The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is set to accumulate around £125m in legal costs as it defends itself against 27,000 shareholders who lost money following its 2008 rights issue. Continue reading “Fees to hit £125m for HSF client RBS as group action continues”
Just over a month after a High Court judge ruled on Dechert’s fee dispute with Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), the US firm has sued its client Ikon Finance over the non-payment of nearly £860,000 in fees. Continue reading “Back in court: Dechert sues client Ikon Finance over fees”
BT has concluded its long-awaited UK and Ireland panel review, with a raft of Magic Circle firms including Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Clifford Chance and Linklaters winning places on the extended roster. Continue reading “BT concludes delayed panel review with 37 firms including Magic Circle heavyweights winning places”
Figures published by City firm RPC have shown a marked 37% increase in litigation against the largest 50 global banks in 2016, with the rates rising year on year. Continue reading “‘The time lag will vary’: New research shows litigation against global banks up 37%”
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) confirmed today (3 April) that it is closing its Riyadh office, one of two bases the firm has in the Middle East. Continue reading “Scaling back: KWM pulls out of Riyadh in latest loss for global giant”
In a week of German hires, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Noerr have added depth to their German offices with Clyde & Co and Farrer & Co making moves closer to home. Continue reading “Revolving doors: BLP and Noerr make German plays as City firms follow suit”
While there has been no shortage of firms announcing partnerships with legal AI providers, Slaughter and May has gone a step further and taken a 5% stake in Luminance, the due diligence AI supported by tech billionaire Mike Lynch. Continue reading “Slaughters takes 5% stake in Luminance as firms commit to legal AI”
DLA Piper is to combine with Danish law firm LETT by the end of May this year, becoming the largest firm in the Nordic region with five offices and more than 370 lawyers. Continue reading “DLA agrees Danish tie-up to become largest firm in the Nordics”
Slaughter and May, Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford Chance (CC) have all picked up advisory roles in the UK government’s £11.8bn sale of buy-to-let mortgages from failed lender Bradford & Bingley. Continue reading “A&O and CC take spots as Bradford & Bingley loans sold by Slaughters Treasury client”
According to CBRE’s fifth Law in London report, the largest 100 firms in the City have made ‘significant changes’ to their real estate over the last five years, notably through a decrease in space per fee earner. Continue reading “‘Times have moved on’: City firms shrink office space as new leases down 50%”
After making its first ever lateral hire in London last month, Slaughter and May has strengthened its London bench with five new partners, including three women. Macfarlanes also made up three partners in the City earlier this week. Continue reading “City elite reduce partnership rounds as Slaughters makes up seven and Macfarlanes three”
With an average revenue growth of 5% in 2016, the business climate for small to medium size (SME) firms with income under £123m in the UK has been generally positive, according to the latest NatWest Legal Benchmarking report out today (30 March). Continue reading “NatWest SME law firm report warns lock-up a concern although business climate positive”
Addleshaw Goddard‘s general counsel (GC) Simon Callander is leaving the firm for a role as GC and company secretary at UK fashion retailer SuperGroup. Continue reading “‘A different direction’: Addleshaws GC Callander departs for role at Supergroup”
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson‘s London managing partner Graham White is to retire later this year with asset management partner Mark Mifsud taking up the role of London head. Continue reading “Fried Frank London leadership to move to Mifsud as veteran White retires”
Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has made a series of new management changes to its Far East offices, with new managing partners for its Hong Kong and Singapore offices and the appointment of project finance partner Nick Merritt as head of Asia business strategy. Continue reading “Norton Rose Fulbright reshuffles Asia management with three appointments”
RSA Group has appointed Jonathan Cope as head of legal for the insurer’s UK and international business. Continue reading “Moving up: RSA group makes Cope head of legal for UK and international business”
News of Tesco’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement promises me another day combing through meticulously negotiated documents to see if in-house, or outside, lawyers were involved in the latest corporate scandal. Continue reading “Guest post: More evidence piles up on the role of in-house counsel in preventing scandal”
City lawyers have voiced their concerns as today (29 March) prime minister Theresa May has started the process of triggering article 50, launching a complex two-year negotiation before Britain leaves the EU in 2019. Continue reading “‘Not a smooth process’: The legal profession opines on the Brexit negotiations to come”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and DLA Piper have announced high-profile Brexit hires as British Prime Minister Theresa May triggered article 50 today (29 March). Continue reading “Freshfields and DLA announce Brexit hires as May triggers article 50”
Partners from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Norton Rose Fulbright and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan are set to go another round as Ukraine has vowed to appeal a pre-trial decision over a $3bn Russian bond repayment. Continue reading “‘No justiciable defence’: Cleary, NRF and Quinn to go another round in $3bn Russian bond dispute”
