From a relationship reshuffle at EQT to interviews with top partners and GCs, a flurry of financial results from some of the world’s biggest firms, mega-deals and partner moves, the legal sector stayed busy over the summer. Here are some of the top stories you might have missed.
EQT picks its favourite firms
LB broke this story in early July, revealing that the Swedish PE giant was revamping its global strategic relationships, with Simpson Thacher, Freshfields, and Clifford Chance among the firms appointed. We followed up first with a look at which firms are winning EQT’s biggest mandates in Europe, and then with more details, including a two-tier panel structure and appointments for firms including Latham & Watkins and Paul Weiss.
The transatlantic tie-up that never was
In mid-July, attention turned to a potential merger between Linklaters and Cleary. While both firms denied they were considering a tie-up, the prospect got the market talking – LB spoke to a range of sources about the challenge of pulling off such an ambitious deal, and why Links might be looking.
GCs share top tips for the top job
‘Day one as GC, the rules change. Suddenly, the buck stops with you.’ This comment from GSK’s group GC James Ford sums up the sense of weight that comes when you step into the top legal role. LB talked to a range of GCs to find out how they got through this ‘baptism by fire’ unburnt.
Big firms, big results
A clutch of the world’s top law firms released their financials over the summer – including the first post-merger results for A&O Shearman and HSF Kramer, as well as the latest performance from Linklaters and a commitment to US growth from Clifford Chance.
Slaughter and May’s £100m bonanza
With the first half of the year over and a surge of M&A deals already inked, LB dived into the data to see how much top firms were set to be paid. Slaughter and May was a clear standout, with more than £110m in deal fees from high-value UK mandates – nearly double its next nearest competitor.
Features, analysis, and data
‘M&A is back with a bang’ – global elite dominate deal rankings in best-ever H1
Sports is the new private capital frontier – why top firms are upping their game
‘An environment of possibility’ – why liability management is law’s new frontier
‘Candy land for private equity’ – why elite law firms are looking to Tokyo
LB100 results so far – which firms are setting the pace for revenue and PEP?
Interviews
Starbucks EMEA GC on leadership, business turnarounds and traveling the ‘bumpy road’
‘This is a platform for builders’ – Paul Hastings London heads on the City vision
Lateral moves
Linklaters scores Paul Weiss FIFA disputes duo in New York sports push
Gibson Dunn swoops for six-partner Wachtell litigation team led by co-chair
Sidley hires 11-strong fund finance team from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Paul Hastings launches sports practice with former American football GC
Latham hires Hg general counsel as London PE partner
Deals
Top firms advise asset management trio on $16bn Kuwait oil JV
Paul Weiss lands mandate as Apollo swoops in with £5.7bn bid for easyJet
US trio lead on multibillion-dollar Stripe-OpenRouter deal
Latham and Simpson Thacher power up for $2.6bn EQT-Carlyle data centre deal
Sky’s the limit for HSF Kramer and Freshfields as pair take lead roles on £1.6bn ITV acquisition
In-house moves
Anglo American and Teck name top lawyer for $69bn mining mega-merger
Anthropic names new general counsel as current GC steps into policy role
