McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel Plan Major Merger to Create $2.8 Billion Legal Giant
Source: Global Legal Post In the latest sign of continued consolidation within the legal industry, Chicago-headquartered McDermott Will & Emery and New York’s Schulte Roth & Zabel have announced they are in advanced merger talks that would create a combined firm with $2.8 billion in revenue. A Strategic Combination The firms confirmed on Thursday that […]
How Legal Counsel Can Prevent and Mitigate Business Crises
Source: Forbes In today’s complex business environment, companies face an increasing number of potential crisis situations. Forward-thinking organisations are now recognising the critical role that legal counsel can play in crisis management—not just during emergencies, but as integral members of prevention and planning teams. The Strategic Value of Legal Involvement Given the growing range of […]
Six Steps to Future-Proof Your Legal Department
Source: EY In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, legal departments must transform to deliver more strategic value. Many legal teams remain “too static in their thinking and ideation,” according to Ashley John, Head of Legal Operations for Anglo American. To effectively meet business needs while controlling costs, legal departments need a systematic approach to change. […]
AI-Driven Legal Platform SmartEsq Aims to Cut PE Fund Legal Costs by 80%
Source: PEI A new legal technology company founded by industry veterans is promising to dramatically reduce the time and money private equity firms spend on legal services, potentially disrupting the traditional relationship between PE firms and their outside counsel. Industry Experts Create AI-Powered Legal Solution SmartEsq, founded by former Paul Hastings fund formation partner Esther […]
Walking the Tightrope: How General Counsel Navigate Outside Counsel Relationships in Polarized Times
Source: Bloomberg Law In today’s increasingly divisive political climate, General Counsel and in-house legal leaders find themselves facing unprecedented challenges when selecting and maintaining relationships with outside counsel. As recent events demonstrate, law firms can suddenly become embroiled in political controversies that extend far beyond traditional legal disputes, forcing GCs to make difficult decisions about […]
The Great Legal Tech Divide: Why 1 in 5 In-House Lawyers Might Walk Out
Source: LexisNexis In the traditionally conservative world of in-house legal departments, a quiet revolution is taking place. According to recent research by LexisNexis highlighted in Dylan Brown’s March 2025 analysis, nearly 20% of in-house lawyers would consider leaving their positions if their departments fail to invest in artificial intelligence technologies. This revelation comes at a […]
From Gatekeepers to Innovators: How Legal Teams Are Leading the AI Revolution
Source: LexisNexis In a significant shift from traditional roles, in-house legal departments are emerging as strategic leaders in organizational AI adoption. A recent video series produced in collaboration with Crafty Counsel showcases how forward-thinking legal teams are not just managing AI risks but actively shaping how their organizations harness AI’s transformative potential. Breaking New Ground: […]
Blackstone’s John Finley Anticipates More Favorable Regulatory Climate Under Trump Administration
In a candid discussion at Harvard Law School, Blackstone’s Chief Legal Officer John Finley expressed optimism about the future of private equity under the second Trump administration, signaling what could be a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for asset management firms. Regulatory Relief on the Horizon Speaking to over 150 Harvard Law students at […]
The Quiet Revolution: How AI and Client Pressure Are Reshaping Law Firm Billing
Source: Cityam For over a century, the billable hour has reigned supreme in the legal industry. This straightforward yet often contentious billing method has shaped everything from law firm culture to partner compensation models. Now, mounting evidence suggests we’re witnessing its gradual decline as firms increasingly pivot toward alternative fee arrangements. The Numbers Don’t Lie […]
The Hidden Value in Legal Work: Rethinking AI Automation
Source: Guardian In the rush to automate legal work, we’re missing a crucial distinction: not everything that appears manual is meaningless, and not everything that seems tedious lacks value. The legal technology industry’s narrative about freeing lawyers from “manual drudgery” often misses the mark on what truly needs automation. The False Dichotomy of Legal Work […]