diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 6a4f49f0..0162b2c9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v3
 
       - name: publish release
-        run: ./gradlew publishToSonatype closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository
+        run: ./gradlew publishToSonatype closeAndReleaseStagingRepositories
         env:
           RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
           ORG_GRADLE_PROJECT_sonatypeUsername: ${{ secrets.OSSRH_USERNAME }}
diff --git a/benchmark/build.gradle.kts b/benchmark/build.gradle.kts
index 7c31bdc3..7ea41eac 100644
--- a/benchmark/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/benchmark/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+import kotlinx.benchmark.gradle.JvmBenchmarkTarget
+
 plugins {
     java
     kotlin("jvm") version libs.versions.kotlin
-    id("org.jetbrains.kotlinx.benchmark") version "0.4.10"
+    id("org.jetbrains.kotlinx.benchmark") version "0.4.11"
     kotlin("plugin.allopen") version libs.versions.kotlin
     kotlin("plugin.serialization") version libs.versions.kotlin
 }
@@ -17,13 +19,16 @@ benchmark {
         }
     }
     targets {
-        register("main")
+        register("main") {
+            this as JvmBenchmarkTarget
+            jmhVersion = "1.37"
+        }
     }
 }
 
 dependencies {
     implementation("org.apache.commons:commons-lang3:3.14.0")
-    implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-benchmark-runtime:0.4.10")
+    implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-benchmark-runtime:0.4.11")
 
     val jacksonVersion = "2.17.0"
     implementation("com.fasterxml.jackson.module:jackson-module-kotlin:$jacksonVersion")
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 3b9f9492..acd44abe 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -69,30 +69,9 @@ tasks.named<Jar>("javadocJar") {
     from(tasks.named("dokkaJavadoc"))
 }
 
-// Configuration for publication on maven central
-val signingKey: String? by project
-val signingPassword: String? by project
-
-val publications: PublicationContainer = (extensions.getByName("publishing") as PublishingExtension).publications
-
-signing {
-    useGpgCmd()
-    if (signingKey != null && signingPassword != null) {
-        useInMemoryPgpKeys(signingKey, signingPassword)
-    }
-    if (Ci.isRelease) {
-        sign(publications)
-    }
-}
-
-nexusPublishing {
-    this.repositories {
-        sonatype()
-    }
-}
 publishing {
     publications {
-        register("mavenJava", MavenPublication::class) {
+        create<MavenPublication>("mavenJava") {
             from(components["java"])
             pom {
                 val projectUrl = "https://github.com/avro-kotlin/avro4k"
@@ -130,9 +109,25 @@ publishing {
     }
 }
 
-fun Project.publishing(action: PublishingExtension.() -> Unit) = configure(action)
+nexusPublishing {
+    repositories {
+        sonatype()
+    }
+}
 
-fun Project.signing(configure: SigningExtension.() -> Unit): Unit = configure(configure)
+signing {
+    if (Ci.isRelease) {
+        val signingKey: String? by project
+        val signingPassword: String? by project
+
+        if (signingKey != null && signingPassword != null) {
+            useInMemoryPgpKeys(signingKey, signingPassword)
+        } else {
+            throw IllegalStateException("No signing key or password found")
+        }
+        sign(publishing.publications)
+    }
+}
 
 object Ci {
     // this is the version used for building snapshots
diff --git a/settings.gradle.kts b/settings.gradle.kts
index f544d362..b73d99e2 100644
--- a/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -36,18 +36,18 @@ dependencyResolutionManagement {
             library("kotlinx-serialization-core", "org.jetbrains.kotlinx", "kotlinx-serialization-core").version(kotlinxSerialization)
             library("kotlinx-serialization-json", "org.jetbrains.kotlinx", "kotlinx-serialization-json").version(kotlinxSerialization)
 
-            val kotestVersion = "5.8.0"
+            val kotestVersion = "5.9.1"
             library("kotest-core", "io.kotest", "kotest-assertions-core").version(kotestVersion)
             library("kotest-json", "io.kotest", "kotest-assertions-json").version(kotestVersion)
             library("kotest-junit5", "io.kotest", "kotest-runner-junit5").version(kotestVersion)
             library("kotest-property", "io.kotest", "kotest-property").version(kotestVersion)
 
-            plugin("dokka", "org.jetbrains.dokka").version("1.9.10")
+            plugin("dokka", "org.jetbrains.dokka").version("1.9.20")
             plugin("kotest", "io.kotest").version("0.4.11")
-            plugin("github-versions", "com.github.ben-manes.versions").version("0.46.0")
-            plugin("nexus-publish", "io.github.gradle-nexus.publish-plugin").version("1.3.0")
+            plugin("github-versions", "com.github.ben-manes.versions").version("0.51.0")
+            plugin("nexus-publish", "io.github.gradle-nexus.publish-plugin").version("2.0.0")
             plugin("spotless", "com.diffplug.spotless").version("6.25.0")
-            plugin("kover", "org.jetbrains.kotlinx.kover").version("0.7.6")
+            plugin("kover", "org.jetbrains.kotlinx.kover").version("0.8.1")
             plugin("binary-compatibility-validator", "org.jetbrains.kotlinx.binary-compatibility-validator").version("0.14.0")
         }
     }