Does Private Equity Really Drive the Legal Market?

If I say “private equity” in any conversation about the legal market, it instantly commands the room. People nod, talk about dry powder, fundraising cycles, and high-margin sponsor work as though it’s the gravitational force holding everything together. But does private equity really drive the legal market? I’m not convinced it does, at least not to the […]

M&A Tax Dealmakers: Where Law, Structuring, and Strategy Collide

I’ve always believed the best M&A tax partners are not number-crunchers; they’re architects. They understand how structure creates value, how legislation shapes outcomes, and how to make a transaction commercially work before it legally exists. But building those teams inside law firms has become one of the toughest challenges in the modern legal market.   […]

The Strategic Architecture Behind Paul Weiss’s Private Equity Push

Every so often, a firm makes a move that isn’t just big, it’s smart. Paul Weiss’s expansion through 2024 is one of those moments. On paper, it looked like a hiring spree. In reality, it was a carefully engineered strategy, a masterclass in how to build a private-equity platform with longevity, credibility, and purpose.   […]

A&O and Shearman Merger, Strategy, Scale, and the Risk of Being Right Too Early

When Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announced their merger on 21st May 2023, most headlines focused on scale, “global reach, $3.4bn combined revenue,” “nearly 4,000 lawyers.” The reality was subtler and more strategic. This wasn’t a size play; it was a survival strategy. Both firms had enviable histories, blue-chip client lists, and undeniable […]

A&O and Shearman, When Logic Finally Outruns Legacy

The Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merger marks the first credible transatlantic combination of equals. I look at why it happened, how the pieces fit, and what it means for partners, clients, and the market. The rumours have finally become reality: Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling have agreed to merge. It’s […]

Saudi Opens the Door. The New Race for Legal Relevance

Saudi Arabia’s new licensing regime has transformed the legal landscape overnight. I look at why international firms are rushing in, what “local presence” really means, and how the firms that future-proof their Riyadh offices will win the decade. For years, Saudi Arabia has been the market everyone wanted to serve, but few could properly access. […]

Sanctions, Energy Shock, and Private Credit, The New Axes of Legal Demand

2022 has turned the legal market on its head. Sanctions, energy volatility, and the rise of private credit are redrawing fee pools and partner priorities. I explore how firms are repositioning and what this shift means for talent and strategy. If 2021 was the year of liquidity, 2022 is the year of control. Regulators, governments, […]

SPAC Fever, ECM Reality

SPACs have turned from a Wall Street experiment into a global talking point, and every firm wants a slice. I look at what’s really driving the boom, how the UK and US markets differ, and which law firms are positioning themselves for the inevitable reality check. Every few years the market invents a new acronym […]

Latham’s London Inflection Point, When Scale Starts to Look Strategic

Latham & Watkins has turned scale into strategy in London. The firm’s rapid private-equity and finance growth isn’t just size for show — it’s a signal that the US model is now the City’s benchmark. It’s no secret that Latham & Watkins has been quietly reshaping London. For years, the firm’s growth here was impressive, […]