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Comment: Magic Circle playbooks in Europe are full of contradictions’

To recap as the UK tiptoes towards banana republic territory in the wake of last month’s inconclusive, prediction-defying general election: City professionals face the prospect of an unsteady government negotiating a logistically-epic exit from the EU with an uncertain agenda against a much larger and better prepared counter-party. That is until the next general election in perhaps the autumn. Continue reading “Comment: Magic Circle playbooks in Europe are full of contradictions’”

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Civil court service fees generate £102m surplus for government as job cuts continue

The civil courts generated a £100m surplus in their most recent year according to new figures that are bound to hike concerns over the use of civil courts to subsidise the justice system.

Over the last year, HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) has generated fee income of nearly £800m, £186m from family justice fees and more than £602m from civil justice fees, surpassing its own spend by £102m, while cuts to the service continue. Continue reading “Civil court service fees generate £102m surplus for government as job cuts continue”

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‘GCs are becoming much more discerning’: CPS special crime head Vamos to join Peters & Peters

Disputes and business crime boutique Peters & Peters has today (19 July) announced that the former head of special crime at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Nick Vamos, will become a partner at the firm.

Vamos, a qualified barrister, will join the firm as a partner on 4 September. He has significant criminal law experience, specialising in international criminal investigations, corporate manslaughter cases and political and police corruption. Continue reading “‘GCs are becoming much more discerning’: CPS special crime head Vamos to join Peters & Peters”

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‘Work in an agile way’: Ince & Co revenues rebound with 16% growth after three-year decline

Ince & Co’s revenue has grown 16% to £88.5m this year, signalling recovery from a three-year decline, in what Ince’s international senior partner Jan Heuvels described as a ‘good year of investment and growth.’

Heuvels (pictured) told Legal Business that, ‘if you strip out the FX effect, as we do have significant non-sterling earnings, we still have a significant 10% increase in real terms.’ Continue reading “‘Work in an agile way’: Ince & Co revenues rebound with 16% growth after three-year decline”

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‘A game changer’: Fieldfisher invests in digital platform for start-up funding rounds

Fieldfisher has invested in a digital platform offering an automated way to generate and update documents required during funding rounds, allowing start-ups and investors to negotiate and close deals remotely and more quickly, which could also offer the firm new clients.

European firm Fieldfisher was part of a £1m investment round in SeedLegals, launched three months ago, along with another law firm, investment fund Seedcamp and several other companies. Fieldfisher has a particular technology, finance and energy focus and is growing its network of European offices. Continue reading “‘A game changer’: Fieldfisher invests in digital platform for start-up funding rounds”

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‘Acted recklessly’: White & Case fined record sum by SDT for conflict of interest breach

White & Case has been fined £250,000 in the largest-ever sanction imposed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) against a firm, as it said today (19 July) that the firm had breached conduct rules by acting recklessly in failing to identify a conflict of interest and failure to protect confidential information regarding a $2bn Ukrainian commercial dispute.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) referred the case to the SDT after the High Court found in 2014 that the firm had failed to identify a conflict of interest and barred it from acting on the case. Continue reading “‘Acted recklessly’: White & Case fined record sum by SDT for conflict of interest breach”

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Brexit saves Chancery Lane’s bacon as Government backs off proposals to split SRA from Law Society

The hopes of the UK’s largest legal watchdog of being separated from the Law Society appear to have been dashed, according to a Government paper that backs away from a full split of lawyers’ trade union and regulatory bodies.

The Ministry of Justice review, published today (19 July), indicates that the government is backing off earlier proposals to fully separate the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the profession’s primary front-line regulator, from the Law Society. Continue reading “Brexit saves Chancery Lane’s bacon as Government backs off proposals to split SRA from Law Society”

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Matrix Chambers CEO Lindsay Scott to head up 39 Essex Chambers later this year

Long-serving Matrix Chambers CEO Lindsay Scott (pictured) is to join 39 Essex Chambers as its new chief executive officer, later in the year.

Scott, who has been the CEO of Matrix for 11 years, is responsible for its overall management, including developing client relationships, marketing strategy and human resources. Continue reading “Matrix Chambers CEO Lindsay Scott to head up 39 Essex Chambers later this year”

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Comment: The answer to law firms’ social ills is not another league table

Have we reached peak aspirational employer league table yet? From the perspective of the legal industry we certainly should have, given the trend in recent years for the profession to turn up with improbably high rankings in a proliferating range of ‘best employers for…’ tables.

Were an alien to descend to earth and judge the industry on the basis of these rankings they would conclude that the profession had cracked social mobility, gender diversity, gay-empowerment and quality of life… all the while generating a tonne of money. Continue reading “Comment: The answer to law firms’ social ills is not another league table”

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Linklaters to recruit first chief information security officer as DLA breach pushes security up firms’ agenda

Linklaters is seeking to recruit a chief information security officer (CISO) to establish, shape and deliver its global IT security strategy and management programme, a new position for the Magic Circle firm.

The recruitment drive follows swiftly after a major cyber attack on DLA Piper on 27 June, which knocked down the firm’s communication system, temporarily putting its phones and computers out of action.  Continue reading “Linklaters to recruit first chief information security officer as DLA breach pushes security up firms’ agenda”

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

game of hoopla with lawyers

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”

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‘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”

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

Linklaters Logo on Wall

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”

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‘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”

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‘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”

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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”

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‘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”

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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”