THE CHEETAH BRIEF – 48TH EDITION
Norton Rose Fulbright has strengthened its Midwest transactional capabilities by adding a five-partner team from Polsinelli, including Andrew Smolik and Michael Flood in St. Louis and Seth Aigner, Virginia Duong, and Gordon Klein in Chicago, as part of its continued expansion and push to meet rising demand for M&A and private equity work. The hires bolster the firm’s corporate and PE-led healthcare practices and reflect a broader industry trend of Am Law 100 firms investing in deal talent following a late-2025 surge in activity. The new partners cited Norton Rose’s rapid growth in St. Louis and Chicago and its global platform as key draws, particularly for supporting clients with cross-border needs in markets like Canada and Europe.
MARKET MOVEMENTS
Baker Botts adds Weil partner Cody Carper, in Houston as Co-Chair of Oil and Gas Practice
Davis Polk recruits Paul Weiss investment management partner Aaron Schlaphoff
Funds partner Ivana Rouse exits Latham to Sidley
Akin expands energy & infrastructure practice, adding adds Norton Rose tax partner Richard Wright
FIRM SPOTLIGHT - CLEARY GOTTLEIB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP
Cleary Gottlieb is a leading global law firm with a strong presence across four continents, known for its innovative corporate, antitrust, and litigation work. Founded in 1946 by former Wall Street partners and government attorneys, the firm quickly expanded internationally, opening offices in Paris, Brussels, and later throughout Europe, Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Silicon Valley. Cleary has a notable track record advising sovereign clients on complex debt restructurings, including Greece, Argentina, and Puerto Rico, and has represented major corporations in landmark transactions such as Broadcom’s $87 billion acquisition of VMware, T-Mobile’s $146 billion merger with Sprint, and Credit Suisse’s merger with UBS. Its alumni network spans corporate leadership, government agencies, and regulatory bodies.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing Partners overwhelmingly vote through merger, effective May 1, combining revenues of $1.63B and over 1,400 lawyers
In its first year post-merger, Troutman Pepper Locke rakes in $1.85B in revenue
Lowenstein marks 33% profit growth in 2025, surpassing $500 million in revenue
Technology deals were a leading driver in M&A last year, jumping 67% to $869.3 billion in deal value, according to LSEG figures
In addition to the at least 12 announced deals, there were at least three new IPOs, four new SPACs and seven new debt offerings over $500 million in the last week
Weil Expands Texas Footprint with New Austin Office
Weil, Gotshal & Manges has opened a new Austin office as part of a broader investment in its Texas presence, led by IP litigation co-head Jeff Homrig, who joined the firm from Latham & Watkins last year. Building on its long-standing Texas footprint in Houston and Dallas, the firm aims to strengthen its IP, technology, and corporate practices in Austin, a fast-growing hub for tech companies and high-profile litigation in the Western District of Texas. The office launches with a team including corporate partner Nicholas Doloresco and several IP associates, with plans to expand by tapping into Austin’s deep legal talent pool as Weil works toward creating a fully integrated, statewide Texas practice.
Judge Sanctions Attorney Over AI Errors
A New York federal judge ordered case-terminating sanctions against an attorney who repeatedly filed court documents containing false AI-generated citations, entering default judgment against his client in a trademark dispute. In a sharply worded order, Judge Katherine Polk Failla detailed multiple instances where a solo practitioner submitted filings with nonexistent cases or misattributed quotes and failed to properly verify his work, despite warnings from the court. While emphasizing that AI can be a useful research tool, Judge Failla said sanctions were necessary because the attorney continued to submit unchecked, inaccurate filings.
