The most-read articles of 2025
From mergers and major laterals to data and high-profile interviews - the articles which resonated with our readers in 2025
Most Read
Global 100 2025: main table The biggest law firm mergers of all time ‘Every senior partner is asking themselves how their firm fits into this new picture’: sizing up Hogan Lovells Cadwalader ‘This is going to happen’ – Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader leaders on creating the biggest law firm merger ever ‘History in the making’ – Hogan Lovells set for record $3.6bn merger with Cadwalader
News update: Legal 500 Acquires Mondaq
Highlights
The banking crisis, Brexit and why he prefers in-house: HSBC’s GC on a career of once-in-a-lifetime experiences
HSBC's chief legal officer Bob Hoyt looks back on a career spanning the peak of the financial crisis and rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from Washington, through to navigating Brexit and post-Libor at Barclays
Life During Law
Sidley leader Yvette Ostolaza on role models, ambition and private investment in law
Firm management committee chair talks LB through a lifetime of firsts
‘I’m sure I made a ton of mistakes’ – McDermott’s Coleman on fresh thinking, leadership lessons and why scale matters
McDermott Will & Schulte chair Ira Coleman on his life during law, from leading the 'the little engine that could' Miami office to overseeing a $3bn merger
The Client Profile: Arm legal chief Spencer Collins on humble starts and career successes
Tech giant's CLO on gaining the trust of SoftBank's CEO, the stalled $40bn sale to Nvidia and what he's learned about building a successful in-house career
Life During Law: Georgia Dawson
‘The industry is evolving rapidly. Even before the pandemic you could see change coming through the profession.’
Freshfields’ Charles Hayes on emotional intelligence, Formula One deals, sheep and daring to press the button
Charlie Hayes, the global co-head of the private capital group at Freshfields, on everything from delivering lambs and making tables from trees to the importance of clarity in client communications
Life During Law: Robbie McLaren
‘Full-service firms all say the same thing – but we’ve been opportunistic’ – John Quinn on AI, funding and suing banks
Quinn Emanuel founder John Quinn on starting his own firm, picking your adversaries, investment in law and how he almost joined the navy
A&O’s Wim Dejonghe on mergers, money and his plans for life after law
Ahead of the A&O Shearman merger, outgoing A&O senior partner Wim Dejonghe sat down with LB to discuss lessons from previous merger talks, his plans for the future and his views on the ‘unhealthy’ levels of money in law
Life During Law: Jeroen Ouwehand
‘I’d be asked: “Are you the guy from The Bold and the Beautiful?”‘
Life During Law: Sandra Paul
Kingsley Napley’s Sandra Paul on tackling racism, the age of criminal responsibility and AI
Life During Law: Paul Dolman
I certainly didn’t have a burning desire to be a lawyer from the age of five years old.
