Featured Stories
Pillsbury Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Expansion Continues With Addition of Austin-based Partner Valeska Pederson Hintz
NEW YORK, Sept. 10 -- Pillsbury, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Pillsbury Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Expansion Continues with Addition of Austin-based Partner Valeska Pederson Hintz
The latest notable partner to Pillsbury's premier Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice, tech-focused startup lawyer Valeska Pederson Hintz has joined the firm's Austin office as partner. She joins the firm from Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP.
Pederson Hintz's arrival continues the significant, ongoing expansion of Pillsbury's broad Tech and Life Sciences sector capabilities,
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NEW YORK, Sept. 10 -- Pillsbury, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Pillsbury Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Expansion Continues with Addition of Austin-based Partner Valeska Pederson Hintz
The latest notable partner to Pillsbury's premier Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice, tech-focused startup lawyer Valeska Pederson Hintz has joined the firm's Austin office as partner. She joins the firm from Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP.
Pederson Hintz's arrival continues the significant, ongoing expansion of Pillsbury's broad Tech and Life Sciences sector capabilities,particularly in connection with ECVC work. She is the tenth startup-focused lateral partner to join the team in just the past 24 months.
"Pillsbury is home to one of the world's marquee Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practices, and the many impressive practitioners who have joined the group in recent months only reinforces that standout reputation," said Firm Chair David Dekker. "Valeska's arrival marks another significant addition to the team, further enhancing the technical sophistication, experience and market credibility we bring to bear for clients in Texas' growing ECVC market and nationally."
Pederson Hintz advises companies and investors on sophisticated transactions spanning the corporate life cycle, from minority investments to IPOs, tender offers, mergers and acquisitions, and other liquidity events. A trusted adviser to growth-stage companies, she works closely with management teams to establish corporate and governance frameworks that position their businesses for long-term growth. She also guides investors through complex investments and exits. With almost two decades of experience--including time as in-house counsel to a late-stage biotechnology company--she offers clients firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities they face.
"Valeska is a known commodity with extensive connections to both the Austin and Silicon Valley technology ecosystems," said Christina Pearson, the Global Co-Head of Pillsbury's Corporate & Securities practice. "That broad network as well as her extensive experience in the defensetech, deeptech, energytech, AI, biotech and other high-growth industries enable her to serve as a critical bridge for those she represents. We are so excited to have her on board."
"Texas is already home to a vibrant ecosystem of emerging companies, investors and innovators, and it just keeps growing," added Steve Ryan, leader of Pillsbury's Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice. "Valeska's arrival means we can keep pace with that growth. Together with Andy Smetana, Rita Kelrikh, Patrick Dolan and others, she further elevates Pillsbury's standing within the local ECVC community."
Pederson Hintz is the 50thlateral partner to join Pillsbury since the beginning of 2025. Other prominent ECVC-focused additions to the firm in recent months include John Rockwell, Steven Green, Glenn Luinenburg and Todd Rumberger in Silicon Valley; Mike Flynn and Saarah Woodby in New York; Sarah Melaney in London; Scott Perlov in San Francisco; and Andy Smetana in Austin. In that span, Pillsbury also brought on VC-focused funds partners Eunice Choi in San Francisco and Silicon Valley and David Holland in Washington, D.C., and Technology Transactions partners Adam Chernichaw in New York and Daphne M. Higgs in Silicon Valley and London.
"With its market-leading startup capabilities, strong tech sector connections, broad global reach and renowned culture of collaboration, Pillsbury offers the perfect conditions to build and grow an ECVC practice," Pederson Hintz said. "I'm thrilled for this opportunity and the impressive team I'll get to work with, which includes a number of longtime friends and former colleagues who I deeply admire."
Pillsbury's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital team counsels high-growth enterprises and venture capital investors around the globe. The firm takes shoestring startups to market-leading positions, advising clients through venture financings, technology transactions and strategic partnerships, and helping clients navigate through exit strategies, including initial public offerings and strategic acquisitions.
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Original text here: https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/news-and-insights/pillsbury-ecvc-expansion-addition-austin-based-partner-valeska-pederson-hintz.html
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Morgan Lewis Team Named 2026 Labor and Employment Litigation Department of the Year at New York Legal Awards
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Sept. 10 -- Morgan Lewis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Morgan Lewis Team Named 2026 Labor and Employment Litigation Department of the Year at New York Legal Awards
NEW YORK: Morgan Lewis has been honored with Litigation Department of the Year for Labor and Employment by New York Law Journal as part of its 2026 New York Legal Awards. The annual awards celebrate the profound impact left by law firms and legal professionals on the state's legal community.
Morgan Lewis's New York employment litigation team was recognized for its consistency in
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PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Sept. 10 -- Morgan Lewis, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Morgan Lewis Team Named 2026 Labor and Employment Litigation Department of the Year at New York Legal Awards
NEW YORK: Morgan Lewis has been honored with Litigation Department of the Year for Labor and Employment by New York Law Journal as part of its 2026 New York Legal Awards. The annual awards celebrate the profound impact left by law firms and legal professionals on the state's legal community.
Morgan Lewis's New York employment litigation team was recognized for its consistency inachieving victories before juries, arbitrators, and appellate courts that shaped how leading companies navigate complex workplace obligations across the country. Partner Melissa Hill, who leads the firm's New York labor and employment practice, is featured in a New York Law Journal Q&A discussing the team's accomplishments over the last year, which include earning precedent-setting appellate wins, resolving high-stakes class actions and sensitive matters, and obtaining procedural victories that positioned clients for future success.
"Quietly winning a key motion or resolving a dispute that gets media attention each brings its own satisfaction and requires different skills, but each share the same core: strategy, persistence, judgment and teamwork," Missy said. "Taken together, this variety and reliance on our strengths are what make these wins so satisfying and meaningful. Success isn't one-size-fits-all--it's built case by case, motion by motion, across industries and disciplines."
Litigation partner Michael Kraut was additionally a finalist in the Best Mentors category this year.
Read the complete New York Legal Law Journal article (https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2026/09/04/litigation-departments-of-the-year-winner-labor--employment-morgan-lewis--bockius/)
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Original text here: https://www.morganlewis.com/news/2026/09/morgan-lewis-team-named-2026-labor-and-employment-litigation-dept-of-the-year-at-ny-legal-awards
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Mayer Brown Advises Pacific Life Re on Its First Asset-Intensive Reinsurance Transaction in Hong Kong
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 10 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Mayer Brown, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Mayer Brown Advises Pacific Life Re on its First Asset-Intensive Reinsurance Transaction in Hong Kong
Mayer Brown advised Pacific Life Re on its first asset-intensive reinsurance transaction in Hong Kong, which involved the cession of a block of whole of life liabilities written by a pan-Asian insurance provider.
The consummation of this transaction represents a significant milestone for Pacific Life Re and demonstrates the continued expansion of its asset-intensive reinsurance
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 10 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Mayer Brown, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Mayer Brown Advises Pacific Life Re on its First Asset-Intensive Reinsurance Transaction in Hong Kong
Mayer Brown advised Pacific Life Re on its first asset-intensive reinsurance transaction in Hong Kong, which involved the cession of a block of whole of life liabilities written by a pan-Asian insurance provider.
The consummation of this transaction represents a significant milestone for Pacific Life Re and demonstrates the continued expansion of its asset-intensive reinsurancecapabilities across the broader Asia-Pacific region.
For full details, see Pacific Life Re's official announcement here (https://www.pacificlifere.com/news/Pacific-Life-Re-Executes-First-Asset-Intensive-Reinsurance-Transaction-in-Hong-Kong.html).
The Mayer Brown team advising Pacific Life Re was led by partners Greg Oguss and Tom MacAulay, and included partners Allison Lee and Brennan Young, as well as associates Sandra Ghobraiel and Katherine Huffman.
The matter drew on the firm's multidisciplinary capabilities across its Chicago, Charlotte, New York, London and Hong Kong offices.
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URL: Pacific Life Re
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Original text here: https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/news/2026/09/mayer-brown-advises-pacific-life-re-on-its-first-asset-intensive-reinsurance-transaction-in-hong-kong
Littler Issues Commentary: UK Government Launches Consultation on New Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 10 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on Sept. 9, 2026, by knowledge lawyer Emily Bodger:
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UK Government Launches Consultation on New Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
Acas' revised draft Code of Practice expands and reworks the existing Code and aims to build good workplace relations.
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Acas has published a consultation on a revised draft Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures with a view to "fixing the friction" and promoting better early resolution of concerns in the workplace. The
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SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 10 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following commentary on Sept. 9, 2026, by knowledge lawyer Emily Bodger:
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UK Government Launches Consultation on New Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
Acas' revised draft Code of Practice expands and reworks the existing Code and aims to build good workplace relations.
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Acas has published a consultation on a revised draft Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures with a view to "fixing the friction" and promoting better early resolution of concerns in the workplace. Thecurrent proposed draft is a much expanded and materially reworked version of the existing Code and is described as playing a "critical role in a wider reset to build good workplace relations."
The consultation is open for feedback until 23 September 2026.
Overview of the Consultation
The Acas Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures (the 'Code') has long been a cornerstone for navigating workplace disputes in the UK. While a failure to follow the Code does not by itself give rise to legal liability, employment tribunals must take the Code into account in relevant cases and can adjust compensation awards by up to 25% for unreasonable failure to comply with it. This means that if a tribunal feels that an employer has unreasonably failed to follow the Code, they can increase any award they have made by up to 25%. Conversely, if they feel an employee has unreasonably failed to follow the Code, they can reduce any award they have made by up to 25%. The Code therefore effectively operates as the minimum standard of fair process that employers are expected to follow when dealing with employee grievances and disciplinary matters.
On 30 July 2026, Acas published a draft revised version of the Code for public consultation. The consultation notes that the Code was last fully revised in 2009 (although some revisions were made in 2015), so it has been some time since it was last looked at in detail. The consultation comes "at a time of broad social, economic and demographic shifts in the workplace", and will play a "critical role in a wider reset to build good workplace relations."
As a result, the draft Code is a considerably more detailed document, reorganising the guidance around a broader concept of 'concerns at work' and expanding its coverage to a wider scope of workers. It uses the language of 'must' to indicate legal requirements, 'should' for strongly recommended expectations and 'good practice' to indicate what Acas considers to be good employment practice.
Continue reading here (https://littler.co.uk/insights/government-launches-consultation-on-new-acas-code-of-practice-on-disciplinary-and-grievance-procedures/) for a discussion of some of the key changes proposed.
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Authors
Emily Bodger
Knowledge Lawyer
London
ebodger@littler.co.uk
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Original text here: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/uk-government-launches-consultation-new-acas-code-practice-disciplinary-and
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Dentons Advises Lenders on UK Solar and Battery Storage Financing
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons advises lenders on UK solar and battery storage financing
London--Dentons has advised a syndicate of lenders including ING, NORD/LB, Rabobank and Santander UK on the successful financial close of the refinancing and construction financing of the 190 MW Larks Green co-located utility scale solar PV and battery energy storage project in Gloucestershire owned by Cero Generation, a leading independent power producer (IPP) specialising in the development, construction and operation of solar energy and battery storage
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news:
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Dentons advises lenders on UK solar and battery storage financing
London--Dentons has advised a syndicate of lenders including ING, NORD/LB, Rabobank and Santander UK on the successful financial close of the refinancing and construction financing of the 190 MW Larks Green co-located utility scale solar PV and battery energy storage project in Gloucestershire owned by Cero Generation, a leading independent power producer (IPP) specialising in the development, construction and operation of solar energy and battery storageprojects across Europe.
This is the third project in Cero's portfolio facility that Dentons has advised on following the successful close on the Bramley and West Burton financings in 2025 and early 2026 respectively.
The Dentons team was led by Mark Cheney, supported by Graham Richmond, Thomas Collier, Mel Mahon, Angela Cheng, Madeleine Smallwood, Deborah Godfrey, Daniel Mayhew and Casey Asamoh-Ansah.
Mark Cheney, partner at Dentons, commented: " We are pleased to have advised the Lenders on this transaction. It is another example of our team's experience advising on complex financings in the renewable energy sector, and we look forward to continuing to support our clients on the development of energy infrastructure projects. We extend our congratulations to the Cero Generation team and the Lenders on reaching Financial Close.
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About Dentons
Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com
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URL: Rabobank
URL: Santander UK
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Original text here: https://www.dentons.com/en/about-dentons/news-events-and-awards/news/2026/september/dentons-advises-lenders-on-uk-solar-and-battery-storage-financing
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Akin Lawyers Author Corporate Disputes Article on Minimising AI-Related Dispute Risks
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Akin Gump, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akin Lawyers Author Corporate Disputes Article on Minimising AI-Related Dispute Risks
Akin senior counsel Jenny Arlington, counsel Olivia Odubanjo and associate Jack Seifert have co-authored an article on "Minimising the risks of disputes when using AI," published in Corporate Disputes.
In the article, the authors examine how the development and deployment of artificial intelligence may expose businesses to disputes arising from AI-caused harm, cyber security incidents and the use of personal data.
They
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Akin Gump, a law firm, issued the following news release:
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Akin Lawyers Author Corporate Disputes Article on Minimising AI-Related Dispute Risks
Akin senior counsel Jenny Arlington, counsel Olivia Odubanjo and associate Jack Seifert have co-authored an article on "Minimising the risks of disputes when using AI," published in Corporate Disputes.
In the article, the authors examine how the development and deployment of artificial intelligence may expose businesses to disputes arising from AI-caused harm, cyber security incidents and the use of personal data.
Theyexplore how liability for AI-caused harm may be allocated under existing law, including through contractual arrangements across the AI supply chain and, where no contract applies, potential claims in tort. They also consider the circumstances in which businesses may face disputes - whether class actions, regulatory investigations or arbitrations - in relation to the use of AI tools handling personal data. Further, cybersecurity and operational resilience risks have been fundamentally reshaped with the exponential integration of AI into business operations, and the authors set out practical steps that businesses may consider in order to minimise those risks.
As the authors note, "As AI tools and systems become embedded in business processes, the ways in which the risk of disputes may materialise are multifold."
To read the article, click here (https://www.corporatedisputesmagazine.com/oct-dec-2026-issue) (subscription required).
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Original text here: https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/akin-lawyers-author-corporate-disputes-article-on-minimising-ai-related-dispute-risks
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
Akin Expands Middle East Project Development Capabilities With Addition of Andrej Kormuth in Dubai
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Akin Gump, a law firm, issued the following news release o Sept. 9, 2026:
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Akin Expands Middle East Project Development Capabilities with Addition of Andrej Kormuth in Dubai
(Dubai) - Akin announced today that Andrej Kormuth has joined the firm as project development partner in Dubai. His arrival further enhances Akin's project development offering in the Middle East, strengthening the region's integration with the firm's sophisticated global platform.
Andrej advises developers, sponsors, government entities and institutional investors on some of the Middle East's
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Akin Gump, a law firm, issued the following news release o Sept. 9, 2026:
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Akin Expands Middle East Project Development Capabilities with Addition of Andrej Kormuth in Dubai
(Dubai) - Akin announced today that Andrej Kormuth has joined the firm as project development partner in Dubai. His arrival further enhances Akin's project development offering in the Middle East, strengthening the region's integration with the firm's sophisticated global platform.
Andrej advises developers, sponsors, government entities and institutional investors on some of the Middle East'smost significant infrastructure and project development matters. His practice spans conventional and renewable power, water and wastewater, social infrastructure, waste-to-energy and industrial manufacturing projects, as well as public-private partnership frameworks and regulatory structuring across the region.
"Andrej's arrival reinforces our continued commitment to the Middle East and reflects the strategic importance of the region to our global platform," said Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi. "His deep experience and market-leading reputation complement our existing strengths and further enhance our ability to support clients on the region's most significant and complex development projects."
"Andrej has an exceptional reputation and a proven track record of building a leading project development offering," said David Sewell, co-head of the firm's corporate practice. "His deep regional experience, coupled with Akin's integrated global corporate platform, positions us to deliver seamless support on complex projects across the Middle East and beyond."
"The Middle East continues to experience unprecedented investment in infrastructure and strategic development projects, generating significant opportunities across the market," said Middle East corporate practice lead, Wael Jabsheh. "This dynamic environment is driving demand for sophisticated project development advice, with clients increasingly seeking advisers who can provide end-to-end support from project inception through execution."
"The opportunity to join Akin was driven by the strength of its global platform and seamless collaboration across practices and offices," said Andrej. "The firm's ability to bring together market-leading capabilities from across its international network is truly distinctive. I am excited to leverage this platform to help clients advance their most strategic and complex infrastructure and development initiatives."
Andrej joins Akin from Bracewell, where he was Middle East Regional Head of Projects.
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About Akin's Project Development Capabilities
Navigating the multitude of regulations and challenges involved in the development of energy, renewable energy, infrastructure and construction projects requires experienced and committed legal counsel. Akin has extensive experience in project development, and our lawyers handle projects of all sizes and technologies around the world. We represent clients across industries, including renewable energy, oil and gas, technology, financial services, private equity, government, telecommunications, transportation and retail, to name a few. Our lawyers also handle a wide variety of infrastructure projects, including industrial facilities, sports stadiums, roadways, ports and similar projects.
Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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Original text here: https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-expands-middle-east-project-development-capabilities-with-addition-of-andrej-kormuth-in-dubai
[Category: BizLaw/Legal]
