Firm Wire
Announcements by law firms about themselves, summarized in the desk's words and labelled as announcements, each with the firm named as its source. RSS
Firm Wire items are announcements made by the firms themselves. The desk confirms that the announcement was published and reproduces its factual content. It does not verify the claims in it, and publication is not an endorsement.
A&O Shearman said patent litigator Constanze Krenz will join its Munich office on November 1, 2026. The firm said she previously helped develop DLA Piper’s German patent practice and served as managing partner of its Munich office, bringing experience in patent infringement and validity proceedings.
Miller Johnson said Erin Lane was reappointed to the State Bar of Michigan’s American Indian Law Committee. The firm said the committee serves attorneys and stakeholders working on matters affecting tribal governments, Native American communities and federal Indian law, and described Lane’s work advising tribes and related organizations.
Mishcon de Reya said it appointed Charlie Sosna as Head of International and that Kevin Gold will become International Strategy Adviser, focusing on the United Arab Emirates and MDR Mayfair. The firm said Gold will step back from the partnership to become a consultant while supporting its international growth plans.
Stewarts said it received rankings across 23 practice areas and 68 individual lawyer recognitions in the 2027 Legal 500 UK Solicitors guide. The firm said the results covered its disputes work in commercial litigation, international arbitration, competition disputes, personal injury, clinical negligence, family, and contentious trusts and probate.
Ward and Smith said Hannah Daigle joined the Membership Committee of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. The firm said the committee helps the organization recruit and engage members and connect them with professional resources, education and the wider community of lawyers and other legal professionals.
Appleby said it received 25 firm rankings and 53 individual rankings in the 2027 Legal 500 UK guide across Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. The firm said the results included 14 Tier 1 rankings and recognition for lawyers across its corporate, disputes and other practices.
Touchstone Partners said it advised consumer technology company EDT on a pre-Series A financing led by Sauce VC, with participation from Alteria Capital and other investors. The firm said the assignment continued its relationship with EDT after previously advising the company on its seed financing round.
Gibson Dunn said it received 32 practice area rankings and 28 individual rankings in The Legal 500 UK 2027. The firm said the guide, published on September 30, recognized its lawyers in categories including the Hall of Fame, Leading Lawyers, Next Generation Partners and Leading Associates.
Sidley said it represented Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical in an agreement granting Somnivera rights outside China to a clinical-stage sleep disorder drug. The firm said the agreement provides for a $10.5 million upfront payment and up to $507 million in milestone payments, alongside additional economic interests.
Gallagher & Kennedy said it published an article by Otto Shill examining how employers can address errors in retirement plan administration. The firm’s article discussed correction procedures for sponsors assessing compliance problems and distinguished voluntary correction programs from other approaches to resolving plan defects and related tax issues.
Sidley said it represented InfraBridge in the completed sale of its 50% interest in Invenergy AMPCI Thermal Power to ArcLight Capital Partners. The firm said the investment covers a 5.4-gigawatt portfolio of 11 contracted power assets held in a joint venture with Invenergy across North American markets.
Foley said it published a playbook by Shellye Archambeau and Lauren Valiente examining directors’ use of artificial intelligence in board work. The firm’s article considered confidentiality, fiduciary duties, privilege, discovery and recordkeeping, and proposed a framework for company policies governing directors’ use of AI tools.
Kean Miller said it published an analysis by Lauren Rucinski and Michael Doggett of the proposed Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. The firm’s Louisiana Law Blog article examined the implications of the newly introduced federal permitting bill for industrial and energy projects in Louisiana.
Appleby said it acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel to Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VII on the closing of its business combination with ONE Nuclear Energy LLC. The firm described ONE as an independent energy developer focused on large-scale natural gas and advanced nuclear projects.
Reinhart said it published an article by Reagan Joy examining patent eligibility for artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics. The firm’s analysis considered the distinction between automating an existing business process and improving technology, drawing on decisions from the USPTO and the Federal Circuit.
Jackson Lewis said it published a legal update on Maryland’s Worker Freedom Act, which the firm said restricts mandatory employer communications about political or religious matters beginning October 1, 2026. The firm’s article compared the law with other states’ approaches and discussed employer preparation and enforcement.
Michael Best said 17 associate attorneys joined during the third quarter of 2026, including 10 through its combination with New York firm Kane Kessler. The firm said the additions span its transactional, litigation, intellectual property and labor and employment practices across six offices.
BakerHostetler said it published an alert examining revisions to the Justice Manual concerning dismissal of False Claims Act qui tam lawsuits and the use of agency guidance in civil enforcement. The firm said its analysis discussed how government lawyers assess dismissal and how defendants can engage with the department as litigation develops.
Troutman Pepper Locke said it published an analysis of the Texas Department of Insurance’s proposed clarification of restrictions on declining residential property insurance based on property age. The firm’s InsureReinsure article examined the treatment of individual building components and the distinction between age and physical condition.
Snell & Wilmer said Joshua E. Summers joined its San Diego office as counsel in its Corporate and Securities Practice Group. The firm said he advises public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, corporate governance and capital markets matters, bringing experience across a range of industries.
Williams & Connolly said Washingtonian again included partner Lisa Blatt in its 2026 list of the Most Powerful Women in Washington. The firm said the list recognizes 300 women across the region in fields including law, government, business, politics, education, media, the arts and nonprofit organizations.
Jackson Walker said Meghan Griffiths spoke at the Data Center World Power Conference held September 21–23, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas. The firm said her panel examined power procurement in ERCOT’s market and the considerations facing data center developers planning electricity supply arrangements.
Neal Gerber Eisenberg said it published a September employment law update examining federal wage-and-hour guidance, labor board precedent and new workplace legislation in New York and Illinois. The firm’s article reviewed five developments and outlined policy, recordkeeping and hiring issues for employers to consider.
Blank Rome said partner Cory Jacobs and associate Jacob Brownstein received Philadelphia VIP’s Champion Award for Promoting Community Economic Development. The firm said the award recognizes volunteer attorneys providing pro bono legal services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations, and described the recipients’ work through the program.
Thompson Coburn said it published a guide for school administrators examining the Department of Education’s planned transfer of borrower defense case management to FSA Partner Connect. The firm’s article reviewed the department’s September guidance and webinars and described operational preparations for the expected October 2026 rollout.
Bernstein Shur said it published an article by Michael R. Bosse examining business costs that can accompany unresolved construction disputes. The firm’s article discussed how parties evaluate litigation and mediation beyond legal fees, with attention to the demands of keeping projects and businesses operating during a dispute.
Foley said it represented EMS, a value-added aluminum products distributor and Wynnchurch Capital portfolio company based in Lake Worth, Florida, in its acquisition of AMD Supply. The firm said the acquisition broadens EMS’s product offering across fencing and hurricane protection products and that its private equity M&A team handled the transaction.
Blank Rome said it published David Sudeck’s analysis of how EB-5 financing can change a hotel development’s capital structure and equity economics. The firm said the article, the sixth in a series, compares EB-5 with the financing layer it replaces rather than evaluating its pricing solely against conventional bank debt.
Cooley said it published an article by Liz Dunshee examining the SEC’s latest capital formation data for the first half of 2026. The firm said the CapitalXchange article compared initial public offerings and follow-on offerings with the first half of 2025 and considered differences among offering categories.
Baker Donelson said it published an analysis of proposed changes to Small Business Administration size standards for businesses, federal contractors and investors. The firm’s guide compared the proposed methodology with current requirements and considered classification, affiliation and transaction planning issues while emphasizing that the proposals are not final.