City law firms using contract lawyers can breathe a sigh of relief, after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (pictured) said in his Budget today (March 16) that the government would not target the private sector in its crackdown on tax savings made by consultants through personal service companies (PSC).
Continue reading “Budget 2016: Contract lawyer services avoid tax crackdown”
It promised to create a property and disputes giant across the Atlantic and one of the most distinctive law firms in the global market but in the end the mooted union between Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and Greenberg Traurig has been called off.
Continue reading “‘Not enough common ground’ – BLP and Greenberg call off transatlantic merger bid”
Lord Neuberger (pictured), in a recent short speech, provides some interesting insights in to the problematic world of legal advice privilege (LAP), but he does so with one eye closed. Let me explain.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer disputes veteran Ian Terry is leaving the Magic Circle firm after 38 years and heading to the Bar.
Continue reading “Freshfields disputes veteran Terry heads to the Bar”
Top 50 UK law firm Burges Salmon has promoted four individuals to partner, and made one lateral hire from Travers Smith, in a move to build up what it sees as its key growth areas.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has dropped its investigation into allegations of rigging in the foreign exchange (forex) market after it found insufficient evidence to prosecute.
As two of the most highly regarded leaders in the Square Mile – David Morley at Allen & Overy (A&O) and Chris Saul at Slaughter and May – prepare to hand over, it’s an apt moment to reflect on the state of leadership at leading UK law firms. It’s not clear that what emerges from the profession is all that flattering.
Continue reading “Comment: Too many reasonable men? What ails law firm leadership”
Eversheds has hired a trio of lawyers from Squire Patton Boggs, while DLA Piper, Mayer Brown and Dentons all added to their benches around the globe.
Mishcon de Reya has today (14 March) announced the arrival of former Addleshaw Goddard partner Sonia Campbell as it continues the steady expansion of its commercial disputes team.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has stepped in to the long-simmering debate on costs and access to the profession to confirm it will toughen the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) amid controversy regarding 99%-plus pass rates.
Continue reading “Watchdog to raise bar on the Bar in toughened pre-vocational test”
Since I wrote about David Cameron’s ‘sovereignty plan’, it seems to have been forgotten. It’s clear the idea was aimed at keeping politicians in the Remain camp, and has failed.
Continue reading “Guest post: How Boris Johnson is wrong on parliamentary sovereignty”
I confess the analogy is not perfect, but reflecting on the bizarre and often contradictory pressures on partners in law firms today brings to mind the world of Alice in Wonderland. Today, many question the appropriateness of the partnership model itself. They certainly question the strange, often opaque feudal master/servant process by which the aspiring lawyer serves their apprenticeship.
Magic Circle firm Linklaters has ramped up associate take-home pay after a lengthy review of its remuneration.
A 250-strong group of lawyers including leaders from Allen & Overy (A&O), King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), Simmons & Simmons and Travers Smith have joined the ‘Lawyers – In For Britain’ group lobbying for the UK to remain in the EU.
Litigation specialist Stewarts Law has hired James Price from Farrer & Co to launch a trusts litigation practice in the City.
Continue reading “Stewarts Law latest to develop trusts practice with Farrer hire”
There is a reason that the slogan ‘No taxation without representation’ has echoed through history. The rally cry of the American revolution demonstrates a basic truth that institutions and figures of authority hitting up constituencies for money without broadly representing their interests are in the long run asking for trouble.
Continue reading “Comment: Why it’s time for the Law Society’s levy to go”
Dentons‘ NextLaw Labs, a venture launched last year for financing new legal services technologies, has made its second major investment with legal tech start-up Apperio.
Continue reading “Dentons’ venture NextLaw Labs invests in fee transparency firm Apperio”
Reed Smith has reported global revenues fell 2.5% in 2015 to $1.12bn from $1.15bn, while profits per partner were lower by 8.1%, which the firm has said is due to poor commodity prices and early resolution of some litigation matters.
Continue reading “Reed Smith blames poor energy prices as global revenues dip 2.5%”
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy has become the latest firm to post flat results following the economic slowdown in some of its key markets, including energy and infrastructure, as its London office put in a strong 6% revenue increase to $110.2m.
Continue reading “Milbank posts flat global results as London turnover rises 6% to $110m”
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired Clifford Chance’s Alastair Mordaunt to become the new competition head of its Hong Kong practice.
