Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has finalised a move to absorb its German partnership into its UK LLP, as firms enter the final stages of preparations ahead of a 31 January Brexit. The move was implemented in December last year as the firm faced a complex regulatory environment in Germany due to the UK’s imminent departure from …
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Reed Smith has opened its fifth European office in Brussels, following the hire of five partners to the firm’s corporate group. The partners all come from different firms, and will be joined by two associates and one counsel. The partners focus on competition/antitrust, with Brussels long being a hub for international firms’ competition work.
Shares in listed law firm Ince Group fell drastically today (15 January) after the company called for an additional £16m in finance to reload its balance sheet following Gordon Dadds’ acquisition of the firm in 2018. The placing saw shares fall almost 50% to 45p from 89p, before rising slightly to 47p. Ince sought the accelerated …
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Axiom Managed Solutions (AMS) has abandoned efforts to sell to new investors following its split from Axiom, instead rebranding as Factor following further commitments from existing stakeholders. The legal managed services business was put on the market in early 2019 when the wider Axiom group unveiled plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO), although …
City blueblood Slaughter and May has increased its salary for associates with 2.5 years post-qualified experience (PQE) or more, after putting newly-qualified (NQ) solicitors in line for a £100,000 pay package last summer. The move means associates in the 2.5 PQE salary scale and above will now receive an increase of between 2.2% and 8.2%, …
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Starting the New Year with a bang, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has recruited a 21-strong team of lawyers in Paris, including seven partners. The hires mark the largest addition to the firm since its transatlantic merger in 2018, with expansion on the continent high on the agenda for the firm’s leadership. Two partners have joined …
Despite the relative drought of listings in recent months, former SJ Berwin private equity head Matthew Hudson has raised £31m for his asset management consultancy MJ Hudson (MJH) following a floatation of the business last week. Meanwhile, listed firm Gateley also revealed last week it acquired Cambridge-based management consultancy T-three. Founded in 2010, MJ Hudson focuses …
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has appointed senior litigation hand and managing partner for Asia Justin D’Agostino (pictured) as its new chief executive officer (CEO), following Mark Rigotti’s decision to stand down from the role in spring of next year. D’Agostino, 47, also spearheads the firm’s global disputes practice and US regions. Unlike the London-based Rigotti, D’Agostino …
Its supporters are accused of advocating reforms not fit for purpose, posing a threat to the standing of the profession; its detractors are derided as ‘dinosaurs’, apologists for inequality and ‘buggers’ who moan about everything. Four years since the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced plans to shake up legal education in England and Wales with …
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Thomas Alan reports on a lively LB debate on training the solicitors of tomorrow With the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) primed for a 2021 launch; a new generation of lawyers entering the industry; and the partnership model under increasing strain, the legal education sector is set for its largest upheaval in a generation.
