“Mr. Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks are extremely pleased with this ruling, said Steve Best, partner and chair of Brown Rudnick's white-collar defense, investigations and compliance practice group.

Eight Big Law firms recruited partners from K&L Gates, Holland & Knight and others to open offices in three cities.

Big Law firms ramped up their lateral machinery, making group laterals and lift-outs a key part of their playbooks in 2025.

Nekia Hackworth Jones was among the Securities and Exchange Commission's highest-ranking Black lawyers. She led the agency's Atlanta Regional Office before becoming one of the Division of Enforcement's four deputy directors in April.

This year, Mayer Brown has increased its lateral partner hires, from 26 to 56, by leaning on practice leaders to recruit and emphasizing six particular areas it says touch high-value sectors.