Page 278 – Legal Business

17 July 20176 February 2025

Revolving doors: CC partner seconded to Takeover Panel, 2Birds, PwC and Farrer hire in London, while K&E adds to Germany

Law firms are strengthening their European practices, with Bird & Bird, PwC and Farrer & Co all hiring in London, Kirkland & Ellis in Germany, while a Clifford Chance (CC) partner was appointed to a high-profile panel role.

James Bole, promoted to CC’s M&A partner two months ago, has been named as the new secretary of the Takeover Panel, on a two-year secondment from September. Bole is CC’s first Takeover Panel appointment for a decade. He will replace Addleshaw Goddard partner Simon Woodin the role. Continue reading “Revolving doors: CC partner seconded to Takeover Panel, 2Birds, PwC and Farrer hire in London, while K&E adds to Germany”

‘No plans to stand still’: Morgan Lewis’ revenue surges to £34m in London

Morgan Lewis & Bockius’ London office revenue grew 17% in the year ended September 2016, increasing its London revenue last year to £33.9m, up from £29.1m in 2015.

The figures were revealed in limited liability partnership (LLP) documents filed in respect of its London and Paris offices. Continue reading “‘No plans to stand still’: Morgan Lewis’ revenue surges to £34m in London”

‘Move in the right direction’: BLM appoints veteran as new managing partner

Insurance law and risk specialist firm BLM announced today (17 July) it has appointed its claims solutions head Vivienne Williams (pictured) as the firm’s new managing partner. She replaced Gary Allison, who retired after 23 years at the firm, last week. Continue reading “‘Move in the right direction’: BLM appoints veteran as new managing partner”

US and Asia focus: Linklaters’ new executive committee shakeup brings fresh regional targets

Linklaters is to renew its focus on the US and Asia following its appointment of a new global head of US practice, Tom Shropshire, and an Asia regional managing partner, Nathalie Hobbs, to its executive committee in a shakeup of the firm’s top management group.

Shropshire replaced Scott Bowie to lead the New York and Washington DC offices and is now responsible for further developing the firm’s global US practice. Bowie is due to leave Linklaters at the end of July. Continue reading “US and Asia focus: Linklaters’ new executive committee shakeup brings fresh regional targets”

‘A new challenge’: Freshfields antitrust veteran Jon Lawrence to leave for Brick Court

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer competition litigation head Jon Lawrence is to leave the firm to pursue a career as a barrister at Brick Court Chambers.

Lawrence, who works in the EU dispute resolution group and heads the firm’s competition litigation team, as well as co-leading its cartel skills group.

Lawrence, who has worked at Freshfields for over 30 years, is seeking to join Brick Court in the autumn of 2018 upon successful completion of any pupillage and subject to compliance with any other regulatory requirements. Continue reading “‘A new challenge’: Freshfields antitrust veteran Jon Lawrence to leave for Brick Court”

‘Unshakeable integrity and commitment’: Bristows joint managing partner Savvides dies in cycling accident

London head-quartered firm Bristows is mourning the death of joint managing partner Theo Savvides, who tragically passed away on 10 July following a cycling accident in France.

Intellectual property (IP) partner Savvides joined Bristows three years ago from Osborne Clarke and was made joint managing partner in 2016. Having trained at Allen & Overy, he was also an associate at the Magic Circle firm until 2002. Continue reading “‘Unshakeable integrity and commitment’: Bristows joint managing partner Savvides dies in cycling accident”

Financials 2017: Pensions boutique Sackers records 16% fall in PEP as revenue static

Turnover at boutique pensions firm Sacker & Partners has slowed after last year’s strong growth, with average profit per equity partner (PEP) dropping to 794,000, 16% less than the previous year.

This year, Sackers also recorded stagnant turnover and a 5% fall in net income from £13.3m to £12.7m. Revenue at the firm, which focuses on pensions and retirement savings, remained flat at £26.7m, as it was unable to match its previous year’s financial success. Continue reading “Financials 2017: Pensions boutique Sackers records 16% fall in PEP as revenue static”

‘Exciting growth journey’: White & Case advises Polish telecoms company Play on €1bn IPO

White & Case has again advised Polish telecoms group Play Communications and its shareholders, Novator and Olympia, this time on Play’s €1bn initial public offering (IPO) on the Warsaw stock exchange.

The IPO, which is the largest in the telecommunications sector in the past two years, values Poland’s second biggest mobile network operator Play at €4bn. Continue reading “‘Exciting growth journey’: White & Case advises Polish telecoms company Play on €1bn IPO”

DWF breaks into South America with associations following Asia launch

DWF has fulfilled its ambition to enter the South American legal market with new associations in Argentina, Panama and Colombia, following swiftly on from the firm’s Asia launch in June.

The Manchester-headquarted firm has entered into associations with VAGEDES & Asociados in Argentina, Fabrega Molino in Panama and Duarte Garcia Abogados (DG&A) in Colombia. The associations will operate as ‘best friends’ arrangements and are not exclusive. Continue reading “DWF breaks into South America with associations following Asia launch”

Fieldfisher posts 100% autumn trainee retention rates for second consecutive year

Fieldfisher is retaining all of its London-based trainees for a second consecutive year, with a 13-strong cohort qualifying into a range of practice areas.

The newly-qualified lawyers (NQs), who will earn £63,000 a year, will join Fieldfisher’s corporate, dispute resolution, employment and pensions, finance, intellectual property, regulatory, property litigation and technology practices. Continue reading “Fieldfisher posts 100% autumn trainee retention rates for second consecutive year”

Continue reading “Former Linklaters global COO to head Baker McKenzie’s London office”

Former Linklaters global COO to head Baker McKenzie’s London office

Former Linklaters’ global chief operating officer Simon Thompson (pictured) has joined Baker McKenzie’s London office as its new chief operating officer (COO) with effect from August.

Firms including Bond Dickinson, TLT and DAC Beachcroft appointed to local authority framework

A host of UK firms including Bond Dickinson, TLT and DAC Beachcroft have been appointed to West Yorkshire authorities’ legal framework (WYLAW) for three years.

A total of nineteen law firms have been appointed across ten lots which include childcare law, general litigation, routine property and contracts, commercial and IT. National firms Browne Jacobson, Ward Hadaway and Weightmans also feature on the roster. The last WYLAW review was carried out in June 2013 resulting in a panel which included Eversheds Sutherland and Pinsent Masons. Continue reading “Firms including Bond Dickinson, TLT and DAC Beachcroft appointed to local authority framework”

Comment: A grinding year for the Global 100 as US leaders assert dominance

Casting an eye over the results for the world’s 100 largest law firms, 2016/17 has been the definition of grinding out a result. Not a pretty result at that.

The group as a whole hiked revenues 3% to $98.82bn, pretty much tracking the increase in lawyer numbers. In part due to the strength of the dollar, there are some surprising results. The number of $2bn-plus law firms has fallen from ten to eight (thanks to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters). The number of $1bn-plus firms falls from 35 to 34. Consolidation continues to be a force in the industry but almost exclusively in the global mid-tier, not its upper echelons. Continue reading “Comment: A grinding year for the Global 100 as US leaders assert dominance”

‘Particularly pleasing’: DAC posts 20% rise in PEP despite subdued revenue

DAC Beachcroft‘s profit per equity partner has increased 20% from £358,000 to £432,000, despite subdued revenue growth which the firm attributed to global investments and challenging market conditions over the year.

The firm recorded a 3% revenue rise from £201.6m last financial year to £207m this year.

DAC Beachcroft notably further reduced its debt by £1m to £19m over the period. Continue reading “‘Particularly pleasing’: DAC posts 20% rise in PEP despite subdued revenue”

Trowers and Withers post fall in autumn trainee retention rates

Trowers & Hamlins will retain 70% of its second-year trainees in newly-qualified (NQ) roles this autumn, while Withers has decided to keep 73% of its final-year group this year, both a fall from last year’s retention rates.

Seven Trowers’ trainees from ten-strong cohort will be retained to qualify into the firm’s commercial property, corporate, construction and real estate departments. Continue reading “Trowers and Withers post fall in autumn trainee retention rates”