Tokyo-based Damien Roberts and Brisbane-based Ian Williams are joining
Herbert Smith Freehills in the New Year after being hired from Ashurst. Williams is currently a member of the global Ashurst board.
DLA Piper team set to leave for new venture
A team of lawyers are set to leave DLA Piper in Washington led by Tom Daschle who has already departed to set up a lobbying subsidiary at law firm Baker Donelson. The Daschle Group will be part of the wider firm but will have a separate management team and operate with some autonomy.
New top 30 law firm created over the weekend
Charles Russell and Speechly Bircham merged on Saturday to create Charles Russell Speechlys. The new firm has 170 partners, a total of 500 lawyers and revenues of £135m. The combination creates a top-30 UK law firm with offices in Europe, Bahrain and Qatar.
Tasmanian government criticised over law firm choice
The Tasmanian Law Society has criticised the state’s government over its decision to appoint Melbourne-based Herbert Smith Freehills to act for it in a dispute with public sector unions. The society says it suggests that the government doesn’t have confidence in local law firms and wants an explanation.
Kimberly-Clark faces $500 million Ebola lawsuit
Law firm Eagan Avenatti has filed a lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark in the US claiming that the firm falsely claimed that one of their surgical gowns protects against Ebola when test results have allegedly shown otherwise. Eagan Avenatti is seeking class-action status for the lawsuit as it says that multiple healthcare workers and patients have been put at “considerable risk” by the claims of the gown’s manufacturer. They have filed for in excess of US$500 million in damages.
