Philadelphia-based Cozen O'Connor will absorb Minneapolis practice Moss & Barnett in a combination scheduled for January 1 that brings more than 50 additional attorneys to the acquiring firm. The transaction elevates the expanded Minneapolis location to the fourth-largest among 33 offices while positioning the combined entity to exceed $800 million in annual revenue, with leadership from both organizations having approved the arrangement through board and shareholder votes.
The absorption advances efforts by mid-tier American practices to establish presence across secondary metropolitan areas as industry consolidation accelerates, with 47 completed transactions during the first nine months of 2025 compared with 43 throughout the...
Mishcon de Reya has established operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai while securing authorization from Hong Kong regulators to practice as a solicitor firm, marking significant territorial expansion. Christopher Skipper will oversee the United Arab Emirates locations after joining from Greenberg Traurig, with the practice targeting corporate clients, family wealth managers, and individual patrons across sectors including dispute resolution, intellectual property and employment matters.
The Hong Kong certification arrives nearly four years after the firm began collaborating with local practice Karas So, an arrangement that will persist alongside the newly licensed operation led by managing partner Wei Zhang. Partner Jonathan Mok transfers...
McDermott Will & Schulte has added litigation specialist Hilton Mervis as a partner in its London practice after he departed from Arnold & Porter. The attorney brings more than 20 years of expertise representing financial services clients in commercial disputes, regulatory matters, and international conflicts, with particular strength advising private equity and hedge fund organizations.
Mervis worked at legacy Herbert Smith early in his career before spending 16 years with legacy SJ Berwin, which later became King & Wood Mallesons, where he achieved partnership. His recruitment aligns with the firm's strategy to strengthen its private capital capabilities following recent hires, including former Kirkland & Ellis partner Graham White...
Managing technological transformation and providing artificial intelligence instruction have displaced workforce recruitment as the foremost immediate concerns for legal practitioners worldwide, according to findings that will be released on Monday at the International Bar Association gathering in Toronto. The third annual Future of Legal Services Global Heatmap Survey Report indicates the profession recognizes artificial intelligence as its top priority while acknowledging insufficient preparation to address its implications compared with other emerging challenges.
Rule of law matters have entered prominence among urgent issues facing attorneys for the first time, with political instability and judicial independence threats ranking...
A study presented at the International Bar Association conference in Toronto reveals that independent law firms have gained substantial traction in international legal markets. The research conducted by London consultancy MD Communications found that 91 percent of such practices report securing recurring business from overseas clients, while 83 percent attribute up to one quarter of their client referrals to association involvement.
The analysis discovered that 62 percent of independent firms serve clients who previously retained global practices, with 32 percent directly benefiting when conflicts prevent larger organizations from accepting matters. Representatives from participating firms across ten countries emphasized advantages...
The International Bar Association opened its 2025 gathering in Toronto on Sunday evening with addresses from president Jaime Carey and more than 5,000 attendees. Former Supreme Court of Canada justice Rosalie Silberman Abella received the Benjamin Berell Ferencz Rule of Law Lifetime Achievement Award before delivering remarks comparing contemporary threats to legal principles with historical indifference toward Nazi persecution of Jewish communities.
Abella warned that international enforcement of stated values has weakened to the point where violations occur with minimal consequences, noting that intolerance spreads rapidly across regions and endangers global stability. She called for replacing widespread animosity with collective...
Morgan Lewis has established a presence in Riyadh by assembling a six-attorney group that includes recent hires from A&O Shearman and Al Tamimi & Company. Partner Sultan Almasoud leads the launch after serving more than ten years as managing partner at legacy Shearman & Sterling's Saudi location before the merger that created A&O Shearman. M&A specialist Sanjarbek Abdukhalilov and dispute resolution attorney Saeed Algahtani complete the recruits alongside existing firm personnel.
The expansion marks the third Middle Eastern location for Morgan Lewis following earlier openings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia modified its legal practice regulations in 2023 to permit international firms to operate independently without requiring...
Management representative Roman Fada has denied accusations from the family of deceased highlife musician Daddy Lumba that he distributed funeral invitations without authorization. The family previously stated that management lacked approval to communicate any arrangements for memorial services honoring the late artist.
Fada told Kofi TV that his recent Kumasi visit involved organizing the first anniversary commemoration for Ghana Freedom Party founder Akua Donkoh alongside party officials, not coordinating Lumba funeral matters. During his stay, he met with religious leader Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwa Yiadom, who asked about funeral arrangements. Fada responded that the family had scheduled services for December 6, but clarified he never...
Ghanaian performer Real MC has established a charitable organization centered on assisting economically disadvantaged populations and marginalized groups. The entertainer described philanthropy as an inherent part of his character rather than a calculated response to financial success, emphasizing his commitment to sharing resources regardless of personal circumstances.
The organization will implement various programs domestically and internationally designed to deliver tangible benefits through direct assistance and capacity-building efforts. Real MC indicated that industry colleagues have responded positively since the announcement, providing encouragement that strengthens his confidence in the venture's potential reach.
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