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End of Sir Cliff’s BBC privacy battle ushers in new rules on reporting investigations

Cliff Richard

Old-fashioned defamation disputes may rarely create significant precedent these days but the rapidly evolving area of privacy is a very different matter, a dynamic underlined this week in dramatic form in the conclusion of Sir Cliff Richard’s legal battle with the BBC.

The veteran celebrity’s victory in his long-running privacy case against the BBC has highlighted issues of potentially huge scope for the media and other publishers in reporting investigations against individuals. Continue reading “End of Sir Cliff’s BBC privacy battle ushers in new rules on reporting investigations”

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Comment: Deal View – DLA moves house in London but can it break free?

DLA Piper

Shifting to an agile-working office is a peculiar experience. Two camps quickly emerge: those excited by change and colleagues happy with decades-old paper in a pile on their desk. It is unsettling, yet can galvanise a workforce.

DLA Piper is similarly moving into a bespoke, semi-open-plan office this year – its single-largest capital investment ever. The flagship London HQ unites 360 lawyers from two separate offices, a grand total of 633 steps down the road. A new environment will be embraced by many, but for some the gloss quickly wears off. Continue reading “Comment: Deal View – DLA moves house in London but can it break free?”

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Blistering run comes to an end for Mishcon as PEP falls and revenue growth slows

In what has been a strong reporting year already for a number of mid-market pacesetters, it is perhaps surprising to find that the frenetic growth of recent years at Mishcon de Reya has finally slowed.

The firm’s 8% top-line growth to £161.3m remains strong but is slower than last year’s 17% hike to £149.4m and resulted in a 9% dip in profit per equity partner (PEP) to £1m. Continue reading “Blistering run comes to an end for Mishcon as PEP falls and revenue growth slows”

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More cuts in the City as Ince & Co slashes more than 30 roles

Ince & Co

Shipping specialist Ince & Co has announced 32 redundancies in its London office in the latest wave of cuts by law firms in the City.

Ince is letting 25 business services staff and seven fee earners go, with three further roles still under consultation, including a managing associate whom Ince aims to relocate to one of its international offices. Continue reading “More cuts in the City as Ince & Co slashes more than 30 roles”

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Withers re-appoints longstanding chief Robertson to fourth term after uncontested election

Margaret Robertson

Private wealth specialist Withers has re-appointed Margaret Robertson as chief executive for a fourth term following an uncontested election, meaning she will lead the firm until 2021.

Longstanding leader Robertson has overseen the rapid internationalisation of the firm from one to 17 offices and a decade of consecutive revenue growth in which Withers added almost £100m to its top line. Continue reading “Withers re-appoints longstanding chief Robertson to fourth term after uncontested election”

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‘Hungry and energetic’: Kirkland taps rivals to launch second Texas base in Dallas

Kirkland & Ellis is building on the rapid growth of its Texas operations with the opening of a second office in the US state.

The Chicago-bred giant announced on Wednesday (11 July) it would open a new eight-partner base in Dallas, hiring six lawyers from US rivals including Jones Day M&A partner Michael Considine. Continue reading “‘Hungry and energetic’: Kirkland taps rivals to launch second Texas base in Dallas”

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Comment: GCs should grasp that disruption won’t leave their empires untouched

A lively debate over coffee recently with Axiom founder Mark Harris took me back to the discussion that manifests most frequently in my line of work these days: the extent that legal services are transforming with new providers and tools.

While Harris highlights many genuine changes in the industry and buying behaviour we disagree on whether this represents a fundamental shift. He sees the rule changing, for me it remains the exception. To be clear, I am an admirer of Axiom as a pioneer that has been a positive competitive force. And as the architect of the world’s most prominent New Law brand, Harris is positioned to see the bleeding edge of change. Continue reading “Comment: GCs should grasp that disruption won’t leave their empires untouched”

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Travers Smith unveils double-digit revenue growth as profitability soars 24%

In its ninth consecutive year of revenue growth, Travers Smith has recorded an 18% uptick in turnover to £146.9m, while profit per equity partner (PEP) also saw a dramatic increase.

The private equity leader’s 2017/18 performance eclipsed last year’s result when revenue inched up 4% against a backdrop of Brexit uncertainty. Continue reading “Travers Smith unveils double-digit revenue growth as profitability soars 24%”

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Linklaters fails to keep pace up with profit growth as revenue breaks £1.5bn

Linklaters

Linklaters has posted a mixed bag of financial results as revenue grew by a solid 6% to pass the £1.5bn mark but profits have failed to keep pace, increasing by just 2%.

As the last of London’s big four to announce its 2017/18 results, the revenue increase to £1.52bn means the Silk Street firm is the fastest-growing of the pack in sterling terms this time around, adding £85m to its top line. But profits per equity partner (PEP) rose to just £1.54m as the firm failed to translate the revenue growth into a comparable increase in net income. Continue reading “Linklaters fails to keep pace up with profit growth as revenue breaks £1.5bn”

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Clyde & Co grows revenue for second decade running as profitability sees double-digit increase

Clyde & Co

After a year of major international expansion, Clyde & Co has recorded another robust round of revenue growth with the firm’s top line rising 9% to £551.3m year-on-year.

The 2017/18 result means the firm’s revenue has grown by nearly 200% on a ten-year track – Clyde’s turnover in 2008 stood at £185m. Continue reading “Clyde & Co grows revenue for second decade running as profitability sees double-digit increase”

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Addleshaws’ appetite for expansion grows amid strong 23% lift in revenue

John Joyce

Addleshaw Goddard wants to expand in any possible way and in any possible place following a sustained period of growth and the early signs of a successful Scottish merger.

The firm’s revenue for the 2016/17 financial year was up 23% to £242m from £197m, while profit increased 36% to £87m. Since 2012/13, Addleshaws’ revenue has increased 45%, while profit is up 68% over that same period. Its cash position has also improved £65m in that time, to have reserves of £34m. Continue reading “Addleshaws’ appetite for expansion grows amid strong 23% lift in revenue”

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Freshfields’ high-yield guru McKimm rejoins Shearman & Sterling

Shearman & Sterling

In a fresh blow for City giant Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, high-yield partner Ward McKimm is leaving after three years to re-join his old firm, Shearman & Sterling.

The move comes not seven months after buyout star David Higgins exited for Kirkland & Ellis despite the Magic Circle firm overhauling its partnership model in a bid to keep its top performers. Continue reading “Freshfields’ high-yield guru McKimm rejoins Shearman & Sterling”

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Growth for Scottish independents Brodies and Shepherd Wedderburn as uncertainty looms

Nick Scott

Scottish independents Brodies and Shepherd and Wedderburn have continued to grow despite a backdrop of what both describe as political and economic uncertainty.

For Brodies, a 3% uptick in turnover for the financial year represents its eighth consecutive year of top-line growth, while Shepherd and Wedderburn reported record revenue and profit of £53.5m and £22m respectively. Continue reading “Growth for Scottish independents Brodies and Shepherd Wedderburn as uncertainty looms”

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Revolving doors: A&O makes New York push as DLA and Dentons add to European rosters

New York City, US, cityscape

It has been lively couple of weeks for lateral hires, with Allen & Overy (A&O) making a significant play in New York as a host of firms recruited across the continent.

Hot on the heels of rehiring financial services regulation head Bob Penn in June, A&O has hired M&A partner Stephen Besen in New York from Shearman & Sterling. Continue reading “Revolving doors: A&O makes New York push as DLA and Dentons add to European rosters”

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Watson Farley using fewer smiley emojis as revenue growth falls back following strong run

One of the UK’s leading ‘pacey’ mid-tier firms, Watson Farley & Williams (WFW), has seen its revenue growth rate fall to 3% following a record-breaking year.

The energy, transport and real estate specialist recorded an above-trend revenue growth of 20% to reach £159.8m last year. A modest 3% increase this year, by contrast, pushes WFW’s top line to £162.9m. Continue reading “Watson Farley using fewer smiley emojis as revenue growth falls back following strong run”

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Tchenguiz swaps Stephenson Harwood for Debevoise after failed €2bn claim

Robert Tchenguiz

Embattled property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz (pictured) has replaced long-time legal advisers Stephenson Harwood with Debevoise & Plimpton after his €2bn claim against an Abu Dhabi investment company was thrown out.

A Debevoise team led by dispute resolution partner Kevin Lloyd will take over future Tchenguiz mandates, including a key Commercial Court case later this year. Tchenquiz had only drafted in Stephenson Harwood in 2014 to replace Shearman & Sterling in his later-settled case against the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Continue reading “Tchenguiz swaps Stephenson Harwood for Debevoise after failed €2bn claim”

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Allen & Overy Fuse start-up Bloomsbury sold to Facebook for $23m

Fuse by Allen & Overy

Allen & Overy (A&O) is unlikely to replace the start-up that has been snapped up by Facebook just two months after it joined Fuse, the magic circle firm’s innovation hub.

London-based Bloomsbury AI, which has built a tool that can read documents and answer questions about them, is joining the social media giant in a deal reportedly worth between $23m and $30m. Facebook has confirmed the move but would not comment on its value. Continue reading “Allen & Overy Fuse start-up Bloomsbury sold to Facebook for $23m”

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Comment: Yet unremarked, generational conflict cripples City law

Our cover feature this month largely speaks for itself in assessing the changing face of partnership as Millennials begin colonising the senior ranks of City law firms. Within five years, this group will be the driving force of elite commercial advisers.

Yet this column is not about the changing attitudes of youngish lawyers, more an issue that touches so many topics in the pages of this magazine, spanning remuneration, strategy, governance and talent. Quite simply, that is the success – and much more often failure – of leading law firms in balancing the interests of their younger ranks with their older partners. Continue reading “Comment: Yet unremarked, generational conflict cripples City law”