PwC Legal has performed solidly for the financial year ending 30 June 2015 with revenue rising 15% to £41m, while the firm has set itself an audacious target of £100m to reach by the end of 2018.
Continue reading “PwC Legal targets £100m turnover by 2018 as revenues rise 15%”
Having endured a spate of high profile departures from its corporate offering in recent years, Clifford Chance (CC) has made a notable recruit with disputes lawyer Jessica Gladstone joining as a partner from the City office of US firm Debevoise & Plimpton.
In a move designed to open up different routes into the legal profession, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has today published the assessment plans and standards for legal apprenticeships, including solicitors.
The Civil Justice Council has recommended a raft of changes in a bid to increase the number of law firms willing to take litigation on a damages-based agreement (DBA).
Allen & Overy’s (A&O) New York office and Debevoise & Plimpton have won roles advising IT company CSC on its combination with US public sector tech outfit SRA to create a company with $5.5bn in revenues and billed as the ‘largest pure-play IT services provider serving the US government sector’.
Olswang has had its fair share of departures these last 12 months with its former head of corporate Fabrizio Carpanini the latest to quit the firm, leaving after 15 years of serving the firm to ‘pursue new opportunities’. However, the firm has announced four management appointments in ‘a first and crucial step’ to boost growth.
For the third time this year and dealing a blow to Linklaters‘ Asian objectives, Kirkland & Ellis has recruited from the Magic Circle firm’s ranks and hired Hong Kong debt finance partner David Irvine.
McClure Naismith appointed joint administrators on Friday (28 August) just twelve days after the firm’s executive chairman Robin Shannan told the Sunday Herald the firm ‘had not been enjoying the easiest of times.’ Market views agree, putting the failure of one of Scotland’s oldest law firms down to a loss in momentum that led to ‘a game of jenga’.
DAC Beachcroft is the latest firm to enter the alternative business structure (ABS) market gaining a licence for its Claims Ltd as it seeks to future-proof its offering in the sector.
As Jenner & Block ramps up its City presence, the US litigation firm has hired White & Case partner Charlie Lightfoot to lead its charge on the London litigation market.
Continue reading “Jenner & Block hires White & Case’s Charlie Lightfoot to front London launch”
Eight elite City firms have adopted a contextual recruitment tool designed to boost social mobility in their ranks after a government report criticised professional services firms for ‘systematically excluding bright working-class applicants’ from their workforce.
The Co-operative Bank has appointed 11 firms to form its legal supplier panel with firms including Clifford Chance (CC) and Pinsent Masons winning places after a ‘competitive tender and detailed interview process.’
Having taken early retirement from the bench in April after just four years of service, former High Court judge Sir Bernard Eder has returned to private practice at his former set, Essex Court Chambers, where he will serve as an arbitrator or mediator in disputes.
Continue reading “Justice Eder returns to Essex Court after early retirement from the bench”
Scottish firms have started dividing up partners and staff at McClure Naismith after the nearly 200-year old firm appointed partners from FRP Advisory as joint administrators on Friday (28 August), though some staff have been made redundant.
Continue reading “Firms divide up McClure Naismith as Scottish stalwart goes into administration”
Taylor Wessing has today [1 September] announced it has merged with Dutch firm Deterink, gaining offices in Amsterdam and Eindhoven as it looks to broaden its European presence.
Continue reading “Going Dutch: Taylor Wessing hooks up with former EY Law outfit in the Netherlands”
After Saudi Arabia’s liberalisation of its capital markets, Dechert has established a presence in the Kingdom by forming an association with the Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni. Shearman & Sterling also bolstered its presence in the Middle East with a new office in Dubai.
Big Four accountant EY continues to enhance its international legal offering and has recruited Clifford Chance’s (CC) competition-focused counsel Steven Verschuur to lead its EU State aid, competition and trade law practice.
‘There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.’ So said former US diplomat and politician Henry Kissinger (according to The New York Times Magazine on 1st June 1969). Most of our readers will have had the same thought – perhaps on multiple occasions – but, as veterans of business crises all know: the GC simply has to make time.
Charles Handy is often mistakenly claimed as a homegrown British management guru. He’s actually Irish, but he did spend most of his working life in Britain and still resides in the UK.
Continue reading “The sum of its parts – Charles Handy and the human factor”
In the last few months I’ve been involved in a number of roundtable discussions, World Café events, advisory boards, awards and publication launches, all within the in-house world. I’ve enjoyed the interactions, the company, the humour and the conversation. Some of you may even have met me at one or two of these occassions.
Continue reading “What did you do when you weren’t at the office today?”
