions the same day.

Text (Office of Foreign Assets Control) → · International Criminal Court
D.C.People moves

Linklaters hires Paul Hastings' Alejandro Martínez de Hoz to lead Latin American arbitration

Alejandro Martínez de Hoz has left Paul Hastings to join Linklaters as head of its Latin American arbitration practice in Washington, D.C., Law.com International reported on October 7, 2026. Linklaters said he has more than 17 years of experience in investment treaty and international commercial arbitration, including the first arbitration under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.

Announcement (Linklaters) → · Law.com International
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
INDIAPeople moves

CMS IndusLaw hires GE Vernova's Mehak Oberoi to build construction practice

CMS IndusLaw has hired Mehak Oberoi as a partner in its infrastructure, projects and construction team in Delhi and the NCR. Oberoi, a construction law specialist with nearly two decades of experience on EPC projects, FIDIC contracts and disputes across renewable energy and infrastructure in Asia-Pacific, joins from GE Vernova, where she was legal head for hydro in Asia-Pacific. She will lead development of the firm's construction practice.

Announcement (Bar & Bench) → · Law.asia
UK · EWHCLitigation

High Court hears Pogust Goodhead's challenge to Mariana dam claimants' switch to Bailey Glasser International

A two-day High Court hearing over control of the Mariana dam litigation began on October 5, 2026, after the claimant committee voted to drop Pogust Goodhead and instruct Bailey Glasser International. Pogust Goodhead argued the committee had no contractual right to terminate its agreements and that the switch could leave claimants liable for costs it estimates at £2 billion.

Filing (Law Gazette) → · The Lawyer
N.Y.People moves

RPC opens first U.S. office in New York with insurance partner Scott Schechter

London-headquartered RPC said on October 5, 2026, that it has opened a New York office, its first in the United States, with the hire of insurance coverage partner Scott Schechter from Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan. Schechter will build a dedicated New York insurance team focused on claims with U.S. exposure, particularly in financial lines and cyber, working with RPC's insurance lawyers in the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Announcement (PR Newswire) → · The Lawyer, Legal Business, Nonbillable
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
UKPeople moves

WilmerHale adds Clifford Chance's Kosky and Cooley's Lightfoot in London disputes

WilmerHale hired Clifford Chance commercial litigator Jeremy Kosky to head its London disputes practice and Cooley international arbitration chair Charlie Lightfoot as a London arbitration partner, The Lawyer and Legal Business reported on October 2, 2026. The firm said Kosky has more than 30 years in international commercial litigation and Lightfoot 25 years in international disputes. The hires follow a WilmerHale team's departure to King & Spalding.

Announcement (The Lawyer) → · Legal Business, WilmerHale
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
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
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
UKFunding

Opus 2 acquires Cork document-bundling vendor Bundledocs

London litigation platform Opus 2 acquired Cork-based Bundledocs on October 1, 2026, in an undisclosed deal that adds cloud document-bundling software used by about 1,900 clients in 35 countries, including more than 100 of the UK's top 200 law firms, Legaltech News, The Global Legal Post, and the Irish Examiner reported. The purchase is Opus 2's third acquisition in five years and is intended to extend bundling across multijurisdictional dispute workflows.

Announcement (Legaltech News) → · Irish Examiner, RTÉ, The Global Legal Post
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
CAL.Regulation

California bars lawyers and arbitrators from delegating legal work and decisions to generative AI

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 574 on September 30, 2026. From January 1, 2027, attorneys may not delegate the practice of law to generative AI and, when using it, must keep confidential and nonpublic information out of AI systems and verify outputs. No court filing may contain citations the responsible attorney has not personally verified, and arbitrators may not delegate decisionmaking to generative AI.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
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
CAL.People moves

Alston & Bird adds California commercial litigators Donohue and Hutchison

Alston & Bird announced on September 24, 2026 that Devin Donohue and Andy Hutchison joined as partners in its Litigation & Trial Practice Group, Bloomberg Law reported. Donohue joined the Century City office and Hutchison joined San Francisco, expanding the firm’s West Coast commercial litigation bench for complex business disputes, investigations, and consumer-related class actions.

Announcement (Bloomberg Law) → · Alston & Bird
FLA.People moves

Dinsmore adds Tampa construction litigators Lenart and Smith from Freeman Mathis

Dinsmore & Shohl added a three-lawyer construction litigation team in Tampa from Freeman Mathis & Gary on September 23, 2026, Law.com’s Daily Business Review and Law360 Pulse reported. Peter Lenart and Audrey Smith joined as partners and Robert White as an associate in the commercial litigation practice as Florida construction dispute demand rises.

Announcement (Law.com Daily Business Review) → · Law360 Pulse
TEX.Litigation

Texas Supreme Court to hear whether an AI-made deposition transcript can be used without a certified court reporter

The Supreme Court of Texas will hear argument on October 6, 2026 in In re Patrick Hughey, No. 25-0463, on whether a trial court could quash depositions taken through the AI platform Skribe.ai and strike the transcript it produced without a certified shorthand reporter. Reddico Construction and the National Court Reporters Association defend the order under Government Code chapter 154; an AI law institute's brief backs the relator.

Filing (Supreme Court of Texas) →
UNITED ARAB EMIRATESPeople moves

Freshfields Saudi disputes head Amani Khalifa to join Three Crowns partnership in Dubai

Amani Khalifa, head of Freshfields’ Saudi Arabia disputes practice, is leaving to join arbitration boutique Three Crowns as a partner in its Dubai International Financial Centre office from January 1, 2027, the boutique announced on September 23, 2026; Law.com International and Global Arbitration Review reported the move the same day. Three Crowns, founded in 2014, opened its DIFC office in January 2026 and moved to larger premises there in September.

Announcement (Three Crowns) → · Law.com International, Global Arbitration Review
UKBreaches and incidents

Pogust Goodhead says it will drop founders’ names after Harris Pogust demand

Claimant firm Pogust Goodhead said it intends to move away from its name after co-founder Harris Pogust sent notice that he would file a cease-and-desist to remove “Pogust” from its branding, Legal Business, Non-Billable and City AM reported. Pogust, who left management about three years ago, criticised the firm for naming its own clients as defendants in the Mariana dam litigation. A firm spokesperson said neither former founder runs the business today and the name should reflect that.

Report (Legal Business) → · Non-Billable, City AM
UKPeople moves

Quinn Emanuel London head Richard East joins Mariana dam claimant team with Pogust Goodhead

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan assigned London office head and senior partner Richard East to the Mariana dam litigation claimant team alongside Pogust Goodhead, Law.com International reported on 21–September 22, 2026. The London group action against BHP over Brazil’s 2015 Fundão dam collapse involves a claimant-representation dispute with Bailey Glasser International heading toward an October hearing, with reported damages exposure of up to $36 billion.

Announcement (Law.com International) →
U.S. FEDPeople moves

Clio names Bridget McCormack general manager of judiciary push

On September 16, 2026 Clio said former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack, currently president and CEO of the American Arbitration Association, will join as general manager, judiciary, starting in October. She will lead market and commercial strategy for Clio’s courts business alongside Pablo Arredondo, who joined as senior vice president, judiciary. Legaltech News, LawSites, and Legal IT Insider reported the appointment.

Announcement (Legaltech News) → · LawSites, Legal IT Insider