Law/Legal
Here's a look at documents from law firms and legal groups
Featured Stories
Li He Discusses the Hong Kong IPO Market With Law.com International
NEW YORK, Feb. 20 -- Davis Polk and Wardwell, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Li He discusses the Hong Kong IPO market with Law.com International
Davis Polk partner and co-head of Asia (excluding Japan) Li He discussed the distinct roles of local and global law firms in the Hong Kong IPO market with Law.com International.
The article notes that international law firms continue to dominate the market for complex, cross-border transactions and sanctions-related mandates, maintaining a lead over local PRC firms.
"IPO transactions are not just drafting documents," Li explained.
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Feb. 20 -- Davis Polk and Wardwell, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Li He discusses the Hong Kong IPO market with Law.com International
Davis Polk partner and co-head of Asia (excluding Japan) Li He discussed the distinct roles of local and global law firms in the Hong Kong IPO market with Law.com International.
The article notes that international law firms continue to dominate the market for complex, cross-border transactions and sanctions-related mandates, maintaining a lead over local PRC firms.
"IPO transactions are not just drafting documents," Li explained."Complex deals require Hong Kong regulatory expertise, mainland regulatory knowledge, and international exposure on tax, sanctions, Investment Company Act, and employment issues. Most PRC firms cannot offer such comprehensive solutions at the same level."
Li noted that Davis Polk focuses on issuer-side mandates, which generates longer-term relationships and more cross-pollination opportunities between offices and practices. The article highlights that, in 2025, Davis Polk completed 20 IPOs for Chinese issuers across Hong Kong and the U.S., 18 on the issuer side.
Li also added that the firm often focuses on critical high growth sectors. "We don't have a crystal ball, but I study the market extremely carefully. In the last six or seven years, we have been focusing on sectors such as healthcare, including drugs, equipment and AI; new drug development and high-end healthcare services; and the new consumer market, meaning consumer companies with innovative brands offerings and distribution methodologies," he said.
"Hong Kong IPO Rebound Reveals a New Pecking Order," Law.com International (February 15, 2026) (subscription required) (https://www.law.com/international-edition/2026/02/15/hong-kong-ipo-rebound-reveals-a-new-pecking-order/)
* * *
Original text here: https://www.davispolk.com/news/li-he-discusses-hong-kong-ipo-market-lawcom-international
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Legal Business Highlights Ropes & Gray's European Private Equity Expansion
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 20 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Legal Business Highlights Ropes & Gray's European Private Equity Expansion
Legal Business has spotlighted Ropes & Gray's rapid European private equity growth, marking a significant milestone for the firm. After 15 years in London, the firm launched offices in Paris and Milan in 2025, demonstrating its commitment to meeting client demand across continental Europe.
Key themes from the article include:
* Europe at the heart of client ambitions: European private equity co-leads
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 20 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Legal Business Highlights Ropes & Gray's European Private Equity Expansion
Legal Business has spotlighted Ropes & Gray's rapid European private equity growth, marking a significant milestone for the firm. After 15 years in London, the firm launched offices in Paris and Milan in 2025, demonstrating its commitment to meeting client demand across continental Europe.
Key themes from the article include:
* Europe at the heart of client ambitions: European private equity co-leadsFabrice Cohen, John Newton, Aldo Piccarreta, and Elizabeth Todd emphasized that Europe is central to clients' investment ambitions. They highlighted the firm's commitment to building a platform that mirrors the depth and consistency clients expect from Ropes & Gray in the US and UK.
* Strengthening the team with key hires: The firm's ongoing expansion has been driven by recent strategic appointments, including a 10-lawyer team joining in Paris including partners Edouard Chapellier and Jonathan Abensour, as well as the arrival of private equity partners Paul Dali (former GC of EQT) in London and Alessandro Capogrosso in Milan. These additions bring significant expertise and established client relationships, further broadening the firm's capabilities and reach across Europe.
* Client synergies and cross-selling: The new teams bring overlapping client relationships, immediately enhancing the effectiveness of the European platform and creating opportunities to introduce clients to the firm's broader network.
* Local insight and cultural understanding: The Paris and Milan offices provide essential local expertise, helping clients navigate cultural nuances and build trust - especially important in markets like Italy.
* Ongoing growth and ambition: The firm remains focused on expanding its presence and capabilities in Europe, responding to client demand and market opportunities as they arise.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ropesgray.com/en/news-and-events/news/2026/02/legal-business-highlights-ropes-grays-european-private-equity-expansion
Deidre Johnson Discusses Court Decision Vacating Expanded HSR Filing Rules in The National Law Journal
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 20 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Deidre Johnson Discusses Court Decision Vacating Expanded HSR Filing Rules in The National Law Journal
U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle of the Eastern District of Texas vacated the Federal Trade Commission's expanded Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) merger filing requirements, ruling that the agency failed to demonstrate that the revised disclosure framework would prevent unlawful transactions beyond those already addressed under the prior rules.
In The National Law Journal, antitrust
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 20 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ropes and Gray, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Deidre Johnson Discusses Court Decision Vacating Expanded HSR Filing Rules in The National Law Journal
U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle of the Eastern District of Texas vacated the Federal Trade Commission's expanded Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) merger filing requirements, ruling that the agency failed to demonstrate that the revised disclosure framework would prevent unlawful transactions beyond those already addressed under the prior rules.
In The National Law Journal, antitrustpartner Deidre Johnson discussed the implications of the 2025 HSR rules in light of the court's decision, noting that the expanded filing requirements imposed significant timing and compliance burdens on dealmaking parties, particularly given the breadth of disclosures required across transactions.
"The district court ruling recognizes the extreme burden of the new rules in terms of time to comply, and the speed at which you are able to get your deal through," Deidre said.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ropesgray.com/en/news-and-events/news/2026/02/deidre-johnson-discusses-court-decision-vacating-expanded-hsr-filing-rules
Ballard Spahr Represents Affordable American Insurance in Investment from Gauge Capital
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Feb. 20 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ballard Spahr, a law firm, posted the following news release:
* * *
Ballard Spahr Represents Affordable American Insurance in Investment from Gauge Capital
*
Ballard Spahr represented Affordable American Insurance (AAI) in securing strategic growth investment from Gauge Capital.
Gauge Capital's investment will support AAI's continued growth by expanding its team and resources, accelerating organic expansion within its agency network, and pursuing strategic acquisitions to further scale its national platform.
AAI supports approximately
... Show Full Article
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Feb. 20 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Ballard Spahr, a law firm, posted the following news release:
* * *
Ballard Spahr Represents Affordable American Insurance in Investment from Gauge Capital
*
Ballard Spahr represented Affordable American Insurance (AAI) in securing strategic growth investment from Gauge Capital.
Gauge Capital's investment will support AAI's continued growth by expanding its team and resources, accelerating organic expansion within its agency network, and pursuing strategic acquisitions to further scale its national platform.
AAI supports approximately100 independent agencies across 40 states and operates a wholly owned internal insurance agency. Gauge Capital is a middle-market private equity firm based in Southlake, Texas, that invests in five key sectors: business services, food and consumer, government and industrial services, health care, and technology. It manages more than $3 billion in capital.
Ballard Spahr Business and Transactions Partners Damon O. Barry and Zachary Gorman and Associate Joshua R. Salzer represented AAI in the transaction. For further information, please see AAI's press release.
For media inquiries, please contact Will Ashenmacher at 612.371.5792.
***
Original text here: https://www.ballardspahr.com/insights/news/2026/02/ballard-spahr-represents-affordable-american-insurance-in-investment-from-gauge-capital
BT Adds National Top-Tier 35-Lawyer Public Finance and Infrastructure Teams, Opens Three New Offices
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Feb. 20 -- Barnes and Thornburg, a law firm, issued the following news release:
* * *
BT Adds National Top-Tier 35-Lawyer Public Finance and Infrastructure Teams, Opens Three New Offices
Nearly 50 lawyers and business professionals in the nationally ranked practices joining across 10 markets including new offices in Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix
*
Barnes & Thornburg is adding 35 lawyers, including 25 partners, to its Government Services and Finance Department.
The move catapults Barnes & Thornburg to the national forefront in advising private and public sector clients
... Show Full Article
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Feb. 20 -- Barnes and Thornburg, a law firm, issued the following news release:
* * *
BT Adds National Top-Tier 35-Lawyer Public Finance and Infrastructure Teams, Opens Three New Offices
Nearly 50 lawyers and business professionals in the nationally ranked practices joining across 10 markets including new offices in Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix
*
Barnes & Thornburg is adding 35 lawyers, including 25 partners, to its Government Services and Finance Department.
The move catapults Barnes & Thornburg to the national forefront in advising private and public sector clientson complex public finance deals and advancing infrastructure projects. This talented group joins the firm's 21 existing public finance lawyers to bring the firmwide practice to 56 public finance and infrastructure lawyers serving clients across the country in a broad range of industries from state and local government, to underwriting and banking, to healthcare and education, to solid waste and renewable energy, to housing and securitizations, to civil and social infrastructure, to defaults and bankruptcies, to municipal securities regulation and enforcement, and to the purchase and restructuring of distressed debt.
"We're thrilled to kick off 2026 by welcoming one of the nation's top public finance and infrastructure practices to the firm. With this group, we also expand in our existing offices, while entering three new markets -- all of which supports the strategic growth we have been focused on," said Managing Partner Andrew J. Detherage. "This team represents a premier practice that enhances the firm's existing public finance practice, and supports the firm's strategic growth strategy to be a top destination for talented lawyers and marquee practices."
New partner Valarie Allen will join current partner Kimberly Blanchet in serving as department vice chairs for public finance. John Smolen and Steve Park will lead the Infrastructure practice. Among the others joining BT are partners William Rhodes, Kimberly Magrini, Holly Horsley and Randall Towers in Philadelphia; Jeffrey Ballard, Andrew Spicknall, Charles Treece and Daniel Nunez in Washington, D.C.; Peter Lam in New York City; Silvia Shin and Emilie Ninan in Wilmington, Del.; and Teri Guarnaccia, Anastasia Khokhryakova and Michele Bax in Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix, respectively. The group also includes partner Benjamin Johnson, who previously practiced at Barnes & Thornburg and served as co-chair of the Charter School and School Innovation practice.
"This is transformative for our team and the firm," said Government Services and Finance Department Chair Richard J. Hall. "Our newly expanded bench positions Barnes & Thornburg in the nation's top 10 practices for public finance and deepens the services and value we can provide to clients across the finance and regulatory landscape."
With this game-changing addition, Barnes & Thornburg now boasts approximately 850 lawyers serving clients across the globe from 26 U.S. offices. Since 2020, the firm has added over 200 lawyers and established market presence in Boston, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, and Morristown, N.J.
New team members are resident in 10 offices, including the three new markets of Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix. The additions also strengthen the firm's existing presence in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Morristown, N.J., New York, Los Angeles and Wilmington, Del. The firm now has public finance lawyers in 15 offices, including Indianapolis; South Bend, Ind.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Columbus, Ohio; and Chicago.
The group joins from Ballard Spahr, where they were ranked regularly by The Bond Buyer in the top 10 nationally by dollar volume of bond issuances as bond and underwriter counsel. They have been nationally and internationally recognized for advancing many of the largest and most complex alternative project delivery -- including public-private partnership (P3) -- infrastructure projects in the nation.
The new finance team represents issuers, borrowers, bankers, investors, credit providers, trustees, developers, securitizers and GSEs in almost every type of public or project finance or other tax-advantaged transaction. The team leads infrastructure projects ranging from transportation, rail/transit and port/airport systems and energy facilities to affordable housing (multifamily, single family, student, military and senior housing) and all other types of social infrastructure. They represent federal, state and local governments and private sector developers, investors and lenders in pre-procurement activities, project development and delivery, regulatory compliance, legislative support, community relations, project implementation and related tax issues. The team is also well known for its experience with 103 tax matters, municipal securities regulation and enforcement, and defaults, work-outs, restructurings and municipal bond bankruptcies.
Barnes & Thornburg currently provides comprehensive legal services to participants in public finance transactions for both public and public-private projects. The firm regularly serves as bond counsel or counsel to underwriters, issuers, borrowers, and banks, as well as investors, indenture trustees and credit and liquidity providers.
"We are excited to launch Barnes & Thornburg offices in Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix, and to join this growing and dynamic firm of collaborators," said Allen. "Barnes & Thornburg shares the same commitment to excellence and client service that we developed at Ballard Spahr, and we look forward to working with our new colleagues."
Blanchet added, "This combination of outstanding lawyers creates a dynamic team that will continue to expand."
Partners
1. Valarie Allen, Philadelphia
2. Jeffrey Ballard, D.C.
3. Michele Bax, Phoenix
4. David Fernandez, New York (joins 3/2)
5. Garland Gantt, D.C. (joins 2/21)
6. Teri Guarnaccia, Baltimore
7. Charles Henck, D.C.
8. Holly Horsley, Philadelphia
9. Benjamin Johnson, Minneapolis
10. Anastasia Khokhryakova, Denver
11. Stephanie Kim, D.C. (joins 2/21)
12. Peter Lam, New York
13. Kimberly Magrini, Philadelphia
14. Skye Nickalls, Philadelphia
15. Emilie Ninan, Wilmington, Del. (joins 2/21)
16. Daniel Nunez, D.C.
17. Steve Park, Philadelphia
18. William Rhodes, Philadelphia
19. Silvia Shin, Wilmington, Del.
20. John Smolen, Baltimore
21. Andy Spicknall, D.C.
22. Jere Thompson, Philadelphia
23. Randall Towers, Philadelphia
24. Charles Treece, D.C.
25. John Wheatley, D.C.
* * *
About Barnes & Thornburg
Barnes & Thornburg operates 26 offices across the United States, enabling more than 850 lawyers to serve clients nationwide. As one of the 100 largest law firms in the country, we provide seamless coast-to-coast coverage for high-stakes litigation, complex transactions and innovative IP matters. Our national reach and knowledge of local markets help clients conduct business confidently wherever opportunities arise. Visit btlaw.com.
* * *
Original text here: https://btlaw.com/en/insights/news/2026/bt-adds-national-top-tier-35-lawyer-public-finance-and-infrastructure-teams
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Kirkland Recognized in Chambers Germany
CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 19 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
* * *
Kirkland Recognized in Chambers Germany
*
In its 2026 edition, Chambers Germany recommended Kirkland in three practice areas and named six Kirkland lawyers among the best in the region. The rankings include a Band 1 designation in Private Equity: High End. Additionally, partner Ben Leyendecker was recognized as a "Star Individual" in Private Equity: High End.
For their second annual guide devoted exclusively to the German legal market, Chambers & Partners conducted
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 19 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
* * *
Kirkland Recognized in Chambers Germany
*
In its 2026 edition, Chambers Germany recommended Kirkland in three practice areas and named six Kirkland lawyers among the best in the region. The rankings include a Band 1 designation in Private Equity: High End. Additionally, partner Ben Leyendecker was recognized as a "Star Individual" in Private Equity: High End.
For their second annual guide devoted exclusively to the German legal market, Chambers & Partners conductedextensive research, analysis and interviews, with clients noting that the "highly experienced" Kirkland Germany team "has a stellar reputation" and is "exceptional in offering high quality and extremely strong strategic advice."
Kirkland was recognized in the following practice areas:
Banking & Finance
Private Equity: High End
Restructuring/Insolvency
View all of Kirkland's Chambers Germany 2026 rankings here.
For more than 20 years, lawyers in Kirkland's Munich office have counseled clients in Germany, across Europe and around the world on sophisticated transactions. The Firm's Frankfurt office opened in 2024, with a team focused on private equity/M&A transactions, public takeovers, carve-outs and joint ventures, and insolvencies and financial restructurings.
***
Original text here: https://www.kirkland.com/news/award/2026/02/chambers-germany-2026
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Earns Top Ranking from Chambers Germany for Real Estate and Finance Practices
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Feb. 19 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Chambers Germany 2026
*
BCLP has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Chambers Germany, maintaining its ranking in Real Estate and improving its position in Real Estate: Finance.
Seven BCLP attorneys are ranked individually, highlighted for their outstanding work in their respective practices, including Albrecht von Breitenbuch, Martin Wilmsen and Tonio Sadoni who entered the rankings for the first time:
1. Frank Schwem - Real Estate: Finance
2. Torsten
... Show Full Article
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Feb. 19 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, a law firm, issued the following news:
* * *
Chambers Germany 2026
*
BCLP has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Chambers Germany, maintaining its ranking in Real Estate and improving its position in Real Estate: Finance.
Seven BCLP attorneys are ranked individually, highlighted for their outstanding work in their respective practices, including Albrecht von Breitenbuch, Martin Wilmsen and Tonio Sadoni who entered the rankings for the first time:
1. Frank Schwem - Real Estate: Finance
2. TorstenPokropp - Real Estate: Finance
3. Christian Lonquich - Real Estate
4. Heiko Stoll - Tax
5. Albrecht von Breitenbuch - Real Estate
6. Tonio Sadon i - Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market
7. Martin Wilmsen - Real Estate: Finance
Client Commentary
Real Estate: "BCLP explains everything clearly and is very prompt in its responses. Its team is really on the ball, and everything goes smoothly."
Real Estate Finance: "The BCLP team is composed of clear subject matter experts who are responsive, relationship driven and highly aware of our commercial objectives. The firm has a very commercial team that is flexible and focused on finding solutions."
Real Estate Finance: "BCLP is responsive, commercial and pragmatic, demonstrating a truly client-oriented approach."
Chambers and Partners ranks lawyers and law firms based on their technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment and on other qualities most valued by the client. See our full rankings here.
***
Original text here: https://www.bclplaw.com/en-US/events-insights-news/chambers-germany-2026.html
