In a rare defection from Macfarlanes, financial services head David Berman is set to join Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.
Preparing for the worst: legal costs spike as FTSE 100 sets aside £31bn
With corporate counsel consistently burdened by onerous cost constraints levied by their executive, the pressure to deliver efficiencies in-house may prove greater than ever. Newly-released data shows FTSE 100 companies have set aside £31.3bn in the last year for legal provisions, a rise of 22% from £26.5bn the year before.
Continue reading “Preparing for the worst: legal costs spike as FTSE 100 sets aside £31bn”
Revolving doors: White & Case, Winston & Strawn, Fieldfisher and Bond Dickinson bolster ranks
Although last week saw several partner departures from a select few LB 100 players, namely Ashurst and Simmons & Simmons, a quartet of firms including White & Case, Winston & Strawn, Fieldfisher and Bond Dickinson added to their benches.
Reducing the ranks: CC to cut trainee intake by a fifth by 2018
Clifford Chance (CC) is to cut down its UK trainee intake for 2018 by 20%, reducing numbers from around 100 trainees each year to 80.
Continue reading “Reducing the ranks: CC to cut trainee intake by a fifth by 2018”
Bond Dickinson latest to blame Brexit as firm implements pay freeze
Bond Dickinson is the latest firm to postpone its salary reviews until November, blaming the Brexit vote for hitting activity levels.
Continue reading “Bond Dickinson latest to blame Brexit as firm implements pay freeze”
Allen & Overy takes another two from Simmons in sustained IP push
Allen & Overy (A&O) has taken its third and fourth IP partner from Simmons & Simmons this year, as it strengthens its City IP practice.
Continue reading “Allen & Overy takes another two from Simmons in sustained IP push”
Sticking around: Linklaters Elliott to stay on as consultant as senior partner term ends
Outgoing Linklaters senior partner Robert Elliott will stay on as a consultant at the firm when his term finishes at the end of the month, with a focus on the firm’s Asia offices.
‘A serious point of principle’: Jackson reignites debate over increasing court fees
The debate amongst the profession over ever-increasing court fees continues to prove contentious, with Lord Justice Jackson being the latest to suggest the costs of pursuing civil cases is emerging as a real source of concern.
Ashurst loses another outpost leader with Brussels duo off to Simmons
Ashurst has lost another office head with its long term Brussels managing partner leaving the firm in favour of Simmons & Simmons, along with one counsel.
Continue reading “Ashurst loses another outpost leader with Brussels duo off to Simmons”
Engineering success: Eversheds hires top Nabarro construction disputes partner Douglas
Eversheds has hired disputes partner Jonathan Douglas from Nabarro to join the firm’s construction and engineering team.
Q&A: Morag MacDonald – Bird & Bird IP head on disputes, influences and serious maths
Sitting in the firm’s recently opened New Fetter Lane office, Matthew Field talks to Bird & Bird international head of intellectual property Morag Macdonald (pictured) as the firm targets London expansion.
Canadian cover: DLA Piper to merge with Toronto’s Dimock Stratton
Following Norton Rose Fulbright‘s (NRF) acquisition of a Vancouver firm earlier this month, DLA Piper is to merge with Canadian intellectual property firm Dimock Stratton with sixteen partners joining the global outfit in November.
Continue reading “Canadian cover: DLA Piper to merge with Toronto’s Dimock Stratton”
Back on track: Gowling WLG restarts delayed salary review
Gowling WLG informed staff yesterday (20 September) it will restart the delayed salary review that was put in place as a result of Britain’s vote to leave the EU. Speaking to Legal Business, Gowling WLG’s chief executive David Fennel confirmed that conversations regarding salary with staff will occur over the next couple of weeks.
Continue reading “Back on track: Gowling WLG restarts delayed salary review”
LOD’s Tim Bratton returns to in-house to join Euromoney
Lawyers On Demand‘s (LOD) practice development director Tim Bratton is to return to in-house after three years at the contract lawyering business, taking up a role as Euromoney Institutional Investor general counsel and company secretary.
Continue reading “LOD’s Tim Bratton returns to in-house to join Euromoney”
Quinn dealt major Moscow blow as arbitration duo head to Baker Botts
Typically on the receiving end of partner moves, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has lost Moscow-based arbitration partners Ivan Marisin and Vasily Kuznetsov to US rival Baker Botts, leaving Quinn’s ten-lawyer Russia outpost with one full-time partner.
Continue reading “Quinn dealt major Moscow blow as arbitration duo head to Baker Botts”
It takes two: K&L Gates names new leadership team to replace Kalis
With longstanding K&L Gates leader Peter Kalis set to step down early next year, the firm has picked Michael Caccese and James Segerdahl to succeed him. Continue reading “It takes two: K&L Gates names new leadership team to replace Kalis”
Going private: KWM’s former City tax head resurfaces at Forsters
Former King & Wood Mallesons head of tax Heather Corben has resurfaced at private client firm Forsters, following the restructuring of KWM’s legacy SJ Berwin practice.
Continue reading “Going private: KWM’s former City tax head resurfaces at Forsters”
Travers, Debevoise and Freshfields provide cover for $1.1bn Ascot insurance deal
Usual suspects Travers Smith, Debevoise & Plimpton, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have been gifted with advisory roles on the latest heavyweight deal as Canada Pension Plan Investment (CPPIB) has agreed to buy Ascot Underwriting Holdings, the Lloyds of London insurer linked to American International Group (AIG), as part of a $1.1bn agreement.
Continue reading “Travers, Debevoise and Freshfields provide cover for $1.1bn Ascot insurance deal”
RPC loses Sports Direct mandate after embattled retailer bows to shareholder pressure
RPC has lost its mandate to review Sports Direct’s governance in the fallout from the retailer’s shareholder meeting earlier this month.
Signature sees revenues soar 36% to £10.2m as boutique hires Bryan Cave litigation star
Disputes boutique Signature Litigation has seen revenue soar by 36% to £10.2m for the 2015/16 financial year, and continues invest in lateral hiring with Bryan Cave litigation partner, Ioannis Alexopoulos. Continue reading “Signature sees revenues soar 36% to £10.2m as boutique hires Bryan Cave litigation star”