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‘Short-term pain, long-term gain’: Q&A with CMS UK managing partner Stephen Millar

Stephen Millar

On 1 May 2017, the largest legal merger in UK history went live as CMS Cameron McKenna, Nabarro and Olswang combined to form the 2,000-lawyer CMS UK. Managing partner Stephen Millar tells Marco Cillario about hurdles and opportunities of the tie-up.

LB: What have been the biggest challenges of combining and integrating three firms?

Stephen Millar, CMS UK managing partner: Looking at previous mergers, we knew this was about going through short-term pain for medium and long-term gain. Integration is a huge challenge when you have thousands of people and complex systems in place. Continue reading “‘Short-term pain, long-term gain’: Q&A with CMS UK managing partner Stephen Millar”

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Another first for global law’s self-styled mavericks as Dentons’ mega-referral network expands into lobbying

It has already made a much-hyped move into the referral network game, now the headline-grabbing Dentons is plotting another iconoclastic move by extending its Nextlaw group to cover public affairs advisers across the world.

The 8,000-lawyer giant today (12 September) unveiled the launch of what it calls the Nextlaw Global Public Affairs Network, having signed up 60 organisations spanning 100 countries. Continue reading “Another first for global law’s self-styled mavericks as Dentons’ mega-referral network expands into lobbying”

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Revolving doors: International firms return to hiring season with multiple City and global recruits

game of hoopla with lawyers

International law firms have returned from the summer break in acquisition mode, with Berwin Leighton Paisner, Bird & Bird, Taylor Wessing, Reed Smith and Pinsent Masons all hiring in London and Asia, while Sidley, Dentons and Osborne Clarke are expanding their continental European footprint.

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has this morning (11 September) announced the appointment of three new international disputes partners to further strengthen its litigation and corporate risk (LCR) practice. Continue reading “Revolving doors: International firms return to hiring season with multiple City and global recruits”

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100 PA jobs at risk as technology push leads Pinsent Masons to redundancy consultation

Pinsent Masons

With growing pressure on firms to increase efficiency in the delivery of legal services through technology, as many as 100 legal personal assistant (PA) roles at Pinsent Masons are at risk of redundancy following a consultation launched by the firm.

The consultation will end by November and could affect any of the firm’s UK offices. Continue reading “100 PA jobs at risk as technology push leads Pinsent Masons to redundancy consultation”

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In-house wrap: Air France confirms new law chief as EDF and PwC make senior hires

Marco Boldini

It has been a busy week for in-house moves, with three major companies seeing significant changes in their legal teams. First up, Air France-KLM has appointed a new head of legal after a near year-long process. Pauline Baron has been promoted to head of legal at Air France after serving as head of corporate and securities at the aviation group for over two years.

Baron assumed the role in July, replacing outgoing legal head Guillaume Hecketsweiler, who left the company last October. Jérôme Nanty, Air France’s executive vice president and corporate secretary, headed the company’s legal division in the interim period. Continue reading “In-house wrap: Air France confirms new law chief as EDF and PwC make senior hires”

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KWM insolvency report reveals cost of everything from artwork to legal fees as ex-staff agree payout

King & Wood Mallesons Shattered

Eight months on and the King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) saga continues, with a progress report filed this week revealing the cost of the firm’s European administration amid confirmation that ex-staff are set to receive a payout.

According to a report filed by administrator Quantuma at Companies House on 5 September, CMS Cameron McKenna received a total of £826,740 for ‘assistance in attending to the complex legal issues which have arisen both in the pre and post administration periods’. This figure also includes costs of £235,544 incurred by the firm in dealing with KWM’s German offices while additional legal fees of £186,318 go to Pinsent Masons for advising the administrators as well as £70,000 to iLaw Legal Services. Continue reading “KWM insolvency report reveals cost of everything from artwork to legal fees as ex-staff agree payout”

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He’s back – DWF signs up Sir Nigel Knowles as chair in rare c-suite shuffle for the profession

It remains extremely rare for law firm leaders to re-emerge at another practice, but then Sir Nigel Knowles has always been one to do things his own way in more than 30 years in the profession.

Knowles today (7 September) announced his return to law after retiring last year from the global giant DLA Piper to become chair of DWF, an ambitious UK player that has long modelled itself on Knowles’ former parish. Continue reading “He’s back – DWF signs up Sir Nigel Knowles as chair in rare c-suite shuffle for the profession”

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Cog on the Tyne – Norton Rose expands Newcastle legal services hub following successful trial

Newcastle, UK

After a year-long trial, Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) is following up on its recent transatlantic merger with further investment in its Newcastle legal services hub.

Supporting the firm’s operations globally, the Newcastle operation will move to larger premises on 1 November amid plans to increase headcount in the North East from 28 to 100 over the next two to three years. Continue reading “Cog on the Tyne – Norton Rose expands Newcastle legal services hub following successful trial”

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CC pushes on with stateside lateral spree adding disputes trio in Washington

As a season of disputes and regulatory hiring for international firms in Washington DC continues apace, Clifford Chance (CC) has continued its significant period of lateral hires in the US by adding two partners and a counsel to its Washington litigation practice.

And with the arrival of partners Joshua Berman and Glen Donath, alongside counsel Joshua Fitzhugh, CC has also ensured that 40% of its 22-strong US litigation contingent are former federal prosecutors. Continue reading “CC pushes on with stateside lateral spree adding disputes trio in Washington”

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Eversheds opens three European offices at once to extend international odyssey in line with strategy

Lee Ranson

Seven months after its game-changing transatlantic merger, Eversheds Sutherland is continuing its spate of recent international expansion with the opening of three new European offices in Luxembourg, Moscow and St Petersburg, which include a number of lateral hires.

Two partners from Simmons & Simmons and five from Nordic Euro Elite firm Hannes Snellman will join the new offices, which bring the firm’s global footprint to 66 offices in 32 countries, in what Eversheds’ co-chief executive Lee Ranson (pictured) described as a ‘key element’ of the firm’s 2020 strategy. Continue reading “Eversheds opens three European offices at once to extend international odyssey in line with strategy”

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Kennedys sustains remarkable growth with NY team as insurance players keep up global push

The internationalisation of insurance law continues apace. Just four months after securing a merger with US practice Carroll McNulty & Kull (CMK), Kennedys has taken a New York team from Sedgwick including the firm’s former managing partner, John Blanchett. Partners Christopher Novak and Matthew Ferguson will also join Kennedys alongside three associates.

Blanchett, who headed up Sedgwick’s financial institutions (FI) practice, focuses on commercial crime, fidelity, professional liability, directors’ and officers’ liability and media liability as well as other types of insurance. Novak specialises in insurance coverage disputes and Ferguson’s practice covers both domestic and international coverage matters. Continue reading “Kennedys sustains remarkable growth with NY team as insurance players keep up global push”

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Deal Watch: Third time lucky for Links and Ashurst on software bid as HSF puts PR shop into the headlines

Given the steady hum of deal activity over the summer, the crucial September period has yet to take off with a flurry of big ticket M&A, but Linklaters, Ashurst and DLA Piper are among firms handling prominent work this week.

The largest deal to hit Europe’s market this week has seen Linklaters and Ashurst advising on the combination between British company Aveva and France’s Schneider Software to create a £3bn tech group. Linklaters’ corporate partner Aisling Zarraga and capital markets partner Richard Good are heading the team for Schneider, a long-time client of the firm with the City giant advising parent group Schneider Electric in 2013 on its £3.3bn takeover of UK engineering group Invensys. Ashurst, meanwhile, fielded a contingent under corporate partners Karen Davies and James Fletcher for the Cambridge-based Aveva. The deal is expected to complete by the end of the year. Continue reading “Deal Watch: Third time lucky for Links and Ashurst on software bid as HSF puts PR shop into the headlines”

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Revolving doors: DLA, Kirkland and Pinsents bring in partners as firms gear up for the crucial post-summer period

City of London

With August drawing to a close, London’s simmering lateral hire market is already heating up again with DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons, Kirkland & Ellis and Debevoise & Plimpton among the firms bringing in new partners.

At DLA Piper, the firm’s finance team made its first hires since Maurice Allen’s appointment in March as a consultant, appointing ex-Kirkland & Ellis and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Philip Crump in London and Kirkland partner Doug Murning.

Continue reading “Revolving doors: DLA, Kirkland and Pinsents bring in partners as firms gear up for the crucial post-summer period”

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The new space race

‘For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace.’

John F Kennedy

When President John F Kennedy stood before Rice University on 12 September 1962 and boldly declared that not only would the US be the first country to land on the moon, but they would do it before the end of the decade, he captured and captivated the imaginations of a generation.

Continue reading “The new space race”

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In conversation: Jean Liu, general counsel, Seattle Genetics

GC: Could you tell me about your background and how you came to be working in-house for Seattle Genetics?

Jean Liu (JL): I started out as a scientist, not a lawyer. I went to grad school to study molecular biology, but when I started my PhD programme, I realised that I didn’t have the temperament to focus on very specific, minute details – I preferred to have a broader vision.

Continue reading “In conversation: Jean Liu, general counsel, Seattle Genetics”

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A football life

‘Once a Raider, always a Raider’
Al Davis

In the 1980s and 1990s, few sports teams were as culturally transcendent as the Raiders.

The unmistakable pirate logo, accented in silver and black, was a mainstay on attire around the globe – proudly displayed by countless people, many of whom had likely never seen the team play a game in their life.

Continue reading “A football life”

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In conversation: Chris Sundermeier, general counsel, Reputation.com.

GC: Could you start by telling me about your own background and how you came in-house?

Chris Sundermeier (CS): I spent 15 years at a Silicon Valley-based technology law firm Cooley LLP. At Cooley, I spent a lot of time working with tech companies, doing a variety of different types of litigation. I always felt like it would be interesting to go in-house and, rather than consult as an outsider on litigaton and make recommendations about what the company should do, really work on the bigger picture business and make the actual decisions about what the company should do. I came to Reputation.com specifically becausete former CEO of this company was a client of mine, and when I realised he was looking for a general counsel, I reached out to him. It was a good decision and I have been here for the last five years.

Continue reading “In conversation: Chris Sundermeier, general counsel, Reputation.com.”