Alex Ryan

While Herbert Smith Freehills is one of the best-known legal brands in the UK, it is fair to say that Kramer Levin does not have the same name recognition. So who is HSF's prospective merger partner? Here's everything you need to know. The basic rationale for the merger is simple. The merged firm, which will be known as HSF Kramer in the US and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer elsewhere, brings together HSF's substantive presence across the UK, APAC, and EMEA markets and £1.3bn in revenues - with Kramer Levin's US name recognition and profitability, handing HSF an expanded foothold in the States. But Kramer Levin

Baker Botts walked away from this year's Legal Business Awards with the trophy for energy/infrastructure team of the year, in recognition of the firm's work advising Air Products and Chemicals on Saudi Arabia's landmark NEOM Green Hydrogen Project. LB spoke with two of the lead partners on the deal to discuss getting it over the line, the importance of sector expertise, and what it means for the future of green hydrogen. The headline figures around the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project are certainly impressive: $8.4bn in financing. A 30-year offtake agreement. Up to 600 tonnes of carbon-free hydrogen per day by the end

Baker Botts walked away from this year’s Legal Business Awards with the trophy for energy/infrastructure team of the year, in recognition of the firm’s work advising Air Products and Chemicals on Saudi Arabia’s landmark NEOM Green Hydrogen Project. LB spoke with two of the lead partners on the deal to discuss getting it over the line, the importance of sector expertise, and what it means for the future of green hydrogen.

Proskauer announced today that it has hired former A&O Shearman and Milbank partner John Goldfinch into its global finance practice. He will start at the firm’s London office on 2 December.

Lewis Silkin has been appointed to lead an investigation into TV presenter Gregg Wallace, after historical allegations of misconduct were made against the MasterChef host.

The total revenue generated by UK-based legal services increased by 7.7% last year to a total of £47.1bn, according to a new report released today (10 December).

The UK's 100 largest law firms increased profit per equity partner (PEP) by an average of 13% during the last financial year, with near across-the-board hikes coming despite the rising costs of associate salaries for many. On the back of double-digit revenue growth for more than half of the LB100 during 2023-24, average PEP rose to £843,700 after profitability had remained effectively flat during 2022-23. Profit per lawyer (PPL) was also up, from an average of £100,800 last year to £116,200 this year – an increase of over 15%. While Slaughter and May does not formally disclose its financial results,

Large-scale US-UK mergers boost PEP by an average of 69% over five years, with DLA and Hogan Lovells leading the way

Hogan Lovells and Akin became the two latest firms to announce their 2025 partner promotions last week, with 28 and 22 new partners respectively.

Earlier this month, Clyde & Co launched in Texas, the latest step in a two-decades-long journey into North America which has seen it establish a 19-strong network of offices across the US and Canada.