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Big Law news:
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The week's lateral moves, promotions, offices, mergers and pay across New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, sourced and checked.

Latest: 5–11 October 20262 weeks on fileThis week's news137 stories

This week · 5–11 October 2026

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Lateral moves33

Confirmed

Squire Patton Boggs hires Womble Bond Dickinson corporate partner

Squire Patton Boggs LLP hired a Womble Bond Dickinson partner, announced Monday. The partner spent the past six years at Womble and focuses on a broad range of corporate matters and capital markets-related issues. The partner is not named in the item.

  • Squire Patton Boggs
  • Womble Bond Dickinson
  • F. Reid Avett
  • Washington DC
  • Capital Markets, M&A

SourceLaw360 — Legal Industry

Confirmed

Glenn Agre adds KC Maxwell as Of Counsel in San Francisco

Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes LLP announced that KC Maxwell, a trial lawyer with three decades of experience in criminal and civil matters, has joined as Of Counsel in San Francisco. The office was opened in 2021 by co-founding partner Lyn R. Agre.

  • Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes LLP
  • KC Maxwell
  • San Francisco
  • Disputes

SourceAttorney at Law Magazine

Confirmed

Sullivan & Cromwell reportedly adding two litigators to lead Supreme Court and appellate practice

Law.com's The American Lawyer reports that S&C is restocking its appellate litigation practice. A former Perkins appellate practice chair and a McGuireWoods appellate practice co-chair will take over the reins in D.C. for S&C.

  • Sullivan & Cromwell
  • Perkins
  • McGuireWoods
  • Ashurst
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
  • Washington DC
  • Disputes

SourcesLaw360 — Legal IndustryBluesky — Big Law searchLaw.com — The American LawyerBluesky — Big Law searchBluesky — Big Law search

Confirmed

Two Freshfields New York private capital partners leaving, understood to be joining Debevoise

Two Freshfields New York private equity partners are leaving the firm, less than three years after joining from Latham & Watkins. Private capital co-head Neal Reenan and US private capital head Ian Bushner arrived from Latham in March 2024. They are understood to be moving to Debevoise.

  • Freshfields
  • Latham & Watkins
  • Debevoise & Plimpton
  • Neal Reenan
  • Ian Bushner
  • New York, London

SourcesLegal BusinessLaw.com — The American Lawyer

Confirmed

O'Melveny rehires David Leviss as partner in Washington DC

O'Melveny has brought David Leviss back as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office, joining the Health Care Practice Group and Congressional Investigations team. He most recently served as the SEC's first Associate General Counsel for Oversight and Investigations.

  • O'Melveny & Myers
  • David Leviss
  • Washington DC
  • Regulatory

SourcePulse 2.0 — Law

Confirmed

Ryan Bueche moves from Germer to Husch Blackwell

Ryan Bueche has joined Husch Blackwell from Germer. He defends companies and individuals in product liability, intellectual property, personal injury, insurance coverage, business and employment disputes. The headline describes him as an Austin litigator.

  • Husch Blackwell
  • Germer
  • Ryan Bueche
  • Austin
  • Disputes

SourceThe Texas Lawbook

Confirmed

Jones Day adds five partners across Australia

Jones Day has added five partners in Australia, in disputes, real estate, energy, corporate and IP. The item describes it as a US firm doubling down on the Australian market. No names or cities are given.

  • Jones Day
  • Disputes, Project Finance/Energy & Infra

SourceThe Global Legal Post

Confirmed

Freshfields adds two capital markets partners in New York and Silicon Valley

Freshfields expanded its Capital Markets practice with two partner additions: Jeffrey Gould in Silicon Valley and Justin Michael in New York. The firm says they bolster its capability on convertible bonds, convertible preferred and other equity-linked securities offerings and related equity derivatives products.

  • Freshfields
  • Jeffrey Gould
  • Justin Michael
  • Silicon Valley, New York
  • Capital Markets

SourceFreshfields — news

Confirmed

Gibson Dunn adds Texas patent trial lawyers Nicholas Mathews and Erik Fountain in Dallas

Nicholas Mathews and Erik Fountain are transferring their intellectual property litigation practice to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. They have just won their third trial defense in a row in the Eastern District of Texas. They are the latest in a string of partner losses at McKool Smith this summer.

  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
  • McKool Smith
  • Nicholas Mathews
  • Erik Fountain
  • Dallas
  • Disputes

SourceThe Texas Lawbook

Confirmed

Wachtell hires Joon Kim from Cleary Gottlieb in rare lateral move

Wachtell brought in Joon Kim from Cleary Gottlieb in a rare lateral hire, reinforcing its litigation bench after former co-chair Bill Savitt exited earlier this summer. Kim began as a Cleary associate before moving to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

  • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
  • Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
  • Joon Kim
  • Bill Savitt
  • New York
  • Disputes

SourcesLegal BusinessBluesky — Big Law searchLaw.com — The American Lawyer

Confirmed

21 lawyers reportedly leave Wiley Rein to launch Tyka Law

Above the Law roundup: Twelve partners from Wiley Rein's insurance practice left to launch Tyka, a 21-lawyer boutique in D.C. A since-removed White & Case mid-level associate job posting listed a $270,000 to $385,000 range tracking the Milbank scale; W&C hasn't announced matching. DLA Piper represents Trump Media in a press freedom lawsuit.

  • Wiley Rein
  • Tyka Law LLP
  • Tyka
  • White & Case
  • Milbank
  • DLA Piper
  • Washington DC
  • Disputes

SourcesBluesky — Big Law searchAbove the Law

Confirmed

Cooley adds Nicholas Caselli as securities litigation partner in New York

Cooley announced on October 1, 2026 that Nicholas Caselli joined as a partner in its securities litigation + enforcement practice and global litigation department in New York. He defends securities class actions, shareholder derivative and M&A-related claims, including for technology and life sciences clients.

  • Cooley
  • Freshfields
  • Nicholas Caselli
  • New York
  • Disputes

SourcesLaw.com — The American LawyerCooley — media feed

Promotions5

Confirmed

Covington promotes 15 lawyers to partner, including Marc Norman in Dubai

Covington has promoted 15 new lawyers to its partnership. Marc Norman takes the partnership role in the firm's Dubai office. Covington chair Doug Gibson said the new partners practice across a range of areas critical to clients.

  • Covington & Burling
  • Marc Norman
  • Nicole Antoine
  • Daniel Auten
  • Brianna M. Bloodgood
  • Ryan Burnette
  • Mark Clifford
  • Spiros Drosos
  • Terra Fulham
  • Thomas Garten
  • Lisa Ann Johnson
  • Anders Linderot
  • Jayne Ponder
  • Molly Ramsden
  • Marianne Spencer
  • Joe Sullivan
  • Doug Gibson
  • Dubai, Brussels, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC
  • Disputes, Regulatory, Capital Markets, Project Finance/Energy & Infra

SourcesThe Oath (Middle East)Pulse 2.0 — Law

Offices9

Confirmed

Brown Fox names Tim Wells to lead Fort Worth expansion

Brown Fox, a 28-lawyer firm, tapped Tim Wells, a former clerk to Chief Judge O'Connor, to lead its Fort Worth expansion. He started his career at Brown Fox in 2022 and is its fourth former federal law clerk. Managing Partner Russ Brown commented.

  • Brown Fox
  • Tim Wells
  • Russ Brown
  • Fort Worth
  • Disputes

SourceThe Texas Lawbook

Confirmed

Hope Shimabuku led opening of Finnegan's Dallas office

Hope Shimabuku, formerly first regional director of the USPTO's Southwest Office, led the opening of Finnegan's Dallas office this month. The Texas Lawbook interviewed her about her USPTO legacy and her aspirations for Finnegan in Texas.

  • Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner
  • Hope Shimabuku
  • Dallas

SourceThe Texas Lawbook

Mergers & combinations4

Confirmed

Stephenson Harwood in merger talks with Taylor Wessing

Stephenson Harwood is in talks over a merger with Taylor Wessing, following the latter's breakaway from the transatlantic firm now known as Winston Taylor. Taylor Wessing became an independent European firm in June after its UK arm merged with US firm Winston & Strawn.

  • Taylor Wessing
  • Stephenson Harwood
  • Winston & Strawn
  • Winston Taylor

SourcesJUVELaw.com — The American LawyerLaw.com network — Legal News (FeedBlitz)Legal Business

Pay & bonuses8

Leadership9

Confirmed

Kelley Drye expands leadership structure and names Michael Lynch incoming chair

Law.com reports Kelley Drye is expanding its leadership structure and naming a new chair. Michael Lynch is the incoming chair. He said managing a law firm has become more complicated and that pulling productive partners out of their practice is not appealing.

  • Kelley Drye & Warren
  • Michael Lynch
  • Bill Jackson
  • David Zalman
  • Dana Rosenfeld
  • Paul Rosenthal
  • New York

SourcesLaw.com — The American LawyerAttorney at Law MagazineBluesky — Big Law search

Rankings4

Confirmed

Five Rubin Rudman attorneys named to 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers

Rubin Rudman announced that Jeffrey Dretler and Elizabeth Sullivan, who co-chair the Labor & Employment practice, and partners Laura Kirshenbaum, Julayne Lazar and Christopher Wurster were selected for the 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers list. The firm is Boston-based with more than 100 attorneys.

  • Rubin Rudman
  • Jeffrey Dretler
  • Elizabeth Sullivan
  • Laura Kirshenbaum
  • Julayne Lazar
  • Christopher Wurster
  • Boston

SourcePR Newswire — Personnel Announcements

Also notable61

Confirmed

Litigation roundup: Uber bellwether settles; V&E, Hunton Andrews Kurth to defend data center clients

The Texas Lawbook's Litigation Roundup reports that Uber settled a sex assault bellwether on the eve of an Austin trial. A lawyer was sanctioned by the Dallas Court of Appeals over an AI-generated brief. Vinson & Elkins and Hunton Andrews Kurth are preparing to defend data center clients against an environmental suit in San Antonio.

  • Vinson & Elkins
  • Hunton Andrews Kurth
  • Austin, Dallas, San Antonio
  • Disputes

SourceThe Texas Lawbook

Confirmed

Quinn Emanuel seeks nearly $750,000 in fees after defeating Buzbee claims

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP is seeking nearly $750,000 in attorney fees after defeating claims in Texas state court. The claims alleged it conspired with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter to retaliate against Houston plaintiffs attorney Tony Buzbee and two of his former clients.

  • Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
  • Tony Buzbee
  • Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter
  • Houston
  • Disputes

SourcesLaw360 — Legal IndustryLaw360 — Legal Ethics

Confirmed

Freshfields advises Banner Ridge on $280m acquisition of True Green Capital Fund III LP

Freshfields advised Banner Ridge on acquiring limited partner interests representing about $280 million of capital commitments in True Green Capital Fund III, L.P., via a tender offer to existing investors. The transaction closed in September 2026. The team was led by Partner Ivet Bell; Partners Sarah Katz and David Nicolardi advised on tax and regulatory matters respectively.

  • Freshfields
  • Ivet Bell
  • Madeline Goodlad
  • Sarah Katz
  • Ryan Sweeney
  • David Nicolardi
  • Fund Formation

SourceFreshfields — news

Confirmed

Houston bankruptcy judge criticizes Jackson Walker and U.S. Trustee over another Chapter 11 case

Jackson Walker is facing potential sanctions for failing to disclose the romantic relationship between its former partner Elizabeth Freeman and former U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones in another corporate bankruptcy case. This case is not one of the 33 where the U.S.

  • Jackson Walker
  • Elizabeth Freeman
  • David Jones
  • Houston
  • Disputes

SourcesLaw360 — Legal EthicsLaw360 — Legal IndustryBluesky — Big Law searchThe Texas LawbookBluesky — Big Law search

Confirmed items are announced by the firm or reported as fact by the cited outlets. Unconfirmed items are reports the firms have not confirmed. Every item links to its sources; we add nothing the sources do not say.

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