As City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) closes in on its landmark transatlantic merger with Miami giant Greenberg Traurig, the firms have targeted full financial integration.
City showdown: US firms take roles as Russia and Ukraine’s $3bn debt dispute heads to London court
City lawyers at US firms Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan are to face off after Russia filed a claim against Ukraine at London’s newly created financial court over its default of $3bn in bonds.
Land Securities to launch panel review following de Souza departure
FTSE 100 company Land Securities has kicked off a panel review of its external legal roster now that the current three-year term has come to an end.
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A win for Wim: Allen & Overy chooses Dejonghe as next senior partner to soothe generational leadership change
Allen & Overy (A&O) has opted for continuity in its generational leadership change by electing Wim Dejonghe (pictured), who is entering the last few weeks as managing partner, as its next senior partner.
DLA Piper’s Knowles to retire after 38 years at the firm
Sir Nigel Knowles (pictured) will retire from DLA Piper at the end of June after nearly four decades at the firm, the vast majority of which he spent spearheading a rapid globalisation of the firm into one of the world’s largest.
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Trainee retention: Perfect scores for Osborne Clarke and Mayer Brown as White & Case figure falls
Osborne Clarke and Mayer Brown have posted perfect spring retention figures this year, while White & Case’s rate dropped to 87%.
On the right track: Hitachi Rail Europe appoints first general counsel as legal team develops
Hitachi Rail Europe has confirmed the hire of WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff’s director of legal Jane Mee as the transport firm develops its legal team.
US financials: White & Case in growth mode while revenues up 1%
US firm White & Case has reported flat revenues for 2015, ticking up 1%, while the firm improved partnership and fee earner headcounts.
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Guest post: Legal lobby turf wars – what is the Law Society doing for you?
It is not a massive exaggeration to say that the Law Society will be fighting for its existence in the months to come. The government’s intention to make the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) entirely independent from the society will inevitably raise the question of whether what will then be purely a representative body should still be able to take a slice of the fees that solicitors pay for regulation.
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‘There’s a flat legal market’: Hogan Lovells blames low revenue and profit growth on currency fluctuations
Nearly six years on from its transatlantic union Hogan Lovells continues to post modest financial growth as its results today (16 February) showed revenue for the calendar year increased by 2.3% to $1.82bn in 2015 from $1.779bn in 2014 while profit per equity partner (PEP) increased by 2.7% to $1.250m from $1.217m.
End of the affair: Addleshaws Scottish takeover called off
Merger talks between Addleshaw Goddard and Maclay Murray & Spens to create a national practice with combined revenues of around £230m have been called off.
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Comment: Privacy v transparency – Withers’ Noseda on incoming OECD tax rules opening a new battle front
In almost every field of legal work, privacy is regarded as a primary and legitimate concern to protect the interests of individuals and organisations.
Revolving doors: Nabarro makes double disputes hire, as Big Four accounting firms make legal moves
In a busy week for City hires, Nabarro and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe have added to their ranks, while accounting firms EY and PwC have added to their legal arms with partner appointments.
Simmons & Simmons creates general counsel position to ‘prevent unpleasant surprises’
City firm Simmons & Simmons has created a general counsel (GC) post, filled by UK employment chief Simon Watson, to handle the firm’s regulatory obligations, partner relations and litigation.
Asia round-up: Olswang and Bird & Bird build offerings while Slaughters Hong Kong partner Hyman retires
The past week has seen changes for several UK-headquartered firms in Asia with Olswang appointing a new Asia managing partner and Bird & Bird making two lateral partner hires, as corporate partner Neil Hyman retires from Slaughter and May‘s Hong Kong office.
City corporate push: Dentons makes M&A play with Pinsent Masons partner Levy
Dentons has made a corporate play in the City with the hire of Stephen Levy, who departs Pinsent Masons after almost a decade at the national firm.
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Guest post: The great tax debate – towards business accountability
This is the third in a series of pieces exploring what the Labour Centre might offer to the electorate. The first, sketching out some of the broader ideas, can be seen here. The second, which advances some specific policies to reshape the labour market to support self-employment and improve competition, can be seen here.
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Vinson & Elkins ramps up City private equity push with hires from Freshfields and Cadwalader
US firm Vinson & Elkins has hired Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer finance partner Ian Frost and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft deal doer Paul Dunbar in an attempt to cash in on the burgeoning City private equity market.
Blank Rome to triple Washington office as it benefits from Dickstein Shapiro’s collapse
After a steady decline of its partnership, US firm Dickstein Shapiro has dissolved and ceased from practicing law after 65 years, with most of its lawyers moving to Blank Rome.
Comment: What did Brussels ever do for us? The lawyerly view on Brexit
Classicists holding to the maxim ‘first, do no harm’ will be looking in dismay at the debate on the UK leaving the EU. Because – perhaps less than six months ahead of the historic vote over the UK quitting the EU – it is still entirely unclear what the public will be voting for as the exit option.
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