City litigation heavyweights have backed the judiciary’s decision to rebrand specialist civil courts within the High Court, creating an umbrella establishment called the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales.
Continue reading “‘Open for business’: City litigators react to new Business and Property Courts”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer‘s aviation finance team is to depart for Holland & Knight following the exit of London’s sole aviation finance partner Rob Murphy. Continue reading “Freshfields loses City aviation finance team as exits continue”
One year on from its acquisition of the banking litigation team of Matthew Arnold & Baldwin in Watford, Dentons has launched a consultation over nine roles in the office. Continue reading “Five lawyer roles at risk as Dentons launches Watford office consultation”
After a four-year battle, a High Court judge has refused Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) client Marathon Asset Management an appeal, ending a dispute against two former employees accused of unlawfully copying and retaining confidential information. Continue reading “HSF client Marathon refused appeal to end long-running document misuse dispute”
In its first European office opening since its 2016 merger, Gowling WLG has launched a second German outpost in Stuttgart. Continue reading “Gowlings relocates partner to Stuttgart to launch second Germany office”
Seven Bedford Row (7BR) has hired five new barristers and a new senior clerk to its criminal law team. Elsewhere, DAC Beachcroft has added to its City roster, as Dentons and Holman Fenwick Willan have secured hires on the continent. Continue reading “Revolving doors: 7BR makes team play as DAC Beachcroft hires into London office”
An early mover in announcing its 2017 partner promotions, Pinsent Masons has made up 16 partners, including enough female partners to reach its 25% representation target a year early. Continue reading “Pinsents hits female partner target ahead of schedule in 16-strong promotions round”
While its merger driven expansion has made Dentons a global giant, integration across the firm’s US business has led to 60 job losses across 22 offices. Continue reading “Dentons cuts 60 jobs across US offices as McKenna Long merger layoffs hit”
Slaughter and May and Linklaters gained advisory roles as energy services group Amec Foster Wheeler agreed to a £2.2bn takeover by Wood Group in an all-share offer that brings together two of the UK’s largest energy services companies. Continue reading “Repeat business: Slaughters and Linklaters act as Wood Group to take over Amec in £5bn deal”
DLA Piper has seen global turnover drop to $2.47bn for 2016 as overall profits improved by 6%. Revenue fell 3% from last year’s $2.54bn, while net profit was up to $643.4m from $605.4m the previous year. Continue reading “DLA Piper revenue drops below $2.5bn as global firm trims lawyer numbers”
Kirk Murdoch, chairman of Pinsent Masons in Scotland and Northern Ireland, has passed away after a battle with illness.
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has unveiled its panel for general legal advice services, with 18 firms making it onto a two tier panel. Continue reading “Twelve firms make it onto top tier of reduced Crown Commercial Services panel”
An initial report into King & Wood Mallesons‘ now defunct European arm states unsecured creditors are expected to lose £33.5m as administrators Quantuma continue to sift through the affairs of legacy SJ Berwin. Continue reading “Barclays among unsecured creditors set to lose £33.5m in KWM Europe administration”
In an unusual break from its mantra of transparency, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has decided it will no longer hold public board meetings or give members of the legal press permission to attend.
Continue reading “SRA gets secretive, blocking public and press access to board meetings”
Two years after Cooley‘s launch in the City with a dramatic flurry of hires, the office has hit turnover of $47m and grown rapidly. Matthew Field talks to Cooley London managing partner Justin Stock about the firm’s next move. Continue reading “Q&A: Cooley’s Justin Stock talks launching in London and his ambition to match US success”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy (A&O) have both kept on 31 members of their spring trainee intake, with retention rates of 84% and 82% respectively. Continue reading “Freshfields and A&O latest in the Magic Circle to post spring trainee retention rates, keeping on 84% and 82% respectively”
US litigation specialist Boies, Schiller & Flexner has hired Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) head of public international law Dominic Roughton. Continue reading “HSF public international law head to boost Boies Schiller City practice following Miles exit”
Eversheds Sutherland has appointed corporate partner Keri Rees to head up the firm’s global company commercial practice group following Keith Froud’s appointment as managing partner, Legal Business has learned. Continue reading “Legacy Eversheds partner Keri Rees takes top corporate role at newly-merged firm”
Slaughter and May is changing heads in three practice areas: dispute resolution, outsourcing, technology, intellectual property (IP) and sport, and pensions and employment, as Linklaters has also promoted a new real estate leader. Continue reading “Refreshing the ranks: Magic Circle firms freshen up practice area leadership”
Hearing that Legal Business was gearing up for an in-depth look at the collapse of the European arm of King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), a well-informed contact told me that this story could not be told without going back to the Stanley Berwin days. Continue reading “Comment: Myths and monsters – how KWM got swallowed by its own culture”
