The American Lawyer

09/29/2025

The Summer Associates Survey: Sentiments Sail Or Sink Based on Approach to 2025's Biggest Challenges

While many hit the water, Broadway and box seats, this year’s summers had their strongest opinions on two existential issues their firms were grappling with, Law.com's annual survey found.

09/29/2025

Kirkland and Wachtell Lead on Record $55B Electronic Arts Buyout

The historic deal also provided roles for several other firms, including Latham and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

09/29/2025

Brown Rudnick's Litigation Co-Chairs Launch Spinoff Boutique

"Big Law is drunk on leverage and billables that deliver little bang for the buck," said Michael Bowe, who cofounded Brithem with Lauren Tabaksblat.

09/29/2025

Why Have Law Firms Given Up on Half the World?

Asia is the largest continent by area and population, accounting for close to 60% of the world’s population. And China as an economic force is not going away. So why has so much of Big Law walked away?

09/29/2025

McDermott Targets Major London Headcount Growth Following Merger

The firm, which was formed after the merger of McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel, is aiming for to grow to between 250 and 300 lawyers in the U.K. capital, sources said.

09/29/2025

The Megadeal Era Isn't a Tide Lifting All Boats—Here's Who Is Benefitting Most

There is a cadre of about 11 firms that has worked as principal adviser on five or more of the 50 largest deals announced through Sept. 10.

09/27/2025

Cadwalader Names New Co-Managing Partner

The appointment of a new co-managing partner comes as Cadwalader seeks to fend off competitors trying to cherry-pick more talent at Wall Street's oldest firm.

09/26/2025

ICYMI: A former Baker McKenzie associate who publicly posted on social media claims that she was sexually assaulted by Maurice Bellan, the managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, is now being sued by the global firm for defamation. The firm says she was “terminated for cause” two months ago after it discovered that she had made multiple unauthorized personal purchases on her firm-issued credit card, including clothing at high-end stores, first-class plane tickets and “many” personal food delivery and ride-share transportation charges. Since her firing, the law firm alleges, the former associate has sent numerous harassing and threatening messages to various people at the firm, and efforts to “pursue a dialogue with [her] to try to address her purported concerns” were unsuccessful. https://loom.ly/jA-DQq4

Brooke Radford, a former tax associate, claimed on LinkedIn the firm's D.C. managing partner sexually assaulted her. The firm is suing her for making defamatory and false accusations.

09/26/2025

Reed Smith Commits to 12-Year Lease in New Atlanta Mixed-Use Development

The Am Law 50 firm will take the entire 11th floor of the newly opened Ten Twenty Spring tower and plans to move in by spring 2026.

09/26/2025

Law Firm Disrupted: Eat or Be Eaten

“Firms realize that they need to manage the differential between their size and profitability, and that of their competitors for talent, because larger, more profitable firms tend to have greater flexibility on comp,” one legal consultant said.

09/26/2025

“The lateral market has been absolutely crazy for the last 18 months, and we haven’t really seen a slowdown. If anything, we’ve seen an increase.”

Read the full story at https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2025/09/24/as-lateral-moves-accelerate-heres-how-firm-leaders-are-navigating-the-free-agency-model/

09/26/2025

Law Firms, Clients Struggle to See Eye To Eye on Alternative Fees

Clients are increasingly seeking out alternative fee arrangements over other billing methods, but law firms today have fallen short of meeting that demand, according to a new legal industry report. Others say the numbers don't tell the whole story.