‘Mishcon’ no more but a City player at last? Wragges needs a big deal and the old magic Legal Business ‘Wragge & Co was the Mishcon of its day.’ That statement from a former veteran of the Midlands giant sums…
The City elite is ready to try something new – are clients keeping up? Caroline Hill Eighteen months ago I met the general counsel (GC) of a FTSE 250 company to listen to his plans to…
The Last Word: A year in review Legal Business Aside from bad knitwear and excessive alcohol consumption, Christmas is a time for reflection as well as looking ahead. With…
DISSENT: The battle for talent and other phoney wars Legal Business A false ‘war for talent’ has seen law firms create their own staff shortages, argue Laura Empson and Louise Ashley.…
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi launches first EMEA panel Legal Business Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) has announced its first-ever panel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with eight…
BG Group slims down legal roster to three Legal Business For a FTSE 100 company operating in 20 countries, BG Group’s panel of four law firms was already slim, but…
Reed Smith set for record year in London thanks to lateral push and sector focus Legal Business David Stevenson reports on Reed Smith’s evolution into credible global contender For a 1,500-lawyer, top-30 Global 100 firm, Reed Smith…
Clifford Chance in line for windfall payment after PwC reaches European Lehman settlement Legal Business As latest payout confirmed to Lehman’s creditors, total US and UK costs soar to $2bn Clifford Chance is among the…
A&O the first top-tier player to forge contract lawyer service Jaishree Kalia Freelance lawyers to cover fixed-term needs. For all the talk of innovation in the profession, experimentation with new models has…
RPC abolishes flat-rate salary for newly-qualified solicitors Legal Business City firm to move junior lawyers to structure based on merit and market rates. RPC has taken the final steps to…
If the shoe just about fits – Wragges in merger talks with Lawrence Graham Legal Business Proposed merger promises Birmingham firm significant City presence. The announcement last month that Wragge & Co and Lawrence Graham (LG)…
Gateway to Africa: Hogan Lovells ties-up with Routledge Modise Sarah Downey The queue of international firms looking to enter the South African market became one shorter in November, as transatlantic giant…
Ashurst faces senior departures after key merger goes live Jaishree Kalia It’s not been the ideal launch after the final phase of its high-stakes global merger. Within days of the union…
Shearman settles controlling stake in Co-operative Bank for US hedge funds David Stevenson Behind the scenes of the first-ever creditor bail-in of a bank in the UK. Last month The Co-operative Group’s £1.5bn…
Life During Law: Marco Compagnoni Legal Business I’m a forward-looking type of guy. Looking back on your career is something you do when you’re retiring. At the…
Bond Dickinson wins AIG tender for volume contract work Caroline Hill Merged regional giant beats four rivals for out-of-London mandates Following a competitive tender process between five of its panel law…
Half-year financial results point to relative revival at leading UK firms Legal Business Cyclical departments increasing contribution to bottom line As an analytical tool half-year figures may be superficial but as a litmus…
Consolidating pharma giants to drive global M&A as advisers secure major deals from Novartis and Shire Legal Business The pharmaceutical industry is the driving force behind a number of recent high-value M&A transactions as drugs companies look for…
H1 2013/14: Ashurst sees combined half year figures rise by 6% Jaishree Kalia Newly-merged Ashurst has joined the growing numbers of top 50 LB100 firms to report an increase in turnover during the first…
Legal fees: QualitySolicitors to abandon hourly rates in favour of fixed fees Legal Business QualitySolicitors (QS) has unveiled plans to abandon the hourly rate across its network of firms, offering fixed fees for all…
