Forming, storming, norming and performing

ZPG legal team

What makes a great corporate legal team? It is a question general counsel (GCs) surprisingly often struggle to answer. This lack of familiarity with the stock definitions of management theory should not be interpreted as a sign of operational incompetence, though.

‘The most common attribute any company looks for when hiring a GC is the ability to manage and lead a team,’ says Siobhán Lewington, managing director of legal recruitment boutique Fox Rodney Search. ‘The interview process is designed to highlight those skills and it is all but impossible to become head of a legal department now without an innate flair for teambuilding.’ Continue reading “Forming, storming, norming and performing”

Methodology and criteria

The research process for the GC Powerlist has grown substantially since the first report was published in 2013 and now encompasses online nominations as well as substantial interviews with senior general counsel (GCs) and private practitioners.

The first stage for the 2018 report began in early December with the launch of an online survey to canvass recommendations for outstanding legal teams. Continue reading “Methodology and criteria”

Fieldfisher, Kirkland and Stephenson Harwood the major winners at 2018 Legal Business Awards

Fieldfisher, Kirkland & Ellis and Stephenson Harwood were the big winners at the 2018 Legal Business Awards in front of more than 900 people last night (18 April), as Allen & Overy’s deal star Denise Gibson was recognised as Lawyer of the Year and BT’s Dan Fitz GC of the Year.

Hosted by journalist, writer and television presenter Mariella Frostrup, the ceremony saw Fieldfisher crowned Law Firm of the Year after an impressive 36% revenue growth to £165m in 2016/17 – the largest rise of any law firm in the Legal Business 100 table last year. The firm scooping the most prestigious award of the night underlines the work of managing partner Michael Chissick and senior partner Matthew Lohn in turning around a firm which only in 2012 was near-crisis (as described in our recent cover feature Reversal of Fortunes . Continue reading “Fieldfisher, Kirkland and Stephenson Harwood the major winners at 2018 Legal Business Awards”

Partner promotions: Clifford Chance promotes 26 globally in a stronger round for women

Clifford Chance

 Clifford Chance (CC) has made up 10 women in a promotion round that has ushered in 26 partners globally, seven of which are in London.

Effective 1 May, the round represents a much stronger showing for women, with 10 being promoted compared to just four last year. Overall the promotion round has increased by two from 24 in 2017. The new partners will span across the US, Asia Pacific, continental Europe the Middle East, while in the City promotions increased to seven, up from six last year.  Continue reading “Partner promotions: Clifford Chance promotes 26 globally in a stronger round for women”

Allen & Overy makes up just two women partners in scaled back global promotion round

Allen & Overy

Allen & Overy (A&O) has made up only two female lawyers to partner as part of a 20-strong round unveiled in the same month the firm vowed a renewed drive towards gender diversity.

The latest promotions fall below the scaled-up 2017 partner promotion round of 24 in which 10 were made up in London. Only four lawyers in London have been promoted to partner this year, as corporate and banking saw the lion’s share of the promotions. Continue reading “Allen & Overy makes up just two women partners in scaled back global promotion round”

Global London comment: Brexit looms but the $20m partner is coming

train track graphic

Striking numbers abound in this year’s Global London table, if you are into that kind of thing. The three pace-setting US brands in London – Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case – are all generating in the $300m region in the Square Mile, last year saw the first $10m lateral and my back-of-the-envelope scribbling indicates that the top 50 US firms are pulling in around $5bn in the UK.

The market is increasingly now defined by this trio, predictably so in the case of Latham, though City lawyers are still trying to get their heads around the idea of Kirkland and White & Case as mounting a frontal challenge. A few years ago, I’d have been equally sceptical, particularly in the latter’s case, but if there is a glaring hole in the game plan of these two outfits, they are hiding it well. With all three making ground in mainstream transactional work through 2017 and securing significant hires – the idea that certain kinds of M&A will remain the preserve of City advisers over the next three years looks fanciful. Continue reading “Global London comment: Brexit looms but the $20m partner is coming”

Revolving doors: Magic Circle provides talent as UK players strengthen at home and abroad

game of hoopla with lawyers

Last week saw the notable hires of highly experienced partners by rival firms in the UK, with the magic circle providing the source for some of the most high-profile acquisitions.

The most notable recruit came in Asia, where veteran silk Judith Gill QC is set to leave Allen & Overy to take up a position in 20 Essex Street’s Singapore offering within Maxwell Chambers on 1 May. Gill, who was admitted onto the roll in 1985, and said: ‘A&O has given me a level of encouragement, support and opportunity beyond all my expectations. I have had the privilege of working with immensely talented and dedicated individuals there at every level for more than three decades and I will miss them greatly.’ Continue reading “Revolving doors: Magic Circle provides talent as UK players strengthen at home and abroad”

UK rules: London in the spotlight as Mayer Brown appoints City veteran Clay as managing partner

starry sky over the City

In a marked shift in leadership away from its Illinois roots, Global 100 giant Mayer Brown has appointed City-based veteran Jeremy Clay as its new managing partner.

Global real estate head Clay will replace Washington-based litigator Kenneth Geller, who took on the role in 2009. Continue reading “UK rules: London in the spotlight as Mayer Brown appoints City veteran Clay as managing partner”

The future in the instant: Burness completes leadership overhaul of Scottish independents

Philip Rodney, Burness Paull

With Brodies having completed a generational overhaul of its leadership recently, a changing of the guard at rival Scottish independent Burness Paull  will take place this summer for the first time in over a decade.

Burness Paull corporate head Peter Lawson and property and infrastructure head Tamar Tammes will become the firm’s chairman and managing partner respectively from August this year. They replace longstanding figurehead and chairman Philip Rodney and managing partner Ian Wattie, who have held their positions for more than 12 years. Continue reading “The future in the instant: Burness completes leadership overhaul of Scottish independents”

‘A safe space’: SRA pushes ahead with innovation agenda

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) yesterday (12 April) announced plans to formalise its innovation ‘safe space’ – which allows firms to develop new ideas for business lines and products that could test regulatory boundaries – with the aim of fostering innovation within the legal industry.

The initiative seeks to simplify the existing waiver process from regulatory enforcement and make the criteria clearer for firms when applying for regulatory exemptions to pursue new business models. Continue reading “‘A safe space’: SRA pushes ahead with innovation agenda”

Addleshaws promotions rebound after a sedate 2017 as nine make the grade

Addleshaw Goddard has nearly doubled its promotions round from last year as nine partners are made up across the UK and Dubai.

The top 30 UK law firm’s partner promotions include three in London and Manchester, one in Leeds and two in Dubai, led by the corporate practice’s three promotions. The other new partners include one in each of employment, business support and restructuring, litigation, health and safety, construction, and environment. Continue reading “Addleshaws promotions rebound after a sedate 2017 as nine make the grade”

‘Top of our list’: A&O hires white-collar specialist Giles from Kingsley Napley

As the demand for criminal defence lawyers intensifies amid increased scrutiny from regulators, Allen & Overy has bolstered its firepower with the hire of white-collar crime partner Eve Giles from Kingsley Napley.

Giles has been a partner at Kingsley Napley since 2009 and will become A&O’s sixth corporate crime partner later this year, joining head of corporate and commercial litigation Lawson Caisley and partners Jonathan Hitchin, Calum Burnett, Arnondo Chakrabarti and Alice Englehart. Continue reading “‘Top of our list’: A&O hires white-collar specialist Giles from Kingsley Napley”