Ahead of the triple merger on 1 May, the CMS global network including Nabarro and Olswang have announced their partner promotions for 2017, with females making up 27% of the worldwide total. Continue reading “CMS network promotes 48 to partner, with Nabarro and Olswang making up two each”
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) announced today (25 April) that it is extending its alternative legal services (ALT) business to Johannesburg later this year. Continue reading “‘Freeing up core teams’: HSF launches new alternative legal services hub in Johannesburg”
Clifford Chance (CC) has appointed 24 new partners globally, with promotions across the US, Asia Pacific, continental Europe and six in London. Continue reading “Partner promotions: CC appoints 24 to its partnership, including six in London”
Weightmans and Newcastle-based Ward Hadaway have ended merger discussions which would have created a £130.8m national firm after ‘both firms reached a consensus their respective strategic priorities were not sufficiently aligned to invest in such a significant merger.’ Continue reading “Weightmans and Ward Hadaway ‘mutually withdraw’ from merger discussions”
In spite of considerable hostility from the profession and legal education providers, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced today (25 April) that its planned Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), dubbed ‘the super exam’, is going ahead. Continue reading “‘Embrace the challenge and make it work’: Educators react as SRA confirms super-exams to start in 2020”
Legacy Gala Coral’s general counsel (GC) Harry Willets has departed the merged entity Ladbrokes Coral Group, four months after Lindsay Beardsell took over as group GC. Continue reading “In-house: Legacy Gala Coral’s GC Harry Willets departs merged Ladbrokes Coral”
White & Case has continued to strengthen its capital markets capability bringing on London based Ropes & Gray partner Chris McGarry. Continue reading “White & Case makes capital markets play with Ropes rising star Chris McGarry”
Mishcon de Reya has hired Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) partners David Leibowitz and Joanna Lampert, while partner Bobby Schrader is joining Barclays after less than two years with BLP. Continue reading “Triple exit for BLP as Mishcon and Barclays take on partners”
Linklaters has pushed through with its long awaited plans to spin off part of its Shanghai office in order to practice local law under new Shanghai Free-Trade Zone (FTZ) rules. Continue reading “Linklaters close to obtaining Chinese law capability with long awaited spin-off”
In another active week for lateral hires, firms have expanded their ranks in the UK and internationally. DAC Beachcroft has added to its Manchester office, while ARC Pensions Law, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and McDermott Will & Emery have all also made key hires. Continue reading “Revolving doors: DAC Beachcroft hires from DWF as Ropes partner quartet leave for Gibson Dunn”
In the middle of a monumental class action against RBS representing around 25,000 claimants, Signature Litigation founding partner Graham Huntley talks to Tom Baker about the firm’s co-operative structure, the market and the pressures facing commercial litigators in 2017. Continue reading “Q&A: Signature Litigation’s Graham Huntley on potential mergers and the need for litigators to behave”
Former King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) partners who took out personal loans from Barclays for their capital contributions have received payment ultimatums as the bank is demanding repayment by the end of April. Continue reading “Barclays deadline looms for KWM partners who took personal loans for capital”
Will this year’s Global London report chronicle the high watermark for the Square Mile as a global hub for foreign law firms? The possibility has to be considered with the article 50 notice about to be delivered as I type these words, representing the biggest threat to London’s position since the 1990s’ run-up to the launch of the euro. Continue reading “Comment: Global London – Has the City reached the end of its curious post-Lehman boom?”
In a bid to offer more flexible career options for associates, Linklaters is trialling an alternative career track which would see associates take a pay cut for a reduced working week in its German offices. Continue reading “Linklaters trials fixed-hours week for German associates”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) joint-head of bribery and corruption Ben Morgan to its corporate crime and global investigations practice. Continue reading “‘Super valuable’: Freshfields hires SFO’s joint-head of bribery in corporate crime boost”
Allen & Overy (A&O) has made up 10 partners in London with banking, international capital markets and corporate each seeing three promotions in the City in an increased global round of 24. Continue reading “A&O makes up 24 partners in largest promotion round since 2008”
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has made up four partners worldwide in a significantly smaller promotions round, while Charles Russell Speechlys (CRS) promoted four in London, two thirds of whom are women, in a round of six. Continue reading “Women make up two thirds of CRS partnership round as BLP drastically reduces promotions”
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has re-signed a deal with Tesco, giving it a three year mandate as the supermarket giant’s lead property adviser. Continue reading “Three more years: Tesco extends real estate mandate with BLP”
Pinsent Masons is launching its third international office in less than a year with the opening of a Madrid office in May. Continue reading “Pinsents opens third international office in 12 months with Madrid launch”
Weil, Gotshal & Manges confirmed today (19 April) that it has hired infrastructure and real estate finance partner Paul Hibbert from Baker McKenzie, as the US firm continues to ramp up its finance coverage in the City. Continue reading “Weil adds to banking practice with Baker McKenzie infrastructure specialist Hibbert”
