In the midst of volatile oil and gas markets, energy-focused firm Vinson & Elkins (V&E) has become the latest firm to close down its Abu Dhabi office.
Continue reading “Middle East consolidation continues: V&E latest to pull out of Abu Dhabi”
Kirkland & Ellis suffers London mass exit as seven partners walk out in less than a week
Kirkland & Ellis has lost capital markets partner Andrew Hagan to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, within days of the firm losing a six-partner team to Sidley Austin.
Bringing it in-house: SRA to review litigation panel as regulator assesses internal function
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which is already keeping some firms busy with work as it bids for independence from the Law Society, has launched a review of its litigation panel amid a wider review of its own legal function.
Revenue recovers at DLA Piper as it joins $2.5bn club while profits tumble amid cutbacks
Following a flat 2014, revenue at DLA Piper rose by 2.5% last year as the firm broke the $2.5bn barrier for the first time.
In-house: Lloyds appoints real estate finance sub-panel ahead of summer global review
Lloyds Banking Group has appointed a specialist sub-panel for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) work ahead of its global panel review this summer, with US and Magic Circle firms among those taking places.
Magic Circle trio land roles as London City Airport sold to Canadian consortium in £2bn deal
Three Magic Circle firms won positions to advise on the sale of London City Airport to a Canadian-led consortium of investors in a deal worth £2bn.
Half of solicitors are Oxbridge educated, along with 74% of judges, new data reveals
A privately educated elite continues to dominate the legal profession, as new Sutton Trust figures show 78% of barristers have Oxbridge qualifications, while the figure is 74% for the judiciary and 55% of solicitors. Continue reading “Half of solicitors are Oxbridge educated, along with 74% of judges, new data reveals”
City lawyers form pro-Brexit coalition led by 8 New Square Queen’s Counsel
Lawyers at barristers’ set 8 New Square and LB 100 firms Slaughter and May, CMS Cameron McKenna and Wedlake Bell are among those in a newly-formed pro-Brexit lobby for lawyers.
Continue reading “City lawyers form pro-Brexit coalition led by 8 New Square Queen’s Counsel”
UK banking financials: Lloyds, Standard Chartered and HSBC ramp up legal provisions
With the UK banking reporting season in full swing, Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Chartered and HSBC have all upped their provisions for settlements and legal claims.
New York slowdown: Weil Gotshal revenue flat again as Davis Polk’s strong run comes to an end
New York elite firms Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Davis Polk & Wardwell struggled to achieve meaningful growth last year, with Weil’s haul of $1.16bn in 2015 still behind what the firm generated in 2011.
A&O leadership complete: Ballheimer elected managing partner until 2020
Allen & Overy (A&O) has announced the final addition to its management team, appointing corporate co-head Andrew Ballheimer (pictured) as its next global managing partner.
Continue reading “A&O leadership complete: Ballheimer elected managing partner until 2020”
Latham’s global march slowed as capital markets slump hits US elite
After setting the pace during last year’s global reporting season, raising revenue by 14% to $2.61bn to become the largest law firm in the world by turnover, growth at Latham & Watkins slowed in 2015 as the collapse in capital markets activity hits elite US firms.
Continue reading “Latham’s global march slowed as capital markets slump hits US elite”
Scots firms in the mix as Pernod Ricard refreshes UK legal panel
Spirits maker Pernod Ricard has appointed a mix of firms, including a handful of Scottish indies, to its refreshed UK panel.
Continue reading “Scots firms in the mix as Pernod Ricard refreshes UK legal panel”
New Law enters the big league: Lawyers On Demand seals £25m merger with Australian firm
In the largest New Law merger to date, the UK’s biggest freelance lawyer service Lawyers On Demand (LOD) has sealed a deal with Australia’s AdventBalance to create a £25m business.
Merger take-three: Freshfields and Linklaters advise as LSE and Deutsche Börse re-visit talks
Nearly 16 years since talks first began, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and German rival Deutsche Börse are engaged in merger discussions again, and Magic Circle duo Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have won roles advising on the potential combination.
Latham targets Asian private equity market with hires from Clifford Chance and Freshfields
After making significant investment into its European private equity practice to transform it into one of the region’s biggest private equity players, US firm Latham & Watkins has set its sights on Asia with a triple hire and two relocations.
Guest post: Brexit analysis – Why the real danger to Parliamentary sovereignty isn’t Europe
As we await David Cameron’s sovereignty plan this week, it might help to explain what we mean by ‘Parliamentary sovereignty’.
KPMG defeats judicial review challenge in Barclays swap case
Accountancy giant KPMG has triumphed at London’s High Court today (24 February) after an unprecedented judicial review taken by Holmcroft Properties was dismissed.
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Guest post: How law firms benefit when laterals don’t fit in
Much has been written recently about the need for law firms to integrate laterals more effectively. One need only search ‘law firm lateral integration’ to find resources providing tips for more successful integration, often accompanied by the cautionary tales of serial laterals and disastrous failed integrations.
Continue reading “Guest post: How law firms benefit when laterals don’t fit in”
Latham prepares sixth Asia office as it signs property lease for Seoul
Within a year of reviewing its Asia strategy, Latham & Watkins is set to join the mass of law firms in South Korea, as it prepares to launch its Seoul office.
Continue reading “Latham prepares sixth Asia office as it signs property lease for Seoul”