The UK’s top court has ruled in favour of two wives whose husbands hid the extent of their wealth when settling their divorces, setting a precedent which the wives’ lawyer says will lead to a rise in challenges in divorce settlements.
Continue reading “Supreme Court rules in favour of wives in hidden wealth divorce case”
As Brackett Denniston stands down after 12 years as general counsel (GC) for US conglomerate GE, the GC of GE Capital Alex Dimitrief has been promoted to the top position.
Continue reading “In-house: Dimitrief named next GE general counsel as Denniston retires”
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has ramped up its ability to break down legal mandates so that work can be handled in a more efficient way, by hiring a new process management team from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP).
Continue reading “HSF hires BLP project management team as firms race to chop up work”
Magic circle firms Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have taken lead roles on retirement homebuilder McCarthy & Stone’s plans to float on the London stock exchange.
Continue reading “Freshfields, Allen & Overy lay foundations for McCarthy & Stone’s £1bn flotation”
The management of Eurasia Drilling Company Limited is being advised by US firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher as it prepares to sell to major shareholders and exit the London stock exchange, after Schlumberger gave up on a deal to buy into the company.
US firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton has taken competition lawyer Jacques Derenne from Hogan Lovells’ Brussels office to launch an EU competition and regulatory practice in Belgium’s capital.
Just two months after severing its ties with South African affiliate, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, DLA Piper is launching two new African offices in Johannesburg and Casablanca.
Continue reading “Entering Africa: DLA Piper launches in Morocco and South Africa”
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is proposing to make it easier for barristers to work through agencies and corporate vehicles, and has launched a consultation on its reforms.
Against a backdrop of a fast-changing technology environment; value-conscious clients, rising rents, and the need to provide meaningful alternative fee arrangements, law firms are being challenged to deliver innovative services and efficiencies like never before.
DLA Piper has hired a team of three partners and six other lawyers from Ashurst for its restructuring and litigation group in Italy, in a move which boosts its Italian partner count to 43.
Continue reading “DLA Piper boosts Italian offer with nine hires from Ashurst”
During a tough year for insurance specialists, Holman Fenwick Willan has hired a partner from rival Ince & Co, appointing Stephen Marais to build its asset finance practice.
Continue reading “Holman Fenwick Willan takes London banking partner from Ince & Co”
The Law Society said it wants the government to test the use of public buildings for court hearings before it considers reforms which will close one in five courts in England and Wales.
Continue reading “Law Society wants pilot scheme ahead of proposed court closures”
Many centuries ago while studying law as an undergraduate, a particularly inspiring corporate law lecturer suggested that I might want to read a book on management theory, as well as immersing myself in case law and precedent. I still have no idea why he suggested it and I believe I was the only one in the company law class who took him up on it.
King & Spalding has recruited Allen & Overy’s former European head of US law, Thomas Jones, as its raid on Global 100 firms in London this year continues.
Continue reading “King & Spalding steps up aggressive City push with A&O partner hire”
The UK legal market now offers more choice than ever, and this is reflected in the 2015 edition of The Legal 500, which has never seen more movement.
Continue reading “The Legal 500 view: more choice and competition defines market”
Two pieces in this month’s Legal Business touch on a common theme: the profession’s failure to influence government.
Continue reading “Comment: Fragmented and naïve – the profession’s failure to penetrate Whitehall”
A Manhattan jury has found former Dewey & LeBoeuf executives Steven Davis, Stephen DiCarmine and Joel Sanders not guilty on multiple criminal charges related to the largest law firm collapse in legal history, although it is still deliberating a number of more serious charges.
The highest take-home pay at Dechert’s London office rose by 16% last year to £2.69m, despite income at the City office sliding by 4%.
At the time that SJ Berwin combined with King & Wood Mallesons there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The firm had eyed a global merger for years, KWM was a much-fêted Asia-Pacific giant with a commanding position in China’s fast-growing legal market and the deal was in general welcomed by its partnership (in contrast to the smoke and mirrors surrounding the abortive discussions with Proskauer Rose).
US litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has been instructed in a shareholder lawsuit against car maker Volkswagen (VW) after the company lost as much as $33bn in market value in ten days after it admitted to cheating emissions tests.
