Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has become the latest US firm to announce its partner promotion round making up just one in London from a total of 19.
Continue reading “Orrick reports bumper promotions including one in London and more women than men”
Linklaters incoming global banking chief reshuffles deck in shadow finance push
Just weeks into his new role as Linklaters global head of banking, Tony Bugg told the firm’s 200 banking lawyers in London that a reorganisation will take place, with four group leaders introduced with greater power to set individual and group targets.
Continue reading “Linklaters incoming global banking chief reshuffles deck in shadow finance push”
IP litigator Sternfeld departs boutique after 15 years to join Fieldfisher
Fieldfisher has bolstered its IP group and its life sciences practice with the hire of three partners from IP boutique Rouse, including veteran litigator Diana Sternfeld.
Continue reading “IP litigator Sternfeld departs boutique after 15 years to join Fieldfisher”
Comment: Singapore swing – HSF’s Leydecker on the island state’s threat to the dominance of English law
English lawyers have long had an edge over their US and continental colleagues. English law was established early as the law of trade, business and increasingly projects – a throwback to the days of the Empire. This was a major driver of growth for UK-based firms in recent decades, but it is well known that New York law has become a rival to English law, especially in banking and finance, as corporates tap into the deep US debt markets.
US financials 2015: Paul Weiss, Dechert, Goodwin and K&S all post strong results
US firm revenue-season has begun with leading firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison posting year-on-year growth. Revenues were up 7% in 2015 to $1.1bn from $1bn the previous year in what is the firm’s 16th year of record-breaking growth having broken the billion dollar barrier last year.
Continue reading “US financials 2015: Paul Weiss, Dechert, Goodwin and K&S all post strong results”
Eversheds highest-paid member takes home 5% more as turnover dips
Eversheds‘ highest-paid LLP member took home £1.46m last year, an increase of 5% on the previous year, while turnover at the firm dipped.
Continue reading “Eversheds highest-paid member takes home 5% more as turnover dips”
Slater & Gordon UK chief Kinsella retires amid turbulent period for PI group
Australia-listed Slater & Gordon‘s UK chief, Neil Kinsella, has retired and will be succeeded by the firm’s UK head of general law, Siri Siriwardene.
Continue reading “Slater & Gordon UK chief Kinsella retires amid turbulent period for PI group”
Flight to quality as big-spending JPMorgan signs entire Magic Circle to EMEA panel
CMS, Eversheds and NRF also picked as Ashurst, Simmons and HSF miss out
Several London-headquartered law firms, including the entire Magic Circle, have won places on JPMorgan Chase’s panel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) following a review.
Linklaters’ new global banking chief reshuffles deck in shadow finance push
Bugg targets renewed growth for Linklaters’ finance team in shake-up at Silk Street
Just weeks into his new role as Linklaters global head of banking, Tony Bugg told the firm’s 200 banking lawyers in London that a reorganisation will take place with four group leaders introduced with greater power to set individual and group targets.
Continue reading “Linklaters’ new global banking chief reshuffles deck in shadow finance push”
DLA Piper partnership votes to overhaul remuneration system
Firm increases bonus pool and launches three-year lockstep for new partners
DLA Piper International partners have approved an overhaul of its pay structure, introducing a points-based remuneration system and a larger bonus pot as it targets greater profitability, while bringing in a separate lockstep for new partners while they grow their practices.
Continue reading “DLA Piper partnership votes to overhaul remuneration system”
Cooke: ‘Conveyor belt is not a phrase you will ever hear uttered at Slaughter and May’
Corporate veteran vows to maintain City focus when he succeeds Saul in May
The new senior partner at Slaughter and May, Stephen Cooke, has pledged to retain the firm’s City focus when he takes up his five-year term at the helm of the UK’s most profitable law firm in May.
Osborne Clarke still going strong as LB100 firms report first-half results
2015 Legal Business Law Firm of the Year Osborne Clarke has continued its sound financial performance of the last few years, reporting impressive first-half results for 2015/16. The firm has outpaced its peers by a stretch, reporting a 25% rise in first-half turnover.
While not all firms disclose their revenues at the halfway point, Deloitte has found UK law firm revenues were up by an average of 4.5% for the first half of the financial year 2015/16.
Continue reading “Osborne Clarke still going strong as LB100 firms report first-half results”
1COR tops QC appointments table as female applicants remain ‘stubbornly low’
One Crown Office Row (1COR) saw six of its barristers take silk in this year’s round of Queen’s Counsel (QC) appointments, as those selecting new QCs remain concerned at the low level of female applicants.
With this year’s 107 appointments marking a rise on last year’s round of 93, notable appointees included 1COR junior Marina Wheeler, the wife of Boris Johnson; Wilberforce Chambers barrister Tim Penny, a former member of the dissolved set 11 Stone Buildings; and 39 Essex Chambers’ Justine Thornton, the wife of former Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Continue reading “1COR tops QC appointments table as female applicants remain ‘stubbornly low’”
Kennedys global push continues apace as it follows insurance clients to Argentina
Continental Europe the next priority as firm chases larger international revenues
Kennedys formed another international association last month, this time with Buenos Aires firm Estudio Bunge – Bunge, Smith & Luchía Puig.
Continue reading “Kennedys global push continues apace as it follows insurance clients to Argentina”
Linklaters picks merger targets in Shanghai as Asia exits stack up
Linklaters has selected Shanghai Capital Law & Partners and Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm as targets as management works to establish a Chinese law offering. The plans come as the firm’s Asia practice has been rocked by a series of senior exits.
Linklaters wants to become the first Magic Circle firm to practise Chinese law through new Shanghai free-trade zone rules after decades of protectionism in the communist country.
Continue reading “Linklaters picks merger targets in Shanghai as Asia exits stack up”
‘An environment conducive to M&A’: global elite anticipate busy year after record 2015
Skadden heads US M&A tables while Freshfields leads in Europe
Deal lawyers are unsurprisingly predicting another busy year in M&A as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer emerged as the top corporate deal shops in the US and Europe respectively in 2015, according to Dealogic.
The finance view: Bumpy markets, rising debt funds – direct lending to flourish in 2016 but it won’t be year of the junk bond
Victoria Young canvasses veteran lawyers on the outlook for bespoke financing in 2016.
It’s been flavour of the month for a lot of months now, but among leveraged finance advisers the conviction remains that 2016 will be another breakthrough year for alternative credit funds. Partners speaking to Legal Business say market conditions are ripe for such lenders, even as turbulence affects some larger sources of capital.
Linklaters doubles up on IPOs as UK capital markets move swiftly into gear for 2016
Linklaters has got the year off to a flying start for equity capital markets work, leading on the announced initial public offerings (IPOs) of CMC Markets and Countryside Properties, while also advising the underwriters as Clydesdale Bank plans to float.
The Magic Circle firm is providing English and US legal advice to online spread-betting company CMC Markets on its planned flotation on the London Stock Exchange in what will be the year’s first IPO.
Deal watch: Corporate activity in December/January 2015/16
FRESHFIELDS AND STEPHENSON HARWOOD CHECK IN FOR PRIORY SALE
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Stephenson Harwood led on the sale of the Priory rehab clinic. Freshfields advised US private equity group Advent International on the sale of the Priory Group, which operates more than 300 facilities, to Acadia Healthcare for £1.3bn in January. Acadia was advised by Stephenson Harwood.
Continue reading “Deal watch: Corporate activity in December/January 2015/16”
‘This is not ad hoc’: WFW leadership duo aims to drive City specialist ahead of the pack
Victoria Young talks to Chris Lowe and Lothar Wegener about their ambitions for the firm
‘It’s not about: “Here’s an opportunistic piece – let’s grab that.” It’s about a continuous cycle of investment, not something which just happens.’
Chris Lowe, Watson Farley & Williams