DLA Piper has increased profit at its international LLP for the fourth year running despite a sustained period of investing ‘tens of millions’ of pounds in office moves, refurbishments and IT systems. A strong year for its European offices – and the implementation of new accounting standards – simultaneously saw revenue lift 18.5% to £1.09bn, although …
DAC Beachcroft is looking for further opportunities in Europe and South America after doubling the size of its Madrid office by combining with a three-partner insurance boutique. The firm today (21 January) took on 20-lawyer outfit Asjusa, which focuses on professional liability and insurance in the healthcare sector, led by partners Eduardo Asensi Pallarés and …
Continue reading “‘We’re taking proximate steps’: DAC doubles up in Madrid with 20-lawyer hire”
DWF is looking to crack the US market with an acquisition which would likely surpass its £42.5m deal for a Spanish law firm announced today (11 December). The firm, which became the UK’s sixth and largest law firm to list in March this year, announced the acquisition of 40-partner Rousaud Costas Duran (RCD) alongside its half-year …
Hamish McNicol, Legal Business: How do you build your identity and culture as a legal team? And how do you then communicate your teams’ qualities to the wider business? Findlay Anderson, Baker Hughes Oilfield Equipment: The culture of the legal team comes from two different sources. One is the general counsel setting the rhythm for …
BDB Pitmans, Irwin Mitchell and Norton Rose Fulbright have been dropped from National Grid’s panel, understood to be worth about £12m a year in the UK alone, following an extensive tender process which saw firms pay to compete for spots. Womble Bond Dickinson is the sole new appointee on a roster which reduced the number of advisers from …
Gowling WLG has elected a corporate partner chair of its UK LLP, with incumbent Andrew Witts standing down after more than eight years and multiple mergers. M&A and private equity partner Andy Stylianou (pictured) will become the firm’s chair from May 2020 on a four-year term, the firm said today (12 November). He was already …
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Ashurst has teamed up with US-based law company Elevate and Cognia Law to offer clients flexible lawyering through the firm’s New Law umbrella Ashurst Advance. The initiative launched today (8 November) and gives Ashurst access to Elevate and Cognia’s flexible lawyering pool, with the offering initially available in both the UK and Australia before being rolled …
Continue reading “Ashurst joins flexible lawyering bandwagon as DWF completes BT Law acquisition”
Eversheds Sutherland is ramping up its City investment plans as the firm looks to become a leading player in the global upper mid-market corporate space. The firm said today (4 November) it had hired the former head of UK corporate at Simmons & Simmons, Giles Dennison (pictured), in London. Dennison was a Simmons lifer, becoming …
Hamish McNicol assesses the adviser mood as clients flex buying power ‘Would I say it’s the norm? No. But would I say I’m surprised? No.’
Lee Ranson was restless. It was late 2018 and Eversheds Sutherland’s co-chief needed something different: a viable plan to double revenue over the next five years. A few months earlier, he and US-based co-chief executive Mark Wasserman had joked about telling the firm’s partner conference in New York they were floating on the stock exchange. …
Continue reading “New tricks – Can law firms beat New Law disruptors at their own game?”
