The legal profession is going through a period of dramatic and profound change, and the forces driving these changes are having far-reaching consequences on the industry. The roles and responsibilities of the equity partner are not immune from these forces, and are evolving and expanding in response. For many this is creating great ambiguity, while others are seizing the opportunity.
Asia moves: Hires for BLP, Milbank and Rajah & Tann as Harneys launches in Singapore
Ever active, the legal market in Asia has seen a number of high profile hires and losses over the past week, including Norton Rose Fulbright asset finance partner Nigel Ward’s move to Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy’s hire in Singapore of Stephenson Harwood’s global head of aviation Paul Ng, and offshore firm Harneys Westwood & Riegels expansion into Singapore.
Freshfields arbitration practice sees more exits as trio set up boutique in Germany
Disputes partner Christian Borris is leaving Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer‘s Cologne office at the end of April to set up a local arbitration boutique.
His former two associates, Rudolph Hennecke who left the firm a month ago, and Sebastian Kneisel who relocated from its Cologne office to Frankfurt last year, will be joining Borris as partners to set up the new practice, Borris Hennecke Kneisel, which will launch on 1 May.
Berlin office closure for King & Wood following partner departures and ‘strategic review’
Following signifcant movement within the German arms of major international firms of late, King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin (KWMSJB) has pointed to a strategic review of its German operations for the decision to close its Berlin office, after venture capital duo Frank Vogel and Jan Dirk Heerma resigned with the intention to set up their own boutique.
Law Society CEO Des Hudson announces summer retirement following calls for resignation
Law Society chief executive Des Hudson has today (14 March) announced he is retiring in July after the society’s annual general meeting, just days after members of the profession called for both Hudson and current Law Society president Nicholas Fluck to resign.
Hudson joined the Law Society as chief executive in September 2006. He has led numerous high-profile campaigns, including the introduction of initiatives such as the Law Society’s conveyancing quality scheme; risk and compliance service; and the wills and inheritance quality scheme.
Russian leader Egorov Puginsky hires managing partner and nine lawyer capital markets team from rival Liniya Prava
Leading Russian firm Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners has hired the managing partner and co-founder of rival Moscow firm Liniya Prava, who joins alongside a nine-lawyer capital markets team.
You win some you lose some: Skadden’s client bows out of $1.7bn Amcol bidding war as $1bn Chiquita/Fyffes merger goes through
The month-long bidding war between French minerals company Imerys and New York’s Mineral Technologies (MT) for Amcol International this week saw Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom lose out to Cravath, Swaine & Moore as MT’s $1.7bn offer saw its competitor finally bow out of the frame. Although of significant consolation to the top five Global 100 firm is its second billion dollar deal of the week: the merger of client Chiquita with its rival, world renowned banana brand Fyffes.
Diversity – Herbert Smith Freehills commits to 30% female partners by 2019
Set against a backdrop of initiatives including the 30% Club’s drive to improve senior female representation on UK boards, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has announced today (13 March) that by 2019 women will make up 30% of its partnership.
Numbers game – Freshfields awards 15 partner promotions across Europe, Tokyo and New York
In the latest round of partnership promotions, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has made up 15 new partners to its ranks. While that figure does not represent a return to 2011 and 2012 levels, when 20 partners were made up, it is a slight increase on last year, when the number fell to 14.
High Court orders Withers to pay £1.6m over professional negligence claim
Leading private client firm Withers has this week been ordered by the High Court to pay £1.6m in damages after the court upheld a professional negligence claim alleging the misdrafting of a limited liability partnership agreement.