Despite post-Brexit referendum market turbulence, independent firms Travers Smith and Macfarlanes have both elevated their newly-qualified (NQ) pay levels, with the former matching Slaughter and May’s newly-qualified pay level of £71,500.
‘The time is right’: ENRC drops Debevoise for Quinn Emanuel on SFO probe
Mining giant Eurasian National Resources Corp (ENRC) has ceased its working relationship with Debevoise & Plimpton in favour of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in a major criminal investigation taken by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Continue reading “‘The time is right’: ENRC drops Debevoise for Quinn Emanuel on SFO probe”
Deal watch: Corporate activity in June 2016
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT AND A&O LEAD NUCLEAR JV
Continue reading “Deal watch: Corporate activity in June 2016”
Guest post: Don’t abuse the Brexit litigants – their action shows we live in a free country
The law firm Mishcon de Reya is bringing an action to force the Prime Minister, whoever she (or just conceivably he) may be, to obtain parliamentary approval before issuing that all-important article 50 notification.
‘Another milestone’: White & Case and A&O take roles in $1.3bn software deal as Avast buys AVG
White & Case, Allen & Overy, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek have won advisory roles as security software giant Avast Software buys AVG Technologies for $1.3bn.
Addleshaws votes through key partnership deed changes including wider exit provisions
After a drawn-out process, Addleshaw Goddard has voted through several changes to its partnership deed, including further restrictions on partner exits and changes to management terms.
‘Maintaining momentum’: Taylor Wessing posts UK income up 4.4% to £126.6m
Growth has stalled at Taylor Wessing as UK income is up 4.4% to £126.6m. The results follow an increase of 8.2% in UK revenues the year before.
Continue reading “‘Maintaining momentum’: Taylor Wessing posts UK income up 4.4% to £126.6m”
Anger over article 50: Protesters gather outside Mishcon over Brexit legal challenge
Protesters gathered outside the headquarters of City firm Mishcon de Reya today (7 July) in response to the firm’s plans to launch a legal action over the triggering of article 50 and the process of Brexit. However the City firm has also received over 1,500 emails of support of the action since the news emerged.
Freshfields rides out choppy deal market to outpace CC and A&O with £82m revenue hike
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer posted a revenue increase of 7% to £1.327bn for the 2015/16 financial year, clawing back from last year’s flat results when revenues rose just 1% to £1.245bn. The increase puts the firm well ahead of Magic Circle peers Clifford Chance (CC) and Allen & Overy (A&O), which posted revenue increases of 3% and 2.3% respectively.
In reverse: BLP the latest UK firm to report falling revenue as turnover drops 2% to £254m
After something of a revival in 2014/15, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) went into reverse last year as revenue dropped 2% to £254m.
Comment: The lexicon of inefficiency – in-house counsel’s artisan improvisation is out of date
It is not easy to be an in-house lawyer. Thank goodness, however, because if it was why on earth would any business want to employ a lawyer? In fact, why would any lawyer go to the trouble of that expensive and gruelling training and working hours that risk burnout; then, just when they reach the point they can capitalise on their powers, decide to hop into a featherbed of routine, low-risk work that is more ‘admin’ than law?
‘Do we believe in Africa?’
As we reported in our dispute resolution Insight ‘Clause and effect’ last year, Africa has become a disputes hotspot. With a fall in commodities prices leading to abandoned projects, disputes work is becoming even more plentiful.
Discussing dispute resolution in a developing continent comprising 54 disparate jurisdictions can lead to huge generalisations, but when it comes to arbitration there seems to be a case for a pan-African focus. The UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration has been implemented in a number of African countries, while the Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) – covering 17 states in west and central Africa – has created a legal community with unified arbitration legislation and a common arbitration court. There has also been a proliferation of arbitration institutions throughout Africa. However, many of these institutions remain untested and do not have the support of the court system. Continue reading “‘Do we believe in Africa?’”
‘Far from satisfactory’: Chilcot highly critical of Lord Goldsmith over Iraq War
Lord Peter Goldsmith, the UK attorney general at the time of the Iraq war, has been heavily criticised in the Chilcot report. The report, which cost £10m and is more than 2.6 million words long, was released today following a seven-year inquiry into the decision making that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Continue reading “‘Far from satisfactory’: Chilcot highly critical of Lord Goldsmith over Iraq War”
Financials 2015/16: DAC Beachcroft posts 9% profit boost despite subdued turnover
As the firm continues gradual growth, DAC Beachcroft increased turnover to £202m, a 2% increase on last year’s £200m. Profit before tax was up £3m to £35m, a 9% rise on last year’s figures, with profit before tax per member rising 21% to £358,000.
Continue reading “Financials 2015/16: DAC Beachcroft posts 9% profit boost despite subdued turnover”
‘Obviously some headwinds’: Clifford Chance revenue up 3% while PEP leaps by 10%
Clifford Chance (CC) has become the second Magic Circle firm to announce its financial results for the 2015/16 year, with revenues up 3% to £1.39bn while profit per equity partner has leapt by 10% to £1.23m, the firm’s highest to date.
Continue reading “‘Obviously some headwinds’: Clifford Chance revenue up 3% while PEP leaps by 10%”
‘Building our business’: Turnover growth stalls at Shoosmiths with 4% revenue rise
Shoosmiths has seen revenue rise 4% for 2015/16 to £107m, down on the firm’s double digit growth last year of 10%. In 2014/15, the firm saw turnover recover to near pre-2008 levels, reaching £102.7m. The latest results see the firm beat its 2007/8 record for the first time, when the revenues reached £103.4m.
US firms take roles as Melrose becomes first post-Brexit acquirer with $2.81bn Nortek purchase
In a post-Brexit referendum takeover which has seen turnaround group Melrose’s shares soar, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Weil, Gotshal & Manges have secured advisory roles as Melrose purchases US ventilation manufacturer Nortek in a deal worth $2.81bn.
‘Not where I’d like them to be’: Ashurst disappoints again with 10% revenue tumble
Ashurst has posted its second year of falling revenues following its merger with Blake Dawson in 2013 with turnover dipping by £28m, bringing the firm’s revenues down 10% to £505m.
HSF delivers best post-merger revenue performance yet with revenues up 7% to £870m
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has put in its strongest financial performance since its creation in 2012 through the merger of the UK’s Herbert Smith and Australia’s Freehills, with revenue up 7% in 2015/16 to £870m.
Clifford Chance latest to partner with tech firm Kira as major players make AI push
Clifford Chance (CC) has become the latest firm to increase its investment in technology initiatives, announcing this morning (5 July) that it has entered into partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) provider, Kira Systems.