Monckton Chambers secures largest ever award from European Court of Human Rights in second historic Yukos ruling

In what becomes the second multibillion dollar award against Russia in the space of a week, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg has ruled that the country must pay 50,000 Yukos shareholders €1.9bn ($2.5bn) for unlawful tax penalties and disproportionate enforcement in the run up to the oil company’s bankruptcy.

Clifford Chance replaces Campbell and Dunnigan in governance shake up

Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance continues to overhaul its corporate governance structure and today (31 July) announced that global finance chief Mark Campbell will step down from his leadership position alongside head of the global capital markets practice David Dunnigan, to be replaced by London-based partners Rob Lee and Adrian Cartwright respectively.

Gardening leave is not at your leisure – High Court rules on notices and covenant periods

It is often forgotten that the received wisdom as the 1990s wore on was that restrictive covenants and other restraints on free movement of staff would become a thing of the past for law firm partners and industry in general as the market went the way of the US. However, a High Court ruling this week is a further reminder that employers’ rights to insist on such terms – and how they are used – are still very much a reality.

Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Freshfields and Linklaters advise banks on competition inquiry

International firm Ashurst and Magic Circle trio Clifford Chance, Freshfields and Linklaters are advising the UK’s biggest banks over an inquiry into competition in the banking sector, following an investigation launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in mid-July.