Mackrell International

01/09/2026

Well, this turned into quite a roll call.

Across 12 Mackrell International firms in the US:

239 lawyers were recognised in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

133 selections were recorded in the latest regional Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars® lists.

And 11 lawyers were named “Lawyer of the Year”.

A special congratulations to Gregg T. Burton, Daniel Calisher, Vincent Farisello, David Wm. Foster, Stephanie Gronauer, Bernadette Hamilton Condon, Thomas C. Inglima, David A. Kushner, Jennifer Lazovich, Howard K. Levine and Gregory D. Lydon on receiving that distinction.

And congratulations to every lawyer recognised across our participating US firms.

Individually, these are significant achievements. Together, they say something rather powerful about the calibre of lawyers across the Mackrell International network in the US.

Quite a result. And very well deserved.


BDG Law Group, A Professional Law Corporation Cairncross & Hempelmann
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher | A Colorado Law Firm Kaempfer Crowell - Carson City Kelleher + Holland, LLC Rosenberg Martin Greenberg LLP SMGQ LAW

28/08/2026

Latin America is creating commercial opportunities that may not yet be on your client’s radar.

That is the thinking behind Why Latin America Matters Now, a new MI initiative bringing together current market intelligence from our top-ranked member firms across the region.

Fourteen opportunities have been identified across Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Uruguay, covering everything from Vaca Mu**ta, critical minerals and copper to medtech, semiconductors, tourism, renewable energy, data centres, fintech and the developing EU-Mercosur trading framework.

For each, the briefing looks at which clients may be affected, the questions worth asking and where the local MI firm can help.

If one of these developments connects with work already on your desk, it may be the right time to bring an MI colleague into the conversation.

Read more and access the full downloadable white paper here: https://www.mackrell.net/why-latin-america-matters-now

Parra Rodríguez Abogados Alta Batalla Caceres Torres BGBG - Bello, Gallardo, Bonequi y García, S.C.

20/08/2026

An established MI relationship is taking an important step forward in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦

Kamal & Associates - Attorneys and Counsellors-at-Law, in association with the Law Firm of Mohammad Al-Sharif, is now Mackrell International’s member firm for Saudi Arabia.

Rasem Kamal and his team are already well known across MI through the firm’s longstanding membership for Palestine. With an established office in Riyadh, that trusted relationship now extends into another key Middle Eastern jurisdiction.

For members and their clients, this means access to a familiar team with strong cross-border experience spanning corporate law, international transactions, M&A, banking and finance, energy and renewables, intellectual property, project finance, capital markets, private equity and venture capital.

This is about much more than extending our geographic reach. It strengthens the local insight, connections and joined-up support available to clients across the Middle East and the wider MI network.

For us, this is the best kind of growth: built on people we already know and trust, and helping us support clients wherever their business takes them.

https://www.mackrell.net/firm/kamal-associates-saudi-arabia/office/riyadh

11/08/2026

Kate Valent in Dallas and Denisa Mikulasova in Prague are the new joint leaders of the MI Women’s Group.

They succeed Alison Green of Mackrell LLP, who led the group through the ‘all-screen’ years of the pandemic and back to meeting in person around the world. As Alison retires from practice, we would like to thank her for everything she gave to the group and wish her very well.

Kate and Denisa will continue bringing women across MI member firms together, with plans for new initiatives and a designated Women’s Group champion in every firm.

The group is open to women in every role and department across the network.

Find out more and get involved: https://www.mackrell.net/women-s-group

Congratulations to you both. Over to you, Kate and Denisa.


Scheef & Stone, L.L.P.

06/08/2026

September is a busy month at Mackrell International, with events for marketers, emerging leaders, law firm leaders and anyone responsible for winning work, setting fees or keeping their firm visible.

▪️We begin in Texas with the inaugural Mackrell International Marketing & BD Summit in Dallas/Frisco on 1 and 2 September, hosted by Scheef & Stone LLP. It is a small, working meeting for marketing and business development professionals, as well as those partners who somehow still do all the marketing themselves.

▪️On 3 and 4 September, attention moves to Houston for the Emerging Leaders Meeting, hosted by Mehaffy Weber. It is a chance for the next generation of firm leaders to meet their peers, build relationships across the network and make connections for the years ahead.

▪️Andy Bounds returns to MI by popular demand on 9 September. This time, he will tackle a subject most lawyers recognise immediately: how to discuss fees with greater confidence, deal with familiar objections and know when it is better to walk away.

▪️Martijn Lesterhuis joins us on 16 September to look at how AI may affect law firm services, pricing, structure and strategy.

▪️The 17 September sees Will Noble of Squiz asks another pressing question: is your firm being found by AI? He will explain how search is changing and what firms can do to help their expertise appear in AI-generated answers.

▪️We round off the month on 23 September with the Global M&A Opportunities Call alongside MGI Worldwide, held at 9 am and 4 pm UK time so members across the network can take part.

With such a varied programme, there should be something here for almost everyone. Colleagues at every level and across every department of an MI member firm are welcome to join us.

22/07/2026

Which legal AI tools are firms actually using once the trial period is over?

On 4 August, Harold Godsoe of Kojima Law will be joined by Lars Egeskov Jespersen of Codex Advokater for a practical look at Harvey, Legora, Spellbook and Claude.

Codex has been using Legora in live practice since the start of the year and has also tested Harvey and Spellbook. Harold works in Claude. Between them, they should have plenty to compare.

The call is open to anyone across the Mackrell International network, whether you are already using these platforms or simply trying to work out where to begin. There will also be time for members to share what they have tried, what they have kept and what they have quietly stopped using.

And if the event interests you and you are not already involved, you may also want to join our AI Practice Group. It is open to lawyers across the network and brings together members interested in the legal, practical and regulatory questions surrounding AI.

To register for the call, or to join the AI Practice Group, visit the MI website or contact HQ.

17/07/2026

Congratulations to everyone at Arthur, Chapman Kettering, Smetak & Pikala, on an exceptional set of achievements.

This year, 20 attorneys have been recognised in the 2026 Minnesota Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars® lists, alongside four lawyers named in Minnesota Monthly's 2026 Top Lawyers.

Recognition like this reflects the depth of talent across the firm and the work they continue to do for businesses, insurers, public sector organisations and individuals throughout the US Midwest.

It's exactly the kind of local expertise our members rely on when clients need trusted legal advice across borders.

Congratulations everyone.

08/07/2026

One of the most satisfying parts of what we do is seeing members take ideas from an MI session and put them into practice.

A big thank you to Mariana Castro Sotela of Alta Batalla for sharing such generous feedback following our recent sessions with Andy Bounds.

Andy has become a familiar face on the MI webinar calendar for good reason. As an award-winning communication and sales expert, and one of the UK's most respected trainers, he has a knack for turning business development challenges into practical ideas that lawyers can use straight away.

At Mackrell International, we're always looking for opportunities to connect our members with people who make a genuine difference. Through webinars, conferences and conversations across the network, the goal is simple: to share experience, learn from one another and keep improving.

Thank you again, Mariana. We hope you enjoy the book, and we'd love to hear which of Andy's ideas you put into practice first.

#𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀

22/06/2026

Monday thought.

Monday thought.

One of the most dangerous phrases in any organisation is:

"But everyone knows where that is."

Usually, they don't.

We've been evolving parts of the MI website recently. Not through major changes, but through a series of small improvements designed to make information easier to find and the overall experience more intuitive.

A few things have moved. A few things have gone. Some of the information people use most often is now easier to find.

The website was simply the latest reminder.

Websites, newsletters, events and client communications all benefit from regular review. Not because they're failing, but because the needs of the people using them rarely stand still.

An existing client looking for information. A prospective client deciding whether to make contact. A referral source trying to find the right person.

The answer is rarely "leave it exactly as it is."

https://www.mackrell.net/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social

Mackrell International, where people come first. Be part of a thriving global legal community that shares expertise, builds opportunities, supports clients worldwide, and creates meaningful connections beyond referrals.

16/06/2026

July may be a quieter month on the events calendar, but both of this month's sessions focus on a subject that is rapidly changing the legal profession and many of the industries our clients operate in.

▪️On 1 July, Construction Law Practice Group Chair John Scheef is joined by Peter Morgan to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing the construction sector, from planning and design through to contracts, site monitoring and operations.

▪️Then on 7 July, AI Practice Group Chair Harold Godsoe welcomes Eric Chin for a look at Legal Generative AI and the Future of Law.

Drawing on his work leading legal transformation initiatives across Asia Pacific, Eric will explore how firms and clients are adopting AI, what the future may hold for legal practice, and some practical ways lawyers can start building their own AI skills.

Two conversations, different perspectives. Plenty to think about.

👉As always, members at all levels of MI firms are welcome to join.

Scheef & Stone, L.L.P. PwC Singapore