SCG Member News Roundup: December 2025
News from the Network
In the Spotlight
Dunton Rainville (Canada: Quebec) announced the firm has once again made a giant leap forward, rising from 24th place in 2024 to 13th place in the prestigious 2025 ranking of Québec’s 300 largest SMEs published by Les Affaires. This result reflects not only their leadership position in the legal field, but also the strength of their business vision, based on excellence, proximity, and innovation.
Ireland Stapleton Pryor and Pascoe (US: Colorado) announced Director Tom Downey has been named the first recipient of the Advocate for Impact Award. The Advocate for Impact Award recognizes an individual whose leadership, integrity, and action have made a lasting impact on Colorado’s nonprofit sector. The award was created this year in recognition of how critical advocacy has become, as nonprofits face rising operational costs, increased demand for services, and a rapidly changing policy landscape. The honor celebrates individuals who use their voice, expertise, and influence to strengthen and advance the entire sector.
McBrayer (US: Kentucky) announced the firm’s planned leadership transition that reflects its continued growth and commitment to strategic, collaborative leadership. Beginning in the new year, James Frazier, III will transition from his long-standing role as Managing Member to become Chief Executive Officer, focusing on firmwide strategy, growth, and innovation. At the same time, Jaron Blandford will assume the role of Managing Member, leading day-to-day firm operations and attorney development.
Richards, Layton & Finger (US: Delaware) announced Director and immediate past president Lisa Schmidt has been chosen for the 2025 New Castle County Chamber of Commerce State Service Award and was honored at the 35th annual Women’s Leadership Conference.
Robinson+Cole (US: Massachusetts) announced a significant step forward in its innovation goals by becoming the first Am Law 200 firm to strategically partner in the United States with Newcode.ai, a leading provider of agentic AI solutions designed specifically for the legal industry. The firm selected the Newcode.ai platform after successfully piloting the system from June until September 2025. It was formally introduced firmwide at a recent Bytes + Insights Lunch and Learn highlighting use cases on November 18, 2025. Newcode.ai CEO Maged Helmy was on-hand to answer questions and share insights.
Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher (US: Hawaii) announced Douglas Chin and John Kelly will serve as special deputy attorneys general representing Hawaii’s legal action against TikTok. The lawsuit against TikTok alleges that the company designed an addictive social media platform that may exploit and harm young people in Hawaii.
Zunic Law (Serbia) announced the firm has been recognized as Serbia’s Law Firm of the Year 2025 by the Lexology Index for the second year in a row. Notably, this is only the second time Lexology has selected a firm from Serbia, and on both occasions, the recognition went to Zunic Law.
In the News
Adler Pollock & Sheehan (US: Rhode Island) announced that nine members were named to 2025 Super Lawyers and eight members were names to 2025 Rising Stars lists. Additionally, the firm has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms in 32 practice areas.The firm also announced Dan Procaccini has been appointed to the U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the District of Rhode Island. This panel plays a vital role in reviewing and recommending candidates for the U.S. Magistrate Judge positions, helping to ensure the continued excellence of the federal judiciary. Jim Oswald was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Trinity Repertory Company for a three-year term. Trinity Repertory Company is a non-profit regional theater located in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1963, the theater is one of the most respected regional theatres in the country.
Brydon, Swearengen & England (US: Missouri) announced four attorneys are named in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and one attorney is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Dean Cooper has been recognized in the area of Energy Law; William England, III for the areas of Communications Law and Energy Law; Scott Hamblin for Criminal Defense and General Practice; and Charles Smarr has for of Food and Beverage Law. Stephen Rehagen has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the areas of Administrative/Regulatory Law and Trusts and Estates.
CNPLaw (Singapore) announced a significant expansion of their legal team at CNPLaw LLP (“CNP”) through the addition of the team from Union Law LLP (“Union Law”) to the firm. Raymond Lye, previously the Managing Partner of Union Law, will join CNP as a Partner, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. The firm also announced they have once again been successfully ranked among the best law firms in Singapore by Asialaw. For the year of 2025, Asialaw has recognized several practice areas with “Notable”, “Recognized”, and “Recommended” rankings. Asialaw has recognized both Bill Jamieson and Tan Min-Li as “Distinguished Practitioners” for the areas of Investment Funds and Capital Markets respectively. The following partners as “Notable Practitioners”: John Mark Chen for Competition/Antitrust, Pradeep Kumar Singh for Capital Markets, and Subramanian Pillai for Construction. The firm also won the Editor’s Choice Impact Deal and Case Award for their work on ICON Offshore’s RM 429 million maritime acquisition. This deal was led by Head of Corporate Finance Practice Tan Min-Li together with Partners Bill Jamieson and Ge Xiaomeng along with Associate Andrew Eng. The firm also announced it has once again been recognized as one of the top 10 law firms in The Straits Times’ Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2026 survey. This recognition reflects their continued commitment to delivering exceptional legal service and building lasting partnerships with their clients. They have been recognized across 17 practice areas with 5-star recommendations in 15 of them – a testament to the dedication and expertise of their dynamic team. Managing Partner Lisa Theng and Bill Jamieson have been recommended by Lexology Index in 2025. Lisa has been acknowledged as a Recommended Lawyer for Southeast Asia in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Governance. This is the seventh year that she has received this recognition. Bill Jamieson has been acknowledged as a Recommended Lawyer for Southeast Asia in the area of Banking.
DSM Avocats à la Cour (Luxembourg) announced the firm has once again been ranked in the newly published IFLR1000 2025 guide, one of the leading global references for financial and corporate law firms. Additionally, three members of the firm received individual honors: Mario Di Stefano, Managing Partner for Notable Practitioner in Corporate M&A and Real Estate; Renaud Le Squeren, Partner for Notable Practitioner in Corporate M&A; and Héloïse Cuche, Counsel for Rising Star in Corporate M&A.
Richards, Layton & Finger (US: Delaware) announced the launch of its new Registered Funds Advisory Group, focused on advising the world’s leading public investment funds on the nuances and complexities of Delaware law. The Registered Funds Advisory Group brings together a cross-disciplinary team that works with registered investment companies, business development companies, unit investment trusts, commodity pools, cryptocurrency funds, and other types of investment funds on Delaware-specific matters. Additionally, the firm has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms in 28 practice areas and received the survey’s top Tier 1 ranking in twenty-five practice areas. Two of the firm’s practices—Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation and Securitization and Structured Finance Law—also achieved national ranking. The firm also announced nineteen attorneys have been named in four Lawdragon 500 guides in 2025. Additionally, forty attorneys have been named Top Lawyers in Delaware Today magazine’s list of the best lawyers in the state. The magazine polls lawyers throughout Delaware to compile its annual Top Lawyers list. Four Richards Layton lawyers were designated “top vote getters” after receiving the most votes from their peers in their respective practice areas. Counsel Kinsey Lenehan has been awarded the Young Lawyer’s Distinguished Service Award by the Delaware State Bar Association for her exemplary leadership and service in civic and humanitarian service.
Robinson+Cole (US: Massachusetts) announced partners Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson, Dana Horton and Keisha Palmer were selected for recognition at this year’s Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards, presented by Corporate Counsel in Washington, DC on October 7, 2025. The Awards honor top women lawyers who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession, in a variety of categories, in recognition of the trailblazers, advocates, and leaders who have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and commitment to advancing equality. Britt-Marie was named a “Law Firm Thought Leadership” finalist, a category that recognizes women who exemplify the power of leadership to create meaningful change. Dana was named a finalist for “Law Firm Mental Health & Well Being Initiative,” which honors women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to fostering a culture of mental health and well-being within their firm or organization. Keisha was selected as a finalist for “Law Firm Ally of the Year,” recognizing those who listen with empathy and seek to understand different perspectives, show up by being present, engaged, and committed to diversity efforts in the firm, and speak up as an advocate to others. The firm also announced Managing Partner Rhonda Tobin, Pro Bono Committee chair Seth Orkand, Business Litigation group lawyer Scott Garosshen and the Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications group all won recognitions at Law.com’s New England Legal Awards on October 23 in Boston, MA. Rhonda was named “Regional Managing Partner of the Year” for her visionary leadership and transformative impact at Robinson+Cole. Seth was presented with the Social Impact award for his unwavering commitment to justice, advocacy, and community service. Scott was recognized as a “Rising Star” for outstanding appellate advocacy and commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession. Robinson+Cole’s Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications group was recognized as Environmental Litigation Department of the Year for its exceptional depth, technical expertise, and litigation success across a broad spectrum of environmental law. The firm has once again been recognized among the nation’s leading law firms, earning 46 first-tier metropolitan rankings and six national rankings in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms. These distinctions underscore the firm’s commitment to delivering exceptional client service and legal excellence across a broad range of practices and jurisdictions.
Turner Padget (US: South Carolina) announced the firm has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms. The firm is honored across 34 practice areas throughout South Carolina. Turner Padget received the highest “Tier 1” ranking in 17 practice areas.
********************************
Want to be featured in the next newsletter?
Have news you want to share with the SCG community?
Please send emails to sharealerts@scglegal.com.