Blogs Archives

Taxing times: Lawyers’ reactions to the Autumn Statement

After his Autumn Statement, which may be UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne’s last if the Conservative party fails…

Dealwatch: Magic Circle lead on £5.2bn Aviva takeover of Friends Life

Sarah Downey

In one of the biggest deals the UK insurance sector has seen in years, Aviva‘s acquisition of Friends Life for…

Guest post: judicial review at bay – playing ping pong with the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill

Legal Business

Judicial review has been described by Liberty as ‘a crucial tool which allows ordinary people to challenge decisions by the…

Bar shuffles: Matrix hires media silk Millar from Doughty Street

Sarah Downey

High-profile silk Gavin Millar QC is set to join Matrix Chambers from Doughty Street in a bid to enhance its…

Leadership: managing partner candidates emerge as Freshfields elections loom

Legal Business

With next year being David Aitman’s final period as global managing partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, two partners are emerging…

‘We are offering something new’: EY latest Big Four giant granted ABS licence

Sarah Downey

EY has become the latest accountancy giant granted an alternative business structure (ABS) licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, in…

Building a base: Akin Gump launches London trainee scheme

Tom Moore

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld is launching its first trainee scheme outside of the US in a move that…

Hiring spree continues as Skadden takes Freshfields non-contentious insurance head

Jaishree Kalia

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom has continued its recent City hiring spree, recruiting Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s non-contentious insurance practice…

Baker & McKenzie turns to DLA again to add partner in Johannesburg

Tom Moore

Baker & McKenzie has lured a partner from rival global behemoth DLA Piper for the second time in a month,…

Hunting titans: Quinn and HSF take lead as former Goldman Sachs bankers and UBS face off

Tom Moore

Unsurprisingly for a high-profile claim against a global investment bank, litigation heavyweights Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Herbert Smith…

US expansion: Clifford Chance boosts Washington office with Bingham structured finance team

Legal Business

Clifford Chance has recruited a five-strong team from beleaguered US firm Bingham McCutchen to its Washington DC office, led by…

‘Culture of valuing and recognising everyone’s contribution’: Slaughters unveils bumper associate bonus package

Legal Business

Slaughter and May has increased the size of its annual bonuses, with associates qualified for more than four and a…

Worst-kept secret: Locke Lord and Edwards Wildman approve combination

Legal Business

Dallas-bred Locke Lord and Boston’s Edwards Wildman Palmer have rubber-stamped their high-profile union, today (1 December) announcing that their respective…

Targeting London: Proskauer set for Heron Tower and double its office space after City growth

Legal Business

New York-headquartered Proskauer Rose is set to double its office space in London with a move into the Heron Tower…

A £2.2bn claim: Stephenson Harwood and McGuireWoods act as Vincent Tchenguiz files against Grant Thornton and Kaupthing

Legal Business

Following on from the high profile Tchenguiz brothers’ lawsuit against the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in July this year, Vincent…

The Friday Edit: Bear markets, going postal and every little £263m helps

Legal Business

With the ill-advised Jack Daniels and coke I had forced on me at the back end of the British Legal…

‘Costs disputes is a growth area’: Thirty Nine Essex Street appoints former Senior Costs Judge

Legal Business

Leading set Thirty Nine Essex Street has yesterday (26 November) announced a major appointment, with Peter Hurst, former Senior Costs…

Partner exits mount: Edwards Wildman loses commercial litigation partner to GlaxoSmithKline

Legal Business

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is the latest to dip into the dwindling partnership at Edwards Wildman Palmer’s London office as…

‘Not persuaded by the evidence’: Legal Services Board rejects SRA proposal to reduce minimum PII cover

Legal Business

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today (27 November) published its decision on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) professional indemnity…

‘We have seen the potential pitfalls’: Ropes & Gray relocates to double office size due to City growth

Legal Business

Ropes & Gray is set to relocate to 1 New Ludgate, almost double its current office space, on the back…